Latest / Heartbeat of The Home / 09 - Where Should I Give Birth?

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09 - Where Should I Give Birth? · Heartbeat of The Home

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to another episode of Heartbeat of the Home.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Kristen.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: It is a beautiful day out that I'm recording.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it kind of feels like the start of fall, which I have mixed feelings about.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: If you're watching the video, I'm sitting on a towel because it rained a few days ago and I forgot to bring the patio furniture in.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I sat down in a pool of water.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: So, hey, the realities of doing a podcast on your deck.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Today I'm gonna be doing an episode on choosing where to give birth and how to make that decision and just things to consider, options to consider, and just how to make the right decision for you, for your family, what works for you.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and that gives you the most peace and confidence going into your birth.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: I really want to do this episode because I think a common misconception is that you just have to go, you just go to the closest hospital to you.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: And I do understand for some people that is the only option if you're in a more rural area or there just really aren't that many near you, but you really do have options.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: When I was making the decision of where I wanted to give birth, the hospital I have a hospital that's five minutes from me.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: But with the birth that I wanted, I knew from my doula and just a lot of other women's experiences and just things that I've heard, they do not have the best reputation for natural birth.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: And their c-section rate is very high, and I just knew that I wanted to really try for an unmedicated, fully natural birth that and I really wanted to labor in a tub, and I wanted a water birth, and I there were just specific things that I was really wanting for my birth that I knew it would not support.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: If I really wanted it for my birth, it was potentially going to be a fight, and so I knew I had a doula to support me, but I yeah, I just didn't feel peace about going there and just knew that it was going to be a bigger battle than I wanted it to be.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: I asked my doula for recommendations, and honestly, the care team that I was seeing were for another hospital, so I live kind of in a suburb of Minneapolis, and the hospital that my midwife team were at was in St.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: Paul.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: And so I was fine with that.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: I was looking at the hospital.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: I knew I didn't want to go to the one that's closest to me, and so I started looking into that and kind of asked my Jewla, and she's like, you know, they're okay, they're not my absolute favorite.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: She really, really, really recommended, and I do too.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: I cannot sing their praises enough.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: The Mother Baby Center, the United Mother Baby Center in St.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Paul, could not recommend them enough.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: But also during this episode to give you tools to figure out which place is best for you.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: I really want to just give you some things to think about if you are trying to figure out where to give birth.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna talk about a few different options.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, there's hospitals, there's birth centers, and there's home births, and just the different questions to ask, different things to pray about, things to consider when choosing which one, and then also like within choosing which hospital or which birth center.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, home.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: There's one home, but you know, there's pros to all of them.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think a lot of people choose hospitals because if something happens, we're right there.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: If something happens, we're right there for the NICU.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, obviously, insurance-wise, that is generally the easiest choice.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's also very much why wouldn't I give birth in a hospital?
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: There's lots of reasons, but yeah, I feel like the hospital is kind of right now the general like go-to birth centers are generally a standalone facility.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Some birth centers do take insurance, it really depends on your insurance.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they do take HSA and then insurance sharing groups.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm blanking on what that's called, but um they sometimes they do take those as well.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: And the perk of that is it is like home, but it's not home.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: And so you are in a facility that is more geared to supporting you and giving you.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: I I mean, I guess a big plus of it too is they have big tubs, they have big beds, they have the different things that you would need.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: They have the balls, they have the standing showers that you can like sit on a ball in.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: And so they just are really set up for all the things that you would need for a physiological birth that you might not have at home.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then obviously they have their midwife team that is there to support you.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: Depending on the birth center, some of the midwives have rights to the hospitals nearby.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: So if you do get transferred, your midwife can be there with you, which is awesome.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: And then obviously, home, just being in your own space, in your own, yeah, in your own space where you feel safe, where there aren't a lot of interruptions, there aren't any interventions, just to really have like a calm, peaceful home birth.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: All of these are amazing options for whatever your family needs.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: I think I would have loved to do a birth center, but our insurance didn't cover it, and that just was not a possibility for us to pay out of pocket, and so that was super disappointing for me because we toured birth centers and I fell in love with one and I just like envisioned myself there, felt so much peace about it, but then it just wasn't gonna be a possibility.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: So then we moved to hospitals, and so and I'm honestly love the hospital I was in, and so and I've been to an incredible, beautiful home birth, and my sister was at a birth center, and I've done a hospital, so many people have been hospitals and stuff.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: So I think there's no wrong answer.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: I think there's a right answer for your family, and there's a right answer for you.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: So let's go over a few things to help you make that decision and so that you feel the most supported, you feel safe, your family feels supported and safe.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: Plan for a successful outcome.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: That's kind of what my therapist said is that it's like we're pre-planning for a successful outcome.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: What you want, what you're envisioning, and what is going to support you and your needs and your hopes and dreams the most.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: So the first thing that's probably obvious that this is going to be my first thing, but a hundred percent cover this decision in prayer and just really ask God where he wants you to give birth.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: What does he want for you?
