My husband and I had a wonderful experience working with Alana Corrin through Healthy Mamas,…read moreHealthy Babies. First, learning about the services and speaking with Amber was great. She is highly organized and very responsive. I also loved the online mom support groups with different topics covered each week - these were so helpful! For the doula services, Alana was wonderful. She is very laid back and easy to talk to while also being super knowledgable and attentive. I wasn't sure if I was going to try to have a natural birth or get an epidural and I felt like Alana was ready to support me no matter what option I wound up choosing. Also, my husband tends to be very anxious around any medical or hospital setting so we weren't sure if he would be able to be with me for all of labor and delivery. Our meeting before birth was great because Alana was able to listen to his concerns and talk him through what L&D would be like so he wouldn't be so nervous. We only wound up being able to have one pre-birth meeting because my baby decided to show up 6.5 weeks early! Thankfully, Alana was able to meet us at the hospital within an hour of my husband calling her (around 3am??). My labor proceeded very quickly and we were both overwhelmed because we had not anticipated having our baby that early. Alana remained a calm and consistent presence throughout my labor and for a while after delivery after they took my baby to the NICU. She was also able to ask the nurses and doctors questions we had completely forgotten to ask and kept us up to date with everything that was happening. My husband wound up being able to stay for most of L&D and I think a lot of that has to do with Alana being there - we both felt fully supported the entire time. We had three post-partum sessions with Alana and they were also incredibly helpful. I would definitely recommend her to others and would love to work with her again if we wind up having another baby (hopefully closer to my due date next time, hehe)!

Ok, I gave 4 stars to highlight the comment. I'm honestly not sure what the right number of stars…read moreis. We consulted and ended up NOT hiring her (we had 1 video appointment). She seems to know things well, no concerns there, but we were a bit put off by the very commercial set up, ie, the initial consultation had a charge while all the other doulas were ok to do a free into over video. Then we got cut off because the initial intro appointment was so time limited (I think it was 15 minutes if I recall). Her regular emails are helpful, but we ended up not hiring her just because it seemed so money driven (her prices are on the high end, which looking at the reviews does seem to be somewhat justified).

Heidi and her team of midwives at Bloom literally changed my life. I didn't know what I needed as…read morethis baby was my first, and I was on the fence at first. However, I NEEDED the support I got -- from hour-long prenatal visits that truly encompass the whole family's values to the birth itself, these women were a godsend to our family. I unfortunately had a complicated birth, and ended up going to the hospital. Having the midwives there with us made the experience SO MUCH less scary. I can't even begin to explain how priceless their presence in the hospital was -- at 3am nonetheless! The lactation support was also key, and got us set up to have a very healthy breastfeeding routine. However, the most important thing that I didn't know I'd need was the postpartum support. You guys, having a baby is WILD. You think about the pregnancy and the birth, but nobody really prepares you for what comes next. I was able to call the midwives and get help after our baby was born, with everything from sleeping arrangements with a newborn to what to do when he got a cold at 3 weeks old. You just don't get this level of care anywhere else. Please consider this option for your family -- it's worth it!

As a new mother in her 40s, I chose to embarked on my pregnancy journey with both Bloom midwives…read moreand an OB. However, upon reflection, I wholeheartedly advocate for Bloom's midwifery and midwifery in general in all pregnancies, if available for the mother. Additionally, I strongly recommend having a doula by one's side for added support. The out of this world remarkable team at Bloom has been a constant source of support, having even helped me through a previous miscarriage with unparalleled care and compassion. They truly feel like family, and I feel blessed to have had them by my side. Towards the end of my pregnancy, the fear instilled in me outside of Bloom, due to my age and ingrained western beliefs, became almost unbearable, leaving me confused and unsure of myself and my decisions for both my baby and myself. In stark contrast, the support, information, and guidance provided by the midwives at Bloom were extraordinary. Their comprehensive approach, addressing both physical and mental health aspects, along with knowledge and encouragement in nutrition, transformed my pregnancy into a positive and empowering experience. During labor, I had the privilege of giving birth in the water to a beautiful and healthy baby. I truly believe that Bloom's care helped improve my mental and physical health during pregnancy, which undoubtedly contributed to the overall health and well-being of my baby. Notably, the midwives at Bloom went above and beyond to ensure that my baby was properly latched during breastfeeding, a crucial aspect of postpartum care often overlooked by other medical providers. Their dedication to incorporating breastfeeding support into their care further solidified my trust and gratitude for their outstanding service. The midwives at Bloom demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and expertise throughout the process, ensuring that every aspect of my care was holistic and supportive. Their unwavering support continued through labor and postpartum, making them an invaluable resource throughout my pregnancy journey. I was consistently informed about all available options, empowering me to make informed decisions regarding my care. Moreover, Bloom's remarkable knowledge in all aspects of pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care was evident throughout my experience. From providing invaluable advice on newborn care to ensuring proper baby feeding techniques, their expertise was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition into motherhood. Having experienced both approaches, I can confidently say that Bloom's midwifery care during pregnancy, labor, as well as postpartum, focusing on the mother's mental, emotional, and physical well-being, surpasses expectations. I dream of a world where midwifery is celebrated and encouraged, allowing pregnancies to become more fulfilling and less fear-driven experiences. If the opportunity arises to experience pregnancy and labor with Bloom Water Birth and Wellness center, seize it. It's truly transformative in the most profound way possible. I'm forever grateful for Blooms midwifery team.

