Philadelphia's Birth Center Gap: A New Home for Midwife Care?
As the city mourns the closure of Bryn Mawr's LifeCycle Wellness, a 47-year-old birth center that was a mainstay of midwifery care, Philadelphia is on the cusp of filling the void. The new Philadelphia Midwife Collective (PMC) birth center, set to open next year in a historic Germantown building, aims to bring much-needed holistic and personalized maternal care to women across the city.
Founded by a group of state lawmakers who deemed LifeCycle's closure "abysmal," PMC is poised to provide a welcoming space for midwives to lead childbirth. The 4,500-square foot center will specialize in midwifery care, with two birth suites, exam rooms, and office space for medical appointments. But it won't stop there – the facility also boasts community rooms for classes, events, and workshops.
Autumn Nelson, PMC's clinical director, notes that demand for midwife-led care is on the rise. "The midwifery model's goal is to look at the whole person," she explains. "It's really grounded in informed consent, shared decision making, and believing in birth as a natural physiological process." With a focus on personalized care and community building, Nelson hopes the new center will not only supplant some of the services being lost with LifeCycle but also create a "hub of care" for positive change.
The building's renovation is underway, with completion slated for spring 2027. The PMC board has raised over $1 million in donations from former clients and community members, leaving just $150,000 to go before the center can officially open its doors.
While Philadelphia's severe maternal morbidity rate has nearly doubled since 2016, with Black and low-income families disproportionately affected, lawmakers are looking for solutions. Expanding midwifery programs has been suggested as a key strategy, with PMC eager to be part of that movement.
"We want people in Philadelphia to have a similarly enjoyable, beautiful experience with their birth," says Leah DiMatteo, a PMC board member and former client who purchased the building with her husband Joel Thomas. "A birth center really is that sort of middle ground where you can have the home-like experience without certain interventions."
AsPMC looks to become a beacon for midwife-led care in Philadelphia, Nelson adds that it's just the beginning. "This is not where it should end," she says. "This is just the beginning."
As the city mourns the closure of Bryn Mawr's LifeCycle Wellness, a 47-year-old birth center that was a mainstay of midwifery care, Philadelphia is on the cusp of filling the void. The new Philadelphia Midwife Collective (PMC) birth center, set to open next year in a historic Germantown building, aims to bring much-needed holistic and personalized maternal care to women across the city.
Founded by a group of state lawmakers who deemed LifeCycle's closure "abysmal," PMC is poised to provide a welcoming space for midwives to lead childbirth. The 4,500-square foot center will specialize in midwifery care, with two birth suites, exam rooms, and office space for medical appointments. But it won't stop there – the facility also boasts community rooms for classes, events, and workshops.
Autumn Nelson, PMC's clinical director, notes that demand for midwife-led care is on the rise. "The midwifery model's goal is to look at the whole person," she explains. "It's really grounded in informed consent, shared decision making, and believing in birth as a natural physiological process." With a focus on personalized care and community building, Nelson hopes the new center will not only supplant some of the services being lost with LifeCycle but also create a "hub of care" for positive change.
The building's renovation is underway, with completion slated for spring 2027. The PMC board has raised over $1 million in donations from former clients and community members, leaving just $150,000 to go before the center can officially open its doors.
While Philadelphia's severe maternal morbidity rate has nearly doubled since 2016, with Black and low-income families disproportionately affected, lawmakers are looking for solutions. Expanding midwifery programs has been suggested as a key strategy, with PMC eager to be part of that movement.
"We want people in Philadelphia to have a similarly enjoyable, beautiful experience with their birth," says Leah DiMatteo, a PMC board member and former client who purchased the building with her husband Joel Thomas. "A birth center really is that sort of middle ground where you can have the home-like experience without certain interventions."
AsPMC looks to become a beacon for midwife-led care in Philadelphia, Nelson adds that it's just the beginning. "This is not where it should end," she says. "This is just the beginning."
. I mean, LifeCycle's closure was a huge loss for the community, but it's great to see some new blood (no pun intended) coming in with PMC. That they're focusing on holistic care that prioritizes birth as a natural process? Goals! 
And I love how Autumn Nelson is talking about looking at the whole person, not just the medical side of things - we need more of that kind of thinking, you know? 
I mean, we all know how crazy our maternity care system can get, and it's amazing that a group of lawmakers are stepping up to fill the gap left by Bryn Mawr's closure. I think it's awesome that they're focusing on midwife-led care - like, what's not to love about having a dedicated team of women who actually want to help you through your birth? 
! As a mom myself, I know how much of a difference a holistic and personalized approach to prenatal care can make for both mama and baby 
. It's so important that we're addressing the maternal morbidity rate in our city, especially with Black and low-income families being disproportionately affected 
!
Anyways, a 4k sq ft space with community rooms and workshops? That sounds like a dream come true for women looking for more personalized care. Autumn Nelson is low-key a genius with her whole "looking at the whole person" thing. I'm so down for midwife-led care - it's about time we saw some change in Philly. And $1 million raised from donations? 
That's crazy! Let's hope they can get that final stretch done and open those doors by spring 2027... Can't wait to see what other positive changes come out of this center 
I am literally so hyped about this new birth center in Philly!!! 
It's like, finally some options for women who wanna have a more holistic and natural birthing experience without all the medical interventions. The fact that midwives are gonna be leading childbirth is just, like, amazing 
. Now Philly's got its own 
and I'm so down for it! 
, but honestly, I think PMC is off to an incredible start. This isn't just about filling a gap - it's about creating a hub of care that's all about empowering women and their families. Bring it on!
and now ppl r struggling w/ maternal care 
i think its awesome that a group of lawmakers are stepping up 2 lead the way 4 midwife-led care 
it's all about empowering women 2 take control of their birthing experience & make informed choices 
and btw i love how they're not just stoppin at the birth center - they're plannin events workshops & classes 2 bring ppl together 
let's support this new center & get more women access 2 holistic care 
. Like, what's wrong with hospitals? They're equipped to handle emergencies and stuff. These midwife collectives are just a bunch of unproven methods trying to pass themselves off as medical care. And the cost! $1 million raised in donations is just insane 
. They want to create a space where women can come together, learn, and grow. And it's not just about providing medical care, but also about empowering women to take control of their own bodies and lives.
the fact that it's being led by midwives who are all about informed consent and shared decision making is just incredible 
can't wait to check out their community rooms and events once it opens up 
️. Philly's gotta have some love for its mamas and their babies, right? It's about time we fill that gap, especially with the closure of Bryn Mawr's LifeCycle Wellness. A 4,500 sq ft space sounds huge for a birth center! But I guess it's all about providing personalized care and community building – like they're trying to make up for the gaps in our healthcare system 
. Either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how this new collective shakes things up in Philly's maternity world 
This birth center gap thingy is super sad 
. Shouldn't be a pay-to-play situation? Everyone should have access to this kind of care, regardless of the cost 
. We need more options and less intervention, you know? It's all about empowering moms to take control of their own bodies 
. But this new Philadelphia Midwife Collective (PMC) is a game-changer! They're focusing on midwifery care, which means no harsh medical interventions for women who want a more natural birth experience 
. I'm all about empowering moms to take control of their own bodies and make informed decisions about their health.
. I mean, I'm glad more moms have options, but can't they just fix LifeCycle instead of jumping ship? It feels like Philly's midwife scene is just a revolving door for new places to pop up. And what's with the name, Philadelphia Midwife Collective? Sounds like they're trying too hard to be trendy 
... bring on 2027 and let's see this center become a reality 
.
. A place like this can be a game-changer for new moms and their families, providing a safe space to ask questions, share stories, and connect with others.