I will never fully be able to express my gratitude for this team of amazing people!

I toured Mind Body Birth back in March 2024 when I was 26 weeks pregnant with my third child. I already knew I wanted to transfer my care to midwifery from OB because I was not feeling seen, understood or supported. That all changed as soon as I met Faith!

Faith was very attentive when I spoke and always made sure to explain everything before it happened, as we were doing it and answered any questions my partner or I had. Faith was also available outside of appointment times through the app and also by phone which was so convenient! I was also very lucky to be cared for my Maryam, the student midwife on my team at nearly every appointment. Maryam ALWAYS asked before touching my belly, explained how my baby was positioned and also always made sure I wasn’t in pain or uncomfortable during the exam.

Labor and delivery was amazing and so smooth with this team also! I had an appointment the day before my due date (which my son was born right on his due date) and during this appointment Faith, Maryam, and Miriam (the assistant student midwife) were all present as they would be my birthing team. During this appointment we discussed how I’d started having inconsistent contractions and how to help my body relax to allow my labor to become more consistent. Miriam also helped to guide Maryam with a massage to help my muscles relax and then guided my partner and I through some exercises we could do at home to help also! I went into labor that night and because of all of the preparations we had done as a team I was in such a good headspace for my labor and delivery.

Jasmin

Upon arrival at the birth center everybody allowed me to have space. I didn’t have a bunch of people in my face, touching me or trying to give me an endless amount of information/commands. The team asked my partner many of the questions and allowed me to just be present in my labor. I had initially not wanted a water birth but my son had different plans. The water was the only thing that helped relieve some of the pain and I am so happy this was an option/encouraged to help with my labor. Maryam was still able to check for my son’s heartbeat while I was laboring in the water and delivered him right there in the tub. When it was time to push I felt so safe and confident in my body, baby and team!

My golden hour was truly just that. Once I was settled in the bed everybody left the room and didn’t come back for an hour. The newborn screening went so smoothly and was done right next to me. One of my older sons was able to help cut the cord and my family was able to head home and get settled about 5 hours after delivery.  Maryam also took my placenta for encapsulation and to my surprise also made a tincture and preserved my son’s entire umbilical cord!

All of my postpartum visits I was asked how I felt physically and emotionally. I was also spoken to directly and not through my partner which was so refreshing. At all visits (prenatal and postpartum) I felt like I could really truthfully be myself without judgment. I could feel the love from this team and that I was more than just another patient. I am so happy I chose Mind Body Birth and that Faith has created such a safe space that was also available to everybody (I’m on Medi-Cal and was grateful to find a birthing center that worked with people from all walks).

I have raved to all of my family about how much I loved the entire process and will always be so deeply grateful for the amazing care and beautiful experience Faith was able to provide/allow me to have!

ALSO- my last postpartum visit I was able to get my PAP done which was so convenient and also a very comfortable experience. I haven’t always had the best experiences. Faith explained everything to me before they even began and walked Maryam through the whole process as it was her very first one she’d performed! I have never had such a smooth PAP and there was no pain (which had been an issue in the past with other providers). So not only are they an amazing team for prenatal care but they are an amazing team for reproductive health care as well!

Sierra