My husband and I decided to take Janine's class due to our holistic approach to birthing and our goal to best prepare ourselves with pain-coping strategies for a natural birth plan. Not only did Janine optimally prepare us, but we got so much more out of the class than we ever expected. Janine's approach is relatable, compassionate, friendly, kind and incredibly positive. She provided my husband and I space, in an intimate group setting, to have the tough conversations around birthing, our relationship with each other as future parents, and space to create tangible plans for prenatal care, labor and postpartum support. We would not have carved out this time to work through these topics on our own, and have so much appreciation for the tools and revelations Janine was able to help us uncover. My husband and I felt emotionally and physically ready to take on the birthing process, and felt intimately aligned as a partner duo in the process. We were especially grateful for the way Janine shed light on the birthing process due to COVID-19 and the fact that our Doula couldn't join us in the hospital as planned. My husband has such a greater understanding, respect and comfortability with supporting me in the toughest times of delivery because of Janine's curriculum. I highly recommend Janine's Birth From Love course to any conscious parents who are looking for a deeper connection, understanding and confidence in the birthing process, whether you are planning a natural birth or not. We had a smooth labor and delivery and now a happy, healthy baby girl to enjoy! read more

Janine is absolutely amazing! My husband and I did a private class - Birthing Again at home, which was so convenient and suitable as we are planning this birth to be at our home so it was a more appropriate comfortable setting for us. She has a ton of insight and recommendations not just about birthing/laboring the baby again, but on other topics such as postpartum plans and managing a healthy communicative relationship with your partner. Initially I thought 6 hours for a class was a bit long but it went by so fast! And we are more than happy we chose her as a guide to preparing us to do this again! Thank you Janine!! read more

Birth From Love - My husband actually enjoyed and benefited from the class too! - Doulas Near Me - San Diego, California

We chose this class in the hopes of learning tips and techniques on how to handle labor, birth, and a newborn baby as naturally as possible while planning for the unexpected. Janine's class was great and hit upon all that, but about half of it was focused on processing the emotional aspects of having a baby, which to me wasn't the most effective use of time. I would have appreciated either cutting the class down to 3 weeks and cutting down on the emotional discussions or keeping it to 6 weeks, but adding more tangible tips and research to it. The information we got on pain coping techniques, the birthing process, and labor were very informative but the newborn care, breastfeeding, post-partum information could have been supplemented with more information. In the end, we ended up having a planned C-section, so a lot of what we learned wasn't used, but it was helpful to go into the C-section with somewhat of an idea of what to expect and then know what to expect with after the birth experience. read more

My husband and I took Janine's Birthing from within class and we are so thankful we did. Janine really helped us identify the best ways to support BOTH of our needs and introduced pain management techniques that invited a lot of communication and also helped me identify ways that I do not like to be comforted while in in pain, which was helpful considering I planned on and and was able to have a home birth. The class is very informative but above all, we learned a lot about our own personal needs and communication styles, which was an added bonus for us! read more

We decided to take Janine's childbirth class over the one that the hospital offers because it focused on pain management techniques, the couple working together, and an overall holistic approach to childbirth. The class transformed the way I looked at childbirth as well as the way I viewed my husband's role in childbirth. I went from afraid of the pain to empowered and from looking at my husband as my coach to my teammate. It was great to be in a class with other couples too. Janine creates a judgement-free environment where everyone is comfortable to share. Your fears may be one someone else has overcome and they provide insight that may help you along the way and vice-versa. We ended up asking Janine to be our doula (she said yes!) because has helped shape our mentality towards childbirth, knows how we think/interact as a couple, and would be a great support asset in the delivery room. read more

My husband and I just finished Janine's 6 week Birthing from Within class and are so incredibly grateful for all we learned. We learned a lot about pain coping practices, what to expect during labor and after birth, as well as how to handle changes to our birth plan. She provided excellent resources for breastfeeding classes and even prepared us for the postpartum period. Aside from being very knowledgeable, Janine was also very genuine and super sweet. We couldn't be happier and both feel that we greatly benefited from taking her class. We were hesitant at first about doing the group class but are so glad we did as it was really nice to meet other couples with similar mindsets and hear their questions as well. I'd recommend Janine's Birthing from Within class to all couples expecting their first child, especially those planning a home birth or birth center birth. She's amazing! She also has Birthing Again classes for those who have given birth but want a refresher course. read more

