After the Long Beach Birthing Center closed unexpectedly, my husband immediately began searching…read moreeverywhere for a midwife who could take over our birth care. From the very beginning, we knew we did not want a hospital birth--both because of the high costs and the increased rate of C-sections. Finding the right midwife felt urgent and incredibly important, especially since this was my first pregnancy. That's when we found Laura. From the first conversation, my husband and Laura connected very well, and after meeting her in person, we knew she was the right choice. Laura made me feel truly welcomed, cared for, heard, and supported--something that meant everything to me as a first-time mom. At every appointment, Laura took the time to explain how our baby was doing, confirmed that she was positioned correctly, and walked us through what to expect at each stage. She guided me on workouts, nutrition, and overall prenatal care, always making sure I felt confident and informed. Anytime I had worries or questions, Laura reassured us that our baby girl was progressing beautifully, which brought us so much peace throughout the pregnancy. When the big day finally arrived, labor began early in the morning but didn't turn active until the following day. At around 3 a.m. in June, our little girl decided it was finally time. Labor was long, but Laura and her team were absolutely incredible. They supported me every step of the way--offering water, snacks, encouragement, and constant reassurance. They regularly checked our baby's heartbeat to ensure she was doing well and never made me feel rushed or pressured. I had planned on a water birth, but my body had other plans--and Laura was so supportive and adaptable, honoring what my body needed in the moment. By morning, our baby girl arrived (quite literally popping out!), and Laura guided me calmly and confidently through delivery. Her presence made me feel relaxed, safe, and completely cared for. Laura and her team handled everything with such professionalism and compassion, allowing me to focus entirely on welcoming my daughter into the world. I also can't say enough great things about her lactation consultant, Chelsea, who was absolutely amazing and so helpful. Laura even recommended our pediatrician and doctor, which made the transition into postpartum care seamless. Because of Laura, I was able to spend extra, uninterrupted time bonding with my baby girl, and that experience is something I will forever cherish. I am beyond grateful that Laura was available when we needed her most. If I am ever pregnant again, there is no question--I would absolutely return to Laura without hesitation. Thank you Laura for all the support you have given us!

I moved to Redondo Beach at 30 weeks pregnant, searching for a midwife for a VBAC after two…read moreC-sections. Despite warnings, I hired Laura because she had experienced a VBA2C herself, which made me feel confident in her abilities. I paid $7,000 before 37 weeks, but from the start, red flags appeared. Laura frequently overshared personal issues- venting about her husband mistreating her and why recent clients were transferred to the hospital. She described one transfer as a mother "refusing to get on her hands and knees despite being in pain." It felt like more of her clients were being transferred than successfully giving birth at her center. Additionally, she and her children were constantly sick, making me worry about exposure as a pregnant mom with toddlers. As my due date approached, she had me sign paperwork with business names from other midwives, clearly copied and pasted, which felt sloppy and unprofessional. When my water broke, she gave me swabs that were supposed to turn bright blue if it was amniotic fluid. Even though I knew my water had broken, the test initially didn't change color, so Laura dismissed it, insisting I had urinated on myself. It took days for a proper swab to confirm it, delaying care and increasing my risk of infection. When I expressed concern, she casually asked if I "wanted to go to the hospital," then told me that legally she'd have to transfer me after three days- completely disregarding the fact that I had been telling her about my water breaking all along. At one of my appointments, she introduced another midwife, Amy, which made me uncomfortable because Laura had previously vented to me about how Amy "wouldn't stop touching her" during her own labor despite being asked not to. She even called Amy the B-word and said Amy walked out on her during labor. Knowing this, it felt extremely unprofessional that she brought her in to assist with my care. Later, Laura accused me of avoiding check-ups, which was untrue and upsetting. I lived three minutes from the birthing center and was always willing to come in. Despite her personal struggles, I had even offered to support her. During labor, Laura's birth assistant, Haika, was the only good part of my experience. She was kind, gentle, and truly passionate about birth work. If you're looking for a midwife, I highly recommend skipping Laura and going straight to Haika. When Haika was present, I was progressing well, reaching 7 cm. But when Laura took over so Haika could rest, everything changed. Her cervical exams were painful, rough, and intrusive. Her energy was intimidating, and I stopped progressing. Eventually, I had to transfer to the hospital, and honestly, I was relieved to leave. At the hospital, I received an epidural, which allowed me to relax enough to fully dilate, but during my stay, I was also sexually harassed by a doctor who is now under investigation at Cedars. After birth, I discovered that Laura had taken several photos of my private areas without my consent. I asked her to delete them, and while she agreed, she never did so in front of me. She also failed to complete my postpartum visits, using her constant illnesses as an excuse, but never reached out to reschedule or check on me or my newborn. Seven months later, she sent me a Mother's Day text, but by then, I had nothing more to say--she never followed through on the care I paid for. It took me a year to write this, but it needs to be shared. My experience was the opposite of the glowing reviews I read before hiring her. Every time she gets a negative review, a friend posts a five-star one, but those of us who've actually worked with her know the truth. I've since connected with other former clients who had similar experiences. If you're searching for a midwife, please reconsider working with Laura. This is a warning from one mother to another- there are far better options. ** and just like i said, immediately after Laura gets a negative review, she asks a friend (or it could be her behind a fake profile) to give a 5 star review. She's extremely toxic and if you work with her- you will 100% see how accurate the negative reviews are. Hire at your own risk!

