Sarafina Kennedy and Jessica Petrone surpassed expectations in every aspect of care. They were always communicative, they answered our phone calls, text messages, and emails, and never made us feel like we were wasting their time or asking stupid questions or worrying too much about anything. They have seen it all and talked to every kind of person out there, so they know how to handle all levels of concern. I used to come to our appointments with an entire list of questions that ranged from the most mundane to the most complicated. Sarafina and Jessica had a way to make us feel comfortable no matter what our comments were.
We had most of our appointments at the office in Stoughton, which fit our budget better than home visits. Even then, Sarafina and Jessica were flexible if strenuous circumstances prevented us from meeting at the office. We always felt like all sides were taken into account. It was more of a partnership with them than a business deal. It also helped that they recommended the services were paid in full by week 36, because we felt at ease the entire rest of the way. We hate owing people money and never wanted that to be an obstacle to our relationship. They do have the option to make your own payment plan, as long as you are honest about what you can afford per month. We decided to get it out of the way asap.
At our appointments we would spend about 45min-1hr discussing questions, concerns, and catching up. This helped them catch any risk factors that may be missed by rushing the appointment. Discussions varied from nutrition to feelings/concerns to preparedness for the baby. Then they would measure my blood pressure, fundal height, listen to the baby's heart beat through a prenatal stethoscope and allow us to listen in. I would also pee on a stick that would measure any leakage of protein, glucose, leukocytes, etc, through urine. I always felt I was in the best hands, especially because Sarafina and Jessica do not shy away from technology: they will send you for an ultrasound if it's needed, and they will request lab tests if there are any concerns (these services are provided by them at an additional cost). We actually got our ultrasound and labs done through consults at a hospital and through other practices earlier in the pregnancy, so we had no need to use these services from Birth Matters Midwifery Care.
My labor lasted 4 days, and Sarafina and Jessica were there for every single one of those days. They monitored the baby's heart rate and my blood pressure. They had suggestions to cope with contractions and always made me feel well supported. On day 2 of labor, my baby registered a heart rate in the 120s (should be in the 130-140s), which quickly resolved itself by changing positions. Even then, when everybody else called it a day, Sarafina stayed behind, sleeping on my couch in my really cold living room, getting up every hour to measure the baby's HR. They were so caring and thorough, and yet so calm and calming, that I felt I was in the best hands at every point.
On the day of the delivery, both midwives spent the morning tracking the baby's HR, my blood pressure, and keeping a detailed log of everything that happened throughout the day. They never got in the way of my husband and my interactions during contractions, or in the way of our doula's work (see my review of my doula by looking up "Motherbaby Doula Services"). They were careful to only intervene when they had something useful to add, otherwise, it was fully my own experience and my family's.
Our baby came in a water birth, completely unexpectedly just an hour after I had started pushing. Sarafina dove in and took my baby out, broke the bag (the baby was born in his amniotic sac), unwrapped the cord from around his neck, and gave him to me right away. They listened to his HR, suctioned any excess water from his nose and ears, and, about 20 min later we moved onto the bedroom to deliver the placenta, which Sarafina helped guide out with her expert hands (approximately 50 min after delivery). The cord was cut at 45min from delivery. Jessica took care of stitches I needed. All the while, my baby was on my chest attempting a breast crawl.
Never a rush. Never a demand. Never a command. My midwives were my vigilantes watching for any signs of heightened risk, and also allowing me room to take ownership of my experience. I never felt they were too involved, or too little. I never felt intruded upon or coerced into any decision. My midwives' job was to take care of me and my baby, and they did it splendidly.
I would definitely use Sarafina and Jessica again for future births, and I would recommend that anybody looking for a wonderful and safe experience to set up an interview with them. You won't be disappointed. read more
