Bella Donna Midwives were a Godsend when I had our fourth baby. I was nervous about a homebirth, but they put my mind at ease and we ended up having an amazing experience. Michelle, Danielle, and Brittney were wonderful, attentive, and knowledgeable. I didnt feel like just another mom. I felt seen and heard at each appointment, and at my birth. Im so thankful they were able to come to New Bern, too! If we end up having a fifth, we definitely plan on Bella Donna Birth & Womens Health being our provider. Highly, highly recommended!

I was given the birth of my dreams. The whole team from start to finish was professional and welcoming. I had complete control of my experience and was given guidance when needed. They educated us on our options but we were able to make our own decision. I really felt like family by the time we welcomed our daughter earth side. 10 out of 10 would recommend! Will do again.

My experience was not at all what most have written. I visited before Christmas in 2020 for a consultation and was told that my insurance would not cover all of their services. I did not give them an answer at first because I would have to come out of pocket for the expenses. I called them after that many times to request a detailed print out of what my out of pocket expenses would be and got the answer that they would email it to me, but I never received it. I had even obtained a new insurance policy to cover services. but they told me they were not in network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and when I called back, they said they were.I believe that for whatever reason they did not want me as a client and instead of sending me a print out, they decided to tell me that I should go elsewhere for care. Ive wasted a lot of time trying to have a midwife experience, but it just did not work out.

I’m still in awe of my entire experience with Bella Donna. The whole team welcomes you as if you’re family and treats you with love and respect. Everyone is so kind and I could talk to them all day. The ladies in the office are wonderful and worked with my schedule as best as they could. Regardless of who is on your birth team, you can’t lose. Danielle, Michelle, and Brittney are all amazing souls. The work they do to help us grow as families is so incredible. I can’t say thank you enough.When you walk in to the birth center, there’s just a feeling of warmness I can’t describe. From each prenatal/postnatal visit, ultrasound, classes and birth, they make sure everything is thoroughly gone over. Any time I had any questions or concerns, they were addressed and discussed in depth. Knowledge is power and these women give you access to so much. Take advantage of the lending library and each class they offer. We were made to do this.I feel like I was thrown off and slightly unprepared(mentally) because I went into labor at 38 weeks. I came in to double check and was definitely assured it was my waters breaking. ;) I labored at home through the rest of the day and into the night. When we arrived the following morning, we got set up in the birth suite. Six short hours later we welcomed my perfect baby boy. Michelle and Brittney were the team on call and it was an incredible experience. They both were there for me in ways I didn’t know I would need. The day is still somewhat of a blur because Im still on a high from it all.I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, and will with our future children.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do as a practice. 🖤

My husband and I welcomed our first son Earth side with the assistance of the Bella Donna team. We cannot express our gratitude enough and definitely recommend the team to others. If we decide to have another child we plan on using Bella Donna Midwifery again. The team at Bella Donna made us feel comfortable and made sure we were adequately prepared for our new bundle of joy. Thank you again!

Had my 1st appointment today. I cannot express how welcome I felt everyone was amazing and helpful I got all my questions answered. The energy in this place is just amazing and joyful and light and energized.

It’s taken me almost a year to write this review, but I feel compelled to share my experience since I have discovered I’m not the only one who has had such bad service from this group.1) Aside from not being helpful in labor (they just watched me and my husband setting up the birth pool!)2) they also pressured me to be checked for dilation (something I specified I didn’t want in my file).3) They also left when they didn’t think I was far enough along- they told me I’d probably give birth in a couple days, but I gave birth, by myself, just 3 hours later. The midwife even went as far as telling my husband to give me a Benadryl to go to sleep, which DID NOT WORK, I assure you.This was not my first homebirth, so I know what to expect in a good team. In hindsight, I feel like their negative demeanor at my house was what stalled my labor. I felt like I was on stage, pressured to perform, which was not a comfortable place to be. She didn’t take my suggestions in other ways to “check progression”, but pressured me to do something that was otherwise a personal trigger for me.Once the midwife returned, over an hour after the baby was born, she convinced me my labor was PRECIPITOUS (meaning came quickly) instead of PRODROMAL (meaning lasted days), having me actually record that in my own handwriting on my paperwork! My labors have always lasted days, and this instance was no different. I was in labor from Thursday until Sunday, and asked the midwives to arrive Saturday night. My baby was born early morning on Sunday, which I think was one of the reasons they were so upset to be tending to me- it also happened to be Easter.Afterward, they even tried billing me an extra $537 that my “insurance didn’t cover”. I contacted my insurance company, and they said that was untrue and I wasn’t required to pay anything. I sent them an email basically telling them I didn’t owe them anything, since they weren’t even there when I delivered and hadn’t believed in me or my instincts in the time I needed it most... isn’t that the whole reason you pay for a home birth??THIS BIRTH WAS TRAUMATIC BECAUSE OF MY CARE. Though I believe I never would have had my baby with the judgmental audience they created that day, it is very easy to think about what could have happened if my baby or myself wasn’t healthy. It also put a very large wedge between my husband and myself, requiring a lot of discussions and forgiveness. He even went as far to say that he felt like he failed me by listening to the midwives and not to what I was saying about my body. Clearly this first year postpartum was one of deep healing for us as a family, one I am grateful to be on the other side of.Needless to say, I do not recommend Bella Donna.

We just had our eighth baby, but the first we have had with Bella Donna Midwifery. This experience has been the most peaceful and healing birth Ive ever had! Michelle, Brittney, Chandler, and all of the Bella Donna staff have quickly become apart of our family. We felt so welcomed and loved throughout our entire time here. I will always recommend them to anyone looking to have an out-of-hospital birth! 🤍

We just had our sweet little boy at home with the Bella Donna Midwifery team and it was absolutely wonderful, we couldn’t be happier with the care and attention we have received. They truly make you feel heard and respected, if we have anymore babies in the future we will definitely be returning under their care, highly recommend!

