Home Birth Stories
MIRANDA'S BIRTH STORY
Shannon was our midwife when my daughter was born on October 12, 2009 at our home in Hawaii. From the beginning of our prenatal visits, Shannon made my husband and I feel comfortable by listening to what we wanted for our birth experience, and by clearly explaining the health issues of pregnancy. She shared books and gave us choices, such as if and how we would like to hear our baby's heartbeat, and was sure to cover all of the important details in preparing for birth.
During labor, Shannon and her midwife partner worked together silently so as not to disturb my process. When Shannon arrived at my house during labor, she only checked my dilation once as she knew from my physical experience that labor was progressing quickly. She guided me into positions and suggested movement when necessary. During the final stages, her quiet voice softly and clearly directed my breaths, affirmed my inner strength, and continued to encourage my efforts. Her hands pushed just where I needed the relief on my back. I trusted that Shannon was monitoring my baby's progression with minimal interference. I am happy that Shannon caught my daughter underwater and efficiently released her umbilical cord so I could hold her immediately.
Shannon helped us to clean up and settle in for the night following the delivery of my placenta. She checked on our family and generously helped us in the first few weeks and months of our child's life. I am grateful for Shannon. I had a very positive labor and birth experience and highly recommend her. - Miranda Lewitsky of Honoka'a, HI
During labor, Shannon and her midwife partner worked together silently so as not to disturb my process. When Shannon arrived at my house during labor, she only checked my dilation once as she knew from my physical experience that labor was progressing quickly. She guided me into positions and suggested movement when necessary. During the final stages, her quiet voice softly and clearly directed my breaths, affirmed my inner strength, and continued to encourage my efforts. Her hands pushed just where I needed the relief on my back. I trusted that Shannon was monitoring my baby's progression with minimal interference. I am happy that Shannon caught my daughter underwater and efficiently released her umbilical cord so I could hold her immediately.
Shannon helped us to clean up and settle in for the night following the delivery of my placenta. She checked on our family and generously helped us in the first few weeks and months of our child's life. I am grateful for Shannon. I had a very positive labor and birth experience and highly recommend her. - Miranda Lewitsky of Honoka'a, HI
A SECOND BABY - AND SECOND HOME BIRTH
We had a homebirth in San Francisco for our first daughter, but after moving to San Jose, we thought that we would go for a hospital birth for our second baby to save some money. However, after a couple of hospital visits (So fear-based!) we realized that the midwifery model of care that we had enjoyed with our daughter was the best option for us. Shannon was the perfect fit...knowledgeable but open to listening to our needs and concerns. She has a warm and calming presence that made us look forward to her visits and which we really appreciated when our baby was breech (who turned with a successful Version). Shannon was also great at the birth when, like our first daughter, I had a long pushing stage. I felt reassured that I was in great hands with Shannon and the way she directed the rest of the team (the assistant and doula) smoothly and confidently, to make sure that I got adequate rest and space to get my baby out. Now that the end of the postpartum visits are coming to an end, I'm sad that we won't get to see Shannon as often!
TALEAH'S BIRTH STORY
My daughter's birth was one of the most divine, fulfilling, and life-changing events in my life. My relationship with Shannon throughout my pregnancy played a huge role in helping me to create the birth experience that I dreamed of. From our very first prenatal meeting, Shannon's presence and attentiveness put me at ease and gave me all the confidence I needed to birth my daughter the way I wanted to: naturally, at home, with only my very close loved-ones present. Her thoroughness and attention to detail helped me to focus on what I really envisioned my birthing experience to be like, and manifest that into reality.
I was able to labor in a calm, relaxed, and pain-free manner (and I am someone who previously thought that pain-free labor didn't exist!) up to 9 centimeters. The truly intense part of the birth took only an hour or so, during which I took a nice hot shower, returned to bed, pushed a few times, and gave birth to my beautiful baby girl under the full Hawaiian moon! Through it all Shannon was poised and reassuring, professional yet warm, and incredibly competent. She handled all of the details right after the birth efficiently and respectfully, allowing me to revel in the bliss of my new baby without having to think of anything.
Everything about my birthing experience, from pregnancy to postpartum, was magical. I am so happy that I decided to work with Shannon because she had such a huge impact on how everything played out. She is truly a gift and a blessing to our world, and to all the mamas and babies that she works with. -Taleah
I was able to labor in a calm, relaxed, and pain-free manner (and I am someone who previously thought that pain-free labor didn't exist!) up to 9 centimeters. The truly intense part of the birth took only an hour or so, during which I took a nice hot shower, returned to bed, pushed a few times, and gave birth to my beautiful baby girl under the full Hawaiian moon! Through it all Shannon was poised and reassuring, professional yet warm, and incredibly competent. She handled all of the details right after the birth efficiently and respectfully, allowing me to revel in the bliss of my new baby without having to think of anything.
Everything about my birthing experience, from pregnancy to postpartum, was magical. I am so happy that I decided to work with Shannon because she had such a huge impact on how everything played out. She is truly a gift and a blessing to our world, and to all the mamas and babies that she works with. -Taleah
LEILEA'S BIRTH STORY
Shannon was the midwife of our first child, born August 2009 in Hawaii. We had a beautiful water birth under the moon light and Shannon was amazing! She was actually one of the first people we told that we were pregnant. Each meeting with her set my mind at ease and gave me a sense of natural well-being that I was the divine mother growing a being perfectly inside me.
Her natural, calm approach made me feel so connected to the whole process, my partner, baby and her. I always felt well cared after. That she was intertwined in the process, very invested on a spiritual and physical level. She was always available and collected in her answers to my questions. During my 3 days of labor she was very present, calmly nurturing me, making sure baby and I where doing good and assisting but not interfering with the natural process. We love Shannon so much that we are bringing her back to Hawaii to midwife the birth of our second child. - Blessings, Leilea Satori, mother of Hoku Lani
Her natural, calm approach made me feel so connected to the whole process, my partner, baby and her. I always felt well cared after. That she was intertwined in the process, very invested on a spiritual and physical level. She was always available and collected in her answers to my questions. During my 3 days of labor she was very present, calmly nurturing me, making sure baby and I where doing good and assisting but not interfering with the natural process. We love Shannon so much that we are bringing her back to Hawaii to midwife the birth of our second child. - Blessings, Leilea Satori, mother of Hoku Lani