Today my daughter turns 6 months old and she is a Moxie baby thru and thru so today is the perfect time to write Moxie a review. As a "geriatric" first time mother and woman of color, it was important to me not to be another statistic. I didn't want an unnecessary episitomy, I didn't want a forced cesarean and I didn't want to be forced to endure more pain than I could handle. After doing a lot of research into hospital births, home births, and birth center births, I decided on a birth center.
From my first visit to my last, the woman of Moxie hold your hand and never let go. I had a my daughter thru IVF, so after 10 weeks of pregnancy I was discharged to Moxie and I met with the team of midwives from January until my birth in September. At every meeting I was never rushed, every single one of my questions (and since I aggregate data for a living, I had a lot of questions) was answered and I never felt like they spoke down to me (if a doctor of medical professional has ever done it to you, it's not pleasant). From Inez being the only person on the planet to get my blood without leaving me bruises, to sharing a list of resources like where I found our birth doula, Moxie was my partner in my daughter's birth.
Cut to week 39 and I'm showing signs of high blood pressure. Bente and the team go thru every option with me and check on me every other day. On one of the days of my check ins, I get up, start having contractions and then go to CVS to get my covid shot because she was going to have all the immunities! We had a meeting at 2 PM and after the normal BP and hooking up baby to a monitor they ask if I want a cervical check just in case. Turns out I'm 7 cm dilated! They text our doula (because they have her number) before we can. From that check to birth, it was only 5 hours. I got to spend that time in the water and on the "dilation station (toilet) and I almost had to go to the hospital because the baby was in distress. The ambulance came but Dr. Bente was able to let me try with her help and after three pushes, my daughter was born.
I devleoped a hematoma and we had to go to the hospital for a repair but Dr. Bente has privileges at Huntington and she was able to do the repair there and then checked on me before I was discharged the next day. Having been in a hospital so close to giving birth in the birth center, for me at least the birth center was amazing. Giving birth on a bed, with a tub, not in a sterile room where the bed is maybe the size of a twin bed was amazing.
Kate came and was our lactation consultant and she was amazing! She invites you to a monthly Mommmy & Me group around food so that you get a community.
After birth, doing our checkups, because these women knew me so well they knew something was wrong and diagnosed me with postpartum anxiety in Week 3, and after that I was able to find a 3 month program. Everyone was so impressed that I was there in week 3 since most people start at 6 months! 6 months of not feeling like yourself for your partner, your baby, for yourself, I can't imagine. It was hard enough for only 3 weeks.
And, if that wasn't enough, Maria can help you turn in your superbill to see if you can get any reimbursements because you pay for everything out of pocket first.
I can't imagine a better way to bring a child into this world, Moxie woman truly are the most caring, diligent, amazing woman who help you during one of the most vulnerable times of your life. read more