If I could leave 0 stars, I would. I wanted so much to like this practice, but unfortunately I had…read morea truly awful experience with Midwives of NJ that left me feeling traumatized, dismissed, and completely disrespected. I switched to this practice halfway through my pregnancy, hoping for a more holistic and supportive approach to birth. What I received instead was negligent, unprofessional, and emotionally harmful care.
During labor, the midwife failed to keep me or my husband informed, despite my birth plan explicitly stating that communication was important to me. When we asked what was going on, we were brushed off with, "Oh nothing, she's just being a naughty baby." Naughty? That's how they explain fetal distress? Got it.
When my water broke and the fluid was green, I asked what that meant. I was told not to worry, but overheard her immediately tell her assistant that they needed to get the baby out ASAP. It was terrifying to be kept in the dark during such a critical moment. Thank God for my husband, who looked everything up and kept me informed.
The midwife also never asked my permission before attempting to insert an internal fetal monitor... mind you something she had never done before. How do I know? Because she literally said "I never done this before. Could I try?" AND Instead of checking with me, she asked the OB resident if she could do it, and then proceeded to insert it incorrectly. For a full minute, they couldn't detect a heartbeat. I thought my baby was gone. Turns out she had attached the electrode to my vaginal wall. And rather than apologize, she laughed and said, "That doesn't have a heartbeat." I was horrified.
She also told me to bear down during pushing. When I told her it didn't feel right for my body, she insisted: "That's the only way we're going to get her out. It's the most effective way -- listen to me." Bearing down made my heart rate spike and I felt incredibly unsafe. Then she had the audacity to tell me to calm down. The entire interaction was controlling, condescending, and dismissive of my bodily autonomy.
Post-birth, I asked to keep my placenta for planting, and was told no because I had COVID. I clarified I wasn't planning to ingest it, just plant it in the garden. She responded, "No, it's dirty blood." Again, completely uncalled for and judgmental.
She also wanted to suture me using a technique she had never done before, without my consent, until the OB stopped her.
Postpartum support was just as bad. They said a midwife would visit the day after delivery, no one came. The next night, someone showed up at 9 PM, stayed for five minutes, and when I asked a question about latching, she told me to ask the hospital lactation consultant and left.
At my 6-week follow-up, I asked for an IUD. When I asked if they use local anesthesia (because yes, that procedure can be painful), the midwife laughed and said, "You birthed a child, you'll be fine." They said they'd order the IUD and contact me when it came in -- weeks went by, nothing. I followed up multiple times, left a voicemail, and never heard back.
Even the clinic environment was off-putting. Christian music playing in the waiting room made the space feel exclusionary and uncomfortable for those who don't share the same beliefs.
All in all, this practice caused more stress than support. I left feeling like a burden instead of a person giving birth. My husband and I genuinely feel we would've had a better experience delivering on the side of the road than in the care of the midwife we had. I regret ever trusting this practice with my care and would never recommend them to anyone.