We worked with Janine for a refresher class and it was incredibly insightful, introspective, and brought my husband and I closer together. Would recommend to anyone looking for a birthing class -Jamie F read more

Janine is a great instructor / coach; very caring and wonderful to be around. We took here 6-session class in Hillcrest. The class was far better than I expected - I had some prejudices... But especially after the pain coping exercises I really saw the value. With every class, my wife and I got more confident and now really feel well prepared for a birth that's as natural as possible without denying modern medicine. We also met three nice couples that we're staying in touch with. We looked forward to the class every Wednesday - Janine is awesome at making a relaxed / calm environment that is nice to come to, even after a long day. All in all a great class and a great experience. Highly recommend. Update after birth: we used a lot of the techniques in the process. turned out to be a caesarean - which we had also disussed Janine's classes. read more

I began the Birth From Love classes from Janine late in my pregnancy. It was a great experience. Each weeks group meeting led to a deeper understanding of what you can expect and anticipate in your birth process. Jeff and I both found the classes thought provoking and helped to prep our conceptualization of a both process that we could be in control of. Birth From Love & Janine's caring guidance shares the idea that your birth is an adventure that can be fostered into a heartfelt and beautiful process. Respect for our bodies and minds through the birth not only produce a happy and healthy baby but a family! I highly recommend this class, though preferably earlier in your pregnancy. The small group atmosphere lends to conversation and open, real interaction about the journey you are on. read more

This review is for both the birthing classes and doula services. Janine did a fantastic job for both. We took Birthing Again with her as we had taken Birthing From Within pretty recently (hooray for two under two!) I was very skeptical and hesitant but was proven wrong immediately. The class was very helpful and actually really fun. Janine didn't great job of keep the class flowing. I am certain we had a better birthing experience because of her and this class. We liked Janine so much we hired her to be our doula. She was very professional but still personable. We were lucky to have a very fast, smooth delivery and Janine was super helpful. I am very glad she was a part of the birth. I would take the class again if we try to hit the trifecta and would hire her as our doula again as well. read more

My husband and I took a private Birth From Love class with Janine. First off, her communication about days and times was excellent. She worked around our schedule and allowed us to double up the classes to get them done while my hubby was in town. We both loved the class itself too. The Birth From Love technique is practical while also being emotionally supportive and Janine is both of these things too. She was always happy to answer our questions even if they were off topic but was great at steering us back on course. The techniques she has taught us will definitely require some practice so I'm glad we took the class a few months before my due date. I will try to post an update after delivery too. read more

We took Janine's Birthing from Within Class and were very happy with the entire class. She allowed us to join even though the class had already started (we were a week late). She is a very compassionate and sincere teacher. She fully listens to everyone's thoughts, stories, and feelings and is supportive and insightful with her responses and feedback. We used many of the techniques that we learned in her course and after finishing the class I went from feeling scared, anxious and worried about labor and delivery to a very confident and open heart, and felt we could handle whatever may happen. If you're looking for a great labor and delivery class, and maybe a doula!, Janine is a wonderful choice! read more

My husband and I took Janine's Birthing from Within class and learned so much. I was a little gun shy after reading about the class because it mentioned art and I don't usually do that kind of thing. But, my husband was adamant that we take a childbirth class and this one seemed like the best fit for us. I am SO glad that we did it. The class provided a great amount of information, but it also provided us with a space to talk about our hopes and work through our fears surrounding the birth of our child. Janine made the class very comfortable which was important because it allowed us to be honest and vulnerable. It quickly because something I looked forward to every week. We also asked Janine to be our doula which turned out to be the best decision we made. Our labor didn't go quite as we hoped, but because of the class and also the support of Janine during labor, we were able to make the best decisions for our baby. We felt so lucky to have her on our team during our long labor. We would absolutely recommend her class and doula services to any of our friends and would love to take her Birthing Again class and have her be our doula for baby #2 (someday). read more

