Fika Midwifery at The Coit House Birth Center

There isn’t enough words to express how grateful I am for the care I received throughout my pregnancy and during labor/birth at Fika midwifery. I’m a first time mom, and at every point from my first prenatal care appointment to walking out the door of Fika with my newborn in my arms I felt so incredibly empowered. Everyone involved in my care made me feel comfortable, heard and at ease. My birth was the birth of my wildest dreams and it was the most beautiful introduction to new parenthood. Laboring in the shower, tub, and having freedom of movement around the birthing suite made coping with the intensity of labor extremely manageable. When/If I have a second child I have every intention of doing it here. Thank you Maura for fighting to give women in this area the option to have autonomy over their prenatal care and birth. This midwifery is such a gift.

I can’t recommend Maura and the team enough. I gave birth to both of my sons with them, my second was just last month. This time around I was able to have the whole prenatal experience, as opposed to transferring to the practice right before giving birth like I did with my first son. It was a much more enjoyable experience to say the least.With my first son I started my prenatal care with my OB that I had been seeing for years. My first appointment started in talks of a possible of C-section and him talking down an out of hospital birth. I’m a naturopathic doctor so having a birth with minimal interventions was very important to me. I went to school in Toronto where midwives and home births are much more accessible, so I was quite disappointed with the lack of options in Buffalo.I went to an open house around 32 weeks pregnant asking Maura if transferring care was even feasible, which she said wouldn’t be a problem.Labor with my first was very long and difficult, but there wasn’t a moment where I felt that the staff didn’t know what they were doing or would be able to help me.With my second, I had quite a few false labors. Anytime I called Maura wondering if this was actually it, she always had a logical but very understanding response. She was never rushing me or making me feel like what I was going through wasn’t valid.I have nothing but good things to say about this team. While I am done having children, I can’t recommend them enough to anybody that is looking for a birth experience without unnecessary interventions.Thank you again Maura. You helped us bring our two beautiful, healthy boys into the world. We will forever be appreciative of you and all that you do.

I cant thank the team at Fika Midwifery enough for the amazing, supportive, thorough care they provided me with during the birth of my second son in the spring.Both midwives, Maura and Kayla, were incredible to work with. I always felt supportive, heard, understood, and valued.A low intervention, hands off, natural birth isnt for everyone - but if it is what youre looking for, the Coit House is perfect for you.Thank you to every staff member who played a role in our experiences and allowed us to welcome our son earthside in the most beautiful way - providing exceptional care to both him and I every step of the way.The coit house will always have a special place in out hearts!

Like too many others, I had received subpar prenatal care and experienced a traumatic hospital delivery. With this pregnancy, I was determined to avoid such an experience and have a physiologic birth. Maura and her team made that goal a reality! From the first conversation with Christina to the moment that Maura caught our sweet baby, the entire experience was wonderful. Maura is knowledgeable, compassionate, and unbelievably dedicated. She and her team work tirelessly to make physiologic birth accessible to as many individuals as possible, regardless of background, race, SES, gender identity, or sexual orientation.My babys safety and my own were always the top priority. Patient portal messages were always answered within a couple of hours (often within minutes). And I felt respected and empowered to make decisions that were right for my baby and myself every step of the way. Unfortunately many providers do not prioritize INFORMED consent, but Maura and her team certainly do.Aside from the amazing prenatal care, the benefits of having a physiologic birth are amazing. My baby and I were able to recover and bond in a way that I feel would not have been possible in a hospital. It was a truly soul nourishing experience and I feel so fortunate and privileged to have had the choice to deliver this way (again, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Maura and her staff).

I had my second baby at the Coit House with Maura but have been seeing her for years. After a pretty traumatic first birth - I can honestly say my birth experience with Maura was life changing. Not once did I feel scared or unsafe. She has a calm cool confidence that is essential during pregnancy and labor. I felt completely empowered and capable during my entire birthing experience and I highly recommend her to anyone. You can’t argue with her outstanding annual statistics and vaginal birth rates. You are in amazing hands with Maura and her entire staff. The nurses are kind and competent. The staff is responsive and caring. What an amazing experience!

I just want to start off by saying this was the best decision I could have ever made. I am a first time mom and have never liked the thought of giving birth in a hospital, so I decided to do research on natural birth and midwife’s close to me. I found Fika at the beginning of my second trimester and switched over a couple weeks after. The whole team was very thorough in each individual and group appointment. Everyone will give you all the answers and information you need/want to know. My labor was extremely fast and I felt very taken care of and comfortable when I got to the birth center. Fortunately enough I got to give birth in the wonderful tub they have and it made my experience even better. Maura and Ashley were so supportive during my delivery, just a hour after getting there I gave birth which is crazy. At the Coit house they make you feel like a person not just a patient. Not only do they care about you during pregnancy and birth but they also are amazing when it comes to postpartum. This birth was extremely empowering and I couldn’t recommend Fike enough, I will look forward to giving birth every time if I get to do it here!

I had my son at The Coit House with Fika Midwifery about three years ago. I had transferred from an OBGYN after being told a lot of disturbing things about what my birth experience might be like and subsequent intensive research of birthing outcomes in both medical and non-medical settings. In countries such as Sweden, the standard for maternity care and birth is midwifery for many good reasons. In addition, medical care for women and especially minority women, in the US is not ideal for facilitating healthy birthing, BUT it is absoultely indespensible for treating medical issues with mom or baby. Birthing itself isnt a medical issue. So, that being said, I looked long and hard for a midwife, found Fika and my experience was excellent. I had many appointments at Coit House prior to my delivery and generally there was a baby there that had just been born. I would hear them crying. It was lovely. When I went through my labor and delivery, I felt that everyone involved was there for me and did their jobs exceptionally well in an environment which felt comfortable and safe. I had a very very long delivery and Maura monitored my babys vitals consistently and encouraged me into different positions and coached me through a very long pushing phase. My baby arrived healthy and happy and we went home within a short time of giving birth. I couldnt have asked for a better experience with a natural birth, but because it was so difficult for me I dont know if I would choose to have another natural birth. I think pain medication would have perhaps helped me a lot through the process, however, I would likely have been bullied into an unnecessary c-section because of how long it took me to deliver. I left The Coit House with a healthy baby and only a couple stitches from a small tear. Much better deal than having weeks and weeks of recovery from an unnecessary medical intervention. I believe that every woman has the right to choose what is best for her and anything that is contained within her body, including an unborn baby. I definitely felt that Fika Midwifery gave me respect and competent service and at the same time encouraged me to do what I needed to do even when I wasnt sure I could keep going. Just keep in mind there will not be any medical pain relief in a natural birth setting such as this. A hospital would provide pain medication options, but once youre incapacitated by pain medication you may not have as much control of what happens to your body and you may be required per hospital policy to undergo medical intervention that you may or may not have needed if you were delivering naturally. Food for thought for all the expecting moms out there.

My husband and I choose Fika Midwifery for prenatal care and home birth twice after our midwife moved out of the country.Throughout my prenatal care I felt heard with all of my concerns and well cared for at each appointment. I was given attention and quality care at each appointment. Our home birth was a wonderful experience where my husband and I both felt well attended to and cared for by both Maura and the team of birth assistant and nurses who visited and cared for us in the days after our daughter’s birth. Christina even encapsulated my placenta and hand delivered it to our home!We had the pleasure of using Maura and her team at Fika again to welcome another child two years later. This experience was even better than our first due to the relationship we built with Maura as well as the growth Fika made adding to their staff to better meet the needs of their clients. From additional support staff and a move to a better facility, the growth between the years we used Fika was shown in the quality of our care and the attention to my needs, my husband’s needs and my son’s needs at the end of pregnancy and throughout our home birth experience. If it had not been for Maura and her teams dedication to access to community birth I know our outcomes for this birth would have been much different if we had choose to birth in a hospital setting.Another note to mention throughout our multiple experiences with Maura and Fika, both my husband and I felt important to make mention, was the quality of care we received both times in relation to the known outside stressors Maura and her team at Fika faced throughout our years of care from them. Not once did we feel like these stressors impacted our care. Whenever we had concerns about one of these stressors and the impact it could have on our care or our baby’s care we brought it to Maura’s attention and she had a reasonable and well thought out answer to our concerns. Maura’s ability to manage the stressors that come with community based birth and provide quality care to her patients is one of the best things about her and the staff at Fika.If you are looking for an evidence based and patient focused birthing option please look into community birth options at Fika. After experiencing first hand and second hand how the hospital setting is far from focused on the patient and positive birthing outcomes, Maura and the team of professionals at Fika Midwifery helped us to grow our family in a the most positive and loving way possible in WNY.

