I switched to Gina's midwifery practice at 20 weeks after beginning my care with a traditional OB. My OB couldn't guarantee being present at my delivery -- something that felt too important to compromise on. Choosing Gina was, without question, the best decision my husband and I made during my pregnancy. From the very first visit, we felt the difference. Her appointments were 45 minutes long (which is rare), and each one felt personal, unhurried, and grounded in real care. Gina took the time to listen, explain, and support me through every step. One thing to expect from midwifery care -- especially with Gina -- is a deeply holistic and relationship-centered experience. It's not just about checkups; it's about being known, respected, and empowered. Throughout the birth process, Gina honored our choices and let us guide the experience -- but she also knew exactly when to step in and strongly recommend the next step when it mattered most. That level of wisdom and presence is rare, and I will always be grateful for it. When it came time for labor and delivery, Gina and the team she works with at Mount Sinai West were incredible. They were clearly in sync and had worked together closely for a while -- it showed in how seamlessly they communicated and how responsive they were to my needs. They struck the perfect balance: compassionate and calm, while also providing firm and necessary guidance when the moment called for it. If you're looking for a provider who will treat your birth as something sacred and personal, Gina is it. And if my husband and I decide to have another child, there's no question -- we'd go back to Gina in a heartbeat. read more

Working with Gina was the best choice we made in our pregnancy. From our 12 week appointment onward she provided a warm, personal touch from a kind and very skilled practitioner. Exactly what we were looking for. She practices out of a cozy office in park slope, which couldn't be further from a sterile, impersonal OBGYN exam room. Throughout the pregnancy Gina devoted lots of time at every appointment to answering our questions, not only about medical concerns, but also about how we were preparing emotionally for labor and postpartum with our new baby and our extended families. We always appreciated her wholistic approach and her measured, rational advice based on a solid medical understanding, her own personal experience and her appreciation for time-honored midwifery practices. This was our first birth and it ended up progressing much faster than any of us expected. We had a harried drive from Brooklyn to the hospital in Manhattan in active labor. Gina was ready and waiting for us when we got there, and we were immensely reassured seeing a familiar and calm face. During the birth, Gina was fantastic at communicating what was going on and keeping the environment calm and positive. We had complications that involved bring in an OBGYN, but Gina remained in charge which gave us confidence that we were getting the best care possible. In the days after the birth, she checked in with us every day and not only took care of our physical well-being, but also provided sage advice on how to take care of our new baby, which set us up for success in those intense first days. If we're pregnant in the future, Gina would be the first person we'd call so we could work with her again. read more

Choosing Gina as my provider was hands down the most important decision I made when I found out I was pregnant. From the beginning, knew I wanted to be under the care of someone who would support me in trying to have an unmedicated birth with minimal intervention (if possible). Gina provided that perfect balance between an evidence-based approach rooted in the best medical practices and the midwifery model of care which sees birth as something natural and intuitive and places the birthing person in the driver's seat. Now nearly two months postpartum, I believe working with Gina is what helped lay the foundation of that intuition, confidence, and self-trust that I'm now continuing to build as a new mom. For every decision my husband and I made throughout the course of my pregnancy and birth, Gina provided the education and the pros and cons and allowed us to feel confident in making our own informed decision. We always felt like we had options. When things did not go as planned at the end of my pregnancy and I had to get induced, Gina talked me through every possible option, respected my wishes, advocated for me and ultimately helped me make it through a 19 hour induction unmedicated (the most empowering moment of my life!!). She not only stayed with us from beginning to end of my labor/induction, but also was fully prepared to catch my baby on the floor while I was on all fours before I decided to move to the bed Some other details that made working with Gina the best decision for us - I don't know anyone who enjoyed their prenatal appointments the way we did with Gina. Her office is SO cozy, and knowing you have nearly an hour each appointment to ask any and every question and feel truly seen and heard made such a difference for keeping us calm through the course of my pregnancy (Gina was also always easy to reach by email, so helpful). My husband and I keep saying how much we already miss those appointments! Resources - Gina has a ton of knowledge and resources on everything from doulas to lactation consultants to bodywork and prenatal classes and etc etc etc which was so so helpful during pregnancy and postpartum. Postpartum support - I can honestly say Ginas daily check-ins during that first week postpartum saved our sanity. As prepared as we thought we were, nothing really prepares you for being a first-time parent and Gina's presence was like a lifeline for us. She continued to check in on us for weeks, which was so amazing. My husband and I will be forever grateful to Gina for helping us bring our daughter into this world while also keeping me safe and sane and helping us both feel so incredibly empowered even through the challenges and potentially scary moments. With Gina, I never felt judged, pressured, or "scared" into making a decision. Anyone would be lucky to have a provider who not only is this dedicated to the wellbeing, autonomy and safety of their clients, but also one who is this warm, easy to talk to and just a genuinely wonderful person. read more

Gina is an amazing midwife. She is caring, supportive, experienced, confident, and a strong advocate for her patients well being in a hospital setting. Gina's practice is small, highly individualized and very personal. She works out of a charming garden-level office in a brownstone on quiet tree-lined block in Park Slope. Her practice is the opposite of the typical obstetrics practice which is all about volume and fast turnover. This was our first kid and we had a couple early OB visits before we saw Gina and the experience was truly night and day. It was so refreshing to go from that environment to Gina's unrushed, 1-on-1 office visits. On the big day she got to the hospital before us and was able to handle the bureaucracy and usher us straight into our delivery room (no triage!) right when we arrived. Her strong presence and energy during the delivery was amazing. After the birth she was in constant contact with us, checking in when we really needed it (like what you would expect from a parent, but with actually helpful advice!). We live in Manhattan so the commute to Brooklyn for every visit was a slight apprehension initially but we're very glad we did it. It was way worth it. We did a couple visits virtually on days when we couldn't make the trip which was a nice option. We couldn't have asked for a better natural birth experience and ours wouldn't have been possible without having the support of a midwife we trusted and felt truly had our back. read more

