Authentic Birth Center Focuses On Physiological Birth

Imagine relaxing in a whirlpool tub as calming music surrounds you and a starry night sky glistens above, your husband by your side. You’re in a safe, clean environment, under the personal care of a midwife who’s ready to assist in bringing new life to this world.  

Authentic Birth Center, located at 530 N 108th Pl, Wauwatosa, WI, has been open for five years and has assisted in 476 births. LaNette McQuitty is the owner and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), one of the four midwives Authentic has.

McQuitty’s journey started years ago when I began supporting families as a Doula and a Childbirth Educator. She has worked with hundreds of Milwaukee families since 1980. In 2009,McQuitty completed her residency program living and working as a midwife with the tribes of Malawi Africa; she says it was life changing.

Before opening Authentic Birth Center in September of 2013, McQuitty, as a midwife,would travel to mothers homes. “I quickly realized that I could not be at one birth and not worry that someone else would call me in labor,” McQuitty says.Then, once she opened Authentic, “It was such a lifted weight to realize I did not have to worry if there was a place for them to come and I could serve them.”

“We recognize that we’re mammals; mammals birth all the time without extraordinary measures, without wires and bells and whistles and drugs,” says McQuitty in her Podcast. Authentic focuses on physiological births – when a mother allows her body to labor naturally, without the use of medication of any sort. 

“We want to get to know the mom, what her wishes are, what her desires are for her birth, you know her entire health history, sources of anxiety, you know what things are calming for her. So knowing all of that before labor ever begins, we optimize that physiological birth when moms are instinctually doing what’s natural and God intended them to do.”

Authentic has three Suites: Sophia Suite, The Nest, and Serenity . All of the suites include a large bed, a tub, and a fiber-optic starry night sky – the differences between them are the size of the tubs and the placement and/or size of the starry night skies. The mother (and father) are able to stay in these rooms for the duration of labor, birth and the post-partum stay of 24 hours.

Authentic Birth Center is the only health care facility in Wisconsin to perform the entire birth under water. Most hospitals will have the woman in the tub for stage one, but before giving birth will remove her from the water.

Water births are said to help ease pain, relax your body, speed up labor, and may lower your chances of bleeding. All the while, Authentic’s starry night skies have been proven to help dilate women; once fully dilated, birthing can begin.

Because of this demand for out of hospital births, and the increased frequency at which Authentic’s services are being utilized, Authentic is constructing an additional birth suite, yet to be named.

Caitlan Olson is a mother of two sons, a four-year-old and an 18 month old and she birthed both at Authentic. Her first birth was a land birth. “I labored at home before going in, my full labor was about 19 hours and it was beautiful,” Olson says. For her second birth, “I labored in the water with my Midwives, student,and my supportive husband. I went into my own world and worked together with my body to bring my baby into the world.”

The journey at Authentic starts from conception and continues after birth. “Most call as soon as they “pee on the stick” but some will have a preconception consult,” says McQuitty. Authentic offers multiple programs, classes, and resources for mothers-to-be.

Some of the weekly classes include: Playtime Yoga and Happy Baby Yoga on Tuesday mornings; Parent and Play on Thursdays, as well as Birth Stories; and a Natural Childbirth Class on Friday’s. Authentic also offers resource classes/meetings including La Leche League Monthly Mornings (Saturdays), Women in Business which meets monthly, and the Authentic Birth and Family Wellness Options meeting(monthly) to discuss what’s to be expected throughout your journey at Authentic, answer any questions you may have, or simply to offer support or other resources.

Authentic also offers various therapies and services like Ultrasounds, Chiropractic care,and starting after the Holiday season, massage therapy and psychotherapies will start regular schedules.

“I used Chiropractic care for my whole pregnancy and it was the best thing possible for my changing body,” says Olson. “My back hurt so bad throughout my pregnancy but each time I saw Dr. Lee I felt so much relief.”

In regards to cost and insurance, McQuitty says, “It is about 1/3 to 1/2 of what a hospital and medical model provider costs, however the out of pocket expenses are determined by how much your insurance will cover.” Authentic does accept all insurance, both ones in and outside of their network, as well as both State and Military Insurance.

“I would choose Authentic in a heartbeat for another birth. The feeling I get when I walk through the doors is beyond anything I could put into words,” says Olson. “It’s truly the most beautiful and loving place to birth. I loved birthing under the stars!”