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!

How does anyone birth a child without taking Kelly's class?? In her empowering and grounded way,…read moreKelly would say you don't NEED the class, you will birth your baby no matter what! But let me tell you, I feel infinitely more confident and informed after taking this class, and much calmer about the process. I can't imagine heading into birth without the wisdom I gained. The content is so relevant, evidence-based, unbiased, captivating... the time flew by. Even my husband, who was a little skeptical heading into it, totally had his mind blown and is a much more informed partner about his role in labor. Kelly herself is a godsend. She has a wealth of knowledge on this complex topic and presents it in the most digestible way. She is a brilliant educator, not just a brilliant birth educator. I wish we all had a Kelly to teach us about this when we were children. Five stars does not do this justice. If you're on the fence about whether you need a birth class, just sign up. You, your partner, and your baby will all benefit tremendously.

My partner and I participated in Kelly Gray's holistic childbirth class (5-hour version) about 6…read moreweeks before we delivered our first child. The class was conducted via Zoom due to the pandemic. I am so glad we chose to take this class, and I will always feel like Kelly was an important part of my labor and delivery experience. I'll go into more detail below, but I will briefly say that this course is incredible and I recommend taking it to everyone as an excellent way to prepare for bringing your child into the world. Prior to taking this holistic childbirth course, I had taken the childbirth class through my medical provider. Kelly's course left me feeling prepared, informed, and as ready as one can be in a way that my medical provider's course did not (in fact the Kaiser course only made me feel more anxious). Kelly covers very specific ways that you and your partner can support the childbirth process and explained the stages of labor and what signs indicate you are moving to an new stage. Kelly led discussions among the multiple couples participating in the course and helped us each to identify our own existing resources for managing stress and pain during labor. It was great to connect with other expecting parents since we have been so isolated during the pandemic. I truly feel like this course helped shape a very positive delivery for my child.

Being cocooned by Maze dropped me into a state of deep transformation that invited me to explore my…read moreinner being, my fears, my dreams, myself while being held and supported. Maze held such a safe and beautifully healing space for me to explore surrendering into deep physic states - I felt the gentleness and power of this state was reaching beyond my conscious awareness. And all of this while being guided with a personally designed musical journey that they created with their own voice and instruments!! What an exquisite experience! This is truly a a unique and beautiful gift from Maze that creates a space for deep rest and transformation.

"It's been about 4 months since the rebirthing experience I had with Maze Knight. Thinking that it…read morewould be but a pleasant and calming experience, I find myself surprised that the profound positive impact from that day continues in my life. Like a deep psychic muscle memory, I find myself returning, time and again, to a moment when the outside universe dissolved as did the bindings that constricted my body and the sounds of the circulatory system that filled my ears (a wry smile emerges as I continue to puzzle on how Maze mastered that). In that dissolving, I was pure energy adrift and alone in a vast black void --and it was perfect! We are all, at core, alone as we follow our human experience, and so often that concept-the very essence of what it is to be human-fills us with fear labeled "loneliness." Rather than succumb to this existential terror, I now have a very intimate, very real, very influential alternative reference in which my energetic consciousness is perfect by itself. The power of the experience is potent and durable, and I recommend it with all my heart." - AllanR

Tara (at Hello Sunshine Doula) is terrific. She was my birth doula in 2022 and worked with me…read morepostpartum as well. My husband and I are so grateful for Tara. She was there to prepare me for labor and was by my side during the delivery. The prenatal appointments helped my husband and me know what to expect and how to prepare best. I was especially appreciative of her explanations of the different options I would have when giving birth. She provided the knowledge for me to make those decisions and gave me total agency in figuring out how to make each decision (for example, did I want an epidural and/or what medical interventions were okay or not okay with me). I was then prepared during the birth when challenges arose to have a sense of what I wanted to do. During the labor, she helped create a more soothing environment (I chose a hospital birth). Tara also worked with us during daytime postpartum hours as we adjusted to caring for our newborn. Her postpartum care was excellent and supportive. She places no judgment on the parents. I could ask her anything about parenting and my postpartum recovery! Tara has a calming and caring presence. She loves babies and was so sweet and gentle with our newborn. We got great tips on caring for our little one. She supported us with guidance on a bedtime routine, bathing our son, nail trimming, ways to soothe our baby, infant massage, and more. She also had great ideas and referrals for me, as a new mom, to receive additional support as I transitioned to motherhood. I would 100% recommend working with Tara!

Tara is the best doula in Sonoma County. Every new mom would benefit from working with her. Tara is…read morea true professional. She is generous, intelligent, kind, reliable, and a wealth of knowledge, warmth, and practical help- before and after baby arrives! She is very approachable, trust worthy, and friendly. Also she helped me turn my baby when in hospital they were going to need to do a cesarean but she suggested me to use the lights, music, etc and turned the babies head in to the correct position(cephalic presentation) I feel so lucky to have had Tara work with me. Highly recommend!!

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.

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