Antenatal care, birth services and postpartum home visits
We have two bright and beautiful birth suites, designed to feel calm, private and home-like. Each suite has a private bathroom, a birth pool, floor mats, a yoga ball and a bed, giving you space to move freely, change positions and find what feels right during labour and birth.
We offer a range of comfort measures and pain relief options, including hot and cold therapy, massage, relaxation techniques and nitrous oxide for inhalation.
From the birth suites, you can step directly into our large garden for fresh air, movement and quiet moments during labour. Click here to see a video of one of our birth rooms.
Families who are interested in giving birth at Reykjavík Birth Center are encouraged to attend one of our open house sessions. At the open house, you can see the facilities, meet our midwives and learn more about birth center care.
For further questions, you are welcome to contact us by email. In special circumstances, we may arrange an individual consultation with a midwife. Send us an email here if you have questions!
I am interested in giving birth at the Birth Center - what is the next step?
We invite you to attend our open houses, which we host regularly. At the open house, you will meet the midwives and visit the birth rooms and our facilities. The midwives will host a short presentation and then you can ask all your questions.
If you would then like to give birth at the birth center, you can send us an email to confirm your spot - and then book your 34 week antenatal care appointment on the website.
To register for the open house, click the “schedule an appointment” button at the top of this page.
We also offer private consultations if you would rather meet the midwife one on one instead of attending the open house. If you think this is better for you, you can also book an interview with the midwife on the scheduling button. If you are unsure, just send us an email and we will help you decide!
Birth at the Reykjavík Birth Center is suitable for you if:
you want to get personalized service from midwives who know you and your preferences
you are healthy and with your BMI under 35
pregnancy has been risk free
delivery begins when the gestation period is between 37-42 weeks
you are expecting one child in the head-first presentation
Women who would like to give birth at the Reykjavík Birth Center are also offered to receive antenatal care at the Birth center. Antenatal care visits begin at 34 weeks' gestation.
We offer antenatal care in the last trimester (usually from about 34 weeks), birth services and postpartum home care for the first 10 days after birth. This provides continuity in services where expectant parents get to know their midwives, form a trusting relationship and midwives provide individual and personalized services that are suitable for each family.
We provide you with plenty of time during antenatal care and you can expect each appointment to last about 40 minutes. During antenatal care we discuss how you are feeling mentally and physically, provide education and talk about your birth plan and wishes. We also measure your blood pressure, check for protein in urine, listen to the baby’s heartrate and measure the size of your uterus. From pregnancy week 36, we also assess the position of your baby.
Big ideas, real impact.
Reykjavík Birth Center is one of the few midwife-led birth centers in Iceland and contributes to the development of birth place options within the Icelandic maternity care system. Alongside clinical care, the center is involved in education, quality improvement and research on birth experiences, autonomy, respectful care and midwifery-led models of care.