Touring the new NC Birth Center

Yesterday, I had the privilege of getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the new NC Birth Center. As a total birth nerd, I was almost speechless the entire time. The space has been designed with intentional touches and thorough attention to detail. It was so beautiful that the first thing I did when I left was text my husband saying we needed to have a third baby JUST so I could experience giving birth in such a serene, supportive, and peaceful environment (for the record, he wasn’t buying it. His response was, “How about I send you to the spa for a day if you want a peaceful environment?” So maybe that was a win-win).

When you pull up, there’s ample parking. You can either head straight inside and take the elevator up or take the stairs to the second floor. I met with Mariam, the office manager and outreach & education coordinator, and we sat on the couch to get to know one another. We bonded over our passion for better healthcare for women, talked about the impact of trauma during birth and how it shapes daily life, and shared our roles as providers in helping to prevent traumatic experiences. We even swapped birth stories, laughed about the joys (and challenges) of raising strong-willed, hyper-independent kids, and learned more about each other’s journey into the birth community.

We started the tour upstairs, where women come for routine care. The exam rooms were warm and welcoming, decorated with golden-framed flower paintings. They take vitals at the end of the appointment instead of the beginning, since most people’s nervous systems are heightened at first-which can cause falsely high blood pressure or heart rate readings. Weight is also taken privately in the exam rooms rather than in a hallway surrounded by other patients and providers. It’s the little things, right?

Next, we headed downstairs. Mariam showed me the classroom (just a quick peek, since a lactation class was happening). It’s a large room with chairs, desks, a big TV for presentations, and floor seating. Right next to it is a gorgeous waiting area. Mariam explained this is where family can wait while a baby is being born, or where a mom in early labor can spend time until things progress.

Let me do my best to describe it: think Bridgerton meets coastal grandma, meets tea time with the queen. Large gold picture frames surrounding antique keys. A colorful rug with navy and rustic orange couches and chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows bringing in natural light, plus a bubble chandelier overhead. The seating area (which honestly feels like a well-designed living room) flows into what I can only describe as the kitchen of my dreams: quartz countertops, black cabinets with gold hardware, a stainless steel refrigerator, and a long dining table with six rustic orange fabric chairs. In the corner, there’s even a kids’ table with Montessori-style toys for little ones waiting on their new sibling.

From there, Mariam led me into the birthing center, right across the hall. As you walk in, there’s a smaller kitchen on the left for families to store their own food and drinks, and a large nurses’ station on the right where midwives can chart outside your room.

I couldn’t stop staring at the sweetest antique-gold crib with a sign above it reading “NC Birth Center.” With parental consent, this is where they’ll take your baby’s first picture.

Then we entered the birth suites, and my jaw dropped. I literally said, “Wait… are you KIDDING ME?!” These rooms are huge, complete with gorgeous décor, queen-sized beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, private outdoor patios with rocking chairs, and my personal favorite: the biggest birth tubs you have EVER seen. Honestly, it made me want to spit on the hospital where I gave birth (sorry, Duke). I barely noticed the IV poles because everything was designed so seamlessly. “We don’t want it to look medical,” Mariam explained. Well, mission accomplished.

During prenatal visits, women get to pick their two favorite rooms so that when labor starts, they’ll likely end up in one they love. Personally, I’d have a hard time choosing between the “bee room” and the “coastal grandma” room. So cute.

The center is staffed with certified nurse midwives, and doulas are welcomed and encouraged. All prenatal care is provided onsite, and their postpartum care is unmatched. Typically, women are offered just one six-week checkup after birth. Some providers now add a two-week mood check, but otherwise, that’s it. (Don’t get me started on how I feel about that-that’s a blog for another time.)

The NC Birth Center is rewriting the standard. Moms get a 24–48 hour visit, plus checkups at one week, two weeks, and six weeks postpartum. The midwives also provide all newborn care for the first 28 days.

THAT is the kind of care women deserve. Riddle me this: why are women seen every other week during pregnancy, then weekly toward the end, but suddenly left hanging until six weeks postpartum? And after that? “See you in a year for your annual!” WHAT?! I digress.

So, where does pelvic floor OT fit in, and why did I tour the center?

I see many pregnant clients looking for safe alternatives to hospital birth. Hospital births aren’t “bad”-I delivered both my babies in hospitals (though had this been an option, I would have chosen here in a heartbeat). Sometimes, hospital birth is medically necessary to protect mom and baby. But for standard, low-risk pregnancies, a birth center can be a beautiful alternative. I want to give my clients well-vetted resources, not just recommendations, so I requested the tour.

As a pelvic floor OT, I support women in pregnancy by preparing the body for birth, through the core, breath, and pelvic floor and then again postpartum to guide healing and recovery. Knowing that a place like this exists makes me genuinely excited to recommend it to clients who want a space that truly honors both mother and baby.

For more information, check out their website: https://www.northcarolinabirthcenter.com.

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From Bump to Beyond: Rethinking Postpartum Care with Pelvic Floor Therapy