Childbirth at Home

Mamas and mamas to be…
I used the same midwives as I did for my first child and everything was just as amazing if not better. These ladies know their stuff and additionally take better care of me than any health professional I’ve worked with. I wish I could see them for normal care. Love them.

I work in the medical field as a nurse and one day my labor and delivery nurse friend told me «I don’t know why mothers come in here (the hospital) with a birth plan, you know once they start screaming, they go straight to the operating room for a c-​section.» This is what led me to research other options. I also watched «the business of being born» by Ricki Lake. Thus began my research for midwives and thanks to Unilocal I was led to these wonderful ladies!!!
Seannie and Shelly much love and light to you ladies! We also thank Haize (midwife in training) who also participated and assisted with both births.
We delivered both of our children with Seannie.(3/2014 & ¹¹⁄₂₀₁₅) Give these ladies a call and you won’t regret it. Because of their expertise, kindness, and knowledge we had wonderful experiences both times. They guided me and gave me the encouragement I needed to birth my babies. Each prenatal visit was an hour long and they always answered my questions with kindness or directed me to resources where I could find the answer. We interviewed with another midwife in the LA area, but we felt most comfortable and trusting with Shelly and Seannie. Calls were always returned in a prompt manner and they were always available if I needed anything, before and after baby. During pregnancy they educated me on the importance of nutrition and exercise so I would remain low risk. I never felt like a patient, but more of a team player. I was always aware of what was going on during pregnancy. They always explained tests and what the results were. I trusted them and they trusted me. There was a deeper connection because you know that they truly care about you and your well being (physically, mentally, emotionally) Having a homebirth is not for everyone, but if it is meant for you these ladies will provide you with everything you need for a beautiful birthing experience. With both home births I felt that I was very involved, I was able to walk around, drink and eat to keep up my energy, and get into different positions during the pushing stages. I felt very safe under their care and guidance. And once the baby comes it’s such a beautiful experience to watch Seannie assess and weigh the baby, right there in our bedroom! These ladies are everything! They support you and encourage you and empower you so that you can trust your body to deliver your baby. One thing I always get asked is what about all the blood? Well let me tell you, you are prepared. Nothing a little hydrogen peroxide can’t clean up! You get a delivery pack which includes the equipment needed for the labor and you basically put chuck pads all over and once the delivery is complete they assist you in the shower and get you settled so you can rest after baby and help you with breastfeeding. They also have a system for cleaning up so once they leave its like nothing every happened in your place. You are very prepared for the birth, they make a home visit a couple weeks before your due date, ensure that all your supplies are complete, and make you register at a hospital in case of transfer. They cover all the bases so when the time comes your main focus is you meeting your new baby. Good luck and stay blessed throughout your pregnancy!

I came to Shelley and Seannie during my pregnancy with Lola. I had been having an emotional pregnancy due to new circumstances in my and my small daughter’s life, and Shelley and Seannie provided a safe and homelike place for consultation and preparation. I appreciated greatly how much time these two gentle but strong women took to listen to my story, advise me nutritionally and spiritually. My second daughter, Lola was brought into the world in an almost painless birth due to the complete confidence I had in their expertise. I felt safe and guided and the preparation that they had taken me through not only facilitated a graceful birth, but an easier experience as a new mother. Thank you.
ps– Lola was born in 25 minutes flat. That’s what relaxation does for you! And perhaps a bit of luck.

I LOVE these ladies! Shelly was out of town when I gave birth so I knew from the beginning that Seannie would be the one to deliver my baby. Both women are so gentle, warm, and have wonderful personalities. They make you feel so comfortable, almost like they’re your own mother. I love their natural approach to birthing. They had awesome suggestions as far as supplements to take to help aide in the delivery as well. I wish I had known about them when I gave birth to my two older children. They have made my birthing experience memorable and I truly appreciate them very very much. They also helped me with breastfeeding. This was my third time nursing a baby but my two other experiences resulted in very painful, cracked nipples. Seannie and Shelly took the time (on several occasions) to teach me how to latch the baby on properly. They didn’t want me to go through another painful breastfeeding experience. And because of their help, I had a wonderful nursing experience with my third child WITHOUT cracks or pain in my nipple. Thanks so much Seannie and Shelly. You guys are awesome! If you’re considering choosing them as your midwives, I HIGHLY suggest that you do. You won’t regret it!
Racquel