I had the most incredible birth experience with Maura and nurse Ashley. I could not be happier with the care I received all throughout pregnancy and in labor. My first birth was at a hospital and was 36 hours long filled with a long list of interventions and complications. For my second birth, I knew I wanted an entirely different experience. That decision is what brought me to the care of Maura at Fika Midwifery. My second birth experience could not have been more different from my first. My wishes were followed to a T! I was left alone with my partner to labor in undisturbed peace, and when I wished for more support I was cared for with the upmost respect, dignity and tenderness. After two hours of active labor I birthed and caught our son in the beautiful giant birthing tub. The water was magical and I highly recommend utilizing it for labor and birth. After birth I moved to the bed where we rested and bonded together as a family for hours before having any newborn assessments completed, which eventually were done right in front of me on our bed. If you’re looking for a birth experience that supports natural physiological birth, without interventions then I can’t recommend Fika Midwifery enough! Every detail is beautiful, thoughtful and supportive to you birthing in bliss.

I’ve now had the pleasure of birthing both of my children at The Coit House (2019 and 2023) as well as receiving care in between pregnancies. Both of my experiences were perfect. As a Black woman it is incredibly crucial for the type of environment and care that Maura and her staff provides to be available. Unfortunately, women who look like me continue to have dismal outcomes in hospital settings, so community birth has always been my preferred option. Fika exceeds my expectations in every way. Special shout out to the RN who attended my most recent birth Ashley Fino who was kind, patient and compassionate towards me in my most vulnerable moments! I always feel safe, heard and in control of my care - I will continue to choose Fika for birthing my babies and everything in between.

Maura Winkler, midwife at the coit house, is absolutely wonderful, as is each member of her staff. Before my delivery at the birth centre, they were transparent about their statistics and policies and procedures making me feel more comfortable about delivering outside of a hospital. Prenatal care was thorough and I felt heard and cared for by the staff. During labor and delivery, as a labor and delivery nurse myself, I felt safe in Maura’s hands and in the care of her nursing staff. The natural setting of a bedroom/bathroom was a warm addition to my labor, making me feel more at ease. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to deliver my son naturally with this wonderful team by my side.

My daughter had both her children at FIKA with Maura and her team. I had the absolute joy of participating in both and with the second child I was there from the beginning until the new family member went home with their very happy and proud parents! As a nurse, childbirth has not one of my “favorite” areas to work but I can tell you this family centered, family preference labor and delivery was the most beautiful thing I have seen. It was clear throughout the experience that evidence based practice and quality care was of the utmost importance to Maura and her team as well. For anyone interested in a non-hospital based pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum experience I would highly recommend Maura and her team without any hesitation. This service is a blessing to the community.

I am beyond impressed by Maura Winkler; the midwife of Fika Midwifery at Coit House. She took the time and care to make each prenatal visit personal, educational, and exciting! Christina the financial manager was so helpful and so patient to us parents who had no clue how the insurance details worked out. Her nurses and staff were some of the biggest hearted women Ive met and Im so thankful I had the opportunity to be cared for by them. Giving birth to my first child here under the care of Fika Midwifery in the most beautiful setting at Coit House will forever be one of my proudest decisions as a mother. I highly recommend this place to any birthing person who is looking for a birthing experience that is empowering and personal.

After two hospital births, I was not satisfied with my birth experience and care provided by my Obgyn.My experience at Fika was beyond amazing between the facility and staff. My appointments leading up to my birth were patient guided and I felt very included in my care plan.I was able to sit in a comfortable waiting room with couches and a fireplace. I had access to drinks and snacks, as well as educational birth material. My labor and delivery were centered around my choices and comfort. I was able to bring whatever items made me comfortable and given items to support my birth. I ate food, and could freely move around the multiple room birth suite without an IV port. The home atmosphere helped my labor progress naturally and I was allowed to be in whatever position or space I wanted to deliver with full support from the staff.I had as many support people as I wanted during my labor and delivery, with minimal staff contact unless needed or wanted.After my birth, I was able to order food to the facility (and cook in the kitchen on site), relax, then go home to enjoy my newborn with my family. After birth care appointments are conducted at home instead of needing to traveling with a newborn. I always received a prompt response to my questions through the portal or when calling the after hours number.I plan on having any future children at Fika and wish I made the switch to use a birthing center instead of a hospital sooner.

My childbearing years have come to an end but I would return to Fika in a heartbeat should I ever have another child. Im blessed with 8 children, 7 of which were born at home with midwives. Having moved from another state, I have had the huge privilege of working with four different midwives. Maura was my fourth midwife and Fika was there for the delivery of my 8th and last child. Excellent care and respect is all I experienced from Maura and her staff.I now receive well woman care from Maura and my two daughters tag along with me, eager to visit the beautiful Coit House and feel valued as a woman. Should they choose community birth one day, I would happily support them and be thrilled to see them cared for by Fika.

Maura, Ashley, Christina, and the entire staff at the Coit House were the most respectful, empathetic, and responsible when it came to my care. I gave birth to my first here in August 2023 and despite a very long labor, my birth team helped me navigate every obstacle and decision along the way while keeping me informed. Mauras excellent midwifery experience allowed us to exhaust all evidence-based natural options to keep labor progressing and ultimately deliver a very healthy baby girl. Ashley, alongside my doulas, provided much needed coaching, care, and support especially during the pushing stage. Christina was nothing but professional throughout every visit, and went to bat for me and the practice to ensure that insurance fulfilled their obligations. I had an extremely positive experience, and couldnt recommend a better practice to trust with your care.

For those who are open to and seeking top quality care, personable and professional staff, or an unforgettable out of hospital birth experience in a gorgeous setting, look no further than Fika Midwifery at the Coit House!I joined Fika Midwiferys practice around 20 weeks pregnant after leaving 2 other ob/gyn providers and interviewing one other birth center in the Buffalo area that all fell far short of my expectations for my first pregnancy and birth. Not only did Fika offer an initial in-depth orientation to answer any questions or concerns, but also helped me handle insurance admin, worked with me on appointment times around my husbands work schedule (especially being an hour drive away), and offered educational group care to walk us through everything from birth to breastfeeding to postpartum.I was never concerned with being out of a hospital setting for my first birth because I always felt safe and supported in all of my decisions and had faith in the fantastic birth outcomes at the Coit House. Maura (or Ashley or Caroline) always gave ample time in each appointment to discuss my health (no 7 minute time slots per patient here). Not to mention the fact that you are given the ultimate power to consent/decline to absolutely everything involving your care, with evidence-based facts to back it all up so you can make an empowered choice.When at 37 weeks we found out that our baby was beech, we trusted Mauras recommendation to go to the hospital for an ECV to turn the baby– which, if successful, would allow us to proceed with our birth at the center rather than a potential C-section, as most breech births end up. Fortunately, it was successful, and we continued care all the way up to 41 weeks+5 days when I went into labor at 2am. Even after a long 50+hours of contractions before finally giving birth, there was never any talk of going to the hospital, no induction, no interruption to the beautiful unfolding of natural birth that I experienced... Just a peaceful, low stress birth, wonderfully attended by Maura, Caroline, Iva, and my doula team, in a gorgeous old home that feels just like home. You just cant get that kind of support from anywhere else in the area!If you really want to have a powerful & empowered prenatal and out of hospital birthing experience, ignore these negative reviews, go see for yourself, and trust your intuition on joining this hidden gem of a practice.

We decided to switch to Fika Midwifery for our second pregnancy, and it was the best decision we could have made. We had planned an out of hospital birth with our first, but due to breech positioning, ended in a hospital delivery. We knew we wanted a different level of care and more support while having a VBAC. We toured the Coit House, met with Maura and shortly after began care with them. Throughout our entire pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum we received unparalleled care. Each step of the way all of my questions were answered (promptly if outside of an appointment), all ultrasounds/tests were explained, my decision was respected and upheld, and I felt extremely cared for by their entire staff. We were looking for a care provider that would allow us to be an active participant in our health, labor and delivery as opposed to just a number, and that is exactly what we received with Fika. I wish each family received this level of competency and care that we did with Fika, Maura and all of her midwives and staff.Christina guided us through the insurance process. She was knowledgeable, responsive and most importantly - calm. Our insurance did not provide coverage for our birth, and we ultimately paid out of pocket (which was extremely comparable to our family deductible - which we would have met as a hospital birth).I cannot thank Maura and her staff enough for the way she cared for myself, my first son (who came to almost every appointment) and my husband. If youre planning an out of hospital birth or looking for well woman care - I highly, highly recommend Fika!

I started at Fika with my annul care and felt very empowered by my experiences so when I became pregnant it was a no brainer, that if I was deemed healthy and able, that I would go through Fika for my pregancy care and birth.I trusted myself through the process of pregnancy and my labor because I was entrusted by Maura to trust myself.We were in contact through my labor at home and once I came in, her and the birthing assistant, Sigrid, we’re the amazing calm presence and we’re part of the great support team that me and my husband needed.My postpartum care was through and I received a personal phone call from Maura to see how I was adjusting to breastfeeding and how I was feeling overall. She did not rush me off the phone and answered my questions, and it was the same at my 6wk check up.On the anniversary of my daughter’s birth, I received a hand written note from Maura celebrating our first year and reminding me of my strength I possessed during my long labor at home. It was a wonderful reminder of why I chose Fika to begin with!I recommend Fika to anyone considering a birthing center birth. Maura, and the whole Fika crew, invite you into a community of care that is very much needed and is lacking in Buffalo.

