Hearth and Home Midwifery, Hood River OR

Words will never truly express the experience we had with these three amazing human beings. They offer compassionate, kind, fun, informative care. I have walked away from this childbirth experience with so much gratitude for them and the care provided. Choosing home birth midwifery for our 3rd kiddo versus hospital was a path we wanted to venture on. Hearth and Home Midwifery, exceeded our expectations of that experience.

Charlie, Sarah and Emily always presented information up front to us, never feeling any pressure or being coaxed into a decision. I learned more about childbirth this round than I had with our other kiddos. They gave us ample time and space to make decisions, there was never any pressure from them. They were always prompt to answer questions, especially my pregnant babbling emails…. I truly felt held and empowered during this journey. They also humored my partner and his curiosity and enthusiasm. And there was this commitment to honoring us, even through my longer than desired end of pregnancy. I never felt like my pregnancy was a burden, or my pregnancy was an illness to be treated.

And postpartum care, nothing in the hospital/medical setting can compare. The model they provide for postpartum care is such a gift, to advocate for the momma with the baby. If I truly wanted to, I would have another baby just to work with them… but three is enough! I would not hesitate to recommend them. And listen to their podcasts, my god it’s so helpful.

I loved working with Sarah, Emily and Charli so much! This was my third baby and finally decided to take the plunge to have a home birth. I interviewed them when I was pregnant with my first but ended up choosing the hospital route. With my third, I knew I wanted a more spiritual and empowering experience, so I went straight back to Hearth and Home. Their knowledge and confidence in me and my body meant EVERYTHING to me. I love how they all normalize birth and the process and made me feel SO supported through my whole pregnancy and birth. Any question I might have was covered by their podcast, and each 1 hour session with them was full of information and comfort.
I feel so lucky to have crossed paths with these women and got the birth and post partum care I’ve always dreamed of. Wish I could give them more than 5 stars!

We are beyond grateful to have received care from Charli, Emily, and Sarah for our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We couldn’t have imagined better providers for our first pregnancy and birth. Hearth and Home really created the most lovely space for our experience to be very sacred and special. They have a wonderful balance of honouring the spiritual elements of childbirth and also following an evidence based practice with their strong medical knowledge.

My husband and I really looked forward to every appointment with Hearth and Home because they were such a big part of the joy we experienced through our pregnancy and postpartum. They made every growth milestone feel so special. I will really miss them (until our next baby).

The midwives made it possible for me to have a safe homebirth at 42 weeks. They went the extra mile for us to closely monitor our baby to make sure it continued to be safe to wait for my body to go into labor. We had a very long prodromal labour, and they checked in on us multiple times. By the time true labor started, my body was perfectly prepared and the labor went very smoothly and safely. Their suggestions for positions in labor really helped me progress, and they finessed the baby out and I didn’t tear at all. When my baby needed a little extra breathing support after he was born, they were very competent to give him just what he needed. I never doubted their skills for a second and I felt so held and supported and loved through the whole labor.

The midwives were very responsive to all of my questions that I asked them via email, and gave me great suggestions and information. I really trusted what they had to say, knowing they follow an evidence based practice and also their own inner knowledge built on their years of experience.

We used their online childbirth course which covered all we needed to know to prepare for our homebirth. We are also obsessed with their podcast and also found this so helpful during pregnancy to prepare for all the steps along the way.

The care I have received at Hearth and Home midwifery has completely convinced me that home birth is the ideal birthing scenario. Being surrounded by my family, home, and the marvelous women of HAH made the birth of my two children so beautiful. Charli, Sarah, and Emily somehow balance professionalism with vulnerability and wonder with experience. With HAH, I not only got cared for by this great team, I also gained access to their network of knowledge and resources to help make pregnancy, birth, and postpartum the most positive experience it can be. Because of these women, my family got to be a part of the whole experience of bringing a child into the world, included my two year old “helping” with prenatal appointments and my husband delivering my firstborn. They somehow keep the wonder of birth alive and special for every family in their care and I have nothing but appreciation for these women.

