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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I had a birth center birth and my experience is just so different. Specifically post-partum, immediately after giving birth, a midwife was in my room unless I asked her to step out. I stayed 10 hours and felt so well cared for. I was constantly monitored to ensure I was capable of going home (otherwise I would have had to transfer to the hospital).

I received a phone call the next day to review caring for my stitches and vagina. We also went over charting diapers and feedings, and generally make sure everything was okay.

A CNM and RN came our home at about 36 hours after birth (6 am Thursday delivery and they visited Saturday afternoon). Not only did they do all the newborn screenings, check baby's weight, blood sugar, and bilirubin, they also spent time checking on me. I know my stitches were checked along with making sure my uterus was contracting.

Because baby failed the hearing test on one side, they had us come back to the center at 1 week to re-test (he passed). While we were there, the midwife did another check of my stitches and spent a decent amount of time with us just making sure we were doing okay and chat with us.

Basically, I feel like I had way more attentive care from my health care team and I wasn't ever in the hospital! That's nuts. I wasn't being monitored 24/7. I had a very low risk birth and fortunately developed zero complications. And yet I had an entire team focused on me (and baby, but I really felt like they never shoved me aside for baby) and ensuring I was properly taken care of. WHY can't this be done in a hospital setting? For every single woman, regardless of her race, socio-economic status, relationship status? It's infuriating. I am grateful I had the option to go outside norm, but it is a luxury that most women don't have. And, yes, I very much recognize it was a luxury along with a damn good bit of luck to have a uncomplicated pregnancy and birth.[/quote]

Was this in DC?  Sounds fantastic!  [/quote]

Unfortunately, it was not. I know there are very high quality midwives in DC-area hospitals (when I got pregnant I was still in DC and started off with the GW midwives!), and some people say that's why there are a lack of birth center options, but I don't buy it. In my current city, there are midwives that practice with OB groups and deliver at hospitals, but that hasn't reduced the demand for a birth center option. I heard recently that the demand is now so high they can no longer accommodate everyone who wants to birth there and are exploring opening a second location.[/quote]

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