Ditch the Hospital, Bring on the Birthing Center | Why More Wichita moms are Choosing a Midwife-Assisted Birth Center
Searching for an alternative to a standard hospital birth? Curious about your options or trying to find the right midwife?
When I was pregnant with my second baby, I knew I wanted a low-intervention birth—but the idea of advocating for myself in the hospital felt overwhelming. I remember thinking,
“I don’t want to give birth in the hospital, but I also don’t want to do it at home. I wish there was an in-between…”
That’s when I found Born Midwifery.
In this exclusive interview, I sat down with Wichita midwife Meridian Faul, owner of Born Midwifery, to learn more about this incredible in-between option.
How long have you been a midwife and what moved you to pursue midwifery?
“I’ve been a midwife for 12 years. I actually started training as a midwife when I was 20 - so I was licensed by the time I was 23. That’s sounds crazy!
I think I was just fascinated with women and healthcare and babies.Once I started, I quickly learned that it’s actually not about babies. Right after I became a midwife I had my first daughter and realized how transformational birth is for women. My heart is really here for women - to provide support, protection, and empowerment during the prenatal, birth, and postpartum period.
Because what happens to you in birth stays with you forever. So what I do to help women feel in control, to have the power through it is really important.”
What tips would you have for someone considering out of hospital birth when they're choosing a provider?
“The main thing for me is women should always have choices. So I actually love that Wichita has many choices.When you’re hiring your midwife, you should feel connected to them, listened to, and confident that they will provide you good care.
Emotionally connecting to them and really feeling that you vibe with them is really important, and so is knowing that they will give you quality care and not stretch safety boundaries so you can have a safe out of hospital birth.”
What are the most common misconceptions about home birth?
I think social media messed up how we view home birth a lot.
I’ve found that a lot of first time mom’s or women choosing out of hospital for the first time come in with these beautiful, joyful, ecstatic faces of women holding their babies skin to skin right after delivery in mind.
They really want the experience of feeling empowered and full of joy with their baby skin to skin in their own home.
But what we don’t see as often is the battle that led up to that moment. So I hope more women realize that you CAN do it, and it is the most empowering experience of your life, but I want them to also understand that it’s a battle to get there. It wont be a walk in the park, so i want them to know how to prepare for the fight.
We see a lot of videos of super calm, quiet women laboring but most births are loud and primal. And that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
I always tell people, were not doing out of hospital at any cost. Ultimately the goal is to make sure you feel safe, protected, and supported wherever you birth.
Through your years of midwifery, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned about birth?
“That I am not a necessary part of these birth stories. I’m not in control, and it’s not my story. Im a lifeguard on the outer edges, but the work is the mothers.
The baby also has a story to tell and I feel really called to acknowledge the baby’s autonomy in the whole birth process as well.
So I tend to be really hands off with women because its not my journey or my battle, its my job to make sure it goes safely while allowing the process that the mother and her baby need to go through. I feel really called to just protect that journey.I learn in every birth, even almost 13 years in, that this is not about me. I leave everything at the door when I walk in, I’m here to make sure they get the birth that is safe and empowered, but the story is not mine and I’m not in control.
I hold space for mothers, and protect mothers, but im ultimately teaching them to be in control of what is happening.”
What do you think is the most important piece of how you support families differently than how they are supported in the medical system?
“In the hospital, generally women are walking in and being told what to do and they arent treated as individuals. My goal is to take every person as a separate story and treat everyone as a unique beautiful person.
And that carries into the birth, where we put consent and autonomy back into ther hands - I never want a mother to feel that things are being done TO her. I want her to feel in control of everything that’s happening.”
What’s the best way for women to connect with you and see what you offer?
I’m super active on instagram, so thats the best place to see the vibe of what we do and our staff.
I also offer preconception counseling. I love getting to connect with women before they conceive and creating a good foundation nutritionally and relationally. I love to connect with women before they are even pregnant - research shows that eggs are created based on the nutrition 6 months prior to conception!We also offer free consultations once a women is pregnant to come meet the midwives, ask questions, and see our birth center.
I hope this conversation with Meridian gave you a deeper look into what midwifery care can offer—especially for those of us who’ve dreamed of something between a hospital birth and home birth.
Whether you're just beginning to explore your options or already leaning toward an out-of-hospital birth, know that you can have a safe, empowering, and supported experience. Trust your gut, ask the hard questions, and remember: birth isn’t just about the baby—it’s about you, too. And with the right midwife by your side, that story can be one of strength, joy, and ownership.
