FORT MILL, S.C. — A Fort Mill birthing center has officially closed after three infants died in two years.
Carolina Community Maternity Center made the announcement via their social media page. The center, which uses certified midwives, was under investigation by the Department of Health and Environmental Control over the deaths.
In 2013, DHEC claims the center should have called a doctor after a woman experienced complications during her pregnancy which ended with the death of the woman’s baby.
The center was shut down temporally in 2013 after two infants died within six months.
Below is the official statement posted on Carolina Community Maternity Center’s Facebook page:
Dear CCMC Family,
Despite our belief that access to birth centers for low risk women is a right that should be upheld and a clear path toward improving quality outcomes for mothers and babies, we must close Carolina Community Maternity Center’s doors. It is with great sadness that we make this difficult decision.
Carolina Community Maternity Center (CCMC) would like to thank you for your ongoing support. Our families have lifted us up and consistently reinforced the importance of a woman’s right to choose a freestanding birth center.
First and foremost, CCMC will ensure that every client finds a nurturing medical home from which to continue care and prepare for birth. We will remain open through February to provide a smooth transition.
Second, our decision to close does not change our commitment to serve women in childbirth. Clearly, educating our community leaders to garner support remains a priority. Stepping back from the fire for a time will allow us to see beyond fighting to remain viable to the bigger issue of advocating for improved legislation.
Finally, the current adversarial climate has depleted our financial ability to remain open. The midwives will remain available to our mothers for postpartum care and breastfeeding assistance upon request.
We despaired as the media fed on the sorrow of the families who lost their babies. We rejoiced in the countless babies we welcomed into the world. And we count every CCMC family as a treasured memory.
We leave you with a few facts to share and consider in hopes of progressing to a climate more favorable for birth centers:
Study after study proves the safety of birth centers. Families desire this option and deserve to have this choice. A proven model of care, midwife-led birth centers have a low rate of:
â— emergent and non-emergent intrapartum and postpartum transport,
â— Cesarean sections and instrumental births (forceps or vacuum extractor),
â— episiotomies,
â— augmented labors,
â— maternal morbidity and mortality,
â— infant morbidity and mortality, and
â— postpartum depression and anxiety.
It takes years of intense training to become a Licensed Midwife. All Licensed Midwives are constantly improving their skills, knowledge and education through evidence based practices, peer review and continuing education courses.
The use of a Licensed Midwife in a freestanding birth center is more cost effective for the families with far less exposure to life threatening nosocomial infections than hospitals. Without access to a birth center, many women will return to unassisted home births and substandard or no prenatal care. Thus, further negatively impacting birth outcomes in the Carolinas.
Thank you for entrusting us with your health and the precious beginnings for your child. It has been a journey worth taking.
Please go to www.Carolinasbirthcenter.com to view our collage of family memories, and find out what you can do to advocate for future access to birth centers for low risk women (legislative info will be up soon).
Sincerely, The Carolina Community Maternity Center Midwives
