How It Works

Our Philosophy

Our Birthing Center was built upon the belief that childbirth is not an illness and should not be treated as such. We strive to provide a labor which is safe, comfortable and drug & intervention free. We wish to offer another alternative to hospital and home birth. Our Birthing Center will deliver care in a spa-like setting where care providers, usually midwives, will provide family-centered care to low risk pregnant women. Our midwives and staff subscribe to the "wellness" model of birth, which means that they provide continuous, supportive care and interventions will only be used when medically necessary. At Our Birthing Center we wish to empower women and make them partners in the decision making process of their birthing experience. For example, at Our Birthing Center women are encouraged to eat if they are hungry, move about and spend time in a tub or shower as they wish, and push in whatever positions they find most comfortable. Our Birthing Center recognizes that the mother knows what her body needs to give birth. The midwives and staff attend to her needs, while diligently watching for signs that are outside the realm of wellness.

The OBC Experience

(the equivalent of flying first class)

Up-front and transparent with your financial responsibilities.

We will take the time to answer all of your questions and concerns.
Complimentary childbirth preparation classes.
Calm, peaceful and luxurious atmosphere.

We will arrange to have a postpartum Nurse visit you AT HOME 24-48 hours after birth to check up on mom and baby! The Postpartum Nurse will be able to answer any questions you may have, assist you with breastfeeding and perform the required newborn screening tests. This eliminates the need for you to go back to your midwife for that first visit, allowing for an optimal and stress free recovery.

What to Expect

Who will attend your delivery?

Our Birthing Center is an open model Birthing Facility, which means throughout the pregnancy clients will go to their chosen provider for their pre-natal care. When it is time for labor and delivery your care provider will meet you at the facility (just as they would at a hospital or homebirth). Your care provider will be the one to deliver you. Additionally, the facility has a staff of Registered Professional Nurses who will also attend the delivery.

Natural Birthing

Our Birthing Center is here to provide you with an intervention and drug free birth experience. The staff is trained to help coach you through labor and is committed to helping you have a drug-free birth if you choose one. Epidurals — which require an anesthesiologist — are not available at the birth center. Instead, Our Birthing Center is encouraging and supportive of natural forms of pain management, such as ambulation, hydrotherapy, acupressure, herbal preparations and the use of Nitrous Oxide which is available for our patients use.

Mother and Baby Bonding

After delivery your baby will remain with you enabling immediate and maximum skin-to-skin. All of the newborns examinations take place in your room so that there’s no required separation from your baby.

Discharge

Patients at Birthing Centers can be discharged as soon as two hours after delivery and no later than 24 hours after delivery. Typical discharge is 4-6 hours after delivery, with the idea that sticking around really isn't necessary — or desirable — if you and your baby are doing well. Actual discharge time will be determined by your care provider based on your individual circumstances. We will arrange for a postpartum RN to come to your home 24-48 hours after delivery to see how things are going, and to perform certain required newborn screening tests.

Support

When delivering at Our Birthing Center the client can decide who will be with you or near you as you give birth. In theory we’d love to have you bring as many people as you’d like. In practice, space is limited and we’ve learned from experience that having too many guests simply does not work. As a general rule, patients may be accompanied by two support people. Should the need arise for an exception to the rule, please discuss it with your Midwife beforehand. Any children 12 and under who will be attending delivery, must be accompanied by a support person who will be responsible for them.

Insurance

Our Birthing Center is currently In-Network with many of the most popular insurance plans, including Horizon, Aetna, Cigna & BCBS. For insurance plans which we are not In-Network, patients may utilize their out-of-network benefits. For patients who do not have Out-of-network benefits, we are very often able to obtain an exception so that your insurance plan will cover your birth at Our Birthing Center. We are not a Medicaid provider.

In order to determine your insurance eligibility we will perform a Verification of Benefits. You may complete a Consent Form to have a Verification of Benefits completed.

Payment Plans are available for self paying clients. Please contact us to discuss further.

Any Financial Arrangements made with Our Birthing Center are for the facility and do not include your Midwives services. Services provided by your Midwife may or may not be covered by your health benefits plan. Please check with your Midwife to determine which health benefits plan they participate in. You may also consult with your insurance carrier to verify coverage, copayment, deductible and coinsurance amounts.

Patient Payment Portal

Preparation

Birthing center Childbirth preparation Class

Clients who wish to deliver at Our Birthing Center will be required to participate in a childbirth preparation class orienting patients with what to expect when delivering at Our Birthing Center. Classes are complimentary and given once a month at Our Birthing Center by a member of our Nursing Staff who is also a Certified Childbirth Educator. Classes will discuss self and baby care after discharge from the birthing center and what to expect during the first few days following childbirth and an overview on breastfeeding. This class is specifically geared to educating you how best to prepare for a birth at Our Birthing Center. We still encourage parents to enroll in a typical childbirth education class, especially first time parents.

Doulas

Doulas and/or birthing coaches are strongly recommended and highly encouraged by Our Birthing Center, especially for first-time Moms. We recommend patients discuss this and get a referral from their midwife.

Doulas and More Local Partners