Kate’s Story

Mother and baby soon after birth

I chose the birth center because it offers the type of prenatal care and birth options that I am familiar with from my native country – England. The care is very personal – building up a trusting relationship between the expectant mother and the actual person who will deliver the baby. The midwife model of care also offers support throughout the prenatal, labor, delivery and post partum periods. I could not find this model for care elsewhere in Charlotte.

I really wanted an all natural (drug/ intervention free) birth, with no pressure to use allopathic drugs or electronic monitoring. It was important to me that I be able to move around as I pleased, have whomever I wished in the room, and be able to eat and drink if I wished.  After the birth it was important to me to be able to hold and bond with my little one for as long as I wanted before she was weighed, measured etc, and that I would be able to leave and go home that same day.

I was very lucky at 41 weeks and 5 days to be able to have the birth experience I had dreamed of….an all natural, midwife supported waterbirth. The setting was very comfortable and homelike – soft colors, subdued lighting and quiet. My mother and husband were present for the birth, which was also attended by two midwives and an apprentice. Their care during labor and delivery was wonderful…someone was always with me offering encouragement and support, progress was monitored as needed via internal exams and use of doppler scope.

After 8hrs of labor my waterbaby arrived! Violetta was a happy, healthy, alert 9lb and 21″ girl. I feel that because of the Carolina Community Maternity Center I was able to give my daughter the best start in life…she was drugfree and relaxed.  I cannot speak
highly enough about the standard of care, professionalism and personalization of care that I received at the birth center.