5 reasons why you should choose a hospital for childbirth

The funniest thing just happened. I searched for “why choose hospital for childbirth”, and the only results that came up were for how to choose the hospital to birth in. Apparently the only reason is because we are sheep and don’t care to question the default mentality society has instilled in us?

Surely there must be some valid reasons. Here I present to you my own.

1. You have a bona fide medical condition

I don’t mean you have small hips because hips separate and spread and allow the baby through, unless yours have fused together for some reason, which is certainly a valid medical condition which would require you to have a c-section in the hospital.

Or you might be a hemophiliac. Hypochondriacs don’t count.

2. Your baby has a condition which requires immediate medical attention.

I know of a baby who had a couple organs form outside its body. Thankfully this was revealed by ultrasound during the pregnancy and they were able to plan a hospital birth which was scheduled in such a way which allowed for the baby’s surgery to be performed immediately after emerging from the womb.

3. You are a people-pleaser.

I struggle to term this one, because I want to give this reason the respect it is due. I don’t want for it to be misconstrued in any way.

It is true that hospital birth is the de facto birthplace. And people being what we are, we usually assume and expect what is de facto until we have reason to think otherwise. When you’re the one introducing that upset into someone else’s paradigm, you might find yourself the unintended-consequences recipient of quite a challenge. People don’t always adopt changes of view without resistance. Particularly with something so sensitive and serious as childbirth. The life of your child. The idea of you bucking the medical system’s presumed protection of it.

These are not necessarily easy things to deal with, and particularly not for the uninitiated woman who is just trying to stay atop of all the pregnancy hormones raging through her body. I believe a woman can do anything! Everything! But she can only do so much at one time.

4. You believe in the medical system, and that birth is a medical event.

“Birth is a very intricate process in which tragedy waits around every corner. If it were any less complicated, then it wouldn’t take doctors 8 years of full-time study to learn it!” If this resembles your thoughts in the slightest way, then your whole approach to health care and the understanding of our bodies  demands that this is the safest and best place for you.

5. You are truly terrified of birth anywhere else.

The fear – tension – pain cycle is a physiological fact. If you truly fear for the safety of your baby or yourself in the absence of the latest medical widgets and wizardry, that fear will impact your body’s ability to function properly, it will affect your labor, and potentially lead to disastrous consequences.

In conclusion

While I do advocate wholeheartedly for holistic childbirth which is safe, healthy, and empowering, there are times and conditions in which a hospital does present as the best option for a birth.

Your turn!
Under what specific conditions would you choose a hospital birth?
Share your thoughts!