And Neighborhood Birth Center is working to meet that need. Our welcoming, home-like sanctuary for birth in the heart of Boston will offer compassionate midwifery care rooted in community, love and justice.

Why Does Boston Need a birth center?

Massachusetts ranks 32nd in the country on midwifery integration and lags significantly behind other states in access to community birth centers. Of the 400 birth centers in the US, there is 1 in Massachusetts. Right now, 99% of births in MA happen in the hospital, even though most could happen safely outside the hospital with midwives. Not to mention that a shift of just 10% of births from hospitals to birth centers would save $1.9 billion annually. Out-of-hospital options in eastern MA are limited unless people can afford the several thousand dollar price tag and have the space and support for homebirth. The presence of a birth center in Boston will improve outcomes and experiences and advance racial equity in birth and other health measures.

Birth center care results in:

• Fewer infant emergency department visits and hospitalizations

• Lower rates of c-section

• Higher rates of spontaneous vaginal delivery

• Lower rates of preterm birth

• Lower rates of babies born low birth weight

• Higher rates of initiated and sustained breast/chestfeeding