Frequently Asked Questions
What is Atlanta Birth Center?
Atlanta Birth Center is a Georgia-based non-profit organization that operates Atlanta’s only freestanding, nationally accredited birth center, providing an optimal birth experience as anticipated by a childbearing woman and her family. We offer a home-like environment with a program of family-centered care before, during and after pregnancy, labor and birth.
How do I get started with well person care at ABC?
GYN Care
Pre-conception, fertility, and GYN (non-pregnant) visits including well-woman/person exams, contraceptive care, etc., can be scheduled by calling or emailing the front desk.
Your Birth Care Options at Atlanta Birth Center
Atlanta Birth Center is transitioning into an expanded community-based model of care designed to give families multiple pathways for compassionate, midwifery-centered pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support throughout metro Atlanta.
Depending on your due date, medical eligibility, preferences, and birth goals, families may qualify for:
Birth Center Birth at our current facility
Home Birth with the ABC midwifery team
Hospital Birth with the ABC midwifery team at Grady Memorial Hospital
This page will help you understand your options, eligibility, timelines, and next steps for entering care.
Getting Started With Birth Care
How do I start birth care with Atlanta Birth Center?
The first step is completing our inquiry form so our team can learn more about your pregnancy, due date, and preferred care pathway.
After your inquiry is reviewed, families may be asked to:
complete a clinical intake form
provide proof of pregnancy
submit prenatal records from previous providers
share ultrasound or laboratory results if applicable
complete insurance and financial paperwork
Our intake and clinical teams then review your information to help determine the most appropriate care pathway based on timing, medical eligibility, and provider availability.
Do I need to decide my birth pathway before contacting ABC?
No. Many families contact us while still exploring their options.
Our team can help explain the differences between birth center birth, home birth, and hospital birth with the ABC midwifery team so you can make an informed decision about what feels safest and most supportive for your pregnancy and birth goals.
What factors determine which care pathways I qualify for?
Eligibility is determined individually and may include:
estimated due date
medical history
pregnancy risk factors
geographic location
prior pregnancy or birth history
provider availability
clinical appropriateness for out-of-hospital birth
Not all families will qualify for every pathway.
Will my insurance be accepted for my birth?
Many prenatal and postpartum services may be billed through insurance depending on your care pathway, insurance plan, provider participation, and service location.
Our financial coordination team can help explain coverage, payment plans, and expected costs for your individual situation.
Which Birth Pathway Fits My Due Date?
Can I birth at the current Atlanta Birth Center location?
Families whose births are expected to occur before September 30, 2026, may still qualify for birth center birth at our current location, depending on medical eligibility and provider availability.
Because birth timing can be unpredictable, the clinical team carefully reviews due dates and pregnancy progression when discussing eligibility for birth center delivery.
What if my due date is after September 14, 2026?
Families with estimated due dates after September 14, 2026, may begin discussing transition pathways that include:
Home Birth with the ABC midwifery team
Hospital Birth with the ABC midwifery team at Grady Memorial Hospital
Our team will guide families through individualized care planning conversations based on medical eligibility, preferences, and timing.
Is Atlanta Birth Center closing?
No. Atlanta Birth Center is not closing.
ABC is transitioning from a single-site birth center model into an expanded community-based care model that includes:
satellite clinical care
home birth services
hospital births with the ABC midwifery team at Grady Memorial Hospital
Our goal is to continue growing access to relationship-centered midwifery care throughout metro Atlanta.
Birth Center Birth FAQ
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Birth center birth offers a low-intervention, relationship-centered environment designed for healthy, low-risk pregnancies.
Families typically experience:
private birth suites
physiologic labor support
freedom of movement during labor
intermittent fetal monitoring
hydrotherapy and water labor options
family-centered postpartum recovery
The birth center is designed to provide a home-like atmosphere while still maintaining emergency equipment, medications, and transfer protocols when needed.
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Birth center birth is intended for healthy, low-risk pregnancies.
Eligibility is determined individually based on:
medical history
pregnancy complications
fetal health
prior birth history
gestational age
overall clinical appropriateness
Some conditions may require consultation, collaborative care, or recommendation for hospital birth instead.
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Most families remain at the birth center approximately 6–8 hours after delivery before returning home if parent and baby are stable.
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Postpartum care continues after discharge and includes:
follow-up communication with the clinical team
postpartum visits
newborn feeding support
ongoing assessment of parent and baby recovery
For families within the designated geographic radius, some postpartum home visits may be available depending on location and care needs.
Home Birth FAQ
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Home birth allows families to labor, birth, and recover in the comfort of their own home while receiving care from the ABC midwifery team.
Families often choose home birth because they value:
a familiar environment
personalized care
greater flexibility during labor
uninterrupted family bonding
comfort and privacy at home
Home birth is designed for healthy, low-risk pregnancies with ongoing safety screening throughout care.
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Home birth eligibility is determined individually and may include:
medical history
pregnancy risk factors
prior cesarean or birth history
geographic distance from the hospital
overall clinical appropriateness
Not all pregnancies qualify for home birth.
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Midwives carry emergency medications, oxygen, IV supplies, newborn resuscitation equipment, and additional emergency tools.
Throughout labor, the midwifery team continuously monitors both parent and baby and maintains clear hospital transfer protocols if additional medical care becomes necessary.
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Postpartum recovery and newborn care occur in your home environment.
Follow-up care may include:
immediate postpartum monitoring
newborn feeding support
postpartum home visits
recovery assessments
ongoing communication with the clinical team
Families often appreciate recovering in their own environment without needing to transition home immediately after birth.
Hospital Birth FAQ
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Families choosing hospital birth with the ABC midwifery team at Grady Memorial Hospital receive relationship-centered midwifery care within a hospital setting.
This pathway combines:
midwifery-led support
physiologic birth practices
informed decision-making
labor support
access to hospital-based medical resources when needed
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Some families choose hospital birth because they:
prefer access to epidural anesthesia
have medical conditions requiring hospital-based care
feel more comfortable in a hospital setting
desire immediate access to surgical or NICU services if needed
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The ABC midwifery team will continue supporting families throughout pregnancy and birth planning, while collaborating with the hospital team and specialists as needed.
Care teams may include:
certified nurse midwives
nurses
obstetric consultants
anesthesia providers
pediatric or NICU staff if necessary
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Immediately after birth, families recover on the mother-baby unit at the hospital while continuing to receive support from the care team.
Postpartum care then continues through Atlanta Birth Center follow-up services, communication, and postpartum appointments after discharge.
Still Have Questions?
We understand that choosing a birth pathway is deeply personal, and many families may still have questions after reviewing these options.
Our team is here to help guide you through your choices, explain eligibility, and support you in finding the pathway that feels safest and most aligned with your pregnancy, birth goals, and family needs.
Call us at (404) 474-2770
Complete an Inquiry Form