An amazing growth in the maternity industry is surging through the United States. Alternative health care is becoming more and more popular amongst the younger generations.

In the United States, out-of-hospital births are on the rise. In 2017, 1 out of 62 births took place outside a hospital room. Between 2004 and 2017, birthing centers births more than doubled, and home births increased by 77 percent. (1)

This increase is more than it’s been in 30 years, according to the available national birth certificate data.

Why are Women Seeking Alternative Delivery Options?

From the time that we were young, the movies and women around us harped on the agony of labor. Instead of improving with the advancement of technology, the descriptions of their experiences have morphed into horror stories.

It’s common to hear tales of failed inductions, epidurals gone wrong, and traumatizing emergency c-sections.

Judith Lothian, Ph.D. and RN, says,

There is an increasing body of research that suggests that the routine use of each of these interventions, rather than decreasing the risk of trouble in labor and birth, actually increases complications for both women and their babies.” (2)

With the internet making information more readily available, women are beginning to see that there are major faults in the modern way of giving birth. Interventions are becoming far too common, and often end with some form of negative outcome. Fortunately, articles are surfacing showing this doesn’t have to be the case.

Birth can be a natural and even enjoyable experience.

Why Natural Childbirth?

Natural childbirth is the process of giving birth without the use of pain medication.

Women were designed to have babies. Our bodies have a deep instinct, and when given the proper support and comfortable surroundings, can do so without agonizing pain.

By choosing to give birth naturally, the chance of medical intervention is greatly reduced. Less than 5 percent of women who give birth without the use of medication need an emergency c-section.

It’s important for women to understand that pain during labor is essential to the process.

Pain is nature’s way of guiding the woman. Lothian explains this process further in her article,

The positions and activities she chooses in response to what she feels actually help labor progress by increasing the strength and efficiency of the contractions and encouraging the baby to settle in and move down the birth canal. When the pain is entirely removed, the feedback system is disrupted and labor is likely to slow down and become less efficient.” (3)

With an increase in pain comes an increase in endorphins. A much more potent and natural remedy than hospital drugs. In turn the perception of pain is reduced. A woman is able to draw into herself and becomes less focused on her external environment.

With a natural childbirth, the woman also creates a deeper bond with her baby. There are no doctors to whisk the newborn off for tests. No drugs to keep her from feeling groggy. No sterilized clothes to wipe off the baby.

 As a result, the woman is allowed to immediately hold her newborn in her arms. Skin to skin. They are able to get to know each other. To connect on an emotional level.

The experience is peaceful and mesmerizing.

Hospital Births

Following the shifting trend (in hopes of not being left behind) hospitals are now building more comfortable suites for women to have their babies. They’re also offering more options for prenatal classes. In many hospitals, they have midwives as well as the traditional doctor.

There’s evidence that shows women who choose midwives have fewer interventions. They’re also more prone to a positive experience and better outcome than those who don’t use midwives.

However, hospital midwives are required to follow guidelines provided to them by their employers.  This may compel them to advise services that they otherwise wouldn’t have. Also, they’re not always able to be honest about their opinions.

Hospitals are great for women who are at high risk. Whereas, extensive complications occur inonly 6 to 8 percent of pregnancies. (4)

Women who are the most prone to high risk pregnancies suffer from:

• Obesity– Women who are obese are more prone to a large baby, which in turn makes for a more difficult birth. They are also more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
• High blood pressure– Uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage the kidneys and increase the risk of preeclampsia.
• Diabetes– Women with diabetes tend to have larger babies. The babies also have a risk of having low blood sugar soon after their birth.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)– Women who suffer from PCOS have a higher chance of gestational diabetis, c-section, preeclampsia, and higher rates of miscarriage.
• Kidney disease– Almost 1/5^th of women who develop preeclampsia during their pregnancies have undiagnosed kidney disease. (5)

Even with all their steps towards the alternative health movement, hospitals tend to be rigid and uninviting. Honestly, I don’t know the last time I heard of a pleasant hospital encounter.

I certainly didn’t have a day I wish to remember with my first delivery.

Possibly due to the high rates of cesarean and other interventions, women feel they are safer and more in control of their experience outside the traditional delivery room.

A national survey was taken of post-partum mothers showing that 29 percent would consider a home birth for future pregnancies. An astonishing 64 percent would choose a birthing center. (6)

This is rather revealing about the dominant model of care for pregnant women.

Doulas

 If you decide on a hospital birth, a doula would be a tremendous addition.

A doula is a professional trained in childbirth. They provide physical and emotional support before, during, and after labor. When the pain or exhaustion begins to become too much, they are there to remind you of how you want to bring your baby into the world.

As a result, you are more likely to stand against the onslaught of pressure to comply with hospital policies and interventions.

