What former clients and students have to say...
Saline Family has homebirth for Baby #6!
I have always wanted to have a natural, unmedicated birth. I felt strongly that our bodies were designed to deliver babies and were able to go through miraculous changes to support a pregnancy and birth. When we became pregnant with our first, a baby boy, my husband and I attended a HypnoBirthing class and mentally prepared for months for me to have an unmedicated delivery. Six days past my due date, in the middle of the night, my water broke. In our excitement we rushed to the hospital, ready to finally meet our baby. Unfortunately when things didn’t progress at the rate the doctors wanted, the interventions quickly kicked in. After two hours of pitocin I waved my white flag and begged for an epidural.
At that point my confidence in ever being able to have a natural birth was thrown. Clearly (in my mind) I wasn’t able to handle the intensity of birth and being scared of the unknown, I stuck with the familiar route of a medicated hospital birth when we had our next little one, a sweet baby girl, 18 months later...and again when we had another sweet baby girl 18 months later...and again when we had another sweet baby girl 23 months later...and again when we had another sweet baby girl 21 months after that. No, that’s not a typo :). We now had 5 sweet little ones, a boy and four girls, ages 6, 5, 3, 21 months, and a newborn! ... I told my husband that if we EVER had another baby, I was going to do a home birth. ... (Edited for space. Click here for full story.) I think often about this delivery and what an awesome and empowering experience it was. Midwives feel to me like they are angels attending and guarding the beautiful moment when a baby joins his or her family. That’s exactly what Sherry did for us. Because of her we were able to deliver our beautiful 9 pound baby boy in the comfort of our home, surrounded by his brother and sisters welcoming him into the world and our family. Thank you Sherry for such a beautiful gift! We sure love you! -Brenden, Nikki, Collin, Elle, Kate, Hayden, Hadley, and Landen |
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Sherry,
Birth - What a monumentous time in the life of a baby, woman, and family. It is the beginning which catapults the individuals into their future. With a sound beginning there's much greater probability of a bright future. This is no small thing! They say that those who rock the cradle rule the world... well those who care and teach those who rock the cradle have just as much impact! Thank you for your professionalism, wisdom, kindness, and your time (and sleep :-)). Thank you for being a midwife and for changing lives! Gratefully, Gina Barnett 
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"Look no further! Sherry is such an amazing midwife and I would recommend her to anyone. I am a first-time mother who successfully birthed at home, and I couldn't have done it without her! By the way, Jaxson was 9 lbs. 4 oz and a whopping 23 inches long! Sherry's prenatal care was so personalized and made me feel like she was a family member helping care for me throughout my pregnancy. She is patient and does not rush through her appointments, which we greatly appreciated. We are so happy we chose to birth at home with Sherry, and I wouldn't change a thing about my experience!" - Debbie Milton |
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Sherry,
Thank you so much for giving me the birth I always hoped for. I wouldn't change a thing! We so appreciate the amazing pre-natal care we received and for always making us feel heard and important. So many times I forgot I wasn't your only client! You made me feel that special. We're going to miss this season we've just been through, but are looking forward to the next! Best, Chris, Bethany & Willow *Click here to see their beautiful birth slideshow! |
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"Sherry was my doula for my first birth. She was with me for 36 hours! She was very gentle yet a pillar of strength.
For my second pregnancy I wanted her as my midwife. Throughout my pregnancy at every prenatal visit she greeted us with a warm smile. We never felt rushed. She listened, asked how my week went, and what was new. She wanted to know about me. She took pride in giving me informed information for every decision that I needed to make. I remember in my second trimester I had left my appointment somewhat worried about some result in my check-up. Before getting home she called my cell phone to make sure I was ok. It was so touching. I knew I was being carried and cared for and therefore not as worried. When labor came we had talked throughout the day. I hung out at home and did my own thing. At night when she called to check on me I was convinced I still had a ways to go. She informed me she would be coming over. I thought, “I feel bad she will be sitting bored waiting.” However, she knew where I was in my labor because 3 hours after she arrived to our home, our baby boy was born. Her calm demeanor at all times was comforting and loving. After the birth of our son she remained quiet, smiling and left 2 hours later. It was blissful to have such strong, wise support yet they made sure they left us alone to get to know our sweet boy. She remained in contact with us through my postpartum period. Always readily available to answer any question and in a timely manner. She will always remain in my heart! Forever grateful, Elizabeth" |
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Lines of Lace Photography
"When we found out we were pregnant with our first child, I quickly discovered that hospital birth might not be for me. I am so glad we chose Sherry as our midwife! We had a home birth, and it was the most amazing experience. In the middle of laboring my 10 lb. 2 oz. bundle of joy I remember asking Sherry, "How many more? How many more?" and her calm, strong assurance that I could do it was just what I needed. My only concern now is that no one is allowed to move! I definitely hope baby #2 gets birthed with Sherry as midwife. Love, Marcus and Kennan"
*Kennan blogged about her first birth: 8 Reasons Why I Loved Homebirth *Update: Kennan had her second son at home with Sherry, too! Here's a quick snapshot of Sherry with their newest addition shortly before they moved out of the area. 
