BB Gårda
In the beginning of September when I started the studies for my Master’s I had to go to one in person meeting at the university of Gothenburg. Since I was going to Gothenburg I reached out to Barnmorsketeamet through Instagram to see if I could visit their newly opened birth center.
The building where BB Gårda is located.
BB Gårda is currently Sweden’s only birth center. In Sweden the choices to where you gave birth are quite limited. Almost all births occur in hospital because that is, in most places, the only government funded option. The a very few give birth at home with the support of midwives that the birthing couple will have to pay themselves. Barnmosketeamet in Gothenburg have been supporting home births for a long time. Now they have opened the only birth center in Sweden. The difference between a birth center and a hospital is first and foremost that the birth center is run by midwives. Midwives are responsible for supporting healthy births wherever they occur, hospital, home, birth center. At a birth center, or midwifery lead unit as they are called as well, there are no doctors, no medical pain relief, no bright lights and beeping machines.
A lot of countries have birth centers, in the UK, USA, Noway, Germany, etc. This is not a new concept or something unique. On the contrary, Sweden is very behind when it comes to offering different options in car according to the health and the wants of the person giving birth.
One of the birth rooms.
BB Gårda is seperate from the hospital, but if there is a need for more medical care it is close enough to be in the hospital within minutes. It is privately owned and the families that choose to give birth there will have to pay for this with their own money.
When I visited I got a tour of the place. The energy there is so calm. The space is well planned and so cozy. It feels nothing like a hospital, more like a spa or somewhere where you go to get a massage or some kind of beauty treatment. There are spaces for massage, prenatal education classes, space for the family to hang out, etc. If you give birth at BB Gårda you can bring whoever you want, friends, other children or family members, no pets though. So you can have a large or small support team. Older siblings can be there to welcome their sibling as they are being born, which I personally love!
One of the birth tubs.
After the tour I sat down and talked to Cita & Johanna, the founders. I have followed them on Instagram for years so it was nice to finally meet them. Such huge inspirations! What amazing drive they have to not only support home births for as many years as they have, but also to see this birth center come to fruition.
To find out more about Barnmorsketeamet and BB Gårda visit their website!