Going through my first birth experience with Katie as my midwife was truly a gift. Every prenatal…read morevisit was done right in my home -- no stressful drives to the doctor's office, no sitting in waiting rooms. Blood tests, check-ups, and even listening to my baby's heartbeat all happened right on my couch. But the convenience was just the beginning. Katie's care was exceptional in every way a family hopes for when choosing a midwife. She brought a depth of knowledge and clinical skill that made me feel safe and confident from day one -- monitoring both my health and my baby's with precision and explaining everything clearly so I always understood my options. She balanced that expertise with a calm, grounded presence that instantly put me at ease. She answered my million questions with a calm smile (hey, it's my first time!), so when it came time to give birth, I felt informed, supported, and ready. From her gentle hands and confident decision-making to her unwavering emotional support, Katie embodied the perfect mix of professionalism and heart. In week 35, my blood pressure became too high for a home birth, and Katie guided and supported me in the process of reconnecting with my OB's office seamlessly. I experienced a level of continuity of care between homebirth and hospital that I wish every woman could have! After my son was born, Katie went above and beyond to visit us at the hospital as well as follow up visits at home. I cannot recommend her enough. If you're on the fence, choose Katie!

I feel beyond grateful to have had Katie by my side for both of my births. She is everything you…read morecould ever want in a midwife: warm, deeply competent, organized, and so clearly made for this work. From the moment she walks into the room, there's a sense of calm and confidence that fills the space. This is so important, especially when you're pregnant! She has an incredible way of balancing professionalism with genuine care, anticipating what you need before you even realize it, guiding with steady reassurance, and treating each moment with respect and grace. Her presence made both of my birth experiences not only safe and supported, but truly beautiful!! She's a dream to work with: kind, grounded, and always on top of every detail. I trusted her completely, and that trust allowed me to relax and be fully present. There's no doubt she was born to do this work, and I can't imagine my birth stories without her in them. Katie, thank you for everything you've done for me and my family, you are forever part of our story.

As first time expecting parents, my husband and I were looking for some guidance in the delivery…read moreroom, so we decided to search for someone who could give us hands on training as well as confidence during the delivery. We found this in Patricia. She gave us a step by step guide on what to expect at the hospital, explained the different stages that we would experience during the contractions and gave us management techniques to use to reduce pain and stress. After the class, my husband and I felt confident and prepared, which was a far cry from where we started. We highly recommend Patricia's class!

Very poor communication. I followed up multiple times over several weeks with no response. A simple…read moreupdate would have been appreciated and professional.

Tldr: Get the deluxe package. You won't regret it…read more I can't recommend Holly highly enough. I've really struggled to write this review because I can't put my gratitude into words. Before, during, and after my birth, Holly was beyond supportive to both my husband and me. Leading up to our due date, Holly helped us articulate our goals and provided relevant resources that helped us feel so prepared. When we went past our due date and we felt conflicted about what steps to take, she helped us clarify our thinking, gave me the confidence to advocate for myself, and brought so much calm to some stressful situations. During labor, Holly was an absolute master. She got me through labor without an epidural and helped coach me through getting my baby out in only four pushes! She also helped keep my husband calm through what could have been a very nerve wracking experience. Without her, we both would have been so much more scared and uncertain. It was so reassuring to know we had someone we could trust to guide us through such a monumental moment in our lives. After my baby was born, I really struggled. Holly showed up for me in ways that I feel were beyond the call-of-duty for a typical doula. She was truly there for me in the most vulnerable time of my life. Then, at our postpartum well check, she helped me process my birth story. Prior to our meeting, I felt traumatized. After our meeting, I feel lucky and grateful. I don't know what she did to help me reframe the experience in my mind, but I am way more at peace. I can confidently say that Holly made the most earth-shattering experience of my life infinitely better. I don't even want to think what it would have been like without her.

