“I’ve never had such warm, personalized care as I did during my prenatal meetings with Robina. She answered all our questions, big and small, laughed and cried with us, and made sure that we had all the information we needed to make any important decisions that arose during the pregnancy. Part of why I chose to work with Robina was that I was hoping for a midwife who would hang in the corner and trust in my innate ability to give birth—and that’s exactly what she did, up until I needed every. single. tool in her bag. Her wisdom, knowledge, trust and experience helped me move through 56 hours of labor that ultimately ended with me birthing into her hands on the floor of my bedroom.

My daughter needed some help breathing after being born, and Robina handled the situation with such confidence and calmness that I never worried. My husband and I were so grateful to have Robina’s expertise to guide us through pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum, and if we decide to have another child, there’s no doubt that she’ll be one of our very first phone calls.”

“I had the pleasure of hiring Robina for both of my children’s births. She is kind, gentle, genuine, exudes positivity and confidence. She made the prenatal, birthing, and postpartum process seem so natural. I felt very reassured by her presence, which makes this whole thing so much easier.

I hear so many stories from women having disconnected care providers who didn’t provide that support that is so needed during and after labor/delivery. I know if I had chosen the more traditional method of birth (re: hospital birth), then I would not have had my birth the way I imagined it to be with my voice leading the way.

Robina provided me with the space to be heard and cared for in a way no other provider can due to lack of time and/or resources. She…is not just my midwife, she has also become a dear friend to our family and that has made this experience that much more positive.”

“Henrietta Pearl Kostman was born on Monday, September 2, 2019 at 3:20 a.m. As with our son Bodhi, my partner Tao and my mother Linda were present. Praise Allah we were home and we had Robina with us. A recurring phrase in my brain with Bodhi was “we got this” and Robina underscored that trust. From our first meeting in the lead up to Henrietta’s birth, she instilled confidence with her calm manner and informed care. Most of our time together was spent discussing our common experiences, having grown up in the South Brooklyn. When I had concerns about birthing at home, she addressed them head on and detailed what would be done.

Tao and I understand now that Robina gave us a gift. From the moment our daughter was born, we knew her strength and I knew to trust in her and in my ability to journey together. Our son Bodhi was also part of the journey as he should be as a member of this family. Even though he was fast asleep with his grandmother when his sister was born, he attended birth appointments and became familiar with Robina. I know that he felt the anticipation of the coming birth and how much his support would mean to me. Bodhi assumed his role and big brother with so much love and warmth.

We praise Robina for the work she is doing for so many, returning dignity and privacy to this sacred experience. Birth is fraught with stress for so many and it does not have to be. It was revelatory to engage with a provider that put me and my family first, our new baby first, and not guidelines and common practice.

The truth is I continue to learn from Robina and her grace we feel uniquely blessed that we came across Small Things Grow.”

“Looking back I underestimated the importance of, as a woman of color and a physician, to have a midwife whose core is love and liberation. Like, not just giving lip service to it, but to have walked in the skin of a brown person, and to lean into it as the center of their being. And while at the time I may not have recognized it in my head, my soul recognized it as safety.

I remember having met Robina on my third pregnancy after having devastatingly lost my second one. We were all so excited, and then, even though I wasn’t even a client and we barely knew each other (and she wasn’t being paid), she held me through different ultrasounds and appointments and being scared and grieving over the course of a month and a half before I finally had the miscarriage.

We finally had a successful fourth pregnancy. I keep thinking of the Maya Angelou quote that says “...but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I will always remember the respect and care and utter lack of judgement. I remember my blood sugar being close to 300 after eating pasta and ice cream during our little babymoon, telling Robina, and getting absolutely no comment or judgement about it, no shame or guilt. I don’t remember a lot about the birth itself, but I remember Robina coming in. I remember telling her that it sucked. And I remember her saying “yeah, it fuckin’ does.” I remember her lifting me out of the bathtub because my feet had fallen asleep. (get yourself a super strong midwife!). I think back, and there was just so much space, like I barely remember Robina aside from those few interactions, and how that space was a gift, and how all of it felt perfectly ordinary.

And then in the ensuing years, having the absolute privilege of being part of her community (even if it’s mostly on instagram). The ways in which she has shaped our journey as a family on the long path of justice, love, liberation, what it means to live in the collective and in community. Ways in which she has influenced the way I parent and show up in the world. It has all been a gift. Robina is an absolute gift of a person, and the world is so much better with her in it.”

“Robina was the first care provider with whom I experienced a truly trauma-informed pelvic exam. As a trans person, it’s hard to find well body care that does not feel misgendering, even in NYC. Robina used language that mirrored my own to refer to my body and made no assumptions or judgements about my gender, sexuality, or sexual practices. She took my discomfort seriously, never once dismissing my concerns even when she did not have a definitive answer to the source of my pain. She showed me how to do my own Pap smear and gave me privacy to practice. In a follow-up to our visit she took the time to explain the results of my lab tests and their implications, which helped me feel empowered in my choices. I can confidently say that Robina’s care helped me grow the trust I have in my body and my sense of bodily autonomy.”

“Robina took over my care mid-pregnancy when my original midwife, her friend, needed to receive medical treatment. We were both nervous to meet each other under those circumstances, not knowing what to expect of one another, or what each other thought of the situation we found ourselves in. But our first conversation was open and honest; her easy going nature made it feel natural and relaxed. I loved the individualized care, the long visits, my daughter calling her Aunty Roro, the ability to call or text if needed, and the comfort of getting to know her and know *she* would be the one there with me during labor and delivery.

