Happy Clients

Kristen delivered our home birth baby, and she is truly amazing. ❤️ After my due date, I was still terrified of the medical model of practice and it was so hard to get the idea out of my head that babies don’t care too much about due dates. She got out of bed one night around midnight to come listen to the baby’s heartbeat just to reassure me everything was fine when my anxiety was super high. And when I was slowly approaching risking out and considering a sweep, she encouraged me to continue to make my own decisions and was extremely considerate of my emotions before, during, and after. When I was in early labor, it was slow and easy for hours. As soon as the hard contractions hit I called her. Going by length and time, it didn’t look like I was progressing. She still got the birth team around, and they arrived with only an hour left before baby came. Had she not trusted me to know my body and waited to come, they would have missed it. Not to mention, she made it clear to family after birth that my body needed time to heal, and it was BY FAR the easiest recovery I’ve had of all my 4. I wish I had done my first 3 births the same way. I would encourage anyone to consider home birth, and to speak with a midwife like Kristen about any concerns you may have.

— T.L.

I had called nearly all of the midwives in Northern Michigan before I confidently decided on Kristen! Kristen is a wealth of information and I seriously could not have been happier with my decision. The care that she provides throughout pregnancy, during the birth AND postpartum is top-notch. She cares so deeply for her clients and their well being, and the emotional support that I received was perfectly timed during a very difficult time in my life.

During the birth, my baby was stuck behind my pelvis AND I lost a lot of blood. Kristen knew exactly the steps that needed to be taken so that both myself and the baby had the best outcomes possible. I wouldn't have wanted any other midwife in that situation.

Give Kristen a call - you will not be disappointed. : )

-R.L.

Kristen made the entire experience of pregnancy and childbirth 100% better. She eased my anxieties throughout my pregnancy, was always available whenever I had questions or concerns, and supported me 100% through a long, difficult hospital birth. She was an amazing resource, a phenomenal provider, and someone I now consider a friend. I'm so thankful to have had someone so great as part of my care team, and look forward to working with her again in future pregnancies.

-L.D.

Our experience with Northern Glow Midwifery was excellent from start to finish.
Kristen's expertise, knowledge, and ability to remain calm, composed, and completely in-control during the entire labor was admirable and very reassuring for my wife and I. She has a genuine passion for her work which is evident at each appointment before, during, and after the big day.
Kristen and her team are absolute professionals and really excel at their craft.
Thank you for providing us with an awesome home birth experience. Highly recommend!

-L.B.

To know her is to love her. It has been a privilege to our entire family to be under the care of Kristen and her practice. The love and compassion she provides not only to myself but to my spouse and children is genuine. She is committed to learning what is best for you as expectant mother and works to carry out your desired plan for birth, while making necessary changes (a group effort) as needed. Her presence is calming and endearing. She always makes time to answer any and all questions as well as serving as a soundboard for concerns. She pours love into her practice and her mothers and clearly shares in the joy of your joy.

-H.H.

Seriously considering having another baby so we can see Kristen again. She is a talented midwife with an exceptionally big heart, who went the extra mile (literally) for us. Between COVID, Medicaid, and relocating mid-pregnancy to a rural/underserved area of northern Michigan, I was concerned with how our son’s birth story would unfold. Kristen bent over backwards to accommodate our situation, and when all was said and done, we had the most beautiful, relaxing birth experience we could ask for. Thank you, Kristen!

-K.P.

We had 2 home births with Kristen: she assisted the first time, and was our midwife for the second. Both experiences were so wonderful, I'm almost tempted to have another! ♥️

— S.J.E.

Being “with woman” is an art as pure as nature herself. Birth doesn’t need to be “managed”. It shouldn’t be so. Women, when well cared for, within her community, knows herself, and those around her because they have sat together! Kristen is a gift to this community! She helped me catch my second and my third babies. She is graceful and makes such a presence all around. She is knowledgeable and helped me feel secure in giving birth with her by my side. How you birth matters both to you and your unborn and Kristen is a great help to have by your side. Kristen listens to what matters to you and helps you feel strong by being seen, being believed in and being heard.♥️

— D.G.

Kristen was my midwife last year for my first birthing experience. She was extremely caring and accommodating to me, my fiancé and my family members who were involved and helped me. Each appointment had a very comforting air and she is extremely accepting and non-judgmental. She’s truly one of the nicest people I’ve met! I felt both medically safe and emotionally looked after throughout. During the actual labor she was just the right combination of supportive, present and not overbearing. She knows exactly how to make a mama-to-be feel super important, special and heard! I’d recommend her to anyone and I’m so happy that I got to have my son in the comfort of my own home with the help of Kristen and her assistant midwives ❤️

-L.O.