Choosing Gina as my midwife was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am eternally grateful to her for making my pregnancy, labor and postpartum experience so positive. The level of care she provides is above and beyond anything I could have hoped for. This was my first baby, and Gina was incredibly generous with her time to make sure all my questions were answered and I was fully informed each step of the way. I had a beautiful, unmedicated birth at 41 weeks, and I believe my experience was only made possible because of how safe, supported, and empowered I felt in Gina's hands. After our daughter was born, Gina checked in almost daily on my recovery and well being. She became an invaluable source of strength for me as I adapted to motherhood and struggled with unexpected challenges of breastfeeding. I could not recommend Gina enough. I feel incredibly lucky to have found her, and I wish all parents could feel as supported in their journeys as I did under Gina's care. read more

If you only read one sentence, know this: Gina is amazing and we are so happy that we decided to go through the experience of receiving my prenatal care and giving birth with her. She was so helpful throughout my pregnancy. Getting us through the early parts with wit and charm. Reassuring us about test results and unclear fetal position. And, of course, bringing our baby into the world with ease while guiding me to do all the right things to make my birth experience extremely positive--despite the 32 hours of labor. I knew I wanted as natural a hospital birth as possible. Going with a midwife was a big part of that, and I'm so glad we chose Gina. When the pain became too much for me she fully supported my decision to get an epidural, and together with our also amazing doula Tymaree Renaud Cook, managed it super well. I was able to change position twice during birth to figure out what worked best for me. Overall, my birth experience was extremely positive. Our daughter had a medical complication about 24 hours after birth, requiring two NICU stays of 9 days in total. Of course, this was an extremely scary and emotionally draining experience. But throughout that time and beyond it, Gina kept in touch every day through calls and texts and supported us in so many ways going so far beyond what we would have ever expected. Helping us ask doctors the right questions, referring us to an amazing lactation consultant to aid with breastfeeding after our daughter's hospital stay, figuring out how to best be there for her in the NICU while also taking care of ourselves, and on and on goes the list: nobody should have to go through birth and the difficult period we went through afterwards without the support of Gina. I truly can't imagine giving birth without Gina. You shouldn't have to, either. read more

Having Gina as my midwife is one of the best life decisions I've made (next to marrying my husband and drinking too many glasses of Rioja in Madrid, both of which ultimately led me to needing Gina ;P) I chose Gina when I found out I was pregnant and desired a low-intervention birth in a hospital setting. While I was aware that the midwifery model was supposed to be more hands-on than that of a typical obstetrician's, I never expected to feel so safe, so secure, and so respected as I did under Gina's loving care. I wish healthcare in America was such that all low-risk pregnant people could be defaulted to a midwife's care, as I can't help but feel that so many are missing out on the attentive and personalized support I received. I will forever fondly remember my office visits with Gina (they felt like a bit of normalcy in a distant Covid-world) and feeling so lucky to receive my prenatal care in a safe, homey, and non-rushed space (Gina sees her patients in a private setting that doesn't have the cold demeanor of a doctor's office, and never once did I even see another one of Gina's patients, as she is very careful about scheduling.) My pregnancy was uneventful, but I did have one small complication and Gina was very sure and directive in how it should be handled. I truly felt that I could trust her assessment, and did not feel like I was just being handed a one-size-fits-all or unnecessary or overly precautious regimen. Gina listened carefully to my concerns and worked with me to make sure that the complication wouldn't change my desired birth plan. One thing I think is worth mentioning is Gina's intuition. My labor progressed very fast, and after a quick phone call with my husband, Gina advised that we consider going to the hospital soon. My husband, a bit overwhelmed with the task of loading his ready-to-push wife into the car, forgot to tell Gina we left for the hospital. Somehow, she just knew, and was at the hospital when we arrived 40 minutes later. Thank goodness, because my baby was born in the next half hour. I have many fond memories of that day, but one of the best had to be seeing Gina's smiling, reassuring face as I crawled into triage (next to hearing that I was fully dilated, which was next best to meeting my baby). My pregnancy and labor may have been "easy", but my postpartum experience was anything but. From every breastfeeding issue (low supply, bad latch, tongue tie) to a colicky baby with food allergies to pretty severe stress and anxiety, Gina has a resource on call to provide support. Gina herself checked in daily (over the course of many, many weeks) to make sure I was getting the care I needed. My little family and I are very, very grateful for Gina and Community Midwifery. read more

