What is a Birth Center?

  • A birth center is a homelike facility with a program of care designed in the wellness model of pregnancy and birth.
  • Birth centers are guided by principles of prevention, sensitivity, safety, appropriate medical intervention, and cost effectiveness.
  • Birth centers provide personalized, family-centered care for healthy people before, during and after normal pregnancy, labor and birth. 
  • Freestanding birth centers achieve better outcomes than hospitals on quality measures such as cesarean rate for low risk clients, elective delivery prior to 39 weeks, and breastfeeding. 
  • Birth Centers are a safe option for clients experiencing a healthy pregnancy.
  • Birth centers use fewer medical interventions than hospitals; this saves health dollars and reduces the risk of complications during and following childbirth.

What types of services are provided in a Birth Center?

  • Prenatal Care
    Nutrition and exercise counseling
    Routine diagnostic testing including lab work and ultrasounds
    Childbirth preparation
    Visits lasting an average of 60 minutes
  • Labor and Birth Care
    Continuous support from midwives, midwife assistants, and doulas in active labor
    Skilled, client-centered healthcare
    Specializing in birth without pain medications
    Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin as routine
    No separation from the newborn
    Nitrous Oxide ("Laughing Gas") as needed or desired
  • Water Birth
    A safe and gentle way to welcome a baby
    Click here for information on the safety of water immersion in labor and birth specific to birth centers.
  • Immediate Postpartum Care
    Help facilitating breastfeeding
    Full newborn exams
    Parenting with confidence
  • Postpartum Care
    Routine home visits at 24 and 72 hours
    Office visits at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks.
    Routine follow-up care with information on family planning, breastfeeding, recovery from birth, and infant health
    Appropriate resource referrals to local doctors and complementary providers

What is different about
​Welcome Home Community Birth Center?

Our freestanding birth center is staffed by providers who have specific training and experience in out-of-hospital birth including home birth. Our model of care, policies, and equipment are very similar (but not identical) to a planned birth at home.

We understand that for many families, birth at home might not be a safe or affordable option due to:
  • Distance from a client's home to their closest hospital
  • Distance from a client's home to the closest VBAC-friendly hospital
  • A shortage in maternity care providers
  • Insurance coverage
  • Moving or unstable housing during pregnancy

​We strive to create a "home-away-from-home" atmosphere that is comfortable, safe, cost-effective, and individualized for each family's needs. Our facility includes...
  • A spacious two-room birthing suite with a queen-sized memory foam bed, a labor pool, a private restroom with a shower, and all of the safety equipment and staffing your family needs for a normal birth
  • Unrestricted visiting hours; we are a 24-7 facility and you are in charge of who supports you during your birth.
    A comfortable family waiting room is also available for the support you desire on-site for your birth
  • A kitchen stocked with nutrient-dense food and beverages for your labor and immediate postpartum
  • Private, gated entry so your family and belongings can stay safe during this sensitive time
  • Easy freeway access and a short drive to Sacramento's hospitals (including Kaiser South Sacramento, UC Davis, Sutter Medical Center, and Mercy General)

Do You Train Students?

WHCBC serves as a facility where future midwives and future doulas can receive evidence-based, supervised, and supported experiences as they become skilled care providers. While our programs include students, the participation of students (just as with any other providers) is determined by the client's comfort level and birth plan.

Our facility is not yet approved to precept midwifery students. For more information about our education philosophy, click here.

How Can I Give Birth There?

Fill out our contact form and our midwife will get in touch to schedule a free tour and consultation.

How Can I Help The Community Birth Center?

  • Join our organization as a member. We are a volunteer-run organization and rely heavily on the efforts of those who support us. ​
  • Consider making a donation toward one of our programs. Click here for information.