Hiring Marlene and Kaleem was the best decision I could have made when I found out I was pregnant…read more They gave us the most incredible and loving care before, during and after our homebirth. They are insanely knowledgeable, calm, reassuring, experienced, loving....I could go on and on! I had an amazing and uncomplicated pregnancy, a powerful birth experience and a happy healthy baby girl and I know I have them to thank for that! Even my husband was thoroughly impressed with their care and he is very hard to impress!! These two wonderful midwives truly offer the best care a woman (and the whole family) could receive and they are worth so much more than what they charge. I could have had my entire birth paid for if I had seen a Dr and delivered at the hospital, but these two are worth every penny. We always felt special and never rushed at our appointments. They always made sure to tell us about all the options and helped us weigh the pros and cons of all the testing and procedures that come along with pregnancy. They always had perfect answers to my questions and their suggestions were always spot on. Everything they ever suggested that I do worked like a charm and you can really see how much they love what they do and how much they love each and every new baby! Please consider these one of a kind ladies to help you along your pregnancy journey!! You will not be disappointed

I LOVE these ladies! Before meeting Marlene and Kaleem I had never thought my dream of birthing at…read morehome would really come true. I was a little nervous at first but they were very reassuring that my body was meant to do this and as long as I had a normal pregnancy there should be no reason I could not delivery my child at home safely. Every visit with them was great and they always made us feel like we were one of their own children. They were always both very positive and uplifting. The day my daughter was born I don't know how I would have made it without my husband and the midwives help. The after care they provided was exceptional and I couldn't have imagined anything better!! I had some troubles with nursing right after my baby was born and it didn't matter what time of day it was; they were ready to come to me or would make time for me to see them no matter what. I would highly recommend One Heart for any woman who is even considering a home birth. To those of you who think we are all granolas and this would never be something for you, think again. It's one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have. Yes, of course there may be pain, but it's a pain that will end and you will never feel the high of seeing your baby born and knowing that YOU were the one who delivered him/her at any other point in your life. I once thought people like who I have become were crazy nuts, but actually being informed and choosing a safe drug free birth shows strength and courage to make that decision.

I had an incredible experience with Lucinda for my two babies. She was super patient with me and…read morewas always available when I needed her.

After finding out about half way through my pregnancy that I was indeed pregnant I rushed to find…read moreprenatal care. I contacted the midwife in my city who never responded to me so I contacted Lucinda. She took me on last minute and I'm so thankful she did. At the time I wasn't sure if I was going to have a home birth or hospital birth. She did not push me either way; just gave me information to research. Her prenatal appointments are awesome. This was my 4th child and my other kids were born in a hospital with obstetricians doing my prenatal "care." I can honestly say those doctors knew nothing about me or my family nor did they want to. This was not the case with Lucinda. Our appointments were about an hour long and we talked about everything not just the pregnancy. Our family was going through a lot and she was so understanding and non-judgmental and genuinely cared. Another major person from Big Valley that has to be mentioned is Brooke. She is awesome. Very calm, very well versed and knowledgeable and non-judgmental. I loved chatting with them. I was always cracking up. After a lot of research and talks with my husband (who was quite nervous about home birth) I decided to have the birth at home. Lucinda was immediately available when I called her as well as Brooke. The birth was quick and they let me birth without a lot of intervention which is what I desired. Due to no fault of Big Valley Midwives I became ill shortly after giving birth. They were very thorough during postpartum visits and trying to help me get better. I am so glad I found them. I just wish I had them for ALL of my births

Madeliene is pretty much the Michael Jordan of midwives. Don't even bother interviewing anyone…read moreelse. You want this unicorn of a woman shedding her magical calming energy all over you. Things that I loved: -She came to my home for every prenatal appointment excluding the interview. -She speaks kind and encouraging words to children and sometimes found ways to involve them in the checkup. -She always asks for permission before touching you unlike some other healthcare "professionals" I've been in contact with. -She is knowledgeable and if there's something she's unsure of, she isn't too prideful to say "let me find out for you", which makes me trust her. -She is genuine when she asks how you're feeling, it's not all business. You really feel "seen" by her. -She took all of my concerns seriously unlike all three of the obstetricians I saw in my first pregnancy. There's a lot more, but I obviously have a baby to take care of so I'm going to stop there. My home birth was beautiful and I'm so grateful for Madeliene's support.

