THE BIRTH CENTER

EDUCATION AND SUPPORT EDUCATION IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF LWBC AND DRIVES MANY ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES. FROM THE CURRENT (2024) MISSION STATEMENT: LIFECYCLE IS AN INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND FREE-STANDING, OUT-OF-HOSPITAL BIRTH CENTER. OUR TEAM OF MIDWIVES AND NURSE-PRACTITIONERS PROVIDE EMPOWERING GYNECOLOGY AND BIRTH-ORIENTED HEALTH CARE TO CLIENTS IN A TRUSTING AND CARING ENVIRONMENT. LIFECYCLE ADVOCATES FOR AND EDUCATES ABOUT THE MIDWIFERY MODEL OF CARE.EDUCATION IS RECOGNIZED IN THREE OF THE CORE LWBC VALUE STATEMENTS ADOPTED IN 2024:- AT OUR CORE, WE VALUE AND UPHOLD LIFECYCLE EVENTS - SUCH AS PUBERTY, BIRTH, AND MENOPAUSE - AS NATURAL AND HEALTHY TRANSITIONS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EDUCATION AND EVIDENCE-BASED MIDWIFERY CARE THAT SUPPORTS THESE MILESTONES. - CENTRAL TO OUR VALUES IS FOSTERING A TRUSTED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CLIENTS AND PROVIDERS. WE EMPOWER THROUGH EDUCATION, ENABLING INFORMED HEALTHCARE DECISIONS THAT PRIORITIZE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.- EDUCATION LIES AT THE HEART OF OUR INITIATIVE. WE EDUCATE FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND THOSE INTERESTED IN THE MIDWIFERY MODEL OF CARE, ENSURING CONTINUITY AND EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE PRACTICES.OUR EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT TAKES MANY FORMS AND SERVES ABOUT 1,000 CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PLUS MANY NURSING/MIDWIFERY STUDENTS EACH YEAR:- MULTI-MONTH CLINICAL PLACEMENTS FOR SELECTED INDIVIDUAL MIDWIFERY AND NURSING STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES- TOURS AND SEMINARS FOR 18-20 ANNUAL GROUPS OF NURSING STUDENTS FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES - PARTICIPATING AS GUEST LECTURERS ON MIDWIFERY CARE AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS- COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT GROUPS, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FOR LACTATION SUPPORT AND NEW PARENT ADJUSTMENT. THIS SUPPORTS HEALTHY INFANT DEVELOPMENT AND PARENTAL WELL-BEING. PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED VIA BOTH ONSITE AND REMOTE PLATFORMS, ENABLING US TO REACH MORE PEOPLE.- FREE, VOLUNTARY POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING DELIVERY- FREE SEMINARS FOR FAMILIES CONSIDERING BIRTH CENTER AND PHYSIOLOGIC, OFTEN CALLED "NATURAL," BIRTH- PAID CLASSES HAVE INCLUDED PREPARATION FOR CHILDBIRTH, POSTPARTUM MOTHER AND BABY CARE, PRENATAL YOGA, BABY WEARING, PARENT/BABY MUSIC, POSTPARTUM RECOVERY, SIBLING PREPARATION AND EFFECTIVE PARENTING.- ENGAGEMENT BY SENIOR STAFF IN VARIOUS HEALTH ADVOCACY GROUPS: PENNSYLVANIA BREASTFEEDING COALITION, DELAWARE COUNTY BREASTFEEDING COALITION, KEYSTONE 10 COLLABORATION, PENNSYLVANIA DOULA AND PERINATAL ADVISORY GROUP, CHOP COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR BREASTFEEDING, FIRST FOOD COLLABORATION, BABY'S 1ST PROJECT COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, GIRL SCOUTS, DELAWARE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH- LWBC IS A MID-ATLANTIC MOTHERS' MILK BANK DEPOT. WE ACCEPT, HOUSE, AND SHIP BREAST MILK FOR LOCAL MAMMB APPROVED DONORS MAKING MILK DONATIONS FOR MEDICALLY FRAGILE INFANTS CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE.