Birth Center of Bloomington Normal

02/20/2026

to support babies right after birth.

🩸 After your baby is born, the umbilical cord keeps
pulsing for a little while, sending extra blood from the
placenta to your baby. Waiting to clamp the cord lets
that natural transfer finish, giving babies a smoother
transition to life outside the womb.

🤍 When it’s safe, delayed cord clamping is a normal
part of care at the birth center — and something we
talk through together so it feels right for you and your
baby.

📸 LLiz Walsh Photography

02/18/2026

✨ Safety is the foundation of everything we do.

🩺 Freestanding birth centers provide evidence-based care for low-risk pregnancies, with trained midwives, emergency equipment on site, and clear protocols for when something falls outside of normal.

🤍 Birth center care is not about avoiding medicine or hospitals — it’s about choosing the right level of care for the right pregnancy, at the right time.

📸 Liz Walsh Photography

02/16/2026

Choosing where to receive care during pregnancy can come with a lot of questions — and that’s normal. You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Our outreach coordinator is here to talk through the details, answer questions, and help you understand how birth center care works — from what prenatal visits look like and what to expect during labor and postpartum to the safety of birth at the birth center.

These calls are informational, not a commitment. They’re simply a space to ask honest questions, get clear answers, and decide what feels right for you and your family.

If you’re curious, unsure, or just want to talk things through, we invite you to schedule a call. We’re here to help you feel informed and supported every step of the way. Schedule a call today at birthcenterbn.com/schedulecall

02/14/2026

In episode 385 of the Evidence Based Birth podcast, one of our former clients reflects on her journey from a medicated first birth—without formal childbirth education—to a healing, empowered birth here at The Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal.

She shares how intentional education and the support of the midwives here changed everything, saying: “Taking a birth class, that’s huge! Huge, huge, huge. I would tell anyone, ‘take a birth class.’ An actual in-person birth class where you are with other expecting mothers and you are with an instructor… that is very helpful.”

We’re grateful she trusted us with her care and for this powerful reminder of how education, community, and supportive birth care can transform the birth experience.

You can listen to her podcast at: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ebb-385-a-healing-birth-center-waterbirth-with-michaela-raines-ebb-childbirth-class-graduate/

*Photos shared with permission

02/12/2026

Birth is not the end of care — it’s the beginning of a new chapter.
Postpartum visits focus on physical recovery, feeding support, emotional wellbeing, sleep, adjustment, and mental health. We check in on how you’re healing, how feeding is going, and how you are doing — not just the baby.

📸 Liz Walsh Photography

02/10/2026

🤰🏽Prenatal visits here are intentional, not just a checkmark on a chart.

✨ Why do we focus on intentional prenatal care? Because pregnancy isn’t just about measurements and lab results. It’s about education, preparation, emotional support, and making space for questions that don’t fit into a 10-minute appointment.

💖 We believe understanding your care empowers you to make confident decisions throughout pregnancy and birth.

02/07/2026

Another study confirming what we’ve known for a long time. Support is everything

A 2025 study published in AJOG adds powerful, up-to-date data showing associations between doula care and improved maternal and newborn outcomes.

Key Maternal Outcomes:

More vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC): For every 100 patients who received doula care, there were 15 to 34 additional VBACs compared with those without doula care.

Higher postpartum follow-up attendance: 5 to 6 more per 100 received postpartum office visits.

Key Neonatal / Infant Outcomes

Increased exclusive breastfeeding rates: Babies whose families had doula support were more likely to breastfeed exclusively.

Fewer preterm births (and early preterm births): Doula-supported births showed a reduction in preterm birth rates.

In short, the study links doula care with improvements in birth outcomes — across birth mode (more VBACs), infant health (less prematurity), and early infant care (breastfeeding, postpartum follow-up).

Read more: https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2025/11/evidence-for-doulas-new-ajog-study-finds-doulas-improve-outcomes/

02/06/2026

Choosing where to give birth is a big decision. A tour isn’t a commitment — it’s an opportunity to gather information.

During a tour, you’ll see the birth rooms, learn how care works, meet members of the team, and get a sense of whether this space feels right for you.

We believe informed choices begin with access, transparency, and conversation. Book your tour today at birthcenterbn.com/scheduletour

📸 Shelby Gabrielle Birth & Photography Services

02/04/2026

There’s no rush to separate.
After uninterrupted golden hour, your baby’s first exam happens right on your bed — warm, supported, and surrounded by familiar voices.
From head-to-toe checks to being weighed in a cozy sling and their footprints to always remember how small they are, every step is designed to help baby feel secure while parents stay close and involved.

📸 Liz Walsh Photography

02/02/2026

We don’t believe birth needs to be managed to be safe.
We believe it needs to be supported — with skilled hands, attentive presence, and trust in the body’s ability to birth when given the right conditions.

01/30/2026

Newborn exams right at the foot of your bed.

🫶🏼

01/30/2026

Calling all birth photographers ✨
If you’ve captured moments at our birth center, we’re inviting you to submit your photos for use in our social media and marketing materials. We’d love to help showcase the beauty and strength of birth center care through your lens.

📸 Submit here: birthcenterbn.com/photo-submission