Catalina assisted me in my first pregnancy/birth. From day 1, I loved her calm spirit and knew it…read morewould be essential during my home water birth. During the whole pregnancy she always made me feel like I had choice and was not required to do anything I didn't feel comfortable doing. The home water birth went so smoothly and she allowed me to take the reigns and use her for any needed support. She always made me feel comfortable and in control (so important as a FTM) and I would highly recommend her!

Catalina is as good as it gets. She was a part of our birth team as we welcomed our first baby last…read moreOctober. She has an incredible gift to meet you where you're at. Her calming yet strong energy gave me so much ease as I prepared to bring my baby into the world. She created a space that was safe, trusting and perfect for my pregnancy. Then came the birth. She walked me through the most challenging few hours of my life. I can't imagine the experience without her. She will absolutely be present if/when we have another baby. She is a 10!

The concept is good but this is way too expensive! $295 for 3- 3 hour classes. $100 was the make…read moreup charge for a missed class for us; we missed the class because our class cat passed away, let Alicia know but there was no grace. When we first arrived to the make up class, there was not a connection or any interest our birthing plan and how to integrate our plan. Instead Hypnobirthing was presented as the exclusive way to birth (very elitist). The class format is lecture style and could use some more intergration. BTW we had a wonderful hospital birth despite Alicia's constant critism of birthing at a hospital. Overall intentions are well but there were minimal techiniques and coaching on the techniques. The class felt very drug out and there are much more affordable options out there on Hynobirthing.

Alicia Mutch is a great massage therapist. I particularly like that she keeps up to date on healing…read moremodalities. Recently I purchased a package of five massages which I think is a great investment in health and well being. She is knowledgeable, intuitive and possess a serene spirit. I highly recommend her.

Melanie is an amazing educator and I walked away feeling confident and prepared for the birth of…read moreour little girl. I'm really glad that we took Melanie's childbirth education course. Roy P. Sebastopol, CA

From the owner: Awakening Mothers Circles Childbirth Education…read moreBirth Doula Care Postpartum Doula Care Massage for Mothers Pre & Postnatal Yoga Birth Story Healing

Working with Erin is 100% hands down the best decision we've made in our birth journey. Erin's…read moreextensive knowledge, calming presence, fierce advocacy, & non-judgmental, inclusive approach have helped us to navigate all of the overwhelming aspects of pregnancy, birth, & post-partum life with our first child. When we found out that our baby was breech at 36 weeks, Erin's response was immediate while also compassionate and caring - validating our concerns, bringing us resources, teaching us spinning baby techniques, giving us language to request help from traditional & homeopathic practitioners, and helping us to feel confident that we would make the best decisions for the health and well-being of our baby. Also as large bodied, queer people, working with a queer, large bodied doula has been an absolute dream. All of her materials & language felt inclusive and representative of us. In birthing spaces, heterosexual relationships are typically the default, so it was so refreshing to feel seen in our queerness & not exist on the fringe. We felt fully seen in all of our identities and that made all the difference. To say Erin has been an absolute gift is an understatement. My wife and I often reflect on how fortunate we are to have met Erin & to have had her by our side during this experience. 10s across the board - we highly, highly recommend working with Erin - her support will elevate your experience 100 fold.

From the owner: Sonoma County based doula. Here to support all bodies and…read moreall folks who are pregnant. Inclusive and human centered. I am queer, gender expansive, large bodied and disabled. I bring all of this intersection to my work as a doula. I am a strong advocate and have worked in the medical field for 12 years.

Jackie from Birth Realm is the worst. I tried to book a doula from her on several occasions and she…read morebooked the doula with other people out from under me both times without offering the professional courtesy of letting me know she wasn't holding the doula or that other people could book with her first or even that other people were interested. I had zero idea there was any sense of urgency whatsoever. I was pretty frustrated after the first time but gave it another shot given the good reviews. so then I was on a waiting list for several months and responded immediately to let her know I was interested but I had to wait till I was back in the country to chat with the doula. Again, nothing was said about other people waiting or that there was any urgency. Had I known there was some amount of urgency I would have scrambled to take a call during vacation in Japan. Anyway, I waited until after vacation. IMMEDIATELY after I chatted with the doula I sent Jackie an email to let her know I was interested and to please lock her in. But oh I guess that somehow the doula I just talked to was already booked and she no longer has any available. I have no idea why she even allowed that call to happen if the doula was already booked but she not only disrespected and wasted my time she clearly has no respect for the people who work for her as the doula's time was wasted too. At this point I'm glad it didn't work out as I have no desire to support a business who operates like this. Her prices are like 40-35% higher than everyone else's too but it clearly isn't merited. Pregnancy is already stressful enough, thanks Jackie for making this already hard time significantly worse.

Working with Birth Realm was incredible. We felt such immense support from Jackie and Sondra, and I…read morefelt at ease each night they came to care for our baby. We can't express enough gratitude for all their help!

Thank you Sarah and Lauren. You both were a plethora of info and were always available. Lauren, I…read morewish you were on call when I went to the hospital! However I loved Sarah too! Sarah, labor was so focused because of you! Thank you for supporting me and I felt listened to! I had the best birth, the best memories. What a great collective!

Lauren is a godsend. 3 weeks before our due date, it became very clear that our homebirth midwife…read morewas not the right fit for us. We found Lauren through a friend and she met us at a local coffee shop. She had a gentle kindness and grace and she really listened to our concerns and seemed to understand what we were looking for in a doula. During my 53 hour labor, Lauren remained present, calm and supportive. I cannot remember much of the labor, I just know that it was the most intensely challenging two days of my life. Each time I wanted to give up, Lauren was there with her kind eyes and hands. She rubbed my feet and my back and supported both my partner and I emotionally and mentally. If I am lucky enough to have another little one, I would hope that Lauren could be our doula again.