Where to even begin. What a gift Kristen has been to our family. As first time parents, deer in headlights about everything… she helped us navigate every question, decision, and potential concern the entire journey of our pregnancy. We were looking for a licensed midwife who is also a nurse, someone with a blend of eastern and western knowledge and thoughts, and Kristen was the perfect fit. SO informative, encouraging, and just a beautiful soul. The exact person you want to guide you through your pregnancy and birth.
Her postpartum care really blew us away in the best way possible. It was everything we ever could have needed, and was my favorite time together with her. It was so hard to say goodbye! Truly, someone who is meant to walk this path, to deliver babies, and inform/be with soon to be mommas. What a gift she was.

-A.B.

Kristen offers care beyond anything I have ever experienced. She is an amazing guide to a conscious and empowering birthing experience. I felt informed, safe, emotionally supported and 100% confident in her professional abilities while birthing in our home.

-L.W.

I had a wonderful experience working with Northern Glow Midwifery! I was pregnant with my second baby and wanted to go the midwife route again. I had recently moved and was hoping to find someone that would spend time answering questions and making me feel both empowered and put me at ease. Kristen did all of that. When I first talked with her I knew she would be a good fit. We began working together before covid and she handled the unprecedented situation incredibly well and I always felt as ease. It was such a relief not to have to go to a hospital setting during that time. I always felt that she was fully present during our appointments and answered all my questions and concerns. When the birth day came she fully respected what I needed during labor and made sure everything was ready when the baby came. I felt very comfortable with Kristen and her team and trusted them as the baby was born. With my first baby I mostly labored at home and then ended up needing to be in the hospital to monitor the baby. This time it was really, really amazing to be in my own room, at home, and to just rest. Over the course of the next few days Kristen stopped by to check on me and the baby. Again it was so good to be able to stay in my baby cocoon and not have to go to the doctors office. Kristen was very knowledgeable and I never questioned her judgment or skills. I felt incredibly safe and very well taken care of. If I were to birth again I would absolutely work with her again.

-J.A.

Kristen attended the home birth of our second child. She was amazing. Supportive and kind. Unobtrusive but attentive. I enjoyed her follow up visits with her, she made us feel so as ease. It is still a joy to run into her around town!

— B.C.

My husband and I always knew we wanted to try and have our babies at home. Kristen was great to work with through out my pregnancy, super respectful of what we wanted and needed and made us feel comfortable and excited about having a home birth. After much laughter, a few tears and many contractions later, it became clear that it was time for me to be transferred to the hospital. Kristen helped make that process so seamless. She stayed by our side the whole time and was an AMAZING advocate for my family and my choices. I seriously don't know how women do it with out someone interpreting and explaining all the medical jargon surrounding giving birth in a hospital. I ended up having a C section but, thanks to Kristen felt totally in control of my entire birth experience. If you and your family are considering home birth, I highly recommend talking with Kristen, you will feel so cared for every step of the way.

— L.J.

I am emotional writing this review and reflecting back on how amazing my experience was; I truly could not have prayed for a better experience. Prior to even getting pregnant I dreamed of having a home birth but like many first timers I was not fully educated. After learning of my pregnancy I was initially receiving prenatal care at a local women’s clinic. I attended several appointments and left discouraged, disappointed, and embarrassed each time. It was then that I knew I had to change something. I dedicated a lot of my time to fully educating myself on home births as well as learning about several local midwives. Kristen and Northern Glow Midwifery came highly recommended time and time again. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed some more that she would be the one to deliver my sweet babe. As silly as it sounds, I truly feel that it all fell into place and Kristen was meant to be my midwife!

From our first encounter on the phone she had a very calming and genuine demeanor. After our first physical meeting I knew I had made the right choice and was overcome with a sense of peace. This was my first pregnancy, and the hour long prenatal visits were the key to helping me feel confident and prepared going into labor. Kristen was so patient with me through each appointment and gracefully answered all of my questions (and I had a ton!) as well as provided me with exceptional evidence based resources. She always made me and my baby feel like a priority, eased my mind when it came to worries I had, and cared for my daughter and I like a true professional. Kristen is incredibly skilled, empathetic, fun, and all around a wonderful person who is SO good at her job. We felt cared for, calmed, and thoroughly listened to through my entire pregnancy, delivery, and well into my daughters life.

Throughout my pregnancy and delivery Kristen and her team provided informed consent for all of my care options and they fully supported all of my decisions. At no point was I afraid or stressed, because I trusted her care to guide me through; and it was well-placed trust! We made it through the birth and postpartum period safe, healthy, and happy. I cannot imagine pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care any other way. You truly receive an over the top experience that one could only dream of when you work with Kristen.

