Home Birth or Birth Center?

Oct 22. 2019: 

I originally thought a birth center must be an “in between” option for a hospital and home birth, but with further research, it’s basically like a home birth, just not your home and without the drive in labor. It’s like going over to your friend’s house to give birth or to a nice hotel. So the question becomes, which one is more comfortable for me? I asked the midwife who gave me a tour today of a brand new birth center that accepts vbac patients (the first that I know of within 30 min of me).  We discussed how we live in a culture that makes it “normal” to go to an institution to give birth so it may feel more comforting to go to a birth center than stay at home for some women. So, it’s basically just the mental element. My issue here now (as I am again debating my choices since my first midwife may not be able to take me on) is that how the hell can I know what’s going to be more comforting to me when in labor since I’ve never experienced it before? 

I am going to make a pros and cons list to help me decide. Here it is:

Mental PROS for home birth: 

• no drive anywhere 
• my son can be at home and can meet baby right away and have dad at least check in on him while someone else is his caretaker during labor so the home is more family centered in that way. 
• I’m most familiar with my home therefore I am going to be comfortable there 
• memory of birth in home
• 6 min drive to good hospital that midwife said was a good one to transfer to should I have to
• No abrupt changes during labor to help my odds of staying in labor without setbacks. 
• No one else laboring in rooms nearby possibly. 
• All my stuff is there and can have lots of food/drinks etc./ no packing of goods

Mental PROS Birth Center:

• Our culture has ingrained “going somewhere” as the normal thing to do so this could perhaps feel comforting
• no prep in my house
• They are pretty, calm rooms, a deck/tub/bed and bathroom all close to one another, everything is set up already once we’re there. Terrace for night air laboring outside.

Mental NEGATIVES for Home birth:

• Managing dog and other son too in small house with multiple midwives/students attending the birth (issues that can be solved though with boarding dog near due date)
• Getting someone reliable to watch my son while we’re laboring at home, and who I am comfortable with as anyone who is in the home has to be a “safe” person to me and someone I am very comfortable with

(both of these seem like logistical issues that can be figured out closer to birth: board dog, hire a doula in training or something to be a sibling doula)

My CONCLUSION:

Seems like home birth is the better option for me.