Testimonials | Simple Gifts Birth & Wellness

Melissa is intentional and very considerate with your needs. I always felt that my concerns were her concerns. She listened and cared deeply. Because of that, my birthing experiences were not full of anxiety. Her presence with all of my labors was calm. I enjoyed getting to know Melissa. Her gift is compassion and understanding! - Katie

I could not imagine having a home birth during my first pregnancy but due to certain situations we made the choice to transfer to midwifery care a month before my due date. Melissa was incredible. She made me feel heard, empowered and confident. All my fears were blown out of the water.

She has now delivered both of my girls and each time has encouraged me to listen to my body, helped me relax during labor and was a rock through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and breastfeeding.

10/10 recommend her services! - Lori

We met Melissa through a friend who used her midwifery services for two homebirths. We attended Melissa's childbirth class, and our eyes were opened to the definition of a physiological birth rather than a medicalized birth. My heart was drawn to homebirth services, knowing midwifery care was the exact type of care I wanted for myself and unborn baby.

Our first son was born at home with zero complications. Melissa was always a text or call away, extremely informative on all of my prenatal care options whether they be holistic or what a traditional medical office would recommend -- not to mention the ease of all my prenatal and postpartum visits being in the comfort of my own home.

We got the blessing of having Melissa again for the birth of our little girl on January 8, 2025. She did need partial resuscitation at birth, which in most settings would require tearing the baby away from mom while mom is left there in shock and confusion. Melissa handled the resuscitation at mom's side with such a level of calm and expertise we barely knew there was a thing wrong. Another minor complication we experienced in both births was the umbilical cord around the baby's neck. Melissa very calmly unwrapped the cord during delivery and placed the baby right on mom, skin-to-skin.

We will always thank the Lord for the midwifery skills he has blessed Melissa with and for allowing us to get to experience that skill set in action during our two homebirths. She has impacted our family in such a positive way. Birth is not meant to be traumatic or painful, it is meant to be a beautiful passage that women get to experience. Melissa will provide the support, expert knowledge, skill and presence of calm that every mother deserves to experience during the most surreal event of her life.

I will continue to share my positive birth experiences with everyone I know. I pray more women have access to customized midwifery and homebirth care like Melissa's. - Tawny

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"Melissa Hess has been my homebirth midwife for 3 of my babies, and I was incredibly blessed each and every time. Although each birth was different, I knew I could trust her experience, wisdom, and knowledge, but also that I could trust that she would hear me and support us no matter what. She went WAY above and beyond— and I was so grateful!!! I highly recommend using Simple Gifts as your homebirth midwifery provider!!! You won’t regret it!"

-Rebekah