Words cannot describe the ways we are forever changed by your comforting wisdom, confident knowledge and guiding spirit- we are forever grateful! Thank you so very much for helping us realize the greatest, grandest love of all- the existence of our daughter Calliope Swan. Your service to Life keeps hope and peace alive and makes everthing possible. We love you and look forward to creating our future with you!
-- Stephanie Alston and Kelly Quirke

A Dad’s thoughts on the birth experience:
Our midwives were an important part of the experience for us, making sure that we were safe and helping us through labor and birth. Maria was awesome. You just get this sense around her that you are in safe hands. She has this great calm, experienced, strong, yet supportive and nurturing way about her. Niko and I were so honored to have her as our mid-wife. In fact, Niko, just the other day, in a bout of post partum tears, was upset about not getting to be nurtured by Maria any more. Her assistant Michelle was also great and helped Niko through her labor with some good hypno-birthing mantras. Nancy was Maria’s backup, who was also awesome – definitely cut from the same cloth as Maria.

This was the most amazing experience of my life. Niko is an amazingly strong, powerful, visionary woman. Having Caleb at home was her vision. She wanted us to be relaxed and to get to labor and give birth in a natural and free flowing way. She wanted Caleb to be born into a relaxed, warm, soothing and inviting environment. And, as usual, what she created was absolutely amazing. Going through labor and Caleb’s birth was the most intimate experience for us. Knowing that she wanted me near; that she needed to grab hold of me to help her get through her contractions was incredibly gratifying. Getting to pull Caleb out of her and then lie with her on our bed while he took his first breaths was otherworldly.
-- a proud new Dad
From Niko:
I'm honored to get to work with such a powerful change agent who's helping the world see women as powerful creators.

A Midwife is...

I had a home birth with a midwife 3 weeks ago, and it was a fabulous experience. A midwife is like a doula + nurse practitioner rolled into one. Besides providing comprehensive prenatal care, she was able to coach us through all phases of labor and medical care for mom & baby after delivery. And the post-partum home visits at 1, 3, 8 and 21 days were invaluable - she did lactation consulting, gave us early reassurance about our baby's weight gain, coached us on newborn care, gave me guidance on post-partum rest & rehabilitation exercises, and diagnosed out baby's clogged tear duct correctly (which our pediatrician's office took two visits to figure out). Plus - midwifery fees can often be submitted to insurance for reimbursement (doulas cannot). Plenty of respected research supports the safety of planned home birth (most recent large prospective trial published in the British Medical Journal), but for women who need to deliver in a hospital due to a complication, the midwife stays by your side and adopts a doula role. For someone interested in home birth, it's a good idea to start looking early in pregnancy (first trimester), because midwifes typically only accept 4 clients per month (to guarantee they can attend every client's birth), and book up quickly. Things to include in the interview may be to ask for client reference, type of training, and whether or not they can prescribe medications.

I'd love to share my motivation in choosing a home birth too, which was to maximize the odds of a positive birth experience for me and my baby, while minimizing the chance of unnecessary intervention. I wasn't trying to be a hero or earn bragging rights. After the fact, I am now convinced of an unexpected bonus: that the pain of labor is IMMENSELY reduced by laboring and delivering at home due to innumerable comfort measures (both physical and psychological); I have much more respect for all the women who manage their labors in a hospital - kudos to you, ladies!

Sincerely,
Laura Swaminathan (mom to Rohan, born at home, 3/24/08)

Dalyce Bubemyre says:

I also wanted to tell you I was able to catch you on the radio and you were so amazing. I wanted to call in to share my experience, but the second I heard your voice and how excited you were about Ben's baby, I could not stop crying. I am not quite sure how to put into words how I felt. You are such a special individual, our baby is so blessed to have been brought into the world by you. You are gentle and strong, mild and powerful, sunshine, light, and a rock. You have such conviction, an a wonderful way of inviting people in.

As I sit watching (peaceful) Reed sleep in our room, I feel the warmth of your spirit through the energy you so generously shared.

thank you for being you.

much love,
dalyce

Christina says:

Well, when I look back on all the surrounding circumstances of the pregnancy, and the inherent hormones, I sometimes think I just didn't convey my utter gratitude for all your hard work!!  You were amazing, and everything went so smoothly - and most importantly, I felt like when it came down to the difficult moments (with the heart monitor, and suggestions of supplements, or what we'd do if she was "late") I experienced your ability to really listen to me and my needs for the kind of birth I wanted to have.  Of course I knew you would have to do what you had to do, should the situation arise where my needs simply couldn't be met...but I felt that would only happen in an emergency, not because of your ego or agenda.  That was a real relief, because I'm so particular.  :)  But yes, those words were and are sincere - I now understand why, when people would ask, "who's your midwife," before I could utter your last name, they would say, "OOooh, Maria!  Yes, she birthed..." and proceed with a list of 3-4 babies they knew who you'd had a part in bringing into the world.  -- Mother of Anna Lena, born at home, 5/9/10

Dorothy F. says:

Words cannot express my gratitude for the brilliance you brought to Evan and me through his birth. Even when things got the most painful and scary for me, I had a confidence you would keep us safe. My favorite memory was after you had to take him from my chest to help with his breathing. I thought I would have been disappointed- but instead I looked at you, Nova and Amanda and heard myself saying, "There are the 3 angels who came to take care of my son." I saw so much skill and compassion. It felt like all was just perfect. --Mother of Evan, born at home, 7/13/10

Dulce Baron says:
Let me start by saying we love and appreciate you so much. Like my mother says, "tu eres familia."

