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Hospital Birth

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Hospital Birth

At Santa Barbara Birth Center and Midwifery, our commitment to supporting your birthing journey includes comprehensive care for those who choose or require a hospital birth. Drawing from the midwifery model of care, which emphasizes individualized attention, empowerment, and continuity of care, our midwives are equipped to provide support tailored to your unique needs during a hospital birth.

Comprehensive Care

  • Complete Prenatal Care: At each hour-long prenatal visit, children, partners, in-laws, and grandparents are encouraged to participate, creating a supportive family environment. We see clients every three weeks until 28 weeks of pregnancy, then every two weeks until the last month when we switch to weekly visits. This schedule allows us ample time to address both clinical and psycho-social aspects of prenatal care, tailoring our approach to each individual’s history, needs, and preferences for the best possible outcome.

    Postpartum Care: our care package includes comprehensive postpartum support through four in-home visits by a midwife in the first two weeks. This includes full evaluation of mother and baby including breastfeeding support, baby weight checks, and physical exam of the mother. We also screen for signs of perinatal mood disorders (postpartum depression) and have local referrals for support should the need for early intervention arise.

    Well-Woman Care: continue your wellness journey with our well-woman care. We offer annual exams, family planning, hormonal testing, referral for mammograms and pap/cervical cancer screening.

  • Our midwives are dedicated to supporting your choice to have a hospital birth with as much care, respect, and advocacy as we provide in our own birth center settings. At SBBC, we believe that every birth experience should be supported and honored, regardless of the setting. We equip you with knowledge about hospital procedures and interventions that may be suggested, so you can make informed decisions about your care and that of your baby.

  • Continuous Care Coordination: Our midwives work closely with hospital staff to ensure a seamless transition to the hospital setting. This includes transfer or records and a clear birthing plan that respects your choices and promotes a positive birthing environment.

    If you have a high-risk pregnancy needing OB care we can provide supportive midwifery care prenatally in tandem with your doctor visits. If you have a low-risk pregnancy we can provide complete care and go to the hospital for birth.

    Advocacy and Support: During labor and delivery in the hospital, your SBBC midwife will be there to advocate for your birth plan, facilitating communication between you and the medical staff, and ensuring that your preferences for the birth are respected as much as possible.

    Familiar Comforts in a Hospital Setting: We strive to bring the comforts of our birth center into the hospital room, whether it’s through the use of aids like birthing balls and massage or by creating a more calming atmosphere with music and aromatherapy, as allowed by the hospital.

  • Immediate Postpartum Care: Following the birth, your midwife will remain with you to ensure you and your baby are well-cared for, helping with the initial breastfeeding and bonding period.

    Post-Discharge Follow-Up: After returning home, the care continues with our customary four in-home postpartum visits. These visits are vital for assessing recovery, providing breastfeeding support, and addressing any concerns that may arise after the birth. Midwives are licensed care providers for the newborn for the first six weeks of life, and therefore you can rest at home and postpone the pediatrician visit until the second week.

“Our baby is 6 months old and we still talk about how grateful we were to have our midwives with us throughout our journey at the hospital. Their presence and knowledge was a blessing and we love them for it.”

Baby Sage, Emma and Nick