Is a birth center birth or a home birth safe?
This is probably the most common question asked when someone is considering a birth center or home birth. Research performed over the last 35 years has provided overwhelming statistics that there is a lower rate of surgical intervention, fewer complications for mother and baby, lower birth injuries, and lower death rates.
When you choose a birth center or home birth you are choosing to have a woman-centered birth experience. This means that the mother and father work together to create the safest and happiest experience for them and their baby. Mom gets to choose who will attend the birth in the setting of a quiet and peaceful environment. Birthing this way is a popular choice and has been on the rise over the past few years, due to many benefits, including safety.
Fact sheet on safety of home births and birth center births.
What happens if there is an emergency when I am in labor?
- Midwives and assistants at KBC are all certified in CPR, Neonatal resuscitation, and do regular emergency drills. Thankfully there are very few situations that are true emergencies. At every birth there is emergency equipment and medication to stop hemorrhage. IV’s can be started, and 911 is quickly activated and are only 3 blocks away.
- In the event of an emergency transfer, the midwife will go with the mother and/or baby in transit to the hospital. In the event of an emergency transfer, the Katy birth center is under 10 minutes to a local hospital that has 24hr OB’s and neonatal staff.
- Most transfers of mothers and babies are not emergencies. The most common reason to transfer is failure to progress, need for pain relief, or rest.
- Even fewer babies are ever transported. The most common reason is fast breathing that usually resolves quickly and without further problems.