This was my first baby and there were many unknowns for me going into it all, but the visits with Mary Anne were always informative and her friendly nature and patience was of great comfort to me. She is extremely thorough and I always felt in such good and caring hands. During the birth, Mary Anne and her team were so supportive of me, quelling any nervousness I experienced, making sure I had everything that I needed and wanted. Several days after the birth I was reflecting on the birth of our daughter with my husband and told him it was better than I ever dreamed it could be. Mary Anne will always be a very special person in our lives and we can't thank her enough.
— Madison J.
What an incredible team of women!!! We had a wonderful experience from start to finish. My husband was initially on the fence about a home birth, but was impressed early on in the process with the knowledge, care, and expertise from Mary Anne and Hannah at our appointments. Their office is organized and they really took time in appointments to get to know us and educate us well on every step of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They were also so receptive to my husband’s questions and concerns and really empowered and equipped him well, which was a huge blessing to me. During labor, they were so encouraging. I found out after the fact just how much they supported my husband through labor as well by pulling him aside to keep him updated and give him ways to support me. Unfortunately, despite having great vitals through labor, our son required extensive resuscitation at birth. As an ER nurse, I was so impressed by the way the team handled the situation with confidence, efficiency, and grace. Mary Anne told me later that in 30 years she had only ever done chest compressions on a baby one other time, and I’m here to tell you I would never have guessed by how well the team had clearly been trained for an emergent situation! Because of their training, our son is alive and well!! He did have to go to the peds ER to get checked out after such a difficult entry to the world, but even through that experience, the team went above and beyond to support us through that, even going to the ER with us to help communicate with the doctors, help me go to the bathroom, help our son latch, and also to offer moral support. Mary Anne, Hannah, and Kenyah were exactly who we needed to walk us through such a difficult and emotional birth!! They truly showed us God’s goodness and love through every interaction. Thank you, Mary Anne, Hannah, Kenyah, Kimberly, and Isabel!
— Emily O.
There aren't enough words to accurately describe the amazing care that we received from Mary Anne and her team. Every prenatal and postpartum appointment felt like meeting up with a lifelong friend. Having them by my side throughout my labor felt like I had angels watching over me. I would recommend Tender Beginnings Birth Services to absolutely everyone!
— Brenna M.
I cannot recommend Mary Anne enough. She has a maternal calming presence mixed with a strong backbone when needed. Her wealth of experience is palpable and I always felt like I was in great hands. When my home birth plans abruptly changed to an urgent pre-term hospital delivery, Mary Anne seamlessly switched into the role of a dedicated doula. She sat by my bedside during early morning hours, communicated with the hospital staff well, advocated for my needs/comfort, educated me on medical decisions, and went above and beyond to support me during delivery and postpartum. It’s clear that midwifery isn’t a job for her; it’s her sacred calling and she does it with joy.
— Erin W.
Mary Anne was the midwife for my first home birth, second baby. My experience was so amazing, 1000x more empowering, educational and personal than going the route with an obgyn in a hospital setting. Meeting with her, with my husband, settled all concerns he had with choosing a home birth. We had never done this before and had no friends at the time that had done this. So it was all new. I enjoyed every visit with Mary Anne, I learned so much, and I had a wonderful experience in pregnancy and birth. I felt safe and strong through the whole process. Her past experience is amazing, but what is more important is that she is continually learned and venturing into more skills and has every connection you need. I will absolutely be going this route again if/when I have a third baby. Highly recommend her!! She came at the personal recommendation of a distant friend through an old church group... so glad I found her!
— Kaitlyn C.
From prenatal to postpartum, Tender Beginnings provides thorough, compassionate care. Mary Anne and her team are the best! I always felt informed and supported, and I could not have imagined my birth experience with anyone else!
— kenyah w.
I have been lucky to have been able to use Maryanne with Tender Beginnings for 2 babies! There is no one else I would rather have had. She is extremely knowledgeable in so many departments. She has an EMT and RN background that really sets her apart from other midwives. She is confident in her work and abilities that gave me such a peace of mind and a comfort in knowing that myself and my baby were in the safest and best hands. While both of my births were different, I had an extreme peace each time having Maryanne and her team there. My prenatal care was very thorough. There is a reason it’s hard to get in with her- everyone wants to use the best! :)
— Amanda W.
