Every woman deserves a choice around where she gives birth. This was the philosophy of the Launceston Birth Centre when it was formed more than 35 years ago.
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In that time the consumer-run service has helped welcome hundreds, if not thousands of Northern Tasmanian babies into the world.
But after years of struggling to secure a permanent endorsed midwife, its future was in doubt.
In February this year, the committee put out a desperate call for help - without assistance, it would close its doors indefinitely.
Fortunately, that call was answered by midwife Emma Ryder who has now been at the centre for about a month.
Last week, Ms Ryder helped new parents Bridie Larby and TJ Wooward with the birth of their daughter.
While the event signified a new chapter for the North East couple, it also signified a new beginning for the birth centre.
As committee member Anna Hollaway explained, the choice of care offered by the birth centre was too important to see it end.
"It took us three years to reach that decision, that we would have to close," she said.
"Just financially we had no clients, so there was no way to keep the building going.
"We didn't want to do it, and when we did put the call out there we thought this can't be happening.
"Fortunately through the coverage, Emma heard about us.
"She is very passionate about women's rights to have their babies the way they want to. It's a vital choice.
"Only a percentage of people are going to want that. But still, they should have the option. Once we knew Emma was coming for sure, we were open to the mums who needed us. Now they are coming out of our ears."
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Births in Australia Report, about 97 per cent of the 309,000 births in 2015 took place in a hospital. Of these, 73 per cent took place in a public hospital and 27 per cent took place in a private hospital.
Comparatively, the number of women who gave birth in birth centres was significantly lower at 1.8 per cent or 5491. Another 910 women or 0.3 per cent chose to give birth at home.
While only a small number of women choose to give birth outside of a hospital setting, Ms Ryder said the closure of birth centres across Australia meant that choice was becoming increasingly difficult. She said the pressures on midwives was also taking its toll.
"When I heard the birth centre was going to close I thought it was tragic," she said.
"I thought what a shame for the women of Launceston, that they don't have a choice for a different kind of birth service.
"I come from a busy Melbourne practice of home births and hospital support.
"I thought I would put that on hold for a moment and come over here and just really try to get Launceston midwives interested in keeping this facility alive."
"The women are coming, the women want it, but we need the midwives to want to keep this sort of facility up and running."
Located at the top of Frankland Rise, the birth centre is just a "stonesthow" away from the Launceston General Hospital.
However despite the close proximity, its services are completely independent. It is also not free.
It costs $350 to hire the centre for the time of birth, with a private fee also required to cover the services of the midwife.
Women who choose to use its services are provided with prenatal, birth and postnatal care.
After receiving a GP referral for midwifery care, mothers will also be entitled to Medicare rebates for all prenatal and postnatal visits.
As Ms Ryder explained, ensuring continuity of care was something the birth centre prioritised. That, and safety.
"In this environment you form close relationships with the women, over many months," she said.
"Then when they go into labour, you're there as well. It's a full-time job because you and your second midwife share being on call for the women 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the time they book in, to seven weeks postpartum.
"It's also about working collaboratively with the hospital. If things become complicated, then you need to have medical back-up. It's as simple as that.
"As long as everything is running smoothly and it's low risk - wonderful.
"But as soon as it's not, then we need to have good working relationships with the medical fraternity. And they've been fantastic over there [LGH]."
Along with securing Ms Ryder as a permanent endorsed midwife, in April the birth centre was also received a $50,000 federal funding grant for capital works.
The funding allowed the committee to complete some overdue renovations to the centre, which from both the outside and the inside, could be mistaken for a stylish family home.
For first-time mum Ms Larby, having access to the birth centre was one of the main reasons she decided to move back to Tasmania after finding out she was pregnant.
Describing her experience as "empowering", she said it was the perfect environment for her and partner TJ to welcome their baby.
"I believe what's natural should come first, and the medical second," she said.
"A hospital setting was not where I wanted to give birth.
"But living an hour-and-half outside of Launceston, a home birth wasn't really an option for me.
"The birth centre was the perfect in between and my experience was just incredible.
"I am passionate about birth without fear and there is a lot of fear and control tied up with birth - you need to do this, you need to that. This was my choice and I know I made the right one.
"I was able to give birth in water, with the sun on my face and my partner by my side.
"The care I received was above and beyond."
- For more information on the Launceston Birth Centre, visit birthcentre.org.au/.