About Bellingham Birth Center
Since its founding, the Bellingham Birth Center has been honored to witness over 1950 births.
A Private, Peaceful Setting
For Labor And Birth
For Labor And Birth
Bellingham Birth Center provides a calm, beautiful setting in which to experience the unique rhythm of labor. Although no one can ever truly be prepared for labor, certain truths about the process have been accepted:
- Humans, like many other mammals, labor best in a private setting where they feel safe.
- We labor best surrounded by people we know and love, without the intrusion of strangers.
- We labor best with access to a warm bath that helps us relax.
- Families do best when they remain together without interruptions after the baby’s birth
Between birth center and home births, local licensed midwives currently attend about 13% of the deliveries in Whatcom County.
Supported by a growing Community
With overwhelming community support and the indispensable help of family and friends, Catriona Munro and Christine Gibbs established Bellingham Birth Center in early 2004 to answer the community’s need for a private, peaceful setting for labor and birth. At the time, there were no free-standing birth centers north of Everett, although the possibility of a birth center had been discussed in the community for many years. In 2008 we added a 3rd birth suite to allow for the occasional need for a 3rd space. That extra space provides the staff and clients a great deal of peace of mind ~ because sometimes babies come in flurries!
Ina May Gaskin, an internationally recognized expert on natural childbirth, “cut the umbilical” cord of the Bellingham Birth Center during the grand opening ceremony, as hundreds of community members looked on and joined the celebration.
Christine began a much-deserved retirement in 2020, and now Catriona is in charge of keeping the lights on and stocking essentials such as bleach, bendy straws, and chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Christine Gibbs, Catriona Munro, Ina May Gaskin 2004
“If we hope to create a non-violent world where respect and kindness replace fear and hatred, we must begin with how we treat each other at the very beginning of life. For that is where our deepest patterns are set. From those roots grow fear and alienation ~ or love and trust.”
― Suzanne Arms
Amenities
Birth Suite 1
Birth Suite 2
Birth Suite 3
Waiting space
Extra Restrooms
Fully Accessible
Bellingham Birth Center facilitates a person’s innate ability to give birth without intrusive interventions while providing an appropriate amount of technology to ensure safety.
- Each of the three birth suites includes a roomy tub for labor and/or birth, a hand-held shower, and a private bathroom.
- There’s a central kitchenette for you to keep snacks (popsicles, fruit, juice, whatever you like) and we also have a nice supply of energy bars, electrolyte drinks, instant oatmeal, crackers, coffee, tea, etc. We think it’s a very good idea to eat and drink during labor.
- We also think that it’s a good idea to make gravity your friend and to move into different positions throughout labor. Because of that, we have birth stools, birth balls, and birth slings.
- We offer nitrous oxide for pain relief, although the freedom to move, access to a birthing tub, and knowing the people who are there with you are all incredibly helpful and important during birth.
- Each room has a comfy queen sized bed with an infinite supply of pillows and blankets, heating pads, fans, bluetooth speakers, and dimmer switches (of course!)
- Each room is also equipped with the medical tools that only come out when needed ~ medications and oxygen, IVs and catheters, suture and lidocaine. We generally keep them tucked away but easily accessible.
- There are no machines that make annoying noises, just a doppler that makes the comforting sound of your baby’s heartbeat.
Please email us at bellinghambirthcenter@gmail.com and we can set up a tour and answer any specific questions you might have. You can also call us at (360) 752-2229.