Gina is not only an incredible midwife, she is the best medical practitioner I have ever worked with. She is very wise, considers all the options and explains everything very carefully so you can make the choice that is best for you. She is a genuinely caring person, is sincere, straightforward, and has a good sense of humour too, which is so valuable with pregnancy and childbirth. I feel extremely lucky to have stumbled upon her early in my pregnancy and have had her guide me through everything from the beginning. I looked forward to my prenatal checkups with Gina and felt very reassured throughout. Her office is comfy and calm and she takes the time to really listen to you and offer non-pushy advice with a range of options. Giving birth is the craziest thing regardless but my experience was a positive and empowering one and I know very well I have Gina to thank for that (as well as an awesome doula). Gina has amazing intuition and knew I was in labour before I would admit it (I was convinced I was having Braxton Hicks!). She arrived at the hospital long before I did and miraculously made it so that I didn't have to go through triage, which was such a relief because I was already 8cm dilated when I arrived, at which point I had not been able to sit or kneel for several hours due to the pain, and had decided that I wanted an epidural, even though I had hoped not too beforehand. When I arrived at the hospital I was SO pleased and relieved to see Gina waiting there for me. She was very supportive of my decision to have the epidural which made everything feel better. I really can't imagine going through childbirth without her. After giving birth Gina checked in with me every day for several weeks, and I really really needed that. I had so many postnatal and breastfeeding issues, but with her I felt held and safe. She considered my situation holistically, taking into account the physical and mental aspects, and even my relationship with my partner and my new baby. The level of personal care postpartum was astonishing, and not something I even knew I would need (or would be on offer) -- I wish all women could receive this level of personal care after giving birth. If I have another baby Gina will be the first person I'll call. I would highly recommend her. I feel so glad that she was the person to 'catch' my son as he came into the world. read more

When my wife became pregnant for the first time, she wanted the option for a supportive, natural labor. She learned about Community Midwifery Care by searching for Midwifery services with privileges to Mt Sinai Hospital West - the hospital we intended to deliver at initially. When she established care with Community Midwifery Care and met with Ellen for her first visit, she knew she had made the right choice. She was completely pleased with the attention and care she received, and she was reassured that the labor she desired to have was medically safe and attainable given her prenatal work up. With each subsequent visit, she met the rest of the team members - Abby and Gina -and she was completely delighted with every one of them. At the time, I was working in another State and could not accompany my wife to her visits, but trusted that her faith in them was well-founded. Fast forward to my wife's third trimester, and suddenly overnight it seemed that the world had turned upside down; COVID-19 had changed pretty much every way of life, including how hospitals were managing labors. A few weeks prior to my wife's due date, the Mt. Sinai system along with other institutions such as Presbyterian created hospital policies that would not allow the partner to be present for labor. Given this restriction, along with other policy implementations, many couples including ourselves felt at lost, and realized that the desired labor we wanted would not be a reality. Simultaneously, the ladies at Community Midwifery Care were working relentlessly to create various safe options for their clients. One option which really appealed to us was to give birth at the Brooklyn Birthing Center (BBC) since my wife had a low risk pregnancy, and it would allow for her to have a natural birth. We were approved for the BBC, and we were once again excited to go through the labor process. The day of active labor finally came, and after on-going communication with the always attentive on-call midwives, we headed to the BBC and met with Ellen and Gina. The next 12 hours were some of the most incredible 12 hours of my life. *** AT THIS POINT I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF ***. Watching Ellen and Gina walk my wife through every step of her labor was one of the most astonishing things I have experienced. My wife was beautiful and strong throughout the process, but that was further magnified by the help she received from these two midwives. I was never worried and at the end of the night, my wife gave birth to our beautiful son. This feature was as smooth as it could have been, but I emphasize, it's because of the support of the midwives. You'd think it would end there, but the next day both Ellen and Gina performed a house visit using appropriate PPE to ensure that my wife and son were doing well. Each additional day after, they called my wife to ensure she was meeting the appropriate recovery milestones. It was so reassuring to see them follow up. As a surgical resident who trains in various hospitals, the care I've seen by Community Midwifery is exemplary and inspiring. I am so glad my wife chose them, and thankful for the experience. I would trust them again and again. read more

I am so grateful for Gina's care, and cannot imagine having gone through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum stage with anyone else! I chose to work with Gina because I was looking for low-intervention care, and since my pregnancy coincided with start of the Covid-19 situation, there was the added benefit of prenatal visits in her office without having to go to a crowded clinic. During my prenatal visits, Gina took the time to answer all my questions, and I never felt rushed. She showed a great interest in my well-being in addition to that of my baby. When my birth ended up very far from what I was hoping for, and I needed a c-section, I trusted that this was truly necessary as Gina pushed for me (pun intended!) to continue trying different positions rather than rushing me to the OR at the first sign of stalling. During the operation, she was still very present, and helped with our first latch in the recovery room. Perhaps the best part of working with Gina was the postpartum support. She came back to the hospital the next day to check on me, called or texted every day the first week, visited me at home at 2 weeks, and held a 6-week postpartum visit at her office. My mother, a physician who has attended births herself, was astounded at the level of personal care she witnessed, and remarked that Gina's practice is far from the typical birth and postpartum experience. I highly recommend working with Gina and can't say enough about how lucky I was to work with her! read more

I really cannot say enough good things about Abby, Ellen and Gina, and the amazing care I received with Community Midwifery. For the birth of my second baby I decided I wanted to make the switch to a midwifery practice versus staying with my OBGYN, and let me tell you, I am so glad I did! The care I received by these wonderful ladies was unparalleled to what I experienced with a very popular ob practice in the UWS. The ladies of CMC take the time to listen, provide care advice and connect on a personal level each visit, not what I experienced with my first. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and had to be scheduled for an induction at 37 weeks because of my blood pressure levels. I was a little worried my hope for an unmedicated, nature birth would go out the window, but the midwives were very supportive and reassured me that they would use the gentlest methods of induction and let my body kick in and do the rest. Everything worked out exactly as they predicted! A few hours after the insertion of a foley balloon and cervical ripening pill, I went into labor. The P (pitocin) was never once part of anyone's vocabulary. When contractions weakened, we did nipple stimulation, when labor stalled we stripped membranes and eventually broke my waters. My baby girl was born 15 hours after contractions began without any other interventions or medications! I had Ellen to begin the induction and she was by my side the entire time and even took on the duties of the nursing staff in order to get the induction started earlier while we were in between nursing shift changes. Abby took over around midnight and was also by my side the entire time until she pulled some double duty with another laboring mother who came in 9cms dilated towards the end of my labor. She was so calm and reassuring the entire time and never pushed anything on me. I really can't put into words how wonderful these two ladies were through the entire experience!! Even after giving birth and going home with our new baby, the care and attention didn't end. She had some issues with jaundice and they checked in with me daily to make sure we were ok and provide advice. Don't hesitate another second to contact the ladies of CMC to get your questions answered. read more