Wow, Maddy is a Jedi elder! Despite complications and changes beyond anyone's control, my wife and…read moreI felt enfolded within the embrace of complete care from our first visit through delivery and the longer than expected envelope of post natal home visits. Maddy is phenomenally wise, astute, thorough, experienced, prudent, flexible, respectful, and competent in ways that left us experiencing continuous confidence and gratitude that we had chosen her for this all important role. Thank you Maddy! I could not recommend her more highly...

If you're in the market for a best in class midwife to assist with your home birth, I highly…read morerecommend Christie from Cambridge Midwifery Care. Christie did such an excellent job caring for me and my family from the first time we came to her clinic through pregnancy and birth and well beyond the postpartum period. Not only did Christie bring a deep knowledge of traditional midwifery care, but also her expertise around nutrition and the natural holistic approach of her practice were what made such a big difference for me in this pregnancy. The prenatal visits were detailed, personal and every discomfort I experienced was met with a suggestion on how to provide relief rather than it being dismissed as another pregnancy symptom. Along the way, Christie made sure to provide options and education for her treatment so I could make the best decision for me and my family. I couldn't have asked for a more positive and empowering home birth experience. Whether it's your first or fourth pregnancy, every woman should have the blessing to experience a natural childbirth and with the support of Christie I was able to do that in the most beautiful way, from the comfort of our home.

Christie was a wonderful presence during our prenatal appointments and home birth. She always had a…read morecalm and comforting demeanor that made us feel we were in good hands. Christie was one of three midwives that attended our birth. She woke our oldest daughter after our baby was born and led her into the room to meet her sister. My oldest still recalls this happy memory and felt very comfortable with Christie. She also allowed our daughter to help with the care of baby and mom after the birth, explaining things and giving her attention. We will always be grateful for her kindness, knowledge and care during the best experience of our lives. Much love and gratitude from the Cole family.

Tara is simply the best! My delivery was an amazing life experience. She was attentive, gentle…read moreyet firm and made me feel as relaxed as someone can be during labor. We did almost all of my labor at home and she got me to the hospital in perfect time for the delivery. My request was to be 100% natural birth. She helped guide my pregnancy wishes to full fruition. Would I recommend her? Absolutely yes!

Tara is warm, comforting ,and knowledgeable. She is exactly the person you would want guiding you…read morethrough pregnancy and birth. Her care didn't stop after birth either , it extended far beyond that. When I was worried about my sons jaundice she accompanied me to the ER and waited with me for hours into the evening while his levels were checked. She was a true advocate for us in a place where it's easy to feel timid and pushed along. And even though his levels were fine , she taught me it was better to have peace of mind and okay to seek reassurance. I'll never forget her kindness .

I had a hard time finding contact information initially so I reached out via Facebook after I found…read moretheir page there. I received a message back confirming that they provide the service I'm looking for and but that they were out of the office until January 15th. I sent one message back, hoping my questions would be answered when they were back in the office. January 15th rolled around and I didn't hear anything. I sent another message. No response. Then I found their phone number. I left three messages with their answering service (an actual human who told me someone would call me back) over the course of a week. No one ever called me back.

This is my second time being in the care of Jessica and she did an incredible job…read more shes continued to be an amazing compassionate calm voice in my pregnancy. I delivered here and it was such a great birth it honestly could not have gone any better. During pregnancy she always answered my questions, was available whenever I needed her, and appointments felt so peaceful and reassuring. I will continue coming here for all my babies!

I highly recommend Munira to any family looking for a loving doula in the early days with a new…read morebaby. She was our night doula three times a week for our daughter's first 8 weeks, and she made an even bigger difference than we expected. As first-time parents, we were in the dark about a lot. She taught my husband and me so many things: swaddling, feeding, working through gas to avoid colic, baths, bedtime routines, and so much more. She did everything with patience and kind reassurance. She also helped lay the groundwork for good sleep from Day 1, which was extremely important to us. By six weeks, our newborn was sleeping 6-7 hours consistently. I truly value how much she helped me. She supported me with breastfeeding, improving my milk supply, and my own recovery, and she pitched in with baby laundry and getting us organized, which took a lot off our plates. On her nights I actually slept, and over time I built more confidence in my own capabilities. She's the main reason I have felt calm instead of anxious through this huge life change. She's warm, non-judgmental, and deeply knowledgeable. She fit naturally into our home and felt like family right away. We are going to miss her a lot. I feel incredibly lucky to have had her and will never forget the impact she has had in such a short time. 5 stars doesn't come close.

