Birthdays at the Birth Center

Where safety, confidence, birth wisdom, and your wishes
all meet to welcome your baby.

A black and white image of four people gathered around a person who appears to be in labor on a bed in a birthing room, with minimal medical equipment visible and a comforting atmosphere.
Woman smiling while holding newborn baby in a water bath.
A baby lying on an orange patterned pillow, wearing a dark shirt with 'birth center of chicago' printed on it.
A woman uses a measuring tape to measure the head circumference of a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket on a medical examination table. She is wearing a dark shirt with a stethoscope around her neck, and there are medical supplies nearby.

A Truly Unique Birth…

…where you lead, and we follow. Birth with midwives is already traditionally different from what most of the population have come to expect from media images, and stories from family and friends. Care at the Birth Center of Chicago is centered on supporting low-risk birthing populations - ultimately, you don't need a lot of interventions or interruptions when birth is happening normally!

But we also know birth is unpredictable, requires confidence and support, and can sometimes need the help of a skilled professional. We endeavor to help you have the birth of your dreams, where your intuition is valued, your body can move and be comforted, and you feel safe asking for what you want.

Our midwives will meet you at the birth center 24-hours a day. Our team will support you through active labor phases, birth, and the early bonding time with your newborn.

water birth women in tub

Have your (birthday) cake and eat it, too!

We have an impressive number of support options at your fingertips. We encourage the use of traditional and modern coping tools for labor pain, including the use of a doula! Here are some of the things we have at the Birth Center of Chicago:

  • abdominal breathing

  • acupressure

  • birth ball & peanut ball

  • birthing stool

  • dancing

  • heat packs

  • movement

  • muscle relaxation

  • music

  • nitrous oxide

  • positions

  • shower

  • sterile water injections

  • Swedish barre

  • TENS unit

  • touch and massage

  • using your voice

  • visualization

  • water immersion

  • …and any combination of these!

Photo Credit: Loughlin Birth + Family Photography

Photo Credit: Loughlin Birth + Family Photography

Woman with a stethoscope reflected in a round mirror on the wall, with towels in the background.

Woman with a stethoscope reflected in a round mirror on the wall, with towels in the background.

A couple embracing forehead-to-forehead during an intimate moment, possibly during childbirth, with supportive body language.

A couple embracing forehead-to-forehead during an intimate moment, possibly during childbirth, with supportive body language.

Close-up of a person sitting in a bathtub with water, showing part of their legs and arms.

Close-up of a person sitting in a bathtub with water, showing part of their legs and arms.

Person resting in a bathtub, partially obscured by another person's arm.

Person resting in a bathtub, partially obscured by another person's arm.

Woman in a birthing pool supported by two people, one with a hand on her back and another holding her neck.

Woman in a birthing pool supported by two people, one with a hand on her back and another holding her neck.

Postpartum Care at Birth Center of Chicago

We do things differently,
and our follow up care is no exception.

We can’t wait to see you again!

 

Our Postpartum + Newborn Check-ins

Newborn mother and baby birth center of chicago-3.png
 

  • 24-36 hours postpartum: 1-hour midwife visit for parent and baby

  • 4-6th day postpartum: midwife visit for parent and baby

  • 2nd week postpartum: group midwife visit for parent and baby, able to meet other parents*

  • 6th week postpartum: midwife visit for parent

  • additional visits as needed

 

Caring for the two unique people you are, together.

There are so many changes in the first weeks of life together, and that time is aided with holistic support with your mental, physical, and educational needs all being met. We want you to heal, while also being confident you are meeting your child’s needs, as well as your own. Support people, partners, and children are always welcome at appointments.

Routine procedures that happen in-house at the Birth Center of Chicago:

  • Hearing screening, 24h metabolic screening, Critical Congenital Heart Defect screening

  • Newborns experiencing jaundice can be screened with non-invasive testing through our transcutaneous bilimeter