There's so many wonderful things I can say about Sarah, Charli, and Emily. When I first sought them out I had my reservations about home birth especially since this was my first baby, but I also knew to my core I did not want to have a hospital birth if I could help it. HAH recommended some resources for me to make sure home birth was the right path for us. After looking into their very knowledgeable podcast and other material, I had a meeting with Sarah and I immediately knew Hearth and Home were the ones to be with us on this journey. I had the privilege of meeting all three wonderful women throughout my pregnancy. Each of them brings their own unique qualities, knowledge, and experience to the table. Each appointment was like visiting with an old friend whom was taking great care of me and my baby girl. They were always quick to respond to any questions with evidence based knowledge. They always tried to make my partner feel involved and were kind when our mothers wanted to tag along to an appointment. I had the pleasure of having Charli attend my birth, though I would have felt safe with any of the three. Charli stayed very calm and reassured me about my progress. My baby girl was coming out with the cord around her neck, Charli fixed it very quickly with no need to make the situation feel terrifying. Same for when I needed to give my baby girl her first breath. I know in the hospital setting those two things would have been treated like an emergency and they would have whisked my sweet girl away from me in a panick. Charli was also very patient in dealing with my family during the birth as well, she sure has the patience of a saint! These wonderful women really make sure you're well cared for postpartum. The first 2 visits after birth they come to your home to check on you and baby. I can not imagine having to pack up baby to travel to the Dr a couple days after birth. I will recommend Hearth and Home to anyone that is planning on welcoming a new member to their family and will definitely be returning when we decided to add to our family. Thank you Sarah, Charli, and Emily for everything you have done for my little family

I do not have enough words to express my gratitude and love for the ladies at Hearth and Home!
I first want to say that choosing home birth does not mean you are giving birth without medical equipment and proper care. Midwives are well trained and educated with immense amount of experience and understanding of all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I feel I received better care than if I were to use a hospital simply because of the compassion and drive midwives have to support mama and baby. You are not just another patient that they are tending to.
My sweet boy came at 41 weeks and labor was tough. He had a shoulder dystocia which made it very difficult for me to get him out. He was also 9lb 5oz and 22 inches which no one expected. A big baby and getting stuck meant hours of pushing. They encouraged me even at my weakest point after 13 hours of labor to push him out. With Charli’s help, he came out but was not breathing right away. Charli reacted very quickly and called 911 while Emily aspirated and put a mask on him. He then began crying and was simply stunned by the dramatic birth experience. Emergency services arrived but were not needed. They did not even come into my home because Charli and Emily safely cared for my baby despite the difficulties. While it was terrifying to see your baby struggle, I didn't have a doubt in my mind that he was in the best care.
In a hospital setting I could almost guarantee that I would have been whisked away for a c section and probably would not have been able to see my baby right away. Not only did he arrive safely but I was holding him almost immediately. The initial breathing issue was monitored closely and he was checked frequently to ensure he was doing well.
Throughout my entire labor they regularly checked me and communicated with me. They also helped me find a comfortable position to birth in which turned out to be standing up. The midwives only want to help you feel as good as you can and will encourage you to adjust if needed.

The best thing about Hearth and Home was the genuine care they gave. Western medicine rarely provides support and guidance. No question was too small and no problem went unchecked. I always felt welcome and 110% supported throughout my entire pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Throughout my entire pregnancy and labor I was treated like a human being and new mama. It truly is a magical crazy wonderful experience becoming a parent. Hearth and Home made it the smoothest and best transition. I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone looking to have a home birth?

From our first conversation with Hearth and Home we knew they were the team we wanted to support our pregnancy and birth. Each prenatal appointment was well informed and full of warmth. My husband always felt included and supported, which he didn’t feel with other providers we saw.

