How To Find And Choose
A Birth Center

In the US, there are not many free standing birth centers available and not many women know about this wonderful alternative facility. Therefore, unless a woman is a natural birther enthusiast, it's very unlikely that a woman know about the existence of a birthing center in her area. Therefore, when trying to find a birthing center, don't rely on 'experienced' friends and relatives (meaning: those who have given birth previously) to tell you whether there is a birth center near you, unless they are natural birthers themselves.

How do you find out then whether there is a free standing birth center close by, then?

How To Find A Birthing Center

Here are some ideas on how to find a birthing center in your area:

• See the list of birth centers in the American Association of Birth Centers website.
• Try yellow pages.
• Try to find in the internet search engine by typing: birthing center + your city, or birth center + your city.
• Join a forum or mailing list geared towards natural birth or natural family living. Try to join the local network. These people usually know of any local birth center and can give information on you how good/bad it is.

How To Make A Decision Regarding Birth Center

Your decision about your place of birth is crucial in determining what kind of birth experience you will have. If you want to have a joyful natural birth experience, it is wiser to give birth at a birthing center or at home where you are more in control on what you want, rather than in a hospital.

Before you make a final decision to use a certain birthing center, check on these following things first:

• License (if a license is available in your state).
• Accreditation from Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers.

The license and accreditation are important for judging the quality and safety of the center.

Then, look for these following information:

• Who is the birth attendant ?
• What is their transfer procedure should a complication arises and what is the percentage of transfer? What is the reason for transfer ?
• Who is in their team of health providers ? Is a pediatrician included ? Is an ob/gyn included ? What is the back-up hospital ?
• What equipment/technology is available on site ?
• What service do they provide and how much does it cost ? As a rule of thumb, usually, prenatal plus birth package in a birthing center will cost two-third of the hospital birth would have cost in that area, or is approximately two times the cost of having a birth at home.
• Will the insurance pay for the birth at this particular birthing center ? As far as I know, almost all, if not all, the insurance plans which cover maternity will cover at least some part of the bill of giving birth at a birthing center.

Then, ask for a reference from satisfied client. You can also do this by posting a question in a local natural parenting mailing list like a homeschooling or attachment parenting mailing list, and ask whether any other moms have given birth in the facility that you are interested in.

Finally, attend an orientation and observe the center for yourself. Ask yourself whether you like how the center looks. Is it cozy, clean, and homey ? How are the staff ? Are they friendly and professional ? Talk to the potential birth attendant. Are you comfortable with her ? Do you share the same birth philosophy as her ? Do they have a library and conduct childbirth classes ?

*NOTE: Do you want to get more tips and techniques for having natural birth? Then subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter, "Born Naturally" and receive a FREE "Pregnancy Diet Secret" ebook.

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Related Articles

• Why give birth at a birthing center ?
• Birth center review
• Why choose to have a natural birth ?

Other birthing options:

• Why homebirth ?
• Giving birth at hospital

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