March 17, 2021 by Jane Chevalier
Hospitals & birth centers: what are the major differences? I personally have experienced both, as I intended on having a birth center birth, but ended up in a hospital. My care was at a birth center until I was 39 weeks when I then had to transfer to an OB due to my baby being breech.
Birth Center:
- Size – Smaller; fewer rooms & smaller birth teams
- Atmosphere – “Cozy”; comfy beds in rooms that make you feel like your “home”
- Amenities – Hot tubs, birth balls, labor chairs, hammocks and more
- Support – Most moms go home the same day they give birth
- Staff – Midwives & nurses
- Extras – Some birth centers have lactation support & limited meals
Hospital:
- Size – Larger; more rooms & larger teams (most likely will have different nurses throughout)
- Atmosphere – Sterile; you will definitely feel like you are in a hospital
- Amenities – Limited; but more and more now have hot tubs, birth balls and more
- Support – Most moms stay at least 1 night, maybe more depending on health status & birth
- Staff – Midwives, OB’s, nurses & lactation consultants
- Extras – Lactation support, meals, extra support from nurses and pain management
Many Hospitals such as UCHealth and Rose have BOTH – a birth center within the hospital – best of both worlds!
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