Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Mehaffey.
Hi Samantha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was pregnant with my first child when my sister told me what a doula was. I thought, ‘That sounds like something a rich or lonely person needs,’ and I dismissed it. 3 months after my son was born, my best friend had her 1st baby, and I realized that doulas were very important. She asked me to come along to her birth, and I saw firsthand how much a doula could do to help ease the anxiety of someone with little or no birth experience (I had seen my brother born; she had only the stories of her mother’s c-sections). I served the best I was able, and then went on to become a certified doula through DONA International. My second baby was born by emergency c-section for cord prolapse, and I opted for a home birth for my 3rd child due to the hospital’s responsibility in causing the cord prolapse. After my home birth, I was hooked. I served as a doula for several more years, let my DONA certification lapse, and finally started training to be a midwife when my youngest child (of 5) was 1 year old.
I attended Mercy In Action School of Midwifery from 2020 to 2023, graduated on the accelerated track, and got my midwifery license in July 2023. As part of my training, I served under another local midwife, Jenn Seif, and together we attended just under 200 births in the span of 4 years. Since then, Jenn and I have opened an office together; we do not have the same business, just utilize the same space and supplies. 2 more midwives have moved into the space as well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Just before enrolling in Mercy In Action, I had lined up a preceptor and started working with her, but then her father-in-law became very ill, and she was forced to move. I was swept up by her last student, Jenn, who had just gotten her license, and the two of us had to find office space during COVID-19. That was a difficult task; no one was advertising or showing office space at the time. But we found a place to call our business home and have both been there ever since.
Another challenge has been the loss of my daughter, Amethyst. I became pregnant just after graduating from midwifery school, and as unexpected as it was, I was excited to have another baby, since my youngest was turning 5 that year. At 28 weeks, we found out Amethyst had two severe heart defects, and most likely was affected by Trisomy 18. It was incredibly difficult to run my midwifery business while grappling with the fear that I might lose my own baby. Women in my care were very understanding when I had to take time off for appointments, or when I needed to process all that was happening in my pregnancy and wasn’t in the best headspace at the time. At 33 weeks, I learned that Amethyst had passed in my womb. I delivered her at U of M in Ann Arbor, and had very good care, but it took me a while to attend another birth, and the ones I did attend, I had to ask another midwife to lead in the care so that I could deal with my grief and not feel I wasn’t caring for my clients well.
The other challenge to what I’ve accomplished has largely been missing my children grow, and guiding them. I’ve, of course, been here for them, but not in the same capacity that I had been in the past as a stay-at-home mom. I also homeschool them, and that has been significantly hard with my wonky schedule and never knowing when a baby will decide to be born. Fortunately, none of them have fallen behind academically, and all are thriving. We make up for the weird schedule in several ways to ensure that we all stay close as a family.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Licensed Professional Homebirth Midwife (LM, CPM) with a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSM). I’m based in Richland, Michigan, and serve people within an hour of my home near Bedford (just north of Battle Creek).
My strongest desire for my clients is that they will feel loved, supported, and have respectful care, where they are the ones to call the shots, and after discussion of their options, be informed enough to make educated decisions regarding their care.
I have had the privilege to personally experience such anomalies as cord prolapse, early miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, c-section, and more, so when someone comes into care and experiences something that throws all their plans awry, I’m able to help them navigate what comes next and still feel as if they have respectful care and autonomy.
I am a faith filled bible believing Christian and feel that the strength of the Lord is the most important gift I have available when it comes to serving my families. Pregnancy, Birth, Prenatal care, and Postpartum care do not belong to me; I’m not the decision maker or the stakeholder. I’m just the butler, the ‘ask Jeeves’ (I’m that old). I’ve got the knowledge, or have the ability to get it, and will do my best at serving the Lord and the mothers of this community.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I have to say I love Bronson! It is truly the best hospital I’ve had the privilege to work closely with. They are welcoming, and they are respectful of mothers when I am in need of a higher level of care. I can’t say enough good things about Bronson. They have some of the best Midwives and Doctors in their system. I’d name them all, but I think I might leave someone out and feel bad.
I also really love that it isn’t that hard to navigate Kalamazoo or Battle Creek. The lush and fresh vegetation everywhere is so beautiful, especially in Spring and Fall… and I don’t mind the snow in Winter. Summer is never too hot. I’ve lived in six states over my years and about 20 different homes over my lifetime.. and this area is the most beautiful I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy.
Pricing:
- Homebirth complete package – $4500 currently (scheduled to increase in Jan)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourcherishedbirth.com
- Instagram: mehaffeysamantha
- Facebook: Your Cherished Birth