I am not going to make this super long — if you’re looking at a homebirth with midwives you already have an idea of what you’re getting into.
What I will say is Shelly and Seannie are fantastic. I found them by looking online for midwives since this was our first baby in California and I didn’t know anyone out here who knew anything about finding good care. I started seeing them later in my pregnancy as the process took a while and choosing the out of pocket expense was a factor. With that said, I just had my 4^th baby with them about two weeks ago. It was my first homebirth. The whole experience was amazing. It was the most peaceful, natural, and easy transition with a new baby we have had.
These two ladies are extremely experienced, kind, caring, LOVE what they do and are very knowledgeable in referring you to services in the area you may need/​desire (pediatricians, massage, chiropractics, etc). Really, they are EXCELLENT midwives. I would say the care before baby, during and after labor, and postpartum has been way above the quality level I ever received in the hospital and I really enjoyed those experiences prior to embarking on homebirth.
You are not just another «number» among the many women in a hospital but you might as well be family with these ladies because that’s how you feel by the way they care for you. They always make you feel valued and empowered in all the topics that come up, never demeaning or devalued.
Another thing, though minor, is I really appreciated how thorough their website is. They answer many of the questions I would have had and go beyond that to include all kinds of info I’d use if I were to choose another provider. If you’re at all like me and appreciate people who care about providing a good website for their services in this digital age, these women do.
If you want serious experience mixed with high quality care and love, go with these midwives. It’s worth your time and well worth the cost.

Seannie and Shelly rock. I had my little one about 6 weeks ago. Prenatal care was great. At my birth I was having a hard time dealing with the pain until Seannie walked in. The way she spoke to me and held my hand changed everything. I had a wonderful home birth. They are only phone call away with questions after birth as well. They are truly great at what they do. I highly recommend them!!!

I agree whole heartedly. I had gestational diabetes show up at 6 months with my second baby (had my first in a birth center back east) and they stood by me through my fears and said if I worked hard to stay healthy I could still have the home birth I wanted.
They helped me physically and mentally to be ready, gave me great referrals to massage therapists, pregnancy yoga, and more. They are a great team. Seannie is warm and comforting and you know Shelly can handle anything you throw at her– with her eyes closed. They have a lot of experience.
Going to Shelly’s mountain oasis home for appointments was a treat too (and no crowded waiting rooms and office staff to deal with) and talking to them at each visit helped me through whatever trial of pregnancy I was dealing with at the time.
When the time came for the baby to be born, I went into labor at noon. They were there at 2:30 pm and got everything set up and ready to go (since it was expected to be a quick 2^nd birth and that afternoon they had no more appointments scheduled they were both able to come which was nice). Soon after I was in transition and they helped me through it all. A little before 4 pm I was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. Our baby was born at 4:06 and they expertly checked her and then put her right on my chest. Everything was easy, professional and smooth. I could not be more grateful for their unwavering confidence, calmness and care. It was an amazing beautiful way to bring our daughter into the world and get to introduce her to her brother!

This is my first review I have written ever and I must say that it takes a lot for me to write a review!
When we first met them at Shelly’s home it was so peaceful and welcoming. There was a great energy about them both. We clicked and I knew we were going to be happy with them. Shelly and Seannie have been patient and very knowledgeable with the whole birth process. They were great about listening to concerns and also giving information without forcing their opinion. They only had one thing that they were against, but even then they let us know it was our choice. Which is how it should be. I always had a great time talking with them.
All in all the birth was fast and as my first time being in labor, Seannie let me know I did really well. Seannie was a calm pro along with her assistant Shamen. (?) It was great I was focused on letting the baby come through. It was a wonderful experience at home with no complications. We had a beautiful healthy boy and that was the best part of it all. I would love to do this again with them in the future!

