https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:25:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421598 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 17:20:11 +0000 skipra 1421598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can see the appeal for having #2 because I'm not quite ready to be away from DS for so long. Plus we know better what to expect and don't need all the help that was a benefit of the hospital birth.</p> <p>My stay at the hospital with DS was fine. It was not an option for me to have him in a birthing center because they suspected IUGR and after he was born he need to have his blood sugar tested frequently. That was the most annoying thing but it was unavoidable. In all honesty, I would not have traded in the help that the nurses gave with breastfeeding the first couple days. They woke me up in the middle of the night when DH was supposed to but slept through it, helped with latching and keeping him awake while feeding, etc. It was invaluable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421557 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 17:09:42 +0000 Ree723 1421557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth in a standard hospital but I did go home four hours after the arrival of DD2 last week. As soon as she was born, I felt like a million bucks and because neither I nor LO had any complications, we were cleared for discharge at the four hour mark (the earliest they will let you leave).</p> <p>The pediatrician did her health assessment of LO before we left and then midwives came to do home visits the next day (24 hrs old), two days later (72 hrs old), and two days after that. The weight checks, heel prick, and my checks were all done in the comfort of our own home. I do have to take her in for her hearing test today but no big deal.</p> <p>I stayed in hospital for 36 hours with DD1 and just wanted out of there! With both births, I felt great, had no problems moving around, didn't need any painkillers despite a second degree tear both times, and wasn't feeling massively exhausted or in need of any help. Staying in hospital was/would have been the biggest waste of time. Had I known how awesome it was to go home after four hours, I would have pushed for it last time too. And it was lovely to get home to my toddler as well. We left for the hospital at 4:00 am whilst she was sleeping, and were home by 1:30 pm with a baby in our arms. I don't think she'd even realised we were gone yet!</p> <p>All my American family and friends were appalled I got out so early but I will most definitely do it again in the future if there is a baby #3! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421224 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:52:56 +0000 anonysquire 1421224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should add, my reasons are strictly for anxiety. I work in a hospital and love hospitals and modern technology but get too anxious when I am the patient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421204 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:48:06 +0000 Foodnerd81 1421204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Exactly. And mine didn't really come in overnight, and there was a sign I could put up to not be disturbed for a set number of hours if I wanted. We never even needed it. </p> <p>Oh and I felt like a leaky bloody mess so I was happy to not worry about staining anything of my own :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421194 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:46:26 +0000 lawbee11 1421194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I'm like you...I was happy to be there. Yes, it was annoying that the nurses came into the room often and I didn't get much sleep at all, but the reason they kept coming and going was to check on me and my baby (make sure I wasn't having any uterine clots, taking my temp &amp; M's temp, ped visited M both days we were there, etc.) so I viewed all of those things as necessary to ensure that me and my baby were healthy and ready to go home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421183 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:43:04 +0000 googly-eyes 1421183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I didn't want to leave right away either! I didn't get hourly blood pressure checks though. I was happy to have help from the nursing staff after being in labor for days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421164 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:40:23 +0000 anonysquire 1421164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh there is no way I want to be anywhere medical related longer than I have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421153 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:38:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 1421153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess my hospital/center experience isn't the norm. @rachiecakes: I had C there too, but we stayed the full two days-- had at 7 am on Monday, left Weds afternoon when they were like, well.... your insurance isn't going to pay for you to stay so you should probably go. I didn't feel like there were that many people coming and going and it was helpful to have people to ask questions about taking care of her. Plus I ended up sending C to the nursery for a few hours each night we were there, even though I swore I wouldn't (and I admit- judged people who did!) because I figured this was my last chance for a few hours of sleep. All rooms were private so DH stayed with me the whole time-- if he wasn't there I would have felt very differently. </p> <p>@mrs. bird: I don't know where you live, but I loved Mount Auburn and recommend it to everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421132 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:35:11 +0000 Weagle 1421132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: We'll have plenty of folks around to babysit, I definitely don't want another person in my house! Maybe I'll hire one for when everyone leaves though... :) That was such a scary experience though, that I doubt DH (or I) will ever be comfortable not being in the hospital.</p> <p>ETA: I am a big fan of doulas though. We loved ours! