Desert Seed Fertility has helped humanize the very medicalized and oftentimes cold world of infertility for me. Kate is warm, funny, and knows her stuff- she not only took her time going over my lab work, ultrasounds, and husbands semenalysis, she also filled in gaps in testing we hadnt been offered and suggested solutions in ways that were digestible and attainable. Going to a fertility doctor was a harsh experience for me with immediate offers of IVF without complete testing or other options presented. I could tell I was frustrating the doctor with my questions and trying to advocate for myself. Kate, on the other hand, encouraged me to keep advocating for myself and made me feel safe and respected. I left our appointment with a plan that made sense for me in my fertility journey and she has since been a huge resource in answering questions and helping me navigate the road to motherhood. I really love Kate and would 1000/10 recommend Desert Seed for all the hopeful parents-to-be out there who want warmth and support in their decision-making processes and fertility treatments!
I worked with Kathy when she was an assistant midwife with Alma Midwifery and Birth Center in Portland, OR. This was 7 years ago. At the time I really thought she was the lead midwife. When I learned she was the assistant I was shocked. Kathy took charge in the most gentle and kind way every time we met. She talked me through everything, was meticulous about getting my consent every time she touched my body, and always had a warm smile on her face. Kathy was the midwife in the team of 3 that met my wife and I at my home to monitor my labor before going to the birth center. She helped me stay in the best position so that I could move labor along and she was a calm, steady and encouraging presence when I was in a tremendous amount of pain. I remember feeling absolutely done at one point and telling her that I changed my mind and wanted to know the dilation of my cervix. I said I wanted to go to the hospital and that I couldn’t do it anymore. She respected that I changed my mind and told me that if I had made it to a seven that it was time to go to the birth center, but that if I wasn’t yet at seven that we would talk about it again. She then checked me and it was time to go. She reminded me that if I was at that point of wanting to give up that it likely meant I was in transition. And that was true! Kathy was just all around amazing through the whole experience. I could not have done an unmedicated birth without her. Needless to say, I highly recommend working with Kathy.