I had a wonderful birth experience with Kathy as my midwife. From the start, Kathy was great at answering my questions, addressing my concerns, and putting my whole family at ease. She welcomed my husband and five-year-old son at our appointments and really helped both of them become comfortable with the idea of a home birth. Throughout my pregnancy Kathy was available for questions and concerns outside of appointments, and she made me feel that all my thoughts and questions were worthwhile.
My daughter surprised us all by deciding to come a bit early, but Kathy and her assistant came as soon as we called. I delivered pretty quickly but both Kathy and her assistant walked me through the contractions and let me do whatever felt “right” during that time. They really helped make my daughter’s birth a positive experience for my entire family.
Kathy’s postpartum care was also excellent. Immediately after the birth she allowed us time to bond as a family while also making sure I was recovering well. She and her assistant made us breakfast, cleaned up from the birth, did some laundry, and started me on the road to healing. One of my favorite things was the big bag of postpartum herbs to use in my bath; they smelled great, felt wonderful on my sore body, and were good for my new baby too! In the week after birth Kathy was always promptly available for questions and concerns, and her assistant took care of a few things that I wasn’t able to do myself like making placenta prints for me.
All in all, I had a wonderful experience with Kathy, and I’m so glad that I chose her to be my midwife!
Iowa City, IA
I am so very happy that my partner and I used Kathy as our midwife for the birth of our daughter. Kathy and her wonderful assistant made my prenatal, birth, and post-birth experiences everything that I wished they could be. It's difficult to put in words what the care I received from this team meant to me and why it was such an incredible experience. I felt empowered, respected, and supported. Kathy listened to my fears and concerns and addressed them, took seriously my wishes and preferences, and took plenty of time to discuss each aspect of my care with me. She was there to walk with me through the portions of my pregnancy, birth, and post-birth that I felt unprepared for or scared of. I felt truly cared for. I heard another client say that she felt like Kathy was really a part of her family by the time her baby was born, and I can honestly say that I feel the same way - she took me through the most incredible, life-changing experience I've ever had and I love her like family.
I feel deeply grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Kathy through my pregnancy, birth, and the weeks following my baby's birth. She gives so much of herself to every woman she cares for and provides pre-natal, birthing, and post-birth services that every woman deserves, but few are lucky enough to get. I certainly count myself lucky.
Iowa City, IA
My husband and I loved having Kathy as our midwife for the birth of our son. Our experience was nothing short of perfect!
Kathy was so encouraging, knowledgeable, understanding and easy to journey with. We met with Kathy at her home office for the first 2 and a half trimesters of my pregnancy, where we felt more than comfortable, and then from 36 weeks on we met in our own home. Kathy offered all of the routine exams that an MD would but with so much more of a gentle spirit and personal approach.
When it came to the Birth Day, Kathy was so calm and serene…she was perfect. Because of the personal, friendly relationship we had developed during my pregnancy I felt more than comfortable following her directions and letting her do what she needed for my son to be born quickly and free of harm. Kathy honored and respected all of our wishes. Our son’s birth was beautiful!
Ely, IA
For me, one critical aspect of Kathy's approach to labor and delivery was that she had a plan. A plan of action based on my previous birth story, my current pregnancy, and my and my partner's desires for the delivery of this baby. I found her direct and experienced approach refreshing and reassuring. Once labor began she acted as an experienced and watchful observer and stepped in only at critical moments to check progress, suggest a new position or redirect the energy. This was done so skillfully and I was so thankful for her presence and discerning, expert guidance. There was a perfect balance of focused action and patient, compassionate observance. The labor was intense but went well and we now have a very healthy, strong (and big!) baby girl!
Iowa City, IA
I consider the labor and natural drug-free vaginal homebirth of my daughter to be the single most empowering moment of my life. Through our appointments with Kathy, our confidence in the natural process grew. She took the time to answer our questions, address our fears and encourage us to contact her with anything that came up. Kathy's approach is gentle and straightforward and she makes sure that you understand what is happening to you, your body and your baby every step of the way.
It also really meant a lot to my husband to be so included in the prenatal, birth and post-postpartum experience. We always tell people about how Kathy, her assistant, and our doula tucked us into our bed, fed me dinner so that I could nurse our daughter, and even sang to us, before leaving the night of her birth. Our house was clean, our child was healthy and we were warm and happy ready to face our first night as parents. It was absolutely perfect.
Iowa City, IA
