Birthing Choices

Birthing Choices For many centuries, expectant parents did not have choices when it came to the birth of their baby. Options simply were not available. The birth of a child took place, most often, in the couple’s home, attended at most by a midwife. Today in the twenty-first century however, the choices can at times seem endless. Expecting couples can choose many things including the place of birth, who attends the birth, what medications they want during the birth, and whether or not to plan the date of the baby’s arrival. I have been involved in the choices of several friends and family members as well as exploring these options for myself, both a few years ago and right now in the present. These choices are not easily made, they involve a lot of thought and at times things such as religion or personal beliefs also weigh in. This essay will explore two of these choices and what is involved in deciding on a particular choice. The strengths and weaknesses of each option will also be discussed. The first choice to be explored is that of location. Locations that are available to expectant parents include a hospital maternity ward, a birthing center (usually staffed by a midwife), or the home of the parents-to-be. This can be one of the most important decisions that a couple makes throughout their entire experience with pregnancy and birth. Many women, including my best friend, feel that the hospital setting is very clinical and impersonal which is not always the case. When deciding to have your baby in a hospital or other setting there are many factors to consider. Depending on prior experience with hospital births, a couple may or may not wish to repeat this experience. For example, my friend had a bad experience with her first child in a hospital delivery setting. She felt that the staff was very impersonal and treated her like just another patient. She was reluctant to have her next delivery in a similar setting. I encouraged her to tour