We used Mary Anne and her team for a home birth in October 2023, and they were absolutely amazing! Mary Anne's depth of knowledge and true expertise in the field of midwifery were such a comfort to rely on throughout the process. There was not a single moment where my husband or I doubted our trust in her and her team to guide us through the pregnancy safely and achieve our goal of a healthy delivery at home. We learned so much throughout the process, so when it came time to deliver our son, we were completely at ease. She and her team arrived quickly, quietly, and professionally. They brought in their equipment and got to work without disturbing my coping methods. My husband was still my primary supporter and was able to remain focused on me without interruption as they were peacefully in the background guiding us through the process. We truly cannot say enough good things about our experience with Tender Beginnings! It was an amazing journey and more than we ever could have hoped for with a home birth. Thanks to them, we confidently had a safe, healthy, peaceful, happy, beautiful home birth and my body was able to do exactly what it was designed to do! We will forever sing their praises and be grateful for this experience.
— Alli A.
Mary Anne has been the most wonderful care provider. She is both professional and loving while taking care of both momma and baby. I could not recommend her highly enough. Her experience and knowledge of the latest research continually showed just how amazing she is when I would ask her any questions.
— Brittany H.
There are NO words to describe how much of a wonderful, redemptive, incredibly powerful experience we had working with Mary Anne and the Tender Beginnings team. Our first birth was extremely traumatic and we knew we had to make a change the second time around. I switched from my normal OB care to Mary Anne at 21 weeks and my only regret is that i didnt do it sooner. Mary Anne made us feel heard, safe, and empowered. We loved each visit. Our second baby had an EXTREMELY quick labor (2.5 hours from start to finish) and magically, Mary Anne arrived 4 whopping minutes before our daughter made her appearance. She stayed a few hours to make sure we were all okay, ran all the routine exams, and tucked us in before heading out. She is a baby magician and we are so so so thankful for our experience with her. If we decide to have any more babies, she will 100% be my first call.
— Ashley B.
I can not recommend Mary Anne enough!!! She & her team have been amazing during my birth. This was my 3rd pregnancy but 1st home birth. If you are looking for a midwife that will listen to you, and talk with you, one that will help educate you then you must use Tender Beginnings!!!
— Katelyn R.
I had a really great experience with the Tender Beginnings team! Though my pregnancy had some unexpected surprises, they handled everything with so much knowledge and guidance. I felt very safe and cared for. This was my fifth birth, but first homebirth, and it was truly the best birth experience I've had. I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to walk with this team through my pregnancy and birth.
— Rachel S.
My husband and I had the best experience with Mary Anne and her team at Tender Beginnings. Our second baby was born safely at home in our bathtub with Mary Anne and her team by our side and it was a beautiful, empowering, and peaceful experience. We felt supported every step of the way, from our very first appointment to even days after I gave birth. Mary Anne is professional, safe, and extremely knowledgeable. She is truly the best of both worlds. Medical knowledge but also having a holistic approach to care. My postpartum was a breeze compared to my first baby. Her postpartum instructions were beneficial and helped me heal quickly. We’re so grateful for Mary Anne and her team. If you’re considering a home/water birth, I highly recommend Tender Beginnings. You’ll be in amazing hands.
— Chelsea B.
I had both my first and second births with Mary Anne and the Tender Beginnings crew. From the moment I made my first appointment to my final postpartum check-ups, their team guided my husband and I with an abundance of love and support the entire way. During both experiences I looked forward to the prenatal appointments and felt fully prepared and confident when it came time to give birth. Through the whole process the sincerity and genuine care Mary Anne, Donise and Holly had for my health and the well being of our babies was always evident. Any questions or fears that came up during pregnancy, birth and even postpartum were answered with immense wisdom and encouragement. Any time a choice had to be made Mary Anne always explained everything thoroughly so that we could make informed decisions. Every member is truly called to what they do and it shows! We were beyond blessed to have such a phenomenal midwife, doula and team!
— Morgan H.
