09/29/2026
✨👩🏻🍼Birth Story Spotlight👩🏻🍼✨
When looking for a midwife, my friend Kathryn recommended Silvia. I called up to the office and asked if they had room, they usually do a tour, because I am a gay woman with a wife this made me really nervous about being around other couples who weren't kind. Silvia immediately let us come on our own to tour and check everything out. Finding safe spaces is Texas isn't always easy and she made me feel so seen and safe. I had had my first son naturally in a hospital birth and was very excited to do a home birth with my second knowing this would be my last.
I went into prodromal labor three times one of them everyone showed up I was in full blown labor for hours in the pool, with everyone there and then it stopped. I felt so bad that everyone had shown up but Silvia made me feel safe and literally no shame. I was at a 6 for 6 more days, but like she told me I would know when it was time. He came so fast and we all waited to find out the gender. His birth was everything we could have dreamt of and more. Silvia and her team are so kind and loving. She is such a great encourager in the most gentle yet (you can do this) kind of way.
I love that we were able to ask all the questions, and spend so much time getting to know each other in appointments. She took care of us in the best way and educated us on so many things.
Silvia was treating both my sister and I, a couple weeks before I had Andres my sisters baby was born sleeping. This was such a hard and tender thing for all of us. Silvia was so kind and understanding with both of us in this I honestly didn't know how she could do that but she is clearly called to it. She did also get to deliver my sisters rainbow baby which was amazing to witness. I will never forget her care and the presence she brings.
Something I will always remember about my birth was the moment we found out his gender, we waited til birth and it was the greatest surprise of my life finding out in real time, I knew in my heart it was a boy, we picked his name in if he was a boy in honor of our cousin Andrew Barrera who passed away suddenly during my pregnancy. So when we finally had him to be able to confirm that my feeling was right and he was our little miracle and angel given to us to share his name which we had kept a secret as well it was just such a full circle healing moment. To be able to carry on our cousins legacy. Andrés is such a sweet daily reminder of Andrews spirit to not only us but all who knew him. In a hospital they rush you and students are in there, immediately doing tests and with home birth you are in the moment, enjoying each sweet second, immediate skin to skin, care and intention for the true process of what birth is supposed to be. We got to experience that with Silvia and her team.
I remember getting out of the tub as they were going to walk me to my room Silvia and Brittany had a towel around me and were holding me up and they gave me a moment to just hug my sister and hold her, and recognize my nephew Josiah and the void that was felt. There was no rush just present and awareness. You won't get that with just any team.
The care I received from Silvia and her team was next level. Honestly I was blessed with an amazing OBGYN Dr. Wilkerson, with my first son, absolutely adored her so I knew that was gonna be hard to beat. But the care, the attention, the length of the appointments it wasn't some medical thing, I was empowered even more with midwife care, I had seen my mom do it, my sister as well and I knew with my last pregnancy that is what I wanted. Giving birth, being pregnant is such an amazing thing to do as a woman and when you have the right people and team behind you they help you know and believe that even more. It doesn't always go as planned but we as women are born powerful and birth gives us the chance to know that strength especially a natural one. What surprised me the most was just how quiet Silvia is but like she carries this strength in her energy, she said to me as I was transitioning I could feel my baby dropping so close "you got this, listen to you body" so quietly but I heard it and it reminded me I got this. I was able to choose who was in the room and surrounded by love, joy, positive energy and support. It was the most magical experience of my life. We are so beyond grateful.
The whole team was beyond kind and gentle, we felt so cared for and seen the entire process.
To anyone considering midwife care or homebirth my advice would absolutely be do it, you are considering it for a reason, birth, pregnacy, labor are all natural things that you were born to do, yes sometimes things come up during labor but with Beyond Birth you are in very capable hands, Silvias background alone is amazing and I knew she had my back, and was going to get us through safely. When Andrés was coming out I remember her saying "we have a cord", she was urgent and calm to not scare us but also quick to direct me what to do, and got it unwrapped.
Whether you go with midwife or choose a hospital I'm always going to recommend reading the book "Ina Mays Guide To Childbirth" I read it both times I was pregnant, and it empowered me with different women's birth stories. The best way to empower yourself is to learn from others who have gone before, at the end of the day the goal is always healthy baby and healthy momma so if it doesn't go the way you hoped and you have to be rushed to a c-section remember you didn't fail, the goal is always to keep you healthy. I'm grateful for how both of mine went but I recognize the stigma that women may feel if theirs doesn't go the same. Girl you made a whole baby grew it, nurtured it and got it here. And to the mamas whose baby's were born sleeping you didn't fail either and I'm so incredibly sorry for your pain. I know it is something I feared my entire pregnancy's it's normal and natural to have that in the back of your mind.
