Experience Thoughtful Care Every Step Of The Way

Your birth, your baby, your philosophy.
Because giving birth is life’s most awe-inspiring experience, we encourage you to explore your personal philosophies around it. ​
If you don’t feel like you have given voice to your innermost beliefs surrounding birth just yet, ask yourself some of the following questions:
​
  • What does my ideal birth look like?
  • Do I envision a natural birth, where the normal process is supported? 
  • Am I imagining walking and choosing my labor positions?
  • Do I think birth requires medical intervention?
  • Am I excited or scared to give birth… maybe both?
  • Will I breastfeed?
  • Do I want to be involved in decisions about my care?
  • Is the option to birth in water something I want?
As Midwives, we view birth as a normal physiological process. We realize that not everyone feels the same way. If you prefer a natural approach to childbirth, we’d love to meet with you! You are welcome to choose to birth at our beautiful Birthways Family Birth Center or we will come to your home for your home birth. You decide! 

At Birthways, You Choose How You Birth.

Birth Center Birth

Home Birth

Waterbirth

Birth Your Way, Period.

There is no “right way” to give birth. The “ideal birth” is what YOU decide it is. What doesn’t vary is the idea that you and your baby should be safe throughout the process.

With an impeccable record, our Midwives provide the same safe professional Midwifery Care, medical equipment, and supplies to families choosing birth center or home birth so you and your baby’s safety are comparable at both locations. Your health and safety are always our number one priority!

When labor begins, call your Midwife! It doesn’t matter if it’s late at night or if you’re not sure if you’re really in labor. You and your Midwife will decide together when you’ll come into the Birth Center or when she will join you at your home.
Once you’re in active labor the Midwife will remain with you, providing support and assessing you and your baby throughout labor until a few hours after the birth. 

Your Birth, Your Labor, Your Way.

During your labor your Midwife can be as involved as you need her to be. She can actively provide support, encouragement and guidance. Or, if you prefer to labor alone with your husband or partner she will provide you with as much privacy as possible. Of course she will make sure that you and your baby are doing well throughout labor by quietly listening to your baby’s heartbeat and assessing your vital signs at regular intervals.
Rest assured that interventions will only be done when needed and with your consent. When it’s time for your baby to be born, your Midwife will encourage you to follow your body for physiologic pushing. Changing positions during this time in labor is often helpful and she may suggest positions if needed.

When your baby is being born you or your partner may “catch” the baby if you choose. Your baby will be assessed in your arms. After the cord stops pulsing it can be cut by whomever you choose. Most often dads or siblings step up for this honor.
If a hospital birth becomes necessary, your Midwife will transition your care to the hospital providing you with support and information to assist you in making important decisions.

Birth is as unique as the person experiencing it. We congratulate you and look forward learning about the birth you desire!

Our Doula Community

At Birthways we believe in the importance of creating a circle of support around you during pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. That circle may include midwives, doctors, doulas, family, and friends.  Our Midwives and families LOVE doulas for the added unbiased, continuous labor support they provide.
 
Birthways has partnered with community doulas to increase your circle of support at an affordable rate though doula monthly doula circles that will assist you in birth & postpartum planning to placenta encapsulation, labor support services, and immediate postpartum support.
 
Our doulas offer reassurance, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning, and other non-medical techniques to increase your comfort. Our doulas work along side your partner if you have one to enhance your partners efforts and care for you as a family.
 
Reach out to us for more information, we’d love to have you join us for our monthly Doula Circle.

Home Birth

While Birthways Family Birth Center is a comfortable, home-like setting, many of our families choose to give birth at home. The research and evidence shows that homebirth with a Midwife is just as safe as than any other location for low-risk women. The Midwives at Birthways support you in your choice of birth location. If you choose to birth at home, you can rest assured that the Midwives will bring everything that’s necessary for you to have your baby safely at home while provide gentle support that gives you the space to have your baby without unnecessary intervention.

Waterbirth

Water labor and birth is a very popular choice! If you’ve ever felt stress, tension, pain, or discomfort and entered a warm bath you have probably experienced the relaxing, rejuvenating, and healing properties of water. Water has the same benefits during labor. The relaxation effect of warm water during labor often helps progress to happen more quickly. When you’re able to release tension your body will release endorphins (which ease pain) and oxytocin (which makes contractions); the result is more effective labor with less pain. Who doesn’t want that?! Immersion in warm water increases blood flow in the body resulting in more oxygen to both you and your baby.

Postpartum Care & Support

The delicate postpartum hours are a time of wonderment, joy and exploration. One of the very best things about birthing with us at Birthways is our attention to the natural flow of the postpartum time period. Our team, made up of your Midwife, Student Midwife, and/or Birth Assistant, will remain with you for the first several hours post birth, until you are ready to be on your own with your family.

​During the first few hours you and your baby are closely monitored for continued health and wellness. Our midwives pride themselves on welcoming babies graciously with gentleness and love. Respect for your bonding time are of the utmost importance to us and providing you the opportunity to have your baby’s assessments done while in your arms is one of our favorite things about the work that we do. After you and your baby have nursed, we will do a full physical examination of your new family member right on the bed next to you! This is an excellent photo opportunity!
A decorative birth certificate with your baby’s footprints is a sweet, personal keepsake we provide for your memorabilia.
We recommend a visit to your chosen pediatrician within 72 hours of the birth, which can be scheduled at your convenience.  We will contact your pediatrician and share your records with them for continued care of your baby. Vitamin K and erythromycin eye ointment are available for your baby if you so choose. No need to worry about the birth certificate or social security card; we take care of all the paperwork for you!
Over the 6-8 weeks following your baby’s birth we will:
  • Provide your baby with routine newborn screening
    • Metabolic Screening (PKU)
    • Hearing Screen
    • Critical Congenital Heart Defect Screening (CCHD)
  • Give you and your baby a physical exam
  • Discuss your birth experience
  • Provide you with family planning options