Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers

Newly Accredited Birth Centers

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:09:46 +0000

Congratulations and welcome to our newly accredited birth centers: Babymoon Inn in Phoenix, Arizona; Your Birth Day Place in Hanford, California; and The Birthing Place Birth & Wellness Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Welcome New Accredited Birth Center

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:02:01 +0000

Congratulations and welcome to the newly accredited Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center in St. Paul, Minnesota! Also congratulations to Morning Star Women’s Health & Birth Center-St Louis Park, Minnesota, who has just moved from 1-year to three-year accreditation status.

CABC VBAC Policy – Adopted June 2008

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:17:40 +0000

POLICY REGARDING VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN SECTION IN ACCREDITED BIRTH CENTERS

STANDARD V. Quality of services

The Birth Center provides high quality, family-centered, maternal and newborn services to healthy women anticipating an uncomplicated pregnancy, labor, and birth that reflect applicable professional standards for conduct of the practitioners responsible for services rendered and recognize the basic human rights of the childbearing woman and her family.

Since CABC last published its indicator on VBAC under standard 5, there have been significant updates in professional organization positions on VBAC in birth centers and a new published multi-center research study on the risks of VBAC.

A February 6, 2008 ACOG news release states that ACOG considers hospitals, birth centers within hospital complexes, and freestanding accredited birth centers to be the appropriate places for birth and VBAC. The news release further states that ACOG recognizes the Standards of the American Association of Birth Centers.

On February 1, 2008 The American Association of Birth Centers stated, “Whether or not to do VBACs in your center is a decision for individual providers.” It then went on to list 5 criteria birth centers should incorporate into their decisions regarding VBAC.

The February issue of The Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology published results of a multi-center research study on “Labor Outcomes With Increasing Number of Prior Vaginal Births After Cesarean Delivery.” The conclusion stated, in part, “Women with prior successful VBAC attempts are at low risk for maternal and neonatal complications during subsequent VBAC attempts.”

In response to these developments above, CABC will now accept VBAC in accredited centers as appropriate if the following indicators are met and documented:

1. client has had only one prior c/sec

2. client has a documented low transverse incision

3. ultrasound demonstrates placental location is not anterior and low lying (ie, not over old scar)

4. client has signed a VBAC-specific informed consent

5. client has had one or more successful prior VBACs

6. client meets all other risk criteria of the birth center

CABC will evaluate on a case-by-case basis centers’ desiring to do primary or first time VBAC. These centers must document meeting items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 above plus:

1. Center must document ability to transfer care to a facility with 24/7 availability of anesthesia and obstetrical attendance.

2. Center must be located in close proximity to the transfer facility.

CABC still recognizes that VBAC in Accredited Centers can occur under Standard 9. The center would need to demonstrate compliance with the standard and its indicators.

ACOG News Release 2-6-2008 ACOG Office of Communications 202-484-3321

communications@acog.org

American Association of Birth Centers 2-01-2008 Statement regarding feasibility of another VBAC study :www.Birth Centers.org

Obstetrics and Gynecology (2008;285-291) Labor Outcomes With Increasing Number of Prior Vaginal Births After Cesarean Delivery.

Evidence Supporting Allowing PO Intake During Labor

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:56:15 +0000

Some birth centers have recently had pressure from their collaborative physicians and/or hospitals to change their policy of allowing laboring mothers to eat and drink as they wish. Here is a an excellent review of the evidence supporting no restriction of PO intake during labor. You can even get CEU’s!

http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=1036626

The CABC will be adding an indicator that there is a policy of not restricting PO intake during labor in accredited birth centers in order to provide support for birth centers who face pressure to restrict intake.

CABC Workshops

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:56:04 +0000

We will be offering two workshops in Denver on Thursday, September 1 prior to the American Association of Birth Centers Annual Birth Institute.

Reaching for Excellence: Preparing for Accreditation

If you are opening a new birth center or have been open for years, attend this workshop for a detailed look at the accreditation process and what you will need to do to become accredited. The information gained from this workshop will help to make your accreditation process less stressful and more successful!

Site Visitor Training

This is an exciting time to join the CABC site visitor team! We have an unprecedented number of birth centers seeking accreditation. And we are moving to all electronic submission of documents by both and the site visitors. If you have ever considered becoming a site visitor, this is a great time to attend the training!

