About the Birth Center

This beautiful furnished facility is owned and directed by Kathleen Vande Giessen, CNM, MSN, MBA. It is staffed by one certified nurse midwife and five doulas, who have access to a consulting OB/GYN Physician. It is for healthy women seeking more personal care.
When you consider having your baby, you want the most gentle beginnings for the baby. You also want to be as comfortable as possible yourself. At the North Houston Birth Center, we take every step to make you comfortable and welcome your baby gently.
At North Houston Birth Center you are in a quiet homelike environment where we offer customized care for your birth.

Why choose a birth center?

Choosing a healthcare provider is one of the most important decisions you can make. A birth center may be a perfect fit for your needs.
Caring, compassionate and kind midwife, doula and office staff.
Patients get the time they need at each appointment to be seen and ask any questions about their health.
You are perceived by the birth center as a healthy person, instead of a sick patient.
The midwife, doula and office staff are very knowledgable about all things regarding woman's health.
Each appointment you have someone that specializes in newborn care to answer questions about delivery or birth if pregnant.

You qualify to deliver at our Birth Center if you are a healthy woman expecting a normal delivery and a healthy baby.
We do not deliver women with diabetes that is out of control, very high blood pressure or previous c-sections. (The CNM can recommend you to a doctor if you are looking to have a vaginal delivery after a c-section.)

A midwife takes care of healthy women and normal healthy pregnant women.
She does annual well-woman exams (pap smears), STD (sexually transmitted diseases) checks, offers different birth control choices and all general women's healthcare.
The midwife will deliver your baby when you go into labor.

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.
The Midwives Model of Care include:

Monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle;
Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support;
Minimizing technological interventions; and
Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma and cesarean section. Midwifery Task Force

CNM stands for "Certified Nurse Midwife" also known as just the "Midwife".
A woman will get prenatal care, delivery, lab tests and ultrasounds just as a doctor would do but with extra special care.
Attention you need at this special time without rushing you.
CNM does not do surgery/c-sections.
The CNM will deliver your baby here at the Birth Center not in a hospital.
There is minimal pain medicine if you want that during labor and you will be able to use the Jacuzzi tub to progress labor and help soothe your contractions. You can deliver your baby in the water too.
The midwife does not use IVs routinely, only if you need antibiotics and even if you need antibiotics you are still able to move freely as you wish. You will not be stuck in bed, she will listen to your baby where ever you are so you can continue to do your work freely. Read the a CNM Values

The Doula is a different person than the CNM (certified nurse midwife).
The Doula is a physical and emotional support during your pregnancy and labor.
The Doula will help you with different positions during your labor to relieve pain and discomfort and make labor move along.
Continue reading about the Doula's role throughout your pregnancy on our Blog post "The Position of the Doula".