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421126 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:33:33 +0000 nana87 1421126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: oh man, I wish it was only going to be like $50 more!! being in nyc makes everything soooooo much more expensive! I was worried at first that my reasons for wanting to be at the birth center were primarily so we could have a private room without paying the exorbitant upcharge, lol, but I've been leaning more towards wanting a natural birth anyway so now that's just a bonus ;) that is, assuming I don't have complications pop up that necessitate me being in the traditional l&amp;d floor anyway.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421113 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:30:31 +0000 Arden 1421113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: I gotta put a recomendation in here for a postpartum doula - they can watch for potential medical problems and babysit. ;) They are awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421108 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:29:08 +0000 regberadaisy 1421108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: that's how the hospitals in nYC are! Dads can't stay and private rooms are like $1k more! Mine was only like $50 more and $75 for a suite! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421089 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:25:11 +0000 AprilFool 1421089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO was born at 7am and I was home by 4pm. They would of let us leave earlier but I had a baaaaaad tear so they were watching me. Honestly, before birth the idea terrified me and I wasn't sure I would do it. I had the option to check into the regular maternity ward if I wanted. But they said I could go home and DH couldn't stay with us if we stayed so I went home. We don't regret it, in fact it is our favourite thing about our birth. Being home, in our own bed, not being interrupted was awesome. We just felt so relaxed.</p> <p>The pead did have to check LO before we could come home and my midwifes did home visits every few days until about 10 days later, even then if I needed them they would of kept coming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421086 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:24:36 +0000 Weagle 1421086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm waffling between birth center and hospital birth for this LO. I love the idea of being in a more homey place, and the idea of a tub to labor in. But I had a really hard time after LO was born, including a blood transfusion that wasn't even started until almost 24 hours after she was born. If I had gone home after 3-4 hours, things would not have been good. Plus, I look forward to having a day or two getting to know this new baby before going home to parent two children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421081 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:23:17 +0000 LuLu Mom 1421081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved our hospital, we stayed for 4 days due to LO being in the NICU. After the first day the nurses left me alone, they joked about me being their easiest patient. I pretty much was using the hostpial as a hotel to be close to my daughter. The food was delicious, I had a whole menu to choose from, they had a snack station for DH to use 24 hours a day, &amp; it was set up to be more like a hotel than a hospital. I'm excited to go back for #2 ;) haha oh and heated toliet seats with a bidet &amp; air drier...it was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421074 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:22:08 +0000 mrs. bird 1421074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: at NSBC, you can labor and deliver at the birthing center, then you can elect to go home or you can be admitted to postpartum in the hospital for 48hrs. i am kind of obsessed and wish i lived just a little closer so i could go there!<br /> <a href="http://www.beverlyhospital.org/locations--services/health-services/maternity,-obstetrics/north-shore-birth-center" rel="nofollow">http://www.beverlyhospital.org/locations--services/health-services/maternity,-obstetrics/north-shore-birth-center</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421062 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:18:20 +0000 nana87 1421062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't given birth yet, but my hospital has both a traditional L&amp;D floor and a birth center, and the birth center has an "early discharge" program (most patients leave 12-18 hrs after birth, after baby is checked out by a pediatrician and everyone signs off that mom and baby are good to go!). I seriously wonder if it's bc the birth center is a lot smaller--there are only 3 rooms (plus 2 extra recovery rooms if they need them, most people stay in the same room the whole time) so they need to turn them over faster. But it still seems better than staying longer in the L&amp;D floor, in major part bc to get a private room you have to pay an extra 1k out of pocket per night, and your SO can't stay over with you unless you have a private room. I would definitely rather be with dh at home than stuck in a hospital where he couldn't be with us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421050 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:16:22 +0000 looch 1421050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I delivers abroad, in a hospital and stayed 4 days after my vaginal birth. I couldn't get out of bed for two days, it was on the third day I managed to walk down the hall, so I have no idea how some women are up and doing target runs 24 hours later! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1421015 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:05:55 +0000 ShootingStar 1421015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Yeah, it's really too bad :(. Our nurses were so nice. The night we decided we needed to supplement with formula he was screaming until 4am so we put out our do not disturb tag and the nurses didn't bother us for hours and hours the next day. And they told the doctors we had a rough night and to not bother us. I had a c-section so I wanted meds, but it definitely wasn't pushed. One night nurse kinda forgot and I had to remind her to give me something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420994 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:01:18 +0000 regberadaisy 1420994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I had a very similar hospital experience. I loved our hospital!! It was so relaxing and none of the nurses pushed anything on me. It sucks that more hospitals aren't like that. