Why would you want to give birth in a birth center instead of a hospital?
The birth center is:
Small, intimate, calm, and home-like
Warm and supportive, welcoming of your family and friends
Attended by people you know (your midwife and support people you choose)
Free from routine or unnecessary procedures that carry some risks for healthy women
Safe, clean, and prepared for the most common birth complications
Less expensive - especially important for those whose insurance requires co-pays
A place where birth is celebrated as a major life transition rather than a medical event
At Columbia Birth Center, we begin seeing clients before the standard 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. As soon as a positive pregnancy test has been confirmed, we are here to set up your first visit.
Why a Midwife?
Midwives are experts in normal birth and pregnancy, are trained to recognize variations from the normal, and can treat such problems or refer the woman to other specialists as needed.
Midwives offer:
Personalized care and longer appointments
Evidence-informed care from midwives who are up to date on the latest medical and midwifery research
Shared decision-making as you work together with your midwives to make decisions about your care
The same small group of midwives care for mother and baby throughout pregnancy, labor, and post-partum
Appropriate use of technologies
Is it safe?
Numerous studies show that birth in a birth center is as safe or safer than at a hospital if:
The client has had a healthy pregnancy
The client is cared for by a midwife or doctor who is skilled and experienced in community birth
There are hospital facilities close by which welcome clients who transfer to a hospital because they need a medical procedure
Columbia Birth Center has strict safety policies and all of the emergency equipment and medications required for licensure by the State Department of Health. It is also nationally accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. These ensure the highest standard of care for women and babies.
