Wisdom The Sweetness

A birth center is a home-like setting in which expectant parents give birth. Birth Centers are licensed medical facilities and may be accredited to show they abide by the highest standards of service. The healthcare provider at a birth center typically is a Certified Midwife or Certified Nurse Midwife. Midwives often have midwifery assistants and/or doulas supporting the birth.

The advantages of a birth center are an unmedicalized natural and normal birth. A normal pregnancy can become a complicated birth when medical interventions lead to a ‘cascade’ of procedures that put mother and baby at higher risk for poor outcomes.

Other advantages of birth centers are the ability to labor out of bed and use of a birth tub. Most hospitals use continuous fetal monitoring and routine IVs, which preclude water births.

Birth Centers can be free-standing or attached to a hospital Labor and Delivery unit- also known as an Alongside Midwifery Unit. If the birth center is free-standing, it is important to make sure it is in commutable emergency-distance from a hospital with a Perinatal Center. It is also important your healthcare provider is qualified to recognize and manage emergencies.

New York State regulations require that birth centers have arrangements with an ambulance service and transfer agreement with a hospital(s).

As of 2024, there is one accredited birth center in New York State.

You can find accredited birth centers here: Accredited Birth Centers | Is it a verified birth center? Check here! (birthcenteraccreditation.org)

Members of the American Association of Birth Centers may be found here: Find a Birth Center – American Association Of Birth Centers

New York City Midwifery Practices may be found here: Find a Midwife | NYC Midwives

References

1. In the Pursuit of Excellence – Accreditation of Birth Centers (birthcenteraccreditation.org)
2. Birth Center Standards – American Association Of Birth Centers
3. BC Experience – American Association Of Birth Centers
4. Healthy Birth Practice #4: Avoid Interventions Unless They Are Medically Necessary – PMC (nih.gov)
5. Hospital: Designation Centers (ny.gov)
6. Title: Section 754.4 – Hospital transfer procedures | New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (ny.gov)
7. Distance: How far is too far? – American Association Of Birth Centers
8. Birthing Center: Pros, Cons, and What To Expect (parents.com)
9. Delivering at a Birth Center: Cost and Pros & Cons of Birthing Centers (whattoexpect.com)