Reviews

" If you are seeking a natural birth, guided by an incredibly knowledgeable individual with a heart of gold, state of the art equipment, decades of experience, and an unmatched level of compassion both desperately needed and rarely found within the entirety of the medical community, Jacob Mearse of Coastal Midwifery is the only name you need to consider.  This was my fifth pregnancy, fourth live birth, and the care that I received from Jacob Mearse and Coastal Midwifery was absolutely superb. My only regret is that I cannot go back through my other pregnancies and experience them under his care. My previous ones were hospital births, and all traumatic in their own capacities. This pregnancy, I had three OBGYN groups who refused to listen to me, acknowledge my concerns, and provide proper care, and also miscalculated my due date and refused to change it. Because of that last fault, among the others, I was extremely sick, and went to 42+ weeks. If I had gone on any longer- such as the extra 3 weeks the other OBGYN offices wanted me to wait, my baby could have been stillborn.  The care I received from Jacob Mearse quite literally saved the life of my baby and I. He answered all questions of my husband and myself, and even our other children, with care, compassion, and respect. He took our concerns and our care seriously, and was more than accommodating of our requests, however large or small. My 24 hour labor felt more like a slightly painful slumber party than the fear-filled, tense and frustrating experiences of my three previous births. Never had I imagined I would be blessed with the opportunity to experience bringing my baby into the world in such a calm, serene sense of peace, where in place of panic, I felt security. Instead of being filled with anxiety and questions, my husband and I were able to relax and trust in Jacob's care. In my most vulnerable, I was treated with the far beyond the absolute of dignity and respect that anyone could ever ask for, and every parent deserves. Before he departed, he made sure that our new little one was nice and settled, that I was on my way to resting, and that my husband was settled with our other children so that everyone was calm and happy. There are no words grand enough to encompass the gratitude we as a family hold for him and the extent he went to in his care for quite literally by the end, all of us. There are also no words for how highly we as a family recommend him for your consideration with regards to the future care for your own family. You are guaranteed to be given informed consent, educated guidance without any hint of condescending treatment, and care so rooted in a genuine regard for the human experience that is parenting/birth that you will not encounter elsewhere. Being under Jacob Mearse's care you too will start to realize the ineptitude within the birthing community that he so eloquently and professionally fills, and find a midwife who provides the comfort and guidance you deserve in your special birthing experience." - Nari M.

Best care I have ever received! Jacob is a provider who truly listens and cares. He respects your choices and always gives you the opportunity to voice concerns and questions.  When my husband was gone due to work I had a difficult time being able to attend prenatal appointments with my daughter in tow. Having my appointments in home with Jacob was the perfect solution! I had also struggled to find a local provider that was supportive of my desire to have a natural, unmedicated birth. One that I could move freely, eat/drink when needed, not be monitored frequently, and have limited checks. With Jacob as my Midwife, I was able to have all that and more! I had TOTAL control over my labor and what was done to my baby. I had a home birth, and felt completely comfortable and safe doing so due to his experience, credentials, and the quality of care I had received prior to going into labor. I was able to move freely around my home, I had a say when I got checked to see how things progressed, and my husband even got to help catch our baby!  I cannot recommend Jacob enough! He provided the best prenatal and postpartum care I have ever received. He truly cares about you as a whole person. He even offers women health services and behavioral health services (in person and virtually!) - Alisa P.

So, maybe you're one of those moms like me who is not by any stretch of the imagination "crunchy," earthy, birthy, and in tune with your inner feminine goddess but nor are you thrilled to give birth at a hospital for your own reasons, and maybe you want an experience that offers as little or as much medical intervention as you choose for your birth, and, if so, Coastal Midwifery & Women's Health is for YOU.
I feel like home birth appeals to a huge part of me but often has so many limitations of what can and can't be done by lay midwives, and I get it, but I have so much anxiety about the what-ifs and it was so refreshing to have my entire pregnancy & birth (and, let's be honest, I'm switching to Jake as my main provider now that my birth is done) with medical options available to me as a hybrid experience between clinical & medical-forward care as well as home-centered birthing autonomy for a totally me-driven bespoke prenatal experience.
I was able to be prescribed medications due to the legitimacy of Dr. Jake's credentials, while also having my decision to decline certain interventions completely accepted with gusto. CMWH has top-of-the-line equipment that allowed me the reassuring ultrasounds I wanted as often as I wanted them and lots of new tech that allowed my kids to see & celebrate their growing sibling, while on the other hand, Jake often spoke kindly and with total respect of other client mindsets of zero peeks at their baby throughout pregnancy. I was offered a huge variety of potential choices and because my encompassing anxious personality meant that decisions were often made with my head & heart in conflict, at every stage Dr. Jake and April gave me endless options a "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure!" pregnancy where whatever decisions were best for ME were celebrated by everyone at the practice.

If you have kids, THERE IS A KID ROOM. I'm pretty sure there are levels of kid rooms based on age & maturity level (blocks in one, xbox in another?!). I can't understate the immense blessing it was for my kids to be so welcomed, encouraged to be themselves, and allowed free reign of the various hospitality spaces. They loved going to appointments and I loved knowing that they would be so well-cared-for and would have so much fun. (Pictured: once when I was 8.5 months pregnant and my child had a meltdown because she didn't want to leave, so Dr. Jake got down on the floor with her to cheerlead & encourage her!)If you've ever been pregnant and have been herded in and out of appointments with barely a nod, this environment is completely different. Jake & April spent HOURS talking with us about life, our concerns and hopes, and truly made us feel like friends all of the way throughout pregnancy. (If I didn't work full-time, I'd also love to participate in their regular get-togethers for moms, with encouragements etc.)

My labor was a doozy. My body gave me so many little fun-tivities and detours that I didn't plan for and wasn't super thrilled about. But Dr. Jake helped us privot at every step, choosing what best aligned with our hopes and in the end I had the most gorgeous, outrageously and shamelessly loud, raw and completely powerful birth. April and Jake were both there with me to meet me where I was at, offer encouragement, help my husband to help me best, and empower my natural birth that was made soooo much easier knowing that they also had so much medical equipment and backup plans and resources available to them IF anything had happened to go south. Knowing that made me able to focus more fully and be present.
If you're considering home birth and see this review, feel free to ask me any questions, or, better yet, just stop by the clinic, see the awesome themed nautical rooms with pirate and mermaid vibes, feel the complete acceptance, and love of all humans, and know that during the wonderful and wild experience of pregnancy, they'll be with you every step!

- Nicole W. 

At Coastal Midwifery and Women's Health, we believe a) That pregnancy is a normal physiologic process, not a disease to be cured. b) That your autonomy as a client must take priority over everything else - No one makes decisions for you except YOU! c) That health is not just the absence of disease, but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. We strive to promote holistic health and wellness in everything we do.