Home Delivery, Hospital Delivery, Or Something Else?

You have a choice of where your child is born and in some areas of which type of health care provider will attend your birth (doctor, nurse, etc).

If you choose a hospital choose well before hand, ask questions. How good is it? Does it ensure safety and quality? Judge the hospital on its own performance. How many deliveries are done there? Who attends these deliveries? Is there a pediatrician available for emergencies? How often are cesarean deliveries performed?

HOSPITAL DIET

The hospital you choose should treat the entire family with respect, and be supportive of your wishes for your childbirth. Most hospitals allow fathers in the delivery room. But some do not. Be sure to ask beforehand. Ask about the hospital's "routine" choices for medication and anesthesia.

Or you might want home delivery. In many countries, delivery of children at home is the rule. The experience with home deliveries in countries like England and Holland has been excellent. But the fact that home deliveries are safe in many countries, doesn't mean that they are safe in your community or right for you.

If you find someone offering to assist with your child's birth at home, ask about his or her qualifications. Is he or she a midwife, nurse, or doctor trained in obstetrics? How many deliveries has the person done? Is he or she prepared to deal with an emergency? You should also see if there are any backup facilities available? Does the person have admitting privileges at a hospital?

In most communities, hospitals have set up comfortable, "homey" rooms for childbirth. These are called "alternative birthing rooms". In case of an emergency, the mother is wheeled down the hall to the conventionally equipped delivery room.

Home Delivery, Hospital Delivery, Or Something Else?

HOSPITAL DIET