Gina supported me through a extremely difficult experience with the utmost empathy, and she was fantastic with follow up care. I wholeheartedly recommend her services. read more

I signed on with Gina to be my midwife for my first pregnancy. I was so excited to work with her--she was super warm, responsive, ready and eager to offer up a lot of helpful resources, and had tons of amazing reviews from past clients. She even accommodated us by agreeing to do home visits due to the COVID situation for a very small, very reasonable extra fee, which we so appreciated. Unfortunately, my husband and I had to relocate out of state to be closer with family during quarantine, so we had to find care there. Gina was as kind and understanding as could be and we're so sorry we didn't get to work with her more! Highly recommend her if you're looking for a midwife in NYC. read more

Community Midwifery is the private practice of Joan Bryson, CNM. She works out of her home office in a lovely Windsor Terrace brownstone. The waiting area is cozy and comfortable and plastered with photos of the many babies she's delivered over the years. She offers homebirth midwifery services and well woman care. With decades of experience, Joan's competence and knowledge are astounding. She is kind and compassionate but also very no-nonsense, which is something I greatly appreciate in a health care provider. She's wonderful about answering questions and returning phone calls in a timely manner, and her appointment scheduling is usually open and very convenient. Her birth assistant, Tessa Lawrence, also offers doula services for an additional fee. I hired her to act as birth doula for my recent homebirth and cannot say enough wonderful things about her. Community Midwifery is a gem and New Yorkers are extremely fortunate to have it. Joan and Tessa work together to give women the most personalized, intimate care possible. I can't imagine ever going to anyone else. Highly, highly recommended. read more

I saw Joan Bryson and Ellen Razgaitis for prenatal visits throughout my pregnancy, and Ellen attended the home birth of my daughter in May 2011. Joan and Ellen are terrific and I recommend them highly. I saw Joan and Ellen at alternating visits, each an hour long, at their Park Slope office - once in the first trimester, then monthly, then weekly in month 9. They provided me a referral for the 20-week ultrasound, and would have provided me with referrals for additional testing and ultrasounds if I'd wanted them. Joan visited my house for a home visit at the 36-week marker, making sure everything was set up for the birth, getting familiar with the layout, and making sure emergency plans were in place if we needed them. Joan and Ellen are both great about getting to know their clients and giving them what they want. I'm perhaps a bit less spiritual than some other homebirth moms. I wanted a few basic things during the birth: food and drink (actually I don't think I ended up eating), freedom of movement (although I didn't end up moving much), no internal exams (which was awesome), and qualified, experienced midwives to monitor progress and do the right thing medically as and when needed. Joan and Ellen adapted perfectly to what I wanted. The birth itself was smooth. It was a lot of work (I was a first-time mom), but I had great support and my husband was prepared for everything. Ellen arrived when I thought things were far along, but I actually had several more hours to go. Birth pool was less helpful than I expected, and I ended up giving birth to my daughter in bed, on my side, eyes tightly shut just as the sun was coming up. No injuries to either of us. After checking us all out and cleaning up, the midwives tucked our family into bed for a nice long nap, after which I felt great, ready to take on the challenge of taking care of my newborn. Joan and Ellen typically call a birth assistant for the actual birth. Lana DeLowe was the birth assistant at my birth. Ellen called her when birth was imminent. (Not when I thought it was imminent a few hours before.) I'm told by my sister (my eyes were shut at the end) that Lana helped set up all the equipment and emergency supplies before the birth just in case. She also snapped a couple pictures right afterward, and she was invaluable in getting breastfeeding started. I also met the other two birth assistants that Joan and Ellen were using at the time, Jo Greep (also works in the office) and Shara Fredrick (also teaches a childbirth ed class which my husband and I found very valuable.) All three impressed me, and all three can also be hired as doulas, or you can bring your own doula. (My sister was my doula.) Joan and Ellen work with a medical biller who navigated the complexities of getting my home birth paid for. She provided an accurate estimate of the amount my insurance would cover soon after my initial visit to Joan. The actual payment happened about five months after the birth, which surprised me, but it all worked out in the end. Only downside of Community Midwifery is that their website is currently down. Thank goodness we have Yelp. Get a website together, you guys! Home birth is the greatest, and we're very lucky to live in NYC with access to such terrific midwives! Good luck! read more