Shelly & Seannie are awesome! They are a wealth of information and reference resources that were just as unbelievable as they are. They were very accommodating. The atmosphere, very calming. Our journey with them was peace-​filled, inspiring, and catered to our likes and dislikes. They are truly apart of our family & will be the hands that help welcome our future bundles if we have more. The price we paid for such excellent care was minimal in comparison & we even turned down FREE care so that our experience could be a true Labor of Love! xoxo

I LOVE these two ladies and can’t recommend them enough! They’ve been doing this for over 40 years and they have it down. They are both lovely people with wonderful bedside manners, and more than capable of handling any situation that might come up during the birth. I had a beautiful experience on the birth of my first child and plan to go back to them for every birth we’ll have in the future. They are the BEST! I wish everyone could have as wonderful an experience as we had.
On the first meeting, I walked in with two pages of questions and they took the time to answer each one all the while giving me the up most respect. We had also interviewed another midwife, and she acted annoyed like we were questioning her expertise when we ask all the questions. It was our first time going through a birth and we needed to ask those questions. Shelly and Seannie understood that and never made us feel bad about it.
They monitored me really well all through the pregnancy and anytime they had to examine me, it never hurt or made me feel uncomfortable the way it sometimes does at the doctor’s office.
When I went into labor, I called Shelly at 3:30am in the morning and she stayed on the phone with me for an hour talking me through the contractions and making sure I knew how to breath and felt like I could handle them. No doctor is going to do that.
Then, when the time came for them to come over for the birth, Shelly was at my house with an assistant for 7 hours. She coached me through the labor when I needed it and was quiet and gave me space when I needed that. Then she took excellent care of the baby and myself after the birth and didn’t leave until I was well fed, had nursed my baby, and the house was picked up.
Seannie came by the next day to check on me and helped me more with nursing. She spent a while with me and made sure I was OK and felt good about nursing and that my body was healing up alright.
You really get more than what you pay for with these two. I would not have changed one single thing about my birth experience and only wish others could have the same as I did.
I trust these two with my life and my child’s life and would recommend them to EVERYONE. THEY ARE THE BEST!!!

I give my highest recommendations to Shelly and Seannie. They are a great medical team to surround yourself with during such an important and precious time of your life, becomings of motherhood.
1. I am a doctor myself and very well aware of the medical wonders and pitfalls. Having a natural birth was extremely important to me. However, I wanted to have a knowledgeable and a medically competent team/​midwives next to me who understand human physiology, how it works and how to intervene appropriately. Thus, after talking to numerous midwives, I came to chose to work with Shelly and Seannie. They exceeded all my expectations.
2. I would love to write a long and detailed review for you, but I read all the posted ones and I do not want to be repetitive. They are all great, informative, and I agree with them all. The payment for the care was worth every penny. I have had many patients who came to me and wanted to do home birth; however, it is my professional medical opinion that many are too disconnected with their body and are fearful to take this journey. In such cases, the most wonderful midwives cannot offer the best care; because the patient cannot receive it. So, before you choose anyone; to get the best of this experience, make sure that this is really want you want and that you are able to trust your body in this process (or else it will not work). Because even the strongest one of us will ask for an epi when the baby is about to come out:))) You need to have a strong team with you, with whom you can really connect (it’s just like any other love story). The technicalities and the medical knowledge that Shelly and Seannie have are far beyond what I see in every day OBGYN clinics, in UCLA, Cedars, etc. Sometimes things might not go as we planned or wished: every birth is different, every baby and every mom is different. So take all these reviews with grain of salt. Yet, the medical and the humanistic CARE that these ladies offer is exceptional.
2. They are medically and holistically grounded and carry a good balance of both. They have all the medical resources that you might need throughout your care: MD, Pediatrician referrals, ultrasound and research resources, resources for all prenatal testings and immunizations available. They will help you throughout your pregnancy if you have any concerns: headaches, backaches, yeast infections, constipation (via homeopathic care or refer to a chiropractic physicians, acupuncturist… by the way, these are not interventions; they are all extremely important during pregnancy). In short, you can trust their guidance in any medical or holistic care that you might need.
3. THE BIRTH: Shelly delivered my first baby on March 9, 2011. She was focused, professional, extremely intuitive and knew how to connect with me and how to be in charge all at the same time. I usually like to be in control of these kinds of situations; however, I was delighted to be able to let her do her thing. I had to get 5 – 6 stitches after the delivery. Shelly was able to do that for me and I had absolutely no complications and no scarring after.
4. They also deliver great postnatal care. They will come to your house to check you and the baby post delivery (I believe the very next day). Then you will see them until your are all better (no more bleeding). I hope that this helps you.
5. In short, I think about Shelly and Seannie a lot when I am with my son, James. I think about them because they helped me to have a birth that I really dreamed of having. So please, before you chose any midwife; dream of your birth and know that this is really what you want (it’s ultimately your responsibility and your strength that will make it happen). And for the rest of the details, THEY WILL GET YOU THROUGH.

