This month we are reflecting on gratitude and giving thanks for all of our clients and staff. Thank you for your commitment, trust, and support over the past three+ decades. We are also grateful for the other birth workers we work with in the community. The community around us makes the collaborative care we provide possible.
We are proud to be a state licensed and nationally accredited option for out-of-hospital birth in San Diego. We are grateful to be able to provide a safe and welcoming environment for families to bring their babies into the world. We know that there are lots of choices of where to give birth in San Diego, so we’re thankful when we have the privilege to serve families during their most special times.
According to the American Association of Birth Centers, there are now more than 400 freestanding birth centers across the United States. This is more than doubled from a decade ago, so it’s a move in the right direction. Approximately 20,000 births per year happen in freestanding birth centers, but most births still occur in a hospital setting.
We’re thankful to see more people considering birth center care. This shift reflects a desire for personalized care that emphasizes the emotional and physical aspects of the birthing experience. The choice of midwifery care aligns with a broader movement towards patient-centered care, as women seek alternatives that prioritize individualized attention and a deeper connection throughout the transformative process of bringing new life into the world.
Most insurance plans now cover care from Certified Nurse-Midwives at freestanding birth centers as well. We’re glad about the progress made to freestanding birth centers being an option for more people and want to continue to spread the word that Best Start accepts insurance and out-of-hospital birth doesn’t need to mean high out of pocket cost. Great care with amazing midwives can be affordable!
In gratitude,
All of us at Best Start