A Mom’s Guide to Jacksonville Birthing Centers

My first birth took place in the same place most births do. Hospital room, surrounded by my awesome husband, very sweet nurses and a competent, caring doctor who delivered my baby with expert hands. Alice and I were both healthy and happy, and I got to spend the next two days being cared for by some of the most wonderful caregivers on the planet (seriously Baptist South. Your nurses are the bomb. Da bomb? Do people say that anymore?)

However.

When we learned we were expecting a second child, my husband and I really felt that we didn’t want to go back to the hospital. As great as my doctors were, it was always hard not to feel like one patient in a herd of hundreds. The requirements of hospital birth, like being strapped to a monitor, a HepLock, and the constant cervical checks, just weren’t for me. Being at the hospital made me anxious, and it was hard not to feel like I was more a passive observer than the one actually delivering the baby.

Photo Credit: Krystal at West House Photography
Photo Credit: Krystal at West House Photography

After a lot of thought and prayer, we made a decision. Our second baby would be delivered by…DUN DUN DUN OMINOUS MUSIC…a midwife.

I’m not alone, either. According to an article in Time magazine, midwives are catching about 12% of vaginally-birthed babies in America, and birth center births have increased by 21%.

With so many women leaving the hospital for the birth center, what’s a Jacksonville mom to do? Guess what? I’m gonna tell ya!

Jacksonville and St. Augustine are home to three freestanding birth centers, which is huge, considering that the American Association of Birth Centers only counts 248 freestanding centers in the entire country.

Birthing Centers in Jacksonville & St Augustine

Fruitful Vine was here first, and is celebrating its fifteenth year catching babies. They boast a staff of four midwives, one of them, Cindy Williams, with delivery privileges at Shands Hospital. So, if you love the idea of the individualized care of a midwife, but aren’t sold on the idea of out-of-hospital birth, this may be your place. It’s especially good for mamas who have had a previous cesarean and aren’t comfortable giving birth at home (VBACs aren’t allowed at birth centers in Florida).

Birth Center of Jacksonville hangs out in the middle of Riverside, and has been there since January of this year. Their midwives, Hope and Shea, have been catching babies for years and their front desk assistant, Cecilia, is one of the most passionate birth advocates in the Jacksonville area. I had the privilege of being a student of hers when I was pregnant with my first child, and there is no one I know that knows how to empower an expectant mother quite the way Cee does. For the mama who likes to get up and move through her labor, this is a perfect spot. Their Facebook page showcases pictures of moms laboring in Riverside Park, just across the street, or standing on the front sidewalk, hoola-hooping through contractions.

Ok, so I saved my personal favorite for last. These are the women who delivered my second daughter, so I’m a little biased. Or a lot biased. Super biased.

Growing Families Birth Center is in St. Augustine, but services the entire Jacksonville area. They have two midwives, Misti and Zoey, as well as a chiropractor who visits the center weekly to adjust the women under their care. The atmosphere in the office is warm and comforting, and the care feels less like sitting in a medical office and more like chatting with your really, really well informed best friend. I had great doctors the first time, but I’ll tell you now, I never had a forty five minute appointment with them, and certainly not as much laughter.

Photo Credit: Krystal at West House Photography
Photo Credit: Krystal at West House Photography

My midwife attended birth was the most empowering, amazing thing I have ever done, and the care I received was so compassionate and loving. I was able to labor without fear of intervention, with women who trusted that my body knew what it was doing.

The way in which a woman births is a choice only she can make, and the right choice is different for every woman, and it’s important to note that midwives only take on low-risk patients. But if you are expecting, and the idea of hospital birth makes you cringe a little in anxiety or fear or just in plain old β€œdon’t wanna,” give some of these ladies a call.

Have you delivered at any of these birthing centers? Please share your experience!

 

Rhyannon YatesRhyannon YatesΒ is a transplant to Jacksonville from the sunny shores of California. She’s lived and taught in Jacksonville since 2003. These days she’s a stay at home wife and mom, trying to balance marriage and motherhood with a writing career and home-preschool. When she’s not busy wife-ing and mom-ing, you can find her at her blog,Β Grilled Cheese and Applesauce.

