The Heart of Home Birth: An Interview with Gold Soul Midwifery
Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most sacred and life-changing experiences a mother can have. While hospital births are the norm for many, more families are embracing the beauty and intimacy of home birth. But what does home birth really look like, and how can a midwife support moms through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum?
In this interview, I had the honor of speaking with Jessie Rockwell of Gold Soul Midwifery (who is located in La Mirada), a dedicated home birth midwife who provides faith-centered, holistic care to expecting mothers. She shares what makes her midwifery practice unique, how she supports moms physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and why home birth can be a truly empowering experience. Whether you’re considering home birth or simply curious about midwifery care, this conversation offers valuable insight into the beauty of bringing birth back home.
Getting to Know You & Your Practice
What makes your midwifery practice unique compared to others?
What makes Gold Soul Midwifery unique is the depth of connection I build with each family. As a solo practitioner, I’m the one who sits with you during prenatal visits, the one who answers your questions in the middle of the night, and the one who quietly holds space as you bring your baby earthside. There’s no rotation of faces or shift changes—just the continuity of care that fosters deep trust and safety.
I offer more than clinical expertise. I offer reverence. I believe birth is a sacred, powerful process—one that unfolds best when a birthing person feels safe, seen, and fully supported. My care is rooted in relationship, intuition, evidence-based knowledge, and a deep respect for your autonomy. Whether it’s through nourishing education, long and unrushed prenatal visits, or gentle presence at birth, I walk with you through this transformative year not just as a provider, but as a witness and a guide.
I don’t believe in rushing birth—or relationships. My approach honors the emotional, spiritual, and physiological layers of this journey, creating a space where you can soften into the work of birth, fully supported and fully heard.
Faith & Birth
Birth is such a sacred and transformative experience. How do you see God’s hand in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum?
I see God’s hand in every part of the journey—from the quiet miracle of conception to the first breath a baby takes nestled against their mother’s chest. There is such divine intelligence woven into the process of birth. The way the body knows exactly what to do… the way hormones rise and fall like waves… the way babies often come right when they’re meant to, not a moment too soon or too late—it all speaks to something far greater than us.
Labor, in particular, feels like a holy invitation. It breaks us open, not just physically but spiritually. I’ve watched women walk through fire and come out radiant—reborn as mothers. It’s in those raw and powerful moments that I feel closest to the Divine. There’s a stillness, a reverence in the room, and I often find myself quietly praying—offering thanks, asking for peace, and honoring the sacred work unfolding before me.
Postpartum, too, is holy ground. It’s where God’s presence can be felt in the stillness, in the surrender, in the small yet profound acts of nourishment and rest. I see God in the way a mother gazes at her baby. In the tears that come as she navigates the vastness of this new identity. In the strength it takes to ask for help and the grace of receiving it.
To me, birth is worship. It’s a reminder that we are never alone in this journey. That we are held, carried, and deeply known by a loving Creator who designed this process with intention, beauty, and wisdom.
Pregnancy Support & Preparation
What role do holistic wellness, nutrition, and movement play in your prenatal care approach?
Holistic wellness is at the heart of how I care for my clients. Pregnancy isn’t just a physical experience—it touches every part of you: body, mind, spirit, and relationships. My goal is to support the whole person, not just check boxes on a chart.
Nutrition is a foundational part of our care. What you nourish yourself with matters deeply—it’s what helps your baby grow, supports your energy levels, and prepares your body for the work of labor and healing postpartum. We talk often about nutrient-dense foods, blood sugar balance, hydration, and even ancestral wisdom around nourishment and herbs. I want you to feel strong, vibrant, and deeply supported from the inside out.
Movement is just as important. Gentle, intuitive movement—whether it’s walking, stretching, dancing, or strength work—can support optimal fetal positioning, reduce discomfort, and help you feel more connected to your changing body. But more than that, movement is a way to stay grounded, to process emotions, and to prepare physically and emotionally for birth.
True wellness in pregnancy is about alignment—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I offer guidance, resources, and encouragement, but I also trust your intuition. You know your body better than anyone. My role is to walk alongside you, to help you tune in, and to offer care that honors your whole self.
Check out what a prenatal appointment looks like with Jessie in her La Mirada office, Here.
The Birth Experience
What are some common fears or misconceptions about home birth, and how do you reassure families?
One of the most common fears I hear is, “What if something goes wrong?” And I get it—we live in a culture that has medicalized and pathologized birth to the point that many people have never seen or heard of birth as anything other than a hospital event filled with machines, interventions, and emergencies.
But here’s the truth: birth is a normal, physiologic process that most often unfolds beautifully when the birthing person feels safe, supported, and undisturbed. As midwives, we are trained to recognize when birth is progressing normally—and just as importantly, when it’s not. We bring our skills, tools, and clinical judgment into your home, and we are always prepared to transfer to a higher level of care if needed. But most of the time, that’s not the story.
Another misconception is that home birth is only for people who want a “natural” or “crunchy” experience. But in reality, home birth is for anyone who wants to be seen, heard, and treated with deep respect. It’s for people who value autonomy, trust in their body’s wisdom, and want care that centers their emotional and spiritual wellbeing—along with their physical safety.
I reassure families by offering education, transparency, and time. We spend 45–60 minutes together at each prenatal visit, talking through your questions, your hopes, and your fears. I want you to feel informed and empowered, not pressured or rushed. I want you to know that you’re not choosing between safety and experience—you’re choosing both.
When you give birth at home, surrounded by love and familiar comforts, your body can open in ways that are simply harder to access in clinical environments. And when you look around and see your trusted midwife, your partner, your children, your doula—you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Can you walk us through what a typical home birth with you looks like?
Every birth is unique, but a home birth with me is centered around one thing: you feeling safe, supported, and deeply seen.
