Are Independent Birthing Centers Safe?
Not as convenient as staying home, of course, but independent birthing centers do offer more peace of mind than a home birth if you’ve never had a baby. Much of the flexibility and comfort of a home birth, but with medical equipment at the ready, and of course MDs backing up the midwives in case complications arise. You should be aware that epidurals are usually not available. Probably most important, Birthing Centers only handle the lowest risk births, so about 12 percent of women laboring in Birth Centers do end up being transferred to the hospital for prolonged labor or other reasons, although the vast majority of these transfers are not emergencies. Not all states have accredited independent birth centers; be sure any birth center you consider is accredited by the American Association of Birth Centers. For a list of questions to ask an Independent Birth Center, start with Childbirth Connection.
