Why I Chose to Have a Midwife
Pregnancy is a sacred journey, one that deserves patience, wisdom, and deep care. From the moment I conceived, I knew I wanted a birth experience that honored my body and my baby, but the care I initially received did not reflect that. My doctor’s office felt cold and clinical. I would sit in the waiting room for thirty to forty-five minutes before being called back, only to spend five rushed minutes with the doctor. There was no conversation, no space to ask questions, no guidance. My test results were never explained to me. I left each appointment feeling unseen, as if my pregnancy was just another task to be checked off a list.
At 30 weeks, something inside me told me to change course. I listened. I chose to place my trust in a midwife. From our very first visit, I understood what true care looked like. Alycia came to my home every week and spent at least two hours with me. She did all the essential checks, but she moved with intention. She measured my blood pressure with care. She listened to my baby’s heartbeat as if it were the most precious sound in the world. She analyzed my urine, not just to record numbers on a chart, but to understand what my body needed. Each week, she adjusted my diet to ensure I was nourished for labor. There was no rush. No sense of being hurried along. She was fully present. She made sure I felt empowered in my pregnancy.
At 35 weeks, I was given an ultrasound through their midwifery group. They were teaching ultrasounds at the time, so instead of simply lying there as a technician scanned my belly, I was invited to learn alongside them. The appointment lasted over an hour, and for the first time, I felt like an active participant in my own care. That scan would have cost nine hundred dollars, yet it was given to me freely. More than the financial relief, it was the experience itself that stayed with me. I was not just a patient. I was a mother being guided with knowledge and grace.
When labor began, I felt myself unravel. The waves of intensity took over my body, and for a moment, fear tried to take hold. I told Alycia I wanted to go to the hospital, doubting my own strength. She looked at me with steady eyes and reminded me how far I had already come. She placed an oxygen tank beside me and guided me to breathe deeply. That was all I needed. The strength was already inside me. I just needed to remember.
I labored for four hours before Jasper was born at sunrise on the morning of a lunar eclipse. Alycia had brought along a doula with her to support me. Richard was also present, holding space beside me. My cats remained close, watching over the sacred moment. Charlie, my quiet fluffy guardian, stayed by my side the entire time. He witnessed Jasper’s first breath. Afterward, he curled up on my belly and purred, sending healing through his warmth. In the days that followed, he would check on us constantly, as if he had taken on a role in Jasper’s care.
Alycia made sure my body was stable after birth. She never left my side until she knew I was strong. She was available by text or call at any hour, ready to answer any question or concern. She helped me salt cure Jasper’s umbilical cord, preserving the life-giving stem cells within it. The process allowed the cord to dry naturally while sealing in the powerful cells that could one day aid in healing. It was a practice as ancient as birth itself, a way of honoring the sacred connection between mother and child.
Her care continued long after Jasper’s first breath. She visited me in the days and weeks after birth, ensuring that I was healing properly. She helped me navigate breastfeeding, treating a clogged duct with the same patience and skill she had shown throughout my pregnancy. She provided natural remedies for both me and Jasper, drawing from the wisdom of generations before her. She moved with gentleness and precision, never rushing, never leaving a question unanswered. When the time came for her to step back, she made sure Richard knew how to care for us. She taught him with kindness, guiding him into his role with the same steady hands that had guided me through labor.
Looking back, I cannot imagine my journey unfolding any other way. The care I received from Alycia was a reflection of something ancient, something sacred, something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. She did not just assist in my birth. She honored it. I will always be grateful for her, and I will always advocate for midwifery.
Alycia Chambers, Colorado Homebirth Midwife — www.blessedbemidwifery.com
XO, Vixen Peak