My husband and I loved Janine's Birthing from Within class. My goal for the class was to learn natural birthing techniques since I was going to be delivering at Mary Birch. Janine covered everything that I wanted to know about natural birth - i.e. what to expect when you start going into labor; what to expect from the different stages of labor; natural pain coping techniques to get through the whole process; etc. She is super organized - she has an outline of topics for each class with handouts on the topics that are covered and she follows up with an email after each session to summarize everything. And - more importantly - she allows time in each class to answer questions and have group discussion on topics as they come up. There are two things I loved about Janine's class that I wasn't expecting. First, it gave my husband and I a specific time every week to talk about childbirth and talk about becoming parents. We ended up becoming more of a team than we had been before. Second, Janine covered way more than just natural childbirth. She covered medical interventions - i.e. what's it like if you need to have a c-section? She covered topics like how to talk to your medical practitioners - i.e. what do you do if your doctor is suggesting that it's time to break your water? She covered post partum topics like creating a plan with your spouse for how you'll handle the baby at home and what to look for in terms of post partum depression. Janine covered all of the topics that I hadn't considered and, up until then, hadn't even thought that I needed to know. The class was incredibly helpful for us. I gave birth at Mary Birch as planned, but our son had a congenital heart defect that required surgery before we were able to take him home (which was obviously not part of our ideal birth plan). I hadn't gone into the Birthing from Within class with the goal of learning about what to do when things go sideways, but Janine (thankfully) knows a lot more about childbirth than I do and did an amazing job of preparing us to handle whatever unexpected things childbirth threw our way. I loved working with her and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. read more

I took Janine's Birthing Again class for my second homebirth, and I am so glad I did! It was not only a great refresher, but I was able to process a lot from my first birth which helped me remain very calm and present during my second birth. This is so much more than a review of birthing techniques. I felt emotionally and spiritually prepared. And I had an amazing, peaceful, and surprisingly calm second homebirth. read more

Janine is absolutely fabulous! She tailored her usual group training to accommodate private lessons at our home - this meant fewer, more meaningful sessions tailored to each of our respective backgrounds with the ultimate convenience and privacy of having them conducted in a comfortably, familiar environment. My birth plan went awry with a series of medical interventions but she blended holistic care and pain coping skills without skipping a beat. I don't know I would have made it through labor without her (and my husband!) at bedside. I recommend her as a Birthing from Within instructor and as a doula without reservations! read more

My wife and I really enjoyed Janine's class, and we also hired her as our Doula! She has so much knowledge and a wonderful style of communicating that to her students and clients. Her class helped us feel much more prepared for the birthing process, and how we can support one another as partners. I predict that my wife and I will take some of Janine's wisdom and apply it to other aspects of our life. Thank you so much Janine! read more

Janine's class was fantastic. She is a teacher committed into helping couples having the best birth experience that they possibly can. She is knowledgeable, supportive, inspiring. I am so glad I took her class! read more

We decided to take a birthing class after recently moving to the area and feeling like we needed additional preparation for labor (first time parents). I had not done research on Birthing From Within prior to the class and wasn't necessarily the reason we chose it. We took at 6 week course with 6-7 other couples. We are so glad we did it, because we feel so much more prepared for the various types of situations we might encounter on our journey through "laborland." Janine was extremely friendly and responsive throughout the course. She summarized each class with a follow up email and gave us additional resources/ homework (things to think about). We learned various pain coping strategies and engaged in discussions about the benefits/risks about things that could occur outside of our birth plan (epidural, cesarea, etc). I felt much more informed and less stressed after gaining a better understanding of everything. It opened discussions and guided my husband and I to think about the best way for him to support me during labor as well as advocate for my needs/wishes. We enjoyed just going to the course as a "date night." I would highly recommend this course to anyone expecting. Most of the mothers were in their third trimester but you could certainly take this earlier. Not all of the moms were first time moms either. read more

Taking Janine's Birthing From Within class was quite possibly the best thing that happened for me during my pregnancy. Janine is such a wonderful teacher and story teller. I really valued the time she spent listening to us and giving thoughtful answers. Her wisdom for labor, child birth and postpartum is evident. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an amazing doula or birthing class. read more

Janine is a gifted teacher. We were lucky enough to take her Birthin' Again class as second-time parents. My only complaint is that the class wasn't long enough! I am a midwife and Birthing from Within instructor myself, so I recommend her both as a fellow birth professional and as a mama! read more

