I've been having prenatal massages with Bonnie for both of my pregnancies, and her prenatal…read moremassages are so unique and helpful. But even better than being a great massage therapist, Bonnie is incredibly knowledgeable about all things birth and pregnancy, which made her an amazing doula. I had the opportunity to work with Bonnie and her partner Karen for my second birth (they were not available for my first birth and I didn't have a doula then, and I ended up with an unplanned C-section) and I can't recommend them enough. I attempted a VBAC for my second birth, and it was an intense experience, but having Bonnie and Karen by my side made all the difference and perhaps the reason for my eventual success after being very close to having another failure to progress. They are very responsive, with you throughout the process, come visit your home to give lessons prior to your birth which also helps with preparing your home for the experience, come to your home again when you're in active labor but do not want to go to the hospital too early. They provided encouragement, guidance, and they're especially knowledgeable about the different birthing positions throughout the entire process. I don't think all doulas are capable of providing such critical support. It was an entirely different experience from my first birth when there were so many wasted opportunities to do something to help with progress. If you're considering hiring a doula for your birth, I highly recommend Bonnie and Karen - they are simply amazing!

We hired Bonnie as our Birth Doula after seeing her experience working with movement during labor…read moreand her massage expertise. I had a prenatal massage with Bonnie, and I recommend that as a part of birth prep. Bonnie supported us through my pregnancy- answering questions, giving resources, and recommending tools and processes for a smooth birth experience. She came to our home for a Spinning Babies session which was so helpful to learn in our environment where we planned to do early labor. We had an online class with Karen, and she helped us prepare for life with an infant. This started conversations for us beyond birth, and it was wonderful to connect with Karen prior to our birth. We ended up working with Bonnie and Karen during labor, and they are a great team. We felt supported and cared for throughout.

Hilary and her team were all top notch, and I would recommend them most highly to any newborn…read moreparent. We worked with Molly S for postpartum doula help. Molly was an invaluable support both emotionally and with practical help during a difficult time. It was like having a wiser, older sister help out and counsel a few times a week. She is kind, knowledgeable, and brings a lot of mom wisdom from parenting her own three kids. The back office structure and onboarding and contracting process were all fast and efficient. Highly recommend.

I truly do not have enough words to express my sincere gratitude and praise for Hilary and her…read moreteam. I sent Hilary a message at 2am after months of sleepless nights and she promptly replied the next day and set up a call for us to chat. She completely understood not only what I was going through and the help that my family and I needed but she has the kindest, most caring, loving and dedicated team who were willing to jump in at a moments notice to ensure that our baby boy got the love and care he needed so that the rest of us could get some much needed rest. If anyone is thinking about a night nurse or daytime doula, I would 1000% recommend Hilary and her team.

Jennifer Greenberg was incredible. She was the 4th lactation consultant I saw, but the only one who…read morewas finally able to figure out our nursing issues. She obtained a history of my pregnancy, delivery and post partum course and then did a very thorough assessment of me and my daughter's mouth, latch, suck and diagnosed multiple barriers to our feeding situation. The previous lactation consultants and nurses that we met with did not do such a detailed assessment, which prevented me from ultimately saving my milk supply. Jen is incredibly approachable, thorough, realistic and skilled. I also found her to be really compassionate and understanding of how difficult and frustrating my personal situation was and my breastfeeding intentions. I have recommended her a few times already and will continue to refer her to anyone. I just wish I called her first!

Jennifer Greenberg is just excellent. We have a newborn and I am a first time parent and I was…read moreconcerned about latching, pumping and other things. Jennifer communicated very well with us before the appointment and during it. She has a background in education, so she explains things in a fantastic way that made me and my husband comfortable. She taught me how to latch, how to check for hunger cues and other things. She is patient, knows a lot and very organized. I am SO HAPPY with her. At the hospital I saw couple IBCLC (lactation consultant) and they were not as helpful as Jennifer - not even close. If you need her service, please do. She is an amazing human being and an excellent professional!

Wonderful experience with Christine Fischer-Rothman, who taught the Birthing from Within class. She…read morewas incredibly supportive and realistic about childbirth. I felt much better prepared having taken the class as it forced me to think through the entire process. Christine also has an independent business offering lactation support. I really don't know what I would have done without her. She came on Memorial Day when I was having trouble getting my baby to eat and made herself available to come back as other breastfeeding challenges arose. She went above and beyond to offer support and guidance.