While in labor we were close to transferring to the hospital which we were hoping to avoid. However, we felt confident with the options suggested as we trusted the midwives so much. In the end though, we had our baby at home and the birth was as wonderful as I could have hoped for. My husband caught the baby and we cut the cord together. All the decisions we had made during prenatal were followed, even while we were too caught up in the moment to remember ourselves.

After baby was born and we were all tucked in we felt confident and knew we could reach out with any questions. We loved that the midwives came to our house for the first few appointments and that they encouraged rest and healing. We were so sad to say goodbye after our 6 week visit, as we feel like they are a part of our family now.

There are not enough kind words in the world to give Charli, Sarah, and Emily enough praise. The care you’ll receive at Hearth and Home Midwifery is by far the best health care you’ll ever receive.

I’ve used H&H now for two pregnancies. With my first, gestational hypertension ruled me out of a homebirth at 39 weeks, and I opted to induce at a hospital at that time. The ladies stayed with me my entire hospital stay and birth (either physically or on-call via phone/text), and I returned to their care for postpartum support for both me and my daughter. Knowing I wanted to try again for a homebirth in the future, Sarah and Charli encouraged me to reach out again before my next pregnancy to hopefully prevent future hypertension. They gave me tons of advice on how to enter pregnancy in the best way to keep my BP at a more manageable level, and worked with me diligently throughout my second pregnancy to keep my BP at safe levels (I believe they even took my case to workshops to find out best practices to keep my BP at a healthy level). It was clear their goal was not just for me to have the homebirth that I so wanted, but to be the healthiest me I could be for my pregnancy.

I was fortunate enough to get my homebirth this time and got to see an entirely new side of my midwives. The peace and calm they brought into my home during birth was exactly the experience I was hoping for. There was so much wisdom when they intervened to get my labor to continue progressing, and the way they trusted MY BODY to get me through labor gave my MIND the confidence it needed to make room for all the stages of labor. My husband said watching them work through the hardest parts of labor with complete calm made him know everything was progressing just as it needed to.

The moment I want to relive over and over again, though, was when my sweet daughter was brought out of the birth tub and laid directly on my chest. Charli and Emily efficiently helped her take her first breaths, all while she laid on my chest, and the genuine JOY in the room from husband and I AND my midwives reminded me that this was an experience we all just went through together. These women assisted me in bringing one of my greatest gifts into the world, and I feel forever bonded and grateful to them for it.

Postpartum care with H&H is healing and individualized. It’s amazing to be in your own bed, with your own family under one roof, and to know that yours and your baby’s health and wellness are top priority.

The women at H&H have this amazing ability to make you feel like you’re their only client, but you also know they are bringing years of experience and wisdom from their hundreds (thousands?) of births to every woman in their care at every appointment. I cannot recommend them enough, and it is my deepest wish that every pregnant/birthing woman gets to experience the same calm, wise, kind, beautiful care that is offered by Hearth & Home.

I loved the care I received from Sarah, Charli, and Emily. I valued the time and attention they gave at each prenatal appointments making sure my baby and I were healthy, as well as their knowledge to answer our questions, and allowing my husband and I to be the decision makers for our pregnancy. Most of all I appreciate their TRUST in birth!

When looking for a homebirth midwife we were recommended to go with Hearth and Home Midwifery.
I am so glad we did! From the very first appointment we felt comfortable, heard, respected, and safe.
Sarah and Emily were my two midwives and they were so kind, knowledgeable and skilled. Every appointment was an hour long. I was able to bring my toddler and have her be included. I was able to ask questions and get answers that were evidence-based. I felt heard and cared for.
They walked with us through our prenatal care and helped us plan the homebirth we always wanted. During labor I got the support I needed as well as the space I needed to labor on my own. It was a peaceful and empowering experience.
Postpartum care was taken very seriously and they came to our home for postnatal visits for the first two weeks after the baby was born.
They not only checked up on baby but also checked up on me and how I was doing mentally, emotionally, and physically.
I loved my experience with Hearth and Home and would recommend it to anyone looking for a homebirth midwife. They are very professional in all that they do.
Thanks Sarah and Emily!
-Katie and Alex

It is pretty hard to find the words to describe my gratitude for the care I received from the midwives at Hearth And Home. I chose them to be a part of my team for my third pregnancy in hopes of writing a different story for my husband and I than we had experienced with my previous births. I am so glad I made the decision I did as they really did become a part of MY team.

