We have worked with the midwives to help deliver our two children and I can't speak highly enough…read moreabout how caring, helpful, and skilled the midwives are at what they do. They put the patient first and offer great knowledge in support of empowering their patients. I think midwives have a great track record of excellent health outcomes for both mother and baby. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of the midwives at prenatal visits and during labor/delivery and have found them to consistently be kind, gentle, and incredibly capable. Deciding who we trusted to deliver our two babies and protect my wife's health was one of the most important healthcare decisions we have ever made. I am so thankful for this midwife practice and highly recommend it!

If I could give 10 stars I would. The care I received here was outstanding. As a first time mom I…read morewas originally nervous that my midwife could change at each appointment but understood it was for the greater purpose of not knowing who would be on call the day you go into labor. At every appointment there was time to ask as many questions and bring up any concerns I was having. The midwives, medical assistants and front desk staff were always attentive and made appointments easy. People always joke that the later appointments of pregnancy are so quick but I feel like the time spent was just as long as the first ones because we went over EVERYTHING down to what to pack in the hospital bag. They even have a nice booklet that tracks what each appointment will be about. I will be continuing my women's health care with the team because of the great experience I had during my pregnancy. A very special thank you to Jessie and Margaret. You both made this journey very enjoyable!

We used Nicole Jolley and had an amazing birth experience with her. She is incredibly warm,…read morestrong, competent, knowledgeable, non-flaky, and funny in an irreverent sort of way (which my husband and I appreciate). She is certified as both a doula and a midwife -- this was important in several ways: 1. It was reassuring to know that she could deliver our child at home if things progressed rapidly. (My confidence in her abilities allowed me to labor from the comfort of my home. It wasn't until I was ready to push that I arrived at the hospital. Of course, she will adjust this based on your own individual birth plan). 2. Her midwife certification also allows her to perform many duties as someone who is only a doula cannot. For example, when she came over to my house, she measured my cervix and made recommendations on exercises to perform during labor based on which part of my uterus was thick. 3. The fact that she is also a midwife is also important for our insurance Fepblue -- which only processes claims for midwives and not doulas. Yes, we used the GW midwife practice -- and BCBS were only concerned about Nicole's certification and did not consider her redundant to the process). Other things that we loved about Nicole: She was recommended by the GW midwives (if you are delivering with them - it is nice that they are very familiar with and like each other). She lives on the Hill ~ so it was reassuring that she is close by. We also loved that were very comfortable with her alternate, Alex, who we didn't have to use but liked and trusted equally. (Make sure that you like both your doula and her/his alternate). She used warm cloth compresses (so no tearing or at least reduces the chances of it). She give really strong back rubs -- this was important for my friend who had terrible back pains during delivery. She has a strong, no-nonsense yet warm and caring presence. I felt completely comfortable in her capable hands. All my friends who have used her would also sing her praises. One friend had an incredibly long labor (over 24 hours) -- and Nicole stayed with her and her husband the entire time. We all have had different births (with varying levels of difficulties) -- but all were able to deliver naturally. I am confident that Nicole had a big part in this success. I would, without any reservation, recommend Nicole Jolley.

