Sweet Grace Midwifery

Meet Thaddeus✨

This sweet boy’s mom is so special to me. She was Sweet Grace’s first client and over the course of her last pregnancy and birth, she became family to me. Getting to support her welcoming her 9th baby was such a gift. She managed her birth so beautifully and instinctively. Getting to see her other children all come in and welcome Thaddeus shortly after his birth, was the most precious moment.

This little one decided to turn sideways at 41 weeks, 3 days. With the help of a CNM, we were able to get baby back to head down and 2 days later, he made his arrival. The look of joy and relief on this mom’s face was priceless!

I got to spend last night with the sweetest repeat family helping them welcome their newest family member. ❤️

Meet Oliver Wayne

Labor Day proved to be a good day to have a baby. Shortly after the second birth, I got a text from this mom letting me know today was the day as she was having some irregular contractions. Before I was headed her way, her water released but thankfully her body was still working its way toward an active labor pattern.

When we got to her, she was moving around and working beautifully with her body. She continued to ride the waves of labor, working with her baby to move him down. Shortly after having a snack, the intensity picked up and she became more inwardly focused. It was obvious her body was moving from transition to pushing. With the support of her husband and birth team, she welcomed her sweet boy and swiftly brought him to her chest. Her joy was felt by all.

Meet Oliver Michael
This mom has experienced all manner of birth- emergency c/s, hospital VBAC, and now home birth. She woke to her water breaking, followed by intense contractions. When I arrived, she was in the birth pool, working beautifully through these contractions, which would very soon lead to a desire to push. This mom had no time to adjust. She woke to her body being ready to birth her baby, with no break to catch her breath, yet she handled it with such grace and determination. I am so thankful she did not have to add a car ride to the hospital in to her scenario. Seeing her snuggled in her own bed with her baby, having her other two littles coming in and out and asking questions, was so rewarding.

Meet Andrew

This mom had such a peace about her throughout her whole pregnancy and it followed her through birth even when things did not go the way she had hoped and planned for them to.

Despite all her effort, a decision was made late Saturday evening to transfer. She faced this decision with such courage and grace. Although it ended up being another 31 hours before she got to hold her sweet little boy, she continued to persevere and sought to not get discouraged. She had an amazing team of support surrounding her and helping to care for her. What a joy to be there when she reached for her son and brought him to her chest! Women are so amazing- their strength, their tenacity, their beauty in the midst of struggle.

I received a sweet gift today- a beautiful bracelet and my favorite coffee! Last month marked 2 years of having my practice. Not a day goes by that I do not thank my Lord for the gift of getting to know and care for these moms and babies. They each leave a mark on me.

What better way to spend Labor Day than seeing three strong moms bring three beautiful boys into this world?

Gryffin Isaac

Last Wednesday I got a call from this sweet boy’s mom. She woke with similar symptoms to her first labor and contacted me around lunchtime to let me know what she was feeling. We agreed this seemed to be early labor and made a plan for me to check in on her after my last prenatal appointment. A few hours later, while I was on the other side of the city at my last appointment, she texted a screenshot of a contraction pattern that was obviously active labor. I quickly headed her way. When I arrived she was calmly managing her labor as her friend readied the birth pool. Her home was bustling with activity but she remained focused with her HypnoBirthing. She had wonderful support from Vonda, Kiana, and her husband. She progressed quickly and shortly after she got in the birth pool, she delivered this bright-eyed little boy with amazing control and focus. I absolutely loved getting to know and care for this mom during her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

*Navy Leigh*
Unlike her other two labors, this one began with her water breaking. We made a plan for her to let me know when contractions started. She called me back two hours later, letting me know she had been feeling them for about 30 minutes. Due to her history of fast labors, I got dressed and headed her way. When I arrived, her children were asleep on the couch, her husband had already prepared the birth pool, and she was ready for me to assess her. After doing so, I knew we would soon find out if she was having another boy or another girl. She slipped into the warm water of the birth pool. Within 15 minutes, she began breathing heavier and soon she was pushing her baby out. This sweet girl was a good bit bigger than her last two babies. She and I reacted quickly to get her in a position where the rest of her baby’s body could be delivered. She was born needing a little extra help to start breathing on her own but responded quickly. As I made my way to this birth, I prayed for it to be one this mom and I would always look back fondly on. What I loved about her birth was how calm everyone stayed. Even when she was born needing a little help, no one panicked. The calmness which surrounded this pregnancy and birth will stick with me forever.

