Based at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, the midwifery-led Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center offers care for women from pregnancy and delivery to routine gynecological visits, gynecological problem visits and menopausal care.

Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center is a midwifery-led, hospital-based birth center offering care for women seeking more natural options for their childbirth experience and the personal gynecological care offered by certified nurse-midwives.

Based at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, this midwifery-led center offers care for women from pregnancy and delivery to routine gynecological visits, gynecological problem visits and menopausal care.

Midwifery Clinical Director Katelyn Rasmus, CNM, MSN, RNC-OB, CEFM

“We offer a comfortable setting for our patients and focus on patient-centered care that is grounded in shared decision making between the expecting mother and her care team,’’ said Katelyn Rasmus, certified nurse-midwife and midwifery clinical director. “Our home-like birth center offers a peaceful space for those desiring a low intervention, physiological birth experience.’’

Accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, the center offers various non-pharmaceutical ways to manage pain, while allowing patients to move about the space and even eat during labor if they choose to do so. Staffed with certified nurse-midwives, nurses and birth assistants, this team is comprised of individuals who offer years of expertise caring for women and their families, providing the highest level of care.

At the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, childbearing is a family affair.

“We recognize and treat birth as a family-centered event and welcome all members of a birthing person’s support team, including birth partners, doulas, children, family and friends,’’ Rasmus said. “We do not limit the number of support people that can be present during labor.’’

An added benefit to the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center is its close relationship with Saint Peter’s labor and delivery unit.

“If your birth becomes more complicated than is appropriate for the birth center or you desire medical intervention for pain, your midwife will accompany you to the labor-and-delivery unit inside of Saint Peter’s University Hospital,’’ Rasmus said. “Here, our certified nurse-midwives will continue to provide care.’’

If a birth requires surgical intervention, Saint Peter’s midwives work closely with the hospital-based physicians.

Recognizing that labor can begin at any time, the birth center is staffed around the clock, always ready to receive laboring women and their families. A certified nurse-midwife is also available by phone to answer pressing questions clients may have.

An added benefit to the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center is its close relationship with Saint Peter’s labor and delivery unit. If a birth requires surgical intervention, Saint Peter’s midwives work closely with the hospital-based physicians.

The birthing center is best suited for women with low-risk pregnancies who want a natural childbirth experience and prefer to deliver without the use of pain medications during labor.

“Expecting mothers with certain medical conditions that make a pregnancy high risk are not appropriate candidates for the birth center,’’ Rasmus said. “These conditions include hypertension, certain cardiac diseases, diabetes requiring medication and other health issues.’’

Other unlikely birth center candidates are women with certain pregnancy-related complications, including pre-eclampsia, a prior Cesarean section or significant anemia.

“Each patient is looked at as an individual,’’ Rasmus explained. “Their risk is assessed at every prenatal visit and discussed with them throughout their pregnancy.’’

While certain women may not be appropriate candidates to give birth at the center, they can still opt for a midwifery-led hospital birth.

“We recognize that many women would prefer to be cared for throughout their pregnancy by a midwife but may want or need to deliver at the hospital,’’ Rasmus explained. “So, we also support planned hospital births through our close working relationship with the labor and delivery unit at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.’’

Women interested in a birth center-based delivery with Saint Peter’s midwives should contact the center as soon as they receive a positive pregnancy test.

 When it comes time to deliver at the birth center, the first step is to ensure that active labor has started since no medications are used to speed up labor. This can usually be confirmed with a few phone calls to the midwife, who counsels patients about the right time to arrive at the center.

Once active labor has started, a short admission process is conducted to avoid interrupting labor. As part of an initiative known as TeamBirth, the admission process includes having a collaborative discussion between the expecting mother and her birth team, reviewing the desired protocols to be followed throughout the birthing process and one that aligns with her  hopes, desires and concerns for how birth will proceed.

“In conjunction with Saint Peter’s maternity department, theTeamBirth initiative is focused on ensuring shared decision making throughout the labor process,’’ Rasmus said. “The goal is to improve maternal health outcomes and ensure a positive birthing experience.’’

Once admitted, women have access to various non-pharmacologic coping tools, including a large soaking tub, a shower, aromatherapy, hot and cold therapy, and other non-pharmacological options.

This includes transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS, which is a form of pain relief without medicine. Two electrodes are placed on the skin and attached to a battery-powered machine, which delivers small pulses of electrical current to the body.

To facilitate labor, a patient may also use a “peanut ball,” which fits snugly between a woman’s legs helping to open the pelvis and quicken the progress of labor.

“Birth balls” are another tool the center uses to facilitate labor. Similar to an exercise ball found in most gyms, these also help to open up the pelvis and support a woman to help the baby drop down for birth.

To help prepare for labor and delivery, families who have not had a prior natural birthing experience must participate in a childbirth education class, offered by Saint Peter’s Parent Education department. Another required class helps families learn about the experience of delivering a baby at the center.

Women interested in a birth center-based delivery with Saint Peter’s midwives should contact the center as soon as they receive a positive pregnancy test.

“We encourage expecting mothers to call our office so we can arrange an appointment between seven and 10 weeks,’’ Rasmus said. “We do understand that some women may start their care elsewhere and then later decide they would prefer to birth with us in the birth center. For these patients, we ask them to contact us as soon as possible.’’

Transfers are not accepted after 32 weeks — about 7-and-a-half months — into a pregnancy.

For transferring patients, the center will review records from the current provider before scheduling a visit to ensure a woman is a good candidate for the birth center.

The Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center accepts most types of insurance, including managed care plans and government-sponsored plans. Insurance coverage is reviewed with each patient prior to the first visit to ensure there will be no unexpected expenses.

To learn more and make an appointment with Saint Peter’s midwives, call 732-339-7879 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.