Birthing center delivers options
Pregnant women in Lowcountry can have natural births with access to emergency care if necessary
The Post and Courier
Women who delivered children at Charleston Birth Place gather Friday to mark the North Charleston center's first six months.
The Post and Courier
Lesley Rathbun, the center's owner and director, changes the color of lights in the state-of-the-art birthing pool in the Palmetto Suite.
Kristen Johnson, 27, delivered her fifth child in March at Charleston Birth Place, the Lowcountry's first birthing center.
An alternative to hospital and home deliveries, the North Charleston center is a compromise for mothers who have a natural birth plan yet want accessibility to emergency care should complications arise.
"The experience is so much different," Johnson said. "You feel a lot closer to the whole thing."
Three of her babies were born in another birthing center, hours from her North Charleston home. There are three centers in the Upstate and one in the Midlands. Her fourth baby was born in a hospital, she said.
When she heard that the Charleston Birth Place was opening in January, she signed up at once to deliver Lucas, now 4 months old. On Friday, Kristen Johnson and her strawberry-blond son joined 15 other mothers with babies in tow to mark the center's first six months.
Owner and director Lesley Rathbun said, "I'm a compromise." The mother wants a home birth, and the father wants a hospital birth, she said.
Rathbun has "caught" more than 500 babies. She is a family nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife.
Midwives are either licensed or certified. While licensed midwives often deliver babies at home, they are not required to have a medical background. Certified nurse midwives, however, are registered nurses with master's degrees who can practice in any medical setting. Rathbun is considered an independent health practitioner, and she can prescribe medicine.
The birthing center only works with low-risk pregnancies. Two birthing suites allow about 20 births per month. The center has delivered more than 30 babies since it opened in January.
Each suite has a queen-size bed, birthing pool, bathroom and shower. Women in labor are free to move around, eat, drink and mingle with family.
"The pretty birth rooms always come second to safety," Rathbun said. Only about five women have been transported to the hospital during labor, she said. Since she is registered at Trident Medical Center, which is minutes away, she can go with the mom and stay with her during treatment at the hospital.
"If they need a C-section, I'm in there doing it with them," she said.
What makes the center possible is the one-on-one attention she is able to give women. The overhead costs in hospitals make that hard, she said. Her malpractice insurance and expenses are lower because she is not a physician and doesn't have the high risk, she said.
Another nurse midwife is scheduled to join the staff in August. A massage therapist, lactation consultant and registered nurse also work at the center, in addition to about seven on-call nurses. Most insurers will pay some or all of the fees, Rathbun said.
The center is licensed by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and, in June, was accredited by Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, becoming the only center in the state to meet this national standard.
Lee Horton, professor of nurse midwifery at Medical University of South Carolina, said, "This was a long time coming. (The center) means a major choice for women." Another center nearly opened in the early 1980s, she said, but the timing wasn't right.
In the U.S., a culture of fear has developed around pregnancy, Rathbun said. On TV and in movies, women in labor are screaming. "It's not shown as a gentle, quiet, peaceful event," she said.
About 60 percent of women who have used Charleston Birth Place are first-time moms, Rathbun said. Precious Champagne, 31, gave birth to her first baby, Nadira, five months ago. Champagne really wanted a water birth and learned of the center only two weeks before the birth, she said.
"It's a natural process your body goes through," she said. "While I'm not going to say it wasn't painful, it was not excruciating."
Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"Johnson, 27, delivered her fifth child in March"
My God please tell me there was a father involved and not just a sperm donor. That's a lot of kids by 27 yr old!
July 21, 2008 at 5:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greensummervillian (anonymous) says...
What a wonderful option. I wish there had been a place like this when I had my two. Almost makes me want to have another baby, lol.
July 21, 2008 at 6:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Moonpie, WHO CARES??? Is she coming to you personally asking you for money??
Anyway, I've read about places like this and I think they're cool. But I'm still giving birth at the hospital.
July 21, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Whose to say she is going to be put on public assistance WPC? I pay my taxes (of course) but whether she has a man or a sperm donor in her life does not automatically constitute her as going on public assistance, etc. All children of single parents don't go that route, I don't think we should be so damn judgmental. JMO
July 21, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
I agree Early, I'd just feel safer giving birth in a hospital where I know if something happened to me or the baby, help is within reach.
July 21, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ironhorse (anonymous) says...
Birthing center? The picture of the room looks more like a "conception" center.
July 21, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
I am pregnant with my 7th child and I am 30. Woo hoo!!!!!
Oh, I am not on any public assistance right now. I am, however, trying everything I can to get Medicaid for my children, because paying for daycare and health care is breaking a sista! And, don't worry, both my husband and I are working and contributing to the taxes that will be used to support my children's Medicaid. Also, I will be getting a plan that I have to contribute to out of pocket as well, so that will ease more of the taxpayers' burden. I guess, I will be paying twice. Oh well!
