In 2022, Dr. Heather Skanes accomplished something remarkable: she opened Alabama's first freestanding birth center right in her hometown of Birmingham. As an OB-GYN deeply committed to improving maternal health care, Skanes created the Oasis Family Birthing Center in a majority-Black neighborhood, offering both midwifery services and medical care to families who wanted more options for their birthing experience.

The center celebrated a beautiful milestone when it delivered Alabama's first baby born in a freestanding birth center, a baby girl who represents hope for expanding maternal care options. While regulatory challenges have affected birth centers nationwide, the passion and determination of providers like Skanes continue to drive positive change in maternal health care.

Across the country, between 2012 and 2022, the number of freestanding birth centers doubled, showing just how much families value these alternative settings. Today, about 395 birth centers serve communities nationwide, providing homelike environments where midwives focus on low-risk pregnancies and births. Many partner with nearby hospitals and doctors to ensure comprehensive care when needed.

These centers represent something special for many families. Midwife Jamarah Amani, executive director of Southern Birth Justice Network, runs a mobile midwifery clinic in Miami-Dade County, Florida, serving predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods. Her nonprofit recently purchased a building for a freestanding birth center planned to open in 2027, bringing accessible midwifery care back to communities in a grassroots way.

"Midwifery presents like a luxury concierge-type of service, and our goal is to really change that and to bring it back to the community," Amani explained. Her work focuses on expanding access to prenatal care, which can make a meaningful difference in maternal health outcomes.

In northern Washington state, Faith Zacherle-Tonasket founded xa?xa? Indigenous Birth Justice to serve the Colville Indian Reservation. The group has already trained nearly a dozen tribal doulas and midwives, with plans to open a freestanding birth center in the coming years. Zacherle-Tonasket emphasizes the importance of culturally connected care: "Bringing traditional midwives that are from our own communities, that were born and raised in our communities, that know the families, we know that those babies will be birthed with love."

The Bright Side: States are beginning to recognize the value of birth centers. California passed legislation in October to streamline birth center licensure after examining closure trends. Georgia relaxed healthcare regulations in 2024, opening doors for providers like Katie Chubb, a registered nurse and mother of three who has dedicated years to opening a birth center in Augusta.

Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers, continues advocating for these vital community resources. The work of passionate providers like Skanes, Amani, and Zacherle-Tonasket shows that even in the face of challenges, dedicated healthcare professionals are finding creative ways to serve families and expand maternal care options. Their commitment to improving birth experiences and outcomes represents the best of community-centered healthcare, offering families personalized, culturally sensitive care in welcoming environments.