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
  • 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?

WHCBC is staffed by providers who have specific training and experience in out-of-hospital birth. We understand that for many families, birth at home is not a safe or affordable option due to geography, a shortage in care providers, insurance, and other resources. We strive to create a "home-away-from-home" atmosphere that is comfortable, safe, cost-effective, and individualized for each family's needs. Our program of care at Welcome Home Community Birth Center involves providers from multiple specialties (including midwifery, doula care, lactation, social work, and complementary and alternative healthcare modalities) to better support Sacramento's families.

WHCBC also 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.
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​For more information about our education philosophy, click here.

How Can I Help?

  • 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.
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive updates about construction, volunteer opportunities, and advancements in the Birth Center Program at WHMS.