Labor & Delivery
Labor & Delivery Care at UVM Health
We want your birth experience to be everything you hope for. Throughout your pregnancy, our team of board-certified obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, certified nurse midwives and nurses partner with you to understand your preferences and develop a birth plan.
Our providers recommend vaginal birth whenever possible, because it is safest for you and your baby. If you need a cesarean section (C-section), we have extensive surgical expertise. We also support vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) when appropriate.
Why Choose UVM Health?
As a leading obstetric program in the region, we provide:
- Personalized birth experience: Across our health system you’ll find private birthing rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology and one-on-one nursing care during labor and delivery. Doula support is also available at some locations.
- Advanced care when needed: If health issues occur during pregnancy, you have access to highly trained specialists, including maternal-fetal medicine physicians, and the latest technology in our maternal care center and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
- Inclusive care: Our team recognizes the importance of individual choices during pregnancy and childbirth. We welcome patients of all races, ethnicities, abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.
We're just so grateful for the care that she had, the incredible – and it really was a whole village at the hospital – care that she received.
What to Expect
At our birth centers, you’ll find private, comfortable rooms that have sleeping space for your partner or a family member. Standard offerings during labor and delivery include:
- Birthing balls
- Birthing stools
- Collaboration with doulas
- Hydrotherapy (either a tub or shower)
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact after delivery
- Movement during labor
- Natural and medical pain management
- Waterbirth at some locations
Services We Provide
Our certified nurse midwives provide comprehensive pregnancy and gynecologic services for low-risk pregnancies and partner with physician colleagues to care for high-risk pregnancies. These highly trained professionals offer a holistic approach to care that supports the use of natural treatments whenever possible.
In addition to your medical providers, you may want to include a doula as part of your childbirth team. A doula is a labor support professional who has special training to assist you during labor and delivery. They also provide a range of services to help you and your family during and after pregnancy. Studies show that doula support helps patients have healthier and more satisfying birth experiences.
Whether you have a scheduled or unscheduled cesarean section, we provide expert care and help create a positive birth experience for you and your family.
Most VBAC deliveries can take place at any UVM Health hospital. Certain situations, such as a VBAC after two C-sections, may require higher-level care at University of Vermont Medical Center birthing center.
If you have a complex pregnancy, your obstetric provider may refer you to our maternal-fetal medicine specialists, who have extensive experience in helping patients navigate both common and rare complications, such as preeclampsia, congenital abnormalities, infections or preterm birth.
If the unexpected happens, advanced care is available. The maternal care center and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at UVM Medical Center provide emergency transport from our hospitals to UVM Medical Center. Video communication between specialists, network hospitals and ambulances allows specialists to guide care for you and your baby before you reach the NICU.
We schedule a postpartum checkup four to six weeks after delivery. During this visit, we make sure you are healing and discuss postpartum services available to you.
Awards & Certifications
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes awarded UVM Children's Hospital an ‘A’ grade for perinatal services in their 2024 Report Card – making Vermont the only state to achieve an ‘A’ ranking in 2024 and setting a new benchmark for maternal and infant health across the United States.
Level 4 Maternal Care Center
University of Vermont Medical Center provides level 4 maternity care (the highest level) and serves as the regional referral center for hospitals across the region. Our maternal-fetal medicine team provides onsite medical and surgical care for patients with the most complex maternal conditions.
Level 3 NICU
A level 3 NICU designation means we have the personnel, equipment and organization to manage newborns with complex conditions and provide critical neonatal care. UVM Medical Center has the only NICU in Vermont and northern New York.
Newsweek: America's Best Maternity Hospitals
Newsweek has included UVM Health's anchor academic medical center and Level 1 Trauma Center that serves the region on its ranking of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals after assessing the quality of perinatal care, operative obstetrics, patient education and counseling, accommodation and service, and nurse and midwife staffing.
Locations near you
353 Blair Park Road
Williston, VT 05495-7530
111 Colchester Avenue
McClure, Level 7
Burlington, VT 05401
115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753
130 Fisher Road
2nd Floor
Berlin, VT 05602
883 Blakely Road
Colchester, VT 05446-4417
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, Main Pavilion, Level 4
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, East Pavilion, Level 4
Burlington, VT 05401
75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
