Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a community health system serving Cambridge, Somerville and Boston’s metro-north communities, will reopen CHA Birth Center on July 6, 2026, after a six-year hiatus. CHA Birth Center closed in March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. It reopened for prenatal care later in 2020 but remained closed for deliveries due to staffing shortages, operational challenges and infrastructure concerns. Recognizing the need for increased maternal health access in our communities and data from the Commonwealth showing the strong benefits of midwifery and birth center care, CHA engaged a leading consulting firm to support reopening planning.
CHA Birth Center’s reopening means more growing families will have an opportunity to receive the type of highly personalized and culturally appropriate care they deserve. At a time when many maternity units and birth centers are under strain, CHA is committed to providing maternal health access for its diverse communities. As part of its commitment to maternal health equity, and to ensure patients feel seen and heard, CHA has 19 doulas who speak 13 different languages to support birthing people before, during and after labor.
“We are proud to offer the CHA Birth Center as part of our excellent options for childbirth and maternal health services,” said CHA CEO Assaad Sayah, MD. “It responds to community-identified needs and expands our high quality maternal health options for our communities.”
“This is a milestone achievement for Cambridge and a signal to women everywhere that we can and will keep making progress on maternal health,” said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. “I’m so grateful to all of our state and local leaders who helped make this day possible. We’re going to keep fighting for a healthcare system worthy of every mother in this community and a future worthy of the children who will begin their lives at CHA.”
Located in a Victorian home, CHA Birth Center includes amenities like large walk-in showers and soaking tubs for water births. The first floor of the completely renovated CHA Birth Center has a reception area, three exam rooms, a living room and a kitchen for patients and families. Families are welcome and encouraged to be part of the birth process. The second floor features three renovated birthing rooms, with new soaking tubs for waterbirths in two rooms. Waterbirths offer advantages like warmth and pain management, deeper relaxation and faster labor times. CHA’s certified nurse midwives are trained in the latest waterbirth best practices and techniques. Across the street from the birth center, CHA operates its hospital maternity service — recognized on Newsweek’s 2026 list of best maternity hospitals.
While the CHA Birth Center welcomes everyone, there will be a special focus on vulnerable and underserved populations who will benefit most from midwifery care and a birth center experience. CHA Birth Center expects to welcome more than 100 new babies in the first year, increasing to about 300 by the fourth year.
On June 17, CHA held an open house to celebrate the Birth Center reopening, with a robust speaking program featuring many local legislators: Congresswoman Clark, State Representative Marjorie Decker, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and Cambridge City Councillor Patty Nolan. Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD spoke alongside CHA Board of Trustees Vice Chair Claire Laporte and Mount Auburn Hospital President Ed Huang, MD, on behalf of Beth Israel Lahey Health. More than 200 people attended the open house, which was led by CHA Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology Tara Singh, MD and CHA Director of Midwifery & CHA Birth Center Kim Amsley-Camp, DM, CNM, MHA. CHA midwives and doulas gave tours of CHA Birth Center.
Reopening the CHA Birth Center would not have been possible without a $1 million state appropriation sponsored by Representative Decker. Thanks to legislators’ efforts, CHA received a DPH grant to support necessary and major facility renovations. CHA also received a grant from Beth Israel Lahey Health to assist with training, equipment and community education and outreach.
“I’m deeply grateful to have been part of the effort to save the Cambridge Birth Center, especially during the uncertain moments when it wasn’t clear we would reach this point,” said Representative Decker. “I’m thankful to the CHA community and the many advocates who never stopped fighting for it. I was also proud to secure $1 million in state funding for the birth center, as so many recognized the importance of preserving families’ autonomy and access to a model of care that supports safe, compassionate birth experiences and strong outcomes.”
“Too often we are talking about the closure of maternity services, but today we get to celebrate a spectacular rebirth – and one that I hope will be followed by many more. Expanding access to community-based, relationship-centered care is key in advancing health equity,” said Commissioner Goldstein.
“I am proud to be a longtime supporter and partner of Cambridge Health Alliance, and it was a privilege to witness the reopening of their critical birth center,” said Senator DiDomenico. “This essential health care facility will provide needed access to delivery services for expectant mothers in my district and the region.”
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Original article HERE.