21 COMMENTS

  1. I enjoyed your post and I’m glad your deliveries went well. I tend to be a worrier and would not personally consider a birth center. I love my doctor and hospital so much that I am about to deliver my third child with him! I actually have had 30-40 minute visits with my doctor from time to time and others that were shorter but that depends on the needs of the visit. Overall, it is as you stated that moms need to find what works for her and her situation. I have seen too many posts about midwives that felt the need to bash doctors and nurses in order to make their point and I was so happy to see that you didn’t do that. I love that your post was positive about both experiences and showed the unique experience at the birth center without discrediting the hospital. Than you for sharing your experience. πŸ™‚

  2. I too birthed my first at a hospital, but it wasn’t a great experience. My second was at Birth Center of Jax! The midwives and birth team are empowering, the birth tubs are super soothing and the atmosphere is whimsical and educational! Did I mention I love that place? Love them so much I want to have more babie πŸ™‚

  3. I love this blog post! I’ve delivered both with Sharon at Fruitful Vine and Hope when she was at FV as well. These ladies are so amazing at what they do!! I wouldn’t change my experiences for the world and am so thankful to have these ladies in my life!!!!

  4. Thanks, Rhyannon, for the lovely compliments. My primary goal in teaching childbirth classes is to help women (and men!) find their power so your comments went straight to my heart.

    You did such a great job on this blog entry! I have known the midwives at all three birth centers for many years, and I would not hesitate to send people I know and love to any of them for care. Prenatal care and birth at home or birth center are excellent, safe choices for women who are healthy and low-risk. Doctors and hospitals are wonderful when they are needed, but the majority of pregnant women ARE healthy and low-risk and are simply going through a normal, biological process that does not require or benefit from medical intervention.

    Thanks for spreading the word! β™₯

  5. My son was born at home with Hope, when she was with A Fruitful Vine. I could not have been happier with my experience! I felt so empowered and free to have my own birthing experience! This was very important to me, and I plan to do it same next go around!

  6. I had my one and only birth through at FV, and it was a wonderful experience! I would do it all over again if I had to :). Great article, thanks for raising awareness of this option!

  7. My first birth was a hospital birth and I was treated horribly by my doctor and nurses. My second birth was a hospital birth because of severe complications. But births three and four were both at Fruitful Vine. Sharon delivered number three and Hope delivered number four (on HER birthday:-) Both of those births were peaceful and beautiful. I can’t say enough about how wonderful those experiences were.

  8. I birthed with Misti in St. Augustine as well. She is such a gift to the women of North Florida. I love and adore her so much!!! She is such an empowering force for our community, as is the birth educator Cecilia Mitchell. Shea (from Birth Center of Jax) assisted at my birth with Misti, she is an AWESOME woman as well. We are infinitely blessed to have these wonderful ladies in our community!!!!

  9. Hi, Rhyannon. Thanks so much for sharing the word on birth centers! I am on the doula side of the birth community, so while I am familiar about our local resources I am always so surprised (and sad!) when ladies don’t know of this option. This is a wonderful choice for most low-risk women, so thanks again for encouraging others to look into our local centers that I am happy to say are ALL top notch. Look forward to seeing you highlight other local birthing resources. Have a great day!

  10. Yes, this article is DA BOMB!! lol!! Raye this is a beautiful, well written blogs! (Kudos to Misti’s mom’s)

    I delivered with Misti back in 2012. I transferred care midway through my pregnancy because I didn’t feel that I was getting the education or the time I needed during my care. After doing tons of research, I decided that having a midwife and delivering at a birth center was a better fit for me. I had my baby at Growing Families birth center and had such an amazing labor and delivery with Misti & Shea. I learned more about my body and health during care with Misti than I had ever learned in my life!!

    I strongly encourage moms (especially first time moms) to do your research and form your on opinions of the type of care you deserve and should get.

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