Save Birth at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

Julia

Rockingham, VT

I’ve heard tale of so many hospitals that don’t give any regard to mothers and how personal the birthing process is. In so many places across the country, people giving birth are rushed into c-section and not allowed to labor, or experience their birth in a fully self-directed or informed way. The Brattleboro Birthing Center stands out against this, with patient-centered care and providers who are truly invested in their roles; patient-centered isn’t just some buzzword tagline you see everywhere else, it is the standard. I would say the Birthing Center is the best experience I’ve ever had receiving care at BMH.

Sandy

Newfane, VT

I started at Brattleboro OB/GYN back in 2000 when I was pregnant with my first child. I have continued with my care there ever since, through two children and now for care during perimenopause. I have always been extremely happy with my care through this practice and with my care during and after two c-section births at the BMH birthing center. The midwives and OBs have ALWAYS been emphathetic and caring and provided me with education and information that put me at ease. Giving birth in my home state at a local hospital was very important to me. It was especially important when I was pregnant with my second daughter. I had toddler who I needed to care for and a lot of shuffling to prenatal appts. and of course the birth. The thought of having to do all that far from home would have been stressful and difficult to say the least.

Professionally, this practice has been amazing to collaborate with. I work for the regional VT Parent Child Center and support families with young children in various capacities. Staff of both Four Seasons and the BMH birthing center have shared our PCC’s resources with families they work with as well as other important community resources. They have also been regularly involved with the regional Family Child Health Coalition where they share valuable insight and are involved in improving care and support in our region for families in the perinatal period.

Their work is ESSENTIAL to ensuring positive outcomes for families in the perinatal period in our region, and it would be a HUGE loss to our community if they were no longer here.

Marion

Westminster, VT

I received outstanding care through the midwives and the birthing center at BMH. I delivered twice and both times I felt completely confident my health and the health of my baby were in safe and competent hands. In the first delivery it became apparent that a respiratory specialist should be present. It was a potentially distracting and scary moment but the team was so focused on supporting me and the birth it was easy to maintain focus in the moment. The second birth was so fast my baby was in shock and didn’t breath right away. The team was so competent they stimulated her and got her breathing before anyone could let panic and fear settle in. I’m eternally grateful. The midwives were so respectful of my preferences and my body. I can’t say enough good things about this place and people. I know they save lives everyday, support new lives enter and in the most unfortunate cases, work through real tragedy.
I’ll also share that I was born at BMH, as were my daughters, and my grandmother delivered several of her babies there as well. It has been a vital resource for generations of growing families in our community.

Anne

Brattleboro, VT

I live a few blocks away from the hospital, and was planning to have a home birth. Leading up to the due date, I was able to attend a few sessions at the hospital about breastfeeding and other pregnancy & postpartum topics, even though I was working with home birth midwives. These were really helpful for getting prepared, since it was my first pregnancy and delivery.

When I finally went into labor, it was more than two whole days of laboring at home. It was the middle of winter, and I wasn’t keeping fluids down. When it came time to push, the midwives I was working with realized that a hospital transfer made the most sense. Though I was disappointed, and we drove over in a snowstorm, the BMH birthing center was practically walking distance, so we made it safely. The staff were so welcoming, even on a holiday, and were so thoughtful about our home birth transfer. I was so well cared for, and I don’t know if we both would have made it as smoothly as we did without being at the hospital. Our son’s heart rate started to drop right before the final push, but he arrived healthy and ready to nurse. There was even a lactation consultant who helped us in the first moments of breastfeeding. My family was encouraged to be surrounding & supporting us, just like I had imagined.

I still am in contact with one of the nurses who attended our son’s birth, and we greet our BMH midwife when we see her in town. Having a local hospital so close by with a birthing center (that has a tub, adjustable beds, and a wonderful staff) is part of the reason we even considered a home birth, because we could transfer if needed, which is exactly what happened. Having midwives (and the option of a doula), as well as local care, was one of the most important things for me in my pregnancy and birth.

