I had to write a response after reading the negative review on this site. Marimikel assisted the deliveries of all three of my sons. I've had one baby at home, one at the birth center, and one transported to St. David's because he was premature (She stayed with me for moral support even when she was unable to deliver him).
We interviewed several midwives before settling on New Life. She gave us immense amount of advice and information even before we signed up to be a client. She has one foot in holistic type care and the other in traditional medical training (as a nurse).
It's true, Marimikel is opinionated and that may be off-putting to some people. We were well informed and involved in managing the births, but I wanted to feel like I could put things in her hands if necessary. (I tend to panic easily so this is important to me) I never felt like things were out of control.
It is so crucial that you have a good rapport with a midwife: they are much more involved with your care than a traditional doc. Some midwife practices are more hands-off or alternative in their approach. Others are more like a traditional medical ob/gyn practice. You might have more or less autonomy. The best thing is to interview several providers before making a decision.
I can recommend New Life without reservation; the prenatal care is excellent and someone was available whenever I needed advice or had a problem. The classes were informative. And Marimikel and her apprentices put a lot of love and care into what they do.
Pros: experienced and balanced approach
Cons: don't know
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