Birthing Center vs Hospital: What Are the Differences

• Birthing centers are a relatively new concept of a type of laboring facility.  
• Birthing centers vs hospital is something both new moms should consider for delivery, and labor and delivery nurses searching for employment opportunities. 
• Birthing center vs hospital each have their own benefits and disadvantages. Learn more on the pros and cons of each to help form your own opinion on what is best for you. 
  

Throughout history the labor and delivery of pregnant women, several transitions have been observed. One of the biggest transitions has been the location of where women have chosen to deliver.  

In the early 1900s, women typically delivered at home and it was considered the “norm”. Changes in modern medicine shifted labor and delivery to occur more in a hospital setting, making this the new founded “norm”.  

There have always been peaks or trends with interest in home deliveries, but never a significant overall shift back that direction. 

Like many things, the timeframe around COVID pandemic created alterations in processes and perceptions. During the COVID pandemic, the healthcare circulating around labor and delivery saw numerous health care transitions.  

There were visitor restrictions put into place with family, friends, and even with birth partners. Care guidelines with couplet care, breastfeeding, and skin to skin, saw multiple changes. Anxiety, depression, and fear all had significantly increased in pregnant women.  

Many of these health care transitions being seen or heard led to additional pregnancy concerns. Women battled the thought of laboring and giving birth without their loved ones. Women had concerns regarding themselves or their new bundle of joy possibly being exposed to COVID while in the inpatient setting.  

During the COVID health crisis home deliveries and freestanding birth centers saw one of the biggest peaks since the early 1900s. This significant shift has left many wondering if the peak will continue to grow or if there will be a distinct trend back in the other direction again.

Differences Between Birthing Center vs Hospitals

Freestanding birth centers were originated by midwifes, creating a “home like” birthing experience, but aimed with more support staff and a wider range of supplies readily available.  

Hospital labor and delivery settings are more procedural based, clinical, and have multiple regulatory agencies to abide by.  

Birth centers are geared to care for low-risk patients, whereas hospitals are equipped to care for women that have low to high-risk pregnancies.  

Regardless of prenatal risk category, freestanding birth centers have transport agreements in place with a close by hospital in case any emergencies arise during the labor or delivery process. 

Benefits of Birthing Center vs Hospital

Examining the benefits of birthing centers vs hospital can help both employees and moms-to-be choose where to go.

Birth centers can offer a more home-like experiences, whereas a hospital is a traditional hospital setting. Being in a hospital though does give access to the NICU, that a birth center cannot offer.

With less risk factors of a hospital, birth centers can have less visitor restrictions than hospitals.

Delivering at a hospital means more access to interventions and cesareans when appropriate.

The medication availability differs between birthing centers vs hospitals. Birthing centers offer more holistic and alternative methods, whereas a hospital will have more pharmacological options.

Lastly, a more costly difference between birthing centers vs hospital is the factor of insurance coverage. Hospitals are more likely to be covered than freestanding centers.

Additional Considerations of Birthing Center vs Hospital

Every pregnancy, patient, staff, and facility can differ between each labor and birth experience.  

At one hospital location, there may be more midwives on staff than at the closest birth center. At another location, a birth center may have more midwives than the closest hospital. 

One local hospital may have birthing tubs and utilize intermittent monitoring, or the nearest birth center may be the only offering of these services.  

Even cesarean sections rates may be extremely low at a hospital compared to state or overall national statistics.  

Both birthing centers vs hospitals can offer prenatal care, educational classes, and labor and delivery support dependent upon individual patient medical risks.  Advantages and disadvantages with any birthing center vs hospital location can be identified. 

The Bottom Line

Birthing centers vs hospital is a consideration labor and delivery nurses have now for employment options. Each have their own benefits and differ by duties and responsibilities as a nurse. 

All pregnant women should be encouraged and educated to do their homework about local prenatal care and options for birthing centers vs hospital delivery options, as well as reflect on their personal vision of the experience they are striving for.  

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