Frequently Asked Questions
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| · What is a freestanding birthing center?
A freestanding birthing center is a facility not associated with any hospital, university or OB/GYN practice. It is designed to provide professional, cost-effective prenatal, birthing and postpartum care. Birthing centers focus on healthy pregnancy diet, exercise and care to facilitate an optimal birth experience. Family-oriented care encourages parents to invite those closest to them to participate in the birth experience. Mother and baby usually remain at the center for approximately six hours after a normal delivery before returning home.
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| · How safe are birthing centers?
The New England Journal of Medicine released a study in 1989 concluding that birth centers are as safe as hospital environments for delivering babies to low-risk mothers. Birth centers reduce many standard hospital interventions such as labor induction, electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals and routine IVs, so birth centers perform less than half the number of cesarean sections as traditional hospitals.
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| · What is a midwife?
Midwives are trained to assist in the management of normal pregnancy, labor and birth.
Austin ABC midwives are either Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), who have been trained in both nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, or Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), licensed by the state of Texas, who are trained in midwifery. Midwives at Austin ABC take extensive medical histories of our clients, order routine lab tests and provide thorough prenatal, labor and postpartum care.
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| · What about epidurals?
Due to the risks involved, epidurals are not administered at freestanding birth centers such as Austin ABC. The rise in the routine use of epidural medication – anesthesia injected through a catheter threaded through a needle and inserted near the spinal cord – has been linked to the rise in cesarean births throughout the world.
Epidurals are often the first intervention in what is sometimes referred to as a “cascade affect,” or the first medical intervention leading to a multitude of subsequent interventions.
An epidural can slow a woman’s labor, and she is more likely to be given a pitocin drip to speed up the labor process. Movement of the mother during labor is either eliminated completely or severely limited. Epidural administration necessitates fetal monitoring, to ensure the baby’s heart rate is not affected by the drug. The second stage of labor is often particularly slowed, sometimes leading to the use of forceps. All of these interventions can lead to unnecessary cesarean sections.
While epidurals can numb the sensations of pain associated with labor and delivery, they also numb the muscles that aid in pushing the baby out.
The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. published a white paper written by Dr. Sarah Buckley outlining the risks for mother and baby of epidural use. The report concluded that “there is a noticeable lack of research and information about the effects of epidurals on babies. Drugs used in epidurals can reach levels at least as high as those in the mother (Fernando et al.), and because of the baby's immature liver, these drugs take a long time--sometimes days--to be cleared from the baby's body (Caldwell, Wakile et al.). Although findings are not consistent, possible problems, such as rapid breathing in the first few hours (Bratteby et al.) and vulnerability to low blood sugar (Swantstrom et al.) suggest that these drugs have measurable effects on the newborn baby.”
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| · Is any pain medication is available?
Pain medication – an injectable, synthetic analgesic called Nubain – is available at Austin ABC. Nubain (nalbuphine hydrochloride) like Demerol, mimics the effects of naturally occurring pain-reducing chemicals (endorphins). Nubain seems to have the least affect on the newborn of all the injectable-type medications.
Most clients do not ask for or need pain medication. Our clients find that good childbirth education addressing fear of birth is beneficial in preparing for a natural childbirth. Warm water therapy available in AABC’s deep birthing tubs also cuts down on the need for medication. Freedom of movement for the laboring mother (who is not confined to a narrow hospital bed) along with being able to choose various laboring and birth positions, aids in lessening pain and also helps to speed deliveries.
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· What experience does Austin ABC have with challenging births?
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· What birth circumstances require transfer to a hospital? The most common reason for transport during labor is slow progress and/or fatigue. Our midwives are extremely experienced at using age-old techniques to promote progress and support the mother. Since they are also modern nurses or midwives, they use emergency drugs, IVs, oxygen and other supplies to assist with difficult deliveries. However, if hospital support is required, Austin ABC is prepared to transport. We never compromise the health and safety of the mother. Back to Top |
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| · What if something goes wrong?
Again, the staff at Austin ABC has expertise in many challenging birth situations. However, if it becomes necessary, transport to the hospital is easily arranged with private car or ambulance, depending on the mother’s preference and the situation. Back to Top |
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| · Will I have an ultrasound during my prenatal care?
Most clients prefer to receive an ultrasound at least once in their pregnancy. We have our own 2D and 3D state-of-the-art ultrasound machine and our technician has over 28 years experience.
