BirthWise: A home-like birth experience in a hospital setting

There are many ways to experience birth, and there is no right or wrong way.

Expecting parents may set specific goals and intentions for their birth experience based on personal preferences. These intentions may include forgoing pain medication and giving birth without interventions.

To meet the needs of parents who desire a non-medicated birth in an environment that supports no added medical interventions, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital created a dedicated three-room unit called BirthWise.

“Deaconess has long had a philosophy of ‘your birth your way.’ And BirthWise is another way of providing options,” explains Valerie Ewert, CNM, ARNP, MSN, a certified nurse-midwife at MultiCare Rockwood OB/GYN & Midwifery Center. “From its inception, the goal and purpose of BirthWise was to have a different space for low-risk, healthy moms who prefer not to have IV pain medication or an epidural.”

BirthWise is a great option for those who want an unmedicated birth, freedom to move during labor, have their baby’s heartbeat assessed and give birth in a position they choose, all while having access to full medical support if necessary.

“That’s reassuring to moms — if something happens, we have access to everything we need,” adds Ewert.

A comforting, supportive environment

Kendall Hickman, 26, became familiar with BirthWise while working as a postpartum nurse on the mother-baby unit at Deaconess.

When Hickman became pregnant, she knew it was the childbirth experience she wanted.

“I have always been amazed by the process of childbirth and was eager to experience it in its entirety without any interventions,” she says. “BirthWise is an environment where you can have somewhat of a home birth experience but be in the hospital where you feel safe and secure just in case something were to happen.”

Hickman met the eligibility requirements of using BirthWise — she doesn’t have high-risk factors like obesity, hypertension or diabetes; she doesn’t smoke; and her labor began after 37 weeks.

BirthWise suites feature a comfortable couch, labor bed and Jacuzzi tub. The tub is in the room rather than the bathroom, and it’s larger than tubs in traditional labor and delivery rooms.

“I would say 90 percent of moms spend most of their labor in the tub,” says Ewert. “It’s probably the number one coping method.”

Other coping mechanisms in BirthWise include birth balls, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) units and nurses dedicated to supporting the birth process.

“Midwife means ‘with woman,’ and that’s my role, to be with our mamas and make sure they are safe and baby is safe.”

While Hickman’s baby’s heartbeat was measured periodically, she could otherwise move freely around the room since she wasn’t hooked up to monitors or an IV. And it was her decision when to have her cervix checked.

Ewert explains, however, that being in BirthWise doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind about having an epidural: “If you want to be transferred to labor and delivery, you can absolutely do that,” she says.

And sometimes complications do arise that make medical interventions necessary. These are the circumstances when it’s beneficial to be in a hospital — mom can be easily transferred to receive the care she and her baby need.

A birth that went even better than planned

At Hickman’s 40-week prenatal appointment, she had no signs of labor. Ewert, her midwife, suggested she go for a walk, get rest and call if anything changed.

Hickman decided to walk the golf course with her husband Tyler while he got one last game in before baby’s arrival.

“We got home, and when I was making dinner, I started to feel something,” says Hickman.

In the next few hours, contractions got stronger. Ewert advised Hickman to labor at home as long as she could, as she’d be more comfortable and relaxed there. When contractions lasted for a minute and were five minutes apart, she and her husband left for the hospital.

Hickman was at 7 centimeters when she got to the hospital and labored for about five hours until baby arrived. She says she made use of the tub and birth ball to cope with the pain.

“We brought music and kept the lights dim,” says Hickman. “My husband, Val and my nurse were there the whole time with me, which was really comforting.”

Hickman says Ewert was her coach and cheerleader. She let her know what was to come and how to prepare for the next stage.

“Val would talk me through a contraction and remind me to keep breathing,” says Hickman. “She kept me in the right mindset.”

“Midwife means ‘with woman,’ and that’s my role, to be with our mamas and make sure they are safe and baby is safe,” says Ewert. “I walk alongside them, guide them, and watch and wait as the process unfolds. That’s what we do and what moms who chose BirthWise expect from us.”

When it was time to start pushing, Hickman says Ewert coached her through it.

“She made me wait through contractions or hold through certain spots to prevent tearing,” Hickman says. “It was a total of about 10 pushes, and he was out. My husband was able to grab him and put him on my chest. That was a cool experience for him to be part of.”

Hickman delivered Jett just before 5am. She and her husband stayed in the room with their newborn, enjoying their first day together as a family of three.

“Another benefit of BirthWise is you get to stay in your room after delivery — you don’t have to be transferred to a recovery room,” she says.

Hickman recalls her BirthWise experience was even better than she could have planned.

“I felt so strong and so in tune with my body,” she says. “It was a wild ride, but so worth it!”

“I can see the empowerment women feel after they’ve had a baby in BirthWise,” Ewert says. “They are exhausted but so incredibly invigorated at the same time. It’s so joyful to witness.”

Is BirthWise right for you?

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