The Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital (Can Ruti) in Badalona (Barcelonès) has set up a new birth center, Casa Laietania , to attend natural births in conditions similar to those of a home, but with the security of being in a health center.
It is the first space of its kind managed by the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS) and was inaugurated this Monday by the Minister of Health, Josep Maria Argimon , the mayor of Badalona, Xavier Garcia Albiol , the director of the hospital, Antoni Dávalos , the head of the Obstetrics Service, Carme Comas, and the coordinator of the birth center, Lucía Alcaraz .
“It is a project that replicates the home birth model in a hospital environment and in this way preserves the benefits and benefits of both models,” Comas detailed. Located at the entrance of the Maternal building of Can Ruti, the Casa Laietania is aimed at pregnant women who want to give birth through a non-medicalized natural delivery , in an intimate and welcoming environment, but with a nearby team of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Neonatology and Anesthesiology if necessary.
Future moms who want to access this service must be pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies and for whom a low-risk labor and delivery is expected. In this case, the professional of reference in the center will be an expert midwife in the care of natural childbirth, who will accompany the pregnant women during the decision-making process and will promote their autonomy.
Since its launch this Monday, July 5, the Laietania House will remain open every day of the year for 24 hours after the pandemic delayed the inauguration, scheduled for early 2020: the health emergency paralyzed the project and the premises were used to care for more than a hundred pregnant women with covid-19.
Like at home
The centre’s facilities seek to resemble a home as much as possible and include two rooms with bathroom; a birthing tub and spacious shower; a double bed to rest or use during labor or postpartum; fridge, microwave and some kitchen utensils; mats and balls; a space of grab bars and furniture of different heights to promote mobility.
This new model arises from the growing demand of women who request physiological delivery care and follows the example of Nordic countries , where birth centers have been operating for years and have been shown to increase the chances of vaginal delivery, reduce the incidence of vaginal delivery. instrumentalization or caesarean section and decrease the need for epidurals, as well as episiotomies and the rate of prematurity, as explained by Alcaraz.