Munira took care of our son and was our night doula from the day he was born up to 8 weeks old…read more She took such great care of him and of us. Having her was such a game changer for our nights and a wonderful and comforting experience. Having the help at night meant we could show up as our best selves for our toddler and baby the next day. I can't recommend her enough!

I found Tel and their practice a few months into my pregnancy when I decided to explore midwifery…read morecare and having a home birth. After interviewing several midwives, my husband and I knew almost immediately that Tel was the right fit for our family. Choosing Tel as my midwife was one of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy. The care I received throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey was truly exceptional. From our very first meeting, Tel created an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions, voicing concerns, and exploring all of my options. They consistently provided thoughtful, evidence-based information and resources, helping both me and my husband feel informed and confident in our decisions. What sets Tel apart is the way they combine deep clinical knowledge with genuine warmth and compassion. Every interaction was met with professionalism, respect, and a level of care that made me feel truly seen and supported. Throughout my entire journey, I felt heard, empowered, and safe. Tel honored my choices, respected my body, and ensured I had informed consent every step of the way. Looking back on my birth experience, I feel so grateful that Tel was by my side. Their guidance, support, and trust in the birth process helped make one of the most important experiences of my life incredibly positive and empowering. I cannot recommend Tel highly enough. If you're looking for a midwife who is knowledgeable, compassionate, respectful, and deeply committed to providing outstanding care, look no further. Our family is so thankful for Tel, and when the time comes for baby #2, there is no question that we'll be back.

Pregnancy can be a difficult and stressful time but it makes all the difference when you're cared…read morefor by an incredible, knowledgable, intelligent, and caring midwife. Home birth is so natural but it is imperative that you have a trained guide to walk with you beginning to end. Look no further than Tel and Taproot Midwifery. I was adamant that I wanted a home birth but my husband was a bit skeptical due to lack of exposure, until we began our prenatal care with Tel. Tel made us both feel immediately at ease and fully trusting in them to provide the best care possible and when it came time to welcome our baby into the world, Tel was the best person to do that with. I always felt heard and my concerns were always taken seriously. I also learned so much about my baby's development along the way. My entire pregnancy journey was made better by Tel and the Taproot staff. If you are interested in a home birth then I can't recommend Taproot Midwifery enough.

Update I thought I would update my review since it's been 3…read moreyears. Since then we have been blessed to have Charlee as our midwife two more times. In total she has been our midwife for three of our births! Which is honestly amazing! As you can imagine I cannot speak more highly of Charlee! She is the best at what she does! Every birth I have had her in she has been so wonderful and so supportive! My pregnancies are always something I look forward to and one of the big reasons is because of her care. I always look forward to my kids being included into our appointments. They get so excited every time she comes over she is practically family at this point! charlee is so patient with my kids and includes them into the experience, allowing them to help with hearing the baby's heart and checking my blood pressure. It truly has made my pregnancies all the more sweet getting to experience it in this intimate way with my kids and having all these memories with them. I have had hospital care before and to me this is totally different! In the best possible way! It's so individual and includes my family into the process. The appointments are longer allowing ample time to ask questions and go over any concerns. She gets to see how the pregnancy is progressing. I love the fact that she lets me make true informed decisions for me and my baby. She always goes over everything and if I understand the risks and benefits of any decision that I make. I always feel heard and seen. During my labors I've always felt so taken care of. I rely so much on her experience and knowledge and trust she is looking out for my best interest as well as the baby. There have been so many times she has seen things that I hadn't really thought of. Whether that be taking things and doing things to ease pregnancy symptoms to things to do during birth. Postpartum care is just top notch! The fact that she comes to check on me and the baby. I don't have to get out of my bed or leave the comfort of my home. I get to just snuggle my baby and be in newborn bliss while she checks us over. I'm just so thankful for her loving care! If I am blessed to get pregnant again no doubt I will again ask her to be my midwife. No one I trust more and couldn't imagine doing it without her!

