Labor and Delivery
Labor and Delivery
Home Birth
Water Birth
Hospital Birth
HypnoBirth
Immediate Newborn Care
Breast Feeding Support
Labor and delivery is Alternative Birth Choice’s specialty. We believe that all women should have a choice based on the options available for them in their family and community. Where as most hospitals offer only one method for labor and delivery Alternative Birth Choices specializes in developing the perfect option for the individual.
Prenatal Care is made up of exams, support and guidance for pregnant women to help them maintain their health and well being throughout their pregnancy. This includes periodic examinations of the growing child’s health, the mother’s health and monitoring along the way.
Labor support is a way of connecting with the mother during labor, providing emotional support, encouragement, calming fears and anxiety and creating a positive environment. We identify with the woman’s needs, include any family members who she has chosen to participate in this time, and remain constantly alert and available. We help the partner as well, encouraging support, guarding the couple’s privacy, assisting with mobility and coaching the couple through contractions.
Labor and Delivery is a special time for the entire family and is seen as a choice one makes on how they want to bring a child into this world. Our clinic specializes in the following methods:
Home Birth
Giving birth to a child in the comfort of your own home is a wonderful experience. Surrounded by the people and environment a woman enjoys most in her life helps maintain a positive outcome and keeps anxiety and fears to a minimum. During this spontaneous and challenging time a woman can enjoy the comforts that she surrounds herself with on a daily basis.
Preparing for a Home Birth is surprisingly easy, clean, safe and enjoyable. We make a home visit before a woman’s due date to answer any final questions and ensure that both groups are prepared.
Water Birth
Water Birth is the process of delivering your child in a tub of warm water, either getting out of the water when ready to deliver or delivering the child in the water. Since the child has lived in the amniotic sac for 9 months birthing into a tub of warm water is similar and is regarded both safe and gentle.
Many women have been introduced to the benefits of Water Birthing in recent years that include physical advantages such as reducing blood pressure, pain relief and energy conservation, which leads to the reduction of perineal trauma, and reduction in episiotomies. The emotional benefits include feelings of control, relaxation, and confidence that your child will be delivered in the gentlest manner.
In most cases Water Birth speeds up labor, is an easier birth for the mother and a gentler way for the baby to be born.
Hospital Birth
The staff of Alternative Birth Choices attend hospital births as well. ABC is committed to providing the best possible service throughout your labor and work hard to guard the birth process and space when couples choose to give birth in the hospital. They also offer specialized services like in-hospital Water Birth.
HypnoBirth Support
HypnoBirth is a technique that includes guided mediation and relaxation. The process keeps a woman in tune with the inner workings of her body and how the birthing muscles are participating in the birth. When relaxed and free of fear the body tends to participate in a less painful, more productive way.
Alternative Birth Choices supports those who choose to utilize HypnoBirth during their labor.
Doula Services
Alternative Birth Choices is staffed by trained and experienced Nurse-Midwives and Birth Assistance. Many of our services are similar to Doula Services though we encourage women to consider chosing a Doula to participate in the birthing process.
Click here for a list of Doulas in Maryland
Immediate Newborn Care
Alternative Birth Choices participates in the immediate newborn care, including informing the family what to expect over the first few days, how to monitor the child’s health, SID’s prevention and general care. We are available by phone and in person to assist the parents and child through this new period.
Breast Feeding Support
Alternative Birth Choices has trained lactation specialists on staff to assist with breast feeding during the first month.
This process, new to first time mothers, is sometimes difficult, especially after the tiring labor process. ABC works with and encourages the new mother to breastfeed with various techniques that will help the child latch on and receive sustenance. This process is even more important than ever after recent studies of breast milk versus formula showed the extensive benefits of breast milk.
