Home or Birth Center? Which is the best for You - La Mirada Birth Photographer

Dec 27

Choosing where to give birth is, obviously, a super personal decision!

Today we’re going to talk about both home birth and birth center birth to help you understand your options in choosing each type of birth setting in Orange County and Los Angeles County. I’ll also share local resources that can help you learn more about each of these options!

Understanding Home Birth

A home birth means that you're choosing to give birth in your home, attended usually by a CPM (certified professional midwife) midwife.

Let's break down midwives real quick: A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) who is also a Licensed Midwife (LM) is specially trained for home births and private birth centers, learning through apprenticeships and accredited schools.

They're different from Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) who start as nurses and typically work in the clinical setting. Though there are some CNMs who also get the extra training and licensure to be able to attend home births because they do not want to be restricted under hospital policies in supporting birthing mothers.

You can find some amazing Home Birth Midwives on my Recommended Resources page.

Home Birth Advantages:

You’re in a familiar environment! The comfort and familiarity of your space can provide a sense of calm and security. Not to mention you don’t have to find a place for your other kids to go when you go into labor, especially if it’s the middle of the night. And if you want your kids to meet baby or even be present during birth, they’re right there.

Personalized care: Your midwife provides one-on-one attention (keep in mind, most of the time this is true for a birth center birth as well) and the midwife you choose will almost always be the one who is there come birth day.

Control over the birthing process: From setting the ambiance to choosing who attends, you're in complete control.

Side note… you are in control no matter what location you choose to birth in. Whether it’s the hospital, birth center or home. No one can make you do anything, but it is emphasized more so in an out of hospital birthing location and even more so at home.

Home Birth Considerations:

There are no epidurals but there are birth pools (hydrotherapy is amazing!) and homeopathic remedies for pain management.

Your birth team along with your primary support person (typically your husband) will help set up the birth space, but your birth team (the midwife and her assistants) will typically clean up after.

As far as emergencies, the midwife comes with her whole bag of things. It’s quite amazing what they bring with them! And you don’t even see it all until if/when they’re needed. Midwives carry IV’s and Pitocin and a host of other items they might need for mom or baby.

Each midwife has their own set of personal and professional knowledge and skill sets they bring with them. Some are licensed lactation consultants (IBCLC’s), others offer placenta encapsulation and I even know a midwife who is also a chiropractor.

Typically you’ll need to purchase a birth kit which has items that the midwife will need to have for you come birth day.

Exchanging understanding looks between mama and her trusted home birth midwife. Jennifer Angell. Black and white photograph by Alaina Nunez La Mirada birth photographer

Understanding Birth Centers

Birth centers are a middle ground with a home-like setting similar to a home birth but not at home and not a medical facilities of a hospital.

The nice perk is you can bring whatever food you’d like to enjoy to keep your energy up while in labor as well as your own celebratory meal to enjoy after baby is here.

You’re typically discharged within 3-4 hours after you’ve given birth.

Birth Center Advantages:

The midwives support natural birthing practices and are accustomed to doing home births if that is what the birthing mother has chosen or the birth center is full.

Often located close to hospitals and have good relationships with a supportive OB. This ensures quick transfers if chosen or necessary.

I’ve had mamas tell me they chose the birth center because they didn’t want to have their children around them while giving birth or associate the memories of birth with their home. Both valid reasons.

It is a good option if you live in a small space, though I had one midwife tell me she had a mama deliver in a Yurt so…

Birth Center Considerations:

Just like homebirth there are no epidurals available but some locations do provide nitrous oxide and there is typically a labor/birth tub in each of the birthing suites so mama can get in and out of the tub throughout labor and even delivery in the tub.

The midwives rotate their on call schedule so make sure you’re ok with the attending midwife being any of the midwives that work at the birth center.

It's a setting away from home, so it might not provide the same level of intimacy.

Each birth center has it’s own vibe and is typically based off of who the owner is and what they like. They also might set up their packages differently. Some might be all inclusive with things like lab work, ultrasounds, etc. Some might charge for each of those individual services on top of your birth package. So make sure to get the break down of services and pricing.

How Can You Decide Which to Choose?

Ask yourself about …

1. Medical Safety: Evaluate your pregnancy risks. Low-risk pregnancies might be more suited for home or birth center births, while higher-risk ones might be safer in hospitals. A midwife can help you determine if you’re low risk and will actually need to make sure that you are before they can take you on.

2. Comfort Level: Some women feel safer in a medical setting, while others prefer the warmth and intimacy of their homes.

3. Cost: Home births and birth centers are typically considered an out of pocket expense even though they cost less than the hospital. Many midwives and birth centers offer payment plans. Insurance might be a tricky thing to work around but there are independent billers who know the ins and outs of getting an out of hospital birth reimbursed. Here is a super helpful article written by a local doula who breaks down the steps to getting your Out of Hospital Birth Reimbursed. There are also medical share programs that you can be a part of that cover out of hospital births but you typically have to be enrolled/a member at least 3 months before becoming pregnant to utilize that perk.

4. Support System: Whether you choose the intimacy of your home or the supportive environment of a birth center, what matters most is what feels right for you!

As your birth photographer and/or doula, I’m accustom to documenting and supporting mamas in various settings whether it be home, birth center or hospital. I’ve worked with some amazing souls within the birth space!

I’ve had 4 hospital births and 2 home births personally. My biggest advice to you is, pray that the Lord would show you where you should give birth and who should be on your birth team. He already knows the future and how everything is going to go, so you can be confident in asking Him for advice. He already knows! He opened the door for my first home birth under impossible circumstances (seriously, it all came together in less than a week!) and was the start of so many life changing events.