If complications are anticipated, it is recommended that women elect a hospital setting where there is easier access to obstetricians, perinatologists, and other experts prepared to deal with a variety of complications related to either the mother or the newborn baby.

Choosing a hospital setting does not necessitate the utilization of every medical intervention available. You may still consult with your health care provider about options related to your delivery. Having a nurse-midwife as part of your delivery team should still be an option. The primary concern is to make sure that you are in a setting that enables your delivery team to address any complication that may arrive.

¹Collaborative statement created by Midwives Alliance of North America, the North American Registry of Midwives, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council and Citizens for Midwifery.
²Schlenzka, Peter, “Safety of Alternative Approaches to Childbirth,” Department of Social Work and Sociology, Ferrum College, 1999.

Reprinted with permission from American Pregnancy Association