Testimonials

• Susan and Susanrachel answered every question we had, ever.  They gave us the information we needed to make choices that were right for us throughout our pregnancy and labor.  The fact that two such experienced and knowledgeable women supported those choices helped us feel confident, calm and blessed, even when our families and friends expressed doubt. They were so easy to talk to and fun to be with that when it came time to give birth, we were as happy to have them there as friends as we were to have them as midwives.  During Cosmo's birth we felt completely safe and supported.

  They continued to check in after the birth to make sure everyone was happy and healthy and getting the hang of things. They even helped us get our insurance company to pay the bill. They are truly birth super-heroines—we cannot imagine a safer, more loving way to have brought little Cosmo into the world.  Words really cannot express the gift they gave us through their service; we are better parents and people for knowing them.

  Marly, Rabs & Cosmo

• Though I bore my own two children under bright hospital lights, my real experience of the wonder of childbirth was in attending the home birth of my grandson. Being a witness to the emergence of his little head and body, and in such a subdued and calm environment, I finally felt the full miracle.

  Lucinda Tavernise
  (grandmother of Judah, born August 16, 2009)

• The care I received during my experience with River and Mountain was how I think all pregnancy and birthing experiences should be. It was personal, loving, supportive, and sensitive. My family grew in many ways during the experience -- not only did I have a beautiful baby in my safe and loving home, I found an extended family in the midwives who helped me every step of the way. I can't imagine a better way to have a baby.

  Brandi Gabriele

• As a healthcare provider I knew that a hospital birth was not the right decision for our family. I wanted to bring my daughter into this world in a quiet, natural way surrounded by family and friends. From our first meeting with Susan and Birdie I knew they were exactly the people we were looking for to help us fulfill this goal. When my water broke at 36 weeks, my vision of a beautiful home birth was shattered. Although things weren't going as planned, Susan and Birdie never left our sides. Accompanying my husband and me to the hospital they did everything in their power to ensure our birth plan was followed as closely as possible. Even with the added stress of being in the hospital I was able to have a beautiful unmedicated birth. Our daughter was born at a healthy 5 lbs and 18.5 inches, with no need for medical intervention from the NICU. Susan stayed with us after the birth, ensuring that my child came directly to me, placed chest to chest with me and then offered assistance with nursing. As long as we are capable, we will always ask the River and Mountain Midwives to join us for the births of all of our future children. Their care and compassion for families will far exceed your expectations.

  The Shirk Family,
  Nathan, Kim and Addison Grace

• We had always considered a home birth for various reasons: the health of baby and mama, the ability to have control over the birthing environment, the intimacy of being at home, etc. What we hadn't counted on, but was delightfully apparent from the first moment we met with the Susans and Ellen, was that they would become intertwined in our lives, and in the lives of our son, for all time. Their care, attention, love, knowledge, laughter, and patience infused our son's first moments here. In our unnecessarily fast-paced world, the Susans and Ellen created a sanctuary for us, in both our prenatal meetings and during labor. They reminded us to breath and find joy and humor in a uniquely human experience. Their joy and warmth continues to inspire us each day as new parents. Birthing with them is a wonderful way to welcome a baby into our world.

  Carrie Patch-Knudsen

• How lucky we all are to have the Susans bringing we humans into this world! The deep honor and respect they have for babies and new mothers and fathers is clear the first time you meet them. They will guide you through the highs and lows that pregnancy can bring and when you are ready to give birth they make you feel as strong and capable as we women truly are. They continue to visit you after your beautiful baby has been born to make sure that all is going smoothly. I can't tell you how important it was to have knowledgeable women in my life at this point to help me into my new role as mother. The Midwifery model of care really nurtures all aspects of pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. The Susans are there to guide you on your path with humor, experience, compassion, confidence and a true love of what they do - for they are transforming the world into a more peaceful, loving and sacred place one baby at a time and who wouldn't love doing that?

  Adriana Magaña

• The experience that I had with these wonderful women I will never forget. From the moment we walked into their office again for our second pregnancy, it felt like I was walking into my second home. The bonds that were formed from our first child still remained as strong as the last time we had seen them. The trust that was instilled in me from our first birth made my wife and me very confident that there was no other place that we would rather be. We opened our hearts and the same trust flowed when we got to know Ellen, 'the new girl'. We knew the private care that we would receive with the midwives exceeds care in the typical hospital setting. The night Sebastian was born was a night I will never forget. The calming energy the midwives brought with them created the perfect atmosphere for the labor and birth. I wanted to catch the baby and they said 'Yes, Roy you will!" Wow, what a mind blower! I will never forget it as long as I live. "It's a Boy! It's a Boy!" Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
  
  Being taken care of by these three women was being in caring and gentle hands that made my birth go without hesitation, doubt, or any drugs. I have never felt so safe in the care of someone else, I knew they were there for the best interest of my baby, then me and then my husband... never them. I will always have this beautiful bond with them. Susan, Birdie and Ellen, I love you and thank you for my beautiful family.

  Roy Brueckner/Sandy Brueckner

• Thank you for a wonderful birth! Now that we've had time to process it all, we realize how crucial it was for the whole family to welcome our little one at home. The confidence you gave us and the space you gave us to do it our way was amazing and priceless. The prenatal care and constant availability by far exceeded my expectations. We can't thank you enough.

  JR, mother of two

• The day of the birth arrived and I was excited, nervous, grateful and full of love. The Susans had been at our home for a few hours, the birth process progressing smoothly and Dana had found a way to manage her pain – inward and alone. I was feeling left out of the experience; I really wanted something to do. Then, as if divinely inspired, Susanrachel turned and said, “Can you make coffee?” This is exactly the reason we chose to have a homebirth. Everything was familiar – our bed, our pets, the art and, yes, even the coffee maker. Sylvan emerged healthy and full of energy and Dana was feeling great.

  Mark G

• I want to let you know that I consider myself blessed to have known you both. I appreciate your not treating me as "a number." You helped to comfort me in so many ways in the absence of having my mother or a spouse during my pregnancy. You have also changed my perspective on how the medical field could be in an ideal world.

  KD, single mother

• I was firmly in the mind-frame that a hospital birth, to me, was only going to be an option if it was a medical requirement. We spent a lot of time talking about my ideals for the birth, my hopes and dreams, my fears. For me, the midwifery care that I got was the perfect balance of letting me have my say, letting me make lots of choices and yet still being cared for by professionals who were trained to watch out for any potential problems. I knew I could do it and I knew I wanted to do it. It felt very right for me.

  Karen Pogge MD