Like all the other recent reviewers, I cannot say enough positive things about Gina. I feel so lucky to have had her as my midwife. I went back and forth a bit about the kind of birth I wanted (even considering an elective cesarean at one point) and Gina was super patient through all of it and provided me with all the information I needed to weigh my options. She was straightforward about everything and also incredibly supportive. I never felt nervous about asking her anything or broaching an idea with her. I am a teacher, and I ended up being due during the height of Omicron;, so Gina even helped me think through my leave plans and whether or not to adjust them in light of the surge in cases. I ended up going all the way to 42 weeks and needed to be induced, which I had been dreading at one point. Gina was so calm about it and walked us through exactly what would happen, so by the time it became clear that induction was necessary, I was feeling really calm about it, too. She was patient with my questions, supportive of all my decisions, and she was a great coach throughout the whole labor and birth process. She knows how to manage relationships with the hospital and nurses really well, and I felt so confident that things would go well because she had this aura of calm and confidence throughout my entire labor (24 hrs) . As other people have noted, one thing that truly makes Gina's care stand apart from other providers is how she makes herself so available to you and how frequently she checks in after birth. In my last trimester, she was very responsive via text when health issues arose. As a first-time mom, the postpartum period was really difficult because the healing process was intense and you just don't know what's normal and what's concerning. I ended up having a couple small complications with my recovery, but, again, Gina was always available by text or phone, and she checked in on me every day for the first 10 days and then every few days for the two weeks afterward. When she was super sick a couple days after my birth, she even had another midwife call me to check in so that I would still have support to talk through what was happening. Other mom friends I have were so impressed that I could text her about what was going on whenever I had questions or concerns because they never had that kind of access to their providers in the difficult postpartum period. Every birthing person should have care like the care Gina provides. read more

Disclaimer: Joan Bryson was not my midwife. However, she was my midwife's backup when my midwife was out of the country for a few weeks during my pregnancy. I talked with my midwife beforehand about Joan's credentials and demeanor so that I'd know what to expect if any complications arose. My midwife put me thoroughly at ease with descriptions of Joan's professionalism, consideration, and competence. While my midwife was on leave, I developed some concerns about my blood pressure, so I got in touch with Joan. Joan immediately got in touch with my midwife, discussed the matter, and then my own midwife got back in touch with me that following morning to help manage my care. When I met Joan briefly at a midwifery celebration in the park a few months after having had my son, I noticed the warmth and caring she showed to the babies she'd caught and the moms she'd helped. I'm glad that I had Joan around to step in as needed when my midwife wasn't around herself. read more

I met Joan Bryson in 2006 when I was newly pregnant with my daughter. She was the third midwife I had interviewed and by the second question I already knew she was the one. Her office is cozy and easily accessible by train or bus. Her appointments are scheduled in one-hour time slots to allow plenty of time for questions. Most times, Joan and I enjoyed tea at my appointments and chatted more like friends than a midwife and client. Joan helped my husband and I deliver our baby girl in the comfort and safety of our home after sixteen very long hours of labor. Her calm and expert demeanor was exactly what we needed. After giving birth, Joan came over twice and called several times to offer nursing support. Two years later when my husband and I decided to have another child, it was a no-brainer that Joan would once again be our midwife. This time around my daughter (who Joan delivered) joined us on the appointments and it was a wonderful treat to have them meet once again. As with my first pregnancy, Joan exceeded all of my expectations on what it means to receive quality care from a health professional. I simply can't say enough great things about her. She really takes the time to get to know you and your partner, something that is unheard of in the OB/GYN world. Even after a long night of no sleep, Joan remembered our wishes and coached my husband on how to deliver our son. It was a priceless moment. read more

Community Midwifery Care - Midwives Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I am 22, newly pregnant and have my heart set on a home birth. I found this office through an internet search and decided to set up an appointment. It was one of the last appointments I made because I have interviewed quite a few midwives and wanted to make a decision. The office itself is nice, clean, but very small. I'll spare you all the extra fluff and details and get right to the point about how UNPROFESSIONAL this woman (Joan Bryson) is. After about 10 minutes of chatting about my pregnancy, hopes and wishes for the birth, etc I asked what I thought to be a very fair question. I asked : Well, in the event that my insurance does not cover this, what would we be responsible for (my fiance and I) ? Without even hesitating, the woman shook her head and exhaled sharply as she said "YOU CAN"T AFFORD IT" :::pause::: "IT IS JUST VERY VERY EXPENSIVE.....I MEAN IT WOULD COST YOU $6,500!" I was OUTRAGED!!! First of all, I made it very clear that I am a professional with two degrees and also mentioned the fact that my fiance could not be there with me because he had several court CASES that he simply could not miss or let his clients down. She CLEARLY knew that we were together and both successful. She CLEARLY knew that I had done my research and that she was one of the VERY last midwives that I was going to be seeing. Therefore, she should have known that I had somewhat of an idea about what a midwife charges. My fiance and I chose to go this route because we believe in having a natural birth and are not concerned with cost. In fact she is one of the cheapest midwives I had met (others charged 8K and went all the way up to $11,000) There was absolutely NO reason why this woman should've went ahead and insulted me the way she did. I was not poorly dressed, nor do I speak broken English- I felt that I asked a fair question. A simple answer would have sufficed. How does SHE know what we can or cannot afford? But hang on, it gets BETTER. She went on to say later on- that she "assumed" that my fiance and I couldn't possibly have been together very long (possibly because I told her that we are no currently living together - but SO WHAT?!) The way this woman spoke to me- her tone- body language- TERRIBLE and just 100% UN-professional. I would NEVER recommend this midwifery to anyone. I felt so insulted that I immediately called my fiance and told him, thinking for a SECOND that maybe I had overreacted. Yes, I am young and and not married to my partner yet- but was this a good enough reason to receive this type of treatment?? I THINK NOT! I would give this place ZERO stars if I could. If you are looking for a midwife that you can take seriously, and that takes YOU seriously.... email me. I will give you a few pointers but steer clear of this place! read more

