Birth Center of Bloomington Normal

11/28/2025

Normalize Birth .

Invite siblings into your birth space. 🥹

The sweetest brother. I’ll never get over these photos.

11/17/2025

NYTimes Letter to the Editor ✒️

Many of you may have already seen the NY Times article "The ‘Worst Test in Medicine’ is Driving America’s High C-Section Rate" (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/health/electronic-fetal-monitoring-c-sections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.108.XT6J.Y2YuWc0Xc01e&smid=url-share ).
AABC sent a Letter to the Editor in response! Since our letter did not get published, we wanted to share it with you all here.
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Dear Editor,

Thank you for highlighting the overreliance on continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) and its role in rising Cesarean rates.

There is a solution to this epidemic. Midwifery-led birth centers use intermittent fetal monitoring instead of continuous EFM. They are an evidence-based model that delivers outcomes comparable to those of the top nations globally by offering holistic, family-centered care that protects and empowers patients, thereby enhancing both physical and mental well-being in our community.

Birth centers are fully integrated into the healthcare system and guided by principles of prevention, safety, appropriate medical intervention, and cost-effectiveness. While midwifery care can occur elsewhere, birth centers are unique in offering this dedicated, physiologic model.
Outcomes speak for themselves:
-Cesarean rates under 6%
-NICU admissions less than half the national average
-Low rates of interventions with superior overall outcomes

These results demonstrate the clinical excellence and fiscal prudence of the birth center model, reducing complications and costs while maintaining world-standard safety, lowering maternal mortality risk, and prioritizing maternal autonomy and satisfaction.

Respectfully,
Kate Bauer
Executive Director
American Association of Birth Centers
Perkiomenville, PA

11/14/2025

While our regulations prevent us from performing planned breech births, we know, these can be life saving skills❣️

11/04/2025

10/13/2025

On Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Wednesday, October 15th, we invite you to light a candle on our front porch in honor of the little ones we carry in our hearts. Your light will shine for love, for memory, for healing.🕯️

10/10/2025

As we close out National Midwifery Week, we’re deeply moved by the words shared in this video — stories of trust, compassion, and the life-changing care that midwives provide every day. 💫
Thank you to every family who shared your hearts with us, and to our incredible midwives who pour so much love into their work. You’ve touched countless lives in ways that can never be measured.

10/07/2025

🌸✨ Please join us in welcoming Machayla, our newest midwife at the Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal!

With years of experience as a Labor & Delivery nurse and a deep passion for empowering families through pregnancy and birth, Machayla brings both skill and heart to every family she serves. We are so excited for the compassion, knowledge, and joy she brings to our community. 💙

Machayla has always known her calling was in women’s health. With a passion for supporting women through the powerful transitions of pregnancy and birth, she is committed to providing holistic, evidence-based care that honors the body’s innate wisdom.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing, and spent five years as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Carle BroMenn Medical Center. During those years, she developed a deep appreciation for physiologic birth and the importance of empowering families through education, support, and advocacy.

Driven by her desire to walk more closely alongside women in their reproductive journeys, Machayla earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati. She believes in a model of care that centers around respect, autonomy, and shared decision-making, and is passionate about supporting women through natural birth.

Machayla was drawn to the Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal because of its unique ability to offer safe, intimate, and family-centered care. She is honored to join a team that shares her belief in birth as a deeply personal and transformative experience.

Outside of midwifery, Machayla loves being outdoors in the sunshine, relaxing at the pool, and spending time with her husband and young son. She is proud to serve the Bloomington-Normal community and feels privileged to walk beside families during such meaningful moments in their lives.

10/07/2025

My last class of the year is online and starts on Oct 28!
https://www.birthwithbekky.com/interest-form

09/26/2025

✨ Yesterday, we had the joy of honoring two of our amazing team members, Athena and Sarah, with a Blessing Way — a beautiful tradition to surround expectant mothers with love, faith, and encouragement as they prepare for birth. 💛

Led by Jenni, we shared affirmations, Bible verses, and heartfelt words to lift them up and remind them they’re not alone on this journey.

We also gifted each of them with beads to create a special necklace — a meaningful keepsake they can keep close during labor, symbolizing the strength and support of their entire team. 📿💕

Athena & Sarah, we’re so excited for you and cheering you on every step of the way! 💐

09/24/2025

Isn’t this so sweet?!🥹

When grandma’s a midwife but lives states away, you FaceTime her in to catch baby’s first hello.

This sure was the sweetest first look 😍

Congratulations to Ashleigh and Josh on the birth of their second son. What a powerful birth to witness.

www.lizwalsh.net