My husband and I used Shelly and Seannie for the birth of our son a few months back. During our hour long meetings we learned so much about natural birth, trusting the body to do it’s thing and creating a bond with the midwives so that when the big day came we were able to relax and not be scared. I know it sounds crazy but it really is possible! We are constantly reminiscing the birth and whenever we come in contact with someone considering a home birth we get almost giddy.
I remember in one of our first meetings Shelly asked how I was feeling and I said I was having some stomach issues and taking a tea for it. She asked what tea, right away she looked up the ingredients, advised me to no longer take it and gave other suggestions of how to take care of it. We loved this proactive approach. When we asked about the vitamin K shot it wasn’t like they just said «don’t do it». They went into the history of it, why doctors give it and what it’s really for. When we were deciding whether or not to circumcise Shelly said, «If you don’t want to that’s ok, just make sure you’ve read everything about it. Make sure you’ve done your homework». These ladies are passionate about their jobs, take it very seriously and know what they’re talking about. We felt safe, cared for and supported.
My labor went pretty fast. I dilated to 10 cm in 5 hours but the pushing lasted 2. He got stuck on my cervix and came out a little crooked. When he emerged he wasn’t crying loudly. Seannie was completely calm and VERY focused. There was no fear or hesitation. She fully checked him, gave him some oxygen and a good rub and he was fine. I also tore badly. Seannie gave all the care and attention in the world stitching me up. It took over an hour and she wasn’t about to hurry it even though it was the middle of the night and I’m sure she was ready to go home. She wanted it perfect.
We miss them dearly and looking forward to my next pregnancy so we can work with them again.

Shelly and Seannie are truly amazing. I’ve had two births with them, each very different, and I felt completely safe and empowered through both, despite different challenges. I now have two wonderful, healthy children and the memories from two truly beautiful birthing experiences.
My first birth was a long one. My water broke Saturday morning, but my body didn’t go into labor all day, despite walking miles of hills and stairs. Seannie helped with this birth, and after giving me time (which I really needed) to prepare and switch gears, she stripped my membranes, starting my labor.
A long, intense night and day later, filled with more hiking and Seannie’s gentle but strong guidance, culminated with my son finally emerging, safe and healthy despite being face up and raising his arm Superman-​style! I was fine too, tired but intact, and at no point was I overwhelmed by the pain or fatigue — again thanks to Seannie and her team, who never left my side.
This is totally the opposite experience of a friend who had a hospital birth (without this team). Her water also broke and she also didn’t go into labor, until the Dr. started Pitocin, which they kept increasing until she couldn’t bear the pain. At that point her husband had to run down the hall to find a doctor, who barely got there to catch the baby. Ouch.
My second birth was totally different. This time my water didn’t break, and no labor in sight. As my ultrasound and then calendar due dates (a week apart) passed, we all decided it was time to get the party started. This pregnancy brought Bell’s Palsy, and I was really ready for that to end, so once the due dates passed I was eager to be induced. We’d been hiking up and over Baxter (or similar) every day for over a week, so everything was in place, just needed some help to get going.
This time we pulled out all the (natural) stops, stripping membranes, long hilly hike, and then some castor oil for fun. It really worked, and a few short but intense hours later Shelly caught my beautiful baby as she flew across the room after just two pushes. It should be noted that she was completely wrapped up in her cord (arms, neck, body). Shelly quickly and carefully freed her, while allowing me to deliver the placenta and waiting to cut the cord until it had stopped pulsing.
Again, everything went smoothly, and again I felt totally safe and empowered. I was able to relax into the marathon (and the later sprint) and trust my body to do its thing, with amazing coaching along the way.
I enjoyed the pre– and post-​natal care immensely, always sad to have it end. Shelly and Seannie are warm and friendly, and truly caring. Appointments are more like hanging out with old friends, taking care of business and dealing with all the issues of course, but really about establishing a relaxed and comfortable relationship. When it’s time for the birth, this relationship is so critical!
There’s so much else to say — they helped me deal with other doctors, prepare my first child for my second, and with with everything else that I needed and more. But to keep from rambling, I’ll keep it at this; I can’t imagine having a baby any other way. Thanks ladies!