With a perfect pregnancy, and a 48 hour labor with complications I believe it was Joan, who saved my son's and my life - her decades of experience, her amazingly calm, collected and supportive attitude at all times, her attunement to every small and big detail during the whole time I was with her, the great communication and respect she has from and for doctors (yes, I had to be transferred to the hospital after a 25 labor at home), her incredible ability to follow the equipment while masterfully directing my pushing, especially during the final critical phase.. Joan is a magician. She is the kind of person you want next to you when the times get trying. I trusted her with my life, and I would do it again any day. read more

The midwives at Community Midwifery are genuine, responsive, and very knowledgeable. Not only did they provide great researched-based care throughout my pregnancy, but their attention and execution during my labor, delivery, and postpartum period were excellent. I had a wonderful experience with Abby, who delivered my baby and checked in on me extensively in the hospital and over the phone for several days post-delivery. This was my first delivery, so I assumed my services would end once the baby arrived and was pleasantly surprised by all the postpartum support. Gina and Abby recently added a third midwife to their team (Ellen), who is absolutely wonderful. I developed mastitis two weeks postpartum and she went above and beyond to make sure I was treated properly. I can't recommend Community Midwifery highly enough! read more

Finding Gina is the best thing I did during my pregnancy and I only wish we had found her sooner. Gina is an incredible midwife who at every expected and unexpected step of pregnancy/birth/postpartum offers calm, evidence based and clear guidance and care. We ended up being induced which was far from the low intervention birth we had hoped for and imagined. But thanks to Gina's incredible skill, intuition, and care we were still able to have a calm, supported and empowering birth. Gina was also invaluable and so available in helping me navigate postpartum life, so much so our new house motto is "Gina knows." We will be forever grateful to Gina and her obvious commitment and dedication to her patients. read more

I've had such a great experience working with Gina for OB-GYN care. I had been struggling with various types of birth control over the past couple of years and felt that I wasn't getting the answers and guidance I wanted from my regular gynecologist. I'm so happy that I made an appointment with Gina to discuss my questions. I told her about my experiences, and she validated my concerns and weighed in with informed opinions. By the end of our appointment, it felt like we had made a decision together that I was comfortable with. Her office is also really pleasant - it's comfortable and welcoming, and I spent the entire appointment seated on a couch across from her. Before meeting with Gina, I didn't know it was possible to receive OB-GYN care from a midwife. I would absolutely recommend seeing Gina for this type of care, especially if you want to have an experience that feels more holistic, unrushed, and tailored to you as a person. read more

I'm not sure how to even reach Joan. The phone just rings, and no messaging service picks up. After searching all over the Internet I found two different email addresses and one got sent back as undeliverable and the other I never heard anything. There is no website. No hours. Nothing. Is she still even is business? This is such a bummer as I recently found out I am pregnant and am running out of options. I'm sure she is great if you get lucky and actually get in touch with someone. read more

5 stars is NOT enough! I wish every women had access to the type of thoughtful, non judgmental and highly compassionate and individualized care Gina provides. I was so so lucky to deliver two babies with her (my second and third). My first baby was delivered by another highly regarded but now closed NY midwifery practice and I had a good experience with them. But my two experiences with Gina (2019 and fall 2021) went far beyond that. She is empathetic, caring, knowledgeable, extremely experienced, calm, thoughtful, an excellent listener, and an even better explainer. At the same time, she is organized, efficient and extremely professional. I can't fully find the words to express how cared for and supported I felt during pregnancy, labor/delivery and post partum both times. Both of my births ended up being unmedicated with no complications, thanks to Gina's thoughtful care. Each birth was very different but both times Gina did an incredible job helping me navigate the hospital (and the vagaries of my body )! Her confidence and faith in you, and deep care for who you are and what you care about is extremely empowering. She knows perfectly when to step in and when to step back and let things take their course. One note on insurance. Don't let the fact that she is not in network deter you- both of my births were covered by my insurance and also she works with a billing specialist who is amazing. At least reach out to learn more before you rule it out. Good luck! read more

I cannot recommend Gina and Abby at Community Midwifery highly enough, they are both fantastic. I was originally going the route of the traditional OB for my first pregnancy but I soon realized that most doctors did not share my preference for a more natural approach to giving birth. I was also extremely frustrated by impersonal care and difficulty communicating with my previous OB practice, before I was fortunate enough to find Abby and Gina. They are the complete opposite of everything else I had experienced navigating the process of pregnancy - in the best way possible. They are both extremely knowledgeable, personable, and caring. Communication is always excellent, they can always be reached very quickly by e-mail, phone, or even text message. I was very lucky to have a healthy normal pregnancy, but there were a few issues that cropped up along the way, and Gina and Abby handled each circumstance in the most thoughtful, attentive way. Another huge benefit is that you will get to know both Abby and Gina throughout the pregnancy, and you will be guaranteed that either one of them (or both), will attend your labor and delivery, as opposed to a traditional OB practice or a larger midwifery, where you might end up giving birth with a doctor you've potentially never met before. I had a long labor, and Gina and Abby were there for every step of the way over the course of two shifts. Additionally, they have admitting privileges at Mt. Sinai West, where we had a great experience. We were extremely satisfied with the resident nurses and doctors throughout the whole process. There is also a beautiful and comfortable birthing center there as an alternative to the typical L&D ward, which I had hoped to use, but was not able to because of a slight complication on the day of delivery. But it is great to have options available one floor from each other in the same hospital. At Community Midwifery Care, every effort is made to accommodate and respect your personal preferences, while providing invaluable guidance along the way. Abby and Gina also helped prepare my husband for the birth of our daughter as much as they did me. A visit to their office feels very homey in a relaxing atmosphere. And they take care of routine tests right there - usually no need to go to a lab elsewhere. Even after giving birth, Abby and Gina were a huge help. After an ultra-sound, I was advised by the sonographer that I would most likely need a D&C procedure. But instead of simply taking her word for it and scheduling me for surgery, Gina and Abby exhausted all other options and I'm so grateful they did, as it turned out there was absolutely no need for a D&C. They saved me an unnecessary surgery! This was eight weeks after giving birth, when I may not have "technically" been their patient or client anymore, but their care does not stop. Their commitment and professionalism is second to none. Community Midwifery also offers a sliding scale for their services. They are truly on a mission to help as many women and families in the community as possible. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

