When I found out I was pregnant, I was overwhelmed with the decisions I had to make. Having had my first child in a hospital I knew that I wanted to have a home birth, or a birth center birth,at the least. When I looked at the list I had made of midwives and birth centers in the area it seemed daunting. However, there was one that kept standing out to me. It was the Heart 2 Heart Birth Center in Sanford. Every time I looked at their website I fell in love. So I decided I would meet with Michelle first.
I met with her and crossed all of the other names off of my list. She is so knowledgeable, and didn’t say one thing I didn’t agree with. There wasn’t anything I could find that I didn’t like. The birth center is beautiful, immaculately clean, and my husband was impressed by how Michelle answered his questions, as he was still a little bit unsure of an out of hospital birth.
She is very kid friendly. My daughter loves going to her office (okay, loves is an understatement she jumps up and down).
She also offers a pampered momma spa day including massage, belly casting, or henna art, lunch and a soak in their spa jacuzzi tub in your last trimester. I have to be honest this was one of the things that drew me to the birth center at first. The pampered mama spa day was amazing. It was a great way to relax and prepare myself for birth.The Heart 2 Heart Birth Center also offers many parenting, breastfeeding, sibling, and other classes through The Educated Mama.
A lot has changed since that first time I went to visit Heart 2 Heart birth center. Del Marie is no longer there. She now has Karin Grimes as her insurance coordinator, and Rebecca Luckey working as her receptionist/birth assistant/ scheduler for the educated mama. Lynn Deer has also come back to work with Michelle. They are all such a wonderful team. Throughout my time at heart 2 heart birth center everyone was loving, always welcome to answer questions, and took amazing care of me.
Michelle is very hands off, which is one of the things I love about her. She is also very big on nutrition during pregnancy and pampering the mother. They also have a big emphasis on breastfeeding support (something I didn’t get at the hospital).
Having my baby at the birth center was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. Michelle and Lynn always trusted my instincts, and were there to encourage and relax me while I was in labor. They make an amazing team, and I will forever be grateful to them helping me to have the birth of my dreams.
Heidi wife to Richard and stay-at-home mom to Abigail and Nora. Heidi does everything in life as naturally as possible, and someday hopes to own a store that carries all of the natural things she uses on an everyday basis. Heidi enjoys cooking, sewing, spending time with her family, and hopes to one day be certified in homeopathy, as an herbalist, and also as a midwife.
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
Thanks for sharing this important info. I sure which this birth center had been open when I had Loralei. It’s only about 6 blocks from my house!
Words can not describe how thankful and blessed I was to find Michelle. I had a horrible birth experience with my second son and knew I wanted a midwife that was TRULY HANDS OFF and low interventive with my third. I have read a lot of birth stories from other midwives in the area that clam to be hands off & low interventive but aren’t. Michelle was so understanding about my needing a healing birth after what I had went through and did everything in her power to help me achieve that. It was the best birth I have had and if I am blessed to have another child she will defiantly be the one catching the next one.
I had a horrific hospital experience and the doctors told me that they couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again. They were”scratching their heads” so to speak. I researched my issues thoroughly because my husband and I were seriously considering adoption rather than risk my life again. I emailed Michelle and told her about my experience. She was so stunned that she picked up the phone and called me rather than return my email - even though I was no where near being ready to conceive again. A relationship began and she was ready to help me when we did get pregnant. I had absolutely no problems with my second pregnancy or birth. (Surprise - it was most like the fault of the doctors my first go-round). My son loved visiting her center, she involved him in using the doppler and learning about the baby. When I went into labor she was as involved as I wanted her to be (which is pretty much not at all). I know that she would do more if I asked, but dh and I wanted to handle as much of the birthing as we could and she respected and aided us in that. It was a fabulous, peaceful birth. Only 2 weeks after delivery I wanted to do it again!
I found Michelle to be insulting and rude during my labor. The hospital was a welcome relief after she insisted that I couldn’t handle the pain of my own labor. She told me to go home and go to sleep, and kicked us out of Heart 2 Heart. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. If you want a good midwife, go somewhere else!!
Paula,
Based on your comment, I am very eager to speak with you. I think we may have something in common. Let’s just say that I am still traumatized by my experience.
Paula and JTW,
I would like very much to hear you stories regarding Heart2Heart. I have been considering them as a birth center and would like to know all the bad as well as the good,
Dear Ladies,
I am sorry to hear that anyone feels they had a less than incredible experience with our Center. I have checked through our records and did not have a patient by the name of Paula (although this could be a false name) but we did have 2 transfers this past year out of 62 births from the Center that transferred for pain management; one was for a prodromal labor (long, hard, but unproductive with no dilation change). Very often, the first appropriate action is to send someone home to rest and relax until labor gets more active, if there is not much dilation. Often, if there is no dilation occurring, it is sometimes easier for the mom to relax during this stage of labor. If there has been no change or maternal exhaustion is setting in (which can be dangerous for mom as well as baby) transferring for pain medication is the next appropriate course of action. I apologize publicly to anyone who feels this type of disappointment in their birth experience, as we tend to carry feelings about our births rather deeply. I would encourage whomever feels this way to schedule an appointment with their midwife to discuss their feelings to clear the air and to encourage healing. But I will also say in our defense, that our birth statistics speak for highly of our level of care, we have so many patients who show their appreciation and support to us that we are often overwhelmed with the love these families send to us, it is truly a blessing that we do not take for granted. We try our best to provide the best birth experience for everyone, but just like anyone else, sometimes we cannot please everyone.
