Why are we seeking funding and how will we spend the funding?
We are breaking ground and we need your help to literally break the ground! The funds raised from this campaign will help us build the foundation of the birth center and serve as seed money for our initial startup costs.
What is a birth center?
The birth center is a health care facility for childbirth where care is provided in the midwifery and wellness model. The birth center is freestanding and not a hospital.
Birth centers are an integrated part of the health care system and are guided by principles of prevention, sensitivity, safety, appropriate medical intervention and cost-effectiveness. While the practice of midwifery and the support of physiologic birth and newborn transition may occur in other settings, this is the exclusive model of care in a birth center.
The birth center respects and facilitates an individual’s right to make informed choices about personal health care and the baby’s health care based on their values and beliefs. The family, however defined, is welcome to participate in every aspect of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Well-person care is encouraged with the midwifery practice beyond the postpartum period.
What services will you offer?
Prenatal Care; Freestanding Birth Center with Waterbirth; Well-individual Gyn Care; Gyn Problem Visits; Contraception Counseling and Care; Pre-conception counseling; Fertility Services; Postpartum Care; Lactation Support; Education
Where will the Birth Center be located?
74 Maple Street, Florence MA
When will you be open?
We hope to be open our doors in Spring 2020. In the meantime if you are looking for GYN or homebirth care, please contact us via email or visit our website at www.sevensistersmidwifery.com to set up an appointment via our online appointment scheduler. We are currently seeing people in our temporary office in downtown Northampton.
Who is opening the birth center?
Two beloved, local, seasoned midwives. Pioneers in women’s health, Ginny Miller and Kirsten Kowalski Lane.
This project is a massive labor of love and it can not come to fruition without the support of our community.
Many of your neighbors are already Backers, Supporters, Partners and Volunteers...
Eugene Declercq, Ph.D. Assistant Dean for Doctoral Education, Professor of Maternal and Child Health, Boston University
Gretchen Loebel, Consulting Physician
Jeffrey Bott, Construction Manager
Anna Westley, Social Media Manager, Birth and Postpartum Doula
Leigh and Lisa Chodos, Digital Media and former clients
Katie Rubinstein, Project Management and Development, former client
Peter Ellis, Web Development & Design, former client
Judy Brock, CNM, Retired Cooley Dickinson
Rachel Stevens, AIA, Maple Street Architects
Marnie Cabaza, Innovation Business Services
Bernice Lord, CPA, Accounting Services
Mark Tanner, Bacon and Wilson, Legal Services
Jean Potter, President, Green River Doula Network
Liz Friedman, Founder GPS (Group Peer Support) & MA Commission on the Status of Women
Ann Geisler, South Cross Malpractice Insurance & President, American Association of Birth Centers Foundation
Meghan Ellis, former client
Rye Zemelsky and Lauren Bonn, former clients