by: Tracy Ryan
view profile ▪ view other postings from Tracy RyanArticle Contributed on: 11/19/2009 11:52:21 AM
On November 11th, a local family celebrated the birth of their first child and Mountain Midwifery Center, a freestanding birth center owned by Littleton resident Tracy Ryan, celebrated the 500th baby born in the Englewood facility. Mountain Midwifery Center (MMC) is Colorado's only licensed birth center and baby #500 is a sign that this unique practice is established and here to stay.
Per Tracy Ryan, founder and CEO of MMC, "We started slow, only catching 6 to 8 babies a month. Now we catch almost 30 babies a month and we've caught 500 babies in just over 3 years of operation, so we are very excited. It's a real privilege to offer independent midwifery care to so many families."
MMC was licensed in September 2006 by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as a freestanding birth center. The center employs 5 midwives that focus on natural birth (no pain medications, no inductions, no extractions or surgical deliveries) and they achieve a natural birth rate of 90 percent. If the woman or unborn infant develop a condition where natural birth becomes too difficult or risky, MMC transfers their care to Swedish Medical Center, just a block away. MMC's overall rate of Cesarean Section surgical delivery is 6 percent. For comparison, the national rate of C-Section delivery is 31 percent.
To achieve this high rate of natural births and such a low C-Section rate, MMC plans ahead for each birth. Expectant parents are assigned an education plan for child birth, breastfeeding and newborn care. At a minimum, births are attended by a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) and a Registered Nurse (RN). Water birth or just laboring in a warm tub is available to every client. Doulas (birth assistants) are often present and are available for post-birth support.
"Our immediate network of providers includes two wonderful physician practices and a strong and diversified team of doulas, including two ladies that also serve as our receptionists. We also work almost daily with a pregnancy-focused acupuncturist, an herbalist, and other holistic providers. This team is a critical asset that contributes to our high success rates in natural birth, breastfeeding and low newborn complications," said Ryan.
Mountain Midwifery Center is located just a block from Swedish Medical Center at 3555 S. Clarkson Street, Suite 500, Englewood 80113. Those interested in learning more about Mountain Midwifery can visit www.MountainMidwifery.com or call (303) 788-0600.
Local freestanding birth center catches baby No. 500 - YourHub.com
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