Where will your baby be born? It's a big decision. The place you choose can shape your experience in a big way.&nbsp;
Let's look at three options and the things you should think about with each one.&nbsp;
Hospital delivery
Is it a match?&nbsp;
Hospitals offer an expert medical staff. They also have the latest in technology. If a problem arises, a hospital can give you and your baby the best care in a hurry.
That can give you peace of mind, even if yours is a low-risk pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a hospital is the safest choice for a higher-risk pregnancy.&nbsp;
It's also the safest choice if you need to have labor induced or you want to have an epidural for pain relief.&nbsp;&nbsp;
What should you look for?&nbsp;
Your hospital may have one or more of these options available:
<ul>
 <li>Labor and delivery. You'll go through labor in one room, deliver in another and be transferred to a recovery room. For the rest of your stay, you'll be in a hospital room.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Labor-delivery-recovery. You'll be in the same room throughout labor, delivery and recovery. Then you'll move to a hospital room.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Labor-delivery-recovery-postpartum. You'll be in one room for your entire stay.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Birth center delivery
A birth center gives you the chance to give birth in a relaxed setting. Most birth centers are staffed by nurses, midwives or nurse-midwives. Birthing center staff may work with an obstetrician or consulting physician. A birth center may be freestanding. It may also be on hospital grounds or inside a hospital.&nbsp;
Is it a match?&nbsp;
This could be a good fit if yours is a low-risk pregnancy, and you want a more natural birth experience with the option to go home as quickly as possible. Many birth centers have only minimal medical equipment. That means this isn't a match for high-risk pregnancies.&nbsp;
If you want an epidural, a birth center likely isn't for you. Many use no drugs for pain relief, except a local analgesic to suture tears from childbirth.&nbsp;
What should you look for?&nbsp;
Be sure to ask:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>Is the center accredited? Look for a seal of approval from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Centers, the Joint Commission or the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Are all doctors, nurses and midwives on staff properly licensed?&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Do the providers have hospital privileges if you need to be transferred to a hospital in an emergency?</li>
 <li>What is the transfer rate of patients from the center to a hospital?</li>
 <li>Does your insurance cover the center's costs?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Home birth: Think twice&nbsp;
What about giving birth at home?&nbsp;
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warns against it. Even in the healthiest pregnancy, problems can arise with little or no warning during labor and delivery. Being in a hospital or a birth center with a set transfer policy to a hospital is the safest choice.&nbsp;
More pregnancy news
There's a lot that goes into having a healthy pregnancy. <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/HealthInfo/Story.aspx?StoryId=77e9c89c-25e3-493a-8d83-bae25bf73d84" target="_blank">Take a look at these do's and don'ts</a>.&nbsp;
Sources: <a href="https://www.birthcenters.org/" target="_blank">American Association of Birth Centers</a>; <a href="https://www.acog.org/" target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists</a>; <a href="https://americanpregnancy.org/" target="_blank">American Pregnancy Association</a>
Reviewed 12/18/2023

What to look for when choosing a birthing facility