As Desireè Parker prepared to welcome her fourth child, she had a clear vision for the kind of birth experience she wanted: calm, natural and unrushed. And, after a previous cesarean section, she hoped for a vaginal birth.

“My first two births were vaginal, and then I had a C-section,” Desireè says. “This time, I really wanted to try for a VBAC again.”

VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, can be a safe option for many women, depending on their medical history and pregnancy. For Desireè, finding a care team that supported her goals was essential.

Her longtime midwife had recently retired, prompting Desireè to look for a new provider. Around the same time, a high-risk physician she had worked with previously moved to Nebraska Medicine. Encouraged by recommendations from both providers, Desireè decided to transition her care to the Nebraska Medicine nurse-midwives.

“They answered all of my questions and talked through everything with me,” Desireè says. “I felt very supported and reassured throughout my pregnancy.”

While Desireè already planned to pursue an unmedicated VBAC, she didn’t initially know about Nebraska Medicine’s Holistic Birth Place. That changed when she came across a video online and brought it up at a prenatal visit.

“When I learned about it, I thought, ‘This is exactly what I’m looking for,’” she says.

The Holistic Birth Place offers a home-like environment designed for low-risk pregnancies and natural birth experiences, including VBAC and water birth. Located within the Nebraska Medicine Labor and Delivery unit, the space allows patients to follow their birth plan while remaining close to maternity services if care needs change.

“For me, it felt like the best of both worlds,” Desireè says. “I wanted something that felt as close to home as possible, but I also wanted to be in a hospital setting.”

When Desireè arrived in labor, she immediately noticed the difference in atmosphere.

“It was really low-key and peaceful,” she says. “The lighting was dim, the hall was quiet, and there wasn’t a lot of traffic in and out of the room.”

She chose to work with a doula for the first time and says the additional support made a meaningful difference. She also spent part of her labor in the birthing tub and was free to move and change positions as needed.

One detail that stood out was the bed.

“It was a big, comfortable bed that felt like something you’d have at home, not a hospital bed,” Desireè says. “That alone helped me relax.”

She describes the space as feeling more like a quiet, high-end hotel room than a traditional hospital environment, with thoughtful décor and low stimulation that supported focus and calm.

When it came time to deliver her baby, Desireè says the experience felt unrushed and respectful.

“The midwife really just sat back and told me, ‘Your baby will be born when you’re ready,’” she says. “There was no pressure.”

Desireè’s birth plan included delayed cord clamping, which her care team supported without hesitation. Throughout labor and delivery, she says the overall tone remained calm and steady.

“It was so peaceful that I actually forgot I was having a VBAC,” she says with a laugh. “At one point, the midwife reminded me. It didn’t feel tense or high-risk — it just felt normal.”

Her labor progressed quickly, and Desireè’s daughter, Zola, was born just two hours after she arrived at the hospital.

Following delivery, Desireè experienced a postpartum hemorrhage — a complication that can occur after any birth.

“Knowing everything was right there made me feel very settled,” she says. “If something more serious had been needed, we were already where we needed to be.”

She stayed overnight for monitoring and recovered well, grateful for the reassurance that came from being so close to the Nebraska Medicine maternity services.

“That peace of mind mattered a lot to me,” she says. “It helped me feel safe the entire time.”

Looking back, Desireè describes her experience as empowering.

“This was my fourth birth, and it was by far the smoothest and most peaceful,” she says. “None of my other labors were like this.”

She recalls moments after delivery when staff commented on how calm she appeared, even late into labor.

“They were surprised at how relaxed I was,” she says. “And I really believe that was because of the environment and the care team. Everything worked together.”

“Birth works best when it is unhindered, simple and trusted,” says certified nurse midwife Kathleen Scott, DNP, APRN-CNM. “A beautiful, empowering birth can happen in a hospital setting, too. Whether someone chooses to give birth at the Holistic Birthplace or in Labor and Delivery, I love that the patient and providers foster an atmosphere of respect and encouragement.”

For parents considering a VBAC or exploring birth options at the Holistic Birth Place, Desireè encourages open conversations and finding a team that listens.

“Feeling supported makes all the difference,” she says. “The space, the midwives, the whole experience — it was exactly what I hoped for.”