Placenta Release & Hospital Guide
What Texas families should ask before birth, how release can be affected by pathology or facility policy, how to keep the placenta cold, and when to contact Birth Perceptions.
Know Your Options. Know When to Escalate.
Answer-first maternal education for pregnancy, birth and the first year postpartum. This guide helps families understand care levels, postpartum follow-up, urgent warning signs and where to find additional support. It does not diagnose risk or replace an obstetric, primary-care or emergency evaluation.
Texas Placenta Resource
Hospital Placenta Release & Safe Transport
Texas DSHS Placenta Release Information
The state handout covering infectious-disease precautions, handling, refrigeration, formalin, personal-use restrictions, and consent to release.
What level of maternal care might my care team recommend?
Maternal levels of care describe a facility’s capabilities — not a mother’s worth, preferences or diagnosis. ACOG and SMFM describe Level I basic care, Level II specialty care, Level III subspecialty care and Level IV regional perinatal health care. Higher levels build on the capabilities below them. The appropriate setting depends on the individual pregnancy, maternal conditions, fetal or neonatal needs, local resources and the clinical judgment of the care team.
Accredited Birth CenterDesigned for appropriately screened, low-risk pregnancies expected to have an uncomplicated birth, with established plans for consultation and transfer when needed.
Level I — Basic CareProvides care for low- to moderate-risk pregnancies and can recognize, stabilize and begin management of unexpected maternal, fetal or neonatal problems while arranging transfer when necessary.
Level II — Specialty CareIncludes Level I capabilities plus care for selected moderate- to high-risk antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum conditions.
Level III — Subspecialty CareIncludes Level II capabilities plus subspecialty resources for more complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and fetal conditions.
Level IV — Regional Perinatal Health CareIncludes Level III capabilities plus on-site medical and surgical resources for the most complex maternal conditions and critically ill pregnant or postpartum patients.
Maternal Level ≠ NICU LevelA hospital’s maternal level and neonatal/NICU level may differ. The best setting should account for both the mother’s and baby’s anticipated needs.
Texas maintains an official list of designated maternal facilities. The list should be checked directly before making a birth-location decision because designations and status can change.
When should postpartum care happen?
ACOG describes postpartum care as an ongoing process rather than a single six-week visit. It recommends contact with a maternal care provider within the first three weeks after birth, continued care as needed, and a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks. Earlier or more frequent follow-up may be appropriate based on the pregnancy, birth, symptoms and medical history.
Urgent maternal warning signs — pregnancy through one year postpartum
CDC’s Hear Her campaign advises seeking medical care immediately for urgent warning signs. Examples include:
- A severe or worsening headache
- Dizziness or fainting
- Vision changes
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain or a fast/pounding heartbeat
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Severe belly pain that does not go away
- Heavy vaginal bleeding or concerning discharge
- Severe swelling, redness or pain in a leg or arm
- Extreme swelling of the hands or face
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Emergency: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Tell the medical team that you are pregnant or have been pregnant within the last year.
Pregnancy & Birth Location
Questions about birth centers, hospital capabilities, maternal levels of care, transfers and choosing a facility.
ACOG Levels of Maternal Care ↗Texas Maternal Facilities
Verify current Texas Level I–IV maternal designations directly through the state’s official facility list.
Texas DSHS Maternal Facilities ↗Postpartum Physical Recovery
Use your obstetric or primary-care team for bleeding, pain, blood-pressure concerns, incision issues, fever or symptoms that feel wrong. Birth Perceptions postpartum services complement — not replace — medical care.
Explore Fourth Trimester Support ↓Mental & Emotional Health
For non-emergency perinatal mental-health support, Postpartum Support International offers education and connection to resources. For a crisis or immediate danger, use 988 or 911.
Postpartum Support International ↗National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Free, confidential support is available 24/7 at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Maternal Mental Health Hotline ↗Texas Health Coverage & Support
Texas programs may include Medicaid, Healthy Texas Women/HTW Plus, Family Planning services, WIC and other assistance depending on eligibility and circumstances.
Healthy Texas Women ↗Feeding Support
Persistent latch pain, inadequate milk transfer, infant weight concerns or feeding problems deserve individualized evaluation. An IBCLC or the baby’s pediatric team can help.
Find an IBCLC ↗Pelvic Health
Pelvic pressure, leaking, pain with movement or intercourse, and abdominal or pelvic-floor concerns can be evaluated by a qualified pelvic-health clinician or physical therapist.