And I am with you Tammie, hospital for me, although this is a good place for those that wish to go the natural route without the hospitals.
July 21, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Spartan (anonymous) says...
Nice to have an option in Charleston as there is in many other cities in the USA and South Carolina. This place is on the edge of the hospital campus so assistance if needed is available in short order. Birthing took place in homes not that long ago and with reasonably good results. I am happy the option is there for people to choose. Ms. Rathburn has delivered over 500 healthy babies and so I say thank you to Charleston Birthing Place and her staff for being there as an option.
July 21, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
common_sense_plz (anonymous) says...
I have been to the birthing center for a visit. They have everything needed in case of an emergency and can get you across the street FAST to Trident. From what I gathered in meeting Leslie, she is not going to take chances with you or your baby's life. Safety first!! She's well trained to act and respond appropriately in case of an emergency. She has an open house every month. Pregnant or not, go check them out it's a really neat place.
July 21, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yj (anonymous) says...
The Birth Place is only 2 minutes from the Hospital, so at least it's not a 20 minute drive if there are complications...
July 21, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
People should only have the number of kids they can reasonably support on thier own. They should not have to rely on tax payer supported Health Care because they chose to have so many children they cannot afford. Things such as daycare and other expenses and the ability to pay for it needs to be considered without relying on tax payer supported health care. I have an issue with people having as many children as they feel like and expect the tax payer to subsdised them. I work and pay health insurance for my family and I am not subsdised in anyway ..
July 21, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Lol @ Conception room
The place seems nice, I wont take anything away from it. But like CB, two minutes seems like an eternity when it comes to your health or the health of a newborn. I'll be at the hospital with plenty of drugs (legal :-)), gadgets, and my little girl's dad nearby so when a contraction hits, I can smack the hell out of him.
July 21, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Applauding, jeff! I work, pay taxes, and I am going to do all I can to get affordable health care that I help fund!
July 21, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nikkiP (anonymous) says...
How does healthcare work at places like this? I imagine most insurance agencies would be a little wary just because of a perceived higher risk.
All this talk of complications and problems makes me not want to have kids :l
July 21, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
CB,
You are absolutely right. I would have never even picked up on that had you not said something. That is disgusting now that you think of it. I'll take my cold tiled floors to the hardwood any day.
July 21, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
farfallaspeaks (anonymous) says...
I am so happy about this article. My best friend gave birth there 6 weeks ago, and she let me come visit on the day she gave birth to show me how great it was.
I was very impressed. I didn't have this place as an option when I gave birth, so that's why she wanted to show it to me. The midwife was wonderful.
She taught me things when I was there that I was never even knew.
The place looks so warm and friendly. They have nice queen sized beds to nurse your babies in, and birthing pools. They have a big living room and extra rooms for the families who come visit. A kitchen to cook your own food. It's like a little apartment with a birthing pool in it. Also, the woman who checks you every month is the same woman who will deliver your baby, and she makes sure of that. No stranger at the other end!!!
A wonderful change to the horrible hospital experience I had. I don't see how the hospitals really expect a woman who just give birth to sleep in those horrible beds and nurse their babies. I jumped at the chance to go home as soon as possible.
Also, there IS a hospital near bye in case of an emergency.
If you don't make it to 36 weeks, or if they anticipate complications, they will not let you give birth there.
July 21, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
farfallspeaks,
You have a huge amount of friends who are always somehow connected to the articles that the P&C writes. You must have more friends than Tom has on MySpace. The 6 degrees of Separation theory is not wasted when it comes to you. I am not being mean, I am just making an observation. Thanks for sharing all of your friends' experiences with us.
July 21, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Lmao @ CB!! You are awful!
July 21, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
People are given the impression that natural child births are a dangerous thing, but in most cases, they are not. The fact is hospitals are so profit driven, that they unnecessarily induce births and perform more cesarean births than are necessary, just so they are more efficient (in other words doctor an 8 'oclock tee time he doesn't want to miss). Cesarean births have become much more common place in recent years and this has made birth more risky and they really are. Anyways, It is great to have a birthing center option, just in case something does happen.
July 21, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MissPriss (anonymous) says...
While this is a great option for some I for one will deliver in a hospital if I ever decide I want children...
July 21, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
georgebushsux (anonymous) says...
A hospital is the only place to have a child? Missionary style is the only position to have sex? This place looks to nice to birth a child? All women you come here must be expecting government assistance? B.W.C.M.F.
July 21, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dixiegrl98 (anonymous) says...