Register for the workshops in Denver here http://www.birthcenters.org/conferences/page.php?id=28

We look forward to meeting you!

May site visits add 2 new and 1 renewing accredited center

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:14:17 +0000

Our May 2010 site visits welcomed 2 first time accreditations to our ranks – Family Maternity Center of the Northern Neck, Kilmarnock, VA; and Morning Star Birth and Women’s Center, St. Louis Park, MN. Family Maternity Center is our second accredited center in Virginia, joining long-time accredited center BirthCare and Women’s Health in Alexandria, VA, which renewed its accreditation this month as well. Morning Star Birth and Women’s Center is the second accredited center owned by Paula Bernini Feigal. Paula’s Morning Star location in Menomonie, WI, became accredited for the first time last fall. The Commission is thrilled to have these 2 new and 1 returning accredited birth centers.

CABC Contact: Kim Aubrey-Larcinese
Phone: 610-630-5885
Postal: 32 Evans Road, Eagleville, PA 19403
Web: http://www.birthcenteraccreditation.org/

CABC weathers first blizzard of 2010

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:50:24 +0000

Even blizzard conditions in the Mid-Atlantic states couldn’t stop our intrepid site visitors from completing their accreditation site visits in February. Three birth centers renewed their accreditation February 5-7 – Infinity Birthing Center in Cookeville, TN; Bay Area Midwifery in Baltimore, MD; and Women’s Health and Birth Options in Missoula, MT. Over 30 inches of snow fell in the Baltimore area, and air travel throughout the Northeast was impacted by the storm. The site visit teams dealt with the weather and ensuing travel delays with calm and grace – birth center work prepares us for dealing with the unexpected. Also remarkable for this site visit weekend was the return of a familiar name in Missoula, MT. Jeanne Hebl, formerly of The Birth Center in Missoula, now owns Women’s Health and Birth Options. The Commission is happy to have Jeanne’s new center join the ranks of accredited centers.

CABC Contact: Kim Aubrey-Larcinese
Phone: 610-630-5885
Postal: 32 Evans Road, Eagleville, PA 19403
Web: http://www.birthcenteraccreditation.org/

CABC supports MN, SD legislation

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:30:31 +0000

Recent legislative activity in 2 northern states has garnered support from the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Legislative bodies in both South Dakota and Minnesota are considering bills to allow for the operation of birth centers within their states. South Dakota’s H.B. 1183 states that accreditation by the CABC would be required for a birth center to operate within the state. Currently, that bill is with the state’s Health and Human Services committee.

The Minnesota bill, H.F. 3046, is also requiring accreditation for state licensure. Minnesota birth centers will have 6 months from the time they open to seek accreditation, under the current language of the bill. H.F. 3046 is with the Health Care and Human Services Finance committee. CABC President Susan Stapleton has offered support of the legislation, commending the legislatures on their “commitment to providing safe and high quality maternity care choices for childbearing families.”

CABC Contact: Kim Aubrey-Larcinese
Phone: 610-630-5885
Postal: 32 Evans Road, Eagleville, PA 19403
Web: http://www.birthcenteraccreditation.org/

CABC Accredits 3 New Birth Centers/Re-accredits 3

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:29:09 +0000

The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC) is excited to announce that six birth centers achieved excellence in November 2009. Three birth centers were awarded first time accreditation, while three established accredited birth centers successfully renewed their accreditation. The Board of Commissioners of the CABC congratulates these birth centers on their achievement:

Beachside Birth Center – Laguna Hills, CA* (http://www.beachcitiesmidwifery.com)
Best Start Birth Center – San Diego, CA (http://www.beststartbirthcenter.com/)
BirthWise Health and Birth Center – Appleton, WI* (http://www.wisconsinbirthcenter.com/)
The Midwife Group and Birth Center – Savannah, GA (http://www.themidwifegroup.com/)
Morning Star Women’s Health and Birth Center – Menomonie, WI* (http://www.morningstarbirth.com/)
Valley Birth Place – Huntington Valley, PA (http://www.valleybirthplace.com/)

* denotes first-time accreditation

These birth centers represent the ideals of the CABC and the high standards to which accredited birth centers are held, and should be applauded for their efforts in seeking and achieving accreditation.

CABC Contact: Kim Aubrey-Larcinese
Phone: 610-630-5885
Postal: 32 Evans Road, Eagleville, PA 19403
Web: http://www.birthcenteraccreditation.org/