| It wasn’t long ago that most women gave birth | | | | medication, under what conditions a C-section should |
| to their children at home. “Natural Birth”, as | | | | be considered, and state of the room during labor |
| it is so often referred to now, was the norm. But | | | | and delivery (e.g. dimmed lights and a quiet |
| since the 1950s, the majority of American women | | | | atmosphere). |
| have delivered their children in the hospital. This is the | | | | |
| medical industry’s preferred approach and | | | | In order to mimic the comfort and privacy of a home |
| women have obliged. | | | | birth, many New York hospitals have adopted the |
| | | | | use of “birthing suites” – rooms set up |
| It appears that the trend may be changing. In | | | | to be more like the home environment and typically |
| recent years, a growing number of women have | | | | offering more options and freedom during labor. |
| been taking a more natural approach to childbirth | | | | Usage of these suites provides the family with a |
| – including opting out of pain medication, | | | | more home-like setting while still being in a hospital |
| episiotomies, and other interventions - and some | | | | – giving them easy access to emergency care, |
| have even been choosing to have their children at | | | | should it be needed. |
| home. Not surprisingly, hospitals and obstetricians | | | | |
| have had to evolve. This is not a regional | | | | In an effort to bridge the gap between traditional |
| phenomenon; the increase in the number of woman | | | | hospital birth and natural birth, some New York |
| seeking these alternative approaches to childbirth is | | | | obstetricians have adopted aspects of the midwifery |
| being seen across the United States, including | | | | model of care: longer prenatal visits, an emphasis on |
| metropolitan New York. | | | | nutrition and holistic medicine, and a more |
| | | | | “hands-off” approach to birth and delivery. |
| In an attempt to meet this growing demand, New | | | | Some New York obstetricians even partner with |
| York obstetricians, hospitals, and the medical | | | | Certified Nurse Midwives, providing a hybrid model of |
| community at-large have had to evolve. One way | | | | modern obstetrical care. |
| obstetricians in New York are adapting to such | | | | |
| requests is developing birth plans with soon-to-be | | | | As medical advances have offered more choice in |
| parents. Birth plans (written statements | | | | prenatal and obstetrical care, an increasing number of |
| documenting a woman’s preference for labor | | | | women are choosing the path of generations before |
| and birth) have become the norm and is an important | | | | us – natural birth. To balance the well-being of |
| vehicle of communication between the physician and | | | | mother and child with a woman’s desires, New |
| the expectant mother. In the birth plan, a woman | | | | York obstetricians and their medical community have |
| can state her preferences regarding the use of pain | | | | evolved to support these choices. |