Women’s Health CT acquires 1st state-licensed birth center

Hartford Business Journal – Monday, June 2, 2025
By David Krechevsky

Women’s Health Connecticut (WHC), a statewide network of women’s healthcare providers, has acquired the state’s first licensed, free-standing birth center, the organization announced Monday.

The Connecticut Childbirth and Women’s Center, at 94 Locust Ave. in Danbury, has been open since 1997. WHC said it is leasing the space at the center and will continue to operate it under the same name.

During its 28 years, the center saw an average of 150 births a year, WHC said. The center also is home to Danbury Midwifery Group, which provides well-women, pre- and post-natal care in a homelike environment, it said.

“We took the opportunity provided to us by the new streamlined regulations from the state of Connecticut and obtained a birthing center license to continue the operations” of the birth center, said Paula Greenberg, WHC president and CEO. “We will continue its well-respected legacy and look forward to offering a birthing center experience to our patients.”

The state enacted Public Act 23-147 in 2023, which created a new license category for freestanding birth centers administered by the state Department of Public Health (DPH). As of Jan. 1, 2024, the act prohibits anyone from establishing or operating a birth center unless it gets a license.

Before the law was passed, Connecticut Childbirth and Women’s Center was the only accredited licensed birthing center in the state.

WHC noted that the trend toward home births has increased in Connecticut, reflecting a growing preference for alternative birthing options. There were 271 home births in 2020, up 25% from 217 in 2019, WHC said. Nationwide, home births rose by 12%.

The act approved in 2023 is intended to provide more high-quality maternal health options for low-risk pregnancies with more personalized delivery options.

Cathy Parisi, midwife director of the center, said WHC’s support “for the midwives and the birth center will help increase the number of patients we see and allow us to be at the forefront of licensed, free-standing birth centers in the state.”

Parisi added that the midwives also have privileges at Danbury Hospital, located across the street, and can attend births there as the primary provider to assure a seamless transition of care, if needed. Certified nurse midwives also offer continuity of care with full scope ObGyn care, including postpartum care, family planning, contraception and annual well-woman and gynecological care.

Founded in 1997, Rocky Hill-based Women’s Health Connecticut has 90 locations across the state with more than 300 healthcare providers, including 200 board-certified or board-eligible physicians. It serves more than 330,000 patients.

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