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On Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 6:29 a.m., Samantha Carter of Mocksville delivered Dustin Carter Jr., weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 19 inches long.

While he is the sixth child in his family, he is the first to be born in one of the four rooms dedicated to alternative births in The Birth Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

The rooms offer low-risk mothers and their families a home-like setting with a queen bed and are equipped with labor support tools for easing labor pain. Spa tubs for pre-birth hydrotherapy, exercise balls for comfortable sitting and Swedish bars for support while standing are located in each of the rooms.

Dustin Jr.’s four older sisters – Alex, Alizah, Aaliyah and Tessa – welcomed him with open arms and look forward to having a little brother around the house. They also have an older brother.

Nona Smith, MSN, a certified nurse midwife, assisted in Dustin Jr.’s delivery while his dad and his aunt were present.

“This new option for expectant moms is a dream come true. I have worked in obstetrics in this community for 30 years and this innovative and uniquely designed space is a needed and welcomed addition,” Smith said. “Moms can safely give birth with minimal interventions and assistance from a certified nurse midwife knowing that if they do end up needing extra resources, additional assistance is just right down the hall.”

Samantha had an epidural when she delivered three of her kids and with the other three, she chose to forego an epidural.

“I have experienced six births and this delivery was by far the most relaxing. I didn’t feel like I was in a hospital and never had to press the‘call nurse button because I was so well attended to,” Samantha said. “It was an incredible experience from start to finish. I used the spa tub for my labor pains and really enjoyed that. I’m so excited for other moms in the area to have this experience, too. There’s just nothing else like what I experienced here.”