HOMEBIRTH:

 ADVANTAGES OF HOME BIRTH...

• Statistics show homebirth safety for low risk women with adequate prenatal care, and a qualified birth attendant.
• Labor can progress naturally, without unnecessary interventions.
• Women can eat, drink, walk, make noises, shower, bathe, etc. 
• Cost of home birth is less than hospital.
• Continuous care given by a midwife throughout labor, birth and postpartum.
• Women are encouraged and supported while they maintain control of their birth experience.
• Care-givers establish a trusting relationship with the birthing family. 
• Mother/baby bonding is enhanced and breastfeeding is supported.

• Client must assume a greater responsibility for their own health.
• Negative judgments and lack of support from people that view hospital birth as socially correct.
• Cesareans, forceps and anesthetics are not readily available requiring transport if necessary.
• 24 hour maternity nursing care is usually unavailable. 

  ADVANTAGES OF A   BIRTH CENTER...

• Facility is only provided for pregnancy and birth events. 
• Offers more personalized care than most hospitals.
• Pregnancy is considered a natural and healthy process in a birth center.
• During pregnancy, women are encouraged to take charge of their own health.
• Greater parental control, freedom to move and eat, and the choice of birthing positions.
• Lower cesarean and forcep rates than hospitals. 
• Women are allowed to return home within hours.
  
  

• Screening process eliminates many healthy mothers, i.e., VBAC; mothers over 35, etc.
• Mother must travel to center and labor away from home environment.
• Many centers have protocols requiring transport to hospital for prolonged labor, etc.
• Many communities do not have birth centers.

• Some mothers feel safest laboring in a hospital. 
• Emergency cesarean is readily available in hospital.
• In some cases it is the safest environment for the high risk mother or baby.
• Immediate pediatric care for newborn needing medical care. 
• 24 hour maternity nursing care is available.
  
  

• Parents do not have control of their birth. 
• Less privacy and increase of fear in some women.
• The father is less likely to be actively involved during labor and birth.
• Routine separation of the mother and baby is almost unavoidable.
• Birth is managed by people trained in pathology, not normal birth.
• Risk of having an unnecessary cesarean or episiotomy is higher.
• Risk of infection or iatrogenic complications to mother and baby is increased.
• Proper nourishment during labor and adequate rest is limited due to hospital protocols.