Choosing Your Birthplace: Prioritizing Preference Over Proximity
When it comes to welcoming a new life into the world, the birthplace holds immense significance and meaning to the soon-to-be new parents. Traditionally, expectant parents often opt for the nearest hospital or birthing center for convenience. However, a growing trend indicates that more people are prioritizing their birth preferences over proximity, opting for locations that not only offer a plethora of options or resources during birth but offer support beforehand and post-partum. Birthing folks are choosing places that make them feel comfortable and safe - for some, that’s still the hospital nearest their home. For others, these locations can be miles, states, or even countries away.
The Shift in Birthplace Preference:
According to recent surveys, approximately 35% of expectant parents express a desire to choose their birthplace based on personal preference rather than proximity alone. Factors such as the atmosphere, birthing options available, and the level of medical intervention play pivotal roles in decision-making. This shift signifies a fundamental change in how individuals approach childbirth, placing greater emphasis on autonomy and individualized care rather than the one-size-fits-all medical system we’ve all become accustomed to.
When choosing a birthplace, it’s important to take into account the following factors based on what your birth plan and ideal birth looks like:
Atmosphere and ambiance of the birthing environment
Availability of birthing options such as water births, hypnobirthing, and natural childbirth techniques
Level of medical intervention and the philosophy of care practiced at the birthing location
Access to supportive birth professionals including midwives, doulas, and obstetricians
Safety and emergency preparedness of the birthing facility or home environment
Previous experiences with childbirth and personal preferences based on cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs
Below, we will explore these factors and explain why each one helps you to choose the ideal birthplace in your birthing journey.
Atmosphere and Ambiance: It’s no surprise that most birthing parents prefer a comfortable and calm environment when preparing for one of the most challenging and strenuous moments of their lives. This preference often leads individuals to explore alternative birthing locations such as birthing centers or home births, where they have more control over the ambiance than they do in a hospital room. Ambiance and atmosphere play a huge role in every other part of our lives - from the restaurant you choose for a romantic date to the safety and comfort of our own homes. It only makes sense that the place in which you bring new life into the world feels like a cozy, safe space for you to do so.
Birthing Options: While our parents may have been okay with only having one or two ways to give birth back when we were born, today’s birthing parents value access and knowledge of a wide range of birthing options. These can include techniques such as water births, hypnobirthing, and natural childbirth techniques. These options are more readily available in settings that prioritize personalized care and offer comprehensive birthing services than most standard hospitals, although many hospital settings now offer birthing suites with birthing tubs and options for alternative positioning besides the standard flat-on-your-back-and-push method. That being said, perhaps the most important choice you’ll make when looking at all of the many options out there is who will be supporting you through your birth. If that’s your partner, taking birthing classes beforehand to explore and practice some alternative techniques may be helpful. If you’d rather see a midwife than a traditional medical doctor, that’s a choice you have. If you’d like a doula in the room with you to act as an advocate and support person through your birth journey, that’s another option. There are many options available to choose from when thinking about your birth - from physical location to type of birth to those surrounding you and supporting you when the moment arrives.
The Role of Doulas in Facilitating Preference-Based Birth Experiences: Doulas play a crucial role in supporting individuals who opt for preference-based birth choices. As trained professionals in the business of birth, doulas offer emotional, physical, and informational support throughout the childbirth journey, empowering expectant parents to make informed decisions and advocate for their preferences. Studies have shown that the presence of a doula can lead to reduced rates of medical intervention, improved maternal satisfaction, and positive birth outcomes for birthing parents and their families.
Level of Medical Intervention: While medically assisted births (epidurals, pain medication, etc.) still make up about 70% of births today, the trend of unmedicated births is on the rise. There are many birthing parents who desire minimal medical intervention during childbirth, opting for interventions only when medically necessary. This preference often leads individuals to seek out midwife-led units or home births, where medical interventions are typically lower compared to traditional hospital settings. Those that choose unmedicated births are also more likely to be able to cope with the pain of childbirth more efficiently, and are not as anxious about the pain in general. This is because they view the pain of childbirth as a natural and normal part of the process, and often have the supports in place mentioned above (atmosphere and ambiance, supportive birthing options, etc.) to help them ride the waves.
Choosing the birthplace based on personal preference rather than proximity is a growing trend that reflects a shift towards individualized and holistic approaches to childbirth. With a wealth of birthing options available, expectant parents are empowered to create personalized birth experiences that align with their values and preferences. Start by searching for birthplaces near you that pique your interest by using one of these trusted search engines:
Qualitycheck.org - Your access to Gold Seal of Approval facilities as designated by the Joint Commission of Hospitals.
Leapfrog - Database search for hospital and surgery program ratings across the country.
CDC Wonder - Ad-hoc survey data from the CDC.
These resources are just a few in a neverending pool of places you can draw information from to help make the best choices for you and your family around your birthplace. If you want to speak more about your birthing preferences and make a birth plan, contact us today! We’d love to learn more about what’s important to you and how to help find the best birthplace for you and your little one!
