Holistic Midwifery

Holistic Midwifery helped us bring our wonderful daughter into this world one week ago and I feel compelled to share with the world why the midwives here are so great — and perhaps try to convince a few expecting mothers to consider home birth.
From our first visit here, after first checking out a more formal and stiff midwifery site in the North Valley, we felt at ease with Kelly (one of two midwives that helped my wife through her pregnancy). She was easy-​going, sincere, and spoke about home births in a reassuring way that fully convinced us we were making the right decision. We’d already seen a doc or two and read a few books about hospitals and insurance companies taking over decisions about women’s health, so we wanted to avoid injections, big medicine, and clockwork-​like births that seem to put women and babies second to profit and quick turnover in the labor rooms. Everything Kelly talked to us about then was right in line with our hopes and expectations.
She asked why we chose the home birth/​midwifery route. She explained the occasional risks and reassured us by explaining that in the event of an emergency, we did have two hospitals close by and should be aware that in rare cases mothers have to give birth in a hospital despite their ideals. She walked us through a list of items we’d need… and on and on. But again, most importantly, her mannerisms and sincerity were what most reassured us. She quickly established a rapport with my wife and when we left and drove home, we knew we wanted to entrust our birth to her.
Kelly then began visiting our home every other week and visiting with my wife. She’d conduct check-​ups and assess both mother’s and baby’s health. As the birth got closer, she then came weekly, at times joined by another outstanding and equally personable midwife, Nandy.
When the big day finally arrived — at a quarter to one on a Monday morning — Kelly guided us through some questions to determine if labor had truly begun (it had, obviously), and then rushed over. My wife’s labor was quick, but Kelly masterfully helped my wife through the contractions and the pushing and our daughter came out just as we’d hoped: healthy, without issue, and without a trip to the hospital.
Then came a truly cruical part, as both Kelly and Nandy (who arrived after the birth) tended to both mother and baby, looking after their health, checking vital signs, and simultaneously helping to clean up our home. Their continued care and concern and focus on just the two individuals that mattered most, were truly heart-​warming and endearing displays for me to witness. I simply can’t imagine a more supportive means of giving birth.
I could go on and on about this experience and this fine midwifery operation, but I’ll spare folks. I can only hope that I’ve done justice to the great work and care they provided to my wife, daughter and to me.
Also, I should mention that my insurance considered this out-​of-​network and covered a small percentage, which was a bummer but by no means the fault of midwives. In fact, it’s just evidence of the collusion of insurance companies and hospitals, since a birth in a hospital costs six or seven times a home birth, so you’d think Big Insurance would encourage home births to save money.
With regards to our bill, we have great flexibility in making payments and can pay a very modest amount each month. We truly appreciate this.