Gentle birth can change the world.

Attended by Licensed (homebirth) Midwives

Attended and ran by Licensed (homebirth) Midwives. Sometimes a CNM is on staff for those whose insurance will only cover a CNM - or for families that feel more confident with the CNM credential

Safety and emergency equipment are brought into the woman's home for labor/birth

May feel safer than homebirth for some women (although the actual ability to manage emergencies is the same as at a home birth with the same equipment available)

No packing a bag for labor/birth, driving in labor, or putting mom and a newborn in a car so soon after birth. The babymoon is intimate and uninterrupted.

Must drive to birth center in labor, and return home soon after birth

Bacteria and germs in your home are safest: the most familiar to your body and your new baby

A wider, more diverse population means exposure to bacteria your body is not acclimated to and could increase risk to some

Few, if any, restrictions on your choices for birth due to more autonomous care from midwife

More strict protocols  and restrictions may apply because of state, federal and legal regulations with a birth center

May be closer/farther from the closest medical facility or even trained paramedics/EMTs

May be closer/farther from the closest medical facility or even trained paramedics/EMTs

High level of parental control, non-interventive care, freedom to eat and move during labor, and to give birth in any position, and to have any number of family and friends attend the birth

High level of parental control, non-interventive care, freedom to eat and move during labor, and to give birth in any position, and to have any number of family and friends attend the birth

The parents are usually encouraged to bring family members to their prenatal visits

The parents are usually encouraged to bring family members to their prenatal visits

The new family is tucked into their own bed, without having to leave at any point

The discharge time after birth is normally measured in hours, not days (though longer stays result in a higher rate of financial responsibility)

During pregnancy and birth, women are encouraged to take charge of their own health care and make informed choices about their care.

During pregnancy and birth, women are encouraged to take charge of their own health care and make informed choices about their care.

Decisions regarding certain situations (prolonged rupture of membranes, going past the due date) are up to the parents to decide

Certain situations are dictated by regulations that can necessitate transport to a medical facility

Care-givers are invited guests in the birthing woman's home. She can have anyone she desires present: family, friends, children, etc. Her midwifery team do not go home because their “shift has ended” or because it was “supposed to be their day off” or because it is a holiday.

Women are intimately familiar with those that will be attending them at a birth center. Her midwifery team stays with the mother through the labor, birth and postpartum stay.

Midwifery team handles all clean up (dishes, laundry, emptying birth tub, garbage). They make sure that the couple's nutritional needs are met during labor/birth

Midwifery team handles all clean up and laundry. They make sure that the couple's nutritional needs are met during labor/birth

Midwives come to the woman's home to assess early labor

May be a higher sense of anxiety not knowing when is the “right” time to go to the birth center, arriving too early or waiting too long