I have three children and delivered twice with Nicole. I am incredibly grateful for her and know…read morethat I had great deliveries both times because of her. My first delivery (without Nicole or any doula) was incredibly traumatizing, included an emergency c-section as the kid and I were dying, and resulted in major PTSD. When I got pregnant with #2, I wanted a different experience. I interviewed seven different doulas before deciding to hire Nicole. There were a few factors that stood out with her: 1) I liked that she is very matter-of-fact in how she explains labor and delivery. I like all the information, and am not someone who likes the more woo-y side of natural birth. 2) I liked that she is also a certified midwife, which meant that she could do things like cervical exams if necessary. 3) I liked her sassy sense of humor. If you know you're going to be in a (likely) stressful situation with someone like this for a solid chunk of time, you need to like that person as a person, not just as a professional! Over the course of that second pregnancy, I was extra appreciative of the fact that I could text Nicole with questions or concerns, and that she would get back to me in a timely fashion. I have a great OB (who was super on board with me having a doula, especially given the PTSD), and with Nicole there, I felt like I had an excellent support system. When I was in active labor, Nicole was helping another mom deliver and sent an alternate to be with me for a few hours. She came immediately afterwards. She moved me into different positions, in and out of baths and showers, and worked with my husband to encourage me when I was ready to give up. (This is a great point too - Nicole was as helpful to my husband as she was to me, obviously in different ways. He felt like the situation was significantly easier to manage and approach because of her support.) I labored at home until I felt like I needed to push, then she drove my husband and me to the hospital. (She was with me for about 14 hours at this point.) At the hospital, Nicole worked really well with my OB to keep the hot compresses and oil going to protect my perineum as I was pushing. When I wasn't understanding how to push, she would rephrase so that I better understood. I successfully delivered after 90 minutes of pushing, with no tears. And she took the best spontaneous pictures and videos right after my kid was born! It was 180 degrees from the trauma of my first birth. My third birth was its own experience. I was two weeks overdue and despite all of our best efforts, could not get labor to actively stick. I had to be induced at the hospital. Nicole and I talked through everything prior to my getting to the hospital, so I felt prepared for what was to come. She was at the hospital for parts of the labor (again, coming right after helping another woman deliver that morning), trying to help me dilate. After finishing the first round of pitocin, the OBs decided to break my water, and I was fully unprepared for the level of pain that my contractions would ramp up to after that and demanded an epidural. Nicole made sure this was what I actually wanted given my plan, etc., but when I made it clear it was, Nicole was 100% behind me. I loved that she would help translate what I meant when I was having a hard time being coherent to the medical staff. When it was time to push and my legs were obviously not functional, Nicole was incredibly helpful to get me to successfully get the kid out (again, no tears!). After the delivery, she applauded me for standing up for myself and allowing the plans to change. I am grateful to never have felt judged or wrong with Nicole; she was my ally and cheerleader. So two different labors and deliveries: one unmedicated and mostly at home, the other at a hospital with all kinds of interventions, but both with one external constant: Nicole. Labor is not easy, but if you can deliver safely and be able to feel immense joy once that kid is out and in your arms, that is a success. I owe that to Nicole. TL;DR: Nicole Jolly is a fabulous doula, and I cannot recommend her enough.

The midwives at M.A.M.A.S. are absolutely wonderful! They not only are qualified medical…read moreprofessionals, but amazing companions and confidants in the journey to welcoming a baby. Prenatal appointments are thorough and not rushed, and care is all encompassing beyond just the growing baby. Postnatal care is frequent and truly feels like care, rather than a checklist. Beyond their care alone, the midwives create a beautiful community not only during the prenatal period but long after. We love each of the midwives and feel so lucky to know them and been under their care. I'd recommend the M.A.M.A.S. care team to anyone looking for compassionate, evidence based care, whether for home birth or well women's care.

The MAMAS midwives offer thorough, empathetic prenatal care and postpartum support. Emily and…read moreLuisely supported me expertly through a fast, intense birth, and I am so grateful to them. MAMAS is an out-of-network practice for many, and I wish there were more guidance offered about how to navigate the insurance hurdles. Admin staff is only part-time and many of my emails went unanswered. I asked a lot of questions in person as well, and I didn't receive some key information about gap exceptions that would have made the process less stressful. As expected, I received only a small reimbursement from my insurer, and it took several months of emails and calls for MAMAS to realize they had received the check from my insurer and forward it to me.

