Birth Care and Birth Settings

Birth Care and Birth Settings

An important component of our care is the labor support we provide. Beyond emotional and physical support, our midwives are skilled at problem-solving and can often help birthing women have optimal birth experiences through attending to the basics and encouraging good nutrition and movement, providing emotional comfort, and offering physical comfort as well. Midwives are experts in birth, and assist our mothers and families throughout the birth process.

Midwives are the guardians of the natural birth process. Your Madison Birth Center midwife stays with you throughout your labor, which offers two advantages: first of all, you can settle into your birth without disruption. Secondly, it allows your midwife to observe how your labor is moving, so that she can also see what is coming, and offer you direction if needed.

Often families come to the birth center unsure about where they want to give birth. Choosing where to birth your baby is one of the hardest decisions many women face in pregnancy. Your birth space should feel welcoming, warm, and secure so that your baby’s birth can peacefully unfold. Each birth setting has unique advantages, and ultimately, your decision will be a personal one.

Birth At the Madison Birth Center

The birth center is a calm and relaxing setting, and is best suited for women and families who desire a warm, home-like environment in a health care facility. Families are invited to create their own environment at the birth center. Bring along music you enjoy, decide what you want to wear, eat what you want and move around freely between the birth room, family room and the outdoors. Use the birth ball, birthing stool, shower or tub in your labor and birth, as you wish.
Waterbirth is an option for Madison Birth Center clients, utilizing our whirlpool tubs. These birth tubs have grab bars to assist with pushing and position changes, high volume tub fillers, hand-held sprayers and unlimited hot water.

Advantages of the birth center setting for childbirth include increased privacy and control, freedom from hospital routines, and physical and emotional labor support throughout the birth process. Birth center staff attend the family for up to 12 hours after the birth, offering privacy and time to rest as well as breastfeeding support and education. All laundry and cleaning is done by birth center staff.

Homebirth

Birthing in the intimacy of your own home is very empowering. Your providers do the traveling, which gives the advantage that you need not recreate your homelike setting, because you do not leave your home! The same services and birth team are provided in the home as in the Madison Birth Center. Home birthing women and families take on a few additional responsibilities, including having good heating, water and telephone service, and in the winter, a clear driveway. In addition, families are responsible for pre-registering at and establishing directions to a local transfer hospital, should the need arise. The birth team typically stays 4 hours following the birth, and begins the cleaning process in your home. Healthy childbearing women are eligible for home birth if they live within 60 minutes of the Madison Birth Center and and within 20 minutes of a hospital with maternity care.

Prenatal care is done at the birth center except for one home visit, usually at about 34 weeks. The home visit is an opportunity for the birth team to find your home, check your supplies and visit with you and your family. A list of birth supplies will be given to you when you register, and the medical supplies medical supplies are provided by the birth center.

Waterbirth is an available option for homebirth clients. You may use your own tub provided it is at least 18 inches deep, or rent/purchase a waterbirth tub (sources available at the birth center). Please be aware that adequate hot water supply can be a limiting factor in the home setting for a comfortable water birth.

Comparison of Birth Settings

	*MBC	Home	Hospital
Assured you will get your chosen provider?	Yes	Yes	No
Able to move freely in labor	Yes	Yes	Depends
Unrestricted ability to eat and drink?	Yes	Yes	Clear liquids only
Fetal well-being is assessed how?	Doppler or fetoscope	Doppler or fetoscope	Continuous electronic fetal monitoring is common
Choose position in which to give birth?	Yes	Yes	Not usually
Water birth available?	Yes	Yes	Not in Madison, WI
Unlimited hot water supply for waterbirth?	Yes	No	N/A
Housekeeping by others?	Yes	No	Yes
Typical Length of postpartum stay	4-8 hours	Midwife stays about 2-4 hours	2 Days
Home visits postpartum	Yes	Yes	No
Breastfeeding support	Yes; Baby-Friendly birth facility	Yes	Depends
*Madison Birth Center