THE BIRTHING INN

What THE BIRTHING INN does

The Birthing Inn is a privately-held, freestanding birth center located at 6002 Westgate Blvd Suite 120 in Tacoma, Washington, operating since 1999 under Washington State Department of Health licensure and CABC national accreditation (held since 2016). It runs three private birthing suites — Trust, Believe, and Inspire — each equipped with a water birth tub and private bathroom, supported by licensed midwives (LMs, CPMs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), nitrous oxide pain relief, and hospital transfer agreements with St. Joseph's Medical Center and Tacoma General Hospital for escalation cases. Since opening, the facility has welcomed nearly 3,000 babies and is positioned as Tacoma's only freestanding birth center, serving families across the South Puget Sound region including Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Federal Way, University Place, Puyallup, Auburn, Lacey, Olympia, Bonney Lake, and JBLM.

The business monetizes through three core streams: (1) a one-time facility fee of $3,000 plus a $475 non-refundable reservation fee due at 36 weeks; (2) separate midwifery professional fees of $5,500 cash-pay (reduced to $4,500 if paid in full before 37 weeks) billed by independent midwife practices that hold birthing privileges; and (3) ancillary paid services including five childbirth education classes ($95–$325 per couple) and on-site IBCLC lactation support via River Lactation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer (families book tours and register) and channel-driven: six independent midwifery practices (TBI Midwives PLLC, Laoch, All About Birth, Gig Harbor, Something Beautiful, Mystic Mountain, and Magnolias Midwifery) hold birthing privileges and refer clients; Tricare certification extends access to military families at JBLM; and Medicaid/Apple Health is accepted through carriers supportive of out-of-hospital birth. Headcount is 8 employees, no app or platform exists, and there are no funding rounds, M&A activity, or external investors disclosed.

Name

THE BIRTHING INN

Legal name

The Birthing Inn

Website

https://thebirthinginn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Birthing Inn is a CABC-accredited, freestanding birth center in Tacoma, WA, founded in 1999, operating three private birthing suites with water birth capability and serving South Puget Sound families through direct services and six independent midwifery practice partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternity and Birth Center Services

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Midwifery & Birth Centers (HLAFAJAC)

Keywords

• Freestanding birth center
• Midwifery services
• Water birth
• Natural childbirth
• Childbirth education

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Facility Fees: Birth center facility fees covering use of physical space, amenities, equipment, and staff administration. Facility fee is $3,000 plus $475 reservation fee. Covered by many insurance plans.
2. Midwifery Services: Professional services provided by licensed midwives and certified nurse-midwives for prenatal care, labor management, and postpartum care. Midwife fees are billed separately from facility fees. Cash-pay cost is $5,500 for midwifery services, reduced to $4,500 if paid in full before 37 weeks.
3. Childbirth Education Classes: In-person childbirth classes including out-of-hospital birth preparation ($325/couple), in-hospital birth preparation, Body Ready Birth Workshop ($195/couple), postpartum and newborn care ($225-275/couple), and lactation classes ($95/couple)
4. Lactation Support Services: IBCLC lactation consultant services offered through River Lactation for breastfeeding support and education

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Birthing Inn is a freestanding birth center in Tacoma, WA operating three private birthing suites (Trust, Believe, Inspire) — each with a large water birth tub and private bathroom — for natural, low-intervention labor and delivery. The center delivers core birth center facility services plus separately billed midwifery care provided by licensed midwives and certified nurse-midwives, supplemented by IBCLC lactation support, nitrous oxide pain relief, and a menu of paid childbirth education workshops.