We booked with Holly only a few weeks before my due date for our first baby and planned home birth…read moreas she came highly recommended by our midwife. We had interviewed multiple doulas, but after talking with Holly on the phone, we knew she was the one for us and hired her basically right away. It wasn't until later that we saw all of her glowing reviews haha, and now we're so excited to add our own because Holly is truly amazing! To be honest, I wasn't even sure that I needed a doula given the home birth setting. My husband was sold on the idea, but I wasn't convinced. That completely changed during labor. At one point during contractions, I remember thinking, "I want Holly here," and I was SO glad we had her. Before the birth, Holly met with us for a mini childbirth education and labor prep session, which was incredibly helpful. She brought models and diagrams to help us visualize everything, especially for my husband, and showed us hands-on counter-pressure techniques. She even loaned us some books. She was incredibly thoughtful with her intake form and communication leading up to the birth, always responsive and great about following up. She even texted us months later post birth just to check in! When Holly arrived in the early hours of the morning, she swooped right in and immediately brought such a grounding, peaceful presence. She relieved my husband and mom so they could go get some sleep and immediately helped with leg lifts. Her many years of experience and calm confidence helped me to trust her with trying different positions in a way I couldn't with my family. Holly made us all feel at ease that everything was normal, and she also helped us realize that we were actually much closer to the end than we thought! What I especially love about Holly is how intuitive she is. She wasn't pushy at all and knew how to listen to me and my body, even when I wasn't really using words during labor lol. She understood when I needed support and when I needed space. During a rest window right before pushing, she protected that quiet space and kept everything hands-off, which was exactly what I needed in that moment. Holly really understands physiological birth and trusts the natural process. She has such a special touch that makes labor feel calmer and smoother without ever taking over. Because we were at home with our lovely midwife, we didn't really need Holly in an advocacy capacity, but I can absolutely see how she would be a rockstar in a hospital setting. If you're hoping for a natural birth in a hospital, I would consider Holly a must-hire. She truly knows how to best support you while also protecting the birth experience you want. Holly helped us have our dream birth. I am so grateful she was there. We absolutely love Holly and cannot recommend her enough!

Lia was an amazing resource for my husband and me as we prepared for the birth of our son. If…read moreyou're in Long Beach and interested in a natural birth experience or simply want to feel informed and prepared for labor and childbirth, I highly recommend her. She empowers her clients with information and helps them feel confident making the best decisions for themselves. Her kindness and support extended beyond class hours. When I went into labor, she promptly responded to texts from my husband, answered his questions, and offered guidance and reassurance. She helped him better understand how to support me during labor, and that made all the difference in our experience. Birth is beautiful, wild, and unpredictable. Lia helped us feel confident in our birth plan while preparing us to navigate the process as it unfolded. We're so grateful for her knowledge, warmth, and support. Highly recommend!