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Lines of Lace Photography
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"Sherry, I can't thank you enough for all you did and for being such an amazing midwife! Thank you for making my last birth something I can always look back on as such a positive experience. Love, Amber, Alex & Baby Hanna" |
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"We are so thankful that we found Sherry! She is caring, knowledgeable, and helped us through every step of preparing for our home birth. As first time parents we had no idea what to expect but Sherry answered our million questions and truly cared about my wellbeing (and the baby’s!). During labor and delivery she was so supportive and encouraging for me and my husband when we really needed it. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better to support us while we brought our son into the world. She was just as wonderful in the few weeks after birth. I will always remember her positivity and encouragement when I was struggling with new mom hormones. She helped with breastfeeding when I struggled and provided insight about new baby stuff for which we were totally clueless. Thank you times a million to Sherry for making our home birth experience fantastic!!" -Sharon, Micah, and Ethan |
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Cassie and Alex enjoyed having their second daughter at home in a birth pool, this time with Sherry as their midwife.
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"I had the most wonderful experiences with Sherry by my side for both my daughters labors! She is so calm and respectful of your space and needs while birthing. She encouraged my husband and helped him to "be there" for me in the midst of contractions and active labor. And she does it in the sweetest most respectful of ways. I knew after i labored at home for 13 hours only to then rush to the hospital to deliver that if and when i got pregnant again, Sherry would be by my side again - at HOME! Both my husband and i have grown a real fondness for her and we can't thank her enough for the wonderful, caring and professional prenatal and post natal care a woman could ask for!! " - Cassie Lorge
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Big sister helps welcome Baby
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“Though I always knew that I wanted a home birth, both my husband and my mother were skeptical about my going forward with that choice. Fortunately, I found Sherry as my midwife. Her calm, considered demeanor as well as her patient, knowledgeable professionalism went a long way in convincing my support team that I had made a good decision. Sherry’s prenatal visits were informative and reassuring; I looked forward to them each month. During the delivery, her soothing, collected manner saw me through a successful delivery after a very long labor. Always professional, helpful, and flexible, Sherry listened to and heeded my preferences all the while providing balanced, pertinent information to aid me in making all the decisions required of an expectant mother. I would certainly use Sherry again for any future deliveries as her participation was key to making my home birth the special experience it turned out to be.” - Jennifer Richardson
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"Sherry is a very knowledgeable midwife. During my prenatal and postnatal appointments she always answered any questions I had and made suggestions to improve the health of my baby and myself. I will always remember the care she showed during my pregnancy and after the birth of my son. " - Katrese Lokey |
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"My husband and I really looked forward to Sherry's Birthing Baby Childbirth Classes every week. We learned invaluable information not only about birthing but about ourselves and each other. It was a time to be present and connect with one another and other expecting mamas and couples during such a wondrous time in our lives. We also hired Sherry as our birth doula to help support and empower us to have the kind of birth we desired. Things don't always go according to plan and some medical interventions became necessary, but we felt like we owned our birth experience by being prepared, understanding the situation, our options and being a part of the decision-making process. The experience and birth of our baby could have been quite traumatic with a very different outcome if it wasn't for choosing a good birth team in which Sherry was instrumental. In fact, Sherry inspired me to become a doula myself so that I can in turn support other women and families. We are very grateful to Sherry for her continuous love, care and support. Lacey Mackey" |
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The Walkers
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"Hi Sherry! Three babies later and all natural births thanks to you. I'm so grateful for all I learned in your class. The one thing I couldn't have anticipated is the friendships forged in your class. Such a courageous journey makes bonds like no other. One of the families we took the class with remained close friends. Our oldest are now 6 and we are able to tell them they knew each other before they were born. We also keep in touch with the other families on social media. Here's our family now, 7 years after your class... Lindsay and Jonas Walker" |
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"Just want to send my love. I don't know if you remember us but Joe and I were young 23 yr old newly weds when we took your class in 2005. I left your class confident that I could give birth in a jungle if I had to (or on a Hollywood street sidewalk). We have had 5 successful natural births and I owe it all to you. It is your voice I always hear in my head during labor, and I have had the opportunity to use every piece of advice you gave us. I consider your class the best investment I ever made in my life. We had 4 babies in 4 years! (Number 5 came 3 yrs later) . Taking your class was the best decision of our lives, for our kids and for our marriage. Love, Seana Haggard Ps we just moved to Dallas Tx...small world!" |
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"I am so grateful to have found Sherry during my first pregnancy. My husband and I attended her classes, and we immediately knew we wanted her to be our doula. She was so amazingly helpful- giving us lots of thoughtful and thorough information before, incredible support during, and helpful advice after the birth of our son. Needless to say, when I found out I was pregnant the second time, Sherry was among the first people I called. I honestly couldn't imagine giving birth without her there. I recommended her to all my pregnant friends, and the ones who took her class loved her as well. She is truly caring, warm, and wonderful- I honestly can't say enough great things. Thank You, Sherry! Lotus & Lyle" |
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"Sherry Rumsey was our doula for the birth of our first child, Audrey (12-13-2003). It was a nervous, anxious time for us and Sherry made us calm, confident, and empowered us to make some of the difficult decisions that we had to make... Sherry guided us, but we were always in control... The experience was wonderful and Sherry was a big part of our experience... Sherry was throughout our pregnancy a great asset. She conducted herself in a very professional manner and she has considerable insight about pregnancy and child birth. She is a kind, warm, person and was really there for us when we needed her. We would recommend Sherry to our friends, and already have.
