Testimonials
"Coastal Family Birth Retreat is a place that we will never forget and always feel welcomed. Val and Rose assisted us with the birth we always wanted and encouraged us when we
thought it would be impossible. We wish that we could stand out in front of hospitals with our son and hold a sign HE WAS BORN AT THE COASTAL FAMILY BIRTH RETREAT.
Thank you Val and Rose for the support and encouragement through it all."
- Sarah M.
"Our experience at the Coastal Family Birth Retreat was incredible. We knew after our first visit that the birth center was for us.
The house is really beautiful and the setting is so relaxing. Val and Rose spent at least an hour with us at each prenatal visit and went above and beyond my expectations for
helping us prepare for the birth. I think it was that empowerment that helped me have a beautiful birth experience. I actually felt more relaxed when we arrived at the birth
center during the beginning of active labor, and then Elias was born about 3 hours later! Val and Rose helped me harness the strength I knew I had throughout labor and
delivery and were extremely helpful through the days and weeks after. The natural feeling of the whole experience was amazing and we definitely plan to have future children
at the birth center. I recommend the Coastal Family Birth Retreat to any woman who wants excellent care and believes in their natural ability to give birth "
- Elisa Winter Holben
"Having a baby was the single most complicated, wonderful and life changing event I have ever experienced. As a single mom, the unknowns of pregnancy seemed even more daunting and I faced much more intricate decisions than I imagined I would have, had I been married. Thankfully, I stumbled across Coastal Family Birth Retreat, and suddenly my team of one was transformed into a team of three.
Valerie and Rose provided much more than conventional health care. I had already explored the options of home birth and hospital birth, OBGYN’s and midwives and was sure that I wanted to have a midwife attended homebirth, but I had no idea the extent of comprehensive care I was about to receive.
Val and Rose’s many years of experience and credentials made me feel comfortable with them from the start, however it was during our appointments over the following weeks that our relationship grew and allowed me to open up and trust these two women with the physical, emotional, and mental health of my baby and I. While working with Val and Rose, I felt as though they spent each minute of our time carefully balancing the education they were giving me with the time they spent learning about me as a person and tending to my individual needs, such as collaborating with my cardiologist or counseling me through family dilemmas. Never once did I feel as though they held the keys to information about my body and baby which they carefully kept locked up in some file. With each decision that needed to be made, I felt fully prepared, organized and educated because of the manner in which Rose and Val had presented it. I was always offered more time if I needed to think about something longer, never feeling pressur ed to make even the smallest decision- which at the time can seem very big. I also felt very safe and comfortable with the conservative nature in which they operate; knowing that if I ever needed them to, Val and Rose would make the best and safest decisions for my baby and I.
Val and Rose have a knack for presenting information in a way that is unbiased which allows you to truly make your own choice according to what you feel is best for your situation. It is because of all these things, I believe, that my unique
birth experience is exactly what I would define as successful. I look back on that time with such fondness, love, and warmth, grateful to have been through the birthing experience with two wonderful friends who gracefully led me through each transition of pregnancy and labor.
I dare to say that I truly miss being pregnant, I miss our visits (appointments) and feel so blessed that I can look back on the whole experience and marvel at how beautiful it was. I look forward to working with Val and Rose again in the future- just not too soon!"
- Elissa and Micah
"A natural childbirth was very important to us and we wanted to have our baby in a relaxing environment where we did not feel pressured or rushed.
Val and Rose took the time to get to know us and kept us informed during every visit and decision we we needed to make. It is a refreshing and empowering feeling to
have everything explained to you and to learn so much about the pregnancy and baby throughout the 9 months instead of being rushed in and out of an office once a month.
Although we were given great flexibilty in our own choices, it was also very comforting to know we were being guided by highly trained professionals with a wealth of
experience in birthing. The Coastal Family Birth Retreat was the perfect location to have our baby and allowed us to have the birth experience we wanted."
- Heather, Marc & Ava