Giving birth at a hospital close to home is convenient for moms, partners and baby’s siblings, and typically means more support and fewer expenses.
(PRUnderground) August 23rd, 2024
For moms who plan to be pregnant or who are pregnant, deciding where to deliver a baby is a decision with a lot of factors. Does mom already have a doctor or midwife they are seeing for prenatal care? Where does the provider deliver babies? Which hospitals are in network for the health insurance plan or Medicaid?
For most pregnant moms, the OB-GYN or certified nurse midwife will recommend prenatal visits once a month during the first trimester, and every two weeks during the second trimester, and then every week as mom gets closer to full term.
“With all those prenatal appointments, choosing a provider you know and trust and who practices at a clinic close to your home can be reassuring, and can also save you a lot of time and travel expense,” said Emily Hart Hayes, a certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner at Intermountain Riverton Hospital.
National statistics show that 97 percent of the time, babies are born normal and healthy. The US HealthyPeople2020 initiative estimates that about 85 percent of pregnant women enter labor at “low risk”, meaning with very few medical problems. While complications can arise in pregnancy and birth, they are not the norm.
“At Intermountain hospitals, we have certified nurse midwives that deliver babies in our hospitals and many different options for a low-intervention type birth,” said Hayes.
“Choosing to give birth at a hospital, you’ve got that safety net of advanced expertise and higher-level care should complications arise for mom or baby during childbirth,” she added.
Giving birth at a hospital close to home is convenient for moms, partners, and the baby’s siblings. And it typically means mom is closer to her local network of friends and family and providers who can offer support postpartum.
“A lot of my patients say giving birth at a smaller community hospital feels more personalized, a little quieter and more like home. It’s convenient, comfortable, and safe. And you may even know some of the hospital’s caregivers already,” said Hayes.
Should complications for mom or baby arise during pregnancy, mom’s trusted provider may refer her to an OB-GYN who specializes in high-risk pregnancies, called a maternal fetal medicine specialist who may help co-manage your care. These specialists care for pregnant moms with conditions like Type 1 diabetes, known cardiac disease, kidney disease or severe pulmonary disease or conditions such as placenta accreta.
“Certainly, there are some medical conditions where it’s safer to deliver in a higher-level facility, such as if you know in advance that your baby has a heart condition. But prenatal ultrasounds typically help us know and plan for that specialized care ahead of time,” said Hayes.
“If you’ve made it to full term without complications and your pregnancy is not considered high risk, a smaller community hospital can be a comforting place to deliver your baby. They are equipped to deal with the vast majority of conditions and are prepared to get people to the right level of care at the right time,” she added.
“In the event that complications arise for your baby during labor, delivery, or after birth, there are options for doctors or midwives to consult with neonatologists 24/7 through telehealth. The community hospital caregivers are guided as to how to provide more specialized hands-on care. Community hospitals can also help stabilize a newborn and help transport them to another facility with a higher-level NICU if needed,” said Hayes.
To find a women and newborn provider in Utah visit intermountainhealth.org
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
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Original Press Release.