Stuart & Justine Palomino von Wolffradt" |
"Taking the Birthing Baby class & having you as our doula were the two best decisions we made during this pregnancy. You were an amazing doula & you helped me find strength & focus when I truly had no energy left. Thank you for your wisdom & patience in helping us have the birth of our dreams & for giving our baby the best possible start. You will always hold a special place in our hearts & we will always remember your birthday since it's the day after Dean's!
Much love, Erick, Minta & baby Dean" |
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"Hi Sherry!
I wanted to make sure that I stopped for a minute in between feedings and diaper changing to thank you for the amazing experience we had ... Jared and I thought a lot before we signed up for the classes. It was a huge time and money investment for us, but we figured that this was such an important time it would be worth it. And it was worth every penny! I have been telling everyone I know about your classes and how wonderful you were as a teacher! I went into the classes with some childbirth knowledge (Jared really had none) but I found out there was so much more that I didn’t know. Thanks for preparing us mentally and physically for the challenge of childbirth. We both went into the experience confident and prepared. We had worked through our fears and knew what to expect. Jared had joked for years that when it came time for me to give birth, he would be cheering me on via satellite in the next room! Instead of that, he was right by my side the entire time, confident, strong, and coaching me through every step. I couldn’t have done it without him... Not only did we learn a lot from your classes, but it really was a time where we grew closer together as a couple. After every class we would talk for a long time about childbirth, what we learned, the baby, and becoming parents. It was so much fun to learn about all of it together! (continued in right column) |
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I’m thankful that I had a short labor (8 hours total) and although it was difficult and painful, it never occurred to me throughout it that I would want an epidural. I knew how to relax through each contraction and Jared knew how to coach me through each stage. And just when pushing got to be very intense and I wanted it to stop – my beautiful baby boy was born! Labor was not scary because I knew what to expect. And we were able to labor mostly at home, knowing when in labor it would be necessary to head to the hospital (when I got there I was already 7 cm dilated!). My labor experience was just what I hoped it would be and I’m sure a lot of that had to do with how prepared we were. And thanks for helping us through the very stressful process of changing doctors when I was 35 weeks pregnant! Because of what we learned in your classes, I found the midwives at UCLA and had an amazing prenatal and childbirth experience with them! I was able to have the labor and childbirth experience I wanted because of your help. So thank you so much, Sherry, for helping our transition to parenthood (be) a wonderful one! We love little Dylan so much! I’m so happy that I was able to bring him into this world in the most healthy and happy way possible! I can’t say enough about how thankful we are for you and the classes! Thanks for doing what you do and for doing an amazing job! With Love, Ellie Doud (and Jared and Dylan)" |
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"Sherry's classes taught me a lot, but mostly they gave me the confidence to have the type of birth I wanted deep down. Without her guidance I never would have achieved the type of birth I wanted. Which ended up being a home birth. Rachel" |
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"I was hesitant when my wife suggested that we take childbirth classes. Having no childbirthing experience, I was thinking like "it is just a delivery - you go to the hospital, have your doctor delivery the baby for you and that is it, so why spending time and money for somebody telling you about". Well, after completing the classes I realized how wrong I was. During the classes run by Sherry in a cosy atmosphere of her beautiful house we learned a lot. She really help us be prepared for child birth by sharing very usefull and important information. She also attended our delivery as a doula which was simply amazing. She was calm and confident giving usefull advises in the right moments and helping my wife relief the pain. It was wonderful to have an experienced and caring person next to you at all times during the labor and delivery. Her being calm really helped me also stay calm throughout the birthing process. Thanking to her we did not rush to the hospital and did most of the labor at home under her guidance. Thank you, Sherry, so much!
Gennadiy" |
"I loved taking your birthing class when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I had a c-section with a breech baby for my 1st daughter and I took your class and you helped me in find the perfect place for me to deliver doing a v-bac with my 2nd daughter. You recommended the UCLA midwives and I could not have asked for a better experience. Although the labor was very long, I felt so comfortable being with the midwives and they were so supportive of me doing a v-bac. My baby was born on June 29, 2007, Bailey Owens, so it was a while ago since I took your class. But I can't thank you enough. It was such a great experience.
Best of luck to you! Heather & Richie Owens (mother of Grace – 8 & Bailey – 5)" |