Birth Matters

Michelle and team provide wisdom throughout pregnancy, expertise during labor and support post-​pregnancy. We sought out a half a dozen options (UCSD midwife, another midwife, a local birth center, an OB who supports natural birth at Scripps Encinitas) and ultimately agreed BMI felt like the best fit for us. We couldn’t have been more thrilled with our overall experience. Our first baby arrived naturally, in our home, calmly this past fall.

I have had the best experience at Birth matters. Michelle Freund is amazing and she has a great team! I had the privilege of working with Kaydee Welchons as well and she is amazing too!
I have now had 3 babies at home because of Michelle and her team. Not only is the birth great but the prenatal care goes above and beyond! I cannot say enough about them!!!

Michelle and her team are absolutely hands-​down the greatest service and care providers I could have ever possibly ask for. Their professional and informative educational on point and absolutely are there to support my wife and I threw her first pregnancy. Absolutely love them all and went happily recommend them to everyone.

We found Birth Matters and Michele Freund through our chiropractor who have recommended them for birth services. The staff and Michele were fantastic. Whole obstetric care before and after for my wife was more personal. Michele has delivered our first born who got tangled in the umbilical chord with a double loop and a triple twist. The team quickly resuscitated him and he is now a healthy 18 month old. The only reason one star down, is that the natural birth control method that was recommended failed and we now have a baby girl that is two months old as our second child

I could not have had a better birth experience than the home birth of my healthy baby boy. I am so grateful for the expertise and personalized care that everyone at Birth Matters offered. Michelle Freund’s prenatal care and knowledge was second to none. She is a loving and caring person and has vast experience with all sorts of different maternity related conditions. She makes you feel very relaxed and comfortable.
I had a wonderful pregnancy. I drove from San Diego for all of my appointments and I loved the home visits the last week of my pregnancy and postpartum. Birth Matters has all the equipment needed to care for patients and I enjoyed the convenience of getting all of my blood work done in her office. She was very open to my birth plan and encouraged me to have the maternity and birth experience that I desired, regardless if it was her standard or not. For example, to avoid exposure to my baby, I did not want the doppler ultrasound to hear the babies heart beat each visit, and she was more than happy to use a fetal stethoscope. Michelle welcomed my decision not receive any vaccinations during my pregnancy, especially the flu vaccine which is required in a lot of hospitals. We also knew by my measurements that my son was going to be big, but Michelle still supported me in my decision not to have an ultrasound. I was grateful for the vast amount information that she provided, so I could make educated and informed decisions. All of my visits were very thorough and she made sure I had all of my questions and concerns address each visit. My appointments were never rushed.
The birth of my son was 6 hours with the last two being the most intense. I had rented two birthing tubs from Birth Matters one for inside and one for outside in case it was warm enough and laboring in the water was fantastic. The environment of my home birth was also beautiful. I had candles, piano music playing, and I enjoyed taking pictures between my early contractions. My husband also had a part in the birth. He mobilized my sacrum to diminish the intensity of the contractions. My son was on the large side. He was 9 pounds 12 ounces and his shoulders got stuck, «shoulder dystocia», after his head was delivered. Michelle and her team changed my position, tried rotating the baby, applied pressure on my belly, and with their help he was born 2 minutes later. I was so grateful that I did not tear. I would assume in a hospital environment episotomies and c-​sections are common when shoulder dystocia happens. I was very impressed on how effectively and calmly all three of them worked together to deliver my beautiful, healthy son.
My daughter, who had slept through the entire labor and delivery, then walked up the stairs to meet her new baby brother who was only a few minutes old. It was a joyous moment for the three of us to be together to welcome the newest member of our family. I will always remember the positive, loving, safe environment in which my son was born. My newborn was then adjusted by my husband, who is a chiropractor, to restore proper head and spinal motion thus maximizing our babies neural function and development.
Birth Matters also did a outstanding job providing care to both myself and my infant after he was born. Having your provider come to you for home visits makes a mom’s life so much easier after baby arrives. Michelle and her team again were very thorough and they routinely checked up on us the following week post delivery. My son is 100% breastfed and healthy as can be. On my last appointment at Birth Matters, my son was two months old and he weighed 14 pounds 7 ounces. I feel so blessed to be able to provide my child with the perfect start to life free of medical intervention, harmful pharmaceuticals, and a stressful birth environment. Thanks to Michelle Freund and everyone at Birth Matters, I have a wonderful birth story that I will always be able to cherish and a healthy, happy newborn.
Dr. Andrea Dorris

Where do I even begin? I am forever grateful to have had both of my pregnancies cared for by Michelle, Kaydee, and the Birth Matters team. They made it nothing but a wonderful experience with relaxing, friendly, loving office visits/​appointments, help with every single little question I have ever had, so many resources and information on natural pregnancy and childbirth, the list just goes on. By the time I delivered my first daughter, I felt so cared for by them that it felt like having another mother there, helping me through my labor and delivery. I look forward to each appointment and visit with them! I will give birth to my second daughter next month and I have so much gratefulness knowing they will be the ones to go through it alongside me. Can’t recommend Birth Matters enough!

I couldn’t be happier with my care at Birthmatters! I’ve used them for two pregnancies now and am so glad that I found them. The prenatal care is as good as it can get; I can’t believe the difference between my first hospital birth and my subsequent midwife-​led pregnancies. They manage so much and are very focused on keeping you and the baby healthy. It was amazing to me, especially after already having a child, how much more I had to learn (from what to do with leg cramps to shaking during labor to nutrition and on and on– they are so well-​rounded!). I love how available Michelle, Kaydee and Emily have been for me – from random questions or concerns to appointment scheduling. They have a large video and book library and have offered up some of the best referrals I’ve ever received (from chiropractic care to ultrasound techs). The oceanside location is peaceful and has a wonderful courtyard for older babies to play in while you’re at your appointment. Really, it’s just an all around excellent practice. I felt safe, supported and loved at all times!

I had my 3^rd and 4^th children at home with Michelle’s help (my firstborn was in another state, and my 2^nd baby, while a homebirth, was with a midwfie that I didn’t want to go back to). Michelle & her staff are WONDERFUL. So gentle, kind, caring, and educated. The whole birth experience was wonderful. I highly recommend Michelle and Birth Matters!

I had both my sons with Michelle, I can’t say enough to explain how awesome this woman is. Highly educated, confident, supportive, gentle… everything you would want in a midwife. She will forever be a part of our family

Michelle and her team are amazing!!! They welcome you with open arms and have the most loving, caring practice. I’ve been going to birth matters for 2 months now and it’s made my first pregnancy so much more relaxing and peaceful. I’m looking forward to the rest of my pregnancy with them, knowing I’m in the best hands :)