Why do I wear scrubs to births? I don’t always wear scrubs to births but if I do there are a few reasons.

*They are comfortable and easy to move in.
*They help keep my favorite tees from getting ruined.
*Birth can be messy.

I recently splurged on a set of Figs. Oh my, I can see why everyone loves them! Since then I have stained them with meconium and a lot of olive oil. Every time so far, they have come completely clean. Perhaps they have some magical stain repellent quality. 🤷‍♀️

If my wearing scrubs to your birth is a concern, please let me know during your prenatal care so I can adjust.

Thursday night, I attended A Stronger Start Gala hosted by .llc. What a fun night spent raising awareness, funds, and support for postpartum recovery and mental health. I love TaJonda's heart for the women of our community. It was so lovely to see and connect with so many wonderful birth workers in our community.

Meet Max

What do I love most about Sweet Grace? The moms. Of course I love babies, who doesn't? But the moms leave a mark on me.

This mom. When she first called me, I had to tell her I was already full for the month she was due. Two of the closest home birth midwives near her were taking off the month she was due. That pulled at my heart strings. I decided to at least meet her.

We met at a coffee shop. I liked her right away- her accent, her beautiful smile, her vivacious personality. After our meeting, I knew I would not be able to tell her no if she wanted to enter care with me. She did. Over the next 6 months of her care, I saw the strength, determination, and grace she possessed. No matter how much she was juggling, she always found a way to rise above it with her joy-filled spirit. What a joy to care for her and be there to help her welcome her surprise boy.

When I asked her what she wanted to add to this she shared what stood out to her-
*Feeling spoiled in her prenatal care having easy access to communicate with me and visits which were unrushed and undisturbed
*Laboring in the comfort of her home until the very end
*Confidently making the transfer decision knowing she was taking her support team with her
*Feeling her amazing recovery experience is a result of the time she spent laboring at home with her support team
"It truly was a dream of an experience and I am so glad my body did the work it did and we allowed for that."

Meet Rivie Rae

Third babies. Sometimes they really can be a wild card. This little one took her sweet time making her way out. This mom’s other two births were fairly straightforward but this one began differently and progressed differently. There was a point where discouragement threatened. Shortly after the sun came up, I suggested a walk outside with her husband. When she came back in, encouragement arrived in the form of a sweet friend. This friend encouraged, brought items she found helpful in her own home births, and most importantly prayed over her. This mom never gave in to the discouragement and when she finally lifted her sweet daughter to the surface, the joy was felt by all in a way that made it so sweet. Her own words and testimony sum it up better than I can-

“Her labor was one I will never forget as it had many hardships yet strengthened me in ways that have changed me forever. The Lord truly is our strength and shield. A stronghold in the weakest moments!”

Scarlett Ann
This sweet little's one's mom dealt with a couple of starts and stops before her labor really kicked off. She texted around lunch time to let me know she had been laboring since the early morning hours. Her contractions were still far apart so she was working on staying hydrated and planning to try for a nap. Around 3pm, she let me know the intensity was picking up. I made my way to drop off a lab I had just collected and then began heading her way. When I arrived, I found her working through active labor beautifully. After determining her baby’s head was still pretty high, she instinctively moved and regularly changed positions to help move her baby down. Even though the intensity and frequency of her contractions rarely let up for hours on end, she kept moving and working with her baby. This mom had a deep sense of trust in her body that I loved getting to witness both prenatally and in her labor. When she was pushing and her baby was behind her p***c bone, I was having trouble finding heart tones for a minute. She opened her eyes and asked me to pray. I did and was so thankful she thought to ask. A few minutes later, she was holding her beautiful baby girl. I love when dads hold their babies skin-to-skin.