I have birthed two children at the Coit House with Fika— one in 2019 with a former midwife, and one in 2022 with Maura. When I moved to Buffalo I found that my options were extremely limited in regards to birthing places, finding Fika was a miracle for me as I just happened across their website searching for options outside of the two local hospitals that my OBGYN at the time told me I “had to” deliver at. After a first consultation with Fika I switched care within a day. Throughout both pregnancies I felt informed, cared for, and had all options explained to me and any questions I had answered. My birth choices were respected and I trusted both my former midwife with Fika and Maura. For both births I arrived at the Coit House shortly before my children were born, I was given full autonomy and freedom during this time to do as I pleased— whether it was eating/drinking, walking around, bouncing on a ball, getting in the tub, etc (I stress this because I’ve heard told that the area hospitals DO NOT allow you to do these things…shockingly). Both of my children were born healthy and happy, frequently checked on as newborns by the staff at Fika both while we were there and postpartum. At my 6 week appointment I was diagnosed with PPD, and Maura was so kind and concerned for me— she checked in on me afterwards and made sure to give me options in regards to local therapists, and support networks. I have never felt truly cared for by a provider like I did with Maura, especially at that appointment. You can feel how much Maura loves what she does. My children’s birth days were two of the best days of my life, and that is directly a result of the care and compassion I received with Fika and Maura. I would not choose to birth anywhere other than the Coit House with subsequent children, I highly recommend Fika Midwifery and the Coit House birthing center.

I chose Fika after 3 previous hospital births. I was a little hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect in the community setting. I loved having a reduced care schedule. Afterall, by your 4th pregnancy you kinda just know what to expect for the most part. Maura was always super respectful of decisions that were made along the way on our behalf of what we wanted for this delivery. When the time came and I was finally in labor she was quick to call me. I think it was less than a minute!! My overall delivery was quick once we arrived. We live almost an hour away and she was respectful of getting me there so that we weren’t delivering the baby on the side of the road. The environment during labor was so calm. Maura was present, but she wasn’t overbearing like I remember it being with my experience in the hospital. The entire Fika staff was a blessing for our family and I am so thankful to have had such a blessed delivery with them!

I cannot begin to express how amazing my experience was here at The Coit house. After prematurely birthing my first baby and being turned down by 2 other midwives, I was worried no one works allow me the chance at a natural birth. Maura was great! She was diligent and efficient at all the right times. My baby came faster than anyone could’ve anticipated, but she was ready, calm, and focused. My baby was cared for so gently after she entered the world, and I wouldn’t change my decision to come here for the world!!! And now, nearly a year later, they still show their love and care by sending my Baby Bug a Bday card. Thank you so much for being the midwife I needed, Maura!

As a partner, I had the privilege of witnessing the amazing prenatal, antenatal, and postnatal care provided by Maura and her team at Fika Midwifery. My wife had both of our babies at Fika and I am exceptionally grateful for the invaluable care that they provided while ensuring a positive, empowering, and evidence based practice birth. Maura and her team’s warmth, compassion, and expertise are unparalleled. Both of our daughters were born as my wife desired: safely, calmly, and lovingly. My wife was a community based birth advocate from the start, I was a convert, and we both loved every minute of the experience. I wouldn’t change a thing.

I will be forever grateful for the care I received at Fika Midwifery. With the constant support of Maura, Ashley and the entire team, I had the Vbac I’ve always dreamed of.While some providers discourage VBACs or fail to hide their lack of faith in the women attempting them, I never felt that with Maura. Maura made sure to thoroughly educate me on VBACs, but never made me feel I wasn’t capable of having one. She made sure I understood how strong, capable and perfectly designed our bodies are to birth our babies.My decisions were always respected and I was never coerced into anything I didn’t feel comfortable with. At Fika you have true autonomy over all decisions related to your pregnancy, which unfortunately is not the standard of care everywhere you go.If you’re on the fence about whether an out of hospital birth or midwifery care is a good fit for you, I promise you won’t regret trusting Maura with your care. Not only will you receive thorough one of one attention at Fika Midwifery, you’ll walk away from your pregnancy and birth with a sense of empowerment that comes from birthing on your own terms.If I choose to have any children in the future, there’s no one I’d trust more than Fika Midwifery. Thank you for making the birth of my beautiful baby such a magical experience for my family!

I chose Fika for my care with my second baby. After I found out I was pregnant, I originally went back to my OB I saw for my son...a couple months in, I knew I couldn’t go through with this again after my experience with hospital birth before. I did some research and found out that there were other options—namely, Fika. While a significantly further drive, it was worth it. Some reviews point out that the appointments are brief and maybe they are, but my appointments with the OB were brief AND uninformative, whereas at Fika Maura and Natalia always took time to address any concerns, answer my questions, and I never felt rushed or like I didn’t know what was going on. They had open, honest conversations and provided more information than I ever received with my first pregnancy/birth. We chose to have our birth at Fika (although we were informed we could have it at home even though we were 45 minutes away, which was a nice option!), and it was everything I could have hoped for. When I went into labor, Maura’s response was quick as soon as I called the answering service. The birth atmosphere was calm, quiet and supportive — and importantly (for me) non-invasive. I am so happy I could be fully present and have my husband and mom there as well. I treasure the experience. If you have a low risk pregnancy and want a truly supported, informed natural birth I would 100% recommend Fika.

Maura Winkler at Fika was the best decision we could have made for our pregnancy and delivery. My partner & I had discussed a home birth when we discovered we were pregnant, but due to chronic health diagnoses I had (not related to pregnancy) I was unsure I would be allowed to deliver out of a hospital setting. Without doing any research or seeing if my insurance would cover a community birth, I chose a different provider where I would be delivering in a hospital. After my glucose test at the previous practice, I immediately called Fika to see what my other options were. Not only did I feel an insane pressure from the said hospital birth setting provider, my gut continued to tell me this wasn’t what I wanted and was not right.We met with Maura that week and immediately transferred over our care. Not only did she educate me on my chronic health conditions and how they could potentially affect my remainder of my pregnancy/delivery, she spoke with my other providers for the chronic conditions. Something my first OBGYN did not (who was planning to schedule me for an induction without even discussing that with me). She respected all of my wishes and my partners wishes regarding procedures/medications/vaccines/etc that were being pushed onto me at other health care facilities. She provided us with handlets from peer reviewed sources on every decision that is to be made for the mother and baby during labor and after delivery. There was no tone of bias, judgement or anything. We felt like we were given all the tools so we could make a proper decision for ourselves to have the delivery experience we wanted.With that being said, we knew the risk of possibly being transferred, which statistically is higher for non-life threatening conditions in a community birth/home birth setting (so many people tried to make me scared if “something goes wrong what would I do”- ) I knew that most likely if anything unplanned happened, it would most likely not be a deathly birth complication. We still agreed to have a community birth because we can go to a hospital if needed, you can’t leave the hospital if you don’t want to be there anymore.I labored at home for some time & was able to be in constant communication with Maura and my doula. When it came time to head to the birthing center, we were greeted and brought to our room to get settled. She even ordered us a hot meal (ramen I believe) so we could enjoy it after our baby was delivered. I’m unsure of how long we were there because if you’ve ever been in labor, time is a weird concept (LOL) but I was having strong contractions, and feeling like I was ready to push. She did an internal exam to see how far along I was dilated, with my consent, and informed us that my cervix had swollen and the only way for me to attempt to have a safe vaginal birth, I would need to be transferred to a hospital and get an epidural. This wasn’t an emergency, she let us take our time to gather our things and organized a seamless transfer to deliver at a hospital with midwife care.I am so thankful for Maura and her knowledge and the education, because as a first time mom, that was the last thing I thought could ever happen during labor. And she was right!!!! I got an epidural, and after several hours, my body relaxed and my cervix stopped swelling. If I had been in the hospital and that happened, I know that would have 100% turned into an “emergency c-section” for something that resolved with necessary medical intervention and letting my body rest and do it’s own thing. Even though we had to deliver our child in a hospital, we were so happy that we tried this route and were provided with appropriate care, education and non-judgement. All we wanted was a safe delivery without any fear being projected onto us.For my post-partum visits, we still followed up with Maura. She made sure everything was healing well and my emotional well-being was okay. I had an hour long visit instead of the typical 15Minutes and your out. We plan to deliver with her again due to the level of care that we received! Thank you!

Maura and her staff are amazing! If I ever have another healthy pregnancy I will definitely be delivering here again. I love everything about this place from the thoughtfully chosen products (like the soaps, lotions, cafe, snacks, sanitizer, the postpartum products you get are AMAZING, the decor, atmosphere, staff, everything), to the well-kept house. They do their best to work with you WITHIN reason, they listen to anything you have to say and do their best to answer all your questions. Im so happy I had my son here! Maura saved my sons life when he come out not breathing and blue. Thinking back on my pregnancy and birth it was always a positive experience!

