Women & Infants' Alternative Birthing Center offers an option for women having a low-risk pregnancy who want to give birth with minimal intervention in a cozy home-like setting.
The Alternative Birthing Center is located next to Women & Infants’ Labor/Delivery/Recovery Unit, allowing for a quick and seamless transfer to that unit should the need arise. The Alternative Birthing Center features a comfortable bedroom with lots of space to move around, a private bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, and all the needed amenities to help you stay relaxed and comfortable during labor, birth, and recovery. It also has a small private waiting area where your family can stay during your labor and birth. You are welcome to include a doula, children, and others in your birth experience.
Alternative Birthing Center
(401) 274-1122, extension 41831
We encourage you to have a conversation with your midwife or obstetrician if you are interested in having your baby in the Alternative Birthing Center. Your OB care provider will determine if the ABC is a good option for you.
You may stay in the Alternative Birthing Center for 4 hours after the birth of your baby and then go to a standard postpartum room for the typical one or two day stay.
Or you may choose to go home directly 6 to 12 hours after the birth of your baby, once you have gotten approval from both your midwife and pediatrician.
After you deliver, you have two options for discharge.
If you would like to be discharged directly from the ABC, you will need approval from both your pediatrician and your midwife.
If you choose to have your baby circumcised it will be performed by the obstetricians affiliated with your midwife. They are usually done the day after your birth and after your pediatrician has physically evaluated your baby. However, with an early discharge directly from the ABC, there may not be time to arrange for and perform the circumcision during your brief postpartum stay in the ABC. If that is the case, you can arrange through your midwife's office to have your son circumcised within the next ten days. This would require that you return to the hospital with your baby and plan to stay for two to three hours.
A Newborn Hearing Screening will be performed on your baby. If a hearing assessment is not available while you are in the hospital, you may return for the hearing assessment at a later date as an outpatient.
A Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening is a painless test (also known as "pulse ox") to measure your baby's oxygen level to screen for critical congenital heart disease.
Upon discharge, you will be given instructions by your providers and your nurse. You will be sent home with a reminder card explaining when to call your midwife when to call the pediatrician and reminders of what you will need to do (i.e., counting wet diapers, taking your baby’s temperature twice daily to be reported to the nurse at your home visit, etc.).
Most pediatricians will want to see your baby in their office within 1-2 days after discharge.
The ABC nurse will call you the following day after you go home to check in on you. At this time, she will also set up a time for a home visit on the second day.
A nurse will come to your house to check on you:
She will also check on your baby:
That’s okay. Opting for an ABC early discharge allows you the flexibility to leave directly from the ABC or, if circumstances arise, to decide to stay the standard amount of time.
If you have further questions, please call (401) 274-1122, ext. 41831, leave a message and we will return your call. Our Warm Line is also available at 1-800-711-7011. This popular service, staffed by professional nurses/Lactation Consultants, offers helpful information regarding your new baby, breastfeeding, and postpartum issues. The Warm Line is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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