Labor begins in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by familiar smells, sounds, and people you trust. You get to move freely, eat and drink when you feel like it, rest when you need to, and settle into the rhythm of your own labor without being told what to do or how to do it. Your home becomes a sanctuary—dim lights, soft voices, and a sense of calm reverence as your body does exactly what it was made to do.
I arrive when labor is active, checking in gently to assess how you’re doing—physically, emotionally, spiritually. I monitor your baby’s heartbeat and your vital signs with minimal disruption. I offer comfort measures, reassurance, suggestions for position changes if needed, and gentle encouragement. If you’ve chosen to labor or birth in water, I help set up the tub and create a peaceful environment.
Throughout it all, I’m holding space while also quietly watching, listening, and attuning to the energy of the room. I bring my clinical skills and tools—but I also bring my presence, my intuition, and my deep trust in the birthing process.
Once baby is born, there’s no rushing. No bright lights. No immediate separation. You and your baby stay together, skin-to-skin, while we wait for the cord to finish pulsing. We honor that sacred golden hour while I quietly assess baby’s transition and support you with anything you need—whether that’s help latching, a nourishing drink, or just a warm blanket.
After a few hours—once you’ve eaten, showered if you wish, and your family is snuggled up in bed—I tidy up, tuck you in, and leave you to rest. I return for several postpartum visits in the coming days and weeks to continue supporting your healing, feeding journey, and emotional well-being.
Home birth with me isn’t about performing—it’s about belonging. You’re in your space, on your terms, surrounded by people who honor the sacredness of this moment. And that, to me, is the way birth is meant to be.
Postpartum Care & Recovery
How do you encourage moms to lean on faith and community during the postpartum season?
Postpartum is such a tender, sacred window—a time when your body is healing, your identity is shifting, and your heart is expanding in ways you never imagined. It’s also a time when so many women feel isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to ask for help. That’s why I gently remind my clients: you were never meant to do this alone.
I encourage mothers to lean into their faith—to find comfort in prayer, in stillness, in the knowledge that God is present even in the messiest moments. There’s such peace in remembering that you are held by something greater than yourself. When the nights feel long, when the tears flow freely, when you’re unsure if you’re doing it “right,” I often invite moms to pause, breathe, and remember: you were chosen for this child, and you are not alone.
I also talk openly about the importance of community—because postpartum healing is not just physical, it’s emotional and spiritual. I encourage my clients to create a soft place to land: a circle of people who can show up with food, with open arms, with quiet companionship. Sometimes that’s family. Sometimes it’s a friend, a postpartum doula, a church group, or another mama who’s been there. Whatever it looks like, I believe in normalizing the need for support—not as a sign of weakness, but as a sacred part of the design.
This season requires grace. It requires rest, nourishment, and connection. And when women are surrounded by a loving community and anchored in their faith, they’re reminded that they don’t have to hold it all alone. They can simply be held.
Final Thoughts & Future Projects
What do you wish more women knew about home birth and midwifery care?
I wish more women knew that home birth is not about taking a risk—it’s about reclaiming what’s always been yours: your autonomy, your intuition, and your right to feel safe, supported, and respected during birth.
Midwifery care isn’t just a different setting for birth—it’s a completely different model of care. It’s slow, relational, and centered around you. It’s care that honors your body’s wisdom, listens to your voice, and walks beside you through every step of this journey. We don’t just monitor your blood pressure and measure your belly—we ask how your heart is doing, how your relationships are feeling, how your soul is preparing for this rite of passage.
I wish more women knew that home birth is a safe option for many, and that midwives are skilled professionals trained to monitor the normal and respond when things deviate. We bring clinical tools, yes—but we also bring presence, reverence, and trust in the design of birth.
And most of all, I wish women knew they have options. That they don’t have to settle for care that leaves them feeling dismissed or unseen. That they can choose a birth experience where they feel empowered, educated, and deeply loved. Because birth isn’t just about having a healthy baby—it’s about how you feel becoming a mother. And that matters.
Where can expecting moms connect with you and learn more about your services?
I’d love to connect with you and hear more about your vision for birth. You can visit goldsoulmidwifery.com to learn more about the services I offer, explore FAQs, and schedule a free consultation.
You can also find me on Instagram @goldsoulmidwifery, where I share real stories, educational content, and heartfelt reflections on birth, motherhood, and holistic living.
And if you enjoy podcasts, come join me on the Gold Soul Podcast—a space where I share empowering birth stories, holistic insights, and soul-led conversations with fellow parents and wellness professionals. Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or simply seeking conscious connection, you’re so welcome there. We’re available on all Podcast Streaming services under “Gold Soul Podcast with Jessie Rockwell”.
Wherever you are on your journey, I’m honored to walk alongside you!
Embracing the Beauty of Home Birth
Home birth is more than just where a baby is born—it’s about feeling empowered, supported, and at peace in the process. Midwives like Jessie, play a vital role in helping mothers navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with wisdom, skill, faith, and holistic care. Their presence creates a sacred space where families can welcome new life in the comfort of thier home. And I love how Jessie said, “Birth is worship… That we are held, carried, and deeply known by a loving Creator who designed this process with intention, beauty, and wisdom.”
If you’re planning a home birth, consider how you want to feel and remember this incredible experience. As a birth photographer, videographer, and doula, I am passionate about capturing the raw beauty, strength, and emotion of birth while offering hands-on support. These moments are powerful, fleeting, and deeply meaningful—and having them documented allows you to relive them for years to come.
Whether you’re looking for a photographer to preserve your story, a videographer to capture the emotions in motion, or a doula to walk alongside you with encouragement and care (or all three!), I’d love to support you. Let’s connect and create a birth experience that is both intentional and unforgettable.
