Natural Pregnancy & Childbirth Center

The North Shore Birth Center is our "home-like" Birth Center and is one of the childbirth options offered by Beverly Hospital. It is a midwifery practice, in collaboration with OB/GYN physicians, situated on the campus of Beverly Hospital. 

The North Shore Birth Center is tailored to women who are low-risk and prefer a natural approach to pregnancy and childbirth.  The Birth Center's certified nurse-midwives attend births at both the Birth Center and Beverly Hospital.  Giving birth at the North Shore Birth Center means no routine procedures.  Labor progresses naturally with holistic approaches used for pain management.  Services such as water births are also offered.  One of the attractions of birthing at the North Shore Birth Center is the ownership of space.  The Birth Center actually becomes the family's home while the mother labors.  Family members have full access to the kitchen, living room, outdoor garden and deck.  The space is quiet and peaceful. Families can bring and cook their own food. 

Patients of the NSBC have options to choose from when deciding their place of birth:

1. A woman may give birth at the North Shore Birth Center and be discharged home in four to twelve hours, after arrangements for follow-up care have been made.
2. A woman may give birth at the North Shore Birth Center then transfer to Beverly Hospital for a 48-hour stay.  This option allows new mothers to take advantage of the hospital's inpatient educational resources and postpartum care.
3. A woman may give birth at Beverly Hospital with her CNM attending the birth.

Nurse-Midwives of the North Shore Birth Center are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing all aspects of a woman's health.  Services are available in both Beverly and Gloucester, and include; 

• Yearly physical examinations
• Maternity care
• Contraceptive consultation
• Menopause consultation 

The North Shore Birth Center (NSBC) became the first freestanding birth center in the northeast when it opened in 1980.   It is a nurse-midwifery practice, in collaboration with OB/GYN physicians, situated on the Beverly Hospital campus.  The CNMs at the birth center provide GYN care.  The NSBCs Certified Nurse Midwives attend births at both the Birth Center and Beverly Hospital.  Waterbirths are offered at the NSBC.