Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Centers

How does Well-Rounded Maternity Center differ from a homebirth?
Who can birth at a birth center?
Are birth centers safe?
How much does it cost?
Will my insurance cover the birth center?
Why is the birth center in Menomonee Falls instead of Milwaukee?

How does Well-Rounded Maternity Center differ from a homebirth?

• Convenience--you don't have to buy birth supplies, keep a tub set up, clean up before or after.
• Safety--while the center is not medically different from homebirth, transfers to the hospital can be done more efficiently as the center has experience, is 5 minutes from a hospital and 2 buildings away from the fire department.
• Privacy--you don't have to worry about neighbors hearing you, or uninvited guests appearing during labor.
• Extra Assistance--there are birth professionals (doula or nurse) on staff to help in early labor before the midwife arrives, and postpartum after the midwife leaves until you are ready to go home.
• Space--it's like having an entire house devoted entirely to your laboring needs. There is no clutter of personal items to distract you during labor, everything has a purpose.

Who Can Birth at a Birth Center?

Healthy women anticipating a low-risk pregnancy and birth, who have investigated their options and decided that an out-of-hospital birth is right for them may wish to birth at a birth center. Screening to determine your risk-status will vary from midwife to midwife. Click here for a list of midwives in SE Wisconsin.

If the state regulations for CPM licensing permits, some midwives will consider assisting a woman who has had a previous cesarean in an out-of-hospital birth, under the right circumstances. At this time, we will contract with couples wishing a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), if it is considered acceptable by their midwife, that midwife has privileges with the center and the state regulations permit. *

Generally, most couples choosing a non-hospital birth will have their babies at home with a qualified midwife. For some families, however, this may not be ideal. The couple's home may lack space or privacy, for example. They may live too far from a hospital to comfortably transport should the need arise. Or, they may just want the convenience of going to a homelike facility where everything is ready for them exactly when they need it.

*AABC recently published the results of its study regarding outcomes of VBAC births done out-of-hospitals. This study is important to anyone wishing to attempt a VBAC outside the hospital setting. We will post the findings of this important study as soon as they become available.

Are Birth Centers Safe?

Research shows that Birth Centers are safe, satisfying and offer cost savings. In 1982, The Institute of Medicine's "Research Issues on Birth Settings" concluded that birth settings, including hospitals, had never been adequately studied. In 1989, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on the landmark "National Birth Center Study" concluding that:

"Birth Centers offer a safe and acceptable alternative to hospital confinement for selected pregnant women, particularly those who have previously had children, and that such care leads to relatively few cesarean sections...Few innovations in health service promise lower cost, greater availability, and a high degree of satisfaction and safety... This study suggests that modern Birth Centers can identify women who are at low risk for obstetrical complications and can care for them in a way that provides these benefits."

Annual reports on the National Birth Center Experience since that study have continued to support that conclusion.

Note: Licensure for Birth Centers is provided by individual states. Accreditation for centers is based on carefully defined national standards and is provided by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. At this time, Wisconsin does not license birth centers.

How Much Does It Cost?

Well-Rounded Maternity Center offers couples a place to have their babies as an alternative to their home. As an "open-staff" facility, a couple must consider the fees of the midwife who provides care*, in addition to the birth center fee**.

The center fee includes the use of the birth tub, birth kit supplies as required by their midwife, and linens. Couples may stay at the center throughout their labor and birth, and up to 12 hours following delivery at no extra charge. Couples are responsible for their own food consumed while at the center.

*Fees for midwifes in SE Wisconsin average $1,600-3,800 for prenatal care and delivery. ** Please call 262-253-6510 for current fee information. There is a significant cash discount for facility fees that are paid in full prior to the delivery.

Will My Health Insurance Cover the Birth Center?

Most traditional indemnity health insurance companies will cover a birth center birth and several local HMOs offer point-of-service ("POS") plans that may cover our care. Adventist, Aetna, Alliance, Humana, United Health Care and Wausau Insurance Co. are just a few of the companies that typically pay for birth center services, however individual policies vary. We will work with you to determine if your insurance company covers our services. Your midwife will do the same to determine if her care is covered. Please contact us for more information.

Why Is the Birth Center in Menomonee Falls Instead of Milwaukee?

• Well-Rounded Maternity Center is located just 30 minutes from downtown Milwaukee. It is central to residents as well as midwives across SE Wisconsin, so there are more midwives to choose from for your care.
• Menomonee Falls is a charming and safe community, with ample parking and places of interest to walk to during early labor, even in the wee hours of the morning!
• The birth center is conveniently located close to the fire department and hospital for quicker transfers. And, the cost of property and taxes is much less, which is reflected in a lower facility fee.
• So, don't wait until you are in active labor to drive to the center. Come in earlier. Settle in and feel free to leave the building, to walk, to eat, to shop or look around.