Giving birth is one of the most memorable and profound experiences in a parent’s life. You want it to be perfect – safe, loving, and memorable. And that’s why there are so many options about how and where to give birth. Unfortunately, there are just as many opinions and it can be difficult for a soon-to-be new parent to know what to believe.
You don’t need the extra stress of sifting through rumors and conflicting information, worrying about your birth experience.
At Women’s Health Center of Southern Oregon and Asante Three Rivers Medical Center, we want your birth experience to be just as stress-free and special as you do. Many of our patients come to us with similar concerns to those you may have. They are often based on old ideas, incorrect information, or experiences at other birthing facilities.
Here are some of the most common myths we hear about hospital births.
1. My Birth Plan doesn’t matter at a hospital
At WHC and Asante Three Rivers Medical Center, we encourage every patient to complete a birth plan. We want all healthcare providers caring for you to know what matters the most to you. We can provide a sample birth plan for you to fill out if you don’t know where to start. We will also happily review a birth plan written by you on your own or with your doula. At this time, guests are limited to 2 people over the age of 18. We are all looking forward to welcoming the entire family back to the Family Birth Center soon.
We want to know your decisions regarding pain management, labor and birth positions, guest, baby care, breastfeeding, and nutrition, and will do everything in our power to honor your wishes.
Our number one goal is for you and your baby to have a healthy and safe birth experience.
2. I won’t have support during labor
Our family birth center is committed to making your experience as stress-free as possible. We do that by providing you with the best support possible. The center is fully staffed, and every laboring patient has one-on-one nursing care throughout the entire labor process. Your family support team and doula, if you want, can remain with you the entire time. The Women’s Health Center physicians are also available around the clock, so you never have to worry whether you’ll have the care you need.
3. The baby won’t be allowed to nurse (and will get a pacifier and sugar water or formula)
You and your baby are our priority. We work very hard to maintain our nationally-recognized Baby-Friendly policy, which supports every mother in breastfeeding. We encourage skin-to-skin bonding and breastfeeding immediately after birth.
All our nurses and doctors are breastfeeding advocates certified through Baby Friendly. We also have three Lactation Specialist Nurses that can help you with breastfeeding during your hospital stay and can arrange for visits and care after you leave the hospital.
We do not have pacifiers and only provide donated breast milk to babies who require assistance with feeding if the mom cannot provide milk.
4. Being in a hospital is impersonal
The Family Birth Center inside Asante Three Rivers Medical Center is a completely separate and locked unit located. Since obstetric care is so specialized, our nursing staff does not work in other areas that may have patients with infections. Our top priority is keeping mothers and babies safe!
The birth center also has a “rooming in” policy and suite-style family rooms. You will stay in the same room with your baby and family support for the entire stay. That room has beds for you and a family member. Plus it has a refrigerator, shower, jacuzzi tub, individual thermostat, and everything needed to care for the baby.
The baby never leaves the room unless extensive medical care is needed. In that case, you would go to the private nursery with your baby. All routine baby testing and labs are done with you holding your baby in your suite.
5. I’ll be talked into pain medications
Many of our moms want to experience natural labor without the use of pain medications. We actively support your decision and provide resources to help you. During labor, we encourage walking and using:
-birth balls
-peanut balls
-a shower or a jacuzzi tub (provided in our birthing rooms)
-squat bars
-pressure and massage
These all make the process dynamic and gratifying.
WHC offers birth classes to help prepare moms for a natural labor experience. You may also find community classes and birth doulas to learn from before delivery.
Pain medication is not medically indicated for a vaginal birth and will not be prescribed by your doctor or nurse unless requested. If you do want medical pain management, you can ask for IV pain medication, nitrous oxide gas, or an epidural.
6. They won’t delay cord clamping
All of our doctors place the baby directly on the mother’s skin at birth. The umbilical cord is not clamped until it stops beating. Once it stops beating, the cord is clamped and cut by a family member. This allows the baby to remain skin-to-skin.
The baby will typically be ready to begin nursing within 30 minutes of birth and is often wide-eyed, listening, and bonding with the family at that time.
Having a baby is a special time and you deserve the best birthing experience. Some women may think that a hospital birth will be cold and impersonal – but not at Women’s Health Center of Southern Oregon. We’re here to support you in achieving your birthing plan goals!
Don’t delay – schedule an appointment to begin your pregnancy care today!
Find Your Care
Our team of OB/GYN specialists is ready to assist you. To schedule an appointment, please call us at 541-479-8363.
