I have read this with interest, and have something to add re. waterbirths in family birthing centres...

My sister was born 8 years ago at the old Mercy FBC, when I was 17 (I attended the birth).

My mum really wanted to have a waterbirth, but didn't want to birth at home (for a number of reasons, including her age and a spinal issue). So, she came up with a pretty good solution!

She hired an incredibly experienced, and bossy (in a good way!) independent midwife, with plenty of experience with home birth and water birth.

Basically, mum used the FBC as a 'location' for her 'home birth'. Her independent midwife 'ran the show', which the FBC midwives were ok about (heck, it gave them a break!).

The Mercy had a policy that you could Labour in water, but NOT birth in water. Basically, mum was labouring in the water, and her fab independent MW just kicked all the other MWs out of the room haha! So mum had her great waterbirth, with full experienced support, in the FBC

Actually, I should add, mum was so relaxed in her waterbirth that she was falling asleep in between contractions haha!