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.

I could not imagine my first birth without Becca! From the very first phone call, I felt an instant…read moreconnection with her--she's such a kind, caring soul and a true expert in her field. One of the things that impressed me most was how seamlessly she read the dynamic between me and my husband. She always knew when to step in with support and when to step back and give us space. That balance was invaluable during such an emotional, vulnerable time. When my birth plan didn't go the way I had envisioned, Becca's expert advice and calm presence gave me so much security in the decisions I had to make. She helped me feel grounded, informed, and confident every step of the way and encouraged me to listen to my instinct and body. Another aspect of her support that you simply can't put a price on is how connected she is at Kaiser. She knew nearly every midwife and nurse, and because of her strong relationships there, I felt reassured that the care I was receiving was exactly what I needed. Her presence gave me an extra layer of trust in the whole process. Becca communicated beautifully, supported us with such compassion, and helped make my first birth experience one that I will cherish forever. I can't recommend her enough--if you're considering a doula, Becca is truly one of a kind! Thank you so much Becca!

Becca was a god send during the first couple of months as a first time mom. After a hard emergency…read morec-section she took care of me and my baby with love, compassion and care. I would absolutely recommend Becca. Becca, if you read this we miss you, and so does Hannah :)

We had the best experience with Maureen, one of the many talented doulas at Brilliant Births. We…read moreopted for a private Laboring together class, and it exceeded every expectation. Maureen guided us with so much knowledge, warmth and patience. She gave us practical tools, hands on techniques, and the confidence we needed as we prepare for our baby. We both walked out feeling way more prepared. If you're looking for someone who empowers, educates and genuinely cares, Maureen is incredible. We're so grateful!

My partner and I recently completed the Hypnobirthing three week course at Brilliant Births. We had…read morean absolutely incredible experience, for many reasons--The information we learned was invaluable, but also the instructors' teaching styles and depth of personal experience they offered was appreciated, comforting, and helpful. They clearly have a deep well of wisdom and experience-based expertise to share. We started our class with Keira and absolutely loved her--originally we were a bit bummed to know we would have a different instructor for our last day of the course. However, it turned out that Heidi was equitably wonderful and all things lovely-- instead of only one great instructor and guide, we ended up with two...which leads me to believe you'll be in skilled hands with anyone you interact with at BB. We will definitely be returning to take advantage of their other offerings!

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

I am so appreciative of Dr. Natalie. I am someone who has been active all my life and had a child…read morelater in life. (My child is 3) I started exercising again and everything hurt! I just couldn't get over the hump. It was injury after injury-- Neck pain, upper back then low back! I wasn't able to function. I spent a fortune on therapeutic massages (up to 3 times a week) and I was desperate. Dr. Natalie came up with a plan that included traditional physical therapy and pelvic floor PT. I am back to exercising again and even started running again. I haven't needed a therapeutic massage in months! Thank you again for changing my life.

Natalie is extremely personable and dedicated to helping others. She encouraged and inspired our 82…read moreyear old mom to do her physical therapy to recover from a fall. She was so good with our mom and was able to get mom to do exercises that we couldn't. She has a sweet heart and we felt lucky to have her help. She bonds with her patients and are uplifted by her kindness.

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).

Linda helped us care for our newborn baby in the first few months after she was born. She's the…read morekind of person that put this neurotic first time mom at complete ease. When she first scooped up our daughter she immediately started talking to her, singing to her, playing with her and reading her stories. So many other care providers work hard to just keep a baby quiet but Linda works hard to make sure that your child is happy and constantly learning and growing. We were very sad to hear that she was leaving Austin. She left enormous shoes for us to fill.

Don't let Linda's bubbly personality make you think that she will be too much energy for you during…read morelabor. Linda is calm and quiet and encouraging and tuned in when she is working. She gets in the zone and knows exactly what you will need as a laboring mom. She will be present and responsive to your needs but not overbearing or taking center stage. She knows how to support the laboring mom and at the same time support those around you and teach your loved ones how to help you. Linda was my birth doula in July 2013 for the homebirth of my first baby. I don't know what I would've done without her. Even though I had midwives at home and my husband, the care she provided was essential. My husband is sensitive to my needs and caring but Linda was able to show my husband how to help me and support me more specifically. She did not steal the show, but was just present enough during the whole thing. I see pictures of my labor now and see Linda as an integral part of the process, even holding me up at times, yet she was never too much, never bossy, and was in fact a very calming presence. Linda has not given birth to a baby herself, but I see that as a strength to her work as a Doula. She doesn't have preconceived ideas about how your birth should go. She doesn't have her own experience to compare to yours. She has been to many births and knows the process well. She is very experienced and knowledgeable and when she assists birthing moms in the hospital the nurses and doctors trust her and love her help. She has a lot of helpful things to try to comfort and assist you during labor. She can use massage, essential oils, a labor ball, and many helpful position suggestions. There's this idea that in the hospital the nurses will be coaching and helping you through labor every step of the way...and there's this idea that at home, your midwives will be coaching you along. And while this is true to a small extent, it's not like the olden days and nurses and midwives aren't by your side like they used to be. Linda fills that role, though. She is the one who will hold your hand, massage your back, help you to focus your breath, encourage you, tell you that what you're going through is normal, and convince you that you are strong and that your body can do it! She's the one you want by your side even if you already have a wonderful support team of family, friends, and partner. I didn't know what to expect in giving birth for the first time and I wasn't sure if I really needed Linda, but now that I've gone through it, I would NEVER chose to give birth without her. She checks in frequently as you near your due date, she gives the best (and least intimidating) childbirth education ever, and after giving birth she gives excellent follow up care. She helped me to feel confident as a new mom, she assisted and supported me in breastfeeding. She's very knowledgeable in lactation support. And most of all, she helped me to feel like I could do this. I don't know of anyone who has used her services and ever regretted it. You want this girl!

We learned so much in the pre-work for Rachel's birthing class that we felt the need to consider…read morealtering our birth plan. Once we started Rachel's class, we actually did change our birth plan and never felt more confident in such a life-changing decision. Her guidance and the education we received EMPOWERED us to plan for an incredibly transformational birth experience with no interventions in the comfort of our own home. My husband and I grew closer and more aligned during the class and after, as we prepared to welcome our first child. The exercises she has you practice and the information she shares should be something every expecting couple goes through. Her audio tracks taught me what I needed and helped me before during and after birth. I was even lucky enough to attend one of her prenatal yoga classes which left me with a sense of calm and space in my belly (which is rare for a pregnant woman in her third trimester)! I highly recommend you make Rachel part of your birth team by signing up for one of her classes.

Video Birth Course Review-…read more My husband and I took the YES to Birth class virtually to prepare for the birth of our daughter. I wanted a natural/un-medicated hospital birth and this class prepared me to achieve that. If I could use one word to describe my birth, I would say it was: PERFECT. Every aspect of it felt so right, and I absolutely said YES to every moment of it. My husband and I used the tools learned in this course to relax, go with the direction of my baby and my body, and have a smooth, unmedicated, natural hospital delivery. Thanks to Rachel for helping us get there!

Doula Care Collective provides community for families. Whether you need birth support, postpartum…read morecare or go to one of their monthly educational gatherings you won't be disappointed. It takes a village! I highly recommend reaching out if you are looking for any of the above!