Product overview

The Birthing Inn is a freestanding birth center offering a unified suite of maternal healthcare services centered around natural, low-intervention birth in a home-like environment. The core offering is Birth Center Services, featuring three private birthing suites (Trust, Believe, Inspire) equipped with water birth tubs. Complementary services include Midwifery Care provided by licensed and certified nurse-midwives, Lactation Support via on-site IBCLC consultants, and Childbirth Classes including Out-of-Hospital Birth Preparation, Hospital Birth Preparation, Body Ready Birth, Postpartum/Newborn Care, and Lactation workshops. Additional support services encompass Facility Tours, Doula Social events, New Parents Resource Hour, First Friday Postpartum Social, and Baby Lounges. Insurance and payment plan administration is available through dedicated billing support. Pricing consists of facility fees ($3,000 plus $475 reservation) separate from midwife fees ($4,500-$5,500).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Birth Center Services Freestanding birth center providing natural, low-intervention labor and delivery services for low-risk pregnancies in a home-like setting with three private birthing suites (Trust, Believe, Inspire). Service includes facility fee of $3,000 plus $475 non-refundable reservation fee at 36 weeks; most insurance plans accepted.
• Midwifery Care Prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum care provided by licensed midwives (LMs, CPMs) and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) with privileges at the birth center. Cash-pay $5,500, reduced to $4,500 if paid in full before 37 weeks; billed separately from facility fee.
• Lactation Support (IBCLC) International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) services provided on-site by Zoe Ruaboro at River Lactation, offering one-on-one breastfeeding and chestfeeding support, feeding guidance, and education for new parents.
• Out-of-Hospital Birth Preparation Workshop 5-hour comprehensive workshop for couples planning out-of-hospital birth, covering physiological labor, comfort techniques, partner preparation, and informed decision-making. Priced at $325 per couple.
• In-Hospital Birth Preparation Workshop 5-hour interactive workshop preparing couples for hospital labor and birth, including procedures, interventions, advocacy, and birth preferences.
• Body Ready Birth Workshop One-day, 4-hour in-person class focused on body mechanics and positioning during labor, with online video access and hands-on partner techniques. Priced at $195 per couple.
• Postpartum and Newborn Care Fundamentals Workshop covering postpartum recovery, breastfeeding techniques, newborn care basics, safety practices, and family dynamics. Available as Option 1: 1-day (5 hrs) for $225 per couple, or Option 2: 2 evenings (2.5 hrs each) for $275 per couple.
• Lactation and Baby Feeding Class Comprehensive breastfeeding education class covering anatomy, latch techniques, pumping, bottle feeding, and milk storage guidelines. Priced at $95 per couple.
• Insurance and Payment Plan Administration Billing support service that verifies insurance benefits, provides benefit estimates, and administers payment plans covering Tricare, Medicaid/Apple Health (Molina, Amerigroup), Christian Healthcare Ministries, and most private insurance plans for facility and midwifery fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3,000 babies welcomed since 1999
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Something Beautiful MidwiferycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent midwifery practice with privileges at The Birthing Inn. Provider is Mercedes Snyder. Clinic located at 128th 14th St SE Auburn, WA 98002, next to Bigfoot Java.
• TBI Midwives PLLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-house midwifery group providing prenatal care, labor support, and birth services at The Birthing Inn. Three midwives (Brandy Stuart, Ciara Richardson, Kay Jackson) practice at the facility with clinic appointments held within the birth center.
• Laoch MidwiferycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent midwifery practice with privileges at The Birthing Inn. Providers include Neva Gerke (LM, CPM, MSM) and Rache Mulligan. Clinic located at 400 E Pioneer Ave, Suite 100, Puyallup, WA.
• All About Birth MidwiferycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent midwifery practice with privileges at The Birthing Inn. Providers include Susan Lawler (LM, CPM) and Kate Wild. Clinic located upstairs from The Birthing Inn.
• Gig Harbor MidwiferycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent midwifery practice with privileges at The Birthing Inn. Providers include Niki Coraggio, Hannah Young, and Talia Ross. Clinic located near Costco in Gig Harbor at 11505 Burnham Drive Suite 104.
• Mystic Mountain MidwiferyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent midwifery practice with privileges at The Birthing Inn. Provider is Alexandra Senechal.
• Magnolias Midwifery LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent midwifery practice with privileges at The Birthing Inn. Provider is Aundrea Carmichael. Located at 5302 104th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446.
• St. Joseph's Medical Center and Tacoma General HospitalcoreOthersHospital transfer agreements in place for situations requiring hospital-level care during labor. Located nearby for quick transfer if complications arise. Both facilities just down the road from The Birthing Inn.
• TricarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Birthing Inn is Tricare-certified as an accepted birth facility. Military families can use Tricare Standard/Select to cover facility fees. Kay Jackson CNM ARNP is the in-network Tricare provider at the facility.
• River LactationcoreOthersIBCLC lactation consultant Zoe Ruaboro operates on-site at The Birthing Inn, providing holistic breastfeeding support and education services. Also available virtually.
• DoulaMatch and CalledtoBirth.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended doula referral services for families seeking birth doula support. The Birthing Inn recommends these platforms to connect with certified doulas in the South Sound area.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Midwife Center: Pittsburgh-based freestanding birth center offering midwifery-led, out-of-hospital birth in a home-like facility. Closest analog to The Birthing Inn in service model, accreditation posture, and reliance on independent midwife partnerships.
• Mountain Midwifery Center: Denver-area freestanding birth center providing natural childbirth with water birth options, midwife-led care, and childbirth education. Comparable to The Birthing Inn in service mix, facility-based model, and multi-suite birth center operations.
• Atlanta Birth Center: Atlanta-area freestanding birth center providing natural birth, water birth, and midwifery care in a home-like facility. Comparable freestanding birth center business model, customer segment, and reliance on independent midwife partnerships.
• San Diego County Midwives / San Diego Birth Center: San Diego-based freestanding birth center offering midwife-attended birth, water birth, and childbirth education. Comparable service model and target customer (low-risk pregnancies seeking natural birth alternatives).

Regional players

• Puget Sound Birth Center: Washington State-based freestanding birth center network serving the Puget Sound region. Direct regional peer to The Birthing Inn with overlapping geographic catchment and similar midwifery-led, out-of-hospital birth offering.

Emerging players

• Oula Health: Maternity care provider combining midwife-led birth centers with obstetric backup. Adjacent emerging model that mixes in-center birth with clinical integration, signaling how the freestanding birth center category could evolve.

Broad incumbents

• Maven Clinic: Digital-first women's and family health platform with a maternity program that overlaps with The Birthing Inn's prenatal, postpartum, and lactation support offerings, though delivered virtually rather than facility-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE BIRTHING INN