Sarah, Charli and Emily are responsive, thorough, respectful and informative in their approach to care. There were multiple times in the last year that I felt like I was the recipient of such genuine compassion from them. It was during my 3rd trimester and postpartum period that I especially felt valued, seen and empowered (and when I really needed that level of support). I’ve had good providers before that I truly appreciate, but my time with HAH showed me exactly what individualized care with GREAT providers look like. In my opinion, who’s around you and speaking into you during/in pregnancy, birth and postpartum matter and how you feel walking away from that precious and fleeting chapter of life to bring a baby into this world is worth investing in.

I think some of the highest words of praise one can receive is “well done” and I wholeheartedly say “well done, ladies! ” Thank you for coming alongside me and my family to help me write a different narrative in this part of my motherhood journey; I’ll cherish this experience forever.

Quick highlights for me:
- I could bring who I wanted to my appointments and my other kids were always welcome and included in the appointment when they were there (aka not ignored or quieted)
- The midwives held space for my husband’s experience, too, knowing that I cared about that.
- The peace of mind of talking through a detailed transfer plan before labor to ensure my baby’s and my safety.
- I felt like I had the best fans cheering me on in my TOLAC journey (and ultimate VBAC!).
- Last, but definitely not least, even though I didn’t end up giving birth at home, I still received the gift that is in-home postpartum care the first two weeks. GAME CHANGER.

We chose to expand our family under the care of Hearth and Home Midwifery. Our dynamic felt just as easeful this go around and we are grateful to have had the privilege to work with Sarah and Charli again. We met Emily during our prenatal visits and loved getting to know her, she makes a perfect addition to their team. I was so glad to hear her calm and reassuring voice when I went into labor. All three women considered and anticipated the needs of everyone in my family. They trusted us with the knowledge and tools we needed to comfortably and safely have our babies at home. If this ol body can handle another, I will return to them again and again.

Highly recommend! The Hearth and Home team were at my side for two very different pregnancies, births, and postpartum experiences, including a cesarean birth due to a breech presentation and then a hospital VBAC. They made us feel special and nurtured in each experience. Despite having hospital births, our care with them still made experiences feel very homey, natural, and normal. I am very grateful they serve our more rural area, expanding the positive possibilities for pregnant people and their families.

I was so happy to find the kind and supportive midwives at Hearth and Home. Sarah, Charli, and Emily were all helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. I have used midwifery care for all of my pregnancies and knew that I wanted a homebirth again for my fourth child. H&H was a perfect fit! I truly appreciated each of the midwives with their different personalities and looked forward to all of my appointments. It was wonderful to find providers who truly want to inform and aid women in such a transformative time of life. The midwives were always easy to reach and I enjoyed being able to “visit” even more with them by listening to their podcast. I can honestly say that they are some of the smartest midwives I’ve ever met and the information and care they gave me will stay with me, always.

Charli and Sarah are so so wonderful and make a fantastic team. They provided me such thoughtful and respectful care and always respected my views and choices. Their communication and organization was always great. Their encouragement was so heartfelt. During my home birth I felt very safe and watched over, while not feeling crowded at all. They have a wonderful intuition and are so natural. After my baby boy was born they were extremely attentive, making absolutely sure we both were happy and healthy. I just can’t say enough about how amazing my experience was. I wish that I had had all three of my babies with Hearth and Home midwifery!

Hearth and Home were kind, capable, knowledgeable, and just really great to work with for the second time. They helped us navigate an unexpectedly complicated pregnancy by always informing us of our choices and treating us like human beings. Can't recommend enough.