Maura lacks self control, compassion, understanding and very impulsive when it comes to her patients. I am a black women out of Rochester NY, traveling to Buffalo for what I thought would be healthy services from the Fika birth center. Was I wrong. I had my last appt. with Maura this past Monday, and it was a horrible experience. I originally came in to discuss my delivery options sense i am 36 weeks and out of town traveling, my risks may be higher then the Buffalo locals to not be able to make it. I simply asked if I should plan a unassisted home birth sense I may not be able to to make it there at the coit house for delivery and going to the hospitalwould be a last resort for me, with a blink of an eye, Maura got loud and began to talk very fast accusing me of planning a home birth all along and that she would drop me because she is responsible for my care and some thing bad can happen to me and she was not going to be responsible for that. I was shocked, I did not say I planned anything, I was asking her opinion but she did not seem to understand that and started barking orders and accusations. I tried to reassure her several times that she was wrong about her assumptions and she continues by telling me that I came there for prenatal care, and using them for that(as if I could not get prenatal care out of my own city and save a lot of gas.) Absolutely ridiculous, being that i am pregnant and not being heard, of course I got emotional and started crying, she could care less. She proceeded to insult me, trying to scare me about my own death or my unborn childs, told me no midwife would take me on because I was considered to them as high risk, and that I was lucky for them to have taken me. After all of that she still wanted to take my BP as if it wouldnt have been elevated(i allowed her)and then tried to tell me it could be signs of preclamsia, knowing good and well it was her and how she was speaking to me seconds prior. And I let her know that. My pregnancy the entire time has been w/o complications, until that very interaction. I checked it when I got home, it was great, checked it the following day(yesterday), it was great. No one likes to be accused or not heard, especially coming from a traumatic situation out of the medical field already, she sounded just like the doctor I was avoiding in the hospital. Before my exit, she did not apologize but did tell me that she believed me not trying to take advantage of the facility, all to just write directly in my summary chart that i was going to see, and get a copy of. that my preganacy was normal with, uncertain lie, right after.When i questioned her by email about that, she did not respond but instead had her colleagues lie(talk about a pot calling a supposed kettle black)and say that it was notes for a ultrasound that i had 2wks prior, that was a lie. So that was definitely the straw that broke this camels back.. Definitely triggered me, and I would never return there and would not recommend Fika to anyone woman or family. Maura need to learn how to step away from hersef and listen to her patient as well as understand them whole heartedly.

Maura and her staff are hands down the best. I never felt anything but safe and comfortable with my care. She took time to truly listen to any concerns that myself or my husband had and addressed all questions thoroughly. As a nurse practitioner myself, I can attest to how rare it is to have such a degree of shared decision making and open communication in a healthcare setting. It is truly remarkable and empowering and I wouldn’t have had our daughter’s birth any other way.

I cannot say enough good things about Fika. We have now had 2 babies with them- our first being the first Coit House baby! We have had fantastic experiences both times. Maura’s confidence, skills, and ability to ease our minds are the most important qualities to have when dealing with bringing life into the world. Maura always seems to know exactly what to do in every situation! The midwives are so knowledgeable and I know I’m in good hands with them. If you’re a low risk pregnant woman and want to feel like a true warrior in your labor and birth, go to Fika!

Fika midwifery was recommended to me by my first extraordinary midwife Elaine Stewart that discontinued her practice. From the very beginning of my experience with Fika I was pretty satisfied and with every next prenatal visit I was more and more comfortable with their approach and practice. Maura and her colleagues are very attentive, supportive and are ready to answer any questions concerning a new mother. Their office ( the birthing house at the same time) is very pretty and comfortable that I find very important if you are planning to deliver there (though my birth was planned and happened at home).When I went in labor at midnight I called Maura and as soon as my contractions became pretty often and intense Maura and her assistant Esty came right over. The birth happened to be very quick (less than 4 hours) and healthy, though we had nothing to worry about to start with. Our first boy was delivered at home and beautifully and with the second one we expected the same and wanted to do everything by ourselves just under the supervision of a midwife. It happened the way we planned and we were very happy about it. Then girls helped to deliver placenta and took care of cleaning and preparing the sitz bath for me, much later examined the baby (that gave me enough time to cuddle him and start breastfeeding) and before leaving made me a charming certificate of birth with his tiny footprints. Then there were a couple of home visits and final well visit a month and a half later.Overall my experience with Fika midwifery was perfect and smooth and I would definitely recommend it to every mother who wants to deliver her child in the way the nature intended, avoiding annoying doctors and nurses with tons of false precautions and exams and potential physical and psychological harm to a mother and a newborn. To deliver your child in a supportive circle of your relatives and under a cautious eye of a caring midwife is to me the best way to ensure that your child has a perfect start to his/her life.

All the midwives and staff at Fika are incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, professional, kind and passionate. We first spoke with Maura about all our questions about birth in the community while we were looking at options for our birth and she was amazing and so kind, answered all our questions and shared more than we even knew to ask! I went to them for my prenatal care and birth of my first baby and gave birth at their beautiful Coit House. We felt so confident in Natalia, who attended our birth, but we would have felt confident with any of Fika’s midwives because we really got to know all of them and they got to know us and our desires and choices for our birth during our prenatal visits. Our sons birth was beautiful and safe and we’re so thankful to have such a great option for out of hospital birth in buffalo and will be going to them for our next birth as well!

I was very happy with my experience with Fika. Throughout my pregnancy they were a great support, and I felt that they listened to all my questions and worries and helped me get through my first pregnancy with ease. I had a difficult labor and had to change my birth plan multiple times, but Fika was with me every step of the way. I would recommend their services to anyone looking to have a more natural experience and more importantly, more choice with their pregnancy and labor. Fika helped us determine the best course and I would not have wished to have anyone else help to bring my daughter into this world.

Finding fika was such a blessing! The personal care for me and my baby girl is just remarkable! And getting to birth in a beautiful house where I feel safe, surrounded by people who know me personally, and genuinely care for me and my baby is an experience everyone deserves. Everything prenatal was explained so well and gave me the freedom to decide. During labor/ birth I felt so safe and the personal time I got to share with my baby after birth was magical and couldn’t have happened anywhere else. On top of that I get to go back for my yearly exams to a place a I’m familiar and comfortable with! I’m so grateful for Maura and her amazing staff and couldn’t imagine giving birth anywhere else!

I’ve had two wonderful home births under the care of Fika. If you are interested in out-of-hospital birth with calm medical professionals to care for you and your baby, I can’t recommend them enough.Edited to add:My first birth included a (fairly common) complication; I hemorrhaged a lot of blood after my baby was born and needed an IV. It was alarming to me and my husband, but Maura (midwife) and Sigrid (assistant) were were calm, confident and went right to work to improve my condition. Maura consulted with another medical professional by phone and stayed with me for 8 hours after the birth to monitor my progress. They made two postpartum visits to my house to check on me and my baby. And! Maura was proactive during my next birth 2 years later and recommended a medication to help prevent the same outcome. My second birth was thankfully free of complications.

Fika Midwifery provided me superior prenatal, birth, and postnatal care. Maura, Lydia, Christina, and the staff are knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated to their clients. Their level of commitment and attention to my personal needs surpassed my expectations! I envisioned how I wanted to birth my son and Fika Midwifery made it possible. When I think of the birth of my son, my first thought is joy - how many people can say that?Without question I would recommend Fika Midwifery. If we have another baby... I know who I’m calling!Much love and gratitude, Krystal Weston

My experiences with Fika have been nothing less than absolutely wonderful. I first came to Fika in 2018 when I was pregnant with my first child. Mauras calming presence and professional demeanor immediately made me eager to work with her. Throughout my pregnancy I was privileged to receive the most respectful, empowering care I had ever experienced. I had my dream childbirth at the Coit House (a beautifully serene setting) attended by 2 amazing midwives in the position of my choice. Every aspect of my pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care was kind, thoughtful, and validating. I received the same unparalleled level of care in my well-person visits. Im now pregnant with my second child and am once again so grateful to be at Fika. I look forward to each visit knowing that Ill come away feeling calm, confident, and well-informed about my body, my baby, and my choices. Im deeply thankful to be able to anticipate this upcoming birth with the joy and security that the care at Fika has given me. This short review cant do justice to the magnitude of my positive feelings about Fika and how my experiences there have shaped my identity as a mother and as a person. I encourage anyone who is pregnant or seeking well-person care to meet with Maura. The mindful, respectful, and empowering care you will receive at Fika is truly life-changing.

After giving birth to my son I realized that I wanted a completely different model of care than the one I was receiving. I wanted to be listened to and treated like an individual. I wanted someone who provided evidence based care while still being able to hear what my needs were and take them seriously. I was so committed to finding this for both my well care and any future births that when I heard about Fika I immediately decided to try them regardless of cost. The model was everything I was looking for. I was SO excited to discover that they took my insurance and my first wellness visit was a dream come true. So easy, personal, and comfortable. It felt like a home visit! I cannot speak highly enough of the sense of calm and capability Maura exudes. I am a very science based person myself and it was so refreshing to find true evidence based care that was still personal and warm. Cant recommend enough!

