"Practically perfect in every way." Little else can be said to accurately sum up my experience…read morewith Katie O'Day and Rebecca Price-Wood of Sacred Transitions Midwifery, yet I still have so much to add!
Endowed with compassion and supremely skilled, Katie and Rebecca seamlessly blend the art of classical midwifery with the science of modern obstetrics to create a model of care that is awesome to behold. Their personalities complement each other beautifully, and they each breathe a unique air into their shared practice. Prenatal appointments are comprehensive yet relaxed, and postpartum care is exceptional, like nothing else I have experienced (and this was my fourth pregnancy and third homebirth!) Katie and Rebecca will treat you with compassion; your time and journey will truly be held as sacred while you are in their care. You will be respected. You will be heard. You will be enlightened, empowered, educated. Dare I say, you will be loved.
For my fourth pregnancy I sought out Katie at the recommendation of my former midwife who had retired. I was nervous about having to find a new midwife after having such amazing previous experiences, and assumed that the odds of finding the "perfect" midwife for a second time were slim. One meeting with Katie was enough to assuage those fears, as it was clear to both my husband and me that she was compassionate, competent, and skilled. We trusted her immediately and we always felt safe and confident under her care.
Rebecca joined Katie's practice late in my pregnancy, at about 36 weeks. I am generally very quiet and take a while to open up to people, but Rebecca immediately drew me out of my shell and I was chatting with her like I had known her for years. In addition, she was clearly as knowledgeable and passionate about her craft as Katie, and I was so thrilled to now have two amazing midwives directing my care! When they twice detected concerns with baby's heart rate late in my pregnancy, they humbly suggested that I visit the hospital for fetal monitoring to be sure there were not more serious concerns - it was easy to trust their judgement; I was not pressured to agree, and I was still in control of my choices. (On one such occasion, Katie even went above and beyond by driving me to the hospital and staying with me during fetal monitoring when I had no one else to available to go with me.)
When labor day came, Rebecca arrived at my door first, with a smile, and was an incredibly intuitive labor coach, while Katie assumed the role of doula and assisted with pain management. They were such a great team! They seemed to know exactly what I needed at any given moment and made sure that I was taken care of so that I could focus on labor. I was confident that they were in control of the details, while I simultaneously maintained my autonomy. When my baby experienced shoulder dystocia, they handled it with such poise and skill that I was barely aware that something was amiss until after my daughter was safely in my arms.
Postpartum was stellar! In addition to an extended window of care and more visits than the contemporary status quo, Katie is certified in "Mother Roasting," which combines traditional postpartum healing practices from around the globe to aid in recovery and transition you gently into motherhood. It was truly an honor to experience postpartum in this way; I felt so incredibly valued and was encouraged to take my time to heal. It was my most stable and successful postpartum period of all four of my children, and I know it was a direct result of Katie's extra-special attention and care.
To top it all off, they even offer continuing well-woman services! They take a kinder, gentler approach to the necessary routine feminine checks, and are sure to address the full scope of your health.
It is almost a year to the day since I gave birth, and I still think upon my experience with Katie and Rebecca often, and always with fondness. I have recommended them to others and will continue to do so for as long as they willing to offer their indispensable services to our community. My only regret is that this was likely the last baby for our family, and I will not have occasion to work with them again.
