Birth Matters Midwifery Care

I unequivocally recommend Sarafina and Jessica. I had an amazing home birth with them for my first baby two years ago and I was so excited when I got pregnant again so that I could call them up and start my visits. It was like seeing old friends! They are amazing, caring, knowledgeable midwives.

cannot recommend sarafina and jessica enough! they were patient, such reassuring presences both prenatally and at the birth. i had an amazing home birth (in 2011) that i forever feel indebted to them for. A natural homebirth is such an empowering experience and bonds the family so deeply. Do it if you can and these ladies are the ones to guide you!

I contacted Sarafina and Jessica of Home Birth Matters Midwifery Care in February of 2011 upon finding out we were pregnant. The pregnancy didn’t last long, sadly. Both midwives spoke with me on the phone daily while I was having complications and though I never met them, the offered so much support to Big Love and I through our loss. They offered encouraging words and made me feel normal in what I was experiencing.
During the summer of 2011 we found out we were pregnant again. I once again reached out the the midwives and made an appointment for a home visit to discuss planning our home birth. They came to our home, hugged me, and lounged around on my couch just chatting about the care they had an answered all of our questions. Since that day, Big Love and I knew that they were the right choice. They just felt like old friends from the start.
We opted to have home visits as opposed to office visits. Every visit they would come to our home, check my belly, answer questions and have a few laughs. It was a great way to get to know them and by the time my labor came, I had no issues with showing them any of my lady bits or bodily functions. Sarafina and Jessica were always encouraging. Our parents had concerns about having a baby at home so we invited them to one of our home visits. I think they must have asked a hundred questions. The midwives sat there with smiles on their faces, cool, calm and collected and answered every single one with confidence. Our parents have been home birth converts from that day on.
Early May I went into labor. Awhile into labor Sarafina arrived followed by Jessica soon after. There was no intervention and little interruption during my labor. They would offer suggestions every now and again but mostly just followed my cues. They would check the baby’s heartbeat with a fetal monitor from time to time and talk me through contractions. At the last of my labor I went into the birthing tub and everyone sat nearby, talking me through pushing. The midwives saw that our baby was being born with his hand and an arm near/​around his face. They had great poker faces and didn’t give anything away. They very calmly guided me through pushing and helped reposition my leg to give the baby a little extra room to pop out. Mickey was born exactly 13 hours after I went into labor at 4:40pm. I was oblivious to him actually being out and Jessica handed the baby under my arm and into my hands saying «Kati, look at your baby». I could hear the smile in her voice. ***Okay, you came for a review not a birth story right??? Well, you’re getting both. Birth is important and these midwives kick major ass.***
Jessica and Big Love weighed Bebe Smash and she took many measurements. She tenderly turned the baby over, smiling the entire time and I knew that my child was in the best care with these two. Our family came and they quietly left saying they would be back for hugs and a visit the next day.
During postnatal visits they came to check on me and the baby. I had difficultly with breastfeeding but Jessica sat right next to me and showed me different positions for Bebe Smash to be in while I tried to get the hang of it. She shared her own stories of early parent difficulty that made me feel much better. Sarafina sat on a little stool and rubbed my feet. They were just so loving. I called them and texted them a hundred times over the first 3 weeks with questions and pictures. They responded to every one. Often calling hours later to check up on my progress. With any new concern my husband would look at me and say «we’d better ask the midwives». A call or a text later and our fears would dissolve into the abyss. How lucky we were.
During one visit they did a heel prick on Bebe Smash for some blood work. He didn’t make a peep while Sarafina blotted drops of blood onto the paper and I commented on how he didn’t even move. She told me — and this is how I feel about the care me and my family have received from both Sarafina and Jessica through this entire experience — «it’s because we do it with loving intention».
I can honestly say that my husband and I genuinely love these women. I can say with certainty that they love us in return. And they love our son, we’ve seen that through the excellent care they’ve provided over the past year. These women are more than midwives. They love so honestly and yet so professionally. I can’t imagine any other way to go through the stages of having a baby. We often comment on what we’re going to do once we’re done having babies. I’m confident we will find a way to infiltrate their lives so we can know them for many years to come. We have a healthy, happy, thriving baby boy and I know it’s because he has led a very gentle life — from his days as a little sesame seed, through birth, and until now when he’s learning to roll over. They were instrumental in helping us achieve this for him. We are planning more births and without a doubt, these women will be a part of those as well.