I took Lia's childbirth class during my first pregnancy in 2023. I live in South Orange County, so…read morethe drive was a bit of a commitment, but it was absolutely worth it. Being in class with other expectant couples created such a supportive environment, and the course was incredibly comprehensive. It gave me the knowledge and confidence to navigate a hospital birth and make informed decisions about the many interventions that are commonly offered. At 38 weeks, my water broke unexpectedly while I was riding a stationary bike. I immediately reached out to Lia for guidance. Since I wasn't experiencing a fever or any signs of infection, she explained that I had options: I could either go to the hospital right away or stay home and wait for labor to begin naturally. She also educated me about the fact that the body continues producing amniotic fluid and that, in some cases, a small rupture in the membranes may even reseal. Knowing that going to the hospital before labor started would likely lead to an induction (which wasn't aligned with my goal of having an unmedicated birth) I chose to stay home and monitor myself. The night before my 39-week OB appointment, I was feeling anxious. I knew that if my provider confirmed my water had broken before labor had started, induction would almost certainly be recommended. I reached out to Lia again, and she suggested trying the Miles Circuit. I followed the stretches that evening, and to my surprise, I went into early labor around 1:00 a.m. Whether it was the Miles Circuit, my body simply being ready, or a combination of both, it gave me the confidence to keep trusting the process. In January 2024, I welcomed a healthy baby girl through the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. While my hospital experience was unfortunately traumatic, the education Lia provided made all the difference. There were many moments when my husband, my doula, and I had to advocate for my birth preferences, and it wasn't always met with respect. Without the knowledge and confidence I gained from Lia's class, I truly believe my birth could have unfolded very differently. I'm now pregnant with my second baby, and one of the first things I did was sign up to retake Lia's class. One of the biggest perks is that once you've taken her course, you can retake it as many times as you'd like for free. Childbirth education isn't something you only benefit from once, and I love having the opportunity to refresh everything I've learned before welcoming another baby. I'm incredibly grateful for everything Lia taught us. Her class empowered me to make informed decisions, advocate for myself, and approach birth with confidence. I wholeheartedly recommend her course to any expecting parents, especially those hoping for an evidence-based, physiologic birth. Even if you have to drive a little farther to attend like I did, it's worth every mile.

If I could give 10 stars, I would. One of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy was hiring…read moreTasha as my midwife. I also chose the at-home prenatal appointments, and they were worth every penny. She is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely cares about her patients as people. The prenatal care was amazing. Thanks to her thoroughness, I discovered I had some deficiencies that my OB-GYN had never tested for. She was always available for questions or concerns, incredibly responsive, and flexible whenever I needed her. But honestly, where Tasha truly shines is during birth and postpartum care. My baby decided to arrive three weeks early at 3:00 a.m. We texted Tasha, and she called us immediately to help determine if I was really in labor. By 10:00 a.m. I was in active labor, and she was already at our house filling the birth pool. The entire birth team followed my lead and created exactly the environment I needed. They only spoke when I needed reassurance or when something important needed to happen. They made sure I stayed hydrated, encouraged, and strong throughout labor. They could even tell what stage I was in just by the sounds I was making. By the time I asked Tasha to check me, I was already 9.5 cm and ready to push. By 3:30 p.m. I was holding my baby. He had the cord wrapped around his neck, but Tasha remained completely calm. She quickly and confidently unwrapped it and placed him in my arms. It was one of the most magical moments of my life. After the birth, while delivering the placenta, I experienced a hemorrhage. Tasha immediately recognized what was happening, administered medication, and monitored me closely. I didn't even realize how serious it was until I told people about it later because she handled everything with such confidence and composure. She kept me safe without ever making me feel afraid. She stayed for hours afterward, helping my baby latch, making sure I was comfortable in bed, and ensuring we were both doing well. She even came back the very next day to check on both of us. Then, on day three, I wasn't producing enough milk and I was completely overwhelmed. Tasha came over, checked on my baby, and helped me emotionally process everything. She even drove all the way to Los Angeles to pick up a bilirubin light for my baby's jaundice and donor milk because I wasn't ready to use formula yet. She truly saved me during those incredibly tender and emotional early days. She went above and beyond by bringing me a quality breast pump, helping me find more donor milk, and checking on us far more than she ever had to. She made me feel safe, and more importantly, she made me feel like my baby was safe. That peace of mind is priceless. Without her, I'm certain I would have ended up in the hospital multiple times over minor issues simply because I was scared and didn't know what to do. Instead, I always had someone I trusted to guide us with knowledge, compassion, and confidence. Even now, I still text Tasha with questions, and she is such an incredible resource. I honestly wish she could be my doctor for every health issue in life. I feel so lucky that our paths crossed. Tasha is an extraordinary midwife and an even more extraordinary human being. If you're fortunate enough to live in the area she serves, don't hesitate to hire her. It will be one of the best decisions you make for yourself and your baby.

I'm so happy my doula convinced me to do a homebirth the third time around and sent me to Tasha…read more Tasha was great to work with leading up to the birth and I couldn't have been happier with my whole birth experience. But what I didn't expect was how amazing it was to have her coming to us to check in on me and my lil one for the first days, weeks and months after the birth. I am so very thankful to have had Tasha supporting me through the whole process. It was by far the best birthing experience I had and I can't even imagine doing something different if we had to do it all again.

