Northern Sun Family Healthcare 53 Main Street, Topsham, ME 04086

"As soon as I stepped into this building I started feeling nausea, dizzy, brainfog. There must be some toxic mold in the air to cause this for me. I'm sensitive to mold, I've been working on recovering by avoiding exposure and working with drs. I told the Dr how I felt, and we tried to continue to do intake. The Dr didn't seem to understand the affects of toxic mold and the problems I have. I had a hard time answering questions due to the effects of the building. After 30 minutes we decided its best that I left since the building and air quality were affecting my health. I received a bill for $376 for this visit. I've tried calling over 20 times, left messages and never got any answer or response. I've found an expert mold dr based in new hampshire that is specially trained in mold related illness and understands how to treat it, they cost less than this bill I received as well."

"Right when COVID began, I was still going to a hospital for my appointments, but when they told me that I had to only have one person in the room when I gave birth, I knew I wanted a home birth with my family. I was a 17 year old, single mom, and I knew I couldn’t do it with only one person in the room. I needed my mom, my sisters and my brother. I found Sarah and her team shortly after I decided I wanted a home birth and went in for my first appointment. I knew from the minute I met her that I wanted her to deliver my baby. She was so welcoming and not judgmental at all and fully supported me and my decisions. I wanted a water birth and when I saw the birth suite, I KNEW that was where my baby was going to be delivered. It felt like home and it was the most comfortable place I had been since I found out I was pregnant. Sarah made such a huge impact on my entire pregnancy and my life. She talked me through everything and even had zoom classes about certain topics. I knew she cared way more than anyone did at the hospital. I told her my biggest fear of my pregnancy and she told me she would make sure that didn’t happen, and she in fact did not break that promise to me. Everything and anything I had questions on she let me ask and never told me it was stupid. I talked to her about my past and about very personal things that I had never talked to anyone but my mom about. She is the best midwife I have ever heard of in my life. She delivered my sweet son on April 16, 2020 at 6:52pm. The last words I said before I had him was “I just want to hold him” and the second he was born, she let me pull him up on my chest from the water. My mom was my birth partner the entire pregnancy and sat behind me in the tub. It was the most amazing experience and I know Northern Sun Family Healthcare is going to be where I deliver my future children. Thank you to Sarah and her team for making the end of my pregnancy, my labor and deliver, as well as postpartum the most amazing experience I had every imagined."

"I am deeply grateful for Dr. Sarah and her team at Northern Sun. They are wonderful people who are very knowledgeable in their expertise. They have been with me for two pregnancies and births so far. My first born son died ten hours after he was born. And I am still so thankful to have been blessed with Dr. Sarah and her team during that time. They stayed with us the entire time in the hospital and came to visit many times afterwards and continuously checked in on our family throughout the following year. And I know there is nothing different Dr. Sarah and her team could have done to change the outcome of his short life. When I got pregnant again a couple of years later I asked Dr. Sarah to accompany me once again during my home birth. Again, her team was amazing and I am deeply grateful for their help birthing my daughter (who is still alive and healthy)! They were very supportive and thorough. Woliwon (thank you) Sarah."

"From my very first visit with Dr. Sarah Ackerly, I knew we had found the woman I wanted to deliver my baby. Dr. Ackerly gives her undivided attention to every patient when she is with them. She spent a full two hours getting to know my partner and I, she truly made us feel calm, connected and safe. Throughout my pregnancy she expertly answered all of our questions. Our appointments combined with the additional classes included with the global package provided a holistic view of the birthing process, postpartum recovery and life with a newborn. Dr. Ackerly always encouraged me to listen to my body and gave me confidence that I know what is best for me and my baby. About halfway through my pregnancy I decided on having a home birth. My labor began when my water broke and I called Dr. Ackerly immediately. She gave me easy advice to follow and told me to call her again when my contractions were closer together. It took 24 hours before my contractions were close enough for her and her team to arrive. They took great care of me, encouraging my partner to remain by my side as my #1. I continued listening to my body and staying connected with my baby and several hours later made the difficult decision to go to the hospital to complete the delivery. The midwives were wonderfully understanding, they fully supported my decision. They called the hospital to let them know that I was 8cm dilated and that we were on our way. After getting me checked into my room, they stayed with me the whole time, either in the room or in the waiting room. Then when it came time to push they were right at my side. My beautiful, healthy, HAPPY baby was born almost exactly 48 hours after my water broke. I didn't end up needing a C-section because my son's heart rate stayed strong. I truly believe this is because of my partner, Dr. Ackerly and my incredible birth team helping me stay calm and focused. I've continued to go to Northern Sun for my postpartum care and we are seeing Dr. Ackerly as my son's pediatrician. Although his birth didn't go as planned, he is the happiest baby in the world! Every day I draw power from my birth experience. Thank you Sarah, Alicia, Allie and the entire Northern Sun team!"

"I had the privilege and honor to witness the birth of my first grandchild on April 3, 2020 at the birth center with my son and beautiful daughter-in-law. The care, sensitivity, help, encouragement, and suggestions they received from the ladies was overwhelmingly positive. The staff all were wonderful! Sarah is wise and has about 25 years of midwifery experience. She was so sensitive to their needs and their desires. She provided guidance and gave helpful suggestions when needed for the birth to progress throughout the labor. It was so beautiful to watch. I NEVER felt like it was "my way or the highway” with Sarah; the parents had the final decisions with their baby. She encourages the partner to experience and participate with their child’s birth. You can tell Sarah LOVES her job and her passion runs deep to help mothers to experience giving birth to babies naturally. It was an experience I will never forget and that I will cherish for the rest of my life! I feel closer to my son and my daughter-in-law having experienced that together. A day and a half after the birth, Sarah came to our house to give the baby and mother their first postpartum checkup. She was very thorough and spent hours talking with us about the tests she was doing and our overall experience with the birth. I was so impressed with her care and generosity. She called beforehand and made a trip to Target to get a needed item, and she also brought a gift bag for baby and mother. Dear beautiful Mothers, we are designed and created to bear children naturally and nurture that power within us. Due to fear, I feel as though we have lost the power to labor the way we are meant to. A natural birth will change the way you view yourself and your abilities to mother a child. I would highly encourage anyone who is with child or considering starting a family to contact the birth center and meet with Sarah to discover that there are wonderful options available to you. I promise you will not regret it. Sarah will help you learn how to embrace and listen to your body and its ability to give birth. She encourages you with her knowledge and experience to give you the confidence you need to birth your precious child in a society that is full of fear and scare tactics about giving birth. Laboring and birthing your baby with Sarah will prove to be empowering, exciting, and wonderful."