My best to you,
Michelle Gawne, LM
Owner, Heart 2 Heart Birth Center
I went to this birth center when I first found out that I was pregnant. I had the typical emotions one has when she first find out (nervous, scared, excited, trilled, etc.). I had a tour of the center and Michelle was WONDERFUL in explaining the center to me and provided me with more prenatal education than I’ve received in the 7 months of prenatal visits that followed with my OBGYN. I very much wanted to give birth at the center; unfortunately, I was unable to for insurance reasons. I would recommend this center to anyone.
M
Michelle and Lynn are truly amazing! I feel like God led me to them.
I couldn’t say enough great things about Michelle Gawne, the care I received while at Heart 2 Heart Birthing Center, and Karin, Rebecca, Lynn… I am SO BLESSED and my life has been SO ENRICHED for having met Michelle!
I am celebrating the ABSOLUTE BEST BIRTH EXPERIENCE I’ve ever even heard of! My gorgeous and precious Alexa Dominique came peacefully into the outside world late in December 2007. My only regret is that I have not written to thank Michelle and her awesome team earlier. I was so relaxed, I was smiling through my contractions… and I even fell asleep in her bathtub!
What a stark contrast to my intial birthing experience in a military hospital 11 1/2 years ago. It was, to say the least, AWFUL and I’ve done everything in my power to avoid the standard hospital procedures (and eventually the hospital altogether) ever since.
In 2003, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Michelle during the pregnancy of my third daughter. That was when she would come by my house to do all my prenatal visits, the sibling prep class and, of course, the birth - which was WONDERFUL!
When our family discovered we would be blessed with another little one last year, there was never any consideration of going anywhere else for our prenatal care. Once again, Michelle has gone over and above our expectations.
The birthing center is so beautiful and peaceable, I was LOOKING FORWARD to birthing there (even though I started out wanting to birth at home again). It felt like home… better yet, it felt like my grandmother’s home… which for me was always more “home” than any other place I’ve ever lived. It was always a safe haven for me in the midst of my tumultuous childhood. Heart 2 Heart is also a SAFE PLACE in the midst of our culture that is often contrary to what is natural, healthy, wise, and yes, even safe.
Michelle’s expertise, non-evasiveness and focused attentiveness make it seem like we’re just going to visit a friend rather than those cold, clinical, rushed office visits I used to endure.
In fact, I WAS going to visit a friend, as I consider Michelle to be one of my dearest. Her compassion and dedication are INSPIRING and I’ve often told her, and others, that there must be a special place in Heaven for her because of the outpouring of genuine love, service and utter selflessness to the mothers and babies… and dads, too.
Any time I’ve called on a day when she has assisted in a birth, I can always tell by the giddiness and excitement in her voice - as though she’d just given birth herself - no matter how much sleep she’d lost as a result.
It’s funny… of course I realize she cares for other moms, I mean, I can see them in the lobby sometimes, and the names of the newborns added to her celebration board upon every visit… but NEVER once during either pregnancy have I felt like “just another mom…” in fact, I’ve always rather felt like I was the only one coming to see her. She always took ample time to answer both my questions AND my daughters’. Honestly, I don’t know how she does it.
I’m sure there are other places one could go to receive excellent prenatal care, but I can’t think of any place where one could receive as much endearing love.
Michelle, I’ll never forget the day I came in broken-hearted and stressed, and you greeted me with so much love and joy to see me. You took the time to really listen and then talk to me about what I needed, and you prayed for me. The dark cloud lifted, and my spirit was strengthened. Your presence in my life has blessed me more than words could ever express. You minister LIFE to people and it is my sincere prayer that you will receive 100 times back what you give to others while you are still young enough and strong enough to enjoy it!!
Eternal love and gratitude,
Jenn
Jennifer, I think you said it much better then I did! I completely agree with everything you said!
Heidi
I was privileged to be at my friend’s big day! Her and her husband were amazing throughout the whole process. If I ever get pregnant, I would love to have my baby at Heart 2 Heart. Michelle and Lynn were just wonderful! I was a little nervous about the ‘no hospital’ but then realized… hospitals are for sick people… pregnancy is not a sickness. This place was so very clean! Michelle and Lynn were truly kind and gave great guidance. I’m happy to have been a part of this miracle.
Thanks Heart 2 Heart for being so great!