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Birth Centers in WA State
There are 14 free-standing birth centers in WA state. A free-standing birth center is a welcoming, safe environment where women and families who seek a natural childbirth can receive care by a licensed midwife or a Certified Nurse Midwife who has privileges at that birth center. The cost of midwifery care and the facility charge for the birth center are covered by most health insurance plans. Laboring and birthing in a free-standing birth center is a superb choice for women who desire to have interventions only if necessary.
Benefits of laboring and birthing at a free-standing birth center include a reduced risk of having a cesarean which is better for both mother and baby, decreased risk of infection for babies, increased success with breastfeeding and reduced chances of unnecessary interventions that can cause harm.
Free-standing birth centers provide an ideal alternative for women who do not want to give birth in either a hospital or at their home. Birth center policies may vary but offer families:
- The support of her midwife and chosen family/friends who believe in her body's ability to give birth in its own way and in its own time and will encourage her as she copes with the challenges of labor
- The option of laboring and/or giving birth in a spacious birth tub
- The freedom to eat, drink, and move around during labor as she wishes
- The choice of birthing in any position that feels right to her: on a birth stool, in a full or supported squat, on her hands and knees, semi-reclining on the queen-sized bed, or in a birthing tub
- Information to help her make informed choices about her health care
- Appropriate monitoring balanced with a deep respect for her privacy
- Avoidance of the risks associated with many standard medical techniques and interventions
- Continued support and advocacy if there is the need for a hospital transfer
- Immediate contact with her new baby and assistance with breastfeeding
For more information about Freestanding Birth Centers in WA state, visit each of their websites:
Bellingham Birth Center - Bellingham, WA (North West)
The Birth House - Olympia, WA (South West)
The Birthing Inn - Tacoma, WA (South West)
Cascade Birth Center - Everett, WA (Central West)
Center for Birth - Seattle, WA (Central West)
Eastside Birth Center - Bellevue, WA (Central West)
Greenbank Birth Center - Whidbey Island, WA (West)
Lakeside Birth Center - Lake Tapps, WA (South & West Sound)
Mount Vernon Birth Center - Mount Vernon, WA (North West)
Puget Sound Birth Center - Kirkland, WA (Central West)
Seattle Home Maternity Service - Seattle, WA (Central West)
Seattle Naturopathy Acupuncture and Birth Center - Seattle, WA (Central West)
Spokane Midwives Birth Center - Spokane, WA (Central East)
Wenatchee Midwife Service and Childbirth Center - Wenatchee, WA (Central)