Good day ladies and gentlemen,Michelle and her team at Belladonna Midwifery hands down get my vote for home birth; over the hospital experience. This was me and my wife’s third child, and the experience made me wish all three were home births. They were very proficient and professional at all times throughout our pregnancy. I would definitely refer them to the whole world if I could. Thank you very much to the entire Belladonna family for making my job as the husband super easy.PSA: from me to all husbands using Midwives, their job is very vital to your piece of mind through the pregnancy. So please have a platter of food and drinks for them and your wife...

I have been meaning to leave a review for 9 months now but just havent been able to come up with the words good enough to compliment Michelle and her staff. Everyone of them treat you like family or better if you dont have a awesome family. My wife and son was the one in thousands that had complications. Michelle had to act fast and help deliver my son witch was blue and purple and was not breathing in his on. She was a trooper and if wasnt for her professional and combat approach to save my sons life he would not be here. I am 9 months later still tearing up trying to leave this review. As Michelle started to work on my lifeless son, I just started praying as I never had or have prayed in my entire life. God is surely with Michelle and threw her saved my sons life. I would be honored and more then happy to have Michelle by my side in war. She does not panic and is a top notch, amazing woman. I would recommend Michelle and her staff my own daughter if I had one. I can never thank you enough and I am very thankful for you.

I’m going to try and make this short and straight to the point, you can’t go wrong with this midwifery practice. Michelle and her team took care of me as if I was their only patient. I always felt like I was visiting family at my appointments not like I was going to handle business like at a doctors office. My delivery and postpartum care is what really made a difference in my experience. Michelle made extra visits, called in prescriptions, and checked on me to ensure that I was confident and comfortable. Having care in my own home and not having to drag my newborn out of the house immediately was amazing. My husband is now telling everyone that they should do home births lol. They are truly the best!

BellaDonnaMidwifery changed my husbands outlook on birth and helped us bring a baby into this world beautifully. We received excellent care and recommend anyone having a baby to look into homebirthing with Michelle. The team is wonderful!

My family chose to bring our newest addition into the world with Michelle at Bella Donna. From start to finish it was an amazing experience. Michelle is caring and knowledgeable and has a way of always making you feel comfortable and at ease! Melissa was always helpful and great as well! Both of them helped us to bring our boy earthside.

Michelle was absolutely fantastic, and her assistant Christie was so comforting from the moment I spoke with her. I cannot recommend Bella Donna Birth & Womens Health for your maternity and labor needs. They are Amazing. Stop by and speak to Michelle or Christie before your next little one arrives.

Absolutely loved everything about my homebirth experience with Michelle and Melissa at Bella Donna! It was such a blessing and exceeded every expectation I had. So thankful for everything they did to facilitate. I don’t think I could ever go back to hospital birth.

Michelle is an amazing midwife! She believes in allowing you to birth YOUR way! Bella Donna Midwifery & Womens Health is the pioneer in OB care!! Exactly what this area needs. The staff is very friendly, professional and they make you feel very comfortable!!

I love Bella Donna!! Michelle and her team are amazing!!! I recently had my second homebirth and it was a great experience.They are awesome at what they do and love what they do, which is so important. I would definitely recommend them!

The entire staff at Bella Donna was fabulous through my daughter’s entire pregnancy and delivery!

Wonderful midwife who took all my preferences seriously. I recommend her to all my friends looking for a good birth experience.

Michelle took excellent care of me throughout all of my prenatals, labor and birth, and postpartum care. It was my fourth homebirth, and I was used to a different midwife, but I clicked with Michelle early on in my prenatals and was totally comfortable with her the whole time. She was very respectful of my wishes regarding prenatal tests, newborn procedures, and labor. I would definitely recommend her!

The absolute best in every way.

The team at Bella Donna is amazing! I switched to the Bella Donna practice with Michelle Rhude about halfway through this pregnancy and could not be happier. Unlike the impersonal, rushed, factory line type experience at the OBGYN office I had been going to, Michelle always took time to chat and feel comfortable and there was always plenty of time to ask questions and discuss options. She’s knowledgeable and experienced and not pushy at all. I was a little nervous about the distance since I am in Fayetteville and she has to come from Swansboro but it was never an issue. She has a local office where she sees clients and it was nice knowing she was in town every week should anything come up. The other two team members, Melissa and Kelsey, are just as great. Melissa, birth assistant, was at every appointment as well. I feel like she has a pulse on everything maternity/postpartum related in the area and was so helpful during my labor and delivery and with other things too! (Placenta encapsulation and acquiring a breast pump to name a few). Kelsey, RN, was also very helpful and supportive during my labor and delivery and answered all my questions and made sure my baby and I were doing well at our home follow ups. These women truly helped me to have an awesome home birthing experience and I highly recommend checking them out!

Women’s health care? Homebirth? Birth center? Can we say options!?I met Michelle when I was venturing into my 3rd homebirth. My care with her was great from beginning to end. Our visits were always more than what most would expect. We got to know eachother during every prenatal visit. We shared ideas, we established a friendship & trust that would set the tone for the big day. My homebirth with Michelle went wonderfully. Between Michelle & her assistant Christy they were phenomenal. They took turns to support me through my labor & make sure baby was also doing well. I really liked how they kept the options flowing. They’d offer different options & gently support us through it. If they weren’t directly helping us they would be communicating with eachother regarding my care. It’s so important to have that during such a big moment. If you’re looking for a more personable provider that’ll be there every step of the way Michelle & her team is all you’ll need. I cannot give them enough praise!

Love this birth team !

Top notch!