Birth Center
Labor and give birth in a calm suite that feels like home. A birth assistant is at every birth, and the center is open around the clock.
Tacoma’s OnlyFreestandingBirth Center
Give birth in a private suite with its own water-birth tub, cared for by licensed midwives who get to know you long before your due date. Families have chosen The Birthing Inn since 1999.
Call (253) 761-8939Open for births 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Book a Tour of the Suites
Tell us a little about you and the front desk will be in touch to find a time.
Accredited by the CABC Since 2016- Welcoming Families Since 1999
- Open for Births 24/7
- 71 Google Reviews From Families
3 Private Suites, Each With Its Own Water-Birth Tub
Trust, Believe and Inspire are the three birth suites at The Birthing Inn. Each one has a private bathroom and a tub big enough for two adults, for laboring or giving birth in water. The tub is included in every package, so there is nothing to rent and nothing to clean up afterward.
Most families go home together four to six hours after the birth.
Nitrous oxide is available for comfort, and epidurals are not offered.
See the Birth Center Before You Visit
Take the 2-minute video tour of the birth center, then come and see it in person.
Birth Center Tour, about 2 minutes
The video could not load here, which usually means a content blocker is on. Watch the tour on Vimeo.
Birth Center, Midwifery and Classes Under One Roof
Midwifery
Your prenatal visits happen right here, so by the time labor starts the building and the suites already feel familiar.
Childbirth Education
Classes for couples cover birth preparation, newborn care and feeding, and they are open to you whether you give birth here or at a hospital.
Meet the TBI Midwives
TBI Midwives, PLLC is the midwifery group based at The Birthing Inn. Several other community midwifery practices also hold privileges here, so you can meet more than one and choose the midwife who is right for you.
Brandy Stuart
LM, CPM, BSM
Brandy began as a doula in 2002 and has practiced as a midwife locally since 2020, with a particular love for water birth.
Ciara Richardson
LM, CPM, CD
Ciara has attended births around Puget Sound for more than a decade and is also a certified doula and bereavement doula.
Kay Jackson
MN, CNM, ARNP
Kay has practiced midwifery for more than 28 years after 10 years as a labor and delivery nurse, and she is the TriCare midwife for military families.
Insurance, Apple Health and TriCare Are Welcome
The Birthing Inn is contracted with most insurance companies, and Medicaid clients are welcome through Apple Health. Once you register, the billing director checks your benefits and sends you an estimate of what you would owe for the facility.
Private Insurance
Contracted with most insurers. Ask your plan to confirm it covers both the birth center and the midwife you choose.
Apple Health (Medicaid)
Welcome. Molina and Amerigroup are the Apple Health carriers most supportive of out-of-hospital birth.
TriCare
The facility is TriCare-certified, and Kay Jackson is the TriCare midwife.
Is a Birth Center Right for You?
A birth center is for a healthy, low-risk pregnancy with a baby expected between 37 and 42 weeks. Plan to register by 36 weeks to reserve your birth here.
It is not the right place for a VBAC, for twins or for a BMI over 40, and your midwife will talk through anything else with you at your first visit.
Emergency medication, IVs and oxygen are on hand, and St. Joseph Medical Center and Tacoma General are both nearby if you or your baby need a hospital.
From Families Who Gave Birth Here
Five-star Google reviews, quoted exactly as the families wrote them.
“A few months ago I gave birth to my baby girl at The Birthing Inn with Midwife Brandy. It was a phenomenal experience and I am forever grateful for her care. I switched to TBI from a larger practice because I wanted a more personal experience where i could talk and learn from my midwife, not get 5 minutes with a provider and then not know who would attend my birth.”
“My labor ended up being very long, but Brandy stayed by my side through it all and supported me every step of the way. The birth room experience they provide is truly special and made such a big impact on my first birth.”
“I had both my babies here. Best decision I made. Honored to have Susan - feel safe with her knowledge and expertise. Positive relationship. Kid friendly office. The care I wish every mom would have!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to give birth at a freestanding birth center?
For healthy, low-risk pregnancies, research has found no significant difference in outcomes between planned births at freestanding midwifery units and planned births in hospital, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees. Every birth here is attended by a midwife and a birth assistant.
Can my partner be with me?
Yes. One or two support people can be with you in the suite throughout labor and birth, and others can wait in the main room, which has a kitchen.
What pain relief is available?
The Birthing Inn specializes in natural birth, with nitrous oxide, the water-birth tub, birth balls, a birthing stool and freedom to move. Epidurals are not offered, because they need a hospital setting to be monitored safely.
How long will I stay after the birth?
Most families go home four to six hours after a normal birth, depending on how you and your baby are doing.
Can I switch my care late in pregnancy?
Late transfers are welcome at the discretion of each midwife. Call as soon as you can and send your medical records, since the sooner they arrive the easier it is to plan your care.
What should I bring for labor?
Bring comfortable clothing, slippers, toiletries and anything personal you want with you. Leave the nice pillows and blankets at home, because they will not stay clean.
Come and See the Suites for Yourself
Book a tour with the form at the top of this page, or call the front desk and they will find a time that works for you.