Birthing Centers

For those who wish to have a more natural birth, yet are too wary of delivering at home, birthing centers are a fantastic option. They follow a more holistic and wellness based model.

Having a baby at one of these centers gives you a sense of control and involvement. The midwives respect your birthing plan and center their approach on it.

For my second child, I chose a birthing center as a compromise with my husband. He was uncomfortable with a home birth, and I refused to return to the hospital.   

How are Birthing Centers Different?

Having a baby at a birthing center is a completely different experience than at a hospital. Birthing centers are a health care facility where the primary caregivers are midwives.

These facilities are set up to resemble the home. As a result, they create a relaxed and warm atmosphere.

The midwives at these centers offer an introductory appointment that allows their patients to get a feel for their philosophies and standard of care. This meeting is also used for the midwives to assess if a hospital may be a better fit. Although, this isn’t often the case.

Birthing centers are low tech. They don’t offer fetal monitoring, other than an occasional Doppler ultrasound.

There’s no use of interventions or drugs during the labor process. Instead, the midwives encourage and direct the women. They are hands on, and will help with stretching the perineum if necessary. An episiotomy is extremely rare.

After delivery, the midwives immediately hand the baby to the mother. The cord is left uncut for an hour. Thus allowing all blood to transfer from the placenta to the baby.

Soon after the newborn care is finished, they permit you to go home.

What if Something Goes Wrong?

Birthing centers have a backup plan in the event that a woman needs to be transferred. If this occurs, it’s typically because labor is not progressing.

Midwives, often time, have admitting privileges with the nearby hospital. That being the case, they may remain at your side throughout the delivery.

If an emergency arises, the birthing centers are equipped with medication, oxygen, infant resuscitation, and IVs to provide care while waiting for hospital transportation.

Home Births

From 2019 to 2020 there was a 22 percent increase in home births.  Whether this was due to the fear caused by Covid, or to the growing unrest with the medical standard of care, the data is yet to be released.

For the Brave Souls Who are Ready to Face the Archaic Home Birth

As with birthing centers, a home birth gives women a greater sense of empowerment. You’re able to move around freely during labor, and have access to your favorite foods and drinks. Bonding and breastfeeding are provided immediately after delivery.

At home births, there are no restrictions as to whom is allowed to attend. You’re free to surround yourself with the screams of your little ones chasing each other around the house.

Studies also show that women who choose to have a home birth are no more at risk of death than those who choose to have a hospital birth.

For further information, an amazing resource is the ‘Guide to Childbirth’ by Ina May Gaskin.

As a nationally recognized midwife, she shares her experience with the mind-body connection. When done properly, this connection allows you to labor with greater ease and less chances of intervention.

Throughout this book she educates women on their own natural ability to give birth. This is done best when provided with a safe and comfortable birthing environment.

Though it can be a bit “earthy”, it’s very informative. Some consider it bias. But even so, that’s exactly how a majority of the online medical articles are.

Biased or not, this book provides an alternative viewpoint from those that have over-saturated the internet.

Why More Women Aren’t Opting for Out-of-Hospital Births

There’s a lot of stigma around out-of-hospital deliveries. Not only are women judged for making the decision to give birth in alternative locations, but insurance companies fight covering the costs.

Nearly two thirds of home births are paid out of pocket, with about one third footing the bill at birthing centers. In contrast, only 3 percent weren’t covered by insurance for delivering in a hospital.

With insurance companies limiting access to payment options for births outside of the hospital, women may be deciding to labor in locations they otherwise wouldn’t have. This suggests that the demand for nontraditional deliveries may be higher than the data is showing.(6)

Not a topic you hear about on the big news channels. But it does raise questions.

What is it about hospitals that are causing women to seek alternative birthing options? Why are they willing to pay high prices out of their own pocket? What information are they coming across that convinces them to seek nontraditional delivery practices?

Research All Options

During my first pregnancy, I spent endless hours on research. I tried to start with the ‘What to Expect’ books, but they made me frustrated and uneasy. I never could put my finger on the exact reason why.

I branched out to alternative sources. It was there that I began to truly get excited.

In these sources, I was shown that birth didn’t have to be a terrorizing experience. My body was powerful, and there were alternative ways to manage pain.

I’d always been queasy at the thought of a needle going into my spine. Outright against it when I heard one acquaintance was temporarily paralyzed, and another was stabbed repeatedly before the hospital personal gave up.

Yes, gave up. She couldn’t get the epidural because multiple people were not able to get the needle in properly!

And these aren’t rare occurrences.

Think About It

Don’t allow doctors, friends, or family fear monger or bully you into choosing a path different from what you desire.

While it’s imperative that you know all your options, and risks for each, the path you choose to take is yours alone. The health of you and your baby are of the utmost importance.