Welcoming your baby into the world can be a wondrous and profound experience. Long before your due date nears, it’s a good idea to invest time to find the right birth center for your unique needs. Services and amenities can vary, but you may want to look for a birth center that offers these top five “must haves.”
1. Can you take a birth center tour?
Beyond visiting on your own for a quick look around public areas, many hospitals offer full birth center tours conducted by knowledgeable staff members who can answer your questions. Touring the facility and potentially meeting some of your care team can go a long way in soothing anxiety and helping you make the right choice. Pro tip: Plan ahead. You should start to tour birth centers early, well before your due date. Some provide virtual tours and allow you to register online. Registering allows teams to prepare for your arrival, helping facilitate smooth sailing on delivery day.
2. Can you select your birth preferences ahead of delivery?
A newer trend in full-service maternity care is to let moms-to-be submit preferences for labor and birth. This is a good way to communicate your wishes and ensure the birthing experience you desire, in conjunction with ongoing conversations with your care team. You can specify your choice for coping with labor pain, whether you want a midwife or doula, your interest in alternative options (such as a labor tub or water birth), the role of your significant other and food selection.
3. Is the hospital close to home?
Sounds like a no-brainer, but proximity to home is a top consideration when choosing your birth center. Knowing your birth center is close by can help ease concerns about getting there quickly if needed. Other practical considerations: Does this hospital accept my insurance? Does my preferred OB doctor or midwife have privileges at this hospital? Or you can choose your birth center first, then select an OB affiliated with that location.
4. Is the birth center accredited?
Ask during your maternity unit tour. You can also research hospital quality on your own. Sites like Medicare’s Hospital Compare and Cal Hospital Compare list information about quality ratings and patient experience. What about quality awards? Baby-friendly is also a designation to look for. It recognizes birthing facilities that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother-baby bonding. Also, if you have a high-risk pregnancy or if your baby will have special care needs after delivery, you may want a birth center with a neonatal intensive care unit that can provide the right level of care you need. Level 3 and 4 NICUs provide the highest level of intensive care for newborns. that can provide the right level of care you need. Level 3 and 4 NICUs provide the highest level of intensive care for newborns.
5. What amenities does this birth center provide?
Fluffy perks may not be at the top of your list, but many birth centers offer special amenities that put you at ease and create a comfortable delivery experience. Do you prefer a private room for your labor, delivery and post-birth bonding? Some new moms swear by breastfeeding support services. If that’s important to you, look for a birth center that staffs certified lactation consultants who can coach you through any breastfeeding-related issues. Other birth center perks that may pique your interest: labor and birthing tubs, in-room sleeping accommodations for a significant other or family member, valet parking, and post-partum yoga and other childbirth-related classes.
More Resources
Healthwise Resource Library
Look up helpful health information.
Patient Information
Practical info for Sutter patients.
Tools and Quizzes
Online tools to help you make decisions about your health.