FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio — Choosing where and how to give birth is an incredibly important decision for most women with many choosing to do it the natural way. Right here in Northeast Ohio, they have a unique venue to do so.
The first two weeks of Breck Bornstine's life have been magical for his mom Kendra Bornstine, of Norton.
"He's such an amazing little baby,” Bornstine said. "It just takes you back to how innocent babies are."
Breck was born inside at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital's Family Birth Place.
It's a unit designated solely for natural childbirth and has six home-style suites designed to include the entire family.
There’s low intervention from medical staff and has the benefit of having a neonatal intensive care unit just inches away. It's the only of its kind in Northeast Ohio.
All of that was very attractive to Bornstine who has given birth naturally three times before.
"I already knew I was looking for that philosophy, that attention and that experience again for my fourth child,” Bornstine said.
Once they're in the birthing unit, moms have full range of the entire room and have several options of things they can use to make their birthing experience more comfortable—from a labor tub to birthing balls.
"We will accommodate whatever a woman's body is telling her to do. And a lot of times a woman will come in with an idea that I'm going to be in the water. But once she's there, she's like 'Just let me squat on this ball,'” said Susan Hudson, Certified Nurse Midwife and Director of Midwifery Service, Western Region, Cleveland Clinic.
That mobility is one of the main differences between a natural birth in the unit versus a surgical birth or one assisted by medication. Doctors also say that helps women recover quicker and are able to bond with their babies right after delivery.
"I could lay down on the bed. I had warm towels surrounded from head to toe. Baby was right on my chest,” Bornstine said.
Staff said other moms are catching on. The birthing unit tripled its volume over the past two years since the Family Birth Place opened its doors.
Bornstine is grateful she and Breck are part of that.
"When I think of him and think when he came into the world I also remember the staff and the nurses and the love and peace that we felt in the room.”
Jade Jarvis is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