I highly recommend Fika Midwifery! The calm and peace as you step into the Coit House is the first thing youll notice. That peace and calm are exemplified by the care I received during my recent gyn visit. Maura combines compassion and clinical expertise that is hard to find these days in healthcare settings.

There are not enough good words in the world for Fika! Everyone is so fantastic, from the ladies who work in the office to the midwives, specifically Maura and Natalia. After a bad hospital experience with my first I sought out something entirely different. Fika is an hour away from my home and I made the choice to go “my own route” which confused some family members by choosing a provider farther away from home, but I would do it a thousand more times. Their care during pregnancy is so reassuring, their care during labor is calming and knowledgeable, and their care postpartum is unmatched. They truly care about their patients and their babies. I could write a novel on how much I love and appreciate these ladies. I’m now about 9 weeks postpartum and have spoken with them multiple times and I truly feel listened to and cared for. They care about your mental health both during pregnancy and postpartum. I could go on and on but truly all I can say is THANK YOU to Maura and Natalia, and also to Christina and Adriana who do a lot of the “behind the scenes” stuff, explain everything fully, and make the entire experience amazing and fulfilling. Thank you, thank you, thank you ❤️

ZERO STARS. I’m so saddened by my overall (but quick, thank goodness) experience here. Women in this area already have such limited options when it comes to prenatal and birth and it’s defeating to have another practice contributing to the problem. My very first visit, I sat there and listened to the midwife (Maura) and one of her administrators engage in a conversation about “white women having no right to feel unsafe in a hospital.” Which was the very reason I decided to try to birth center route so I was automatically defeated. I recognize the issues within the hospital system and my heart breaks for every woman. However, my skin color has nothing to do with the fact that I was given an episiotomy without consent during my first birth and I don’t know anyone, black or white that would feel safe entering that environment again. That is valid. Why do we have to turn a traumatic event into something political?In my actual consultation, Maura was very defensive with every question or comment I made. Here I am, trying to feel out this place, their beliefs, and their practices (what the first visit is intended for!!) and her tone was condescending and I could tell she wasn’t truly listening to my concerns about my prior births. Her mind was made up, even though I as the mother had concerns.Then came the insurance/billing issues. No one ever called me like I was told they would to go over costs after forgetting to go over it with me at my first appointment like they usually do apparently but I wasn’t worried (naive) because I had already confirmed with my insurance that this facility was covered under my benefits. Days before my 20 week ultrasound I finally decided to call them and get final numbers (because payment “was due” but I had no idea what I officially owed ha!). Yes, I signed very vague consent from prior but again, insurance told me it was covered and I have a $1900 deductible with one of the most common insurance companies in the country, so I was not worried. Come to find out they have separate fees (6,000 dollars worth!!) that can NOT be billed to insurance and you need to pay the delivery fee (4,000) ahead of time and wait for a refund from them after birth. Now, I understand this is normal in this area as I had a beautiful home birth here (and my midwife for that is taking some much deserved time off this year so that’s why we ended up at FIKA) year and know insurance can be tricky when it comes to unconventional care. But with it done the way FIKA does it, you’re fronting the clinic at least 10,000 with BCBS insurance. You will maybe get 4,000 back BEFORE paying your deductible. That just isn’t fathomable for me. They also have tricky fees in there about what happens if you don’t make it to the clinic in time to birth. You basically get fined another 4,000.Christia, the woman in charge of all this mess was the most unprofessional healthcare administrator I had ever come across. I was already feeling overwhelmed with how differently New York does things compared to the other three states I’ve had prenatal care in so I had a lot of questions and was simply trying to understand the process to see if 1.) we could afford to front the clinic so much money. 2.) if this was truly the right choice for us and she acted like I was personally attacking her. She was super defensive, short, and halfway through the convo was like, “do you just want me to cancel your appointment? We have a waiting list.” like she just didn’t want to help me anymore. I was a lost cause in her eyes and she wanted to move on. So that’s what my gut told me to do. At 18 weeks pregnant, due for my anatomy scan, I was left without care because this place made me feel so uncomfortable in so many ways. I’m at peace with it now after talking to members in the community that have had terrible, or heard terrible stories about this place (ask them about the babies that have died in their care or the fact the city denied their license this year.. Buffalo and surrounding areas need better options than currently being provided.

I have had 2 babies with Fika now and my experience with prenatal care and birthing has been both high quality and empowering. The Coit House is an incredibly warm, clean and inviting atmosphere and I’ve always been treated with respect and kindness through each and every visit and appointment.My first birth with Fika in 2019 (2nd baby) was a home water birth and I can’t say enough about the ease and comfort staying at home brought my husband and I. Despite a last minute change of plans with my 3rd baby born this month-May 2021 (we had planned a home birth and then were asked to come into the Coit house so Maura could provide care for another laboring mother) we still had a wonderful experience. They went above and beyond to ensure our comfort while there.Grateful to have found and accessed care from a practice so in alignment with my personal values. Thank you Fika!

We were very pleased with our experience with Fika. They were very supportive of our birthing plan (home birth) and any decisions we made regarding myself (mom) and our baby. Yes, the appointments were quick (according to 1-star review), but if youre looking for more extensive and invasive appointments, then you should have your baby at a hospital. Fika provided the kind of birthing experience that we were looking for-- fearless, natural, and back to our roots.A few things that could be improved (because there is always room for improvement!):-The on-call system is inconvenient. When youre in labor, having to input info and leave a voicemail is the last thing you want to be doing. Although the response back was quick, the process of getting ahold of someone was annoying.- We were not happy when they informed us that, in case there were multiple births on the same day, we would have to come to them rather than us having our home birth. Although they said the chances of that happening were slim, the idea of it happening was enough to turn us off.- It would be great if they gave the patients the opportunity to meet EVERYONE (nurses included) that could possibly be present at the birth.It was important to us that we established a relationship with EVERYONE that was going to be involved with our birth.Lydia was the midwife who was present at our home birth and she was phenomenal! Our birth plan was followed through and we couldnt have asked for a better birthing experience! We will definitely be going back to Fika for the next bundle of joy!

My experience with Fika has been one of the most disheartening and unsatisfactory relationships with a medical provider. I was due with my 3rd child in June, and as I have previously had 2 successful home births, naturally we were planning to do a 3rd. I am recently relocated to the city of Buffalo, so we were at square 1 trying to find a midwife. The previous 2 births had been attended by a midwife superstar, very involved with patients and their families, experienced, compassionate, basically she ticked all the boxes you could want. Coming to Buffalo, we were very surprised to find the lack of birthing options for people opting for alternative choices. After multiple phone calls, all leading to disappointment, we finally got a green light on a home birth consultation from Fika.We met with Maura in mid November in what turned out to be the longest appointment we had with the practice. Throughout the duration of the consult, all I could feel was judgement and condescension, but as Maura smugly put it, Fika is the only practice that does home birth in Buffalo. Against my gut feeling and absolutely defeated, we agreed to continue with care so we could have our baby the way we wanted. Our next appointment (and all of the rest of them) lasted about a total of 5 minutes. Basically a weigh in, blood pressure, and a quick listen to babys heartbeat, followed by an any questions or concerns. In January when the practice switched offices, we never even received notification to the new location. Basically, the whole thing felt very careless and unprofessional.At six and a half months, at my regular appointment, they dropped a bomb on me, saying that due to overbooking, they no longer could guarantee that I would be able to have my baby at home, but they would do their best to honor my birth plan. Personally, I believe location of birth goes a bit beyond the birth plan. I didnt understand why the first time they chose to mention this was so late term. Had they made that clear from the get-go, my husband and I could have made a better informed decision. I left my appointment in tears. My husband called to speak to someone about it, saying how we were uncomfortable by the lack of transparency. We just didnt understand why we should have to concede our wishes, not due to health concerns, but office oversight. My husband received a call at work the next day, where I believe Maura was looking to talk to me. He simply stated that he was at work, and if she needed to reach me, she could call my cell phone. About a minute and a half later, I received an email via the portal stating that Fika was dropping us, stating that due to OUR lack of communication they felt that the trust in our patient/midwife relationship was lacking. At this point though, we were just relieved to not have to work with them.I will say that if you are looking for a center birth, maybe this is the place for you. If you are set on a home birth, I suggest you continue in your search. We were lucky enough to find a wonderful midwife out of Rochester that attended the home birth of my son, and was very sympathetic to our situation. However had this been my first child, it would have been impossible to find someone to do the birth so late in the pregnancy. This whole experience could have been a serious deterrent to someone who was going through this the first time.

