#ReimagineBirth
An image from our April 2022 video “You Were Welcomed With Love” powered by an Emmy-nominated, award-winning production and illustration team. The heart-warming, timely video tells the story of how one family, and their community are transformed by the presence of the birth center. This birth story centers Black families, intergenerational healing, and love. Neighborhood Birth Center’s presence will ensure a better state of maternal health and a future where the words “Black” and “birth” are no longer synonymous with trauma and pain.
what is a birth center?
A birth center is equipped to provide a personalized alternative to hospital care for people with low-risk pregnancies, so you can give birth in a home-like environment where you feel secure and supported. You will receive comprehensive care throughout your pregnancy from highly qualified healthcare providers who know and respect you and are available by phone 24/7. You will find the comforts of home and the luxury of a hotel in our specially-designed suites. Plus, the low volume of births affords you privacy and one-on-one attention. This holistic approach to pregnancy and birth care nurtures your whole person, mind and body, and offers the mind and body support you need to take care of yourself and your baby.
Not only are birth centers safe, they also offer personalized, family-focused care with the power to advance equity and catalyze community power. Midwifery care is grounded in relationships, and birth centers have the potential to serve as hub for cultivating community relationships that extend beyond childbirth and the immediate postpartum period.
In the US, 98% of all births take place in a hospital, even though most births are low risk. Hospitals are key when medical intervention is needed, however most births can safely take place outside of the hospital. Evidence-based studies on birth center safety have demonstrated excellent outcomes. Read more about the model of care and safety.
our services
Neighborhood Birth Center plans to offer essential services including education, psycho-social support, and referrals for non-medical services. We are planning a 5,000 square foot state-of-the-art spa-like center, to be co-located with artists, activists, and healers in a multi-use building that helps to stabilize Boston neighborhoods against gentrification.
When we open in 2025, our three-suite space will have:
Luxurious tubs and showers
Nitrous oxide, birth balls, Swedish bars, slings
Natural light, outdoor access
Living room, kitchen, play area
Green space with atrium, gardens
Contracted practitioners: doulas, yoga, meditation, reiki, massage, pelvic floor physical therapy, chiropractic and craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, mental health
Childbirth ed, babywearing, postpartum care, lactation support, groups for new parents and parents who have experienced loss
What Does Birth Center Care Look Like?
Many thanks to Maria Fonseca, a Boston area birth photographer for many of the beautiful images here, and Dara Luz Birth Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico for sharing photos of their birthing suites!