ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604220073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: Associated Press
The state's second birth center opened last week in Charlottesville, catering to pregnant women who don't want to deliver in the hospital but are concerned about giving birth at home.
``There's a whole group of women who are not happy with hospital birth but aren't comfortable with home birth,'' said Jacki Rooke, a certified nurse-midwife who operates Birth Center of the Blue Ridge.
The center, staffed by Rooke and a registered nurse, is expected to meet a growing demand for childbirth that focuses more on the natural aspects of delivery while also providing desired backup from medical professionals.
The center is located in a converted house in Charlottesville. It has a birthing room with Jacuzzi, an exercise room, a reception area and office space. It is backed by Dr. Daniel J. Noonan, an obstetrician in private practice with privileges at Martha Jefferson Hospital.
The center is the nation's 140th, said Kate Bauer of the National Association of Childbearing Centers. This spring, five or six more are scheduled to open nationwide, providing services in nursing, obstetrics, family medicine, pediatrics, nutrition, social work and physical fitness.
The state's first center is in Alexandria.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB