Heather and The Genesis Resort for Birth provided our family with the pregnancy and delivery…read moreexperience we hoped for! Home visits were such a value to us as it allowed my husband and child to participate in the pregnancy while a lot of offices are very limited right now with COVID regulations. In addition, home visits were extremely convenient. Heather is so personable and knowledgeable. She carefully listens to questions and provides scientifically backed information and articles for consideration. We walked through every little concern and desire for the birth and labor but also postpartum! I believe one of the best reasons for choosing this method of care is the ability to see the same provider throughout the entire pregnancy. It truly allows you to build a relationship, rapport and trust with them. These are incredibly necessary when you go into something as unpredictable as labor! Heather was with our family for the birth of both of our children and I am so grateful she was part of our experience.

My journey with August Healthcare for Women began nearly two years ago when I received a positive…read morepregnancy test after two miscarriages and four years of unexplained infertility. At 37, I was overjoyed to see that long-awaited result. After reading many positive reviews, I chose August Healthcare because they offered the services I needed and accepted my insurance. My first appointment was at eight weeks, despite my high-risk circumstances, including being of advanced maternal age and overweight. The ultrasound revealed no heartbeat, and my progesterone levels were low. A midwife coldly told us that things like this often don't work out, and when we asked if anything could be done, she bluntly asked if I was upset. I held it together in the office but cried all the way home. My husband and I had been trying to conceive since we met, experiencing two miscarriages and four years of infertility. After finally getting pregnant again, we thought we had received a miracle. But the midwife's words crushed us, and we left feeling hopeless. Three months later, I became pregnant again. I contacted the clinic immediately, and though nothing showed on the ultrasound, my progesterone was low. I requested progesterone supplementation, and they prescribed it. Despite my age and weight, the pregnancy progressed without complications, and I was instructed to come in weekly for fetal non-stress tests due to my high-risk status. However, things became stressful. They told me if I paid $250 upfront, everything up through my child's birth would be covered, I later found out this wasn't true. Each week, I drove over three hours to the clinic, and the table was positioned far back, making the tests uncomfortable. One week, the baby's heart rate dipped twice, and I was sent to the hospital for monitoring. After two hours, everything was normal. I was reassured, though the uncertainty weighed heavily on me. The following week, there was another dip in the baby's heart rate, but the doctor dismissed it. Trusting the midwife, I agreed to an induction, even though my husband and I had previously doubted it. I didn't fully understand the risks, and I later learned inductions are often pushed because they're profitable, especially for women like me. I had been clear about avoiding a C-section, but my induction didn't go as planned. I arrived with no dilation or effacement, and my baby was in a "sunny-side-up" position. The odds of a successful vaginal birth were slim, but no one explained this to me. After three days of induction with little progress, I was 9 1/2 cm dilated when I was finally ready to push. The midwife and doctor weren't present for most of my labor, and when they arrived, they decided a C-section was necessary due to baby distress. I was unprepared and terrified. The C-section itself was quick, but when my son was born, there was an eerie silence. My husband later told me my son had inhaled meconium. Despite the trauma, I didn't get to hold my son for skin-to-skin contact, and none of the birth plan I had hoped for was honored. My son was fed through a tube for almost a week, and I later learned the heart rhythm they monitored was actually normal for a newborn. Induction, which was recommended to me, may have stressed his heart further. The hospital kept my son in the NICU for two weeks, claiming he wasn't eating enough, however they were only supposed to treat him for the meconium inhalation. He was a completely normal weight. The billing situation was another nightmare. Despite paying $250 upfront, I continued to receive bills for services I thought were covered. Even after signing up with a repayment agency, I received a letter from a collection agency about outstanding bills from August Medical Group. I'm sharing my story as a warning to others. If you can avoid this hospital or healthcare group, do so. While they may be suitable in emergencies, if you're having a healthy pregnancy, be cautious. Induction can lead to unexpected consequences, and you may not leave the hospital with the outcome you expected.

I've gone here for two of my pregnancies and both experiences were pretty good. My first pregnancy,…read morethey had told me my son was going to be IUGR and ended up sending me to UVA for a second opinion which wasn't a problem. I had Dr. McQuigg and McCown and they were amazing My second pregnancy, I had Dr. Suarez and it was a horrible visit. I had been going through the grieving process (my son unfortunately passed of SIDS) so she asked me about taking an antidepressant. I told her about one I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT TAKE because of my PAST EXPERIENCES leading me into reckless habits and suicidal thoughts eventually. She thought because it happened years ago to prescribe me again on it. That was my first and last visit with her and i ended up not taking my prescription because I felt like I was going back to my suicidal thoughts and becoming reckless. I don't regret that decision Thankfully I was switched to a better midwife, Dr. Bryant before I moved to the Harrisonburg location. But I do love this place and the staff is nice and amazing

I felt like a QUEEN birthing at Queen City birth center!! I gave birth four months ago to my first…read morebaby with Midwife Erin and her birth assistant Katie. Right from the start of my care around 12 weeks I felt so comfortable, cared for, heard and respected by both Erin and Heather. They were so good about providing me with all of the up to date data to make my informed decisions, they respected every choice I made and I was able to have a wonderful uncomplicated pregnancy with their guidance. If I ever had an issue Erin and Heather had about ten different holistic-minded approaches and even some more medical ones! I felt like I was able to be "crunchy" if I needed to be but also accept procedures and medicine if we needed something more. My appointments were an hour long and there was no needless intervention, nothing invasive like swabs or exams unless I actually needed or asked for it. I felt like I actually got to know my midwives, and be comfortable with them which is so important for giving birth. We also took the birthing classes with them which is a MUST! They had me so prepared, I was actually excited to give birth! And the birth went SO smooth - both my husband and I have said so many times, "we can't believe people would do this any other way!!!" Dim lights, quiet music playing, oil diffusing, TENS unit- Erin and Katie let me do my thing and labor in peace (which is a VERY stark contrast from laboring in the hospital) and when the time came to push let me tell you - YOU MUST TRY WATER BIRTH! The tub was such a strong pain reliever I was able to relax and push my baby out in only 45 mins! I felt soooooo taken care of the whole time it was amazing. After I gave birth my Golden hour was respected, my baby was placed on me and not aggressively rubbed or made to cry, it was just as birth should be - quiet, calm and beautiful. Erin did such a good job of caring for my newborn, we were all packed up and ready to go just a few hours later! No unjustifiably long hospital stay, no bright lights, no one barging in every 15 mins to check this and that, just calm. Quiet. Beautiful. Birth. If you have any curiosity about using a birth center, TRY IT! I already look forward to giving birth here again!!

Erin is a phenomenal midwife! She is very thorough and transparent with everything that she does…read more My husband and I did a water birth at home for our second baby. As soon as we were ready for her to arrive she was there immediately, setting up the birthing tub with her assistant. The two of them worked wonderfully together, allowing my husband and I to get through the contractions in our own space. They kept the environment calm and collected. We ended up having the birth we had hoped for. Our appointments at her birth center were always pleasant. She has a section of toys for the little ones which helped keep my toddler distracted during the visit, I could watch her and also pay attention. My husband and I both recommend Erin. She's great!