Where should I give birth?

Hospital birth

• Major plus point: Immediate medical care in the event of an emergency.
• Atmosphere: clinical birthing rooms have long given way to modern rooms with a pleasant ambience.
• Birthing aids: birthing tub for water births, birthing stool, birthing bed, Roma birth wheel, birthing ball, rope, wall bars, etc. – depending on the hospital’s standard of fittings.
• Emergencies: immediate medical care and all the medical aids and specialists required for a forceps delivery and use of suction cups or for an on-site caesarean section.
• Risk pregnancies and neonatal unit: (neonatology): Women classified as high risk are advised to deliver in a hospital. Babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy are classified as premature. 
• Care during the birth: In most cases, a midwife and a doctor will look after the mum-to-be. In the early phases of labour, the parents-to-be can also be left alone. 
• Pain medication: an epidural or peridural anaesthesia (PDA) is a spinal anaesthesia which relieves pain in the abdomen and achieves almost total pain relief. Many maternity units also offer acupuncture, massages, phyto- and aromatherapy.
• Duration of stay: If you have an inpatient birth (vaginal) without complications, you and your baby can leave the hospital after just a few hours. Most women tend to spend 3 to 5 days recovering in hospital. If there are complications or the mum-to-be undergoes a caesarean section, she will have to stay longer. 
• Hospital maternity facility: This is a special ward where, at the request of the expectant parents, only a midwife is present at the birth. A doctor is only called in case of complications. Not all hospitals have an integrated maternity facility.

Maternity facility

• Major plus point: In maternity facilities, midwives try to allow the birth to progress as naturally as possible.
• Atmosphere: maternity facilities set great store by a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and are staffed by qualified, professional midwives. They want mums-to-be to feel secure and comfortable, so maternity facilities cater to individual wishes and birthing requirements.
• Birthing aids: birthing tub for water births, natural pain relief, cosy birthing room, stool, mat, ball, rope – depending on the maternity facility’s standard of fittings.
• Emergencies : maternity facilities rarely work with doctors. In the event of complications, the mum-to-be is taken to the nearest hospital with her midwife.
• Care during the birth: The same midwife who has supported the mum-to-be throughout the pregnancy will be present for the birth.
• Pain relief: maternity facilities don’t offer PDAs. They prefer to use alternative methods of pain relief such as heat and breathing techniques, massage, music and movement.
• Duration of stay: Maternity facilities usually offer outpatient births. Mum and baby leave the facility within 24 hours and a midwife checks in on them at home. Some maternity facilities also offer inpatient after-birth care.
• Accompanying family: Often, the family can be accommodated in one room.

Birth at home

• Major plus point: Private atmosphere in a familiar environment – it can have a very relaxing and calming effect.
• Care during the birth: A midwife looks after the mum-to-be when contractions start. A second midwife is involved in the birth itself so that mum and baby receive the best possible care. A doctor is called for the birth on a case-by-case basis.
• Emergencies: the mum-to-be is taken to hospital for a caesarean section and other emergencies.