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History

Jennie Joseph arrived from England in 1989 and was surprised at the difference in the approach and delivery of maternity health care in the USA. Of particular concern was the poor pregnancy and infant mortality statistics, markedly different from other industrialized nations, but which appeared to be the norm for American childbearing women and families. Commonsense Childbirth became a vehicle for Jennie to spread her message that birth is a normal, healthy event and that with education, support and encouragement, all women can have a healthy outcome. CSC has focused on addressing and eliminating the barriers to healthcare and also   in providing a midwifery-based model which allows women and families to fully participate in their own experience. The JJ Way © model was developed by Jennie and has become the standard for every stage and aspect of her program.

Every year that passes The Birth Place has experienced increasingly improved outcomes to the point that for the entire year 2005   only one baby was born prematurely. We have a consistent record of healthier birth weight babies (greater than 5 ½ lbs), more full-term infants and more breast feeding mothers than similar populations receiving routine care with obstetricians.

Time Line:

  • 1998: Orlando, Fl. Commonsense Childbirth Inc. is formed by Jennie Joseph – outreach begins to encourage women of color, low-income and uninsured women to access prenatal care earlier and to be consistent with that care for a healthier baby.
  • 1999: Orlando, Fl. The CSC program relocates to the urban Parramore Neighborhood in the downtown area to increase awareness and accessibility to the prenatal services offered.
  • 2000- 2001: Orlando, Fl. CSC once again relocates to serve another largely underserved population in Pine Hills, west of Orlando. Participants of the program begin to open up to the option of a birthing center delivery and a natural birth as they begin to share the benefits of receiving their prenatal care with a midwife.
  • 2001-2003: Winter Garden, Fl. Word of mouth coupled with continued outreach begins to increase participation in the CSC program and larger premises are needed as both the prenatal clinic and the home birth practice grows. Jennie moves to her new home town of Winter Garden to better handle the growing volume.
  • 2003: Winter Garden, Fl. The Birth Place birthing center is born! CSC clients realize the advantages of having a birthing center birth but also continue to have the choice of hospital delivery. Statistics reveal that no matter the birth site, women and babies are doing better in our program. In view of that CSC introduced a 'we'll see you whether you are able to pay or have insurance' program so that more women could have the opportunity of health in pregnancy. Orange County Healthy Start Coalition partnered with The Birth Place and provided funds specifically for undocumented pregnant women who were unable to find prenatal care services.
  • Present Day: The Commonsense Childbirth program is currently serving approximately 100 women per year for prenatal and postpartum services. More women are choosing a birth center delivery or are delivering naturally in hospital than ever before. As mentioned above, our outcomes speak for themselves.