Birth Center vs Hospital Birth - Which Is Right for You

Birth Center vs Hospital Birth - Which Is Right for You

Author: Sarah Roselinda Trott March 14, 2026 Duration: 36:54

In this episode, we explore birth center vs hospital birth, and what parents should know before deciding where to welcome their baby.

Our guests are Certified Nurse Midwife Nancy Myrick, co-founder of the San Francisco Birth Center, and Monica Levine, Board Member of the San Francisco Birth Center Foundation. Nancy brings more than three decades of experience supporting births across home, hospital, and birth center settings.

We discuss what birth center care actually looks like, how midwife-led care differs from hospital birth, and what research says about outcomes for low-risk pregnancies.

For this episode, we are participating in Podcasthon, a global initiative highlighting nonprofits making a meaningful impact, and we’re honored to spotlight the work of the San Francisco Birth Center Foundation.

Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Nancy Myrick sfbirthcenter.com | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn

SF Birth Center Links SF Birth Center Info Sessions | SF Birth Center Foundation | Donate Here!

Find a Birth Center and/or Midwife near you American Association of Birth Centers | Birth Center Equity | American College of Nurse-Midwives

Learn more Birth Center Research on Outcomes | Embrace Empowerment: The Transformative Benefits of Birth Center Birthing | Home Birth As An Alternative To The Hospital | Why And How To Bond With Your Newborn - Dr Joanna Parga-Belinkie

Birth Place Lab facilitates multi-disciplinary and community-based participatory research on high quality maternity health care across birth settings

Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection | Book: First Forty Days

Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram


Sarah Trott, a new mother herself, navigates the profound and often overlooked transition into parenthood alongside her postpartum doula and co-host, Esther Gallagher. Their conversations form the heart of Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond. This isn't just a parenting podcast; it's a dedicated space exploring the physical, emotional, and logistical realities of the postpartum period, that critical window after birth where both baby and parents are learning and healing. Esther brings decades of experience as a perinatal educator and care provider, offering grounded wisdom, while Sarah asks the questions from her fresh, personal perspective as a mom to a vibrant baby girl. Together, they delve into topics from newborn care and maternal recovery to mental health and redefining identity, all with a focus on practical support and non-judgmental guidance. Listening feels like being welcomed into an honest, supportive conversation between a trusted mentor and a friend who's in the thick of it. You'll hear their genuine rapport and the tangible benefit of this partnership, as they aim to fill the common gap in care and preparation for life with a new baby. This podcast serves as an audio companion for mothers, fathers, and all caregivers seeking to nurture themselves as they nurture their newborn, moving through the fourth trimester and beyond with more confidence and compassion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond | Parenting | Newborn Baby | Postpartum | Doula
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