A birthing center is a free standing facility for low risk expecting mothers. There are hospitals that title their obstetrical units “birthing centers” but these are not true birthing centers and can not offer the same support for natural birthing that a free standing facility can. http://www.birthcenters.org/
At The Birth Center, you will receive professional care throughout your pregnancy. All prenatal screening and your obstetric ultrasound will be provided as appropriate to your needs. During the months you are growing your baby, you will have the added benefit of group prenatal care. This is a unique style of prenatal care which provides in depth-education for you and your partner regarding many diverse subjects, including nutrition, relieving common discomforts, exercise for childbirth, labor preparation classes, infant care, the postpartum period and much more. During labor, you will have the continuous support of your Midwife and Birth Assistant. You may invite anyone else you wish to support you in your birth. You and your baby will be carefully monitored to ensure well being. You may eat, drink and move about freely in labor and may birth in any position that feels right to you. Many of our mothers choose to deliver in our beautiful jetted jacuzzi tub. Though it is rarely necessary, all staff are trained to provide emergency medicine and support with the same medications and procedures readily available at other care facilities. After birth you may snuggle in bed with your newborn and partner and enjoy a meal and some rest. Both you and your baby will receive comprehensive postpartum exams and will return to your home to continue relaxing after you are both stable and ready (usually four hours after birth). We will see you at two days after birth for newborn exams and screening, and then at two weeks and six weeks after your birth for postpartum exams. You are welcome to come to a “birthday reunion,” a party thrown for you and other mothers in your group who have delivered. The Birth Center also offers Primary care, Premarital, Preconception care, Annual and Mission exams, Newborn care, Menopausal care, Family Planning and referrals to specialists as necessary.
The laws that govern birth centers vary from state to state but in our home state of Utah there is special licensing required for any facility that has more than one birth room. The requirements at the present time are so difficult to obtain that there is no licensed birth center in Utah that is open to the public. We are working to change birth center laws to pave the way for more local, licensed free standing birth centers. Keep up to date on our political action page.
The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
http://www.motherfriendly.org/
The Childbirth Connections Listening to Mothers survey results
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10068
Consortium for the Evidence-based practice of Obstetrics
http://www.sciencebasedbirth.com/
Ricki Lake’s movie on birth in the United States
http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
Our practitioner and birth center statistics are: Cesarean Section rate of less than 4 in 100 compared to our national average of 1 in 3. Pereinatal death rate of 1 in over 500 compared to the national average of one in 145. Our infant and maternal death rate is 0. We love our facility and invite you to come for a tour.
Call for a tour with a provider – (801) 288-2229.