I would've probably liked to have tried something like this before ,but no more kids for me:)I did have midwifes for my deliveries and they were wonderful!much less clinical than the doctors.But the part about peacful experiences...yeah right!It's like having a buick drive through you abdoman.ButI think it's a great option,especially with a massage therapist,wish I'd had one of those!
July 21, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charleston_21 (anonymous) says...
What is D.H.E.C's opinion on this birthing center?
July 21, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bkeelin (anonymous) says...
Birthing centers cost 1/3 to 1/2 what hospitals charge and the care they receive at the birthing center is much better than at a hospital. The lady who had her fifth child is not on welfare, she has one father for all of her children and he works hard and his private insurance would rather pay less than half of the cost to give birth. My wife gave birth to our little girl there in March and she didn't need any pain medication at all because she was in an atmosphere that was much more calm and a lot less stressful. Some of you knuckelheads don't have a clue. Childbirth is a natural process for women and before the age of drugs and lawsuits all women gave birth naturally. My wife gave birth to three of our children in the hospital and the birthing center experience was so much better that words cannot describe it in this short little post. If people would get a clue and realize that just because it says hospital it doesn't make it a safe place to give birth or a pleasant place either. They strap you down in a bed and drug you up and you can't move once they put the baby monitor on. The lady that runs the birthing center has years of experience delivering at Trident Hospital and the other midwives that work there are so responsive and helpful. The birthing center is an awesome place and if you look at the actual statistics it is actually safer than a hospital. Do the research before you spout off like uniformed liberals. Those here who are either pregnant or wanting to get pregnant would be doing themselves a huge disservice if they did not at least check out the birthing center. You have no idea how happy you will be if you do.
July 21, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CyndiJustMe (anonymous) says...
Spartan writes: Birthing took place in homes not that long ago and with reasonably good results.
Spartan - birthing still takes place in homes. We have Licensed Midwives in Charleston who safely deliver babies. They also provide "accessibility to emergency care should complications arise" by carrying life-saving equipment, being trained to handle complications in mother or baby, and primarily by avoiding the myriad interventions, like fetal monitors, IVs and multiple internal exams, that often lead to those complications. There was a very comprehensive study published in a respectable medical journal supporting the safety of homebirth with Certified Professional Midwives, http://www.coastalbirthservices.com/h....
July 21, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkhaynes (anonymous) says...
bkeelin, you had me until "uniformed liberals" - I think you meant uninformed, but still. How about just uninformed masses? Because I think neo-cons and fascists can be uninformed too.
July 21, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
farfallaspeaks (anonymous) says...
bkeelin, I agree until you spewed out the nonsense about liberals.
See my previous comment. I am very liberal.
July 21, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Spartan (anonymous) says...
COldbeer, I visited the place. It ain't hardwood son. Its an expensive type of linoleum/tile that LOOKS like hardwood. As far as germs, how many do you think you might get over at the big hospital? Go over there and see for yourself. You ain't right on this and you go off the deep end on some assumption about hardwood that is a continous surface. No germs in no cracks. Have a cold one.
July 21, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blackwoman (anonymous) says...
If you cannot care for the children you bring into this world (absent extraordinary health circumstances) meaning food, shelter, medical care and education then it is time to stop procreating. Anyway, just be sure where ever you are that you see the person who is about to touch you wash their hands-well.
July 21, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCHSKR (anonymous) says...
CB: My wife had a baby just over a month ago at a local hospital and while she had a 100% natual birth with no drugs and no complications our bills have totalled over 13k. We actually looked into the birth center earlier in her pregnancy and found that it would be about 1/3rd of what we ended up paying at the hospital. The wife really wanted to have the baby at the birth center, but they don't take our insurance so we had to make the decision between paying 4k or so out of pocket to have a baby, or having the baby for a $15 copay... the $15 copay won out.
July 22, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
Wow, maybe they will have one of these in Charleston one day. Until then the City of North Charleston makes out again with the money.
July 22, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charleston_21 (anonymous) says...
Amen to blackwoman! :)
July 23, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kme122 (anonymous) says...
to bkeelin. I am not sure what you think you know about the girl with 5 kids. But you are wrong. She has 4 different dads for those kids. Oh an she is on food stamps.
July 24, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dutch (anonymous) says...
Not that it matters, but kme122 is correct. And that isn't her last name... one would wonder who does pay for it. Hospitals today offer the same services..just check with your OB. I think birthing centers is the future in child birth...Hurray...
July 24, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kme122 (anonymous) says...
I believe medicaid has paid for all of her births. Yet another drain on society.
July 24, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charleston_21 (anonymous) says...
You know, I was reading the article on how we MAY be put on a water restriction... wouldn't you think that they should also established some sort of restriction on how many kids you have.
You know, if they did that, would would have more tax money for them to waste! So in all essence, they'll be in a win situation!
July 25, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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