I had such a wonderful experience with Abby and Gina. I was lucky enough to switch to them around 26 weeks. Abby answered all my first time pregnant mom questions with patience and kindness. During labor we (my husband, doula and I) arrived at Mount Sinai West and were brought to triage to get approval to go to the birth center. I stayed in triage for 45 mins because I was slightly dehydrate and the baby's heart was on the low end of normal; all the while Gina was right there next to me, giving me juice and advocating for me to go to a room in the birth center. Finally after progressing from 6-10 cm, my water breaking and my son's head was visible, Gina said something like, "she and the baby are fine, I'm taking her to the birth center so she doesn't give birth in triage." we made it to the birth center and after 35 mins of pushing, my son was born. Gina was calm and confident through it all. 2 months after giving birth I was having some postpartum adjustment issues and Abby was supportive and gave me a bunch of therapy recommendations, which I started seeing and helped me feel better. Abby and Gina are a professional, smart, thorough, warm and nurturing pair and I highly recommend them. read more

I am deeply grateful for the wisdom, kindness, and expertise that Abby and Gina gave to me throughout my pregnancy. Every prenatal visit was positive and provided me with a sense of calm and assurance. I had some physical challenges in the final weeks before my daughter was born, and both Abby and Gina were very responsive and proactive, successfully shepherding me through. I had an incredibly positive and healthy labor under Abby's care -- she trusted my instincts and gave me the birth experience I wanted. My husband and I wholeheartedly recommend Community Midwifery Care to expecting parents. read more

Truly gifted in professionalism while wonderfully connected and personal, Abi is an extremely supportive and caring guide who never turned into an annoying cheerleader or detached medical provider. She maintains a reassuring sense of calm throughout the painful and maddening process of childbirth. None of the visits or checkins felt unnecessary and all were focused on you as a whole person and your pregnancies progression with solid practical advice and care. Abi was phenomenal at working towards your birth goals and incorporates real guidance but never at the risk of you or your babies health. She is the perfect balance of open and honest with detailed knowledge and trustworthy ethics in practice. This was our first child and she was everything we needed, Community Midwifery is an absolute must for all new families please join and support professionals who care deeply for family care. read more

Joan attended the home birth of my son in 2010 and Ellen attended the home birth of my daughter in 2012. I recommend them highly. We interviewed three midwives when I was pregnant with my first child and Joan made me feel the most comfortable about the process and is just so practical and down to earth. Another midwife I interviewed discouraged me from having a home birth the first time around because she said it takes a long time. Both Joan and Ellen always made me feel cared for and not rushed or hurried. I agree with Diana G's comment....they made me want to have about 10 more kids! What can I say other than I am so grateful to have met these women. They taught me so much about myself and helped me accomplish two natural home births. I am forever grateful for their knowledge, expertise, and kindness. I was actually tearful on the way home from my postnatal visit after the birth of my second child. My husband and I only want two children, but having Joan and Ellen guide me through the process of birthing my family is the most exciting part of my life so far! read more

I feel so lucky to have found Gina- she's a real gem. The process of dealing with traditional ob-gyn services can be hit or miss for all women, and often especially stressful for queer women, but Gina is so kind and warm and smart that she immediately puts you at ease. She's super knowledgeable and clearly interested in providing information that is relevant to your unique situation- she's not one of those doctors that just spout some rote statistic without qualifying it, instead, she'll patiently talk you through the nuances of your care. I highly recommend her to anyone who feels like going to your lady doctor is a particular type of torture- her approach to care, and her thoughtfulness, as well as her willingness to come to your home, will make the whole experience a positive one. read more

We love these amazing women. Abby delivered our son, and just thinking about her strength and warmth makes me teary. We had complete trust and confidence in her (we were all on the same page after so much care and consultation) so I could focus completely on the birth. This is what it looks like to be so highly skilled and informed, and also connected and empathetic with your patient: Abby made difficult real-time decisions that were in complete alignment with my needs (and my baby's) and I could feel her there (I say feel because I was in some kind of animalistic trance that didn't involve sight) coaching me, managing the hospital staff, and just kicking ass and fighting for me. Mind blowing. After leaving the hospital, we had breast feeding and weight issues and Abby did everything imaginable to make sure that we were supported and that our baby would thrive. I love this woman. What a gift she was to our lives. read more

Joan delivered both my babies (who are 10.5 months apart!). She was my rock! I am the biggest baby ever when it concerns pain and she literally talked me through it all and gave me a wise, gentle and but stern guidance I needed. We loved out monthly appointments. Felt like we were visiting a friend instead of a medical visit. I could not recommend her enough. If we were crazy enough to want more kids, she would def be our #1 choice. We love her! read more

