Largo birthing center helps couples prepare for life-changing experience

The Breath of Life Women's Health Services and Birth Center, on East Bay Drive in Largo, celebrated its first anniversary this month. It has had 22 births. The center partners with childbirth educator June Connell, of Happy Birthway to provide bimonthly informational sessions on the natural birth experience. The classes are based upon the birth philosophies and experiences of Dr. Robert Bradley. Participants get an overview of pregnancy and labor, have an understanding of birthing options, the roles of partners in the experience, as well and nutritional options for the mother and baby. The next set of classes will be Sept. 6 and 8 and Nov. 1 and 3. The all-female staff at the center provides gynecological care Monday through Friday. "We are the only certified nurse-midwife OB/GYN practice and birth center in Tampa Bay and one of only two in the state,'' said administrator Glenda Pearson The facility has a nurse-midwife on call 24 hours. The center has three private birthing suites, each with a private birth tub for labor or for water birth.