In my experience as a birth photographer, I had the unique opportunity to see a variety of birth stories before even having a baby of my own. From all of the different birth scenarios, the greatest insight I gained is that it really is so important to chose a practitioner who you trust and who will fully support you and any laboring decisions you have, while also keeping the safety of you and your baby in mind.When my husband and I were in the early weeks of pregnancy with our first born, we started our prenatal care the traditional OB route, with a group practice I had been going to for years for annual check-ups. After feeling discouraged and disappointed with answers to my questions regarding my laboring desires (questions I wasnt even able to ask one of the doctors until sometime around my 18 week appointment), a close friend recommended I look into switching care to Maura of Fika Midwifery (since I still wanted to deliver in the hospital but wanted more personalized care). A few weeks later, I happened to be photographing a home birth with Maura as the midwife, and seeing her in action, I just KNEW I had to meet with her.From day one, Maura was so informative and encouraging. As first time parents, we had a lot of questions, and she presented us with all of our options so that together, my husband and I could make the decision we felt was best for us and, most of all, our baby. This happened throughout the entire pregnancy, as well as when my contractions finally began. This was probably one of the greatest components of having her as our practitioner. No longer were we just another couple having a baby, being told things had to be done a certain way, but she truly listened to our needs/desires while also empowering us to become educated and make our own informed decisions on every topic that presented itself.I ended up having a lengthy labor, but Maura was available and quick to respond to my messages every day (including on the weekend days when I had start/start contractions and was reaching out to her with first-time-mom-in-labor questions). Once it was time to go to the hospital, she arrived with us, and stayed the entire time – supporting me every step of the way alongside my husband, doula, and our birth photographer. I seriously could not have asked for a better birth experience, and I know without a doubt in mind that she was the perfect fit for our birthing desires and needs.I could go on forever about how amazing my experience with Fika Midwifery was – both leading up to, on, and after the delivery of our baby – but Ill end my already lengthy review by just saying this: I am so tremendously grateful for her presence here in Buffalo, and for all that she does for women in the area looking for alternative options for delivery. But I am especially grateful to have had her for the birth of our own babe. It was a decision I will never regret. (Thank you, Maura!!)

This was my third birth through a Midwife. My first was through the birthing center in Brooklyn, MY, second was at home with Eileen who is no longer practicing in Buffalo. Third was at the Coit House and Fika Midwifery. First, I love that they added the option of The Coit House as we live farther out and having the peace of mind to be close to a hospital for emergency is always nice. I believe so firmly in a birth by choice and you will find the support and answers you need through Fika. Maura was always informative and carried any conversation or concerns I carried to the end. Leaving me with no doubts as to my decisions. Lydia was the one who officially delivered us and I cant express how prompt and informative she was. She handled our birth with care, she handled every visit with calm and comfort. I was never disrespected by the model of care I felt was best for me and baby. I encourage women to consider a visit with them especially if you are borderline and unsure. They are worth it. Dont be afraid to do you own research and throw it on the table, they will be there to talk about it and come to an educated conclusion for whats best for all! My best experience with midwifery and they allowed it to happen! Thank you, thank you. I cant express enough gratitude.

Dad Post!Two births without intervention later, I am not only a believer, but an advocate for the care model Fika provides.We worked with Fika & WholeNineWellness to have a successful natural birth in a hospital and an even better experience in a home birth for our second.Fika, quite simply put do exactly what they need to for your family, and forgo the unnecessary. They do so in an intentional and medically backed manner that allows the pregnancy and birthing process to play out as its meant to do.As a father, I felt involved in both births and cherish that experience so much. Supporting my wife throughout was something that will bond us both forever. I am so glad we met Maura by recommendation right before the birth of our first son. It truly changed so much for us!

Switching to Fika at 34 weeks pregnant was one of the best decisions I ever made. Maura respected my wishes for minimal intervention, while giving me the confidence that intervention would occur if medically necessary. She is incredibly professional and was by my side for my entire labor, delivery and even a few hours post-delivery. Now that is dedication!

I switched from a regular OBGYN to Fika late last year when I was roughly 26wks. It was single handedly the best decision that I made for not only myself but also my baby. Being a part of Fika is NOTHING like going the traditional route and I mean that in only the most positive light.My main concern as a pregnant individual at my OBs was feeling like I was being told yes to my birth plan but yes was really more like well see. I always assumed that I was being fully informed at my OBs about decisions but after switching to Fika I realized that most decisions were being made for me and I wasnt even aware of many choices that were actually taken away from me. Before switching to Fika I had visions of what my hospital birth was going to look like and for me it was receiving medicinal restraints after freaking out when my wishes werent being respected. It literally terrified me. The idea of losing control in a situation that meant so much to me.Once switching to Fika our plan was to have our son at the Coit House. What a great experience it was! I honestly feel so lucky that I got to experience my birth the way I wanted and had a amazing team of women around me to help facilitate it. As a first time mom I was surrounded by women that have all done home births themselves. That was one of the most powerful things to help me get through my labor.To all the dads out there that might be on the fence about home birth. I strongly encourage you to go to a consultation appointment. My husband was on the fence at first and now that our son is here he wishes he would have had the same experience with his other two children that were born in the hospital. As the dad he felt more like the birth team than the normal dad roll that he experienced the first two times. He is also the first one to tell you how amazing it was to be able to catch our son and pass him up to me when he was born. Imagine a birth experience where you and your partner are the first two people that get to hold and be with your baby!Even now my husband and I still joyfully reflect on our experience with Fika. I would 100% recommend them to anyone for womans care.

I was so grateful for the experience of birthing my second baby at the Coit House. The midwives at FIKA are excellent and professional. They make sure that you, as the client drive every step of the decision making process armed with current and peer-reviewed research. I felt empowered by my midwife to safely (and swiftly) deliver my baby while in their care. I will trust them 100% in the future for all my well-woman care and any future births!

Im very happy I gave birth with Fika! If you’re investigating Fika, you may have had a disillusioning experience with your OBGYN as I did. At 32 weeks pregnant I decide to switch to Fika. Having an out of hospital birth whether it was at a center or at my home had been on my mind since I was about 20 weeks pregnant. I think this review could be helpful for anyone who is interested in hearing from someone who switched to Fika out of an OBGYN hospital setting. Of course, you may have had a very different experience at your OBGYN then I did but I can only speak for my experience.The OBGYN avoided questions about C Section/intervention rates and did not appear to care what their C Section rate was, while Fika provided all the statistics I asked for in writing. At my OBGYN I felt that my questions were generally dismissed or that I received flippant responses. I felt that my questions were carefully considered and addressed at my prenatal Fika appointments. They also provided information sheets on various topics (vitamin K shot, and eye ointment) so I could make informed treatment decisions.I took the OBGYN affiliated hospital’s birthing class and it was clear to me that the nurses wanted you to do exactly what they said without question or complaint. They did not want to be challenged on questions like continuous vs intermittent fetal monitoring. At Fika I had the freedom to make a lot of choices that were right for me including what position I gave birth in.To start my journey with Fika, I had an interview with the owner who gave me and overview then gave me time to ask questions. The Coit house is very relaxing and feels like home, they even have a fancy coffee/espresso machine. The one critique I will give is that sometimes checking in felt a bit awkward because you just walk in and go into the waiting room on the second floor and wondering if anyone knows you are there. The patient portal is very modern with email reminders and the ability to cancel and reschedule if needed. The actual content of the prenatal appointments, taking your blood pressure, measuring your belly, ect was actually very similar to OBGYN care. The insurance was a pain but one of their staff members at Fika helped tremendously.I met all the midwives on staff around the time I gave birth and they were all very nice. Carolyn has a very gentle demeanor and is a joy to work with. Once I had my medical records transferred Fika found something in my medical records that my OB had never followed up on! Everything ended up being fine but Im thankful that FIka took the time to look through the records. Since they have a smaller number of patients, I believe they pay closer attention to you. I decided to give birth at their Coit house rather than my house and I was happy with it. I loved cuddling my baby with my husband in a real bed after the birth. We were able to go home quickly, but they made sure we felt comfortable to do so. Their home follow up visits were so nice and reassuring.

I loved the care and support I received from Fika during my pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I always felt informed and heard during my visits. We had a beautiful and smooth homebirth. I have already recommended Fika to friends looking for birth in a community setting.

As a birth photographer I got to witness Fika Midwiferys highest model of attention and care in action over the last year and a half. I can testify to the highest professionalism and care for both mother and baby, and the evidence based information provided to parents during labor with all choice provided so that informed consent can be given. Watching Fika work in the hospital and at home, they easily became one of my highest recommendations of care providers for birth to my pregnant friends, families and clients. Even my non-pregnant friends have gone to Fika for wellness care and immediately notice the difference, (Ill let them write their own reviews!).When we got pregnant with our second baby and desiring to have a v-bac, we knew we needed a high level of attention and care, and as much information and as many options as possible. We had worked with the Birthing Center of Buffalo for our first birth and were extremely satisfied with our experience, but we wanted to switch facilities up (also based on Dr. Morrisons reccomendation), to help us clear our thoughts of our old long labour and be able to experience this one as a separate experience and prepare ourselves mentally for the v-bac.Fika has been able to provide the respectful level of attention and care Ive needed and much, much more! I have had so many questions and what-ifs about preparing for the v-bac and each and every time the midwifes are able to answer them to me in such a calm and assuring way.Now with the addition of the Coit house, we have another wonderful option to birth at! Not only that, but having all of my appointments easy to schedule, being able to easily bring my daughter to an appointment, never waiting more than 10 minutes to see a midwife for my appointment, having the choice to eat jelly beans for the glucose test, (right on site!), having blood drawn right at my appointments instead of having to go somewhere else, and the level of personalized care I receive, were all additional surprises that have made our experience beyond wonderful thus far. As our due date approaches I am feeling such a level of peace and calm and knowing that I am in the best of hands with a knowledgable and professional birth team. I can not recommend Fika enough to all of my friends and family.

