Heartbeat Midwifery in northwest Lubbock serves low-risk, healthy mothers and babies. Clinical Director Carmen Geyman says the center offers prenatal care like lab work and sonograms, some postnatal care like breastfeeding support, and labor and delivery in one of three birth rooms. It suits moms who want an unmedicated labor with more freedom to move around.
Caroline Jones, clinical director at Held Midwifery in the medical district, says her center has also seen an increase in calls. Some callers tell her they are not sure they want a birth center at all. They just cannot get into an OB.
For many women, that makes a birth center a fallback instead of a first choice. Geyman says last week her staff turned away 15 people who said they had called every OB office and found no one. She calls birth center care fantastic, but says "you have to really want it."
Geyman opened Heartbeat seven years ago because Lubbock lacked a strong midwife presence. In a career of more than 20 years, she has taught more than 40 students, many in the area.