I chose to hire Charlee as my midwife for my first pregnancy because when I spoke with her she said…read moreshe had over 10 years of experience and has done 200 births. As a first-time mom, those credentials gave me confidence that I was putting myself and my baby in experienced hands. During one of our visits, she was prepping me for delivery day. She not to reach out to her in the middle of the night unless my contractions were at a 3-1-1 pattern because she wanted to be rested for me during the day. The day came for baby to arrive. Around 9pm on a Saturday I started having contractions. At 2am on Sunday, my contractions became very intense contractions. They were coming every 2-3 minutes and lasting 6-8 minutes long, my husband and I were tracking them with a contraction app. The contractions felt pretty intense. We sent Charlee screenshots of the contraction patterns and reached out for guidance, but a she told us I was not ready yet because I was not at a "3-1-1" pattern, but that if I think the baby is coming, to let her know. How do I know if the baby is coming in not? I've never had a baby before. As a first-time mom, I had no way of knowing whether my labor was progressing normally and it was going to get more intense than what it was, or whether my baby was coming. That's exactly why I hired an experienced midwife to help me make those decisions. I was alone in my living room for hours, my water broke and gushing out (it definitely was not a trickle like they say it would be), feeling like I was on a rollercoaster. By around 6:30 that morning, my doula arrived, saw the amount of pain I was in, looked at my contraction pattern, and immediately called Charlee, telling her "you need to get here now". Charlee arrived about an hour later. By then, my contractions had already slowed down considerably. During the day Charlee commented that she wondered why my contractions had slowed down, which surprised me because I expected someone with her level of experience to have insight into what was happening. While I was laboring in the birthing pool, I also overheard Charlee talking with my doula about wanting to pivot careers into being a motivational coach instead of continuing to attend births. Whether or not she ultimately chooses another career is her decision, but hearing that conversation while I was in active labor made me worry because in my field of business, that is what people say when they aren't getting much business. This was not something I expected or wanted to hear during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of an experience that ultimately left me feeling unsupported and questioning the care I received. The baby was stuck in my canal the whole day. We could feel her head. At 6:30pm, I got transfer to the hospital. We ultimately had to do an emergency vacuum delivery. My body was not contracting, and it was not ready for a baby to come out. I ended up with a permanent spine injury, along with other injuries post delivery that were still having trouble diagnosing. I had to go back to the ER by ambulance 2 days after come home from the hospital. I was in a wheelchair for 2-3 weeks, graduated to a walker, then cain, and now I have on going treatment 9 months post delivery. Which all could have been prevented, if my baby came out when I my body was contracting at 2am in the morning. Charlee charges you $9,500 for her services, but split it up in four sections. She said because I delivered at the hospital, she would not submit me for reimbursement for the delivery costs, since I did not deliver at home. If Charlee could not do her job and deliver my baby, then why can't I get refunded for her not doing her job? I don't know how you can take someone's money like that and sleep at night. I do not recommend Charlee as a good choice for a midwife, do not trust this person with your life!

This review is long overdue my baby is almost 2... but not a week goes by that I don't think fondly…read moreof and appreciate the care I received from Birthstream! My husband was very hesitant to have a home birth but Leslie and Rachel took time to understand his concerns and were mindful of us as individuals through the process. I really appreciate the at home visits, I have another child and for her to experience listening to the heartbeat etc was an experience that I am so grateful to have - the care you receive from the midwives through your pregnancy and during birth and after birth is SO valuable! I can't say enough positive things about my experience and I would recommend the Birthstream team to any of my friends and family in the Sacramento area. To highlight, my favorite parts about their care, in home visits usually lasting an hour, holistic knowledge and care, truly making sure you have informed decision making, and the after birth visits were the best and so wonderful. THANK YOU Birthstream for being a part of our families story, I am so grateful for the wonderful experience we had throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond. I really believe that the care we received set my baby and I up for great success!

If you're on the fence about homebirth I cannot recommend it enough. Birth can be the most…read moreempowering, safe experience when you are truly supported and cared for. Rachel and Lesley are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable midwives. They are kind and communicate well. I'm getting emotional just thinking of our journey together to get me my sweet baby. Get the consultation, you won't regret it. Instead of spending hours waiting on the phone or in doctors offices talking to someone who does not know you, you will be seen and heard by midwives whose priority is you. You are where you're most comfortable in your home for hour long visits focused on the health of you and your baby.