First Time Mom.This practice has been timed perfectly with everything for me. After a string of bad experiences, was looking for something less clinical. I found my answer in Fika! My first visit was at the Delaware office it was warm and welcoming! Maura offered me tea and really took the time to get a sense of me and why I was interested in Fika.There is no awkward waiting in a paper dress with this practice! Everything is tailored to your comfort. In the winter they even had a heater on the exam table along with a cozy blanket. This was all just for a yearly wellwoman visit. It was so refreshing not to be talked over or harshly handled!Well months go by and Im pregnant! So I inform the practice and you could hear the excitement through the phone! We wait to see if it sticks as in all pregnancies...greatfully it does and I know I want the natural approach! I didnt know how to navigate it esp with a bad history of being medically manhandled.They were such an informative force when I really needed that guidance!!! They were not pushy, or overbearing! The reccomended source materials were fascinating, so I knew it wasnt just their opinions! They made me informed and excited!I really wanted a home birth! But was nervous about being too far from the hospital just in case! Not only is the new location of Coit House the oldest home in Buffalo, its also only half a mile from the hospital should there be an emergency.So with planning to birth there I get the coziness of home and the safety net, along with warm people that actually care about my point of view as a woman!Go there if you want to be heard! Especially if your expecting, because at other places babies are treated like big business on a schedule. At Fika its your body, its your baby, its your choice!Just wanted to add an update!We had an all natural birth at Coit house! The women of Fika helped us through my long labor. Offering many avenues of support from massage therapy and food during labor to visiting an offsite chiropractor made all the difference. I sincerely believe had I attempted birth elsewhere (with the exception of the birthhome) I would not have encountered such supportive able people. They didnt give up on me and they wouldnt let me give up on myself!The birth of our child bore us into the community of Fika and I will forever be greatful for that!❤

I could not have asked for a better birth experience! Fika Midwifery accepted me as a new patient at 38w3d. For several months I knew I was not comfortable with my current OB but I thought it was too late to switch providers. It wasn’t until I was told by my former practice that there was a “slim chance” I would be able to have a birth without intervention that I decided to take action. I was referred to Fika and immediately knew it was the right place. Maura and Lydia were fantastic and supportive. They reassured me that the birth of my baby boy could be exactly as I wanted it to be - natural and EMPOWERING! I only regret that I didn’t find them earlier in my pregnancy because it would have saved me many months of worry. Thank you for what you are doing for the women of Buffalo!

I switched over from a hospital and felt like my time was finally a priority and questions and time was spent on me besides waiting around. I think the personal level of care and calmness perfect for what I was looking for. My husband was hesitant to see Mid Wife’s as opposed to doctors but when I explained to him I was only seeing Nurse Practitioners and would only see a doctor the day of delivery- it wasn’t too much different. If I have a high risk pregnancy or anything changes I’ll go to the hospital to deliver. Otherwise we are looking forward to being at Fika for a water birth. I also absolutely love that they use “evidence based birthing” practices.

I had a consultation at this clinic today. I was welcomed by Christina (who actually remembered me from almost a decade ago when I delivered with Eileen Stewart.) She gave me a tour of the location and offered some tea- very welcoming & calm environment. Maura understood from the beginning that Im exploring my options with this birth and she was very attentive, caring and informative. She answered all of my questions and put my mind at ease. While I havent decided if I will work with them Im glad to know that we have this facility as a birthing choice in our area.

Here are the FACTS of our experience. Equipment is so subpar that when trying to pick up my grandson’s heart beat we picked up the local country music radio station on several occasions which the employees and doula (Rebecca from Whole Nine Wellness) found humorous and said oh that happens all the time. We later learned with their methods of monitoring we have no way of knowing conclusively when my grandson died, we just know it was long before they noticed. According to their own records they waited 20 minutes after losing his heartbeat to call an ambulance. Both of those women (Adrianna and Kait) were given management positions within the first few weeks after my grandsons death despite being instrumental in the events that prevented a timely transfer to the hospital, promotions they both happily accepted. I arrived at the Coit house mid-day, just before 2 pm, several hours after my daughter and her partner had arrived. My daughter was allowed to push for almost 12 hours total despite this being a TOLAC and several other complications that were either downplayed as normal, or completely withheld from us by Maura’s employees while at Coit house. I was present for the last half of my daughters labor and watched these events unfold with my own eyes, an experience that still haunts me and wakes me from a dead sleep. Despite my intuition, high level of education, and expressed concerns they convinced me all was well, my daughter and grandson were at no time in danger. However, all medical professionals (including other home-birth midwives) that have reviewed the records or heard our account say this contrary to all Standard of Care. These are not my opinions or feelings, these are simply FACTS, facts any family considering their options need to be made aware of before choosing FIKA. In the end the choice is yours, but I will pray that if you choose FIKA your experience is complication free and you do not experience the nightmare we live with everyday.

Maura asked for reviews for her birthday, so here is my review, one year, two weeks, two days in the making.Birth at Coit house is like birth in the Handmaids Tale. The venue is stunning, the attendants are well rehearsed, but outside of that it is sinister, one-sided, and the only desire for good outcomes is based off of their desire to use birth for their own benefit. Something good happens in your birth? Wonderful, she can post about it on Instagram. Something bad happens? Well, she wont even reach out to see if youre ok.I watched as my partner gave every ounce of strength she had, asking specific questions regarding the safety of my son, voicing that she felt unsure and unsafe, but being told by the employees of Fika and by her doula Rebecca that everything was safe, everything was fine, it was all just variations of normal. It wasnt until months later when we finally had the courage to open our paperwork that we discovered the people who had been HIRED to keep my girlfriend and our baby safe had been lying the whole time, knowing perfectly well that he was slipping away from us for several hours before they decided to do something about it. It was only when he was gone that they finally called for help. Apparently, surviving birth or not is just a variation of normal to these people.When a birth goes well there, I hear its beautiful. But when it goes bad, it goes terribly wrong and puts people at risk. Maura has demonstrated that she does not intend to change her business model to provide an overall safe experience for parents and babies in her care. Repeatedly, the same complications that lead to our tragic outcome are circumstances of birth with Fika, even in the year since. Had Maura learned, had she changed, it would give our son a positive legacy. But she hasnt. And she shows not signs of wanting to. I wish I could say something good, anything good, about her business, but I guess the only positive thing to say is you have better options than this.

I was a late patient at 31 weeks but I was still excepted and received the care I needed to deliver my healthy baby boy without any discrimination. I definitely recommend this place because I myself had a wonderful experience with the coit house and I would love to do it again with my second child.

At first glance it seems like the perfect place to have your baby. Do not let the first glance fool you. The midwife has a horrible attitude and wants to be in complete control of YOUR birth experience. I am sure that I want to have a natural out of hospital birth and I am also sure that this is not the place I want to do it. I know that places that do out of birth hospitals are very limited in the area but you need to fully trust whoever is going to be delivering your baby ! Good luck moms

FIka Midwifery has helped me to learn about my body and my choices in womens well care. I am so grateful to Maura and her team for taking the time to not only provide care but to also educate me on all the options. I feel empowered and in control of my womens well care and that is the best feeling. I highly recommend Fika Midwifery.

Okay, I went for a general checkup/ to get my IUD checked out and this was by far the most amazing experience I’ve ever had, especially as a femme and especially as a queer person. Walking into the coit house is like walking into your favorite aunt’s house, so warm. Everyone is super knowledgeable, kind, and listens to all fears and concerns and is very conscious of comfortability etc. I’ve had issues with so many doctors that treat you like a lab specimen and award you 0 autonomy and I think that is the best part of Fika, they trust in the patient to make decisions for themselves while giving guidance and answers. I think it’s super unfortunate that bigots, misogynists, and white male doctors continuously come after Fika in Buffalo for offering an alternative, more natural, and more involved form of care. If you’ve had issues with the health care workers listed above in the past, I recommend 100% Fika. They also do the work to be inclusive of queer and trans bodies as well as bodies of color who are continuously under treated and refused health care in Buffalo. Go head Fika !!!

Maura winkler, the midwife at this facility is racist, and have a horrible attitude. Made me feel extremely uncomfortable. After being accepted, and changing my insurance as requested I was told that I was not allowed to give birth at the center because I was too far along due to an incomplete ultrasound. While I was at my appointment my husband and I were informed that everything looked perfect. Then received an email days later stating they were unable to see some parts of our baby. Alarmed by the news I called to make sure everything was ok. I was told that I was “aggressive” after I let her speak without interruption, I was not given the same courtesy. And overall just wanted empathy and compassion for my feelings, nothing! I then received an email stating I have a follow up appointment and I can still come in for it, that doesn’t even make sense logically if I’m “aggressive” why am I allowed back at all? I politely and non aggressively responded and said if you can’t handle small things why would I trust you with big things? A very big NO THANKS. I don’t want her negative energy no where near myself or my unborn child. She’s nasty, rude, passive aggressive, condescending, uneducated, biased, unprofessional, unable to converse as an adult, a tyrant, a walking dark cloud, and overall just seems to be a miserable woman on the inside. Don’t waste your time. The only reason I gave a rating of 1 star is because i’m unable to give ZERO stars. Its 2022 and we have people like Winkler, purposely discriminating against others because of the color of their skin. Shes disgusting and i’m disgusted to say the least.

