This review is about both Whitman and Weymouth offices…read more I'm not sure what the bad reviews were about but South Shore Women's Health has been amazing and professional! Every single staff member who my husband and I encountered have been amazingly helpful, attentive, and professional. Check in was an easy process, the wait time was never longer than 5 mins in the actual lobby and 10 mins in the provider's office. It was confusing at first because I had chosen a doctor, but soon realized that they had many providers there so you don't actually get to see the OBGYN that you choose. You also don't see the same NP twice, but if you schedule your appointments wisely and request to see the same NP, they will accommodate you. The ultrasound techs were efficient and professional. I kind of assumed that they aren't allowed to answer any questions or tell you anything, so I remained quiet during the process. After the US, they quickly typed up their notes and that gets passed to the NP. Our NP, Diane, was also very good. She was really happy, but considering our situation (we had a miscarriage), you have to be right? She provided us options, explained and reexplained things thoroughly, and had a "let's move forward" approach. One suggestion that I would make is for patients to be proactive about asking questions, seeing records, and reading their notes. I don't think I requested to see the US or asked her to explain them and I regret not doing that. Because of the miscarriage, I had to have a D&C. After all we've been through, I was extremely frightened about the D&C procedures and called the nurse at SSWH several times. The nurses (especially Abby-I think?) were understanding, proactive, and were honest if they didn't know something. She immediately called Dr. Johnson for answers to my questions, and got back to me in minutes. She had other nurses follow up as well. The D&C was performed at South Shore Hospital and the staff there could not have been better! However, Dr. Johnson was by far the best. He had a crazy morning, and although delayed, when he got to us, he spent a lot of time talking about what happened, the procedure, and post-op. He reviewed everything with us thoroughly, discussed the risks, abated my fears, and ensured that all questions were answered. The procedure went fine of course and he took the time to check in with both my husband and me. It was just nice because he wasn't all business. He was kind, caring, and understanding. We decided to meet again when I do become pregnant! The procedure is not one that any future mothers would ever look to have done, but I am blessed to have the strong team from SSWH and SSH looking after me.

I continue to feel very conflicted about which star rating to pick. I was here yesterday for an…read moreappointment I scheduled two months ago only to wait 30 minutes to be seen by a nurse and an additional 20 minutes to be seen by the doctor-- only to be told the procedure I was coming in for is no longer done at this facility. Dr. Darlyne Johnson is amazing. I wish she had a private practice or worked elsewhere because this place does not deserve her. She was friendly, familiar with my chart, knowledgeable and very reasonable. Today I arrived at 10:03 for my 10:00am appointment. At 10:35 I was told they needed a urine test, and after my results I would be seen. If I had been told from the start I needed a urine test, I would have chugged the 40oz bottle of water I brought with me and asked to have the test as soon as possible (to move things along). Additionally, I was pulled aside by the nurse who informed me the dr's notes indicated she wanted me to have a test before I came back. In reality when I saw the doctor-- yesterday, she told me I could come back today as long as I get the test within the next three months. Everyone here is wicked nice, smart and courteous, it's mind boggling that such smart, kind people cannot seem to figure out how to run an efficient and organized establishment. As said before, I arrived at 10:03 for my 10:00am appointment, I was seen at 10:50 and walked out of the doors at 10:53. This place is clean and well kempt. It's poorly run and they could use both a group psychotherapist to help improve communication between staff and an office manager to improve the efficiency and timeliness of keeping appointments on track. I'm already stressed out because I'm in graduate school and at the very end of finals, came out of my way for a 4 minute appointment, only to wait an hour... jeeze, talk about anxiety provoking! All in all, I would refer other women to Dr.Johnson. I would suggest clarifying any additional information or questions during check-in and a simple reiteration and emphasis that as a client your time also matters.

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.

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!

Agnes is now in Plymouth at the BID Plymouth OB/midwife practice. She is an absolutely amazing…read moremidwife who went out of her way to answer my questions, listen to my concerns and care for me during my most recent pregnancy. While I was not able to have her deliver or present at the birth, that was more of an issue of how my pregnancy turned out and was out of her control. I could not have asked for more compassionate, knowledgeable and personable care. She does her work not for her own advancement or recognition but because she truly cares for her patients. That sets her far apart from so many others that may be more well known. Even if another hospital or practice is closer to you, I would recommend that you drive to have her be your provider. She is definitely worth it!!

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.

