There also is a family waiting area with a specialty coffeemaker and shaved ice machine. A large community room offers space for classes such as Hypnobabies and yoga. Your Way: Birth Center or Hospital The center’s certified nurse-midwives believe that childbirth is a normal, natural life event for which a woman’s body is designed. They help patients achieve their goals for childbirth, whether that means a natural delivery without pain medication or something different. Although epidurals and pain medications are not administered at the birth center, they are available at GHS’ Greenville Memorial Hospital—a mere half mile away. Patients at Greenville Midwifery Care have the option of giving birth in the birth center or at the hospital, and Smith said the majority of their patients still choose to deliver at the hospital.
“To be at the birth center, a different mindset and preparation has to happen,” Smith said. “That’s not for everybody. We understand that, and we definitely want to be supportive of women in giving them options.” For patients who choose to give birth at the hospital, the midwife will support their labor, just as she would at the birth center—guiding the patient in the use of the same labor aids, including a birthing tub if desired. Safety First Several risk factors, if present, rule out the option of giving birth in the birth center. These include high blood pressure, preeclampsia and diabetes requiring medication. “If there’s someone who we as midwives feel isn’t a great candidate for the birth center, we have those conversations as early as possible,” Smith said. Inside Health 10
