Ashland Birth Center

11/20/2025

Midwifery care focuses on the whole experience, not just the outcome. We take time to build relationships, offer education, and support your decisions along the way. You are never rushed, never talked over, and never treated like a checklist.

Midwives are trained to monitor both you and your baby carefully throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Just as importantly, we know when to step back and give your body the space to do what it knows how to do. We believe that care should feel personal, steady, and built on trust.

11/18/2025

11/13/2025

Support during labor can come in many forms. For some, it’s a partner or family member offering a steady hand. For others, it’s a friend, doula, or someone who knows how to sit quietly when needed. These people do not need to know what to do ahead of time. They just need to be present.

You lead your labor. The role of support is to stay close and respond to what you need. We help your support people feel confident in the room so they can focus on the most important thing: showing up with care and consistency.

11/06/2025

The early hours after birth are one of the best times to begin breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact helps babies find the breast on their own, and many will begin to latch in that first hour or two. We stay close to offer gentle help as you and your baby figure it out together.

Feeding may not feel perfect right away. That’s normal. What matters most is that you feel calm and supported as you begin. We continue checking in throughout the early postpartum period to help with positioning, latch, and any questions that come up along the way.

11/05/2025

We love this beautiful place along the lake. Before we get much further into November we want to welcome our October babies! We had the first few weeks without births. Then, on October 22nd the labor calls started coming in! It was an exciting 26hrs at the birth center. The first mom came in just before 7pm and the second one just after 7pm. Then, the THIRD came in at 11:30pm. The first baby was born at 10:22pm, the second baby just after midnight, and the third later that evening! This is the first time we had three families here, but we were ready! 💕Midwives Heather, Savita, Amanda and Marcy attended. On the last day of October, when many kids were out gathering treats, we had a family welcome their 8th baby and 2nd baby girl at 6:22pm!

Congratulations to these families! Thank you for being the best part of doing this work. Enjoy those newborn snuggles!

💖 10.22.25 7lb 13oz Baby Girl
💖 10.23.25 8lb 13oz Baby Boy
💖 10.23.25 7lb 6oz Baby Girl
💖 10.31.25 8lb 15oz Baby Girl

10/28/2025

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to staying comfortable in labor. What works for one person might not work for another, and what helps in early labor might feel completely different later on. That is why freedom to move and choose your own comfort measures is so important.

Warm water, hip squeezes, counter pressure, massage, focused breathing, and position changes are all tools you can explore. The key is paying attention to what feels right for your body in that moment. You might try something, adjust it, or move on to something else. There is no wrong way.

It’s your body and your birth. Our role is to protect your space, offer options when needed, and provide support. You do not have to push through or stay still. You can move, shift, and make changes at any time. You know what feels right. We are there to hold the space while you follow that instinct.

10/23/2025

We believe that bringing a new baby into the family is something everyone can be a part of, especially older siblings. Including them in your pregnancy helps build connection and gives them a sense of importance in this big transition. Whether it is listening to the heartbeat during a visit, helping pack the birth bag, folding tiny baby clothes, or simply asking their questions out loud, these little moments go a long way.

At Ashland Birth Center, we make space for the whole family. Our midwives are happy to involve siblings in age-appropriate ways and encourage them to feel proud and curious about what is to come. The goal is not just to prepare for the baby but to strengthen the bond between everyone before that baby even arrives. Birth is not just one day. It is the beginning of something new for the whole family.

10/16/2025

The way your birth space feels can shape your entire experience. When you feel safe and settled, your body is more likely to relax and move through labor more smoothly. That’s why we encourage families to make the space feel like their own. You might bring soft lighting, familiar music, a favorite robe or blanket, or simply ask for quiet and privacy.

There’s no single right way to set the tone. Some people want conversation and laughter. Others prefer stillness and calm. We’ve seen that when someone feels at home, their breathing slows, their body softens, and labor tends to unfold with more ease. Birth isn’t just physical. The environment matters too.