Alternative Ways to Birth
The maternal healthcare space is constantly evolving and while standard hospital births might be the more traditional route, they aren’t the only option. Here are a few less conventional birthing methods you may want to consider.
Midwife-led Prenatal Care and Delivery
Oula, a mysha-mom led midwifery practice based in Downtown Brooklyn and SoHo, takes what they call the “middle ground” approach to birth and pregnancy care. They use a collaborative care model, which means their patients have access to both midwives and obstetricians.
Their midwives follow a certified nurse midwife (CNM) or certified midwife (CM) training pathway and complete a graduate program in midwifery, which includes 500-1,000 hours of clinical practice.
One offering that we really appreciate is their availability to see patients as early as a positive pregnancy test. Most maternity clinics wait until 8-10 weeks.
Oula delivers at Mount Sinai West and takes insurance.
Doula-Assisted Births
Doulas are non-medical trained support people who offer pregnant women guidance and assistance before, during, and after their delivery. They can work with women delivering in a hospital, at a birthing center, or at home.
“They are able to advocate for your preferences and goals during birth and serve as an executive assistant of sorts,” says Anna Cheecov, a mysha mom and the founder of Living Womb. “They make sure to check all the behind-the-scenes boxes that you won’t be thinking about.”
They also help to prepare women emotionally, mentally, and physically by connecting you with outside resources like holistic care, massage, and acupuncture to help round out your pregnancy and make it the best possible experience for you and your family.
Alternative Birthing Locations
Along with hospitals, women with low-risk pregnancies can choose to deliver at a birthing center, which is a facility designed to provide a more homelike, nonmedical setting. Kindred Space Los Angeles is the city’s only black-owned birthing center. They are led by a team of licensed midwives and offer complete midwifery care, home births, and support groups.
During the pandemic, there was an influx of interest in home births and they have since become a more commonly discussed option. They are usually midwifery-led and doula supported. If this is something you are interested in exploring, nyhomebirth.com is an excellent starting point for NYC-based mothers.
Water Births
Some women choose to labor in a pool of water. The weightlessness that the water provides can help make contractions feel more manageable. This method of birthing is often called “the midwife’s epidural” and for the baby, it can be considered a smoother transition from the womb into the world.
Water births can be done at home or in some birthing centers or hospitals. Serene Health, a Fort Lauderdale-based OB/GYN practice, specializes in-hospital water births.
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