My delivery was smooth and straightforward. Between contractions it felt like friends just hanging out listening to music (it makes me smile now thinking about it). Shortly after my son was delivered I was bleeding more than what would be considered normal. Robina quickly administered medication and other strategies to get the bleeding down. My blood pressure dropped fairly low, however because she knew me intimately she knew my normal blood pressure in pregnancy was on the lower end of the spectrum, so she did not over react or panic. She instilled calm and faith in me and I trusted her. She administered an IV as well. But beyond all the medical treatment the best thing she did for my family and I was stay. She stayed for hours, even after my bleeding was down to normal. She stayed until she was absolutely sure we were all OK, both physically and emotionally, for her to leave.

We are still friends today. I never miss any of the wisdom, words, and labor she shares with her community. She is such a treasure to all who are lucky enough to know her and receive her care.”

“I always brag about my pregnancy experience and having a Home Water Birth with my youngest. It wasn’t because it was the most amazing and wildly short labor and delivery. It was most definitely because Robina felt like home and still is home to me. Her care, openness to learning and thinking she is the expert, her reminding me to trust myself and my body, extending herself beyond medical needs, being an additional ear for me during pregnancy, her transparency. I mean what else could I have asked for in a person that I have entrusted to enlighten, share information, encourage, support me through one of the most laboring and exciting, and rollercoaster of emotions. I absolutely treasure and beyond grateful to have had Robina alongside me. Thank you Thank you Thank you.”

“In Robina’s care, I always felt safe, supported, informed, and very well taken care of. She is very easy to talk to and a great listener. I am amazed how she is able to remember such small details about me that I shared in our prenatal visit as well as my birth. It’s just further evidence of how highly she values the relationships between herself and her clients, and honors the sanctity of birth.

During our prenatal visits, I felt like I was visiting with a sister or a friend, yet I left confident and assured knowing that all of my medical needs were being taken care. Her office/ exam area was always immaculately clean and inviting and comfortable, without being overly clinical or invoking feelings of anxiety or fear. Her touch is so gentle, intuitive and wise. Procedures (gynecological and obstetrical) that were painful or uncomfortable with my previous providers were relaxed, easy and pain free with Robina. She can “see” so much with the gentle touch of her hands, like baby’s size and position. Seeing her warm smile as we chatted while she examined my belly and baby made me feel as if she was just as excited to meet my little one as I was.

Robina is easily one of the smartest women I’ve known; fiercely dedicated to constantly educating herself in the area of birth, and sharing that knowledge with others. She carries the wisdom of the numerous births she has attended with her and it is evident how it has informed and refined her care. It was important for me to chose a provider that was culturally responsive, and that would respect my decisions, help me to make informed choices by weighing risk vs. potential benefit and not encourage/ push unnecessary interventions or procedures. Robina 100% checked all the boxes.

During my labor and birth, Robina and I chatted and laughed as we did in our exams. Looking back I am absolutely amazed at how much she was able to discern about my progress from external, non invasive observations. She worked in tandem with her birth assistant quickly (knowing that my baby would be coming very soon) yet calmly to get everything set up for baby’s arrival allowing me to fully focus. As I was hovering above my toilet, legs shaking, sure that they would falter, Robina’s gentle hands were there to catch my baby and gently guide her to my anxious hands. We laughed together in the joy of the moment, and also at the fact that she emerged crying even before she was fully born. Robina pointed out that she knew I needed to hear it right away. She was right.

Transitioning from pregnancy to motherhood can be a challenging adjustment. It can seem that everything changes in an instant from being about the mother and her well being, to the baby. However during my postpartum period I felt completely supported and cared for. Robina was able to strike the perfect balance between caring for me and baby’s immediate needs whilst adoring all the unique little details about her not so tiny little self. During those precious immediate postpartum moments, Robina imparted trinkets of Wisdom about recovery, and taught me invaluable lessons about her cry, nursing and infant care.

I very much count my pregnancies and childbirths as the most transformative and beautiful experiences of my life. I am so grateful that I found Robina, and it was truly my great honor to have her as my midwife. There is no criticism, nor anything that I would change about my pre and post natal journey with Robina and Small Things Grow Midwifery.”

“Robina was my midwife for my second home birth. She came recommended by the midwives from my first home birth, who were taking a year off. I was nervous about things that were hard from that first birth and I was initially super bummed to have to explain those things and build a new relationship with someone who wasn’t even there — but WOW it very quickly felt like she had been there with me for my entire motherhood journey. There is an ease in Robina’s aura (and many years of experience and acquired wisdom) that lets you put down the fears and expectations and anxieties that you are holding and instead she invites you to be present with your self and your baby as you journey together into the world.”

“Robina is amazing to talk to…she is simultaneously infinitely wise and knowledgeable about birth as well as curious and supportive about your unique experiences. I went into our session not sure what I was looking for—I knew I had a lot to unpack but didn’t know what I was hoping to receive. Robina’s compassion, validation, and space-holding was all that I was searching for and more. I wish I could meet with her weekly to discuss all things birth and motherhood in this wild world. She makes me feel hopeful and less afraid navigating it all.”