Alternative Birthing Options

two women holding their pregnant bellies

Why choose Ochsner Health for alternative birthing options?

Preparing to welcome your baby into the world is an exciting time. But with so many decisions to make, it can also be overwhelming. At Ochsner, we know how important it is to have the freedom to personalize all aspects of your birth experience. Our goal is to ease your concerns and give you peace of mind by offering alternative birthing options and helping you design the birth plan that is right for you.

At our birthing centers, we offer a variety of alternative birthing options designed to meet your labor and delivery needs and goals. You can feel confident knowing that we provide the highest levels of medical care for you and your baby.

Our birthing centers include locations at:

Certified nurse midwives are experts in traditional vaginal birth and deeply understand the birth process. They understand that pregnancy and childbirth encompass emotions as well as physical, spiritual and practical needs. That’s why midwives encourage women and their families to actively participate in their healthcare by providing individualized education, counseling, prenatal care, labor and delivery services along with postpartum support. Low-risk patients can choose to see a midwife for midwifery care throughout their pregnancy.

Midwives also believe that the birth process is unique to every woman, and labor is best experienced when the woman feels safe and is surrounded by people she trusts. At both of our alternative birth locations, our experienced certified nurse midwives offer a variety of personalized options, including:

Birthing balls
Birthing chairs
Birthing tubs for water births
Natural births
Showers
Walking during labor

Midwives collaborate with all our board-certified OB/GYNs, who fully support the beliefs and practices of our midwives. OB/GYNs are readily available to assist should it become necessary at any stage of labor or during the birthing process.

Find a midwife near you.

FAQs

All midwives must complete a graduate-level midwifery program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. Certified nurse midwives have additional training and are also registered nurses.

In some cases, a woman with a high-risk pregnancy or who has a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, can still receive midwifery care. Your provider can help you decide if a midwife is the right option for you.

Some alternative birthing methods include:

Water birth. This method involves going through labor and/or delivery while soaking in a tub filled with warm water.

Using alternative positions. Suggested alternative positions may include using birthing chairs or stools, laboring on hands and knees or while walking, birthing in a tub or shower and other options that may relieve discomfort and help facilitate the baby’s position.

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