NU 6 by AC Birthing Centers

NU 6 PAPER – PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT

Submission No. 6

ENTREPRENEURSHIP by Mr. Jorge Saguinsin

Submitted by R110083

October 26, 2011

Most of the time, in the Philippines, a pregnant couple would give birth in any of the following places: at home, lying-in centers or clinics, or hospitals.  The home is where pregnant couple would give birth with the assistance of a midwife (licensed or not); the lying-in center or clinic is where others give birth with the assistance of a licensed midwife, occasionally an OB-Gyne; and the hospital (tertiary to primary type), is where still others (with more affordability) may give birth with the assistance of an OB-Gyne with facilities for complicated labor and birth.

A birthing center is a middle ground between home and the hospital.  Unlike the hospital which may have the right equipment and facilities and able medical staff but also a very clinical, and hospital atmosphere in which the patient feels within the control of that environment, the birthing center would have its labor rooms infused with the coziness of a home or a hotel ambience, featuring homestyle furnishing (home quality beddings and bed sheets, a sofa, a rocking chair, homestyle cabinetry instead of hospital equipment such as beds, gurneys, metal side tables and stools and cold cabinets).  Majority of Filipinos give birth in their own homes with much less, in fact. Moreover, unlike the home setting, the birthing center would have the necessary standby equipment, medical staff and specialists for normal and complicated labor and delivery.

Thus, a birthing center would have the elements of both hospital and home:

FEATURE	HOSPITAL	HOME	BIRTHING CENTER
STAFF	Ob-gyne, Pediatrician, Anaesthesiologist, other specialists	Midwife
FACILITY	Labor Room, Operating Room, Recovery Room	None
EQUIPMENT	Standard L/R and O/R Equipment	None
FURNISHINGS	Hospital Type – gurney, sheets, stools, tables	Homestyle – bed, sheets, chairs, tables, rocking chair
BATHROOM	No shower facilities in L/R; single stall shower in hospital rooms	Shower and maybe bath tub available
NURSERY	Isolated Nursery, Neonatal faclities	None
PHILOSOPHY	Poised Medical Intervention for Pathological Premise	Natural Childbirth
PRE-NATAL CARE	OB-Gune Consultation	Midwife consultation		Childbirth Classes
POST-NATAL CARE	None	None	Lactation Expert, Masseuse

The last element, the philosophy which provides the essence for the birthing center allows the pregnant couple to be pro-active in managing their labor and delivery with strong support for non-medicated pain relief, for vaginal birth (versus cesaerean delivery), avoiding episiotomy or a tear when you give birth and therefore also avoiding stitches in the perineum.  All this will result in a very involved and more wonderful birth experience.

The way this birth center is staffed equipped provides adequate resources so even high medical management cases of labor and delivery can be accommodated. The couple could then look forward to an environment that strongly encourage and champion natural childbirth and breastfeeding with the sense of security and peace of mind that the right staff and facility are also on standby in case it becomes necessary.   After all, childbirth is a happy occasion.  Medical care is provided not so much as to treat an illness or condition but rather simply, precautionary in nature.  Where too, if nature were allowed to take its own course, no medical intervention becomes necessary at all.

The time for the mother and father and baby friendly birthing center is long over due in the Philippines. 3 (there are quite a number of lying in centers, birthing centers in the country now.  There are hundreds all ready)