At Alba Birth Center, we know that you’ll always remember the birth of your baby. It’s an integral part of your life, your partner’s life and your baby’s life. We recognize birth as a normal physiological process that your body was created for. It’s a process that shouldn’t be rushed or unnecessarily clinical. Alba Birth Center focuses on informed consent where you can feel confident in choosing your path while we support you to have the birth you want.
Alba Birth Center follows the Midwifery Model of Care which is very different than the hospital.
Some major differences between Alba and the hospital are but not limited to:
Prenatal
Labor & Delivery
Immediately Postpartum
Postpartum
Alba Birth Center provides care to low-risk patients and babies. Our focus is on the prevention of problems through nutritional support, education and exercise. We walk along side of you throughout your pregnancy allowing you to be prepared and confident in your ability to labor and delivery naturally. Pregnancy, labor & delivery, birth, recovery and breastfeeding have all better outcomes when the person is educated and well-supported!
Alba Birth Center provides complete maternity care from the time you find out you’re pregnant through six weeks postpartum. Our midwives are your primary care provider as long as you and baby remain low risk. If a situation arises, we will refer you to a qualified physician in the area or you may visit a doctor of your choice. Very few of our patients have required complete transfer of care due to risk factors.
Absolutely! We’ve had patients transfer care as late as 38 weeks.
Yes! First step is to schedule a consultation with a midwife to discuss details of your previous VBAC(s).
We absolutely LOVE having older siblings take part in your prenatal visits. Siblings often assist throughout the appointment by measuring your tummy and listening to baby’s heartbeat. Family-centered births depend on the comfort level of the family and children.
Absolutely! Each birth suite has a spacious birth pool with ozone cleaning technology and underwater lighting to watch your baby emerge beautifully.
As involved as they want to be both prenatally and at birth. Some partners want to be in the birth pool or “catch” their baby and others only want to cut the cord. Others just want to be present. We are here to support your choices.
Although out-of-hospital birth is statistically safer for low-risk pregnancies, it does not guarantee a complication-free birth. We are highly skilled and trained to detect and manage most birth complications. Deviations from a normal birth often have early warning signs which permit ample time to transport to the hospital. In the rare instance that a transport does become necessary, we have working relationships will the area hospitals and physicians and will provide a seamless transfer of care into their facility. Continued support from the midwives will be provided even in the instance of a transfer.
The cost of care at Alba Birth Center is dependent on whether you’re planning to utilize insurance or if you’re planning to pay for care out of pocket.
A patient who prefers to pay out of pocket receives a 23% discount.
The cost of care at Alba Birth Center includes your Maternal & Newborn Care and the Facility Fee/Home Birth Fee.
Minimizing the financial stress of birth-related costs is a goal of ours at Alba Birth Center. We believe the large profit margin companies and hospitals make on labs and ultrasounds is wrong. Therefore, we cover all costs of standard maternity labs and ultrasounds completed at Alba Birth Center.
Most people do not realize birth centers are usually a more cost-effective option than hospitals, especially with the increase in insurance deductibles and out of pocket requirements.
The cost for an average two-day hospital stay for a vaginal delivery without complications is $15,036.87. More importantly, this hospital cost does not include lab work, ultrasounds or interventions.
Before your first prenatal appointment, our Clinical Coordinator will complete a Verification of Benefits and provide a detailed overview of your benefits and potential reimbursement. Additionally, you’ll receive a comparison of our cost against what you can expect from a hospital birth.
While Alba Birth Center is not in-network with any commercial insurance provider, every insurance plan is different and may cover parts of your care. After delivery, your insurance will be billed. Any insurance reimbursement received will be applied to your account and any excess paid on your part will be reimbursed. If needed and with your help, we will submit appeals to ensure you’ve received the highest reimbursement possible.
Alba Birth Center is a Wisconsin Medicaid provider. Medicaid is billed for your Maternal & Newborn care. The patient is responsible for paying the Facility Fee/Home Birth Fee.
Alba Birth Center offers two payment plans – monthly or lump payments.
The monthly payment plans are calculated to ensure full payment by 40-weeks gestational age and require automatic withdrawal from a checking/savings account or a debit/credit card. Automatic withdrawals can be pulled weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.
The lump payment plan is scheduled for three lump sum payments at 20-, 30- and 40-weeks gestational age.
Alba Birth Center may approve extended payment plans for patients experiencing financial hardship.
If you transfer out of care prior to laboring at Alba Birth Center, you will only be billed for services rendered. Any amount overpaid at the time of transfer will be refunded.
If you transfer to the hospital after laboring at Alba Birth Center, you will be charged the full cost of care. Upon discharge from the hospital, your Alba Birth Center Midwives will continue with your postpartum and newborn care through six (6) weeks postpartum.
Additionally, insurance will be billed for services rendered.
Definitely! Often HSAs have debit cards that allow for prepayments and if so, you can apply that to your account. FSAs do not allow for prepayments. If this is your situation, contact the Alba Birth Center Director to work out an alternate payment arrangement.