Shelly and Seannie are amazing midwives. I’m so glad I picked them to guide me through the birth of my only child. With Shelly and Seannie, what you see is what you get: good and caring ladies and smart midwives.
I got a good feeling about them from our first interview. Both Shelly and Seannie are extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Any first time mother will tell you that having someone with years of experience with all kinds of pregnancies available to answer your questions is invaluable. I’m the sort of person who has 1,000 questions about every single thing and Shelly and Seannie always had great answers. When they didn’t know how to answer, they said that they didn’t and, more importantly, they caucused with their colleges and did research to find answers. They also happen to have some of the best connections in the business for lactation consultants, labor educators, doulas, ob/​gyns, etc.
Being knowledgeable is, obviously, an important component of a great midwife. I think the more important measure is how they attend to you as a mother and a person. There is an intangible quality that makes a good midwife that most mothers-​to-​be will be able to immediately identify. A good midwife is patient and supportive as you go through the process of bringing your child into the world. Even though they have each seen children born a million times, Shelly and Seannie remember that every child is precious and care for both mother and child in that spirit. I think that most women who have Shelly and Seannie as midwives will tell you that they feel an immense amount of gratitude for their patience guidance. The care you will receive is not rushed or cookie-​cutter. I can’t imagine ever using an ob/​gyn for my prenatal care.
By choice, I ended up giving birth in a hospital rather than at home as I originally planned. Shelly, Seannie and Chemin were very supportive as I made this difficult choice. Chemin, the assistant, came to my house with me and attended to me both emotionally and physically while I labored. Shelly stayed in the hospital with me and waited all night for my baby to be born. I couldn’t be more grateful to them.
So, long story long, these women are amazing midwives and people. You would be lucky to have them help you bring your child into the world.

My husband and I interviewed 7 midwives before choosing Shelly and Seannie. All the midwives I met with were great but we REALLY felt strongly that these ladies could handle anything. They are warm and kind but, for us, the most important thing was that they really know what they are doing. Childbirth was an amazing thing for me to experience but if I didn’t KNOW that they were 100% there to take care of my health and my baby’s health then I would not have been able to be present for the birth of my son in the same way. I really appreciate what they did for me and my family and I hold them in the highest regard.