Veronica Jane

This mom’s labor started out different than her other two. She was lying on the couch when she felt a small gush of fluid. She texted me to let me know a little before dinner time. Shortly after she began feeling what she described as Braxton Hicks. She went about with her evening plans to share dinner with her husband’s parents at their home. Around 7:30 she texted asking about timeline being this was her first home birth. I assured her that her body knew what to do and contractions would start before we would need to be concerned about the clock. We made a plan for her to do some curb walking when she got home and then to rest.

A little before 2 am she let me know contractions had started and she would contact me again when they were more consistent. She called right before 4 to let me know she had just had a really strong contraction and felt a shift in her baby’s position. We made a plan to follow up in 30 minutes but as I lay there thinking about how low her baby’s head was at her last prenatal and how fast her last baby was born, I decided it was time to get dressed and head her way and I am thankful I did. When I arrived, her husband already had the birth pool ready for her and she slipped into the warm water. After listening to her baby and checking her VS, I got busy setting things up as I could tell it wouldn’t be long. She was laboring beautifully to her hypnobirthing track. Soon she went more inward and not long after that, she was holding her sweet baby girl. Her mother-in-law just missed the birth but showed up right after and was the sweetest presence for her immediate postpartum. Just before I left, her husband was feeding her a homemade breakfast in her bed.

I got to welcome a sweet little girl early yesterday morning. This was her mom's first home birth and she did amazing!

Come out and join us today from 1-4! Lots of great speakers and give aways for pregnant moms!

Meet Mackenzie

I had the privilege of being at this mom’s first birth so it was special to get to walk alongside her for her second pregnancy and birth. She contacted me a little after dinner time to let me know she had been feeling contractions for a few hours. After talking with her, I knew it was still early so we made a plan for when to follow-up. Around bedtime, I asked if she felt like she could lay down to rest but she said she was too excited to do so. About two hours later, she let me know the intensity was increasing and I started getting ready to head to her home.

When I arrived, she was managing her contractions beautifully; supported by her sweet husband and her long-time best friend, who was also at her side at her first birth. We began filling the birth pool for her. A short bit later, she slipped into the warm water. It was such a sweet and exciting atmosphere of waiting for her little one to arrive so we could know the surprise gender.

After a bit, it became obvious that the birth pool was a little too comfortable for her and although she wasn’t thrilled, she willingly got out and tried some different positions to help move her baby down a little more. Her husband kept “losing count” of how many more contractions until she could get back in the birth pool. It didn’t take long for this change of position to have an effect and she was back in the warm water, ready to push. Her body was tired but she found the strength she needed to welcome her bright-eyed little girl. Right before her baby was born, her three-year old awoke and came out to see her sister being born.

I have cared for so many incredible mothers. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who I have had the privilege and honor to walk alongside of, who have inspired me with their perseverance, strength, and trust in themselves.

Happy International Day of the Midwife to all my midwife friends! You are making a difference one life at a time!

And thank you to all the families who have granted me the privilege to be a part of welcoming new life into their families.

Meet Samuel
This sweet boy's mom waited over 41 weeks to meet him. She let me know Sunday evening her labor was starting up. When she texted early Monday morning letting me know it was time to come, I didn't waste time getting to this mom's fourth birth. When I arrived, I found the most peaceful laboring mom walking around her living room, quietly pausing when she felt a contraction. After assessing her and baby, she went to her backyard to walk and listen to the birds singing and I called my assistant to join me as I knew we would be meeting baby soon. She was supported by her husband and her close friend whose last birth I had the privilege of attending. A short bit later, mom came back in and was ready to get in the birth pool we had been filling for her and soon she was holding her sweet Samuel in her arms. What a joy to serve this precious family over the past 8 months.

I really do have the best job! I love postpartum visits! I love seeing how mom and baby are doing and getting to see how much the babies have gained.

What a privilege to walk through this pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with this beautiful family. Natalie's beauty and grace is so evident and her birth was such a celebration. She was surrounded by so much love and support as she welcomed her sweet boy.


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