Every woman deserves choices in her prenatal care.
Your choice of obstetrical provider and place of birth will profoundly affect your options for labor and birth as well as your chances for having an episiotomy, a cesarean section or an epidural. As you explore your options, consider how caregivers might meet your needs during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Birth in a free-standing birth center is a safe option for women without health complications.
At Birth Care, we individualize your care and consider your personal preferences and values. We take time to learn who you are and what you would like for yourself and your baby. We involve you in decision making. We care for you throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, care for your baby though the first month of life, and manage routine gynecological care, minor problems, and family planning throughout your lifespan.
Care by Highly Trained Professionals
Birth Care midwives are highly educated professionals with Masters degrees in nursing, and can prescribe and administer medications. Many are also nurse practitioners or have degrees in other fields. Our clients have access to all routine screening and diagnostic tests that are considered standard for maternity patients in the U.S., including genetic screening, laboratory testing as well as on-site ultrasounds through Baltimore Ultrasound. We are licensed as midwives and nurses in the state of Pennsylvania. As a practice we have vast experience in and out of the hospital.
Free-Standing Birth Center
The free-standing birth center at 1138 Georgetown Road in Bart Township, PA, has three large home-like birthing rooms, each with a Jacuzzi tub which can be used to ease labor or for water births. Clients have the use of two family areas and a kitchen. Women are encouraged to move freely around the facility or take a walk outside while laboring, and to bring food to eat during and after labor. Each birth is attended by a certified nurse-midwife and a nurse who is certified in neonatal resuscitation and knowledgeable in the use of medications and emergency equipment. Many insurance policies will cover accredited birth centers. Find out more about the safety of birth centers http://www.birthcenters.org/?page=NBCSII
Hydrotherapy and Water Birth
Relaxing in a warm tub of water is one of the most effective ways to manage the discomforts of labor. Sinking into a deep tub enhances relaxation, and helps you to get out of your own way so your body can do the work of labor more effectively. The tubs at the birth center have jets, and are deep enough to allow you to change positions as you feel the need. Your partner can bring a swim suit and climb in beside you if you wish! Many women deliver in the water, and bond with the baby skin-to-skin in the tub immediately after birth. Babies born in the water are usually very calm and alert. Read the ACNM position statement about water birth
Hospital Birth
If you need to transfer to WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital or another local hospital for complications in labor, we would hand off your care to a midwife or doctor at the hospital. We have an excellent relationship with the talented team of midwives and our collaborating physicians at Ephrata for back up and collaboration. We also have good relationships with other local hospitals, including UPMC Lititz, Women & Babies, and Lancaster General Hospital. These hospitals offer comfortable environments, family-centered care, nurturing staff, and are open to a variety of birth experiences. Women who birth in the hospital have the option of epidural anesthesia for pain management, and are close to the operating room and higher level NICU in case of complications. Most healthy women and babies can opt for 24 hour discharge.
After the Baby Arrives
If you deliver at the birth center, you can plan to leave for home as early as 4 hours after delivery. If you live within thirty minutes to the birth center, one of our nurses will come to your home two days after you deliver to make sure you and the baby are well and to perform the newborn screening test and congenital heart disease testing. (If you live out of the area you must come to the birth center for the two day check) At two weeks postpartum, the midwife will see you and your baby in the office - we can provide care for your healthy baby for the first 4 weeks of life. At 6 weeks postpartum, we will see you back in our office for your postpartum exam. You can take your baby to a pediatrician or family practice at six weeks.
For more information about choosing your place of birth, see http://www.childbirthconnection.org/maternity-care/ten-tips/
Your choice of obstetrical provider and place of birth will profoundly affect your options for labor and birth as well as your chances for having an episiotomy, a cesarean section or an epidural. As you explore your options, consider how caregivers might meet your needs during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Birth in a free-standing birth center is a safe option for women without health complications.
At Birth Care, we individualize your care and consider your personal preferences and values. We take time to learn who you are and what you would like for yourself and your baby. We involve you in decision making. We care for you throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, care for your baby though the first month of life, and manage routine gynecological care, minor problems, and family planning throughout your lifespan.
Care by Highly Trained Professionals
Birth Care midwives are highly educated professionals with Masters degrees in nursing, and can prescribe and administer medications. Many are also nurse practitioners or have degrees in other fields. Our clients have access to all routine screening and diagnostic tests that are considered standard for maternity patients in the U.S., including genetic screening, laboratory testing as well as on-site ultrasounds through Baltimore Ultrasound. We are licensed as midwives and nurses in the state of Pennsylvania. As a practice we have vast experience in and out of the hospital.
Free-Standing Birth Center
The free-standing birth center at 1138 Georgetown Road in Bart Township, PA, has three large home-like birthing rooms, each with a Jacuzzi tub which can be used to ease labor or for water births. Clients have the use of two family areas and a kitchen. Women are encouraged to move freely around the facility or take a walk outside while laboring, and to bring food to eat during and after labor. Each birth is attended by a certified nurse-midwife and a nurse who is certified in neonatal resuscitation and knowledgeable in the use of medications and emergency equipment. Many insurance policies will cover accredited birth centers. Find out more about the safety of birth centers http://www.birthcenters.org/?page=NBCSII
Hydrotherapy and Water Birth
Relaxing in a warm tub of water is one of the most effective ways to manage the discomforts of labor. Sinking into a deep tub enhances relaxation, and helps you to get out of your own way so your body can do the work of labor more effectively. The tubs at the birth center have jets, and are deep enough to allow you to change positions as you feel the need. Your partner can bring a swim suit and climb in beside you if you wish! Many women deliver in the water, and bond with the baby skin-to-skin in the tub immediately after birth. Babies born in the water are usually very calm and alert. Read the ACNM position statement about water birth
Hospital Birth
If you need to transfer to WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital or another local hospital for complications in labor, we would hand off your care to a midwife or doctor at the hospital. We have an excellent relationship with the talented team of midwives and our collaborating physicians at Ephrata for back up and collaboration. We also have good relationships with other local hospitals, including UPMC Lititz, Women & Babies, and Lancaster General Hospital. These hospitals offer comfortable environments, family-centered care, nurturing staff, and are open to a variety of birth experiences. Women who birth in the hospital have the option of epidural anesthesia for pain management, and are close to the operating room and higher level NICU in case of complications. Most healthy women and babies can opt for 24 hour discharge.
After the Baby Arrives
If you deliver at the birth center, you can plan to leave for home as early as 4 hours after delivery. If you live within thirty minutes to the birth center, one of our nurses will come to your home two days after you deliver to make sure you and the baby are well and to perform the newborn screening test and congenital heart disease testing. (If you live out of the area you must come to the birth center for the two day check) At two weeks postpartum, the midwife will see you and your baby in the office - we can provide care for your healthy baby for the first 4 weeks of life. At 6 weeks postpartum, we will see you back in our office for your postpartum exam. You can take your baby to a pediatrician or family practice at six weeks.
For more information about choosing your place of birth, see http://www.childbirthconnection.org/maternity-care/ten-tips/
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Birth Care & Family Health Services • 1138 Georgetown Road
P.O. Box 152 Bart, Pa. 17503 • Phone: 717.786.4010 • Fax: 717.786.4011 E-mail: info@birthcaremidwives.com Web design by Bonnie U. Gruenberg, CNM www.bonniegruenberg.com Updated Jan 2025
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