Guide to Birthing Options in Tri-Cities, WA, with C-Section & VBAC Stats
A Local Guide to Hospitals, Birth Centers, Home Birth Midwives, C-Section Rates, VBAC Success, and NICU Statistics for Expecting Families in Tri-Cities, Washington
Updated 2026
Why I Started Looking into Local Birth Statistics
As a postpartum doula in Tri-Cities, WA, I hear a lot of birth stories. I’ve heard them all: the blissful water birth stories, the redemptive VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) stories, the dramatic precipitous birth stories, and I’ve also heard my fair share of birth trauma.
The question I always ask my clients after birth is, “So, how was it?” And when I ask this, I know I will receive a wide variety of responses.
Over the years, however, I’ve started to notice a few trends. Trends I honestly don’t like. I wanted to do some digging to see if I could find stats to paint a picture of what’s going on in the Tri-Cities birth world.
Your Birth Team Works for You
Healthcare isn’t often viewed as a consumer commodity, but that’s exactly what it is. The hospital you go to and the provider you have work for you—not the other way around. And so when you are planning for one of the most important moments of your life (giving birth to your baby) it would be a smart decision to interview, compare, and intentionally HIRE your birth team.
Because let’s be honest, having a baby is expensive no matter where you give birth, so you might as well be happy with the care you’re ultimately going to be paying for.
Hospital, Birth Center, or Home? What is Right for Your Family?
In the Tri-Cities, there are three main locations where you can choose to give birth: a hospital, a free-standing birth center, and at home. According to the Benton-Franklin Health District, 96.2% of births in Benton and Franklin counties occurred in hospitals, 2% occurred in a birth center, and 1.6% occurred at home in 2024. I will outline more about your options below. (6)
Options for Hospital Birth in Tri-Cities, WA, and Surrounding Areas
Is Hospital Birth Right for You?
The hospital is a great place to give birth to your baby if you or your baby has a health condition that needs a little bit of extra monitoring and management. It is also a great option if you absolutely know you’d want pain management options during labor and delivery, such as an epidural or IV medications.
Trios Birth Center in Kennewick, WA
Trios Birth Center has OBs (obstetricians) on staff and also has CNMs (certified nurse midwives) with privileges to deliver at Trios, including Nicolette Nesbitt, Nikki Larson, and Candice Cheney (as of 2026). Labor rooms have bathtubs and/or showers to help with pain management; however, it is against hospital policy to deliver in the tub. Trios also has a Level II NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and is certified to care for infants who are born at 32 weeks’ gestation or later and have medical conditions that are expected to resolve in a few days.
Trios Birth Statistics (2023–2025)
C-section rate for first-time mothers with singleton, head-down presentation: 24.3%
VBAC success rate: 28.1% (1)
Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, WA
Kadlec Regional Center has both OBs and a team of six CNMs on staff; both Nicolette Nesbitt and Nikki Larson of Alliance Women’s Health also have hospital privileges at Kadlec (as of 2026). Labor rooms have bathtubs and/or showers to help with pain management; however, it is against hospital policy to deliver in the tub. Kadlec is the only Level III NICU in the region and is able to take care of babies who need a higher level of care.
Kadlec Birth Statistics (2023–2025)
C-section rate for first-time mothers with singleton, head-down presentation: 25.5%
VBAC success rate: 18.6% (2)
Prosser Memorial Hospital Family Birthplace in Prosser, WA
Prosser Memorial Hospital Family Birthplace has both OBs and CNMs on staff. Each room includes a shower and jetted tub to help with pain management; however, it is against hospital policy to deliver in the tub.
Prosser Memorial Birth Statistics (2023–2025)
C-section rate for first-time mothers with singleton, head-down presentation: 13.6%
VBAC success rate: 47.2% (3)
St. Mary’s Medical Family Birth Center in Walla Walla, WA
St. Mary’s Medical Family Birth Center in Walla Walla, WA, has OB/GYNs on staff and does not offer midwifery care. They have a special care nursery which can care for babies born at 35 weeks’ gestation through full-term.