If a scan is abnormal or the mom has risk factors, we refer to a Perinatologist.
Ultrasounds are useful in dating a pregnancy when the mother is not certain how far along she is. They are also used near 20 weeks gestation to examine the baby and placenta. Occasionally, ultrasounds are used when a pregnancy lasts past the due date. This provides your midwives with more information about the baby's health.
Both facilities have an ultrasound machine, however, we prefer using the North Center for our twenty week anatomical scans.
Occasionally, some Austin ABC clients prefer NOT to have any ultrasounds (except in emergencies) and we provide a waiver for them to sign.
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| · Is water birth an option at Austin ABC?
Each birthing room has a deep bathtub appropriate for laboring and/or delivering the baby in the water. Approximately 30% of Austin ABC moms choose to deliver in the water. Those mothers who do not actually give birth in the tub speak highly of the relaxing benefits of having a tub close by for labor.
Austin ABC's birthing tubs can be filled and refilled quickly to ensure sanitation and are supplied by large industrial hot water heaters. Inflatable tubs typically used in home birth settings are filled with a hose, then heated, and can't be drained and refilled during labor and delivery, posing sanitation risks.
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| · Who can attend my birth?
In addition to your midwife and her assistant, you can select anyone you wish to support you during your labor and birth. At Austin ABC, we are committed to providing a warm, calm and nurturing environment for mothers as they labor and in the important first moments of bonding with their newborns. We encourage you to choose support persons who understand what is important to you during this special time.
Our waiting area is available for family and friends to relax outside of your birthing suite, allowing them to share the experience. They are free to use the kitchen, watch movies on the LCD flat screens, or simply surf the web on their laptops using the center's WIFI. There are games and different puzzles for entertainment, and the Duval Rd. center provides recliners for sleeping in the waiting room.
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| · How long will we stay at the birthing center afterwards?
The birthing center is an outpatient facility, so unlike a hospital, mothers stay for 6-8 hours after the birth. If a mother does not meet our criteria for discharge, she is encouraged to stay longer until she has made a full recovery.
During that time, the postpartum caregiver looks after the mother and baby and provides detailed instruction and support.
Postpartum checkups at Austin ABC are more frequent than at the hospital, as you and your baby are seen in your home somewhere between 2 and 3 days after birth, 2 weeks at the center and 6 weeks at the center for your final checkup. All checkups are for BOTH the mother and infant. Additional home visits are sometimes provided at no extra cost if the mom and baby need special help in the first week.
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| · How much does it cost?
Austin ABC is many, many times less expensive than " being delivered" in the hospital. We offer an affordable, flexible self-pay discount plan and work with most major insurance companies. We work with UT SELECT, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care, Aetna, Humana, and many more smaller companies. Financial questions are best answered by Shannon Smith, our administrator. Her email is:
billing@austinabc.com . She will personally guide you through any questions or actions you need to do in order to get top reimbursement from your insurance.
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| · Are there any restrictions on how late in my pregnancy I can use Austin ABC's services?
Austin ABC welcomes healthy women at all stages of pregnancy who do not have serious, chronic health problems (such as high blood pressure or diabetes requiring insulin). First-time moms or those who have only experienced epidurals in the past, must have had some type of birth preparation in order to be accepted at the last minute. If you want to transfer your care to Austin ABC, and you are quite late in your pregnancy, you are welcome to set up a free tour and meet with us! We will need to review your prenatal medical records, though, before we can set an appointment for your first real checkup at Austin ABC.
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Contact
Feel free to contact us by email
Austin Area Birthing Center Duval Location
4100 Duval Road
Bldg. #2, Ste. #101
Austin,TX, 78759
Phone:(512)346-3224
Bldg. #2, Ste. #101
Austin,TX, 78759
Phone:(512)346-3224
Fax: (512) 345-6637
Austin Area Birthing Center Wm Cannon and Manchaca Location
2500 W. William Cannon Drive
Bldg 5, Ste. #503
Austin, TX 78745
Phone (512) 243-8066
Emergency After Hours Answering Service:
(512) 473-6642
Forms
Fill in your medical history form before your first tour/interview appointment. You can type it in and email it right from our web site! We will review it and call or email you right away to set a time to visit with us at either or both locations that works for you. See our forms here.
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