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: Where does he want you to go?
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: And where, yeah, where am I supposed to give birth?
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think I, when I wasn't able to go to the birth center anymore and we transitioned to the hospital, and I just kind of had to make peace with that because we really had no other option.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: I just really tried to be like, you know what, God?
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'm supposed to be at a hospital for a reason.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: There's gonna be a reason.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I might never know what that is, but I'm supposed to be there.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: And so when we made the decision, we knew so clearly I was supposed to be at that hospital.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: And so yeah, pray about it.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: God listens and he knows what you're envisioning for your birth, and he knows he's already been there and he already knows what's gonna happen.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: And so he is protecting you.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: So where does he want you to go?
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: Where does he know that you will feel safe?
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: Where does he know that your husband will feel supported?
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I think, yeah, just praying over where it's supposed to be, where will you feel at peace?
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: What's important to you?
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: Pray.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: And then really, I mean, I feel like the most practical thing, look at your insurance, look at your budget, what is covered by insurance?
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Well, hospital is covered by your insurance.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: Not all hospitals are covered, covered equally.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: And so, yeah, what is covered by your insurance?
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, if you're looking at a birth center, which birth center is covered by your insurance?
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: If any, um, some insurances, like if you're looking for a home birth or a birth center, will cover a percentage that's out of network.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: So if that's doable for you of hey, they're able to cover this much, we can cover the rest.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look at your budget.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: What are we able to budget out?
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: What are we able able to save?
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: How important is this to me that we will make it work?
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: So think practically what can you afford, what is doable is very important.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: I think I we definitely should have looked into that a little bit more before we toured birth centers because that was a huge, huge disappointment.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_00: But it was fine, it ended up being great.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: And then just really think about okay, what space, like I said, what space is going to support the birth that you are wanting the most?
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: Is it going to be a birth center?
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_00: Is it going to be a hospital?
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: If you're really looking into hospitals and you are, yeah, just really trying to figure out which one is for you where you feel the safest, where you feel like you're going to be the most supported.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: My biggest recommendation is, which obviously I just did a doula episode, so but hire a doula.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: And I cannot stress it enough, especially if you are going to be delivering in a hospital and you are really hoping, praying, believing, and dreaming for an unmedicated natural birth because they're going to be in your corner supporting you.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: If it does get difficult with a care team at the hospital, they will be in your corner and really fighting for what you are hoping and dreaming for and envisioning.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: Highly recommend that.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: But then with that, what hospital is going to support you best?
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: What hospital has nurses that are really trained in natural birth?
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: You would be shocked with how few unmedicated births that they see.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: You want the team around you to be able to help you and support you and know what's going on.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: And so, really looking into a hospital that their team is trained in that and is trained well and is really supportive of that care.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so ask your doula, which hospitals in the area would they recommend?
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_00: And if you don't have a doula, I'm sure you could reach out to a local doula and be like, hey, this is what I'm really hoping and dreaming and wanting for my birth.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_00: What hospitals do you recommend?
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: Where would you recommend that I go?
