Birth Center of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois 60613
Eating throughout labor: We have a fully stocked community kitchen which families have access to and can use while their family member is here at the birth center. We also have a refrigerator, coffee, tea, and fast energy snack options that are available for the entirety of labor and recovery. Part of postpartum recovery is ensuring you have a good meal before being discharged to return home 4-6 hours after giving birth.
Birth balls and peanut balls, birth swings, Swedish bars, birth stool, tens units, nitrous oxide, and encouraged use of labor doulas are all a part of standard care.
We encourage the use of traditional and modern coping tools for labor pain, including the use of a doula! Coping tools we offer include:
- abdominal breathing
- acupressure
- birth ball & peanut ball
- birthing stool
- dancing
- heat packs
- movement
- muscle relaxation
- music
- nitrous oxide
- positions
- shower
- sterile water injections
- Swedish barre
- TENS unit
- touch and massage
- using your voice
- visualization
- water immersion
…and any combination of these!
The Birth Center of Chicago does not limit the number of support people a family would like to have inside their birth suite. Siblings are also welcome when they have a dedicated adult with them. Guests with symptoms of an infectious disease or illness are not able to attend births.
Birth Center of Chicago is partnered with the Mother’s Milk Bank of Western Great Lakes. We work to serve families looking to donate milk by offering a convenient location for drop off as a Milk Depot that insures their precious ounces are securely and safely delivered to the milk bank for processing and redistribution.
We also provide small quantities of milk for sale as a Milk Dispensary to support families needing help through transistions.
The Birth Center serves low-risk clients only.
Our birth center has two individual birth suites with private bathrooms, and one antepartum/postpartum room. Both birth suites have a full sized birth tub for labor and water birth, as well as tools to help labor in all labor positions.
Refrigerator and microwave are available in the shared kitchen and living room area.
Accepts Medicaid : No
See Insurance comments for details
Outcomes:
Overall C-Section Rate (Risk Adjusted) – 5.8%
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
Primary C-Section Rate (Risk Adjusted) – 5.8%
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate – 100
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
- Number of VBAC deliveries per year -
- Epidural Rate - 0
- Overall Induction Rate - 0
- Early Elective Deliveries - 0
- Episiotomy Rate - 0
Cesarean births are not performed at BCC, so if your labor becomes complicated, you will transport to Advocate Illinois Masonic for any necessary care, including a cesarean birth if needed.
The cesarean rates reported above reflects nationwide numbers for birth center care, as BCC has not been open long enough to collect data for their first year of support.
VBAC: Trial of VBAC is not offered at the Birth Center of Chicago. People who wish for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) can work with a supportive provider. BCC is happy to recommend supportive providers for those interested.
Epidural, early elective delivery and episiotomy rates: These rates (0% in all cases) are for people who birth at the Birth Center of Chicago, and Epidural and labor induction are not provided at the center, and episiotomy is not a part of planned or routine care.
A Freestanding Birth Center with Skilled Midwifery Care
We are delighted to serve individuals and families looking for a friendly space full of compassionate, evidence-based care.
What to expect during prenatal visits
Your first appointment is about getting to know us, and for us to know you. Your medical history will be reviewed and discussed, as well as your goals for this pregnancy and delivery. If you have not had the chance previously, you’ll also be able to tour the birth center.
As you continue care with the Birth Center of Chicago, you’ll get to know our staff and enjoy the living room-style 1st-floor lobby. After checking in, you’ll go upstairs to our clinic rooms for your appointments. Feel free to grab a refreshment or fresh snack in the kitchen – or scan the shelves of our lending library – before you head up!
You’ll have the chance to meet our midwives through the course of your prenatal appointments. There is no rushing, and that looks like 2-4X more time being face-to-face than most folks experience with traditional providers.
That’s right; you can expect to spend 30-60 minutes with your midwife at appointments! We will track the baby’s growth and listen to heart tones, monitor your blood pressure and more.
BCC midwives, nurses, and staff want to hear about how you’re feeling, what pressures or stresses you are managing, and how you find ways to tolerate, cope, and mitigate situations that could make your pregnancy more difficult. We care about you, and we want time to give you the experience that helps you feel confident walking through the world while pregnant.
A Truly Unique Birth…
…where you lead, and we follow. Birth with midwives is already traditionally different from what most of the population have come to expect from media images, and stories from family and friends. Care at the Birth Center of Chicago is centered on supporting low-risk birthing populations – ultimately, you don’t need a lot of interventions or interruptions when birth is happening normally!
But we also know birth is unpredictable, requires confidence and support, and can sometimes need the help of a skilled professional. We endeavor to help you have the birth of your dreams, where your intuition is valued, your body can move and be comforted, and you feel safe asking for what you want.
Our midwives will meet you at the birth center 24-hours a day. Our team will support you through active labor phases, birth, and the early bonding time with your newborn.
Postpartum Care
We do things differently,and our follow up care is no exception.
There are so many changes in the first weeks of life together, and that time is aided with holistic support with your mental, physical, and educational needs all being met. We want you to heal, while also being confident you are meeting your child’s needs, as well as your own. Support people, partners, and children are always welcome at appointments.
Our Postpartum + Newborn Check-ins
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24-36 hours postpartum: 1-hour midwife visit for parent and baby
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4-6th day postpartum: midwife visit for parent and baby
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2nd week postpartum: group midwife visit for parent and baby, able to meet other parents*
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6th week postpartum: midwife visit for parent
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additional visits as needed
Click here to see Insurance Accepted.
We are currently in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare PPO and Christian Healthcare Ministries plans
We are still in the process of becoming in-network with most insurance companies
We fully anticipate being able to take most insurances in time
We are not in-network with Medicaid at this time
The Birth Center of Chicago accepts clients who are medically low-risk and who agree to follow the disclosed client responsibilities:
- provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past medical history, hospitalizations, medications, alternative therapy, and other matters relating to your health.
reporting unexpected changes in your condition to the midwife in a timely manner. - speaking up and informing your midwife if you do not understand the plan of treatment and what is expected of you.
- attending childbirth education classes as needed and/or required.
- accepting responsibility for outcomes related to refusing treatment or care.
paying your bill or making arrangements to pay your bill.
showing consideration for the rights of other clients.
- 23.9%* of admitted clients transferred for non-emergent reasons. 0% transferred for emergent reasons.
- 1.45%* clients transferred after birth for non emergent reasons. 0% for emergent reasons.
- 4.35%* newborns transfer after birth for non-emergent reasons. 0% for emergent reasons.
The Birth Center of Chicago partners with Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital and is our official transfer partner for those clients admitted in labor who need additional care outside of what BCC can provide.
The medical teams at both BCC and Illinois Masonic participate in cooperative emergency drills to ensure safety for our clients.
You can call 773-232-2299 Option #2 to schedule a tour, or book online: http://www.birthcenterofchicago.com/schedule-a-tour
People who are looking to give birth at the Birth Center of Chicago are required to take a comprehensive childbirth class or comfort measures classes, depending on if this is their first or subsequent birth. We have a list of recommended classes online and around Chicago. For current class offerings at BCC, please visit http://www.birthcenterofchicago.com/classes
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Water birth: The Birth Center of Chicago is happy to offer water birth inside both birth suites. Waterbirth is supported by the American College of Nurse Midwives and the American Association of Birth Centers.
VBAC: Trial of VBAC is not offered at the Birth Center of Chicago. People who wish for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) can work with a supportive provider. BCC is happy to recommend supportive providers for those interested.