Testimonials

"As a doctor and former pediatrician I have seen lots of hospital deliveries including ‘hospital alternative birthing center natural deliveries’. My daughter’s homebirth was the first out-of-hospital birth I had ever seen and the hospital deliveries don’t even come close. Her birth was without a doubt one of the best experiences of my entire life... What is sad…is I could have been a physician for many years and not known what a woman’s body is truly capable of doing on it’s own with the help of a competent midwife such as Vanita." Dr. Pamela Martell, grandmother of Sequoia born November 9, 1999, El Dorado County

"Words could never express our delight or our thankfulness to you and God for such a wonderful experience. As our baby Jacob grows, what a delightful story of his birth we will be able to share with him. There were so many special things about the birth of Jacob, I could never list them all but thank you Vanita….for everything…" Christie and Dwight Goodnight, Mother of Jacob, 2001, Brownsville.

"Thank you for everything you have done. The support you have given is amazing." Shelly Buchanan, mother of Jonah, Nevada City, 2001

"It is with great pleasure that we recommend Vanita Lott, RN, CNM, to anyone looking for a highly qualified and experienced midwife." Vanita's knowledge is solidly grounded in obstetric medicine but she is equally open to alternative approaches to pregnancy and birthing and we felt Vanita provided the best of both worlds. During the prenatal check-ups in her friendly and comfortable office, Vanita always took a generous amount of time to address the many questions we had during our pregnancy and she is also on call 24 hrs. for all her clients

… Vanita provided us with extraordinary care, her calm and reassuring presence, and gave us what we most wanted for our baby: a natural, safe and intervention-free home birth. The post-natal care was equally thorough with Vanita making several house calls to make sure mom and baby were doing well… She also had a lot of good advice for the many "new-baby-what-now?" questions. In all, we cannot imagine having had a better guide than Vanita in our journey through pregnancy, birth and new parenthood. Thank you Vanita!" Annette Fuchs and Sean Duggan, Parents of Fiona, 2001, Grass Valley.

"When I became pregnant, I was a different person. I did not fully understand the changes I would go through mentally, emotionally and physically. Month after month, you were there as a caring confidant… You inquired about my emotional well-being and my relationships…. Throughout my labor you were more mentally present and emotionally in tune than anyone I’ve ever known…." Monica Vaughn, Mother of Payton, 2001, Grass Valley.

"Thanks for helping me to have two birthing stories I am very proud of. Having had the best experience possible, I feel such compassion for those women who don’t, there are many. Love you Vanita." Michele Hardy, Georgetown, mother of Cheyenne, 2002 and Trinity, 2004

"Thank you for helping Saren Ama into this world with integrity and love. Your services are truly awesome. We feel blessed to know you…….." Alexandra Ward and Josh, Colfax, 2003

"…..Thank you so much for all of your help in bringing Judah to the light. I felt very blessed to have someone of your skill as a nurse and a midwife assisting us through the pregnancy and birth. Your encouragement and wise advice was much appreciated." Lisa and Chris McCandless, Camptonville, 2004

"During my pregnancy, Vanita empowered me to develop my own wisdom and intuition regarding the needs of my body and the health of my baby. Her sound expertise as a highly trained midwife gave me the intellectual confidence I needed to feel safe about delivering my baby at home, yet her caring presence and intuitive knowledge supported me spiritually and emotionally. There was a magical and safe quality to my daughter’s delivery that was achieved through the loving trust that was developed with Vanita, and by being in the comfort of our own home. Vanita’s follow-up care was so nurturing and respectful to my healing body and our precious baby. I felt nurtured and empowered through my entire pregnancy, birth, and post-natal care. I cannot recommend Vanita highly enough." Karen Wright, CMT, mother of Grace, Grass Valley, 2004

"I have so much respect, thankfulness and love for you…..the way she was brought into this world in such a sacred way has been powerful and transformative for me. I can’t thank you enough for what you brought to the whole process of Grace’s birth….." Bill Wright, licensed acupuncturist, Grass Valley, 2004

"….. I have gained a deep respect for the services provided by midwives. Thank you for your support and professionalism. I really appreciate your proactive, preventative approach…setting the stage for success." Mehry Vaghti, mother of Keenan, Auburn, 2004

"For me, I felt most comfortable choosing a Certified Nurse Midwife. My first child was born when I was 37, which was somewhat of a concern for me, and I took comfort in her additional training and experience. I also have come to appreciate the fact that Vanita has a wonderful working relationship with the staff at the hospital, which proved to be important in my case. The staff speaks very, very highly of her. She is tremendously dedicated to her practice and the clients she cares for. I honestly cannot site any dissatisfaction with her care for me or my children.

