testimonials continued

Ryan:

I thought our home birth went well. Being at home was so much more comfortable than the hospital. Any concerns or what if scenarios were discussed in advance so I knew my wife and baby were in good hands. While the idea of another baby down the road is still up for debate, hiring Ashley as our midwife again is one decision we would already have settled.

Kirsten:

My home birth was exactly the redemption I needed after a high intervention hospital birth with my twins 5 years prior. The relationship I developed with Ashley throughout prenatal appointments was so much different than my previous pregnancy care. I never had to wait and was never rushed out the door. We often spent much of the hour talking and really building trust and understanding. Even when I started to doubt myself in labor and I felt like things were taking too long, Ashley never doubted me. Her encouragement and reassurance was exactly what I needed. I also loved that my older kids were able to be present for the birth. Being tucked into my own bed shortly after giving birth and having the first few postpartum checkups at home was priceless. Having professional and knowledgeable care but feeling like you’re hanging out with a close friend is what I wish every woman could experience. I will excitedly go this route again if we have any future children. 

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to giving birth, especially deciding who to put your trust in. I was a little nervous that busy nurses working in a big hospital wouldn’t have the time to treat us like anything other than “another patient”. I knew that my personality would not work well with controlling nurses. My wife and I wanted to be the ones making important decisions. I liked the idea of getting to know Ashley and what I could expect from her. But I also wasn’t sure that doing a birth at home would have all that is necessary for being safe and controlled. Ashley did a very good job at teaching us what we needed to know to be safe, as well as informing us about all of our options and preferences.
The birth went smoothly with the help of Ashley and her team. Ashley was there with the support we needed to coach us through the tougher times of the birth, and she was also there for us for many weeks after the birth for checkups. She definitely won our trust, and we plan on going back if we’re blessed with more children.

Eliana:

From the moment that I found out that I was pregnant, I knew that I wanted a home birth. I had never had a baby before, I did not know anyone that had a home birth before, and I had no idea how to make it happen, but I was determined. I scheduled a consultation with Ashley to learn more. I had my questions answered, my concerns reassured, and Ashley provided me with paperwork that laid out plainly some of the expectations going forward regarding finances & logistics. She provided me with her cell phone number in case I had any other questions or concerns going forward. She was extremely accessible & flexible throughout my pregnancy. She did not challenge my convictions or desires regarding my health, my pregnancy, my birth plan, my postpartum desires, or my baby’s health. She educated me regarding my options, let me make my own decisions, and respected every choice that I made. At each appointment that I had, she asked questions in order to be able to get a full understanding of what I desired and envisioned for my birth. 

The home birth was an incredible experience. I was relaxed and glad to be in the comfort of my own home, and to be able to fall asleep in my own bed just a few hours after my birth. Ashley had been spending months learning about me, my husband, and what we had planned for our birth. She had also been taking note of the health of my baby and I leading up to our birth, and I felt entirely confident in her in-depth knowledge of both my baby & I. 

It was such a blessing to not have to worry about logistics during my home birth. All that I had to do was focus on my labor & contractions as Ashley walked my husband through preparing a few things over the phone prior to her arrival, and then Ashley and her team took over from there. I gave birth exactly how I wanted to, and they did the rest. Ashley and her team took great care of me, and I hope and pray I am able to have more babies in the comfort of my own home with a competent team that I have full confidence in.

Dakota:

When my wife first told me she wanted to have a home birth, I definitely had my concerns, but I knew this was ultimately my wife’s decision and I was going to support her through it. I was most concerned because I had never known anyone to have gone through a home birth, and I just wanted to make sure that my wife and our baby would be okay. After appointments and hearing how excited my wife was to give birth at home, and the more confidence that she developed in herself and in the birth team at Empowered Midwifery, the more confident that I became with her decision. 

During the home birth, I was totally shocked and equally impressed with my wife and how she was able to handle the birth. After seeing how childbirth is portrayed in the media as a medical crisis and an emergency, it completely changed my perspective to be able to watch my wife peacefully deliver our baby in the comfort of our own home. It was extremely nice to have a team there to help my wife and I through the process, so that I could focus on helping her. They took care of the rest. 

I certainly hope that we are able to go through this process again as our family grows, and I would tell anyone questioning whether or not a home birth is right for them… pursue it. You can always change your mind, but I would encourage you to have faith. Have faith in the mother birthing the child. It is natural, they were created for this, and it truly can be a peaceful experience. With the help and support of Empowered Midwifery, we were able to experience a peaceful home birth, exactly as we wanted it to be. 

Ashley is extremely knowledgeable and very good at what she does. She made me feel very comfortable and answered any questions I had. I never felt pressured to do anything I wasn't comfortable with. 

I had two births before this one but this was my first home birth. Ashley continued to make sure I was a good candidate for a home birth and it was a completely different experience. She was right there and available during the pregnancy, during labor and delivery and even postpartum.

It takes a very special person to do this work and you can really tell Ashley's heart is in it as she really cares for her clients. She is truly fantastic at what she does.