FAQs

There are LOTS of reasons people choose birth centers, but here’s a list of just a few.

• Individualized care, not dependent on “hospital policy”
• Home-like, intimate birth environment
• Evidence-based, exemplary care backed by decades of research
• Movement, nourishment, and continuous support during labor
• Few interventions; patient support of normal, physiologic birth
• Increased confidence and satisfaction related to birth experience
• Decreased chance of cesarean birth

If you’re looking for an intimate, empowering, supportive birth experience, then a birth center might be right for you!

Research shows that midwifery care in the birth center setting for healthy, low-risk women is safe; our clients tell us that midwifery care at ABC is exceptional, empowering, and life-changing.

All our providers are Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). CNMs are a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), similar to Nurse Practitioners. This means that we began our careers as registered nurses (RNs), gaining experience in labor and delivery hospital environments, before returning to graduate school for nurse-midwifery education. CNMs are educated to the Masters or Doctoral level (we have CNMs with both!), pass a board exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board, are legally licensed in all 50 states, can practice both in and out of hospital settings, and provide care for women across the lifespan and for newborns up to a 1 month of age.

For low-risk women, a certified nurse-midwife can provide all the routine care you need across the span of a pregnancy, and beyond. You don’t need to see an OB physician as well, unless we refer you to one for evaluation of complications.

In a word, yes! Midwives and doulas perform different, yet complementary roles. While both are knowledgeable in various comfort measures, the midwife’s primary focus is the medical care and safety of both you and your baby during labor. Doulas are not medical providers, and their sole and undivided focus during labor is the care, comfort, and support of you and your family. While you are not required to have a doula to give birth at ABC, doulas are an amazing tool to help you navigate an unmedicated labor and birth, and we highly recommend hiring one if you are able.

There are a variety of comfort measures that our clients use during labor and birth.

• Movement and positioning
• Massage and therapeutic touch
• Hydrotherapy (using the tub or shower)
• Aromatherapy (diffusing essential oils
• TENS units (for back pain)
• IV pain medication
• Nitrous Oxide (Inhaled “laughing gas”)

Absolutely! Most of our clients choose to utilize one of the several birth tubs we have at some point during labor for pain relief, with many of them going on to birth baby in the tub as well.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) in the birth center setting at this time. We support a woman’s choice of birth setting for VBAC, and know several excellent providers who offer VBAC both in and out of hospital to which we can refer you.

Yes! Our CNMs have hospital privileges at nearby Medical City McKinney. This means that in the event of a hospital transfer, our CNMs will still be able to provide care and attend your birth in the hospital setting.

Yes, we have both OB/GYNs and MFMs (maternal-fetal medicine) physicians with whom we consult, collaborate, and refer. This includes established relationships with OB/GYNs for surgical services in the event of a cesarean birth.

The CNMs and RNs of AMFW are highly-trained and experienced in handling many common complications of labor and birth. Over 99% of the time, these complications can be resolved at the birth center. While an emergent transfer from the birth center to the hospital is extremely rare (<1% of all transfers), there are guidelines in place in the event of an emergency.

Yes! We partner with the Bradley method childbirth educators and doulas of Birthing…Naturally. We also offer a baby care class and breastfeeding class.

No, we care for women across the lifespan, pregnant or not! CNMs can provide care for females from puberty through menopause and beyond.

We are able to provide a myriad of services in-house. These include labs, genetic testing, wellness screenings, and much more. The only pregnancy screening we refer to an outside provider is the 20-week comprehensive anatomy ultrasound.

It’s important to us that midwifery care is accessible, and we strive to make our services affordable, even for those without insurance. The cost of services varies depending insurance plan, deductible, and other factors. We personalize your financial arrangements based on your unique situation. For those without insurance, we offer a variety of payment plans and discounts to meet your needs.

We are in-network with PPO Blue Cross Blue Shield. While we are out-of-network with other insurance providers, we are happy to still file services with insurance on your behalf. However, many of our clients find that our services are affordable even without insurance.

We are happy to give you an individualized quote based on your insurance. Contact our office to schedule a virtual tour, consult with a midwife, and to receive a quote from our accounts manager.