The Reykjavik Birth Center - then and now

Personalised, women-centered care for expecting mothers is not a new concept. However, its meaning has changed throughout the years and has taken many forms. In the middle of the past century, it was both popular and modern to give birth at a birth center on Eiríksgata in Reykjavík. To honor the memory of that birth center and the midwives and pioneers who worked there, we decided to use the same name for our birth center.

The original Reykjavík Birth Center was operated in the city from 1960 until 1992. The City of Reykjavík was involved in its operation, and in addition, the government provided funding. The original birth center began operations on August 18th, 1960, and the first babies were born a day later, on August 19th, 1960. At its peak, an average of 1,100 – 1,300 children were born each year at the birth center. The original birth center introduced new ideas with an emphasis on childbirth as a natural event that shoulæd take place in the most comfortable and homely conditions possible.

At the original birth center, fathers were allowed to  be present at the births of their children, which at the time was considered a great innovation, and the siblings of the newborns were welcome to visit the birth center as well. Courses were offered for expectant mothers, and they were taught e.g. breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. Women were also encouraged to have their babies in their arms as soon as they were born, but this went against the tradition of bathing and dressing the newborns before they were placed in their mother’s arms. The midwives of the new Reykjavík Birth Center intend to continue this courageous and caring vision.

In the mid 1970s, the city decided to cut back on the operation of the original birth center, and in the 1980s, Reykjavík city planned on selling the birth center to the state. However, the sale did not go through, and the birth center’s operations declined. In 1995, the birth center was finally closed down. From 1960 until 1995, about 22,000 children were born there. The work of the original Reykjavík Birth Center continued in another format at Landspítali Hospital called “MFS“ (“Meðganga-Fæðing-Sængurlega” or “Pregnancy-Birth-Postpartum”), and later as “Hreiðrið” (e. The Nest). Unfortunately, both of these operations have been closed down.

Women and their families reported great satisfaction with the original birth center. Even to this day, women speak fondly of the services and the care that they received. We intend to continue with this endeavor and aim to make the Reykjavík Birth Center the important place that it had been in the minds and hearts of childbearing women and new parents.

It is worth mentioning that Elínborg Jónsdóttir, former Head Midwife at the original Reykjavík Birth Center, will be one of the main advisors to the founders of the newly established center. She has extensive experience and knowledge of the operation and organization of the birth center’s services.