I couldn't recommend Community Midwifery highly enough. Joan and Ellen were our midwives during my daughter's birth in early May of 2012. They were absolutely amazing; I was just one night away from having to be transferred to a hospital, (I had gone two weeks overdue and was huge/ really uncomfortable) they were so encouraging, giving me a few non-hospital/ medication options and luckily they worked- my daughter was born the next morning. I found my amazing Doula Patricia through them, and the night of my birth was absolutely magical. Ellen showed up for the birth even though she wasn't on call, so I was lucky enough to have Joan, Ellen and Patricia there with me for the birth of our little girl. They were totally professional throughout; a great mix of Practitioner, Counselor, Guru and at the same time they could be totally open and shoot the shit with you. A great group of women, knowledgable and caring- I would give them 10 stars if I could. (I think Ellen may have moved to India since our last visit, but Joan is great and so is her support staff!) read more

My partner and I switched to CMC when I was 18 weeks pregnant after bouncing between two OB's who had varying degrees of listening to our desire to explore a potential unmedicated birth at the Mt Sinai Birthing Center. After dealing with doctors who told us "it's not time to talk about that" or seemingly not listening to us or exploring our options, Gina and Abby were refreshing in actually LISTENING to us and becoming our partners through my pregnancy and ultimately our birth experience. Though consummate professionals and highly skilled, their warm and caring personalities and bedside manner meant we always felt heard, helped and supported through every major decision along the way. They will tell it like it is and be straight with you, but not in a jarring manner that treats you like some dolt who just doesn't understand the medical profession. When it finally came time to have our little girl, I would not have had any other person there with me. It is entirely thanks to Abby (who was on call that day) that we had the exact birth we had imagined. NOTE: this can't always happen for people due to a host of reasons, but the only reason we wouldn't have had a birth like that would have been hospital bureaucracy, which she seamlessly dealt with. She also knew when to push me to believe in myself that I could do it. So much about birth in America is about getting your voice, vision and plans heard and considered, and I never once felt I needed to advocate for myself with Abby. SHE was the one advocating for me! I am forever grateful to the CMC team for welcoming our daughter with us in a safe, secure, supportive environment that considered all of our needs, both medical and emotional. I never once felt like I wasn't worth their time or that I was asking as stupid question... they even texted to follow up after the birth and answered all my questions as a first time mom. I strongly recommend them to anyone looking for quality, holistic prenatal care and delivery support. read more

My partner and I had an extremely positive experience with Ms. Eichenbaum-Pikser as our care provider. She made the IUI process less daunting, more inclusive and safe. We used a combination of acupuncture and Gina's services which resulted in my partner's pregnancy. We are due this month and are so thankful to Gina for her support and expertise. read more

Amazing care. I struggled relentlessly with the question of home vs hospital birth. Ellen, Joan's partner midwife, talked with me for nearly two hours about my decision and the concerns I had. We watched some videos of births and she answered all my questions honestly. What made me decide to have my baby with their help was Ellen's promise that where ever my pregnancy and labor would take me, they would both be there to offer the very best care. They kept that promise. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a home birth practice that offers years of experience and extreme warmth and caring. I felt safe and comfortable with them, so critical to a good birth experience. I can't praise them enough. read more

I highly recommend Community Midwifery Care. When I first found out I was pregnant, I saw an OB, but I wasn't particularly happy with the care I was receiving so I began my search for a different provider. Abby and Gina were just what I was looking for. I was immediately comfortable with them. They were supportive of my desire to have a natural birth and allow you to use the birthing center at Mt. Sinai West if that's what you want. They also offer referrals for doulas, birthing classes, etc if you need. They plan their schedules well to allow you to have plenty of time to ask questions and address any concerns you have. And if you forget something, you can always email them and get a response fairly quickly (within 24 hours at the most, but usually faster). For me, the most important part was that you get to really know everyone in the practice, which means you're not getting a stranger when you're in labor. They know you and your desires, and you know them. You're comfortable with the person who is with you at your most vulnerable. If we have a second, I definitely plan to come back! read more

My wife and I had a great experience conceiving our first child by IUI with Gina. She's a wonderful provider who really listened to us and understood the importance of both our medical and our non-medical concerns. I was particularly impressed with all the time she took with me helping me to figure out my cycle timing, and how patient she was helping us work out the logistics of our IUI. I'm very happy that we were able to conceive without unnecessary medications or all the stress of dealing with an infertility clinic. It was a much more pleasant process, and also much less expensive. I also felt very confident in her medical judgments, and we conceived with the first insemination. We're very excited to be expecting our first child! read more

Joan was my scheduled midwife for my April 2011 home birth, and Ellen, who has joined Joan's practice, was my backup. As it turned out, I needed the backup because my labor came on very suddenly and progressed very quickly, and Joan was at another birth. Joan and Ellen have very different styles but I loved both of them. Joan's decades of experience as a midwife and prior experience as an OB nurse gave me confidence that she could handle whatever situation might be thrown at her, and I believe she can. I got great care from her throughout my pregnancy and after my delivery. I am no connoisseur of midwives or birth experiences but I can say that Ellen dropped everything and came to meet me when I needed her, even though it seemed unlikely that I was really ready to go. (I was.) Ellen was exceedingly calm and competent during the delivery. As the laboring woman, I really liked her vibe: soft and soothing but also clear and professional. Soon there were three or four women from the midwives' office, including Joan, in my apartment to help sew me up and assist me. I was impressed with the attention they gave me. Anything can happen with an attempted homebirth but I am grateful to Community Midwifery for making mine the experience I had hoped for. read more