I read a terrifying study a few weeks back. It determined that babies born at military hospitals were twice as likely to be injured during delivery.

In my tiny Navy town, this news brought about quite the brouhaha.

The closest military hospital to us is almost an hour away and well beloved by many. It’s certified as “baby-friendly,” meaning, it is a more natural, infant-centered practice than a mainstream hospital.

And the military moms who make the drive to deliver there love it.

Though our local hospital, staffed by civilian obstetricians and nurse-midwives, is also quite popular, the closest military hospital holds quite the allure for many pregnant moms who want their birth completely covered by Tricare, with some options.

So, when that startling statistic was released, people did get up in arms a bit.

And then, the war stories started rolling in.

Someone, knew someone, who had a friend, who had a niece who died during a Pap smear exam at the military hospital.

And, someone, knew someone, who had a sister, who had a son who went in for a routine round of antibiotics and ended up with a lopped off leg.

And before you knew it, people were terrified of military doctors.

It’s ironic, really, that I care. I intentionally keep my kids on Tricare Standard so I can choose their pediatrician, and I have delivered both my children out of a hospital – military or otherwise – and paid a tiny co-pay, so I could choose who caught my girls when they were born.

That’s my choice, and I’m glad I have it.

But if I didn’t have that choice, and the military hospital was my closest, “baby-friendly” option, would I be concerned?

I thought about this long and hard. While we aren’t ready for baby number three yet, we have started talking about it. And where we would deliver him or her? And how much it could cost us? And if my husband will be home? And if he’s not, who will be there? 

You know, the normal, military-family conception chat.

And while I had considered the military hospital as a viable option prior, what with all the amazing birth stories I’d heard coming out of it as of late, I was wondering if I should reconsider.

First off, I do understand that military doctors aren’t competing for patients like civilians are. They don’t have to give you as much leeway, and they aren’t always known for being as accountable to the patient since they work in a military system.

But at the same time, it’s an option. It’s a free, affordable option. This particular military hospital has low intervention rates, a low C-section rate and is known for supporting natural birth and the mother’s choice. It’s clean, and, it’s safe.

Heck, in that recent study that scared the pants off everyone else, it might just be the outlier.

It’s hard to know what to think. We’ve all heard horror stories, but we’ve also heard good ones, too. 

Perhaps it depends on the patient. Or the particular doctor.  Or the hospital you’re using. 

Maybe it isn’t a military issue at all.

But it’s still a scary decision. And it’s a decision I’m unsure I’m prepared to make at this time.

So, for now, maybe we’ll just stick with two kids.