Birth Centers in Charlotte, NC

[JulAmber]

Can anyone tell me of any birth centers in Charlotte, NC? My husband and I may have to be relocating there soon and I am due in March.

[WuWei]

Can anyone tell me of any birth centers in Charlotte, NC? My husband and I may have to be relocating there soon and I am due in March.

Like, natural birthing friendly? None. High Point is the closest, other than homebirthing.


Pat

[gemasita]

The only freestanding birth center in NC is in Chapel Hill. I'm not sure about in SC though, since you are close to the border.

[dinahx]

Here are your options:
Presby-Huntersville (hospital): Very much a hospital but with a WONDERFUL CNM: Marcia Chilluck and a doctor Dr. Peacock. They practice together . . . They have the best hospital births locally and I have been reading local birth stories for over a year.

CMC-Pineville (hospital): More a hospital even, but has a practice of 4 midwives (within a huge doctor practice) who are CNMs and who will 'allow' natural birth . . . The staff there tends to be supportive too . . . But you would be, IMHO, more likely to get your ideal birth with Marcia . . . The midwives don't work weekends currently. If you go into labor on a weekend, a doctor will deliver you . . .

Under the Radar Care: We have a few CPMs practicing locally that do HomeBirths . . . If you ask around, you will find out who they are soon enough . . .

Birth Center in SC: This is theoretically possible, as is living in SC! You can live just south of the border (20 minutes to Uptown Charlotte) or get a sublet there and have a LEGAL homebirth attended by a State Licensed Midwife . . . Damaris Pittman is the local one who is great, I hear . . . She has a website if you search her . . . SC licenses midwives, but they cannot attend VBACs . . .

You could also travel to Asheville (Mission Hospital, New Dawn Midwifery, etc) . . . New Dawn will deliver at Mission. They are very picky about who they will take, so I don't know if renting a place near the hospital and asking them to attend you at home would work.

The SC birth centers are pretty far from CLT, I think the closest one is in Columbia . . . Which is a hike and I don't know anything about them . . . But worth checking into! HTH!!!

[JulAmber]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I currently live in SC and am seeing a midwife in Spartanburg. If we ended up living on the border, that would only be 45 minutes away. However, my husbands company is in N. Charlotte, making it more like an hour and a half. I don't know at this point how close to his company we plan on living. A lot will just depend on the cost of living around there but I think we would both prefer to live closer to SC than further away since all our friends will be in SC obviously and my family is in SC.

I may just stick with the birth center I have. That would make it closer for family to come see me, too. But I at least wanted to see what the options were in the Charlotte area. I wasn't aware that midwifery wasn't legal in NC. Is that the case? Would that explain the absence of birth centers? I have a friend in Raleigh that used a birth center so I guess I am confused.

[beanma]

your friend must have come to women's birth and wellness center (http://www.ncbirthcenter.com) in chapel hill since I think it's the only one still operating i the state. I think I read on here that the High Point center closed several years ago.

CNMs are legal in NC, but not CPMs. CNMs must have doctor back up as well.

[dinahx]

Yes, and it just that no doctors will back HB CNMs in NC (or very few) so it doesn't happen. It could but it doesn't . . . Maybe has something to do with our malpractice laws/rates? IDK

[JulAmber]

What about childbirth education in Charlotte? And doulas? I would prefer not to take one of the traditional hospital courses (although Spartanburg Regional has a Hypnobirthing class and that isn't traditional.) I had found the perfect one here in SC but I don't want to have to travel every week for it if there is something comparable in Charlotte.

[WuWei]

What about childbirth education in Charlotte? And doulas? I would prefer not to take one of the traditional hospital courses (although Spartanburg Regional has a Hypnobirthing class and that isn't traditional.) I had found the perfect one here in SC but I don't want to have to travel every week for it if there is something comparable in Charlotte.

We've just created a new local network to connect the holistic community. We intend to have more social gatherings, MNO, holistic presentations, playgroups and events. Join us! Participation is FREE! http://xploringholisticalternatives.ning.com/

We are having a "Birth Awareness" presentation. We'll have a Bradley instructor, birth doula, post-partum doula, hypno-birthing support sharing information. And perhaps a midwife attending also. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at EarthFare-Ballantyne. So, Oct. 15th, at 7:30pm.

You are also welcome to post for recommendations of birthing support on the forums there.


Our next MNO is Wednesday, October 1st at 7:30 pm.

Location: Melting Pot
901 South Kings Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28204
http://www.meltingpot.com/location.aspx?q=97

RSVP if you can join us!


Pat

[JulAmber]

Thanks! I don't know yet when we will be moving out to Charlotte but probably sooner rather than later.