St. Mary’s Birth Statistics (2023–2025)
C-section rate for first-time mothers with singleton, head-down presentation: 24.4%
VBAC success rate: Less than 1% (4)
A Note on NICU Admission Rates for Hospital Births
I scoured both local and state health department websites, and also called the local hospitals to try and find NICU admission rates for each hospital. Ultimately, I was unable to find NICU admission rates for each hospital. However, I was able to find NICU admission rates for all babies born in Franklin/Benton counties in 2024, and that number was 6.9%. (6)
Options for Freestanding Birth Centers in Tri-Cities, WA, and Surrounding Areas
Is a Birth Center Right for You?
Freestanding birth centers are an excellent option to give birth for women who do not need or want a lot of medical interventions during birth. It is important to make sure you are a good candidate for a birth center birth, and you can do so by talking to any of the midwives on staff. They will take into consideration your health history and individual risks.
It is also a good choice for those who want to use a birth pool or nitrous oxide to help with pain management during labor and delivery. Another perk of birth centers is that they accept most health insurance plans to help pay for maternity care.
Many clients view freestanding birth centers as a wonderful “in between” option that has the comfort of home and the security of a hospital birth. Most birth centers do at least one home visit to check on mom and baby after delivery, and also care for newborns up to 2 weeks of age in Washington state.
Columbia Birth Center in Richland, WA
Columbia Birth Center is an accredited birth center which opened in 2022, and is located in Richland, WA, right across the street from Kadlec Regional Center. Maternity care is offered by CNMs and CPMs (certified professional midwives) and prenatal visits are 30 minutes long each in a comfortable setting. Each birth suite is equipped with a jetted tub where many clients choose to give birth, and moms and babies are sent home hours after birth to go home to rest in the comfort of their own bed.
The below stats are taken from 129 births from 2025 – April 2026, with the VBAC rate accounting for 1 birth* since gaining approval from Washington state to attend VBACS in early 2026.
Columbia Birth Center Statistics
C-section rate: 4.7%
VBAC success rate: 100%*
Emergent intrapartum transfer rate: 0%
Emergent postpartum transfer rate: 1.67%
Babies admitted to the NICU: 2.3%* (5)
“None were time of the essence. In each case, we had stabilized the baby on CPAP and then were transferred.”
For comparison, 6.9% of newborns in Benton and Franklin counties were admitted to NICU in 2024. (6)
Options for Homebirth Providers in Tri-Cities, WA, and Surrounding Areas
Is Home Birth Right for You?
Home birth is a wonderful option for women who want to trust the process of birth and have minimal interventions during labor and delivery. Water birth is almost always an option during home birth; free movement and eating and drinking is encouraged during labor. This is also a good option for families who would like to have older children at their sibling’s birth.
Perhaps the biggest perk is the postpartum care, which you know is a focus of mine! Postpartum care includes home visits for mom and babies up to 2 weeks after giving birth, which means you never have to leave home to get weight checks for baby. Instead, you can stay home in bed, snuggling and resting just as nature intended.
The main caveat is that home birth isn’t a good option for every mom and baby, so it’s important to talk to your home birth midwife to make sure you are a good candidate. (Read more here to see if home birth or a birth center birth is a good option for you.) The other major drawback is that most traditional health insurance will not cover home birth… yet!
Simple Abundance Midwifery
Simple Abundance Midwifery is a team of two midwives, Sierra Orr, CPM, LM and Maressa Shepard, CPM, LM, who are licensed in the states of Washington and Oregon. Both were birth doulas before pursuing their calling to be midwives and both have experience working in the home and birth center settings. Their office is at 605 Panorama Ct, West Richland, WA.
The below stats are taken from 52 births between from April 2024 – April 2026.
Simple Abundance Midwifery Stats
C-section rate: 1.9%
VBAC success rate: 100%
Emergent hospital transfer rate: 0%
Babies admitted to NICU: 5.8%*
*All were non-emergent transfers for vital checks on babies hours after birth.
For comparison, 6.9% of newborns in Benton and Franklin counties were admitted to NICU in 2024. (6)
Natural Care Midwifery
Natural Care Midwifery is owned by Shannon Bennet, CPM, LM, who has over twenty-four years of experience as a midwife. Her office is at 5002 Smitty Drive, Richland, WA.
The below stats are taken from 144 births between from 2020 – April 2026.