We cannot recommend Kristen and The Northern Glow team highly enough. The last appointment is always bittersweet, but Kristen has become a lifelong friend and will deliver all of my future babies if possible!

-A.H.

Kristen is absolutely wonderful! If I didn’t move, I would have without a doubt had her as my midwife again. I had medical problems my third trimester, and she was constantly monitoring and checking on me, getting testing done, and making sure my baby and I were okay. Unfortunately I had to have a c-section due to medical reasons, but she was still there for me, checking up on me and making sure my feelings were validated by doctors and nurses and that I was taken care of. She’s the absolute best midwife you could ask for, and I’ll recommend her all day!

-J.M.

Kristen has made me feel comfortable and cared for from day one of working with her during her training. I’m grateful she attended my 2nd birth and I am now working with her and her team at Northern Glow for our third birth. I have always felt her background and education have shown through in her work and that simply accentuates her deep care and commitment to women’s health. She has proven to be a wealth of information in prenatal care, labor/delivery, postpartum and in answering any and all questions I’ve had. I can’t speak highly enough of her practice and her as an individual. I would recommend anyone who is considering a home birth or simply wants to know more about it (without feeling pressured to “make the switch”) to get in touch with Kristen at Northern Glow Midwifery.

— S.W.

Kristen is amazing! She was so wonderful throughout the process before, during, and after the birth of my baby. She sat with me and helped me through some of the challenges we faced at the beginning of my little one’s life. She has truly become more than just our midwife. You can feel her care and concern with everything she does. I highly highly recommend Kristen, she is the most upbeat and happy person to help you through this experience.

-C.B.

When our daughter and her husband announced she was expecting we were overjoyed. I was especially happy when she announced she wanted a home birth. My own experience with my two pregnancies and births had not been good ones. I felt very ill prepared for these hospital births by our physician who offered no follow up care. I felt very alone in my New York City apartment struggling to care for an infant and recover from these very physically and emotionally draining experiences. I was looking forward to finding healing through our daughter's home birth. Our daughter reported her appreciation for Kristen very early on in their visits. When I finally met Kristen, I was touched by her warmth, grace, attentiveness to my daughter and ability to read her needs. Her experience was evidenced when I found myself learning things I had never even known about pregnancy and birth. I was very impressed. It made me realize how little help I received from my own physician. When the day of labor came, Kristen arrived calm, joyful, expectant and refreshed. Her team arrived quietly shortly after ( in the middle of a snow storm). They were all so respectful of our daughter and son-in-law's needs and offered them all comforts available. Kristen and the other midwives were taking turns encouraging, supporting and providing tender care for our daughter and never missed a beat. They were extremely professional and made countless assessments of the baby's heart rate and our daughter's vital signs throughout. Their experience with birth was felt as they would explain various changes taking place. I was in awe of flexibility and ease of being in our daughter's home. It was comforting to see her move from room to room in her familiar surroundings and have access to all she wanted to remain calm and work through the labor without any interference with hospital regulations or invasive examinations. Our daughter was able to find relief in a warm tub throughout most of the active labor and when it was time to push the whole team prepared with efficiency. At one point, I found myself overwhelmed with tears of joy at what I was able to witness and I remember looking at one of the midwives and there was this "glow" of peace on her face. I could not believe how calm she was in the midst of such an exciting moment. I realized these women get to witness this all the time! What an incredible gift! I was so grateful for her peace and realized this is what we should all expect at birth that has been designed to be natural. This new life should arrive surrounded by love and peace. This peace naturally silenced all possible fears around the room. As our daughter found the strength for her final pushes and bring her daughter into the world, the team tenderly took care of our daughter and the infant. There was efficient attention to all the needs. They were equipped to meet any difficulty but we are grateful all went smoothly. For this I am immensely grateful. I was so impressed with the attention to detail as they completed all their needed examinations and clean up. They were there for many hours following the birth insuring the baby was nursing and mom was safe and cared for. What an impressive team of selfless women I thought! Home birth are so special. They are private, holy moments! These women devote their lives to provide women the safety, honor, attention and care they deserve. They all left around 5 am. Amazing! I HAVE to add that Kristen's follow up visits (6 of them) were included in her price and have been instrumental for our daughter's experience following the birth. There were struggles with lactation and Kristen provided countless encouragements and experienced solutions to insure baby was nursing properly and our daughter had a very quick and improved experienced in just one of these visits. I can't say enough for this experience. As a first time grand-mother, it was such an honor to meet Kristen and her team. I would highly recommend her practice to anyone looking for a safe birth.

- F.W.