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm sure they would be more than happy to support you in that way and give you recommendations because even if they're not working for you, they want you to have the birth that you want.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: So ask a doula in your area what they recommend and just what they've heard and about their midwife team, about their OB team, and just what they recommend.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: And then tour, tour hospital.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_00: It is free.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: All hospitals have tours of their birth centers, mother baby centers, labor and delivery areas, and you can schedule them.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: They're generally group tours, and it is great.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: You really get to, it's honestly so nice too, because you get the run-through.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: You get to figure out, you can figure out where the parking is, you get to figure out how which halls to walk down, and where reception is and where they're going to take you through the doors, triage what they're the rooms you could be in, all the areas they take you to postpartum.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that is also really beautiful because you get to actually see the space.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: So when you're really working on envisioning your birth and praying over your birth, you're actually able to know where you're gonna be and envision yourself there.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think that's so cool.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: And it just really gives you a feel for the environment, for the atmosphere, for the nurses.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: And obviously, you don't get to interview all the OBs, all the midwives, all the nurses, or whatever, but you can just really tell.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: God's gonna give you the wisdom and God's going to give you the clarity that you need for the hospital and for the space that you're supposed to give birth in.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: And I highly recommend touring.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: And with that, be the most annoying person on the tour.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_00: Ask the most questions.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: I just wanted answers.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: I just wanted to know what their policies were, what their procedures were.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, even if it was things that like I was planning on doing, but was like, well, what would you say if someone didn't do this?
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: I just wanted, I just wanted to know.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: I just wanted to know how supportive they would be and just get the answers from there.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: And then also just know, even if you're the most annoying person on the tour, you might be asking questions that someone else would have had, but they didn't even think to ask it.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: And so now they have even more information too.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: So think about it that way if you feel like you're really gonna be super annoying on the tour.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: So I have a few questions for you to ask that I that I was recommended to ask on the tour, and so some of them might be seem kind of random, but it's just like really good information to have.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: So, one, what is the nurse-to-patient ratio?
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: My hospital, it was one to one.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: My nurse was with me her entire shift.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: Someone came in for like whatever her meal break was, then she came back, and then when there was a rotation, I got a new nurse and she was there with me till my birth.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_00: And I it was amazing.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: It was so nice to know she was always in the room with me.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: And if she wasn't, she was outside sitting at her desk waiting for me to call her, and she was just always there for me, super supportive.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: I loved her, and put some hospitals, it's not like that.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: It's three to one.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: And so when you need them, they aren't really able to be there yet.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: And it was different in postpartum.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think it was probably the three to one or two to one, just because they're not as needed, which totally makes sense.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: But during labor, it was so nice to know that if I needed something, someone was right there.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: If I needed something, she was in the room.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: And so, yeah, what is the nurse to patient ratio?
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: And how uh how often are they gonna be there?
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_00: Are the nurses trained in different positioning in like repositioning the baby?
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: Just like what are nurses trained in?
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: They're gonna be there to support you, and that's where I really hope you do have a doula, who she can a hundred percent do that too.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_00: But if the nurses are educated in that as well and have the knowledge of that and are able to support you as well with your doula, that is an incredible partnership that is just going to encourage you and support you even better.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: And then the next one is what forms of pain management do they offer?
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, hospitals have a dirt have epidurals, but do they have tubs?
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have tubs that will help with that?
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um, not a lot of hospitals offer tens machines, but you could ask that.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: Some of them, yeah, have tubs, the nitrous oxide, which is laughing gas.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, some of them have sterile water injections, which I that sounds horrible, but it brings relief to some people, and that's incredible.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_00: But they had a massage therapist, so if you happen to be in labor Monday to Friday during work hours, they would come in and give you a massage during labor.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, that's kind of phenomenal.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, it's like what types of pain management do they have before an epidural?
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_00: Which is really good to have that information.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: That's also a really good question to ask at a birth center, but we'll talk about that later.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, what do they offer and what is the order that they list them off?
