Birthing Center in Austin (insurance, live, vs.)

[readymade]

Does anyone know of a birthing center (NOT in a hospital) in Austin other than the "Austin Area Birthing Center?"

Preferably one Central or South/Central.

Thanks!

[corntortilla]

I think that this place: Services (http://www.birthwisetx.com/Services.html - broken link) has a birthing suite on site in addition to providing in-home delivery care.

[Danbo1957]

There are fewer and fewer out-of-hospital birthing centers in cities due to liability issues, and that federal Medicaid refuses payment for those who use "free standing" facilities. You might consider a "rural" birthing center outside Austin...

[readymade]

Actually, the "Austin Area Birthing Center" is pretty amazing. I went for a tour, and I really liked it. It's sad that there are so few birthing centers since there are fewer risks using one than delivering in a hospital. And, ironically, my insurance will pay 60% for the birthing center and 90% for a hospital. To me, it's worth having to pay the extra money to not run the massive risk of getting a staph infection in the hospital.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Danbo1957]

Originally Posted by readymade

It's sad that there are so few birthing centers since there are fewer risks using one than delivering in a hospital... pay the extra money to not run the massive risk of getting a staph infection in the hospital.

This has changed completely. Hospitals now have "women's wings and birthing centers" that are separate physically from the general hospital. The new Women's Center at the North Austin Medical Center (North Mopac) just built this type of facility - my daughter just gave birth to a child there last month.

The big issue with liability is not with the birth of the child (if deemed low risk), it's the mother's health that is of direct concern. Mother's who have serious medical complications in child birth will fare much better with a hospital, doctors, and surgeries close by.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

This has changed completely. Hospitals now have "women's wings and birthing centers" that are separate physically from the general hospital. The new Women's Center at the North Austin Medical Center (North Mopac) just built this type of facility - my daughter just gave birth to a child there last month.

The big issue with liability is not with the birth of the child (if deemed low risk), it's the mother's health that is of direct concern. Mother's who have serious medical complications in child birth will fare much better with a hospital, doctors, and surgeries close by.

I asked one of the midwives how often a mother or baby has died as a result of being in the birthing center vs. a hospital. She looked surprised and said that that's never happened in the 20+ years the birthing center has been operating.

I get that hospitals have birthing wings, but honestly after my last experience in a hospital (my baby died as the result of my getting a staph infection. The hospital later denied any responsibility, and in fact, denied that it was MRSA even though I was holding the blood results in my hand), and after talking to a few nurses who work in hospitals ("filthy, FILTHY place" is a direct quote), I believe a birthing center is a safer option.

Here's is a quote:

"The New England Journal of Medicine released a study in 1989 concluding that birth centers are as safe as hospital environments for delivering babies to low-risk mothers. Because birth centers reduce many standard hospital interventions such as labor induction, electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals and routine IVs, birth centers perform approximately half the number of cesarean sections as traditional hospitals."

[Trainwreck20]

This is not a debate on one vs. the other, please. That is a different topic and a different forum.

[corntortilla]

Originally Posted by readymade

I asked one of the midwives how often a mother or baby has died as a result of being in the birthing center vs. a hospital. She looked surprised and said that that's never happened in the 20+ years the birthing center has been operating.

I get that hospitals have birthing wings, but honestly after my last experience in a hospital (my baby died as the result of my getting a staph infection. The hospital later denied any responsibility, and in fact, denied that it was MRSA even though I was holding the blood results in my hand), and after talking to a few nurses who work in hospitals ("filthy, FILTHY place" is a direct quote), I believe a birthing center is a safer option.

Here's is a quote:

"The New England Journal of Medicine released a study in 1989 concluding that birth centers are as safe as hospital environments for delivering babies to low-risk mothers. Because birth centers reduce many standard hospital interventions such as labor induction, electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals and routine IVs, birth centers perform approximately half the number of cesarean sections as traditional hospitals."

Ugh, how awful for you! I can't imagine your pain in going through that.

I'm thinking of touring both places - AABC and Birthwise Family Center for my upcoming birth. I went to the acupuncture clinic associated with Birthwise last night (I have a breech baby and am trying to get her to flip) and am going to talk to them today. A friend had her baby at AABC back in January and was so impressed with it (she had delivered at Seton for her previous pregnancy).

[readymade]

Originally Posted by corntortilla

A friend had her baby at AABC back in January and was so impressed with it (she had delivered at Seton for her previous pregnancy).

That's so good to know! I would love to hear more about it.

[kingugly]

Why not just use a midwife at home?