If you're interested in a home birth + midwife around Takoma Park, look no further. Rachel is…read moreprofessional and empathetic, reassuring and earnest. If I could have all of my babies with Rachel, I would. This is my 5-star experience from start to finish: Pregnancy: I reached out to her when I had a subpar bedside manner experience at George Washington Hospital for my low-risk pregnancy. I couldn't imagine moving forward in maternity care with rotating OBs and random residents. I really wanted a home birth, but also wanted to find a midwife who would have an emergency transfer plan and not recklessly force a home birth. Cue Rachel! My husband and I both looked forward to cozy monthly appointments with her--she ensured that we were educated on important topics by guiding us through a few discussion points at every meeting. I never felt overwhelmed by information (or at a loss of what to ask). If she wasn't 100% certain about an answer to a question, she was honest about it and pointed me towards resources. Labor & Delivery: As I approached my due date, she was available by phone to discuss my uncertainty about whether or not my water broke. She arrived within an hour of us calling during active labor. She was with me during literally every contraction, tirelessly applying counter pressure, checking baby's heart rate, guiding my breath, and juggling a billion other things that I didn't know about. When I hemorrhaged during birth, she so acted quickly and calmly with Pitocin and a fundal massage that I didn't even realize the severity of the situation. There is nothing as delightful as being in my own bed eating my own food 10 minutes after giving birth, and Rachel facilitated it all so gracefully. Home births are messy (duh) and Rachel brought so much equipment, but she and the second midwife left our apartment cleaner than when they came. Postpartum & Misc Thoughts: I had so many follow-up appointments with Rachel where we were able to address everything from my baby's health to breastfeeding to my physical wellbeing and spiraling emotions. Paying a flat fee for ALL pregnancy through postpartum care is amazing--no hidden bills or up-charged items at the hospital (she administered multiple IVs during labor and didn't have to think twice about $$). There's an annual community gathering of her current and past clients, which is really special! The bond we built over the span of 9 months with Rachel is incredible and she will forever be an important person in our lives.

I had the most incredible experience with Rock Creek Midwifery and cannot recommend them highly…read moreenough. Rachel, my midwife, was gentle, caring, and deeply respectful of my needs, while also being completely professional and grounded in her expertise. Throughout my pregnancy, Rachel led me through so much more beyond standard care - like prenatal nutrition, emotional well-being, and many "what if? have we considered...?" topics. I never felt rushed during our appointments. When labor came, it lasted much longer than expected, but Rachel guided me through every moment, keeping me focused and positive. Working closely with my doula, she created a series of labor positions that helped my sunny-side-up baby make his way earthside. Her skills, patience, and steady presence were everything I needed. After the birth, Rachel continued to show up with the same care and professionalism through at-home postpartum visits, which supported my goal of self-imposed bed rest and allowed me to stay in a peaceful bubble of recovery. I felt truly cared for from start to finish. If you are considering a home birth, I wholeheartedly recommend Rachel and Rock Creek Midwifery.

I wish I had switched to this practice sooner. They have a fabulous reputation for safe &…read moresuccessful natural births in a hospital setting- in fact, they are getting so popular that I was told by a doula to switch to them *before* getting pregnant to make sure of getting their prenatal care. Check out their website for the full philosophy and nutrition guidelines, and attend one of the monthly 'Meet the Midwives' sessions to learn more.

What every other one star review of this practice has said. The practice overall isn't terrible and…read moreseveral of the midwives we met were quite nice and supportive. But then for a regular check up we drew Whitney and everything went downhill from there. I had misgivings from the beginning, but trusted my wife's wish to check out midwivery. What Whitney emphasizes in the the Meet the Midwives event is also plainly unscientific and dangerous. She said that women should eat like their ancestors several generations back--which, if one is historically accurate, would lead to life expectancy in the 30 to 40 year range. I reiterate what all the other reviews have said: Whitney is rude, snobby, judgmental, and, at least we felt, unconcerned with the patients, as evidenced by her focus on absurd numbers and her own story. We felt she was completely unprepared to deal with the most minute complication, but, more importantly, to speak to someone with respect and tact.

I met Dr. Parker in January of 2016. I scheduled an appointment with her for my, at the time one…read moreyear old, son. He had a debilitating skin condition that many other providers could not figure out the root cause of. When we walked in to her office, my son had a debilitating skin condition from head to toe, was not yet crawling, and had a feeding tube. From the moment I met her, her vibe was extremely warm and understanding. I broke down in her office and for the first time felt HEARD. It was a season full of fear and frustration for me, as a first time mom. And after the experience I had with many medical providers in the mainstream medicine world, she was a breath of fresh air. She took on my son's case as if it was so own baby. We worked out a protocol and began the journey to healing my son. By, only, God's grace and Dr. Parker's heart and gift to help patients heal, within about 2-3 weeks of meeting with her; my son began to show SO much improvement. I was able to add other alternative medicine providers to his protocol, which also assisted his healing. By the time he was 3 and a half, my son was growing beautifully. As he should have been. Dr. Parker, personally, not only helped me to help my son but also helped me mentally, emotionally, and physically as a first time mom. Her support was extremely valuable. And till this day still is. I learned a lot from her. She holds such a special place in my heart & for my family. She is family.

