Some Midwife Center Statistics From 2011 to 2014:
The practice had 1,479 deliveries. Of those:
• 87.5% of clients had a vaginal birth
• 12.5% total cesarean section rate, compared to 32.2% nationally*
• 10.9% of clients had a cesarean birth for their first birth
• 5.7% of clients who came to the birth center in labor had a cesarean birth
• 1.33% had a low birth weight infant, compared to 8% nationally
* Additionally, in 2014, 1.3% of TMC clients had a preterm birth compared to 9.57% nationally.
*National stats are from 2014 only. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) In 2016*:
• 90.6% of clients had a vaginal birth
• 80% of clients who attempted a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and labored had a VBAC.
• 9.4% total cesarean section rate
• 7.4% of clients had a cesarean birth for their first birth
• 2.58% of clients who came to the birth center in labor had a cesarean birth
• 0.01% of clients had a low birth weight infant
• 2.2% of clients had a preterm birth
*2016 stats are from TMC only. 2016 CDC (National) stats were pending at the time we updated this handbook.
The Midwife Center has written protocols that ensure safe practice. These protocols are written by the CNMs and are approved by the Medical Advisory Committee. They reflect current evidence-based practice in midwifery and obstetrics. They allow clients to have preferences in their birth experience, but do not allow compromise in safety.
If at any time the CNM feels the safety of either the client or the baby is compromised, it is their responsibility to intervene. This does at times lead to disappointment due to increased interventions or a birth experience different than what was hoped for. For these reasons, we strongly encourage flexibility in birth planning, realizing that sometimes technology is necessary. We place the safety of you and your baby as our priority.
Yes – If you have had a normal pregnancy. The RN and CNM will intermittently listen to the baby’s heartbeat with a hand-held Doppler.
If any abnormalities are heard, they will listen continuously and transfer you to the hospital if there is any deviation from normal. Studies have shown that in normal populations, this routine is as safe or safer than electronic fetal monitoring.
Clinical trials have failed to show that continuous electronic fetal monitoring results in healthier babies, except when limited to gestational parents and fetuses known to be at high risk. However, continuous fetal monitoring does result in higher cesarean section rates.
The American Association of Birth Centers, or AABC, establishes guidelines and standards for safety within birth centers. Between the years of 2007 and 2010, AABC collected data on 15,574 people who enrolled for birth center care and planned a birth center birth.
A study was published in January 2013 in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health with the results of this research:
The overall cesarean birth rate was 6% for people who entered labor planning a birth center birth, which means that 94% of people had a vaginal birth.
84% of people planning to give birth in the center had birth center births.
Out of the entire sample, 4.5% of people were transferred to the hospital prior to being admitted in labor. 11.9% of people transferred in labor, 2.0% transferred after giving birth and 2.2% of babies transferred after birth.
Less than 1% of the sample had to transfer for emergency reasons.
Outcomes for babies were similar to previous studies, with comparable data to other low-risk groups.
The Midwife Center has a safety policy to provide a safe environment for clients, visitors, volunteers, and employees of The Midwife Center. The Midwife Center recognizes the importance of a safe environment in which to work and be cared for.
For that reason, The Midwife Center prohibits all persons (including employees), except for authorized persons, from bringing firearms or other weapons into The Midwife Center premises or to enter the premises under the influence of drugs or alcohol.