LCPMs Join Birth Center of Chicago
Our Freestanding Birth Center Welcomes Licensed Certified Professional Midwives in Preparation for Reopening
Birth Center of Chicago has been working for the last months to find our next exceptional team of care providers to continue the tradition our clients expect from our freestanding birth center. A significant change that we are pleased to announce is the addition of Licensed Certified Professional Midwives to our care model. Community birth settings are known to offer better outcomes for mothers and babies, more positive experiences for entire families, and lower costs for care compared to hospital-based birth. These will continue to be our aims as we offer collaborative care with a team of LCPM and CNMs - the best of both worlds!
For those eagerly awaiting news on our reopening after going on Medical Divert on July 1st, we understand this time has felt unnerving. We want to reassure you that our delay is due to the ongoing challenges inherent in operating a small community care center in the current climate.
In our search for midwives, we have interviewed many applicants who share a desire to provide natural birth support as part of the birth center care team. Community birth settings are known to offer better outcomes for mothers and babies, more positive experiences for entire families, and lower costs for care compared to hospital-based birth.
Why it matters: More Options, More Support
Since our opening in 2021, we have been thankful to have a team of Certified Nurse Midwives who offer client-centered care and birth options that make sense for low-risk populations. Since that time, there have been significant changes in the state of Illinois, as birth centers have gained broader recognition and support from Governor JB Pritzker and numerous other legislators working to expand coverage for maternal healthcare through bills such as HB 3401, HB 5142, and recently HB 2688.
Behind the scenes of each of these changes is a team of passionate birth workers who have been working tirelessly to educate, advocate, and rally the communities and representatives to make these changes. These changes reflect the needs of more and more families seeking out-of-hospital birth options that are safe, professional, and welcoming of their individual needs and stories.
What is a Licensed Certified Professional Midwife (LCPM)?
As we expand our care team to include Licensed Certified Professional Midwives (LCPMs), we recognize that many families may be curious about what this credential signifies and how it contributes to the care we provide at our freestanding birth center.
A Licensed Certified Professional Midwife is a highly trained, nationally credentialed midwife who specializes in providing maternity care in out-of-hospital settings, such as homes and freestanding birth centers. At the Birth Center of Chicago, all Licensed Certified Professional Midwives on our team hold Illinois licensure as Licensed Certified Professional Midwives (LCPMs). This credential ensures that families receive care from midwives who meet both national standards, as set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), and state standards, including education through a MEAC-accredited institution.
Unlike some other midwifery credentials, the LCPM is the only national credential that requires experience in out-of-hospital births as a core part of certification. LCPMs are uniquely qualified to offer safe, evidence-based care in settings like ours.
What LCPMs bring to our birth center:
Specialized Training in normal pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care, and newborn care outside of hospital settings
Relationship-Based Approach that emphasizes informed choice, continuity of care, and trust
Hands-On Experience with hundreds of births in homes and birth centers before certification
Collaboration Skills for seamless coordination with Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), OB/GYNs, and other providers when needed
Licensed Certified Professional Midwives are experts in supporting low-risk pregnancies, encouraging natural birth options, and honoring each family’s birth preferences. At our center, LCPMs will work side by side with our Certified Nurse-Midwives to offer access to midwife-led, family-centered birth care.
Questions:
Are LCPMs aligned with state regulations and public health goals?
Yes. LCPMs are fully recognized under Illinois law and our care model is aligned with state regulations and public health goals for safe, family-centered maternity care.
What training and education do LCPMs receive?
Licensed Certified Professional Midwives (LCPMs) are certified by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and licensed in Illinois as Licensed Certified Professional Midwives (LCPMs). They complete a postsecondary midwifery education program through a MEAC-accredited school, with extensive clinical training focused on out-of-hospital birth. LCPMs bring specialized expertise in physiologic birth and family-centered out-of-hospital care.
Do LCPMs only attend out-of-hospital births?
Yes. In Illinois, LCPMs are licensed to provide care in community settings such as birth centers and homes. They do not practice in hospitals, but they work within clear transfer protocols to ensure families receive seamless care if hospital services become necessary.
Are LCPMs licensed or regulated in this state?
Yes. LCPMs are licensed by the state of Illinois , and Certified Professional Midwives earns certification and recertification by NARM (North American REgistry of Midwives.)
How will risk assessment and transfers be managed?
All midwives at BCC — both CNMs and LCPMs — use the same standardized protocols for risk assessment throughout pregnancy and birth. Transfers, when needed, are guided by transfer protocols and our established relationships with hospital systems and EMS. Families are supported every step of the way to ensure safety and continuity of care.
Are LCPMs as safe as CNMs?
Yes. Both LCPMs and CNMs are nationally credentialed, highly trained midwives with rigorous clinical experience who follow national standards and state regulations. At BCC, all midwives practice under the same safety protocols, and policies to ensure safe, high-quality care for families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Can I choose whether to be seen by a CNM or a LCPM?
Our team includes both Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Licensed Certified Professional Midwives (LCPMs). While we may not always be able to guarantee a specific provider due to having a small team, all our midwives are highly trained, compassionate, and committed to providing safe family-centered out of hospital care. Whenever possible, we will do our best to honor your preferences.
Will I have to do anything different when I schedule an appointment?
Our process for becoming a client and ongoing scheduling will remain the same. Tours can be scheduled online, and appointments can be scheduled by calling our front office at 773-232-2299 ext #3.