Testimonial for Jennifer Mendelson

On April 14, Jennifer will stand up with our family as we baptize our son. This is how important she became to our lives in childbirth and in the first weeks of our baby’s life. After months of worry about labor and delivery, I experienced the most empowering event of my life – a completely natural childbirth. Jen seemed to find the exact balance between offering suggestions or help and letting me find my own way. She knew when to speak to me, when to vocalize with me, when to be silent, when to hang back. I trusted in her completely and let the birthing experience take its course. After such an empowering, empowered birthing experience, the post-partum period was an almost literal shock. During this time, Jen took tender, loving care of our baby boy and coached me through crippling anxiety and insomnia. Her wisdom, creativity and strength - even the occasional massage – nurtured, sustained and galvanized me. I will never forget Jen saying that just as the cervix dilates in labor, the heart learns to dilate too. Jennifer Mendelson birthed me as a mother.

-Heidi Blythe

March 04, 2013