New Birth Center

Birth center offers women a comfortable, safe alternative

By Ted Pennekamp

Many people in their 80s or older can probably recall when it wasn’t at all uncommon, especially in rural areas, to have births in homes rather than hospitals. 

Nowadays, women choosing to give birth in their home or at a birthing center is an option that is beginning to increase in some areas of the United States.

Out-of-hospital births have continued to grow slowly in Wisconsin since midwifery licensure began in the state in 2007, said Heather Kramer and Alison Peralta, the owners of Trillium Midwifery Services in Prairie du Chien.

“Wisconsin laws give us a lot of flexibility with our profession compared to other states,” said Kramer, who is a registered nurse (RN), a certified professional midwife (CPM), and a licensed midwife (LM). Peralta, who is a CPM and an LM, noted that there is a midwifery program at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore and at other such institutions. Kramer and Peralta said that out of hospital births made up 1.36 percent of births in the United States in 2012 while it was 3 percent in Wisconsin.

The Trillium Midwifery Services Birth Center opened at 1201 S. Beaumont Road on Oct. 22 and they had their first birth on Oct. 29.

“Births can be either here (at Trillium) or in their home,” said Peralta. “It’s an undisturbed, natural birth in a more relaxed atmosphere.”

Peralta said that she and Kramer give prenatal care and inform the women of their choices and responsibilities so that they can make an educated choice to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. 

Kramer and Peralta, who have conducted several home births, said that they first give free consultations in a living room type of setting to get to know the women and to find out if a home birth or a birth at Trillium would be an appropriate option.

“We are very transparent. We are not trying to convince them, but are offering them as much unbiased information as we can so that they can make an informed decision,” said Peralta. Kramer noted that part of the process of exploring all birth options involves discussing the advantages of home births, birth center births and hospital births.

“We see them just like a doctor would and we have the time for longer appointments,” said Kramer. “There is more time spent in prenatal visits, which are each up to one hour long. We conduct all of the same lab tests and we send for ultra-sounds.”

“We build a strong, trusting relationship,” said Peralta.

Peralta and Kramer said that home births or births at Trillium are for low risk women. The chance for a problem to develop would be quite low, but, an emergency plan is developed well ahead of time for each woman whereby the birth would be conducted at a hospital should a problem arise.

“We offer a very safe location for low risk women,” said Peralta, who noted that the World Health Organization recommends that low risk women seek midwifery as their option. Low risk women are those who have pregnancies without complications. “It’s a healthy alternative,” she said in noting that midwifery births also have a lower C-Section rate by approximately half. 

Home births or births at a birthing center are significantly less expensive and will also be included in Medicaid reimbursement, said Kramer.

Kramer and Peralta explained that quality of care is assured at birth centers through the promotion of state regulations for licensure (41 states currently license birth centers), through established National Standards which were adopted in 1985 and which are reviewed annually, through the Continuous Quality Improvement Program for Birth Centers, and through accreditation by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers.

“We offer complete prenatal and postpartum care, childbirth classes, breast-feeding support, and birth center or home birth options,” said Kramer. 

“We believe pregnancy and birth should be approached as a natural, physiological process and we believe women should have a choice when it comes to their birth location,” said Peralta. 

Emily Hall of Steuben was the first woman to give birth at Trillium. She had her first baby at a hospital and her next 11 with certified professional midwives in the area.

“I am delighted to be the first mom to birth at the newly opened birth center in Prairie du Chien,” said Emily. “I have had the pleasure of using certified professional midwifery car for 11 of my 12 pregnancies. Typically, I birth my babies in the comfort of my own home. My last baby was due at a time when we were remodeling our home. I was glad that Trillium Midwifery Services provided an alternative location for me to birth my baby. The birth center gave me the option to deliver my baby in a home-like setting. I felt the birth center was very accommodating. It is equipped with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom with a huge tub. I can’t say enough about my midwives knowledge and training. They helped me to stay healthy during my pregnancy and encouraged my births to be natural and joyous events. I would encourage anyone who is expecting to research the benefits of midwifery care and the option of birthing at home or at a birth center. It is a beautiful way for you and your family to go through pregnancy and welcome your child into this world.”

The Trillium Midwifery Services Birth Center is open by appointment. More information can be found at www.trilliummidwiferyservices.com. Interested persons can also search trilliummidwifery services on Facebook. The home and office phone number for Alison Peralta is (608) 379-3099. Her cell number is (608) 391-0128. The home phone number for Heather Kramer is (608) 874-4057. Her cell number is (608) 306-0147. 

Kramer and Peralta said they both look forward to providing holistic care throughout their patients’ childbearing years. Both are mothers who have experienced their own hospital and home births. 

“We both realized that home birth is a wonderful alternative,” said Peralta who noted that she and Kramer have been working together for two years. “We were also very pleased to find this location for Trillium Midwifery Services. It is very accessible and in a quiet neighborhood.”