Midwife Lindsay Lachant advocates for birth center licensing in Vermont to expand care options

The Vermont House Healthcare meeting on March 27, 2025, focused on the pressing need for birth centers in the state, highlighting the potential benefits of legislation S18 aimed at increasing access to midwifery care.

During the meeting, discussions centered on the current lack of birth centers in Vermont, which is one of only eight states without such facilities. Certified nurse midwife Lindsay Lachant presented compelling arguments for the establishment of freestanding birth centers, citing her extensive experience in various birth settings. She emphasized that birth centers offer a high-quality, evidence-based alternative to traditional hospital births, allowing for more personalized care and better postpartum support.

Lachant's market research indicated overwhelming community support for birth centers, with 94% of Vermonters expressing interest in having a freestanding birth center in their area. She described the benefits of the birth center model, including improved maternal and infant health outcomes, increased breastfeeding rates, and enhanced postpartum care. The model promotes a low-tech, high-touch approach that fosters intimate relationships between midwives and families, which is often lacking in hospital settings.

The discussion also touched on the financial viability of birth centers, with some skepticism about their profitability compared to ambulatory surgical centers. However, proponents argued that the focus should be on the quality of care and the choices available to families rather than solely on financial outcomes.

The meeting concluded with a call to action for lawmakers to support S18, which aims to expand access to reproductive healthcare for Vermonters. Advocates believe that establishing birth centers could significantly reform the state's maternity care system, providing families with more options and improving overall health outcomes.