Hospital
Hospital births are attended by physicians (MDs and OBGYNs) and nurse-midwives (CNMs) in Wisconsin, alongside nurses and other medical staff. You may invite family members and/or a doula to be present with you.
When you plan a hospital birth, prenatal care takes place in the clinic, while birth and early postpartum and newborn care takes place in the hospital. After you leave the hospital, all care typically returns to the clinic, though you may qualify for home health visiting services or hire private doula and lactation home assistance.
Standard Wisconsin assessments, tests, screens, and procedures, such as ultrasounds and blood work, are performed during your own and your infant’s course of care. You have a right to ask questions and request time for discussion and consideration of options, before accepting tests, screens, and procedures.
Hospital birth attendants are experienced in supporting medicated, unmedicated, and surgical birth. Lactation support is routinely available. In hospitals where nurse-midwives practice, water birth may be an option.
Hospital with Community Clinic Care
South Central Wisconsin
Harambee Birth & Family Center
Harambee Birth and Family Center is providing midwife-attended prenatal care at their community clinic, along with in-home postpartum care in the first 6 weeks after birth. Clients are also able to access doula services, lactation services, and family resource support services.
Home
Home births are attended by midwives (both LMs and CNMs) in Wisconsin, typically alongside a second midwife and family members. Homebirth midwives often are also experienced doulas. You may invite additional doula support.
When you plan a home birth, prenatal care takes place in the midwife’s office or in your home. Labor, birth, postpartum, lactation, and newborn care takes place in your home. If a health complication is detected at any time in pregnancy, labor, or postpartum, the midwife helps you transfer care to hospital practitioners. The midwife may continue care in a supportive role, or you may resume full care with your midwife after health concerns are resolved. The final postpartum visit typically takes place in the midwife’s office.
Standard Wisconsin assessments, tests, screens, and procedures, such as ultrasounds and blood work, are offered and discussed during your own and your infant’s course of care, before they are ordered or performed.
Home birth midwives are experienced in supporting unmedicated birth, water birth, lactation, and new parenting.
Independent Birth Center
Independent birth centers are not affiliated with hospitals. Birth center births are attended by family physicians and midwives (both LMs and CNMs), alongside birth center staff. You may invite family members and/or a doula to be present with you.
When you plan a birth center birth, prenatal care takes place in the center. At some centers, you may choose whether to birth in the center or at home. If you birth in the center, immediate postpartum and newborn care takes place there. If you birth at home, postpartum and newborn care takes place at home, while follow-up care takes place in the center.
If a health complication is detected at any time in pregnancy, labor, or postpartum, birth center staff helps you transfer care to hospital practitioners. Birth center staff may continue care in a supportive role, or you may resume full care at the birth center after health concerns are resolved.
Standard Wisconsin assessments, tests, screens and procedures, such as ultrasounds and blood work, are offered and discussed during your own and your infant’s course of care, before they are ordered or performed.
Birth Center attendants are experienced in supporting unmedicated birth, water birth, lactation, and new parenting.
Wisconsin’s Birth Centers
Northeast
Alba Birth Center