Welcome to Heart of Houston

Houston, we have a problem!

Fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting are HUGE events that impact every aspect of our lives. Having a baby affects an individual physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. Roles and relationships also change. Conventional maternity care focuses almost entirely on the prenatal period and birth. Postpartum, parenting, fertility, and wellness is usually an afterthought. Too often, after the birth, individuals and families are left to figure it out on their own. Becoming a parent, especially becoming a new mother, is like walking into a brick wall. It doesn’t matter how prepared you think you are, you aren’t. For many, parenting feels like the first thing they have ever really failed at.

For many, parenting feels like the first thing they have ever really failed at.

But is it any wonder? Much of the prenatal period is focused on making sure the baby stays in and is growing well, and then on getting the baby out. A lot of time and money is invested in labor and birth preparation, an event that is relatively short and largely uncontrollable. Yet, nearly nothing is invested in preparing for what comes after. Fathers and mothers are often left to just figure it out on their own. This is especially true in Houston, where the majority of new parents have moved here from somewhere else and have little ongoing support from family and friends.

Everyone needs a Midwife.

Conventional medical care focuses predominantly on diagnosing and managing problems. Little attention is given to anything beyond the physical act of growing and birthing a baby. The midwifery model of care views childbirth as a normal life phase, not problems to be solved, or crises to be managed. Midwives are the experts in normal. However, normal doesn’t mean easy, and normal isn’t a small thing. Midwives know that having a baby and parenting are pieces of an even bigger puzzle, and it is critical to step back and look at the whole picture.

Everyone can benefit from midwifery care - even in the most medically complex pregnancies, all the normal needs still exist and must be cared for. You may have heard the quote by Roisin Lennon, “Every woman needs a midwife and some need a doctor too.” Some may also need a lactation consultant, pelvic floor physical therapist, mental health therapist, life coach, or a dietician. In addition to maternity and birth center care, we also want to provide meaningful and collaborative services to those not giving birth at the center. Our goal is to fill in the gaps and pick up where conventional care leaves off.

We believe in our mission to strengthen individuals, families, and communities one birth at a time!