CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

The Birth Center Trend: Would You Consider Giving Birth At One?

save article
profile picture of Anisa Arsenault
By Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editor
Updated January 30, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Getty

“This was the most empowering experience of my life.”

That’s how new mom Kristen Shorey described her delivery at a birth center, after an unmedicated birth in a marble-lined bathtub.

She’s not the only one raving about the experience. While 98 percent of American babies are born in hospitals, the number of babies born in birthing centers has jumped by 56 percent since 2007, making up 16,000 of the 4 million annual births.

No epidurals, no doctors, no surgical intervention tools on hand. So why are birth centers seeing such a surge in popularity? There are several reasons.

  • A shorter stay : Because there are no doctors, operations or anesthesia, women are discharged just hours after giving birth, rather than days.

  • Less expensive : As of 2010, the Affordable Care Act require Medicaid both to pay midwives and to pay birthing centers a facility fee. So operating birth centers has become more economically feasible. Depending on a family’s insurance, a birth center delivery can cost half that of a hospital delivery. While that’s partially tied to shorter stays and lack of medical intervention, health plans with high deductibles facilitate savings too.

  • Post-delivery practices : Midwives will typically follow up after birth, making house calls to check on mom and baby.

  • Good vibes : The no. 1 attraction for moms-to-be? The peaceful, comfortable environment. From plush bedding to marble tubs and high-end sound systems, birthing centers can make labor a luxurious experience.

Still, there are risks. While the  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports accredited birth centers with certified nurse-midwives, it still says the hospital is the safest place to give birth. Only about a third of US birth centers are accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. And if you experience a complication or are in need of a c-section, you’ll need to be transported to a hospital. For this reason, birth centers don’t accept women with high-risk pregnancies; if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, are over 35 or are expecting multiples, you’re out.

Related Video

Another potential downside: There are no pain relievers like epidurals. While space to move, soothing music and warm water are helpful for some women as they fight through contractions, most of the 12 percent of birth center moms who are transported to hospitals make the move to seek pain relief.

Because of this, some newer facilities are bridging the gap between hospital and birthing center. About 20 birthing centers are owned or affiliated with hospitals across the country, half of which are located right within the hospital, but on a separate floor or wing from the regular labor and delivery unit.

(via CNN)

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Lala Kent at the RHOBH Star Sutton Stracke's Fashion Show for Her Sutton Brands Green Label Capsule Collection held at The Godfrey Hotel on July 22, 2024 in Los Angeles California
Lala Kent on Her New Show, Delivery Room Party Plans & Pregnancy Woes
By Wyndi Kappes
smiling pregnant woman looking at smartphone while standing in kitchen at home
The Bump App Introduces New Journal Feature
By Wyndi Kappes
lala kent at her daughter's third birthday party
Lala Kent Reveals Baby No. 2’s Sex and VPR Castmates Reactions
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
woman shopping for flowy dress
How to Keep Your Pregnancy a Secret in the First Trimester
Fact Checked by G. O’Hara
Harry Styles performs on stage during The BRIT Awards 2023 at The O2 Arena on February 11, 2023 in London, England
Harry Styles Stalls Concert So Pregnant Mom Can Go Pee
By Wyndi Kappes
Imunek Williams school bus driver saves kids from burning bus while 8 months pregnant
Pregnant Driver Saves Students From Burning Bus
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of smiling mother cuddling baby
How Getting Lost in Motherhood Helped Me Find Myself
By Christine Carpenter
ADVERTISEMENT
Gold medalist Mallory Weggemann of Team United States poses during the women’s 200m individual medley - SM7 medal ceremony on day 3 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan
Paralympian Mallory Weggemann Swims at Nationals Six Months Pregnant
By Wyndi Kappes
27 slides
The Best Movies to Watch While Pregnant
The Best Movies to Watch While Pregnant
By Holly Pevzner
close up of pregnant person holding belly
Where to Shop for Gender-Neutral Pregnancy Clothing
By Ashley Zielger
ADVERTISEMENT
Pregnant Bindi Irwin with her husband Chandler and a giraffe in the background at the zoo.
Bindi Irwin on Pregnancy, Baby Names and Carrying on Her Father’s Legacy
By Lauren Kay
illustrated pregnant woman with her hands up in anger
5 Things a Pregnant Woman Never Wants to Hear
By The Bump Editors
happy pregnant woman standing in the sun against neutral background
How to Change Your Last Name Before Baby Arrives
By The Bump Editors
ADVERTISEMENT
black and white image of woman and doctor's hands looking at sonogram
US Birth Rates Hit Their Lowest Level in 35 Years, CDC Reports
By Nehal Aggarwal
The Worst Things to Say to a Pregnant Woman
The Worst Things to Say to a Pregnant Woman
By Caitlin Brody
couple looking away over body of water
CDC: Birth Rates in the US Have Reached an All-Time Low
By Stephanie Grassullo
woman in her third trimester of pregnancy
There’s Finally Science to Prove That Pregnant Women Need Their Personal Space
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
mid-section of couple holding hands and walking
CDC: Birth Rates in the US Haven’t Been This Low in More Than Three Decades
By Stephanie Grassullo
meghan markle in new york city for her baby shower
Meghan Markle's NYC Baby Shower Stirs Convincing Theories on the Royal Baby's Sex
By Stephanie Grassullo
Women in their 30s are having more babies than younger women.
For the First Time Ever, Women in Their 30s Are Having More Babies Than Younger Women
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List