Elizabeth

Putney, VT

The BMH midwives were invaluable during my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They answered questions, listened to my concerns, gave me useful information and input, and were never dismissive or forceful. I had gestational diabetes (so a high-risk pregnancy) and I chose to have an induction (to maximize my chances of a vaginal delivery with GD) and the midwives were incredible resources as I managed my GD (I was diet-controlled) as well as prenatal anxiety and as I determined the best course of action for birthing my baby. I was able to have an induction without pain medication during labor or other interventions which was so meaningful to me. It was extremely important to me to give birth locally. In fact, I moved from central Vermont to southern Vermont in part so that I could receive prenatal care at BMH and give birth at the BMH Birthing Center. I am hoping to have another child not far off and my goal is to receive care at BMH and give birth at the BMH Birthing Center a second time. If I were not able to receive prenatal care at BMH or give birth at the BMH Birthing Center, I would seriously consider moving out of the area because of that. It was and is extremely important to me to have access to midwifery care, and it made a huge difference in my pregnancy and delivery as well as postpartum. The BMH Birthing Center was a wonderful place to give birth; I felt tended to without feeling pressured or stressed. There was an incredibly powerful moment after my birth when all the women who helped me, especially during pushing, were in the room, about to leave us to ourselves, and I had tears in my eyes because I felt like I couldn’t thank them enough for what they helped me do.

Martha

Deerfield, MA

Starting when my water broke right before 37 weeks, many things about my birth did not go according to plan. In my shock of labor starting before I expected, I was very comforted by the midwives and felt supported and encouraged as every stage my baby’s birth unfolded. Though I badly wanted a vaginal delivery, by the time I had reached the need for a C-section I was able to say, “no regrets” because we had tried everything we could. With Dr. Tennant, the amazing team of midwives, nurses, and anesthesiologists were able to deliver my baby safely and take good care of me in the process. I am so grateful for their expertise and warm, patient-centered care during this experience.

I was in the birthing center for 4 days after my baby was delivered via C-section. My husband and I have immense gratitude for the amazing care that our baby received from the nursing staff and doctors during that time. The midwives took great care of me in the postpartum haze as well.

One thing that stands out to me is how well the midwives, nurses, and doctors worked as a team. We had a doula present for labor, and her presence was welcomed seamlessly, even in the OR for my unplanned C-section.

My husband and I were overwhelmed by the kindness and supportive care we received in the birth center, from admittance through labor and C-section to postpartum. We owe a debt to the midwives, nurses and doctors who made the safe birth of our daughter possible through challenging circumstances. Thank you all! It is hard to imagine Brattleboro without the resource of Four Seasons midwives and the birthing center.

Stephanie

Guilford, VT

I’m so appreciative to have a team of dedicated midwives local to my home, 15 minutes away. We had appts with most of the team, and so I knew that we would be in good hands no matter who was on call. My waters broke 4 weeks early while my husband and I were in Maine for work. My midwife said, I’d love to tell you to come home but you should probably check in with a local hospital to make sure all is ok. My gut said to get home. A few days before, I had had an asthma attack and had trouble getting an inhaler at the local CVS. I didn’t want to get stuck in an unknown hospital in another state (without a hospital bag!) when I didn’t know how my insurance would shake out there. I also wanted to be home with the team who knew me. So we packed and hit the road – with an exhausted husband, through the middle of the night, through driving rain! We made it in the wee hours and were greeted by the midwife we had seen most during my pregnancy. The familiarity was so welcome given our baby’s early arrival!
The birth didn’t go to plan, and I’m so grateful for the midwives, nurses and whole team who guided me through the decision-making. As [my baby] was born we were surrounded by jokes and songs.

I’ll add that I grew up with a dad who was an incredibly skilled OBGYN, and well regarded in our community – but he was a doctor of a certain generation, with its generational/cultural assumptions and blind spots. The midwives at Four Seasons reflected my values and made me feel at home, for which I’m so grateful.

Giving birth close to home was essential for me and our needs. I can’t imagine what I’d have done without them. I also love knowing that my kid will grow up knowing that he was born in that hospital. I work for hospice, and I can’t tell you how many people love to say “my three kids were born at so-and-so…” – the same hospital that folks may patron their whole life. Birthing in a local hospital roots a person in that community. I hope to have more kids and would grieve the dissolution of the birthing center – for myself and all the other young families in our community.