Kai is a horror show and a scam artist…read more I was desperate for a birth plan after leaving my previous doctor in my 8th month of pregnancy for reasons unrelated to Kai. When I reached out to Kai, she was was eager to accept me as a patient even though she said her schedule was technically full. First red flag. She charged me the full price for her pre-natal, birth, and post-partum package, even though I was starting with her too late to get any pre-natal care. But I was desperate so I accepted. She messaged me like clockwork for each of my payment submissions, and then seemed to have completely lost her ability to look at a calendar or a clock. She last minute cancelled appointment after appointment. She came up with every excuse in the world: she cut her finger, her brother in law was in the hospital, she got a concussion, her kid was sick, she got delayed in traffic, etc. I had exactly one pre-natal appointment (due to her constant cancellations) and she was there for the birth (which honestly is a miracle). She was supposed to come within a week for a follow-up visit, but never came. Ever. Not once. She didn't come NOT EVEN ONE TIME to make sure the baby and I were okay. Thank god I had a pediatrician lined up who was able to see us. TRIGGER WARNING: After several weeks, Kai finally re-emerged from the infernal abyss she had vanished into right after my daughter's birth. She apologized profusely and said she couldn't provide me with the postpartum care I had already paid for because she had lost a baby she delivered right after mine and was being sued $1million. Of course she said it wasn't her fault. After months of back and forth, Kai refused to refund me for the services she never provided. She finally sent a superbill so I could be reimbursed by my insurance, but she included all the dates she was supposed to see me (even the ones she had cancelled and never rescheduled!!) and made an error in the dates so they started prior to when my new insurance went into effect. This caused me to have to fight with my insurance for TWO YEARS before they agreed to make an exception and just reimburse me considering Kai refused to even call them back and they saw the online reviews that proved she's a con artist. My one comfort is knowing that Cigna is now flagging her for insurance fraud and falsifying records. Bottom line: don't trust Kai with the most precious moment in your life. You're better giving birth in the woods alone. xoxo

I had amazing experiences with BirthCare and Women's Health for both of my pregnancies. The…read moremidwives are skilled and they truly care. They texted me and called me on my cell phone to check up on me, which was so different than when I was going to a big OBGYN practice and could never speak with my actual provider. I felt secure and supported. The facility itself is warm and welcoming, covered in pictures of new babies and happy families. It was such a gift to connect with this Birth Center to have a safe, healthy, supported birth and become a mother this way. I think every pregnant person should be able to have such excellent care and support as they go through the journey of becoming a new parent. If only there were more Birth Centers like this one!

I have had both of my children with BirthCare and I am beyond grateful to them for my experiences…read more My first child was born at the birth center which was incredibly convenient and a great intermediary option between home and hospital birth. The midwife, Nancy, was incredible and helped me persevere through all of my emotions and doubts and continued to be one of our greatest supports as our child grew. Our second child was born at home and after giving birth this way, I would now never willingly choose an alternative. The midwife, Hadassah, was exactly what was needed and made me feel extremely comfortable and safe as I went through the process. Throughout both pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum visits, the whole team has been so supportive and informative, never leaving me with doubt or uninformed. I truly cannot say enough good things about BirthCare and feel so lucky to have worked with them.

I had my first two babies at GWUH (with epidurals!) and was planning the same for my third... until…read moreplans changed at 38+ weeks. (Thanks, omicron variant!) We were so incredibly lucky to get connected to Katrina. She worked with us to evaluate if we were good candidates for home birth and then helped us transition to a home birth plan... on a VERY tight timeline. She came to my house for a prenatal visit and I swear that one appointment seemed like more actual medical care than I received in the rest of my pregnancies put together. Having someone actually focused just on you and your baby - with plenty of time to get to know you and no other distractions or pressures - is an amazing experience. I wish I'd switched a lot earlier. The birth itself was... let's say full of surprises (: I don't want to go into too much detail, but I do want to say that I am deeply, profoundly grateful that Katrina was there, and will be for the rest of my life, and so will my baby when she's old enough to know the story. Katrina's calm expertise and focus supported our entire family. Having the postpartum visits at home was also wonderful, vs. having to cart myself and baby around town while still recovering from birth. Even though we ended up at the hospital after the birth (probably unnecessary in hindsight!) I'm so glad I got to give birth at home. It's definitely better; I can't imagine ever planning a hospital birth again. Thank you.

