I have wanted to write our story and experience with Dayspring for several years now... It was a mixed experience. Before I begin I want to emphasize that the families I met who had/have worked with Inga and her staff (many repeat births) LOVE Dayspring. The head midwife Inga Arts truly has a heart for loving on her clients and deep desire to see babies and mommies safely through pregnancy and birth. My family and I chose to use Dayspring Midwifery in 2012 for the birth of our second son. We wanted the "natural birth" experience. The birth center feels like an adorable bed and breakfast. I was sold on it immediately. :) We were reassured multiple times that they had experience working with our insurance and that their services were partially if not mostly covered (You pay up front and submit to your insurance for reimbursement after). For us nothing was covered because the midwives at Dayspring are CPM not CNM's. Oops...there's a difference? My ignorance. We should have done more of our own research to understand better what was/was not covered. Though I still likely would have chosen to receive care at Dayspring we were out an additional 4000+ dollars we weren't expecting. This was no ones fault but our own. I encourage you to do your research so you can make a fully informed decision.
At the time we filled out our contract the practice had two midwives. However, during our pregnancy one of them abruptly left for personal reasons. We were assured that this would not influence the level of care we received but honestly it did. Though our prenatal care was excellent, the week I was due the remaining midwife Inga left suddenly for family reasons. After choosing a birth center mainly for the personal care, relationship and the natural birth experience having our midwife leave was understandable but also deeply disappointing. I was still new to natural, drug-free birth so a little petrified; upset to be left with a stranger. At 40 weeks pregnant the stress was horrible. We so appreciated that the substitute midwife drove several hours to meet with us and put our hearts more at rest. She was very kind.
I was so excited for our birth center experience and we had an incredible birth just shy of 42 weeks! The day I went into labor Dayspring was kind enough to get me in for an ultrasound to check fluid levels at no cost. So appreciated! After my labor began we drove to the birth center and Inga met us there right away. I was able to move freely and labored with little discomfort throughout the night and next morning. Baby came out beautifully. Sadly I then had a rare retained placenta situation and needed a transfer to the hospital for an emergency D&C. At Kootenia Hospital in Coeur d'Alene my family was treated terribly as "transfers from a birth center". I pray no one is ever treated the way my family was by Kootenia. I on the other hand was treated exceptionally well by all the doctors, anesthesiologists and nurses and am deeply grateful for the care of Dr Cutter who was very gentle in his retrieval of my placenta so that any future pregnancies would not be affected. THANK YOU Dr Cutter.
After our birth/hospital transfer Inga was very overwhelmed with multiple births elsewhere and I didn't see her. It may sound silly, but after the traumatic experience we went through I missed out on my post birth meal and herbal bath. As I was still trying to process all that had happened and was very sick for several months it would have meant SO much to me to have had Inga still provide these experiences. I felt unimportant and forgotten when I was sent a student midwife to see after my post birth care. I understand Inga is only one person and hope that she no longer has herself spread so thin. Our Dayspring baby visits after the birth were wonderful and we felt that our little one was quite adored and well cared for. Due to my placenta issue we will have to seek future care in hospital. That being said...I would have a natural birth again in a heartbeat. :)