Natural Care Midwifery Stats
C-section rate: 2.78%
VBAC success rate: 100%
Emergent hospital transfer rate: 0%
Babies admitted to NICU: 2.08% (8)
For comparison, 6.9% of newborns in Benton and Franklin counties were admitted to NICU in 2024. (6)
Tri Cities Midwifery
Tri Cities Midwifery is owned by Meg Zanol, CNM who was a L&D nurse for 7 years at Trios before taking the leap to become a CNM and open her own home birth practice. She also works at the Columbia Birth Center. Her office is at 94505 E Granada Ct, Kennewick, WA.
The below stats are taken from 20 births between from 2024 – April 2026.
Tri Cities Midwifery Stats
C-section rate: 0%
VBAC success rate: 100%
Emergent hospital transfer rate: 0%
Babies admitted to NICU: 0% (8)
For comparison, 6.9% of newborns in Benton and Franklin counties were admitted to NICU in 2024. (6)
Generations to Come Midwifery
Generations to Come Midwifery is a team of two midwives: Olga Gadomskiy BSM, CPM, LM and Megan Russell, SMW. Their office is at 750 Swift Blvd #20, Richland, WA.
The below stats are taken from 45 births between from 2025 – April 2026.
Generations to Come Midwifery Statistics
C-section rate: 0%
VBAC success rate: 100%
Emergent hospital transfer rate: 0%
Babies admitted to NICU: 2.2% (9)
For comparison, 6.9% of newborns in Benton and Franklin counties were admitted to NICU in 2024. (6)
Fireside Midwifery
Fireside Midwifery is owned by Hayley Swedelius, CPM, LM who has over twenty years of experience as a midwife. She serves families in Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Yakima, Toppenish, Goldendale, Sunnyside, Zillah, Prosser, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, and Tri-Cities, and has offices in both Yakima and Richland, WA. The below stats are taken from 172 births between from 2020 – April 2026.
Fireside Midwifery Stats
C-section rate: 6.5%*
*”C-section rate includes planned cesareans for persistent breech presentation in clients who did not want to attempt vaginal delivery.”
VBAC success rate: 98%
Emergent hospital transfer rate: 4%
Babies admitted to NICU: 3%
For comparison, 6.9% of newborns in Benton and Franklin counties were admitted to NICU in 2024. (6)
Final Thoughts on Choosing Where to Give Birth in Tri-Cities, WA
Choosing where to give birth to your baby is a deeply personal choice and one that shouldn’t be made lightly. I encourage you to ask your friends and family about their birth experiences, and more importantly ask yourself what you are envisioning for your birth.
Will your birthing location and providers be working with you to achieve your goals? Ask all the questions. Trust your gut.
And if you want a little guidance from somebody with no skin in the game, you are always welcome to book a free consultation with me. I help clients all the time identify the best provider for them based on their unique family values and goals.
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SourcesWashington State Health Care Authority. Delivery Statistics: Trios Health. PDF document. Accessed May 1, 2026.https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/delivery-statistics-TriosHealth.pdfWashington State Health Care Authority. Delivery Statistics: Providence Kadlec Regional Medical Center. PDF document. Accessed May 1, 2026.https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/delivery-statistics-ProvidenceKadlacRegionalMedicalCenter.pdf.Washington State Health Care Authority. Delivery Statistics: Prosser Memorial Hospital. PDF document. Accessed May 1, 2026.https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/delivery-statistics-ProsserMemorialHospital.pdf.Washington State Health Care Authority. Delivery Statistics: Providence St. Mary Medical Center. PDF document. Accessed May 8, 2026. https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/delivery-statistics-ProvidenceStMaryMedicalCenter.pdf.Flynn, Cynthia. Email message to author: “Birth Center Stats.” Columbia Birth Center. May 7, 2026.Nallapati, Swetha. Email message to author: “Birth Induction Rates, NICU Admission Rates and Modes of Delivery: Public Data Request.” Benton-Franklin Health District: Data Analyst-Epidemiologist. May 6, 2026.Orr, Sierra. Email message to author: “Can you help me? Blog on Local Birthing Options and Stats.” Simple Abundance Midwifery. May 1, 2026.Zanol, Meg. Email message to author: “Can you help me? Blog on Local Birthing Options and Stats.” Tri Cities Midwifery. May 5, 2026.Russell, Megan. Email message to author: “Can you help me? Blog on Local Birthing Options and Stats.” Generations to Come Midwifery. May 1, 2026.