Shelly and Seannie were my midwives for the birth of my second child in March 2011. I had had an absolutely magical homebirth in Berkeley and was bereft that our first midwife and I wouldn’t be together again for my second birth. However, I feel so fulfilled and happy after my birth with Seannie that I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to have a new experience, and to have met Seannie and Shelly. Btw, this is a long review!
I enjoyed my prenatal visits at Shelly’s home — truly a mountain paradise! Always such a relaxing, meditative experience. Since this was my second homebirth I didn’t feel I needed as much information as I did in my first homebirth, so I enjoyed chatting with these warm and interesting women. But when my due date was approaching and I started wanting more information, I brought in lists of questions and we went over everything thoroughly.
For some reason I started getting concerned that my second birth would be so fast that neither Seannie nor Shelly would be able to make it to my home in time, so I asked them to go over unassisted childbirth procedures with me and my husband. They complied, but they also assured us that they would be there. When they did their home visit with me a few weeks before my due date, we had such a fun time! «Just the girls,» hanging out on my bed, talking about babies and births. When I said that what I wanted out of this birth was to feel joyful in the moment, Seannie just smiled and I knew she would help make that happen.
The night before my baby was born I started feeling wildly different … hard to explain, but I knew something was happening. I called Shelly’s home number and reached her husband, then I called Seannnie’s cell and left a message. Meanwhile, Shelly’s husband called Seannie’s home number, talked to Seannie directly, and Seannie called me. We chatted for a few minutes, and she told me to call her back if anything changed. At some point my water broke and I called Seannie again. She asked me detailed questions and we hung up, but a few minutes later she called me back and said, «Honey, I’m coming over to sleep on your couch!» She arrived about 40 mins later, and we all had a giddy time of it, setting up the bedroom, having some food, getting everything ready, and just generally feeling the energy of a new birth.
We all went to bed around midnight, and around 2am my contractions started. I didn’t even wake up my husband — I just breathed through each contraction feeling so safe and secure in my own home with Seannie nearby, and meditating through the waves. I woke up my husband around 3, and then around 6 I took a hot shower. In retrospect I should have asked my husband to wake up Seannie BEFORE I got into the shower! Because when I got out I was in full-​on labor. We woke up Seannie at 6:20 and the baby was born at 6:40! There wasn’t enough time for Seannie’s assistant to arrive so she enlisted my husband as her assistant. It was all soo fast, such a whirlwind, so huge and strong and amazing, but Seannie was there being absolutely competent and completely calm and in control. Later my husband said those 20 minutes were worth the $ 4800 right there. He was totally relaxed, Seannie was a rock, and I was just riding these great big waves. When the baby was born I was utterly astonished and just kept saying wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! My husband caught the baby and held him for a few moments savoring the experience, then my baby boy was in my arms. And yes, it was utterly JOYFUL.
In the moments after the birth our 2 ½yo boy came in, having been awakened by the baby crying. He saw the baby even before I did, and then climbed up on the bed next to me to be near me and his baby brother. Seannie showed him and my husband how to cut the cord, and then she showed them both the placenta and explained details about the baby and the placenta to them both. Seannie was totally unphased about his presence, and in fact welcomed him into the whole experience, talking to him with much serenity and happiness. Totally sweet. I loved her for being so wonderful with my little boy. And I loved our postnatal visits, which were really special and honored our journey together.
Seannie was an absolute love and a complete pro, and Shelly was always warm and loving, and they were both so funny and affectionate. I feel incredibly grateful to them for my experience, and of course am over the moon in love with my baby! Loving my baby’s fairy godmothers.

