testimonials
Esther & Daniel
Dear Holly, I don't even know how to thank you so much for being my midwife. It was so nice to know you were available to talk, instead of talking to a nurse I didn't know. Your birthing tub was such a blessing. If I were having any more kids, I wouldn't do it any other way! It was such a different and way better experience than my first one. Thanks for coaching me with the pushing. I am very set now that a midwife is the way to do it. Thanks for helping to bring our healthy little Aidan into the world!
Ruth
There are just not enough words to express our appreciation for and admiration of Holly. She has such a caring manner, and is extremely knowledgeable about the whole pregnancy-birth experience. The best thing about using Holly as our midwife was that I felt so calm. During the birth, my body was “ready” to push our son out, but I kept walking around the room, “relaxing”. Holly got me to focus. I’ll never forget her words, “You can’t run away from it, Ruth.” Our son was born very quickly after that. Thank you, Holly. You’re the best!
Kelci
When I think of my experience at the San Antonio Birth Center*, tears of joy come to my eyes and my heart leaps inside. I loved my entire experience with the Birth Center, beginning with the initial tour and the personal 1.5 hour first prenatal appointment and ending with the hugs and happy tears that were shed at the final postpartum appointment six weeks after the birth of my beautiful baby boy.
The personal and genuine care that I received was amazing. The midwives truly want to get to know you, your family, and the baby that grows inside of you. The personal touch they give provides love and encouragement during a very special time in your life that can never be forgotten. Also, the midwives are truly competent and thorough. They go beyond the regular OB to address and help an expectant mom with maintaining a good diet and exercise program, which is so important for both mom and baby. They provide encouragement and confidence regarding the natural birth process. The care that they gave during the labor and birth of my baby amazed me.
With their help, I was able to have a beautiful birth experience. Their respect and gentle guidance allowed me to be in control of my own labor and to welcome with love, light, and joy my little bundle into the world. Everyone in my family who was around for the birth was amazed at the care I received and knowledge and expertise of the midwives surrounding natural birth and also infant and postpartum care. I cannot say enough about how wonderful the Birth Center is.
I will never forget the amazing experience I had there and will cherish the memory of it close to my heart forever.
* Holly Shearman owned the San Antonio Birth Center before moving to Houston.
Becci
It was the morning of my due date. I was planning all sorts of relaxing things for the week; I had a massage scheduled for the next day, and was planning on taking a bath and reading after running a few errands in the morning. It never occurred to me that I might have my baby on her due date; what are the odds that I would have 2 babies born on their due dates?!
I got me & the kids showered and we left to run our errands. Our first stop, Mail Boxes Etc., was when I first realized that I was going to have my baby on her due date. We had gone there to get my midwifery license notarized so I can become a CPM (national accreditation). Then we went to an ice cream parlor and got my midwife a gift certificate to go with the bracelet I had made her as a thank you present.
The contractions were getting stronger. We were right by my midwife’s house, so I called and asked her if I could come by and be checked. Total curiosity here—I knew I was in labor, but I wanted to know what dilation went with that sensation. She checked me and I was 4/80%/+1, but that I’d probably go up to a 5 during a contraction (which is true dilation). We went home and had lunch, I started filling the birth pool and made dough for rolls.
I labored on the birth ball, and Rebekah would go roll rolls and come help me during a contraction and then go back to roll the rolls, Deanna got her picture stuff out, Holly got her equipment out.
Holly knows me well enough to notice when I was freaking out (even though no one else in the room knew I was freaking out!) and she helped me calm down. What a blessing to have her there helping me, since she is one of my best friends as well as my midwife! She knows me well enough and could read me well enough to know what I needed and how to meet those needs, even though no one else knew I needed help. I relaxed my muscles as much as I could at that point, and the head came out. I felt my baby’s head, and noticed there was hair, Deanna was taking underwater pictures, WOW! It was amazing to me to realize that I had felt the head be born this time, that I was aware of what was happening, and that I could enjoy feeling my baby even though the pressure was so intense. Again I had to shift my thinking, since I had no idea how to deal with the pressure and intensity of what I was feeling! Holly asked me to push since the head had been out for a bit and I have a history of shoulder dystocia; but I said I needed to wait. My baby was born with the next contraction, and Holly had me reach down and help “deliver” my baby. I brought my baby up to the surface of the water and it was the most amazing feeling of my life.