Once you enter the birth center in labor, your midwife will stay with you and provide continuous care and support until you go home after the birth. We strive to keep your labor as undisturbed and natural as possible with the least number of interventions and interruptions. Your birth team consists of your midwife and a trained birth assistant. You may invite whomever else you'd like to be at the birth or to wait in our family waiting area. We practice according to the following evidenced-based beliefs for low-risk, healthy women:
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Women should be allowed the freedom of movement in labor and birth in whatever position she wishes
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Women should be allowed and encouraged to eat and drink in labor
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Intermittent monitoring of fetal heart rate is safe and preferred
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Episiotomies should not be routine practice
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Water birth is safe and appropriate for most low-risk women
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Physiologic pushing should be encouraged
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Delayed cord clamping should be routine practice
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Early initiation of breastfeeding promotes bonding and infant health
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Women and families should be empowered to make their own decisions about their healthcare
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Labor and Delivery
Most women are safe and feel comfortable to go home between 4-8 hours after birth. If you live within 30 miles of Bozeman, we will come to your house to do home visits 1 and 3 days after the birth. If you live outside of the area, we ask that you make arrangements to stay in the area for 72 hours after delivery. Both Kayla and Jazmin are certified lactation counselors (CLC) and can assist with breastfeeding.
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After your baby is born, he or she will be placed immediately on your chest for the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and infant bonding. Your birth team will assist you to breastfeed as soon as you are ready. An initial newborn exam will be performed by the midwife right by your side a few hours after birth. We will walk you through everything we do with you and baby. Your baby is never taken out of the room and you are involved in every decision made about you and your baby's care.
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After delivery, you and your baby will eat at least one meal before going home. You will also be encouraged to take a nap and shower if you'd like. We will make sure you feel rested and unhurried before going home.
Water Birth
Water birth is a safe option for most low-risk women and available at no additional cost. Our midwives are skilled and experienced with water births should you choose this route for your birth. Benefits of water birth are numerous and include:
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Significant pain relief
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Relaxation
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Decreases risk of perineal tearing
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Reduces blood pressure
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Increases blood flow to the uterus and baby
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Enhances production of endorphins
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Facilitates movement and positioning in labor
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Each birth suite has a large soaking tub for this purpose. Even if you choose not to have a water birth, most women find laboring in the water a calming, beneficial experience. Visit our Resources page for more information about water birth.
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Most women who have had one previous Cesarean section are candidates to attempt a VBAC. Candidates are screened appropriately and operation reports from the Cesarean are reviewed prenatally to ensure the highest level of safety. Our midwives will walk you through the benefits and risks of a trial of labor after Cesarean (TOLAC) vs. a planned repeat Cesearean. Visit our Resources page for more research and information about VBACs.
Safety
At the Bozeman Birth Center, our first priority is the health and safety of you and your child. The midwives and birth assistants are trained experts at dealing with birth emergencies as they arise. The birth staff are all certified in adult, child, and infant CPR and first aid and neonatal resuscitation. Most emergencies do not require hospital transport and can be safely and effectively managed in the facility. We have life-saving hemorrhage medications in-house, IV capabilities, and oxygen. However, in the event a transport is required to ensure the health and safety of either mother or baby, we will swiftly and efficiently facilitate transport to the nearest hospital, Bozeman Health.
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However, most hospital transports are not emergencies. Non-emergent transports happen with the consensus of the birth team and the family when we determine that tools only available in a hospital setting are needed to facilitate the birth. We at the Birth Center are very proud of our relationship with the hospital and will communicate directly with the physicians and medical staff to ensure transfer of care is as easy and seamless as possible. In these instances, the midwife will accompany the family to the hospital and continue to provide labor support throughout the process. In most instances, mothers and infants and discharged from the hospital directly back into our care for the postpartum period.
Out-of-hospital birth has repeatedly been shown to be a safe option for low-risk, healthy women and babies with fewer rates of interventions and higher rates of satisfaction. For more information and links to information and research about out-of-hospital birth, please visit our Resources page.
