Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Many low-risk mothers choose a birth center like Birth Haven because it offers a supportive, home-like setting focused on physiologic birth — meaning your body is trusted to labor and deliver without routine interventions that aren't medically necessary. At a birth center, you'll typically avoid continuous fetal monitoring, routine IVs, and elective inductions, while still having access to a trained midwifery team monitoring for safety throughout. For families who qualify as low-risk, birth centers are associated with lower cesarean rates and high rates of parent satisfaction, while maintaining the same safety outcomes as hospital birth.

Yes. Multiple large, well-designed studies confirm that out-of-hospital birth attended by a trained, skilled midwife carries no increased risk to mothers or babies when compared to hospital birth for low-risk pregnancies — and is often associated with lower rates of unnecessary intervention. Every member of our clinical team maintains current NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) certification, along with life-saving skills for both mother and baby, and is trained in the early identification and management of birth emergencies.

We're actively working toward insurance contracts and expect to accept most major insurance plans by January 2027. If you're unsure whether your plan is covered yet, please reach out — we're updating this regularly and are happy to check for you. In the meantime, we offer cash-pay options, and we're committed to making care accessible for families at every stage of our credentialing process.

Birth centers like Birth Haven are designed for people with low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancies. Generally, this means:

• A single, healthy pregnancy (not twins or higher-order multiples)
• Baby in a head-down position at the time of labor
• No significant pre-existing medical conditions (such as uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, or certain heart or lung conditions)
• No serious pregnancy complications (such as preeclampsia or placenta previa)
• Labor that begins spontaneously between 37 and 42 weeks

Every pregnancy is assessed individually throughout your care with us — risk status isn't just a one-time checklist, but something your midwifery team monitors continuously through prenatal visits and labor. If risk factors develop at any point, we'll talk with you about the safest place to give birth, which may include a planned hospital transfer. Our goal is always your safety and your baby's safety first, alongside the birth experience you're hoping for.

We must await DHHS licensing before we can have families birthing in the space again, but we hope to complete this no later than the end of September 2026. Please call us for updates.

At Birth Haven, we support a range of natural, non-pharmaceutical pain management options designed to help your body work with labor rather than against it. These include:

• Waterbirth and hydrotherapy — laboring or birthing in water, one of our most popular options
• Freedom of movement — walking, position changes, birth balls, and labor bands to help labor progress comfortably
• Nitrous oxide — a safe, self-administered option that takes the edge off contractions without the side effects of stronger medications
• Massage, counterpressure, and hands-on comfort measures from your midwife or doula
• Continuous emotional and physical support from a care team who knows you, rather than rotating hospital staff

Because birth centers are designed for low-risk, physiologic birth, we don't offer epidurals or IV pain medications on-site — these require hospital-level anesthesia support. If you're hoping for an epidural as part of your birth plan, a hospital birth may be a better fit, and we're always happy to talk through what option feels right for you.

Yes. We welcome families making an informed choice for VBAC at Birth Haven. To be eligible, at least 18 months must have passed between a prior cesarean and your due date. We'll talk through your full birth history together to determine if VBAC at the birth center is right for you.

Yes — homebirth is available outside of our birth center services, depending on midwife availability. Prenatal and postpartum care can still be provided at Birth Haven even if you choose to birth at home. Ask us during your first visit to learn more about your options.

Absolutely — waterbirth is one of our specialties. Our midwifery team has extensive, hands-on experience supporting families through waterbirth, and it's one of the most requested and well-supported options in our birth rooms.

In the event of an emergency, we transport to the nearest appropriate hospital. In non-emergency situations where a hospital transfer becomes necessary, we typically transfer to Elliot Hospital or Catholic Medical Center (CMC) in Manchester, or St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, depending on travel distance, the level of care needed, and your preference.

No — Birth Haven welcomes families from both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. We're located in Salem, NH, just minutes from the Massachusetts border, and many of our families travel from northern MA for care. What matters most for eligibility is that you meet our low-risk criteria for birth center care, not where you live. If you're unsure whether the drive or distance is right for you, reach out — we're happy to talk through logistics, prenatal visit scheduling, and what to expect if you're coming from out of state.