Meriel, a Community of Hope volunteer who is dedicated to making birth more comfortable for pregnant women, says, “Learning about birth was empowering to me. Most women don’t go into birth with that feeling. We start off with the idea that birth is scary, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
For parents everywhere, pregnancy is an exciting (and scary!) time. The staff at Community of Hope’s Family Health and Birth Center (FHBC) know this and are there to help.
Pregnant women can come to FHBC for everything from prenatal care to birthing services and tips for how to breastfeed. FHBC provides a safe haven for women and their children to learn about pregnancy, motherhood, childbirth, and children’s health. Even men can come to the Birth Center to receive quality, compassionate primary healthcare.
Patients are accepted regardless of their ability to pay, ensuring that mothers and babies receive the care they need even if they don’t have insurance.
FHBC is the only free-standing birthing center in Washington, DC. For women who don’t want to give birth at the hospital, FHBC is a top choice because of its excellent care and spacious, warm, and inviting birthing rooms. And, it’s a great choice for moms who want a midwife assisted labor in a hospital. Volunteer doulas are also available to support mom during birth.
Elisa*, a mother who gave birth to her son at FHBC, says, “I always knew that I wanted a natural birth. I didn’t have much knowledge about birth, but I knew I wanted as little intervention as possible. The Birth Center was exactly what I was looking for.”
As Elisa went on to say, “It’s good to know that what you’re going through is normal. It’s nice to have people to connect with.” FHBC is a community, a community of midwifes, nurse practitioners, staff, patients, and volunteers, all working together to provide quality healthcare, compassionate support, and a loving atmosphere for families to thrive.
To learn more about the services available at Community of Hope’s Family Health and Birth Center, click here.
*Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the identity of the patient.
Photo by Liza Harbison
