My doula highly recommended this birthing center, but it was a little too far for me. I’ve heard wonderful things about Jennie Joseph.
While we don’t have a detailed review yet, here’s the link. Please contact us if you had your baby there and would like to submit the first review:
Jan Zeiger
Heidi Crawford
Wendy
Jenny Wadley
Michelle ~ Reflection Of Light
Kristy ~ Wee Willie Winks
Gretchen Goel
Jill - Juice Plus
Elizabeth Ashe
Cat
Tara - Get Green Organics
Heather ~ Orlando Organics
Lisa Holt, RN, MS
Melissa Holmes
Kimberly ~ greenWell
organiccrusader
I haven’t had a baby here, but I love Cathy Rudolf their new midwife. She is wonderful! I have heard nothing but good things about The Birth Place.
Jennie Joseph and Cathy Rudolph are two of the most professional, supportive, and encouraging midwives in the state. Under great pressures for owning/running/working in a stand-alone birth center in Central Florida, Jennie and Cathy stand strong in their commitment to the women of greater Orlando. As a birth professional myself, I spend countless conversations with pregnant women/couples discussing good care and what women deserve during pregnancy and how that is overwhelmingly achieved at The Birth Place.
Jennie Joseph was my midwife last March when my son was born at The Birth Place. I had a healthy pregnancy and Jennie was always positive at my check-ups which gave me the added confidence that a first time mom needs. My labor was long, lasting 18 hours just at the Birth Place alone. Jennie met us there at 1am and let us stay the night because my husband and I were feeling unsure of ourselves at home alone. We slept the night away in our own private birthing bedroom and in the morning were able to get into the birthing tub. I ran into complications because my son was posterior and gave me tremendous back labor, but I found the water to be very soothing. In the afternoon, we found out that my little one had cocked his head to the side and was stuck..really STUCK!! Jennie and her assistant Virginia were instantly there to instruct me to change positions for every contraction in an attempt to dislodge his little head. I felt like a gymnast for nearly 2 hours of pushing contractions. We hit a critical moment towards the end when the baby’s heart rate wasn’t coming back up as strong as it had been and I was totally exhausted and the suggestion came that we may need to transport if the baby didn’t come within the next 15 minutes. My husband and I became really determined at that point because a medicated C-section was not our idea of introducing our son into this world. My dear husband Matt felt that I was to squatt and the midwives were very willing to let us try what we needed to do. Well, little Joel was born about 10 minutes later.
I have nothing but praise for those wonderful women. Due to the duration and difficulty of my labor, I have no doubt that had I been in a hospital setting, they would have taken my child by C-section. Jennie and Virginia were very supportive and hands on and never left my side. I highly recommend their services and would return for my next child.
I love hearing that Jennie is still doing so beautifully! I knew her when she was fighting for her Florida license - she probably doesn’t even remember me, but if she did, she’d be proud to know I finally became a midwife myself! I am thrilled her reputation remains unblemished. What a beautiful woman she was, and, obviously, still is! (I was working at Best Start Birth Center when she knew me. Now I am a homebirth midwife in San Diego, CA.)
Barbara E. Herrera, LM, CPM
Oops! I was at Special Beginnings… Best Start is here in San Diego!
Barb
Big Congrats Barb! How could I forget you?!!
Thanks for your commnets.
Jennie
So much that comes to mind when I think of Jennie. She is an amazingly knowledgable, wise woman. I have so much respect for her as a professional and as a woman. She was my first introduction to the midwifery model of care years before I actually became pregnant. I remember that during my 2nd appt. with her what surprised me the most was that she remembered me. Not just by the chart in front of her but she actually remembered other details. That was the beginning of my love and support of midwifery.
Cathy Rudolph is another beautiful woman. I had the pleasure (and luck) of having her be the midwife at my first doula birth. She was and continues to be a fabulous woman.
As for Virginia, well….what can I say….she’s a beautiful, strong woman, a passionate, new, and intuitive midwife…and my best friend!