My husband and I wanted to hire a birth doula to make us each feel more comfortable and confident…read morewith labor prep and the process of birth and labor itself (this was our first child). We both wanted someone to support and advocate for us in the hospital if need be and I wanted an experienced person to be with me throughout my time at the hospital to help me through an unmedicated labor should I decide to go that route. After lots of research and interviews we hired Tara for her calm, capable demeanor and her level of experience as both a a doula and a midwife. Tara visited our home twice in my later pregnancy to get to know us and to understand our wishes and build my birth plan. She also helped us to prepare for early laboring at home with labor positions and advice on staying hydrated and resting as much as possible before going in to the hospital. I went into the process with an open mind, thinking that I might attempt an unmedicated birth but I wasn't at all against an epidural or other pain management should I feel it necessary. Tara never tried to dissuade me from that plan in any way which I really appreciated. I ended up laboring at home for 18 hours before going into the hospital - throughout the day we were in constant contact with Tara and she listened to my voice and my contractions to help us make the decision as to when to go in. The nurses at the hospital told us we timed it perfectly when I got there. After a couple of hours laboring in triage with very intense contractions, I made the decision to get an epidural. My labor progressed quickly after my epidural and shortly after Tara arrived at the hospital, it was time for me to push. She worked alongside our amazing Beth Israel nurses and doctors in a really cohesive way and was a grounding presence helping to keep me hydrated, calm, and making sure I was as comfortable as possible and that my husband was able to be by my side and supporting me like he wanted to. She kept a log of events that happened during my labor (which I definitely would have forgotten/been unaware of) and even took our first family photos once our son was born. Since I had an epidural and had labored at home for most of the time, our time with Tara was much different than I had envisioned (she was really only physically there with us for my time pushing). Had I gone ahead with an unmedicated birth, we would have made "better use" of her since I would have felt like I needed her in the hospital with us sooner. Nevertheless, my husband and I were so grateful for her calming presence throughout the day and for the time we did have her there with us despite not feeling like we "needed" her as much. It was still so nice to have her with us! We are so grateful to Tara for her guidance and support and highly recommend her to all other parents-to-be!

Tara is an expert and the exact person I needed to make my birth experience something I could look…read moreback on with joy and empowerment instead of trauma. Thank you Tara for all of the support you provided along the way in addition to the day-of and postpartum period.

Had SUCH a bad birth experience with Beth Hardiman. Loved the midwife i was with Thru her but dr…read morehardiman was on call so did not have midwife at birth. She was SO judgemental and arrogant and it really turned the situation sour for me. Even networking with the anesthesiologist while performing the C section as if I was invisible and not even there. So unprofessional , I can't even believe it happened. After the birth, nurses on the maternity floor came in and shared information that was private with me that Dr Hardiman had absolutely no medical reason to share. I did complain to social service nurse but probably should have followed up with HIPPA filing. With infant there's too much going on, so never did, but I regret having to experience baby's birth with her. I

Super smart, skilled, thorough and, above all, a kind & caring human being. What more could you…read moreask for in a doctor?

My husband and I hired Tara and Susanna as doulas ahead of our first child's birth in 2017, and…read morespecifically worked with Tara. We had a phenomenal experience, which resulted in working with them again for the birth of our second child in March 2021. In both cases, Tara and Susanna were tremendously helpful resources leading up to the delivery date. We always appreciated their candor and insights about what to expect and importantly, what our choices were (which was especially good to know during our first pregnancy). Tara and Susanna were always very responsive and detailed in their communication with us, and importantly, right ahead of the birth. For both births, I had a relatively quick active labor and Tara was there exactly when we needed her. She did an excellent job of ensuring my husband was involved in the labor process and provided us very helpful guidance on managing pain/new positions/breathing techniques. During my first birth, she proved to be a trusted advocate for me in a stressful situation (that almost resulted in an episiotomy), and although my second birth was relatively "uneventful", the quick nature of it made it very intense so we were grateful to have Tara's guidance and calm presence to help us through the birth. We feel very fortunate to have worked with Tara for both births, as her presence was extremely helpful in both cases!

My husband and I hired Susanna and Tara first as doulas, and later as midwives, to support us…read morethrough the pregnancy and birth of our first child. I simply cannot overstate how integral their care, compassion, expertise, and knowledge have been to the entire process of having our son. From the first prenatal visits with Susanna and Tara, they were open, non-judgmental, caring, and insightful. They worked with us to create a birth plan, sent us helpful information to assist us in making informed, evidence-based decisions for our son's care, and were always available for follow-up questions and discussions. Not only are Susanna and Tara both unmatched in their professionalism, but they are also kind, funny, brilliant, and the type of people who just make you feel comfortable and safe. When Covid began to surge as our due date approached, we reached out to them to consider a home birth and ended up contracting them to be our midwives instead of only contracting for doula care. It was the best decision we ever made during our birth and pregnancy process and I wish we had done it from the beginning. As midwives, Susanna and Tara provided the same level of care and insight as before, with an added level of expert care that we were impressed by time and time again. At the actual birth of our son, Susanna and Tara guided and comforted me through 10 hours of labor at home. I quite simply could not have done it without them. When I eventually needed to transfer to Mount Auburn for an epidural and what turned out to be a more complicated birth than anticipated, they accompanied me as far as they could to the doors of the labor ward (they were not allowed inside due to Covid), keeping me as calm as possible and helping me through every contraction with compassion and kindness all the way from our home to the hospital. Our son was born healthy and happy, and we came home to face the ups and downs of life as new parents with the knowledge that we were fully supported by Susanna and Tara. Their help became instrumental once again as I struggled with postpartum anxiety and breastfeeding issues--coming to my house at the drop of a dime when I was desperate for help, and only a phone call away to talk us through our challenges as they arose over the first few weeks. I cannot more highly recommend Susanna and Tara as doulas and midwives. In many ways, I feel like they saved me during my most vulnerable time and made me feel stronger and more empowered when I could have so easily felt defeated instead. Hire them. It will be the best decision you make for your entire pregnancy and birth!

