The interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations met this morning in Frankfurt to discuss a variety of topics as we inch closer to the next legislative session beginning January 2nd.

Free standing birth centers garnered much discussion as advocates for and against bringing the midwife centric hospital alternatives back to the Commonwealth made their arguments.

Legislation to support freestanding birth centers was introduced in the previous session with companion bills.

House Bill 129 and Senate Bill 67, which would remove a certificate of need barrier for the facilities.

There are currently no freestanding birth centers in the state.

It's different from a home birth in that it is a destination for birth rather than a private residence.

Birth centers provide a home like setting where care is focused on is family centered care.

Holistic wellness model.

Birth centers do not offer surgery or anesthesia, and there are no epidurals or pain management drugs used for labor.

Although there are non-pharmaceutical forms of pain management such as movement and water therapy.

Mothers who choose a birth center receive a full course of prenatal and postpartum care.

We feel that removing birthing centers from certificate of need and weakening the licensing standards would put women and babies at risk.

This is really going to roll back decades of progress in maternal care because the number one problem in risk to birthing is hemorrhage.

Birthing centers cannot treat him.

Hemorrhage.

Hemorrhage is not something that can be predicted.

It has to be expected and prepared for in all deliveries.