I don't think all hospitals are bad. Statistics show strong regional variance. And I don't think all doctors are caught up in the ass-covering, nor are all midwives awesome. My midwife bugs the fuck out of me. She's brilliant, but WEIRD. Thankfully, I really like her midwife student that attends me as well.
As for the Bay Area, there are only two birth centers! As progressive as this area is, health care is not as progressive as one would expect. I mean, there are a million yoga studios, chiropractors, alternative medicine people, etc - but when it comes to birth, oh no. One birth center is actually super high class (ie, $$$) and connected with a private hospital. Photos on the web make it look like a spa. The other is in SF (the one I'm going to) and is run by one midwife, with three midwife students near the end of their training. She has a relationship with area hospitals in the event that the mother needs or wants to transfer.
I feel VERY lucky to have a choice in my birthing process. Adam and I, thanks to a work project he got over the winter, allows us to pay for the birth center out of pocket. However, the total cost for the birth center (all prenatal care, classes and the birth) is still not much more than the total costs of using Kaiser - even with insurance! The realities of location, option, insurance, income, familial support, etc will influence what kind of choice a woman has.
no subject
As for the Bay Area, there are only two birth centers! As progressive as this area is, health care is not as progressive as one would expect. I mean, there are a million yoga studios, chiropractors, alternative medicine people, etc - but when it comes to birth, oh no. One birth center is actually super high class (ie, $$$) and connected with a private hospital. Photos on the web make it look like a spa. The other is in SF (the one I'm going to) and is run by one midwife, with three midwife students near the end of their training. She has a relationship with area hospitals in the event that the mother needs or wants to transfer.
I feel VERY lucky to have a choice in my birthing process. Adam and I, thanks to a work project he got over the winter, allows us to pay for the birth center out of pocket. However, the total cost for the birth center (all prenatal care, classes and the birth) is still not much more than the total costs of using Kaiser - even with insurance! The realities of location, option, insurance, income, familial support, etc will influence what kind of choice a woman has.