I am currently pregnant for the first time and am going to The Birth Place. It has been a WONDERFUL experience so far. We went to fill out paperwork and get a tour. Everybody was very friendly and the nurse even remembered my name the whole time! (there were at least 14 people there for the tour/paperwork) She let us see the birthing rooms which were beautiful. They were like big comfortable bedrooms. Very different than the cold metal hospital rooms. I knew right away that this was the perfect place to have our first baby. We went back a few days later for an exam. I got to meet Jennie. She is a very sweet person. She made me feel really comfortable and answered all my questions. She even went out to the parking lot to track down my husband so he could come in the room to hear the baby’s heartbeat! She didn’t seem rushed at all and gave me her full attention. I also got to meet Robin, the other midwife on our way out. She was also very nice. A few days later, I left a message with a question for the nurse and she returned my call within the hour. They also have a 24 hour call policy, so I know someone will always be there for me if I have any complications or urgent questions. They have the personal touch you won’t get at a hospital and the genuine care for your health. I would highly reccommend it. Visit their site to read a bunch more wonderful things about Jennie and The Birth Place!
May I get your opinion???
My husband and I just went to the Birth Place and I must say it was a little gross on the outside. I am going to go back to take a tour but the outside is dirty and run down. I see that women have had great experiences there and I just wanted to ask about the cleanliness of the inside. Is it nice, clean? Any complaints at all??
I’m excited about the opportunity to take a tour but the outside really freaked me out!
I have to say I did not give birth at the birth place, BUT! I enjoyed the time I was there..every visit I was treated with respect and kindness. I arrived to the birth place to find out I was having twins. so they could no longer care for me but transfered me to a good risk o.b.. My plans were to have a vbac even tho the center doesnt do them..It sure would of helped not to have the pressure of having to deliver by a certain date..etc..How much would I have loved to have been able to have all my prenatal care there. even tho it was far..It was worth every trip. After I delivered my girls by c-section due to them being breeched and having very little fluid… I did return to the center for postpartum care..I would and have recommended this center to my friends. If I could have delivered there believe me I would of in a heartbeat. All the midwifes and the staff all are have a beautiful personality and a wonderful heart. If I had an A list you guys would be no. 1! Im sending one of my bestfriends your way..im sure she will love the center as much as I did.
@—>—
p.s I never saw anything dirty.
I saw Jennie and Cathy at The Birth Place throughout the majority of my pregnancy with my daughter, Mia. The one thing that stands out about the care at The Birth Place is how incredibly personal it is. Not only does the entire staff remember my name, but they remember the names of my entire family. Every visit, Jennie and Cathy not only made sure I was having a healthy pregnancy, but were very interested in my emotional and mental well-being. The holistic approach to my pregnancy made it SUCH a positive experience.
Those last few days of pregnancy were very emotionally draining for me, and the entire Birth Place staff was SO helpful in empowering me to believe in my body and the natural process of birth. When I finally went into labor 4 days past my due date, it was such a wonderful experience. My 2 1/2 year old son was present for the birth, and a year later still recalls, with delight, his little sister’s entrance into the world at “Ms Jennie’s House”.
I recently joked with Jennie that I had such a great experience that I was doing it again, after surprisingly finding out I was pregnant. My now 3 1/2 year old and 1 year old love going to prenatal visits with me and playing in the well-stocked children’s area. The staff is always happy to offer a bottle of water to a thirsty mom or play with/distract a little one while mom is getting an exam.
I also appreciate The Birth Place’s dedication to training student midwives and helping more women dedicate themselves to the beauty of childbirth. The Birth Place continues to do amazing things to advocate normal birth in the greater Orlando area.
P.S. While the buildings may look “older” on the exterior, there is nothing dirty or unclean about them. The actual birthing facility could easily be a quaint bed and breakfast, while the clinic is very modern and state of the art. The Birth Place is worth a firsthand look inside.