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420981 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:59:09 +0000 Arden 1420981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Yes they do. After the first hour or two of undisturbed bonding time, they do all the newborn screenings on your bed. Weight, measurements, PKU, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420980 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:58:28 +0000 Arden 1420980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I transferred to a hospital from a birthing center for complications, and I can tell you I would 100% rather recover at home.<br /> The staff came into the room every hour or so and woke us up, they pushed oxy on me like five times a day after I made it VERY clear I didn't want heavy painkillers, the food sucked, it was freezing cold, and an alarm went off every time my husband or mom carried the baby to the opposite side of the room (security anklet was way over-sensitive). They were also not at all helpful with breastfeeding and kept stressing me out over how many wet diapers she was having (she was 100% fine) and wanted to give her formula on day 1.</p> <p>It sucked, and it was not restful at all. Next time I'll check out within 6 hours and have a skilled postpartum doula stay with me for the first 2-3 days at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420979 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:58:26 +0000 ShootingStar 1420979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved being at our hospital. The maternity section was way different and more comfortable than the labor section. The rooms were peaceful and quiet, nurses didn't bother you too often, room service, a 1x/day dessert cart, etc. If you only experienced the labor portion, I could see why you'd want to get out of there ASAP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420966 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:55:59 +0000 regberadaisy 1420966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those that went home hours after birth. Did they check all your newborn's stats, new born screening etc all within that time frame? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420946 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:49:51 +0000 sslm 1420946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went home 2.5 hours after giving birth and it was awesome. Being home was so much more comfortable!! My mom was our room service :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420928 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:46:14 +0000 rachiecakes 1420928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I had J at the Bain Birth Center at MAH, because of complications I had to stay for 5 days afterwards but my friend that had no complications went home within 24 hours.<br /> I wanted to have the option to leave if I felt great (or stay/receive additional care, if needed). At least that's why I chose MAH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420853 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:29:03 +0000 illumina 1420853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a birthing centre birth--but the hospital policy here, unless you have a c-section, is to discharge you after 3-6hrs. I ended up staying overnight because I had an infection, but the next day I begged them to let me go home. I just missed the comfort of home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420801 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:17:00 +0000 artsyfartsy 1420801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not having a birth center birth (there's not one near me) but I know I would like to go home ASAP after birth, or even be home already (home birth) if that were an option for me.</p> <p>I just want the time between me and my husband and baby to be quiet and private. I feel like with medical staff constantly buzzing around it'll make me nervous and intimidate me into thinking im doing something wrong and inhibiting me to learn to care for him in a non judgmental setting. Especially for breastfeeding (losing too much weight and stressing me out about it), even though I'll be taking advantage of a lactation consultant in the hospital.</p> <p>I know they aren't judgmental and are only there to help, and I appreciate that but just with my personality and how I like things, I'd rather go home to comfort as soon as possible.</p> <p>I've been in the hospital twice thinking I was having this baby (not yet lol) and I hated being there. I hate feeling like I'm having things DONE to me. Poked and prodded and such. They wouldn't let me have any water last time and I knew and they knew that I wasn't even in true labor and would be going home. I thought that was ridiculous. I think it's ridiculous not to let laboring women have food or water ANYWAY, but I wasn't even in labor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420799 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:16:49 +0000 jetsa 1420799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate hospitals and so I had no desire to be there any longer than I had to. We left at like 24 hours and 1 minute lol.</p> <p>ETA: Also the hourly blood pressure checks and nurse dropins is too much for me. My mom stayed with us after birth and I greatly appreciated that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthing-center-question#post-1420778 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:12:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 1420778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It seems most or many birthing centers only keep you for a few hours after the birth, then you go off on your way. What's the appeal of that? You just want to be at home (or wherever you are staying)?</p> <p>I get not wanting to go to the hospital or center until you are in active labor- I preferred laboring at home and think it helped me have the med free birth I wanted-- but I was happy to have medical staff around and room service for the first two days. They pretty much had to kick us out! </p> <p>So, curious what the reasoning is for leaving so soon. </p>