I’m not sure I could ever put into words how amazing Maryanne Richardson and her team at Tender Beginnings truly is. I can’t thank God enough for orchestrating my first home birth experience to be with Maryanne. Truly, she is God sent! Each prenatal appointment was so patient centered and intimate. She made sure my husband and I were more than prepared and answered each question we had. She is so knowledgeable yet she is able to explain everything in a way that was extremely understandable. The birth experience itself was one I will never forget. Maryanne believes in you and helps you believe in yourself! I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else by my side! In fact, I wouldn’t let her arm go at one point because just her presence alone was helping me during birth. I love her so much and cannot recommend her enough. If your considering home birth and want to go with the best care, then choose the best there is!!
— Amanda W.
My experience with Mary Anne and the Tender Beginnings Birth Services team was outstanding. Mary Anne and her assistants are extremely knowledgable, caring, and highly skilled in their work. I felt supported throughout my pregnancy and in labor. I enjoyed my prenatal visits with this team - it felt like visiting friends at each checkup.
— Amy S.
Mary Anne and her team at Tender Beginnings are exceptional. She is extremely knowledgable and thorough, always making sure my husband and I had all the information we needed to make informed decisions about my pregnancy and birth. As a first-time mom, I felt very safe with Mary Anne, knowing she had the depth of experience to help us navigate anything that might come up. I also trusted she would refer us to additional medical care if needed; which she did with great care, knowledge, and compassion
Due to some unforeseen complications with my birth, I needed to transfer to the hospital, and Mary Anne stayed by my side, advocating for me, explaining options and procedures, and offering her expertise and support. I would not have wanted to do it without her!
Additionally, her team of associate midwives are gems; compassionate, kind, and encouraging. I am SO GLAD I chose Tender Beginnings for my birth!
— Miriam H.
Maryanne is the best midwife out there! She is so knowledgeable and compassionate! Iv had three babies with her and would use her again! My pregnancies have gotten to be more and more of a struggle and still she works with me and has the best care. I’m not looked down upon and cared for In the best way!! She is worth it all!
— Katelyn S.
I am deeply grateful for the excellent care I received from Tender Beginnings Birth Services! I had only seen OBGYNs and experienced natural birth at hospitals in the past but for my third child, my husband and I wanted to explore midwifery and home birth. We could not have been more pleased with Mary Anne Richardson and her staff. At every step of the process, I benefited greatly from the excellence and expertise of this team. Mary Anne has a vast knowledge of pregnancy and birth and a wealth of hands on experience that made me feel secure and at ease. I was treated with dignity, compassion, and sincere encouragement. This was, hands down, my healthiest pregnancy and the confidence I felt entering into labor and delivery was unmatched in comparison with previous births. On the day of my home water birth, everyone was attentive to my needs, respected my requests, and offered much needed advice and encouragement. When my son was not in an optimal position for birth, they effectively used a rebozo sift and he was born soon after with no tearing. After the birth, they did all the necessary steps for caring for me and my son and they put a big emphasis on rest. I truly think that their care and guidance helped me tremendously in having a healthy pregnancy, a great birth experience, and a speedy recovery. I highly recommend Tender Beginnings and I definitely plan to do home birth with them for any more children I am blessed to carry.
— Nikki W.
When I found out I was pregnant with our third, I was initially uncertain of whether I wanted to have a home birth or not. Would it be safe? Could we afford it? Could I have a water birth? (Our first was born with a midwife group within a hospital, and our second in a birthing center). I did my research, however, and am so grateful we came across Mary Anne and Tender Beginnings Birth Services!
Mary Anne's expertise and care for her work in her field are exceptional. I consistently left appointments feeling more peaceful than when I arrived, and learned SO much during this pregnancy that I wish I had known with my first two! This pregnancy was a much healthier one than the first two, and I largely attribute that to Mary Anne's care, education, and accountability throughout my 9 months.
Tender Beginnings Birth Services provides top notch care--setting standards in the practice of midwifery, and training numbers of midwives in the area. If you are looking for a safe and beautiful birth experience with a professional home birth midwife, look no further...Just make sure to call before she is booked up!
— Juliana Lindsey S.
