Holistic Birth Place offers soothing, low-intervention environment for natural births

Whether you’re preparing to welcome your first baby or expanding your family, the newly opened Holistic Birth Place at Nebraska Medical Center is ideal for families seeking a low-intervention, natural birth in a setting that feels more like home than hospital.

Designed with warmth and care, this thoughtfully designed space is available for those who want to partner with one of our midwives to deliver their baby naturally. 

This space features warm lighting, a spacious tub for labor or water birth and room for loved ones to be close by. You and your family are encouraged to move freely during labor, wear your own clothing and enjoy comfort measures like massage, aromatherapy, music and dim lighting.

Midwives and nurses guide care using the midwifery model, which emphasizes prevention, sensitivity, safety and appropriate medical support. Epidurals and IV pain relief are not used in this space, and interventions like Pitocin or inductions are not performed. 

Fetal monitoring is occasional, using a Doppler device, unless continuous monitoring is medically indicated. 

“As midwives, our philosophy of care is focused around undisturbed, normal physiologic birth,” says Alyssa Fischer, Nebraska Medicine nurse midwife. “The Holistic Birth Place allows us to provide lower intervention options for our patients.”

Fischer adds: “Women who give birth in this type of environment have essentially the best of both worlds: an unmedicated, undisturbed birth, plus if an emergency happens, the resources to stay safe.”

“What I love about the Holistic Birth Place is that it truly offers a peaceful, supportive environment for families looking to experience physiologic birth, with the reassurance that specialized care is close by if it’s needed. It’s about helping families feel both safe and empowered.” says Medical Director of Labor and Delivery, Rebecca Rimsza, MD.

Patient criteria 

The Holistic Birth Place is designed for healthy, low-risk pregnancies. To ensure safety, you must meet certain criteria, including:

• Carrying one baby in the head-down position.
• Reaching full term (typically 37 weeks or more).
• No chronic health conditions or pregnancy complications.
• No more than one prior cesarean birth.

Educational classes are required to help you prepare mentally, physically and emotionally. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, your prenatal care provider can help guide you.

What to expect

Families who choose this model of care often describe their experience as calm, joyful and empowering. Research shows excellent outcomes, including:

• Lower rates of cesarean sections.
• Fewer medical interventions.
• High levels of satisfaction.
• Safe outcomes for both parent and baby.

Visitors are welcome. You may have up to four guests plus a doula present during your birth experience. Siblings are also invited to share in the experience. 

“Some of the best births that I’ve experienced have involved families and had children present,” Fischer says. “I think it can be a really great bonding experience for families.”

After birth, you have the option to go home early, typically within six to 12 hours.

If problems should arise during labor, you can feel confident knowing you have the support of our neonatal ICU and maternal and fetal medicine specialists nearby.

“This collaboration ensures that families can welcome their newborns in a comfortable, low-intervention environment with trusted providers who are supported by the full resources of our delivery center,” says Ann Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD, medical director, Neonatal ICU and UNMC division chief, neonatology. “Nebraska Medicine’s investment in this unique offering reflects a strong commitment to advancing care for our community.”

The Holistic Birth Place is located in Labor and Delivery, on level four of University Tower at Nebraska Medical Center.