The staff at Fika lied to us (unsolicited, and multiple times) about not ever having any fatalities resulting from mothers attempting to give birth at their facility. We did not find this out until after we had ( thank goodnes ) moved on to a standard hospital medical practice. For anyone considering this path for child birth, PLEASE do your research on the actual outcomes for Fika clients. Separately we hired a doula who said that she was shocked at what Fika did and did not disclose to us. At one of our appointments, the Fika service provider didnt know why we were there, and was pretty clearly intoxicated. When we told the owner at our next appointment, her response is she doesnt work here anymore. I dont think Ive ever written a single google review before, but in this case it may literally be a matter of life and death. Yes, in a complication free birth, of course its more comfortable to do that at a place like Fika. But if there are any complications that require actual medical intervention, the minutes spent getting from Fika to a medical professional can mean the difference in the life or death of your child. The inital couple of visits were great, but non-substantive. Fika is fine for pregnancy counseling or getting blood drawn. Please do your research and ask the actual medical professionals practicing in the area what they have seen first hand. It is a dramatically different story than the one FIKA tells.ADDITIONS RELATED TO RESPONSE BELOW:- Fika was absolutely not transparent about outcomes. The first midwife we saw said that they had never lost a baby yet. At the next appointment, my wife repeated that to Ms. Winkler - the other midwife said you had never lost a baby. There was no response from Ms. Winkler and no conversation about adverse outcomes and no transparency whatsoever. ZERO. We were totally misled, we told them we were mislead and they let it continue.Again, if you chose this path and actual medical intervention is required, the time required to undo that choice can be life and death. I assure you, the only conversation we had about this is - the hospital is very close, we send families there as required. Thats different that You are dramatically raising the chances that something bad happens if you chose to have your birth here and medical intervention is required.The responses from FIKA in the reviews are consistent with our experience - lots of diversion and half-truths, quick to respond to anyone to say they were not a patient but ZERO responses to the parents who posted to say that FIKA cost them their childs life. What about being transparent with clients about all outcomes, including adverse outcomes, and welcome any member of the community who wishes to discuss this topic further . . . Would that include answering the basic question - in the few years it has been open. how many women have gone to FIKA to give birth and ended up with an infant fatality? FIKA told us it was zero. Apparently that is not the case. FIKA in the spirit of welcoming any member of the community who wishes to discuss this topic further as it is an important component of planning to birth outside of a hospital - since FIKA opened in 2017, were there any babies that lost their lives because their parents chose FIKA and not a hospital? Is there any more important question than: am I increasing the risk that something terrible will happen if I chose to give birth here? I cant think of one.

I called Fika the day I found out I was pregnant and was seen within a few weeks. I received evidence-based care and was always given an option for treatment. In October I had the homebirth of my dreams attended by Carolyn & Lydia. The quality of my care and birth experience had me almost ready to change my mind about being done having babies ;)

We couldn’t be happier with the prenatal care and delivery of our daughter (out of hospital at the Coit House).We love the midwifery model and being able to just be present for the pregnancy, listening to baby and my body!My husband was thrilled to be a big part of the actual delivery of our baby! We had a complication that resulted in me being transferred to a hospital but it would’ve likely happened wherever I gave birth. We were very pleased with how everything was handled and the support from Lydia during the transfer.Our doula had never attended a birth at the Coit House before ours. An opportunity for doulas to come by and tour would be beneficial. Plus being able to meet the birth assistants would be nice too!

0 stars (Z-E-R-O)Maura and the staff at Fika lack knowledge, experience, empathy and compassion for those they render care to.They have repeatedly made poor judgement calls when mother and child are in distress, experiencing life threatening complications, failing to transport when medical attention was needed, leading to disabilities, even worse; death.Wonder why you havent heard of this side of Fika??!!Families whove experienced loss while under the care of Fika are silenced and shunned because Maura doesnt want people to know the truth. She has done NOTHING as a business owner to make it right, not even checkedon the families that have experienced loss under her services.How can someone so heartless, work with the most fragile part of life??... One by oneThe truths being revealed in hopes that you will explore any other option than FIKA.

The women of Fika Midwifery are a gift to our community! True woman-centered care and support for physiologic birth in its entirety. The compassionate and professional care youll receive from them is sure to make you feel safe and at ease.

I have thought many times about writing this review over the years. As a person who has worked in and cherished her time as a homebirth assistant, and an aspiring midwife myself I was immediately drawn to Fika 3 years ago as a pregnant person 1st living in Buffalo. Sadly, over time in WNY one horrific event after another seemed to unfold from this practice. Full term, healthy, low risk moms and babies should not have these outcomes. Nor should the owner claim patriarchy as a defense to hide the body count. She has managed to cultivate a very pretty picture, carefully worded and curated to attract clients. But the omissions and outright lies have cost many families dearly. Fortunately lies can only live for so long. Please, if choosing midwifery look into the numerous providers in WNY who provide safe, evidence based care.**edit to add** the owner still does not address the deaths, impending disciplinary actions, loss of admitting privileges, etc. Not at all surpsing you would find a way to try to spin and gloat. Par for the course that you have no ability to have any insight or responsibility. As long as that continues families will lose in your care.

Zero stars....lack of professionalism and complete lack of empathy for anyone other than herself or the appearance of her business. A tyrant lacking in compassion, heart, and common decency, with no right to call herself a health care provider.Go ahead Maura, consult your books to see if Ive ever been there or not, you wont though because this is a one star review so youll just cut and paste your stock response that Ive never received care thereAnyone looking into Fika for your birthing experience, make the best decision for yourself, your loved ones, and your unborn child and look elsewhere

Unless you want to risk the chance of your baby dying in her care avoid this place at all costs. Fika will not tell you the true number of deaths they experienced in such a short amount of time with perfectly healthy babies who end up passing or ending up disabled because of the lack of experience they have.

I had a great experience at The Coit House! I highly recommend giving birth there if possible. The environment and care is so much better than the hospital and I will definitely be back!

A house of horrors is the best way to describe it. They care more about being able to say they empower women then actual delivering live healthy babies and keeping mothers safe. Don’t let them tell you the hospital is close by and you and your baby will be safe because they’ll wait too long and both you and your baby will be on the brink of death (or in some cases your baby already dead) before they make that call. TRUST ME.If there was an option for it 0 stars or negative stars is more of what they deserve.

The best experience I have ever had. The midwife and nurses was so nice and made my experience so easy and smooth. I would recommend anyone pregnant to consider giving birth here.

Absolutely beautiful experience all around with Maura for our second child’s all natural birth after having difficulties with an epidural in a hospital with our first born. Nothing but good things to say!

I found Fika during my third pregnancy (as a surrogate) and am grateful for the experience they provided then and now, during my continued well care with the practice.

I love the serenity and beauty of The Coit House Birth Center. The staff could not be nicer and Maura is the best-- very professional and knowledgeable.

Supportive birthing center that does not pressure you to make any decisions you’re not comfortable with. The staff are kind and empowering.

They dropped me 1 month before my due date. I couldnt find another dr they offered to let me keep going to appointments with them but would you want to use someone practice that doesnt want you and made you uncomfortable and made you cry? They made it so I had to do a hospital birth I wouldnt ever use them again. I would give 0 stars but thats not an option. Super unprofessional!!!

I had a wonderful birth with Fika Midwifery! I could not have felt better supported or better cared for during my prenatal care, labor, birth, and postpartum. Thank you!

Editing my review after my one star rating caused fika to say i never received care with them (i’m not sure how she came to that conclusion). i have, in fact, delivered a whole entire baby at the coit house.

This place offers gender affirming care for birthing people. I feel safe and welcome, and the house is beautiful.

I recommend them over and over. Had both my babies with them. Great prenatal and general women’s wellness care. Wonderful environment. Teaching women to be educated, advocates for themselves.

Please search from low-high reviews and consider the consistency in which they reply to anything less-than positive. Be safe. Use your voice and demand your health be priotiized if they try to convince you otherwise. Trust your gut.

Carolyn Potter was amazing, Knowledgeable, and helpful. I’m enjoying my experience with Ficka midwifery.

Amazing experience with both of my babies (2020 and 2021). We love Maura and all the staff!

Wish there was an option for 0 stars. You better HOPE & PRAY your delivery comes with ZERO complications because you might pay the ultimate consequence, at their discretion if you do.

I gave birth to my son there and it was the best experience ever. And he is a year and a half now

Zero stars. Totally unsafe if you run into any complications with your delivery.