I have always dreamed of having a water birth. At first my partner was unsure about a home birth,…read morebut after consulting with the Birth Matters team, he got on board and we were able to birth our little on at home, in peace, without any complications. This was largely due to the care and the experience of our midwives at Birth Matters. We cannot thank you enough. You answered all of our questions, you were comprehensive, you were accommodating, and turned my family into home birth believers! I highly recommend the Birth Matters team and would do this all over again if and when we have our second child.

I contacted Sarafina and Jessica of Home Birth Matters Midwifery Care in February of 2011 upon…read morefinding out we were pregnant. The pregnancy didn't last long, sadly. Both midwives spoke with me on the phone daily while I was having complications and though I never met them, the offered so much support to Big Love and I through our loss. They offered encouraging words and made me feel normal in what I was experiencing. During the summer of 2011 we found out we were pregnant again. I once again reached out the the midwives and made an appointment for a home visit to discuss planning our home birth. They came to our home, hugged me, and lounged around on my couch just chatting about the care they had an answered all of our questions. Since that day, Big Love and I knew that they were the right choice. They just felt like old friends from the start. We opted to have home visits as opposed to office visits. Every visit they would come to our home, check my belly, answer questions and have a few laughs. It was a great way to get to know them and by the time my labor came, I had no issues with showing them any of my lady bits or bodily functions. Sarafina and Jessica were always encouraging. Our parents had concerns about having a baby at home so we invited them to one of our home visits. I think they must have asked a hundred questions. The midwives sat there with smiles on their faces, cool, calm and collected and answered every single one with confidence. Our parents have been home birth converts from that day on. Early May I went into labor. Awhile into labor Sarafina arrived followed by Jessica soon after. There was no intervention and little interruption during my labor. They would offer suggestions every now and again but mostly just followed my cues. They would check the baby's heartbeat with a fetal monitor from time to time and talk me through contractions. At the last of my labor I went into the birthing tub and everyone sat nearby, talking me through pushing. The midwives saw that our baby was being born with his hand and an arm near/around his face. They had great poker faces and didn't give anything away. They very calmly guided me through pushing and helped reposition my leg to give the baby a little extra room to pop out. Mickey was born exactly 13 hours after I went into labor at 4:40pm. I was oblivious to him actually being out and Jessica handed the baby under my arm and into my hands saying "Kati, look at your baby". I could hear the smile in her voice. ***Okay, you came for a review not a birth story right??? Well, you're getting both. Birth is important and these midwives kick major ass.*** Jessica and Big Love weighed Bebe Smash and she took many measurements. She tenderly turned the baby over, smiling the entire time and I knew that my child was in the best care with these two. Our family came and they quietly left saying they would be back for hugs and a visit the next day. During postnatal visits they came to check on me and the baby. I had difficultly with breastfeeding but Jessica sat right next to me and showed me different positions for Bebe Smash to be in while I tried to get the hang of it. She shared her own stories of early parent difficulty that made me feel much better. Sarafina sat on a little stool and rubbed my feet. They were just so loving. I called them and texted them a hundred times over the first 3 weeks with questions and pictures. They responded to every one. Often calling hours later to check up on my progress. With any new concern my husband would look at me and say "we'd better ask the midwives". A call or a text later and our fears would dissolve into the abyss. How lucky we were. During one visit they did a heel prick on Bebe Smash for some blood work. He didn't make a peep while Sarafina blotted drops of blood onto the paper and I commented on how he didn't even move. She told me - and this is how I feel about the care me and my family have received from both Sarafina and Jessica through this entire experience - "it's because we do it with loving intention". I can honestly say that my husband and I genuinely love these women. I can say with certainty that they love us in return. And they love our son, we've seen that through the excellent care they've provided over the past year. These women are more than midwives. They love so honestly and yet so professionally. I can't imagine any other way to go through the stages of having a baby. We often comment on what we're going to do once we're done having babies. I'm confident we will find a way to infiltrate their lives so we can know them for many years to come. We have a healthy, happy, thriving baby boy and I know it's because he has led a very gentle life - from his days as a little sesame seed, through birth, and until now when he's learning to roll over. They were instrumental in helping us achieve this for him. We are planning more births and without a doubt, these women will be a part of those as well.