Ask Birth Perceptions for local resource guidance ↓Melanin & Postpartum Skin
Learn about the appearance of pigment changes, barrier support, gentle routines and when a skin concern should be evaluated by a dermatologist.
Read the Sacred Skin Education Guide ↓Maternal Care Questions
Do I need a Level III or Level IV hospital because my pregnancy is high risk?
Not every pregnancy labeled “high risk” requires the same facility level. The need for higher-level maternal care depends on the specific condition, its severity, anticipated complications, fetal or neonatal needs and available resources. Ask your obstetric or maternal-fetal-medicine team what level of facility they recommend and why.
Does a Level IV hospital automatically mean it is the best hospital for every birth?
No. Level IV describes advanced capabilities for the most complex maternal conditions; it is not a general ranking of birth experience or quality for every family. Risk-appropriate care means matching the facility’s resources to the individual mother and baby.
How is postpartum doula care different from medical postpartum care?
Postpartum doula and maternal-wellness support can help with practical recovery, education, nourishment, rest planning, household transitions and resource navigation. It does not diagnose, prescribe, manage medical complications or replace follow-up with licensed health professionals.
Where can I verify factual maternal-health information?
Birth Perceptions prioritizes primary and authoritative sources for clinical facts, including ACOG, CDC, Texas DSHS, Texas HHSC and federal maternal-health resources. Product and wellness education is kept separate from medical diagnosis or treatment.
ACOG — Levels of Maternal Care
Basic, specialty, subspecialty and regional perinatal care.
Basic, specialty, subspecialty and regional perinatal care.
ACOG — Optimizing Postpartum Care
Postpartum care as an ongoing process.
Postpartum care as an ongoing process.
Educational information only. This page is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis or emergency care.
DFW Maternal Provider Directory · Verified August 2026
Find Maternal Care in Dallas–Fort Worth
A curated starting point for finding pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. A listing is a resource, not a Birth Perceptions endorsement. Provider availability, insurance participation, credentials, hospital privileges and services can change; verify directly before scheduling.
OB/GYN & Black Physician Directories
Tolulope Bakare, MD — Dallas
OB/GYN; independently listed by Black Health as a Black obstetrician.
Provider information →
Tonya Perkins, MD — Dallas
OB/GYN, The Wellness Center of Dallas; independently listed by Black Health as a Black obstetrician.
Provider information →
C.V. Roman Medical Society
DFW directory of Black and African American physicians. Search by specialty and confirm current practice details directly.
Search directory →
UT Southwestern Ob/Gyn + MFM — Dallas
Full-spectrum obstetric/gynecologic care with high-risk pregnancy and genetics services.
Clinic information →
Midwives & Birth Centers
Abide Women's Health Services — South Dallas + Fort Worth mobile clinic
Black-led nonprofit offering culturally informed prenatal/postnatal care, Black midwifery care, education, doula and lactation support.
Abide →
Midwife+Co — Dallas
Hospital-based certified nurse-midwifery model with physician collaboration.
Midwife+Co →
Dallas Women's Wellness & Midwifery — Dallas
CNM practice located at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
Swiss Avenue Birth Center / Your Dallas Midwife — Dallas
Licensed midwife/CPM-led out-of-hospital birth care.
North Texas Midwifery — Dallas
Midwifery care based in East Dallas.
BirthPointe Women's Health & Birth Center — Irving
Midwife-led women's health and birth center care.
Plano Birthplace — Plano
Freestanding midwife-led birth center.
Lovers Lane Birth Center — Richardson
Out-of-hospital midwifery and birth-center care.
Fort Worth & Mid-Cities Birth Options
Fort Worth Birthing & Wellness Center — Fort Worth
Freestanding midwife-led birth center and women's health clinic.
Texas Health Nurse Midwife Care — Fort Worth
Hospital-connected certified nurse-midwifery care; Michelle K. McKenna, DNP, APRN, CNM is one listed provider.
The Center for Birth & Wellness — Fort Worth
Birth center, home-birth and water-birth options for eligible low-risk pregnancies.
Gentle Beginnings Birth & Wellness Center — Hurst
Licensed-midwife birth center serving the Mid-Cities.
Grapevine Birthing Center — Grapevine
Midwife-led birth-center and limited home-birth care.