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: Is it, well, we start with this and we could try this, and then if that doesn't work, we can try this, and if this, then we could do this, and then our last resort is an epidural, or is it well our most common is the epidural.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: We do that generally as soon as you come in or whatever, but just kind of like really notice the language that they talk about, especially if you are hoping for an unmedicated birth, because I think that can really tell a lot of what their protocols are and just the order of things that they generally go to.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: If you are hoping for a water birth, asking if you're able to deliver in a tub, I'm pretty sure most hospitals you're not allowed to deliver your placenta in a tub.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: They have you get out before that.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_00: And birth centers, some birth centers might do that too.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, are you able to labor and deliver in a tub?
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: Kind of surprising how many hospitals you're only allowed to labor.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: Another question how long are you expected to stay in postpartum?
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: Different hospitals have different policies, and it's just good to hear why they do what they do.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: Most hospitals, it is 24 hours before the 24-hour baby checks and stuff.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: So it makes sense for for you to just stay the 24 hours, get the checks, and then go home.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_00: I think asking that is just good information to have of huh, you know, I am allowed to leave.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like a lot of people just think you're not able to.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: You are, but it's easier to stay.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: But another little question is photography allowed?
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: Some hospitals do not allow it, some hospitals do not allow video, which honestly is a little bit of a red flag to me.
• 16:33
  SPEAKER_00: Why they would not allow you to document your birth.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: Is it to protect themselves?
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it is not, it doesn't really have nothing to do with you, it has everything to do with them.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: And so I'm not saying, oh my gosh, change care because your hospital doesn't allow birth photography.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_00: But that is something that's like, why do they not want it to be documented?
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: Why, if something were to happen, it is just their word against yours.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: And so, do they allow it?
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: Honestly, I really just thought about that while I was talking.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: But my whole per point of asking that question is if you wanted birth photography, to be like, can we do it?
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: But I feel like I just processed.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_00: Hmm.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_00: I think because I just did, I just did my episode with Stephanie of how she was talking about documenting your birth and having a Jula documented and just having someone else in the room to like validate you.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: And so it's kind of crazy that some hospitals don't let you do photography or video.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: Interesting.
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_00: So ask that for either if you want a birth photographer or if you're like, hey, that's kind of weird.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: Anyway, asking what their c-section rate is.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_00: I think also what their emergency c-section rate is versus c-section rate, and just kind of their thoughts on the difference because there's a big difference between emergency and just uh routine c-section.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: So asking their statistics on that.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_00: And what postpartum care is available to you?
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have a lactation specialist?
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have a massage therapist?
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_00: What specialists do they have available to me?
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: Will they be coming and checking in?
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: Am I able to make appointments with them?
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's just really helpful to know the type of postpartum care that they have.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: What is the postpartum space like?
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have like kitchens?
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: Just what postpartum care do you have?
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_00: What look at the rooms?
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_00: Do they feel good?
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, what is the nurse ratio?
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_00: What support do they give you postpartum?
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: Just good questions to have, even if it's, I think it's just good information to have, just to know what to expect.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like a lot of these questions too might not even be a make or break it thing, but really just uh, okay, now I know what to expect.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_00: Now I know what to expect when I give birth.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's just so helpful to have more knowledge.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: Like I've said, like knowledge is power when it comes to birth.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so even if it's just, okay, this is their procedures.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_00: This is what I can expect in my postpartum stay.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_00: This is the care that I, the level of care that I have an expectation that I'm supposed to get.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: And so I know to either ask for it if I'm not getting it or just be expecting it.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think just having that knowledge going into it, I think can ease a little bit of like what's postpartum gonna be like?
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: Will I have the support I need?
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that can just be super helpful.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: So then for birth centers, if you're going again, 100% tour them, tour them, ask all the questions, see the space, get a feel for the space, walk around, meet the midwives.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_00: Again, these are generally group tours as well.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of information, but a lot of really good information.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: So definitely go on the tour, get a feel for the space, walk around, get a feel for the rooms, and you're really you'll immediately sense where you're supposed to be.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: You'll feel that way at a hospital, you'll feel that way at a birth center.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_00: Some questions to ask if you're looking at birth centers.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_00: Something is can my midwife transfer with me?