I found out I was pregnant shortly after moving to SoCal under what felt at the time like really negative circumstances. I wasn’t ready to have a child and I felt panicked every time I thought about what lay ahead — ESPECIALLY the labor and delivery…
After meeting with an OBGYN who was simply horrendous, I knew that I would have to go with my gut and look for a Midwife. The idea of a hospital birth was more terrifying to me than anything else. So I began searching online for the highest rated Midwives in California… and it didn’t take long for me to find Shelly and Seannie. In fact, their website popped up first and I was hooked from the moment I finished reading Shelly’s biography.
I was already 5 months pregnant when I scheduled my first meeting with Shelly and Seannie. I was scared, working too many hours, stressing how to pay them on time (I did it — almost single handedly — in three months with both Midwives graciously reminding me to focus on the Baby first, money second the whole way along), stressing how to make things work in a difficult relationship with my son’s father, stressing diet, just stressing EVERYTHING!
Even if they hadn’t both been very wise and compassionate and genuine in dealing with my basic first mom concerns and high maintenance self… even if they hadn’t been transparent with their own experiences, 100% honest about the hard facts when I was diagnosed GBS positive, and 100% professional about every exam and check-​in… I would have loved them anyway just because they are both amazing women, wives and mothers. I would have loved them because they understood me from the very first meeting, they sympathized with the hard parts of what I was going through, and when I had my panic moments, they lovingly walked me through the process — NEVER belittled me or blew me off — ALWAYS took me seriously and helped me navigate my own emotions and body changes.
And when my water broke on March 6^th just before 7am, Shelly was there by phone and soon enough in person to walk me through the labor with the same calm and patient approach she had shown for several months.
I earnestly believe that Shelly and her assistant, Sheman’s, gentleness and calmness were the primary reason I was able to have a quick, easy, perfect and manageable home delivery. They were the reason I remembered to keep using positive affirmations, Ina May style, to coax my Body through the foreign (but somehow, strangely familiar and natural) process of labor and delivery. And when my son’s big, healthy head began to emerge in the pushing stage, they were the reason I summoned up that last big whoosh of strength and got him out FAST and without any intervention necessary despite his size and my petiteness.
For years I’ve maintained I would only ever have one child — a son — and here he is now, sleeping peacefully in our little happy room as I write this. He is amazingly healthy, amazingly beautiful, and gets compliments and makes friends wherever we go. And whenever I am asked, I proudly and happily tell people YES — he was born at home, on my bed! And YES — if I ever had another child, I’d do it all again!
But only if I could have Shelly and her team by my side.
P. S. There is only one negative review here, and I found it rather telling that the reviewer in question has more negative reviews to her name than positive… also, she lists chiropractic as an «intervention». I found that rather amusing, as chiropractic is actually a «PREvention», not an intervention! Surgery, medication — those are interventions. Herbs, chiropractic, acupuncture — those are holistic, supportive, healing remedies… more people should take advantage of those types of advise, IMSNHO. :)

I know people looking for mid-​wives don’t mind reading long reviews. So unlike my review of a local Thai delivery place, I can go into some detail.
This was our (me and my partner Maria) second child. The first child, Black, was born in Minnesota with wonderful mid-​wives, Jennie Bazille and Vanessa.
When we got home to L.A. went in search of west coast mid-​wives. When we met Shelly and Seannie we knew it was a perfect match for us. They were as funny and personable as they were professional and knowledgeable about diet, exercise, emotional health, etc.
Right away they suggested a healthy diet so as to «grow a smaller baby» as they put it. Our first baby was delivered by C-​section. So since Maria was attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and being that she is about 105 pounds, a small baby was our best hope.
During an otherwise healthy pregnancy Maria became under the weather several times. Being a great pair of mid-​wives, Shelly and Seannie suggested light walks in Griffith Park and to visit an herbalist to try and boost her immune system, which worked.
For several weeks we visited them in their Mt. Washington office/​home. It was a treat to go visit them because they made pregnancy seem so… natural! In addition to regular questions and observations of the pregnancy, Shelly asked us about the books we were reading, told us about great hiking trails, and Seannie talked about her kids’ school and past labors. All of this conversation made us feel so at home and made the whole experience seem so… natural.
Then came the «due date.» Just like our first baby, our second evidently did not have a calendar inside the womb.
Since Maria was attempting a VBAC, a missed due date had some increased drama. As Shelly and Seannie said, we need to get the baby out so you guys can start to enjoy your time together (they always said things in such a refreshing and calming way).
After one week of walking stairs and going on longer and longer hikes, Maria was still not going into labor. All along they told us that a VBAC called for some extra awareness of the baby’s size (for those not aware of a VBAC, the danger lies in the tiny possibility that the uterus can rupture during labor at the spot where it was previously cut during the cesarean).
Shelly sent us to a doctor at Cedar-​Sinai for our first ultrasound. The water sac was full and everything looked good, so she told us she would let Maria wait for another few days before considering plan B.
Plan A was a home birth, like the one we attempted with Black. Plan B, we would learn a few days later was to see Dr, Wu at Glendale Adventist on Shelly’s request. Even though hope was dwindling for a homebirth, a vaginal birth was still possible according to Shelly. Dr. Wu, she said, was one of the only doctors in the world who would attempt to induce an attempted VBAC (as you can se things were getting very complicated, but as usual they stayed calm and cool and made it all seem so… natural).
Shelly considered stripping the membranes, but since Maria had tested positive for GHB, she didn’t want to further complicate the situation.
Dr. Wu said he would in fact induce, but that it had to be done right away while the baby was still small and Maria had a good change at a vaginal birth (Actually what the cryptic doctor said was «we are taking a trip to Alaska. So we will pack lots of water. We may need to use 2 bottles of water. And we may need to use 10 bottles. But then again we may end up in Hawaii).
By the next day we were in the hospital and Maria was distraught over he idea of having another c-​section. Shelly told us if we were to have any success this was a best option. She said she wasn’t dead set on a home birth for us, but she was dead set on Maria having a healthy baby, and preferably having it vaginally.
Maria had just gotten into the hospital bed, scarred and sad when Shelly arrived. Within minutes he had us both hysterical with stories that had nothing to do with the situation. She talked about her family, the books we were reading, TV shows, great places to eat, etc. We realized then and now that this was her way to get Maria’s mind off of anything negative. She wanted her to be free and strong for the delivery.
That delivery began about 3 hours later. After giving Maria a doctor’s ordered epidural in case there were complications and she had to go into surgery, Shelly told Maria to start pushing.
We were the only ones in the room and at the beginning of each contractions Shelly smiled her huge smile and said «okay, push honey.» Less than an hour later Maria vaginally birthed our second child and first daughter, Rainy.
How can I be anything but happy with the outcome when I have both a healthy baby and healthy mom (partner). Had Shelly not been there they still would likely be healthy, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun or memorable.

