Central Park Midwifery

MAN, these women are modern day super heroes. They were the only midwives I interviewed, and I’m so happy I went with them.
I originally had a standard, yet highly regarded, OB. After she cancelled 2 of my appts, and was over an hour late to my 3^rd attempt at a first appt, I decided she probably was too busy to deliver my baby. So, I decided to get a midwife to help facilitate my wish for a natural, unmedicated birth.
Every appointment I had with Jo and Elaine was on time. In fact, I would often get there early and they would end up seeing me right away. My appointments were never rushed, and if I had any questions, they made sure to answer them thoroughly before I left.
During my pregnancy, I had a few hiccups. My son was diagnosed with bilateral club foot, and Elaine spent nearly 30 minutes on the phone just to calm me down. She assured me everything would be fine, and that she had another patient whose daughter also had bilateral club foot. I had her pass along my info to this woman, and now this woman and I are friends, and she has been a major support during my child’s recovery.
Most doctors complain when their patients call too much. Elaine and Jo encouraged it. I rarely called them, and Elaine assured me that if I ever needed them, not to hesitate. Knowing they had my back literally ²⁴⁄₇ was so comforting.
During the birth itself, Elaine was cool as a cucumber. She effortlessly ignored me when I begged for an epidural, which is exactly what I told her to do. She could’ve easily shut me up, but decided to continue listening to my screams for over 9 hours instead, just to make sure I got the birthing experience I wanted. Not to mention she let me labor in a squatting position on the floor, which meant she had to pretty much lay on the floor to catch the baby. That is dedication!
If you want a birth experience that is memorable, and actually with the person who did all your prenatal care so KNOWS you and your wishes, use them as your midwives!

My wife and I had Jo and Elaine deliver our daughter and we would highly recommend them to others looking for a midwife. We spent a lot of time searching for the right practitioners to help us have the natural birth we wanted. At first, we were slightly nervous because they didn’t have a strong online presence but after our initial meeting, which lasted an hour and a half (!), we instantly knew we found the right team. At each visit, they thoroughly addressed all concerns and we never waited more than 5 minutes in the waiting room. Their approach is measured and professional while being completely compassionate and caring. We were so impressed that they returned our calls and e-​mails very promptly, sometimes within minutes even though it was after office hours.
Jo attended our birth and was extremely attentive and willing to try many different ways to manage pain without medical intervention. She advocated for us and made sure she was there to monitor rather than having the nurses follow the standard procedure of care. The amount of time they spent with us during labor is almost unheard of in modern healthcare today. After we got home, they checked in daily to see how things were going and helped us with initial problems we were having with breastfeeding. Jo and Elaine continue to serve as a resource and we are grateful for their support.
They are by far the most caring and involved healthcare providers you will find for your prenatal, birth, and postpartum care.

I could not possibly say enough good things about Central Park Midwifery. They’re not just a practice, they make you feel like family. When my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage Georgia put me in a bear hug and told me I was going to be a wonderful mom one day. Elaine and Melissa have always helped joke away my anxiety at having blood drawn and my husband’s insane antics. I always felt like I had their undivided attention and was safe to ask any question that crossed my mind. Jo didn’t arrive until the last semester of my pregnancy, but she was so calm and open-​hearted I knew I would like her from the beginning — and a good thing because she helped deliver our daughter in June! We had the most amazing birth experience and between that and the loving aftercare we received our baby has had the best start imaginable. Just this morning Melissa rushed to send me a prescription so that I can receive a free breast pump from my insurance company and keep my milk supply up. My husband and I are not wealthy people and it means so much to be able to receive this kind of care for what we can afford. New York City is a better place for having CPM!

I used Central Park Midwifery for prenatal care, delivery, postnatal care and now for routine checkups. I can’t recommend the crew highly enough. My fears, concerns and questions were all addressed at every visit, I never felt rushed, emails and calls were returned very quickly, appointment scheduling was very easy, and Elaine (one of the midwives) always made me feel well taken care of. When I delivered my baby, she coached me through the process and helped me to stick to my birth plan while diplomatically allowing for me to make my own decisions in the moment, was compassionate, highly professional, very knowledgeable, and I have complete trust and faith in her and her expertise. I recommend CPM to my friends in NYC and would absolutely use her again, hands down, if we have another little one.

Had the best experience imaginable during pregnancy and birth. Elaine and Jo are thorough, thoughtful, and overall amazing.