My daughter is 15 months old now (holy crap!) and I can't look at her without thinking lovingly of…read moreMonica & Jennifer! I switched from an OBGYN to LA Midwife Collective around 30 weeks pregnant with my daughter and it made all the difference in how I felt about my prenatal care, birth, and postpartum care. I felt cared for, listened to, and protected, which is almost the exact opposite of how I felt at the OBGYNs office. Each visit felt private, calm, and un-rushed (exactly like the birth of my baby!) and after every appointment, I was more and more convinced I was always meant to have my baby at home with M&J. Skipping all the fun stuff: Jennifer caught my baby in my own bed, and then Monica made me the best sandwich I've ever had in my life, and then I got to cuddle with my newborn at home. 10/10 would recommend. We love Monica and Jennifer so much. I won't go into gory detail about HOW much we love them but...I would have another baby just to hang out with Monica and Jennifer again.

Completely unprofessional and neglectful. My experience with Jennifer as a midwife was truly…read moredisturbing. This was my first pregnancy and I was relying on Jennifer to guide me through birth. A couple hours after my contractions became constant and increasingly intense, I called her. She told me to lay down and get some sleep, that it would be at least 24 hours. When I asked if I should let her know when contractions reached a certain timing, she told me not to time them at all. I asked when she would know to come, and her answer was: "I'll hear it in your voice." Apparently that means when you can't speak then she'll come. Four hours later, I gave birth. During that time, I labored alone--scared, confused, and unsupported. Jennifer did not check in with me by text or phone. The doula Jennifer referred me to was also no help during labor. I called her 4 times to please come but she kept saying it wasn't time yet and only telling me to keep breathing over the phone. I felt helpless. Finally, after the fourth call she came and arrived at 10:30, by 11:20pm I gave birth. Jennifer didn't arrive until 12:30am--well after my baby was born. I was worried because she lived over 40 mins away but always told me she would be there. She reassured me she never missed a birth which is obviously a lie. Afterwards, when I tried to express how traumatic this was for me she took no accountability. She claimed she did everything right and only blamed the doula for not communicating with her. She also put the blame on me claiming my labor was just "too fast." She had always told me to wait until she arrived for the tub because she would set everything up. So everything we planned was pointless, I gave birth standing up over my bathroom counter. She said there were absolutely no refunds and never apologized for what I went through. I was robbed of my water birth experience. This was supposed to be a supported, empowering home birth. Instead, it was the most frightening experience of my life. I'm now terrified of ever getting pregnant again. I could never recommend Jennifer as a midwife she will not be there when you need her the most.

Lara was our hypnobabies teacher and our doula. We thought it would be important to have our…read moreteacher and doula be one in the same; It also provided us with more opportunities to get to know her and vice versa. The class was very beneficial and my husband and midwife even commented on how calm the Hypnobabies kept me during the birth. My husband and I questioned hiring a doula and are so glad that we found Lara! Not only are her rates very competitive, but she also brings with her experience, guidance, and expertise. We were planning for a home birth and her visit to our house was super helpful!! She was extremely thorough about what we would need at the house, but she also addressed many topics regarding our family and each other that we had not even thought about. She is the main reason I felt so calm and prepared for our baby's birth. When I started the birthing process, she was available by phone the entire day and came to our home at 11pm?! She has a gift for reading a room and creating the right mood/energy that is needed. She has such a calm, reassuring presence and I knew I was in good hands. Lara worked seamlessly with our midwife and showed my husband how to support me. We had to transfer to a hospital and having Lara (and our midwife) at my side made such a difference. I trusted her and was so grateful she was with us during the entire birth. After the birth of our son, Lara came over for yet another visit and still keeps in touch with me now (three months later). We are so glad she is in our lives!

Investing in Lara's services as our birth doula was one of the best decisions we've ever made! I…read moredid the Hypnobabies Home Study course and knew that I wanted a doula familiar with the Hypnobabies techniques...so who better than the person who teaches the classes?! We met Lara and liked her calm energy, her experience of having attended many births, and her ability to help us prepare for the birth. She met with us multiple times leading up to my due date and was instrumental in getting the house prepared for a home birth. During labor, Lara was my rock! I felt like she was there for me 100%, coaching me through each pressure wave. She gave my husband great instructions so that he could participate in a helpful way (like massaging my back, etc.) I believe Lara's presence helped me to relax and helped my labor to progress quickly. Even though I felt like she was with me the entire time, others at the birth later commented on how impressed they were with Lara's ability to know everything that was happening in the birth environment and to direct others when needed. It's hard to imagine my birthing time without Lara. She was so valuable to me, my husband, and to the team of midwives. I highly recommend her!

