Would you like to give birth in such a place? The "birth center" or birth centers, widespread in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany or the United States, are a intermediate option between hospital delivery and home delivery. A third alternative that more and more couples choose for the birth of their babies, because it provides a cozy environment, unnecessary interventions are avoided and the needs of the mother and the baby are respected throughout the process.
They are obstetric units directed by midwives and intended only for women with low risk pregnancies They go into labor spontaneously. Excludes women with previous pathologies such as preclampsia, multiple pregnancies, premature births or women under 16 or over 42 years.
The origin of the "birth center"
They have been established since the 1970s with a major resurgence since the nineties until today.
The United States currently has 313 "birth centers" nationwide, of which 113 have opened in the last five years. The number of babies born every year in childbirth centers has increased by 56% since 2007.
The Affordable Care Act, which is part of the health reform promoted by Obama (known as "Obamacare"), has helped a lot in this regard. All medical insurance policies offer coverage for pregnancy and childbirth, either in hospitals or delivery centers.
In and out of hospitals
Delivery House of the Hospital de Manises (Valencia) Some are inside the hospital facilities, that is, they work independently, they are attended by midwives, but it is a few meters from the operating room and intensive care units in case something goes wrong.
But it is not necessary to look to other countries. With this same concept, the delivery house of the Hospital de Manises works, a specially designed room that we have talked about a few months ago.
Others are not inside the hospital, but very close to them with specific agreements, while others are completely independent.
What does a "birth center" offer
In the birthing centers, the woman finds, in the first place, an intimate and cozy space, as close as possible to what it would be to give birth at home. They find a spacious room with everything that might be needed in childbirth.
Epidural is not used nor are caesarean sections performed. The room is equipped with all kinds of elements for the control of the pain of contractions and so that the woman can adopt the birth position she wants. It has a dilation bathtub, since it is shown that warm water decreases the pain of contractions by relaxing and softening the perineal muscles.
You can also find other elements such as ties hanging from the ceiling to hold, hanging hammocks, rocking chairs, or dilation balls so that the woman can sit on them and perform movements to calm the pain.
The baby is monitored externally to facilitate the mother's freedom of movement. It also has oxygen, in case the mother might need it at some time and a mini-resuscitation unit for the baby after birth.
According to a study published in 2013 in Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, about 12% of women who choose to give birth in a "birth center" are transferred to a hospital during labor, most mothers are transferred to hospitals during labor, most due to women seeking pain relief, the study reported.
This is a birth center
Then I leave a video via Babycenter in which you can see what a birth center is like, in this case in the United States, but the concept is similar in all countries.
Should they be covered by the public health system?
The interesting thing is that in many countries the birth centers are included in the delivery care programs and are covered by the national health system. Some are only covered by private medical insurance, in full or a partial cost.
It is another option, and as I believe that home birth should be subsidized by the public health system, I also believe that the option of "birth centers" or birth centers should be offered in all hospitals, as there is in the hospital of Manises. Or independent centers nearby and affiliated with hospitals that can provide that service. Surely a lot of money would be saved and women would have more alternatives to choose how and where they want to give birth.
