Welcome to Gentle Beginnings Birth Center.  We are pleased and honored that you have decided to use our services.  As our name says you and your baby will be treated with the most gentle personal care available anywhere!  We believe that God has made your body to birth this baby and are glad that you have chosen our beautiful facility to do it.  Here is some answers to some common questions about the care you will receive from us.

What is a Birth Center?

This Birth Center’s care is based on the simple and powerful belief that God made your body to birth babies and that it is a normal process in the lives of women and their families.  You and your baby are the focus of our gentle and personal care.  It is important to us that you feel empowered to make decisions about your care.  Please feel free to ask questions at your visit.  Some women find that bringing a list of questions they have written down as they think of them, helps them to remember all that they want to ask when they are in their appointment. 

Ann Crowell, Christy Martin, and Sara Jones are the midwives who staff Gentle Beginnings Birth Center.  They are certified through the North American Registry of Midwives and are licensed by the state of Texas.  They provide all the prenatal care, attend births both at home and at the birth center, provide postpartum care, and assist with breastfeeding.  Known as continuity of care, the relationships the midwives form with you is an important component of midwifery care.  We typically schedule an hour visit so that we are not rushed and you have plenty of time for questions and concerns. By the time you have your baby, you will be very familiar with all of us, and we with you. 

We encourage your active participation in every facet of your care.  Please make yourselves at home when you are here, and do not hesitate to tell us your feelings, concerns, and preferences regarding your maternity care. 

Who will I see for my prenatal care, and how often are my visits?

Your prenatal visits will be with the midwife that you choose for your care.  Most visits last from thirty minutes to an hour.  You will see your midwife once a month until you are seven months.  Then you will see your midwife every two weeks until your last month.  Your last month you will see your midwife every week until your baby is born. Occasionally we will see you more often, if needed.

Can my family come with me for appointments?

Anyone you wish to have with you during your appointments is welcome to join you.  It’s pretty common for the children to sit with you on the exam bed and help us with “feeling” and “hearing” baby.  We love for your family or friends to be as much a part of this as you want.

Do I need to see a doctor during my pregnancy?

You are not required to see a doctor during your pregnancy, and most women do not need to do so.  However, the midwives at GBBC do have back up physicians available for consultations and referrals.  They are also available for transfer of care when needed.

What lab work is offered?

We believe in informed consent for all lab work and procedures offered at GBBC.  This means that your midwife will discuss the pros and cons of all tests before administering them, and you may consent to, or decline, any tests.  The testing you will be offered includes:

• Initial lab work:  Complete blood count (CBC), blood type and Rh, rubella titer, syphilis screen, hepatitis titer, and HIV.  You will also be offered chlamydia and gonorrhea testing.
• 20 weeks:  Ultrasound Evaluation
• 28 weeks:  Glucose tolerance test to screen for gestational diabetes and hemoglobin.
• 36-37 weeks:  Group B Strep Culture and hemoglobin, as indicated.

Additional lab work will be offered if medically indicated throughout your pregnancy, and will be discussed with you at that time.

What classes are offered at Gentle Beginnings Birth Center?

We will have the following classes available throughout your pregnancy:

• Early pregnancy and nutrition classes
• Prenatal Yoga classes
• Holistic Moms Network Meetings

We will also be teaching natural birth center/home childbirth classes.  These classes will be geared towards preparing couples for an unmedicated birth and equipping them to make informed decisions regarding their care.  Private classes are also available for an additional fee for parents with special scheduling needs or if mom is on bed rest. 

What care is provided for the Baby?

• Herbal candlelit bath with mommy in our jacuzzi tub.
• Bath is for mommy and baby.
• Complete newborn exam prior to discharge from the birth center.
• Metabolic test is at 48 hours and again at 2 weeks.
• Comprehensive assessment of well being at postpartum visits. (Weighing, measuring, head to toe assessment)
• Baby’s records faxed to your baby’s care provider after the birth.

How long will I stay at the birth center after I give birth?

You and your family will be discharged within two to twelve hours after you give birth, if you choose to have your baby at the birth center.  If you or your baby were not stable by twelve hours postpartum, you would be transferred to the hospital for continued care.  This would be very rare.  Most families are ready and prefer to go home by two to four hours postpartum.

How long wil my midwife stay with me after my homebirth?

If you choose to have a homebirth, your midwife will stay with you and your family for approximately two to three hours after you baby is born.  In selected circumstances, your midwife or birth assistant may stay longer.

How do I get in touch with my midwife after hours?

Our phones are answered by office staff on Mondays thru Fridays.  Messages left on the birth center voice mailbox are returned once a day.  Midwives are on call 24 hours a day.  If you need to speak to a midwife on an urgent matter after hours, you may call the cell phone of your midwife.