...She is an incredible advocate for women and nurturing in every way. She was always supportive with whatever choices my husband and I made and offered excellent advice when needed. She was also available… when I had a question or concern throughout my pregnancy. I also use Vanita for my annualexams." Lori Gordon, mother of Devon & Jared, Nevada City, 2001 & 2005

"When I think back to the experience I have such a great feeling of it. I feel empowered and proud. It still and I’m sure always will make me smile when I think of seeing Sofia for the first time. Thank you sooooooo much." Megan Overholt, Nevada City, 2005

"I had my first baby in the hospital; it was a good experience, but having my second baby at home was like nothing else in the world, it was the best experience in the world!" Willow Kawa, mother of Jazzmin, North San Juan, 2005

"I had my first child in a hospital and the second birth at home. The home birth was a wonderfully intimate experience that helped my husband and I bond with our new son much faster. It also allowed our three year old to meet his baby brother as soon as he woke up. Vanita helped us every step of the way. She is an amazing, caring, professional woman. Aside from birthing at home, the best part about using a midwife is the extra time and care Vanita puts into prenatal appointments. She takes the time to get to know you, listens when you talk, and cares about what you have to say. I have already recommended Vanita to an expectant mother and would use her again!" Emily Hobbs, mother of Benjamin Daniel Hobbs, Auburn, 2005

"Words cannot express the gratitude I have for your involvement in my pregnancy and perfect birth. Thanks to you I feel like more of a woman than I’ve ever felt before. You helped me to realize and utilize the depth of my strength and confidence in my body. Every time we reflect on Sylas’s birth we will think of you." Deb Huryn, Weimar, 2005

"Thank you for helping Deb bring our beautiful son into this world. You were the exactly right person forthe job. We are all proud that Sylas was able to be born at home naturally and healthy." Chris Huryn, Weimar, 2005

"I have had four children, three at a hospital and my last one at home with Vanita as my Nurse Midwife. Although I had intended to labor naturally with my first child, my three hospital births all included an epidural shortly followed by pitocin to re-start my labor. All three epidurals worked great in decreasing the pain. What I didn’t realize was that the anesthesia also decreased my ability to feel the joy of birth.

My labor was hard work, but I knew it was work I could accomplish with the help and support of my husband, family and Vanita. It was so wonderful to have people who loved me surrounding me during that time. It was extremely comforting having my midwife immediately available to me throughout my laboring, and it was especially wonderful having such a trusting and personal relationship with the person who would be delivering my baby. When our son came into this world at 12:07 a.m., Vanita placed him on my breast, and I had the most euphoric feelings I have ever experienced in my life. I was surrounded by my husband, my older three children, and other loved ones. The joy I felt was so incredibly intense that my 11 year old son later told me he thought Vanita had given me something that had made me drunk. She definitely had. She gave me the opportunity to labor my way, not by hospital rules. She gave me the environment I needed to accomplish the work I had to do. Most importantly she gave me the ability to bond with all four of my children in a way that had never been allowed in the hospital with all of their routine procedures and assembly line speed. My heart was opened in a way totally new to me and my ability to love and feel was expanded. What amazes me more than anything when comparing my hospital births with my home birth was that, in the hospital, the degree to which my pain was deadened by drugs my joy was also deadened. The joy I felt when unmedicated was something I never had expected." Wendy Eldredge gave birth to Gabriel John, September 2005, Cool, California

"You are doing a wonderful work. I wish for you to always know this and to feel the guidance......in your life as you continue to shepherd women and babies through this vulnerable time of their lives. The respect and care you give the women who choose you for a midwife is wonderful to witness and participate in." Ramona Turbovsky, Primary birth assistant for 3 years in Vanita's practice.

"Before I met Vanita I was confused and afraid of giving birth.  Vanita showed me the power and beauty in a woman's ability to birth naturally and peacefully at home with family.  With her expertise and experience I felt so safe and confident throughout my labor.  Having Sofia at home with my
husband was the most empowering experience I have ever had and it truly goes to the core of what it means to be a woman. I only wish that every woman could experience the magnificence of birthing at home.  I can't thank Vanita enough for her guidance in this life-changing journey of pregnancy and
birth.   Vanita, I appreciate the love, care and passion that you have shown
toward me and my family".  With Love. Holly Carletti gave birth to Sofia Marian with her husband Stefano's help, July 2006, Yuba City, California

“.....When Sunny suggested the idea of a home birth, I was a bit uncomfortable.... your birth education and credentials and experience created the constellation which led to selecting you as our birth at home healthcare provider.......I believe the educational materials in your lending library helped to create this shift into deeper support and presence..... everything fell into place in a most totally natural and truly miraculous manner. Being able to control the environment; the type of noise; level of peace &harmony; the level of action/nonaction; music and positioning was all awesome......Supporting my wife, I was able to observe and participate in how she was empowered to come from her own place of power...... The second most prominent aspect of the experience was how the time from the head crowning to the time the cord was cut, was allowed to unfold according to the poetry of the moment-plenty of heart.... .it was an incredible transpersonal altered state, one that I have consciously anchored into my heart, its just beyond words, the level of love & appreciation and honor for my wife...... That moment will send its swell around the topography of my psycho-emotional coastline for rest of my life.  All I can say, having previously had a pretty good hospital birth two years earlier with our daughter in Hawaii, the home birth Aquadoula experience in the living room was definitely about ten clicks beyond the hospital centered birth. My wife and I, Nolan Makai, and Leyna and Niklas, send to you......our heart felt appreciation. ...... Sonja O'Brien gave birth to Nolan Makai in warm water with her husband Paddy's loving presence, August 2006, Yuba City, California

We wanted to thank you deeply....This pregnancy and birth has been very spiritually deepening and strengthening...and I am so glad we got to share the experience with you. How wonderful, too, to experience such a positive birth where we felt like we were able to face a lot of our fears and deepen our faith. It was wonderful to experience what it was like to be at home after the birth. Thank you for your excellent care on all levels...and for helping us bring these two beautiful souls into this world and all the love and growth which has come with it. Blessings and Joy, Eliane and Aaron Atwell, parents of Elenor and Jyotish both born at home, March 2004 & August 2006, North San Juan Ridge, California.