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_00: There's one birth, the one birth center I loved.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, a lot of the midwives had rights at the hospitals nearby that you would be transferred to if something happened.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_00: And so they could come with you and they could continue your care, which I think is huge because they have been with you throughout your birth up until that point.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_00: And so they can continue to support you knowing what you've gone through.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_00: And that was just something that really stood out to me.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: And so, are they able to transfer?
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: I know that's not, I don't know if that's common or not, but that was something that was really cool.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_00: So, even just knowing that, I think could give you some peace of mind.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_00: What type of pain management does does the birth center provide?
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_00: Generally, they have, you know, water, they have sterile water injections.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of birth centers also have nitrous oxide, tens units.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: They'll walk you through the plethora of things that they have.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: Can I deliver in the tub?
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_00: Generally, yes, at a birth center, but then ask me about delivering the placenta.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: If you can do that in the tub or if you need to get out, how long are you able to stay?
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of birth centers, the turnaround time is four to six hours.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_00: So kind of getting clarity on that of knowing how to prepare.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_00: And what amenities do they offer?
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_00: What are things that they have?
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have a kitchen for heating up my first meal postpartum?
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have a place to store food for my husband and I?
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_00: If we want people to come visit, where can they sit and wait?
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: Just kind of asking, you know, just the different amenities that they offer.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_00: One of the centers I toured, when you come in, they have a bread maker, and so they start making you a loaf of bread.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_00: So when the baby's born, you have fresh bread.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: And I just thought that was so wholesome and so sweet.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_00: So people would come in for their appointments and would smell fresh bread, and then would be like, Oh, a baby was born.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: And oh my gosh, that's so sweet.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_00: So they're just like some little quirky fun things that personers offer that are just so fun.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_00: And I feel like it's just fun to know things that they do.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_00: And then obviously, home birth.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_00: This would be really just interviewing midwives and finding out the one that is best fit for you, that is available for your date, that's nearby, that you feel peace about, and just kind of their policies, procedures, their pricing.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: If they uh take HSA, if some of them might take insurance, just kind of working with your midwife and working with them about how to set up your home the best.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, and I guess there's questions for home birth.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: I think process it with your doula.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_00: She can give you some really good tips.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I know a lot of doulas will walk through the space with you.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure your midwife will as well.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: Help you prepare for your birth and space and just get everything ready.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think, yeah, just asking them questions about them, their preferences, and just how I feel like even asking your midwife, okay, how are they going to support you through your home birth?
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_00: Because midwife's are very different at hospitals and home births, they just have different roles.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: And so, just yeah, how is your midwife going to support you?
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_00: When is your midwife gonna get there?
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they're gonna work with your doula, what that team or partnership would look like, and how are they gonna support your husband and you?
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_00: Just questions like good questions to get a good gauge on how they're gonna support you and how they're going to show up for your birth so that you have that like clear expectation in your mind of what it's gonna look like and how they are going to support you.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: And you're not gonna be like, why is this not happening?
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_00: Or oh my gosh, I expected more, but just so that you have more realistic expectations going into it.
• 23:18
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, I hope this episode kind of just gives you some food for thought of why have you chosen the hospital you're going to?
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, just kind of challenging the nearness of it.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_00: If if it is your only option, obviously that's different.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_00: But what are your options?
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_00: And are there others in the area that would support your worth best?
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_00: I think my whole point of this episode is I really just want to help you make an informed decision for yourself, for your family.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_00: And it's really not to try and be like, oh my gosh, you need to go to a birth center, you really need to consider a home birth, you need to be in a hospital.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely not.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_00: There's no sense of urgency.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_00: There's no, oh my gosh, you need to make the decision right now.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: I decided the hospital to go to, I think a month and a half before I gave birth.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_00: We really let it get down to the wire.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_00: There's no urgency.
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's good to feel comfortable and confident in your space.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_00: It takes you a little time to figure it out.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's totally fine.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_00: So I hope this episode just gave you a little bit to think about.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and if anything, encourage you because you were like, heck yeah, I did all this research and I feel so good about my hospital or my birth center, or I'm pumped for my home birth.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: And it just kind of boosted that.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for watching and for listening.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so thankful for you and just that you're along for this fun and exciting journey.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_00: And we'll chat soon.