My husband and I feel so fortunate to have had Carolynn as our Doula for the birth of our first…read morechild. Carolynn provided vital support for us prior to, during, and after the birth of our son. When we first met Carolynn we knew that we wanted her to be our Doula. Both myself and my husband immediately felt comfortable with her and after talking with her for a while we knew that she was very knowledgeable and passionate about pregnancy and child birth. Carolynn was always available by text, e-mail, and phone to answer any questions we had and researched and provided us with any information we needed. We learned a lot during our home visits with Carolynn. During our second home visit we went over different stretches and positioning which was very helpful. When I went into labor, it came on quickly. Carolynn was quick to meet us at our home and helped me stay calm. When we went to the hospital, Carolynn set up a calm environment with dim lighting, LED candles and music. She was an amazing coach to me and an excellent teammate to my husband. My labor was long and Carolynn collaborated well with all of the nurses and midwives that we had. She stayed with us for a few hours after our son was born making sure we were all ok even though we had been at the hospital for about 36 hours with not much sleep. My son had a slight fever after he was born and we had to stay at the hospital for a few days. Carolynn checked in on us often. When we got home I was not feeling well and ended up in the emergency room with a kidney infection while my husband brought our son to his first pediatrician appointment. Carolynn had called to check in on me that morning and stopped by and stayed with me while I was waiting for my father to bring me to the hospital so I was not alone. She even did the dishes while I showered. Carolynn came over for a postpartum visit once I was feeling better and stayed for a long time trying to help our son latch on to breastfeed. While we were not successful during the visit, Carolynn gave me the contact information for a lactation consultant that helped us. If you are considering hiring a doula, I wholeheartedly recommend Carolynn, she is truly amazing!

From the owner: Gentle Waves Birthing provides extremely professional quality support and education for expectant…read moreparents throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. With a strong focus on education & comfort measures you will be well prepared for the birth of your baby. Call today for a free consultation & get started on your journey to a happy, more confident birth!

Ellie is an absolute gem. My husband and I first worked with her as a sleep consultant during a…read morebrutal 18 month sleep regression for our daughter. Both empathetic and whip-smart, Ellie helped identify specific actions we could take to get sleep back on track. It was so reassuring to make a plan with her and to have real time follow up so that we could course correct and adjust as needed. When we encountered some challenges with the 2 to 1 nap transition, Ellie was the only person we wanted help from and once again she was exactly the resource we needed. We also felt SO supported by Ellie as a birth and postpartum doula for our second child. Using zoom, email, text, and phone, Ellie was like an expert big sister in the weeks leading up to the birth, as well as in the beginnings of labor, and most especially in the early postpartum period. The birth escalated so quickly that there wasn't time for zoom support, but honestly the postpartum support alone was invaluable (and thank goodness for Ellie's nudge via phone for us to hightail it to the hospital-- our son was almost born in the car). Her expertise in sleep and lactation along with being a thoughtful and experienced mom of three... I truly can't speak highly enough. We will forever be grateful to Ellie for helping us grow into happier, stronger parents, and she will forever be our go-to for all questions parenting / birth / sleep!

Working with Ellie was a wonderful experience. I am so grateful that she was our doula for my…read morefirst birth as there are so many questions and unknowns. Ellie helped us navigate all of this and made me feel incredibly supported.

Ann was great. She was so good at keeping a very calm atmosphere, even when things didn't go as…read moreplanned. I ended up with a 36hr delivery and never once did I feel pressured into making things "move along". She was very good about informing me of my options without the feeling of being pressured into anything. I delivered at home to a 6.8Lbs baby boy. I couldn't recommend Ann enough. She truly cares. We love her so much and are so thankful to have had her by my side.

stay far away from this midwife! I moved to MA at 30 weeks pregnant and transferred into Ann's…read morecare, after a few meetings it was clear she wasn't very personable & did not seem to want to build a relationship. My husband & I were unable to find another homebirth midwife so late so we stuck with Ann as we thought she at least had the medical knowledge needed for homebirth. she claims she trust the bodies natural way to birth (as do we!). Well my water broke & while waiting for contractions to begin she suggested I just go to the hospital 10 hours in. Ann was unable to provide me with any support during that time, she did not suggest anything to help kickstart labor. I labored at home for 50 hours on my own, I asked her at one point to just come check my baby's position/ heartbeat to ensure she was still okay in there, Ann's response was she could be there in two hours or so, and that she'd be unable to tell anything with baby since I'm in labor (???) I'm not even sure what that means.. as that's her whole job. at that point I felt completely ABANDONED. my husband & I decided to go to the hospital for a non stress test since Ann now said she did not feel comfortable doing a homebirth because baby could not be doing well she stated (after never even coming to see me in person!!!) on our way to the hospital she asked me to call her & then said I was going against her suggestion by going in, but when I asked if I turned around & went home would she still do the homebirth she said no. Thus, 50 hours after my water breaking we checked into the hospital as we were ABANDONED by Ann after taking our 6k birth fee. now she is ghosting us and will not respond. this is NOT the compassionate care she claims to have, and this is NOT the first story I've since heard about her doing the same to others.