For the birth of our first child, my husband and I planned on a natural birth in a hospital. At our 36-week appointment, we were told by my care provider that almost nothing in our plan would be respected. So, at 39 weeks, I got up the courage to call CCMC and make the switch.

At 10:00pm on Friday, March 12, 2010 my water broke, we were in one of the beautiful rooms at the birthing center an hour later, and my mom joined us soon after. Two midwives and an apprentice stayed with us throughout the delivery, giving much needed advice, monitoring the baby’s heart rate, and offering encouragement all along the way.

I started pushing on Saturday just before 8:00am but things progressed very slowly. The midwives encouraged me to try various positions and didn’t give up on my being able to deliver my son without unnecessary medical intervention – even after more than 5 hours of pushing. My midwives applied oil and warm compresses to assist my stretching; it turned out that my son had his arm folded across his chest making it difficult for him to move through the birth canal. I’m certain that, had we been at a hospital, I would have ended up with an episiotomy (if I had been “allowed” to deliver vaginally at all).

I delivered our son, Jacob Alexander, at 1:21pm on March 13, 2010 (ten days past his due date) with only a very minor internal tear – my mother in the bed behind me, my husband by my side. My midwives helped me place Jacob on my chest and, within minutes, he was nursing. He weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces and was 21” long. I was up and walking after only a couple hours and we were home by 6pm. We are forever grateful to our midwives and to CCMC for helping our perfect little boy come into this world the best and healthiest way possible for both of us.

mom, dad, and baby

[Note: One question a lot of people have about the birth center is, "What if I have to transfer to the hospital?" Kristy's story involves a transfer.]

I have always known that I wanted to have an intervention free/birth center birth with all of my children. I never knew until I moved to North Carolina that it wasn’t always a possibility. After I became pregnant I received prenatal care from a traditional OBGYN. It wasn’t until I was in my third trimester that I became aware of the possibility of having a birth center birth, as CCMC was just opening. My husband and I drove out to a midwife’s house and met with her about the possibility of becoming clients. We were thrilled when she explained how everything works and we were able to transfer our care to the midwife model. It is important to note that I am a Registered Nurse who works in an OBGYN clinic. I was very concerned that my baby would be separated from me and interventions done to him that I didn’t want, without my knowledge. All of these fears went away after we started being seen at the birth center.

After many weeks of waiting to go into labor, my water finally broke at 41 weeks and 5 days. I was so worried that I would have to go to the hospital to have pitocin if I didn’t go into labor by 42 weeks. This is where the fun part of my story begins! I labored at the birth center with two midwives and an apprentice. It was truly one of the most amazing experiences ever. I couldn’t believe how at ease I was being surrounded by other women who wanted me to have the most amazing birth experience and who have been through this experience themselves. It was a very comforting and nurturing environment. My husband was amazing as well. I had no idea how hard it was going to be but with the help of these women I was able to push through the pain and meet each contraction head on. Just when I thought I was really making progress, at 7 cm, my labor slowed down drastically. At first we thought my body just needed a rest but my contractions never sped back up. I stayed at 7 cm for about 17 hours and the midwives did everything they could to encourage my labor (all the while the baby was just fine). I even made it through a “shift change” of the backup midwife. After 30 hours of laboring at the birth center, the midwives and I made the decision to transfer to a local hospital. This was one of my worst nightmares coming true; I had worked so hard to avoid a hospital and interventions, now I was walking willingly into one. The one saving grace was that my midwife was by my side the whole time. This baby was not coming without some pitocin. At this point I decided to get the epidural so that I could rest; I didn’t think I would be able to push out my baby if I didn’t get some rest, plus I knew the pitocin-induced contractions would be much more intense, and I was really tired. Eight hours after being admitted I was still only 9 3/4 cm dilated. The doctor on call came in and told me that I would not be able to push out my baby, he was just too big, I needed a C-section. I said “No way, I’ve come too far to end up with major surgery”. I knew that shift change was soon and I requested more time. When the next doctor came in she agreed to let me try to push past the last 1/4 cm of cervix, we turned down the epidural and I did. After two and a half hours of pushing, my 9 lb 20 inch baby boy was born, my husband and midwife by my side and taking pictures.

As for my biggest fear, the wonderful nurses at the hospital made sure that I got everything I wanted for my son. They did not try to push any medications on him, he never left my room, and they were respectful of all my wishes. In fact, they asked me if I wanted the Vit. K and eye ointment, I didn’t have to request not to have it.

Yes, I’m a little sad that I didn’t get the birth that I dreamed of, but I got something more important, a beautiful, healthy baby of my dreams. The ultimate prize! I am grateful to the midwives of the birth center for all they did for us and their wisdom to know when it was time to try something else. I continue to see my midwife for my post-natal care and she is always available for any new mom questions that I have. I’m hoping that next time, I’ll be able to deliver at the birth center, but I know that whatever is necessary and in my best interest will occur.

During this, my second pregnancy, my husband got a job transfer to Charlotte and I had to transfer prenatal care from Minnesota. My first baby, now almost 3, was born with midwives in the hospital and so that’s what I searched for in Charlotte before we moved. When I couldn’t find that, I actually considered staying in Minnesota until after the baby was born… even though that would have been more than 4 months away from my husband.

Luckily, I read in an online forum that the Carolina Community Maternity Center was just organizing and opening right after we moved. It sounded perfect for us. We wanted to be sure our daughter could attend the birth, that water birth would be an option, that I would be permitted to eat and have freedom to move without restriction, and that the baby would never be taken from us for procedures.

At CCMC, we could have our daughter there to watch her brother born (and even be in the birth pool with me!) and I was free to move around. I wasn’t subjected to excessive internal exams or invasive fetal monitoring. I was supported and advised by the midwives through the entire labor and delivery. And I can’t say enough about being able to labor and birth in water — it’s great for relaxing when things get tough.

My water broke at 5:30pm.
We arrived at the birth center near 9pm.
Everett was born 8lbs 1oz at 1:30am.
We went home near 7am.
Everything I hoped and prayed for.

Parents and baby shortly after birth

I have long had a fascination with putting my body to the test, pushing to the farthest limit to see what I am capable of accomplishing. My husband and I also try to lead a very simple and natural way of life, so when we decided to embark on the parenthood adventure, we knew without a moment’s hesitation that our baby would be born naturally (without medical interventions if possible).

We were so excited to discover that the Carolina Community Maternity Center would be open in time for our birth. Working with our midwife was a comforting and stabilizing force in the midst of first pregnancy concerns and fears. The classes offered at CCMC were extremely informative and helpful (we attended the childbirth classes and the breastfeeding class).

The morning of the birth was a whirlwind. After just 3 hours of labor, our sweet daughter was born into the water, just as we had hoped. Both she and I were free to work together to accomplish this awesome and amazing task. Baby Anna was placed into my arms immediately and she began to nurse within 20 minutes; again, something we had hoped for. In fact, our entire birth experience was what we had hoped and planned for. I attribute this to the midwives who cared for me, the environment in which the birth took place, my husband who was my constant companion, and most importantly, my cooperative teammate in birth—Anna!

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.