I had a wonderful experience with Katrina as my home birth midwife. Her energy is very grounded and…read morecalm, which I really appreciated and wanted to have around me during labor. Katrina is extremely knowledgeable and always had an answer or suggestion for any question I had, so throughout my pregnancy and before my labor I trusted I was in good hands. She also really took her time with me during every appointment and call, which I SO appreciate. I have been a patient for other practitioners which whom I've felt like a number to them, or with whom I felt rushed because they were overbooked or overwhelmed. Not with Katrina. She always felt grounded, calm, present, and took really good care and attention with me. During labor her energy was super grounded and calm, as well, which was so helpful. And I also really appreciate how she took the time to educate me on certain things post birth, like the placenta's "tree of life" and the umbilical cord, etc. These are the special care and extra attention that you get with Katrina that you may not get elsewhere and definitely don't get at the hospital. I highly recommend working with her as your midwife.

I came here 5 years ago for an IUD insertion, and it was one of the most painful and embarrassing…read moreexperiences of my life due to the awful bedside manner of the doctors. But that is not why I chose to write this review 5 years later. I have since moved to New York and went to have my IUD replaced today as it had been 5 years since the initial insertion. I did not know until today that the IUD I got at Physicians & Midwives was placed incorrectly, and the doctors today spent the better half of an hour finding it inside of me let alone removing it. I wouldn't ever tell a family or friend of mine to seek any sort of service from this practice.

The front office is wildly unprofessional. I asked for my records to be sent to a new Dr and they…read moresent the wrong records. This caused me to miss a new drs appointment. I requested they be sent again and they were still sent wrong. Finally my new dr office reached out to them. 3rd time sent wrong. On the 4th time they sent the correct ones but every single page was facing a different direction. The new office even commented on the lack of professionalism. I requested the office manager reach out to me because of how outrageous this now month long ordeal was. Still haven't heard back. Mind you this is after I decided to change drs because I was not getting the care or representation I felt I should be.

My husband and I worked with Alanna and Story for the birth of our first baby in January. I don't…read moreeven know where to start with how amazing they were. Alanna was our primary midwife so I will mostly speak of her care below. I started out with an OB/midwife practice when I first found I was pregnant and was very unsatisfied with their care. I connected with FHB and was instantly confident that we wanted a home birth with Alanna. She is a perfect balance of medical care/intervention in birth when needed, but also honoring physiological birth at home when safe to do so. She seemed genuinely interested in me, my baby, my questions, and my concerns. She always welcomed my questions and answered without bias or judgement. I never felt pressured to do/not do any kind of testing or procedures. She gave her recommendations and her reasons but fully supported my decisions. She has a calm and confident energy that puts you right at ease. When I got Covid at 38wks and felt reduced fetal movement I called her late at night and she didn't sound the slightest bit frustrated. Instead, she told us to grab some N95 masks and meet her at the office right away for an NST. She guided me on how to manage my symptoms and reassured me that baby was ok. We had a complicated and very long birth and she was by my side offering encouragement from the moment she set foot in our home. I'll skip the details of the birth but long story short we ended up with both Alanna and Story (as well as our fabulous birth assistant and our doula) for the final few hours due to some complications, and they were just incredible. I truly believe that my birth experience would have caused long-term trauma if it weren't for my amazing team. I'm almost certain we'd have had a c-section (or at least forceps delivery) if we were in a hospital setting. The midwives continued to monitor me and baby the whole time and make sure that we were ok and that we were safe to continue a home birth. Their level of skill in their field is impressive. After the birth, despite the fact that she must have been exhausted too, Alanna was smiling and cheerful and just generally warm and friendly and encouraging. I will be forever grateful for her care and can't wait to work with her again if we have another baby in the future. Additionally, Emily in the office was on point. She always responded very quickly with the right answer to any questions we had. Her emails were worded perfectly and she made the entire process smooth for us.

This was my first home birth and Story and her team were amazing. She made me feel confident and…read morehelped me through my fears. She was incredibly supportive during my birth and provided exceptional care postpartum for both my baby and I. I recommend her to everyone looking to expand their family.