She's great if you are interested in a more holistic type of care…read moreDuring pregnancy and childbirth without all of the unnecessary interventions that have become increasingly common.

Dr. Richey is very down to earth, makes you feel very comfortable. I highly recommend her.read more

Tchala holds everything together. Faith is the best midwife doctor I've ever had. Remarkably…read morethorough. Tahira has a deep sense of what each birthing person needs. The entire team at MindBody Birth are like family and kept me and my baby safe and whole through all of the ups and downs of pregnancy. Faith probably saved my life. I'm forever grateful.

I'm now almost five months postpartum, and I wanted to wait until I had some distance from my…read morepregnancy and postpartum experience before writing this review. There were parts of my experience with Faith and her team that I genuinely appreciated, as well as parts that were difficult for me and ultimately made my pregnancy more stressful than I had hoped it would be. Earlier in my pregnancy, communication was sometimes a source of stress for me. There were quite a few times when messages I sent through the chat went unanswered. One situation that particularly concerned me happened around Christmas, when I was told that my lab order might not be put in on time. I was supposed to have my progesterone checked every two weeks, and because I had experienced two prior miscarriages, going even a few days beyond that timeframe made me anxious. As my pregnancy progressed, I also struggled with some of the expectations around my care. At one point, I was told I could be put on probation for not consistently attending my chiropractic appointments, despite communicating that I was struggling financially at the time. I was required to see Sarah specifically, rather than having the option to see a chiropractor closer to me who was more affordable. The visits were also expected weekly, even during times when I felt sore afterward and felt that my body needed a break. The financial aspect became increasingly difficult for my family during the middle and later parts of my pregnancy. My insurance at the time did not cover the ultrasounds I was required to receive, so I was paying approximately $600-$900 per ultrasound on top of payments for Faith's care and chiropractic visits. There was also a $12 valet charge each time I came in for an appointment. My husband and I own a business, and we experienced a slowdown during my pregnancy, so these combined expenses became difficult to manage. I do appreciate that Faith offered me a payment plan through Credee, which helped when the costs began piling up. There were other moments when I felt more pressured than supported. I remember feeling stressed about my baby not being head-down by a certain point in pregnancy. I personally felt that my baby still had time to turn and wanted to trust my body, so the concern around it added anxiety for me rather than reassurance. I had a similar experience with recommendations around drinking 15 cups of water per day and taking herbs after some of my lab numbers were one or two points elevated. I'm personally very cautious about taking herbs or medications unless I feel they're necessary, so I declined the herbs. I sometimes felt judged or pressured when I wasn't meeting those recommendations, rather than feeling that my preferences were fully respected. Toward the end of my pregnancy, I unexpectedly learned during an ultrasound at Keck Medicine that my baby was measuring small, and I ultimately needed to transfer my care to a hospital. This was an overwhelming time, and I really appreciated Faith's support during the transfer. She helped calm me down and reminded me that I still had time to choose the hospital where I wanted to deliver and that I still had a say in my care. That helped me feel like I had some control during a situation that changed very quickly. Tahira was also incredibly helpful during this time. She researched different hospitals for me and helped me explore my options, which ultimately allowed me to choose the hospital where I felt most comfortable delivering my baby. My postpartum experience with Faith was much more positive. She came to my home to check on both me and my baby, and I found her much more pleasant and supportive during that period. After feeling like there were so many expectations I needed to meet throughout pregnancy, postpartum felt like a huge relief because I no longer felt that same pressure. I also want to mention Tchala, who was consistently calm, supportive, and pleasant throughout my experience. I really appreciated her demeanor and the way she interacted with me. Overall, I'm grateful for the support I received during some of the most important moments of my pregnancy, particularly during my transfer and postpartum period. At the same time, I wouldn't describe my overall pregnancy experience as the calm and supportive experience I had hoped for. The combination of financial pressure, required appointments, communication issues, and feeling pressured around certain recommendations created additional stress during an already vulnerable time. I'm sharing this because I think experiences with pregnancy and midwifery care can be very personal. Some families may appreciate a more structured approach with clear expectations, while others may prefer more flexibility and autonomy. For me, I would have benefited from more flexibility, responsiveness, and understanding of my individual circumstances and preferences.