Currently, women in Illinois can choose to give birth at home or in a hospital. Freestanding birth centers are another choice available to women in most states, but not in Illinois. The Birth Center Task Force of the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group works toward giving the women and families of Illinois options for maternity services.
SB
264:
SB 264 was introduced into the Illinois General Assembly in February, 2007,
it amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act to establish 10 freestanding
birth center alternative health care models in a demonstration program. It sets
forth requirements for the location of the centers (in Chicago, or in downstate
Illinois, in obstetrical shortage areas) and for services and standards of the
centers. The bill requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules for
the operation and research protocols of birth centers.
- Click here
for more information.
- Click
here for a one page fact sheet about SB264.
General Information:
What is a birth center?
How safe are birth centers?
How much does a birth center birth cost?
Where are birth centers?
How can I find out more?
What is a birth center?
A freestanding birth center is a home like facility providing quality, cost-effective, family -oriented care to women anticipating a normal labor and birth.
Birth centers offer a warm haven where children can be born at their own pace among family and friends, with emergency backup facilities at their disposal. Women may choose to return home six to twelve hours after delivery.
Services typically include the full range of pre-natal visits and childbirth classes, laboratory testing, labor, delivery, newborn, and post-partum care. Health care providers at birth centers can provide full pre-natal care and other programs tailored to fit the needs of the community.
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How safe are birth centers?
A landmark 1989 study in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that birth centers are as safe as hospital births for low-risk births. Birth centers have proven to reduce the need for intervention during a child's birth for low-risk women. The cesarean section rate for women receiving care in birth centers averages 4.4% - approximately one half that of studies of low risk in-hospital births.
When surveyed, 99% of the women who have used a birth center would use one again.
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How much does a birth center birth cost?
Giving birth in a birth center costs approximately 30-50% less than giving birth in a hospital or a hospital birthing room. Most major insurers reimburse birth centers for 100% of their charges.
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Where are birth centers?
As of 1999, there are about 150 birth centers in the US in over 30 states. Most states encourage families to choose the birth environment in which they feel most comfortable. Unfortunately, there are no birth centers in Illinois.
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How can I find out more?
The Birth Center Task Force, chaired by Gayle Riedmann, CNM, has an active agenda on legislative, judicial, and educational issues. We welcome your support. Please join us by contacting us at
312-372-4292 or info@hmprg.org. Also, click here
for an overview of Birth Centers from the American Association of Birth Centers
(AABC).
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