Thank you for teaching, guiding and nurturing me during this process. I feel such pride with this experience and you will always be in our hearts.

P.S. It's pretty cool to be part of the "Maria was my midwife" club! -- Mother of Luna Amilca, born at home, 9/12/10

Hazel says:

We have immense gratitude for making our pregnancy, birth, and after birth (first days) a positive experience. It was so important to us to feel secure throughout the process and you helped us feel that and make our experience loving and sacred. We felt respected and empowered while navigating such new territory. We can't thank you enough for helping bring and welcome Talay into this world. -- Mother of Talay, born at home, 9/21/10

Doralina says:

Thank you for being there and being a part of the best experience of my life -- making sure my experience was beautiful, fulfilling, and most of all, SAFE! -- Mother of Xiona, born at home on 12/20/10

Catherine says:

I'm sitting here holding my beautiful baby Gabe and thinking of just how thankful I am that you were present for his birth. How can I thank you enough? Your counsel and encouragement during the pregnancy were invaluable to me, and your taking the time to be with us at St. Luke's will never be forgotten. You have a tremendous and generous spirit. Our entire family has been forever enriched since my first encounter with you. You are truly remarkable.

Catherine T. says:

I just wanted to thank you again for your midwifery services. I loved the prenatal and postpartum support you gave us and you made our hospital birth really great. Thanks for getting Luca to us so soon after the delivery!

Angela Isaac, PT says:

We are so grateful for all you have done to help bring Etienne into this world. Your nurturing and guidance for both he and I was incredible. Your work is the most amazing kind and you are very gifted. (mom of Etienne, born at home)

Stacey Keegan says:

Thank you for your tremendous support and strong stand in ensuring a natural hospital birth for baby Nuala. Your confidence in me from the get-go exceeded my own faith. I can't express in words what an honor it was to have you at my delivery , by my side when I truly thought I couldn't manage the pain. Your talent and expertise impacts my experience far, far beyond the birthing of our beautiful baby girl.

Brook Broughton, SF Ballet and Opera, says:

Your presence in my life has been so meaningful as I've gone through this major rite of passage into motherhood and through the births of two wonderful and perfect children in Xavier and Grace. I am certainly a different woman than I was 5 years ago, and I will always, always cherish this time. I have never been happier as I have been as a new mother. None of this would mean as much if it hadn't been for such wonderful pregnancies and births and for this I acknowledge and thank you for your truly wonderful and inspirational care. (mom of Xavier and Grace, both born at home)

MK McKown, NP Says:
Maria and Heather came to our house and facilitated a safe, loving birth of our daughter- we couldn’t have asked for a better birth. I felt totally safe and comfortable with Maria’s skills and knowledge and was most appreciative of her calm and supportive energy during labor and birth and her efficiency and thoroughness in the hours immediately after the birth. My appointments with Maria are and will always be, one of my fondest memories of my pregnancy.

Maria’s care is wholistic, thorough, and well organized. But the best part is that her care is intensely personal—by the time of the birth, I felt like a deeply trusted friend was coming to be with me and my family during a very special event.

As a nurse practitioner with 20 years of nursing experience, I feel very confident recommending Maria for homebirth or assistance/advocacy for a hospital birth.—
MK McKown, Nurse Practitioner, Mother of Kealey and Arden, both born at home (Arden was 10 pounds and was a water birth!)

Robyn Liston Says:

I am still in bliss from my birth experience. It was a gift beyond anything I could ever dream of. It helped me realize my true strength. Now I feel like I can do anything. Thank you for being my beautiful guide through it. I can't wait for Baby #2.

Robyn Liston, Mother of Pi

Dawn Orluske Says:
We chose Maria for her experience, knowledge, calm demeanor and love of families. We felt very comfortable with her. [At the birth] Maria came as soon as we called her. She was loving, encouraging, and on top of everything at our birth. My labor went quickly, so she had to act quickly in many respects.

Maria was reassuring with every concern we had in pregnancy. I always felt calm and trusting in the naturalness of pregnancy and childbirth after seeing Maria. My O.B. really frightened me- I know I had such a wonderful delivery at home because Maria believed in my ability and the absolute wellness of my baby.—
Dawn Orluske, Mother of Ileana, born at home

Felicia Mancini, CNM Says:
I am so proud to call you my midwife and friend and feel in awe of your constant commitment and love for Birth.—
Felicia Mancini, Certified Nurse Midwife and Mother of Isabella, Cosimo and Michaelangelo. Isabella was born at home and her twin brothers were born by C-section in the hospital