In choosing a care provider you have to find a good fit, and I interviewed at three different midwifery care practices. I chose Childbirth at Home — A Labor of Love for a few different reasons. Right away I was attracted to their pragmatic approach — keenly skeptical of the medical model but not deifying the midwifery model either. Shelly’s focus and knowledge on nutrition were important to me, as well as her decades of experience.
I waited until my third trimester to start care with them, and then it ended up being even longer because I failed a glucose test with my OB before I transferred. Shelly administered a re-​test which I passed, otherwise I would be a hopeless gestational diabetic and not able to work with them. I’m still grateful they gave me the second chance!
Shelly and Seannie both attend each visit; as either one could potentially attend your birth this is a pretty wise method. And each visit is an hour, shockingly long compared to physician’s visits. Their care was thorough, and they were attentive to both reviewing records from other providers as well as processing paperwork. They also had (for me) the right balance of empathy and pressure. They prescribed a ton of walking and a very clean diet. With a 9-​pound baby — and a hand over his face on the way out — I especially needed this to assure the expediency of my labor. And their office is a fabulous hillside paradise, a very calming environment that was just a bonus feature of working with them.
I initially hoped Shelly would attend my birth, since Seannie projects «protégé» opposite Shelly’s «seasoned master,» frequently calling on Shelly for a second opinion. In the end Seannie was every bit the expert I was hoping for. Particularly when I was pushing, Seannie was an outstanding coach, helping me hone in on exactly what would work. I personally also had a doula, because I needed the extra pair of hands, eyes and ears. Not sure if every mother would also need one with these midwives, but it still helped for me particularly for early labor.
I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything else, and if I have another pregnancy I’ll go straight back to them.

Shelly Girard is a wonderful midwife. Although Shelly has not (yet) delivered any children for me, I have seen her regarding female health matters. Shelly is professional and sincere. You can really tell she loves her job and her clients. She is very devoted. Shelly listens to your concerns and provides helpful advice. She also provides good recommendations for related health services as well. I am seeing a great acupuncturist based on Shelly’s recommendation right now.