A St. Louis Birth Story at Mercy Birthing Center

When a client desires an undisturbed, physiologic birth experience, Mercy Birthing Center in St. Louis is one of our favorite places to support and document that journey. The best way to achieve your birth goals is to choose a care provider (OB or midwife) and a birth setting that fully supports the experience you envision. When these align, you’ll spend less time advocating for your wishes and more time immersed in the moment.

The photos below capture a minimally disturbed birth at Mercy Birthing Center—where our client received the support and tools she needed while also having the privacy and respect she deserved."

In a birth center, a woman labors in a large white tub while leaning forward on a blue and white floating tube. A support person sits on the side of the tub and reaches in to squeeze her hips.

I woman lies in bed at a birth center while working through intense labor contractions. Her partner sits next to her, squeezes her hand, and leans in close to her.

A laboring woman loops her arm through a teal birth swing at a birth center while leaning on a bed. Her partner sits next to her in a rocking chair and offers soothing touch.

A woman covered in blankets leans forward on a bed and breaths in nitrous oxide while working through contractions. A support person stands next to her and places a hand on her back.

A laboring woman intensely focuses as she works through contractions during childbirth.

During childbirth, a pregnant woman lies in bed and breathes through contractions while her partner sits next to her and looks down on her in admiration.

A newborn baby lies skin to skin on his mother’s abdomen moments after birth. The mother cries in joy and relief. The father puts a hand on the mother’s shoulder and looks at the baby.

A newborn baby lies skin to skin on his mothers chest and looks into the camera.

Moments after birth, a newborn baby lies skin to skin on his mothers chest. The father embraces the mother and baby.

A father holds his newborn baby skin to skin and looks into the baby’s face.

After childbirth, a nurse marks a father’s hand with his baby’s footprint.

A couple lies in bed at a birth center with their newborn baby. The father holds the baby skin to skin. The mother looks at the father and baby while lying next to them and eating pizza.