My husband and I just took the two day birth course with Janine, it was so great! We got more out of it than we expected. Janine walked us through our previous birth experience to help us prepare for our up coming birth. She taught us pain coping techniques, support techniques and visualizations that were catered to us individually. She helped us think and prepare for our toddler's experience with the birth. We feel so much more equipped to handle this up coming birth and what we didn't expect was to feel so much more connected as a couple. I highly recommend this course. We didn't take a course to prepare for our first home birth and found this to be very helpful. Janine was wonderful, warm, and funny and we felt so comfortable with her. read more

I wanted to update my review to include my experience with her as our doula during the birth of our son at Sharp Mary Birch. Having her as our doula was instrumental in the birth experience of our son and helped us have an un medicated birth with as few medical interventions as possible. She was extremely supportive throughout the pregnancy answering questions and helping us feel more confident in the process. She even arranged for us to meet with her colleague that would attend to us in the event something unforeseen came up and she couldn't be at the birth. She arrived very quickly after we called her that I was in labor and helped us getting settled in the room and helped us remember all the skills we learned in our birthing from within class with her. She was great at offering suggestions and reminding me of the various options I had for positions for laboring. She was also great in helping the hospital staff follow through on my requests as I had to ask for a birthing bar 3x (and that was on my birth plan) and finally it was when she helped us by advocating for them to find one did the hospital staff actually go find one. She was great after the birth helping to get my son to try and breastfeed. She checked in with us regularly via text and by phone after our son's birth and visited with us 2 weeks later. I really appreciated her reminder of how I can use the skills that helped me during labor to help me with the difficulties I had nursing. Also, her advice to print out the list of lactation specialists covered by my insurance was one of the best pieces of advice we received as parents to be. Having this list and getting in touch with the lactation specialist at San Diego Breastfeeding Center and having an appointment scheduled for the day after we left the hospital likely prevented our son from either ending up in the NICU or us turning to formula within a day. I would recommend Janine (and have so far) to all my friends. Feel free to message me if you have any questions about Janine or if you are considering attending her classes or having her as your doula. read more

We took Janine's Birthing From Within class and liked her so much we also asked her to be our doula. Janine was amazing at both. The class is valuable and well worth the money and time. She was my angel during labor, great communication, dependable and strong. We highly recommend both the class and especially her doula services. read more

I am so glad that my husband and I made the choice to do birthing classes with Birth From Love! Janine was amazing and a wealth of knowledge! I was unable to commit to the group classes schedule so she was very accommodating in making a schedule that worked with private classes. Even with that schedule, she was very flexible when something came up. After each class I was ready to take on labor and felt well prepared for whatever was to come my way! She was professional and personal, acted as an educator, mentor and at times, a couples therapist:) My husband and I are so very excited to use all she taught us, when the big day arrives. I would use her again and recommend her to friends, family and anyone looking for an exceptional birth educator (and doula). read more

I highly recommend Janine for your Doula services, her Birth From Within course, or even as an amazing friend. She helped me with my second birth and I wish I had found her for my first! She was there every step of the pregnancy when I needed her and she put my husband and me at ease during labor and delivery. She gave me the best gift, the ability to deliver my son naturally with no medication. But even if I had a different birth experience, I know she would have been an amazing support for us both! We also took her class and I felt much better prepared for the second delivery. My husband and I were able to communicate with each other and address concerns and brainstorm solutions prior to the stress and intensity of birth. I know we both really valued setting aside our Wednesday evenings to grow as a couple and develop a unified plan for our birth. Janine is an absolute must have support person and I recommend her to anyone searching for a kind, knowledgeable, and supportive Doula or birth instructor. Thank you so much Janine!!! read more

Janine is amazing! We are preparing for our second baby and needed a different labor technique. After completing our two-class series, I walked out of that room feeling ready and more confident because we had real tools to bring into our birth room. These ranged from practical and physical concepts such as labor positions and massage techniques to emotional and spiritual elements such as meditative breathing and working through fears. I loved the personalized attention and follow ups that Janine took the time to provide. I loved the comfortable space she created, the laughter she inspired, the art we created (even though I'm not the best at drawing, that was OK!), the story telling, and yes, even the ice exercises so that I could see what works for me to flow through discomfort and pain. It was awesome that there was also focus on my husband and his feelings as my birth partner so that we can really understand each other and work together to bring our baby earth side. Janine even helped us prepare for the postpartum period and address concerns there. The program is so well rounded and Janine's lovely, warm and funny personality was icing on the cake. I recommend her services highly and am so grateful for the experience we had. read more