The Nest Birth Center — Venus
Out-of-hospital midwifery and birth-center option south of the Metroplex.
High-Risk Pregnancy / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
UT Southwestern Maternal-Fetal Medicine
High-risk pregnancy clinics in Dallas, Texas Health Dallas, Plano and Irving.
Locations →
Baylor Scott & White Maternal-Fetal Medicine — Dallas
Specialized high-risk pregnancy care at Baylor University Medical Center.
MFM information →
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists of Dallas / Pediatrix
High-risk pregnancy and prenatal imaging services, including a Richardson Methodist location.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Texas / Pediatrix — Fort Worth/Tarrant County
Perinatology/high-risk obstetric care across the Fort Worth region.
Practice information →
Pelvic Floor & Postpartum Physical Therapy
Genesis PT & Wellness — Dallas
Pelvic-health physical therapy including pregnancy and postpartum care.
Rejuvena Pelvic Institute — Dallas
Pelvic-floor, pregnancy/postpartum and pelvic-girdle care.
Center of Pelvic Excellence (COPE PT) — Dallas
Specialized pelvic-floor physical therapy with postpartum services.
Ask about insurance, direct access requirements, postpartum timing and whether your symptoms warrant medical evaluation before physical therapy.
Lactation / IBCLC Support
Cleo Marchese Lactation — Plano / North Dallas
In-home and virtual lactation support.
Natural Beginnings Lactation — DFW
IBCLC-led in-home, virtual and office feeding support.
Baby Latch Love — Plano
IBCLC and childbirth education; office, home and telehealth options.
Fort Worth Lactation & Tongue Tie Specialists — Fort Worth
Outpatient lactation and infant-feeding support.
Beyond the Breast — Fort Worth / East Parker County
IBCLC-led home, office and virtual feeding support.
Sunflower Babies — Fort Worth
RN/IBCLC lactation consultations and breastfeeding education.
Perinatal & Maternal Mental Health
Holding Hope Women's Counseling — Richardson
Postpartum/perinatal mental health, EMDR, trauma and anxiety counseling.
Jenny Tan, MD — Dallas
Reproductive psychiatrist with peripartum mood/anxiety expertise.
Women's Mental Wellness / Cassidy Liland, PhD — Dallas
Psychologist with perinatal mental-health certification and women's mental-health training.
Spark Therapy for Grief & Maternal Mental Health — Fort Worth
Kim Garrett, LPC, PMH-C; perinatal/postpartum and grief counseling.
Libby Marler Counseling — Fort Worth
LPC, PMH-C; perinatal mental-health and EMDR-focused support.
Maternal Counseling Collaborative — Fort Worth
Maternal/perinatal mental-health counseling.
If there is immediate danger, call 911. For a mental-health crisis, call or text 988.
How to Choose a Provider
Ask whether the provider is accepting new patients, which insurance plans are accepted, where births are attended, who covers call, how transfers or higher-acuity referrals work, and how postpartum concerns are handled. For birth centers or home birth, ask about eligibility criteria, emergency equipment and transfer plans. For culturally concordant care, ask directly about the practice's experience serving your community rather than relying on assumptions about a provider's identity.
Directory standard: Verified against current public practice/directories in August 2026. Birth Perceptions does not guarantee availability, insurance coverage, licensure status or clinical fit. Contact each provider directly before relying on a listing.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Skin
Skincare Resources Across Skin Types & Concerns
Pregnancy Skincare
Simple routines and product-selection questions for dry, oily, sensitive, breakout-prone and melanin-rich skin.
Postpartum Skin by Type
Dry, oily, combination, reactive, melanin-rich and body-skin concerns in one inclusive guide.
Breakout-Prone Skin
Gentle postpartum cosmetic care for oiliness and acne-prone skin.
Dry & Sensitive Skin
Comfort-first support for dry, dehydrated and reactive postpartum skin.
Scars & Stretch Marks
Postpartum body skincare with a clear distinction between cosmetic care and surgical wound care.
Melanin Skin Care
Dedicated education for melanin-rich skin and visible uneven tone.
Korean Skincare & K-Beauty
Simplified Korean-inspired routines with layered hydration, essences, serums, barrier care and sunscreen for pregnancy and postpartum.
Peptides for Postpartum Skin
Evidence-aware guide to signal, carrier and other cosmetic peptides for hydration, visible texture and firmer-looking skin.