The Family Birth Center of Naples (FBCN), which opened in 1998, is the only freestanding facility in Collier County that provides complete and individualized maternity care with a licensed and professional midwife. Their out-of-hospital setting allows for a personalized, safe and comfortable experience for women with low-risk, low-intervention pregnancies, as well as the convenience of in-house lab work, nutritional counseling, education, childbirth preparation, lactation counseling and newborn care.

Owner Dawn Meier, a licensed and certified professional midwife who joined the FBCN in 2000, provides a holistic style of care, addressing the physiological and emotional aspects of pregnancy for the entire family. Part of her comprehensive attention includes the monitoring of maternal and fetal health during the prenatal, labor, birth and postpartum stages.

The FBCN creates a pleasant, homelike ambiance, serving complimentary herbal tea and water during prenatal appointments. Lab work and ultrasounds are done during scheduled appointments, making every visit efficient and convenient. Three, beautifully decorated birth suites are equipped with everything a woman needs for a successful labor, birth and postpartum recovery, including a Jacuzzi tub and family room, as well as access to a fully stocked kitchen.

“You will not only feel at home, but part of our family,” says Meier, who is currently the sole practitioner at the center. “When I first joined, we were handling eight pregnancies that were all due to deliver in the same month. We grew to serve 16 to 20. I presently must cap the number to eight because all the midwives who were practicing here have moved on to do other things. We have a wait list now,” she explains.

At about 10 weeks, women begin their appointments, following a normal obstetric (OB) schedule. “First they are monthly, and as the pregnancy progresses, it’s every two weeks. At the very end, it’s weekly. We carve out more one-on-one time for the women, and we individualize the care to accommodate each individual,” Meier advises.

FBCN also provides prenatal massage, in-house doula services, placenta encapsulation and referrals for outside services. Self-pay plans are available, allowing families to make manageable payments over the course of the pregnancy. They accept Florida Medicaid and the Sunshine Florida Medicaid HMO. FBCN is also in-network with Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and Cigna plans.

The Family Birth Center of Naples is located at 2930 Immokalee Rd., Ste. 2, in Naples, within two miles of the nearest OB hospital, serving Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For more information or to schedule a free tour, call 239-594-0440 or visit NaplesBirthCenter.com.