Do you have questions? We invite you to visit our center for a free, no obligation, tour and interview with our midwife.
Our Orientation to Birth Center Birth program offers a chance to learn about our services, meet our midwives and have all your questions answered. We prefer that you always make informed decisions when it comes to your maternity health care needs. Please call to reserve your place right away. 407 656-6938 or e-mail becky@thebirthplace.org
"Jennie is knowlegeable, loving, and encouraging. I couldn't have asked for more from a midwife."
Temperance
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Find out how to get free whole food supplements for your child.
"In all my years of practice I have never felt moved to endorse one product over another until I was introduced to Juice Plus+® whole food supplements. I highly recommend this quality product for everyone, but especially for pregnant and nursing mothers." Jennie
Do something good for your health every day! JUICE PLUS is everything you should be eating – but probably aren't – to maintain health & prevent disease. 17 fruits and vegetables in a capsule!
Juice PLUS+ Capsules contain 17 fruits, vegetables, oats and grains. The ingredients are: apples, cranberries, dates, oranges, papaya, peaches, pineapples, beets, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, kale, tomatoes, parsley, spinach, brown rice, and oats. JUICE PLUS is gluten, dairy and pesticide FREE.
I have so many questions about being pregnant I don't know where to start!
A new pregnancy can be overwhelming; emotions run wild, joy and fear combine and add to that queasy tummy and it seems that no-one can give you a straight answer on anything. Please know that we developed our midwifery program to assuage and address all your concerns. Jennie created her JJ Way system after many years of practice. She knows that a relaxed and confident mother leads to a healthy pregnancy and a positive outcome everytime. Her staff are committed to helping and supporting you every step of the way. Jennie recognizes that you need information in order to understand what is happening to you. To that end you can always get hold of a "live" person to answer your questions. Below are some links that you may also find helpful but remember that your Birth Place team stand ready to help you anytime you need.
Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms
Revolution Health Pregnancy Pages
What is a Birth Center?
The Birth Center is a homelike facility, existing within a healthcare system with a program of care designed in the wellness model of pregnancy and birth. Birth centers are guided by principles of prevention, sensitivity, safety, appropriate medical intervention, and cost effectiveness. Birth centers provide family-centered care for healthy women before, during and after normal pregnancy, labor and birth.
Is a Birth Center Safe?
Birth Centers are a safe alternative to hospital birth for low risk mothers and babies. Rates of complications are lower and there is less need for intervention.
So far, the largest and most complete study on the comparison of hospital birth outcomes to that of homebirth outcomes was done by Dr. Lewis Mehl and associates. In the study, 1046 homebirths were compared with 1046 hospital births of equivalent populations in the United States. This holds true for Birth Centers also.
The results of this study showed a three times greater likelihood of cesarean operation if a woman gave birth in a hospital instead of at home with the hospital standing by. The hospital population revealed twenty times more use of forceps, twice as much use of oxytocin to accelerate or induce labor, greater incidence of episiotomy (while at the same time having more severe tears in need of major repair). The hospital group showed six times more infant distress in labor, five times more cases of maternal high blood pressure, and three times greater incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. There was four times more infection among the newborn; three times more babies that needed help to begin breathing. While the hospital group had thirty cases of birth injuries, including skull fractures, facial nerve palsies, brachial nerve injuries and severe cephalohematomas, there were no such injuries at home.
The infant death rate of the study was low in both cases and essentially the same. There were no maternal deaths for either home or hospital. The main differences were in the significant improvement of the mother's and baby's health if the couple planned a homebirth, and this was true despite the fact that the homebirth statistics of the study included those who began labor at home but ultimately needed to be transferred to the hospital.
Dr. Lewis Mehl, "Home Birth Versus Hospital Birth: Comparisons of Outcomes of Matched Populations." before the 104th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association.
Who Can Deliver At a Birth Center?
Any healthy woman experiencing a healthy pregnancy and expecting a normal delivery would be a good candidate for a Birth Center birth. A good midwife will continually screen her clients through out the prenatal course for any signs of change or danger. Jennie particularly prides herself on a close relationship with her clients thereby insuring that everyone reaches term in the best possible health and ready for a beautiful birth experience.
Can I Have Medications or An Epidural at The Birth Center?
No. The Birth Place, Birthing center strongly believes in natural birthing. Although many women feel they may not be able to finish the job without help, they do not realize the power of the female body to complete the awesome job of delivering a baby. When people ask about pain relief Jennie's reply is that we start taking care of that from your first visit. A sense of trust, a healthy body, good support and natural coping techniques are all discussed and encouraged through your prenatal care. When we reach term its interesting to see the level of confidence such work has accomplished and how prepared our families really are. Once labor begins, we work as a team to encourage, nurture and support you, providing one on one care until you have your baby. No matter how often we hear "I can't do it" we know you can. We are there with you every step of the way. Your reward is in holding a beautifully alert, drug free baby in your arms and enjoying the triumph that is all yours, knowing that you have given your baby the very best start.
Some other resources