I originally chose Puget Sound Midwives and Birth Center because I didn't have insurance at the…read morebeginning of my pregnancy and wanted something smaller, more personal, and supportive of a natural birth. I paid for all my early appointments in full, in cash, as soon as I was informed of any charges. I was looking for compassionate care, continuity, and a trusting relationship with the person who would eventually help deliver my child. Unfortunately, that is not what I received. I first saw Courtney in May 2025 and was told I needed to also see Amanda, the other midwife on staff at the time. I really connected with Amanda and felt hopeful that she would be present at my birth. Sadly, that plan fell apart when I was told (months later, around November) that Amanda would be leaving in December -- and I'd now be under the care of a new midwife I had barely met. From the beginning, appointments with Courtney often felt condescending and patronizing. There was a noticeable amount of fear-mongering around hospital births and C-sections -- (to the point that when I did get to Evergreen hospital the first words out of my mouth were, "I don't want a C-Section!!!") rather than being supportive of informed choice, the conversations often leaned into judgment and pressure. As I neared the end of my pregnancy, things got even worse. I went nearly 2.5 weeks overdue, and in those last five weeks, I was constantly offered cervical checks, a balloon pump, and other interventions to try to get labor started. The new midwife said she couldn't reach my cervix because her fingers were too short -- yet I was still billed for every single "exam." In total, I was charged $250 for completely unhelpful and ineffective procedures. When I asked how I would know if I was in labor, I was simply told, "You'll just know." When I called the on-call number to report that my water had broken, I was told I wasn't dilated enough and was advised not to come in. No one tested me to confirm whether my water had actually broken. As it turns out, it had -- three days before I gave birth. Thankfully, the rupture was at the top, or the consequences for my baby could have been devastating. I ended up giving birth at Evergreen Hospital, and I truly believe my child is alive today because I left the birth center and sought real medical care. On the billing side, it was a complete mess. I kept getting bills addressed to the wrong last name, even though I had input my correct name in their patient portal. The billing department never even properly checked my insurance until after I gave birth -- and only then because someone called me demanding the correct information. They had scanned my insurance card months earlier, but somehow still had it entered incorrectly in their supposedly HIPAA-compliant system. I ended up having to enter my insurance manually myself. To top it off, I'm now fighting a $600 emergency transfer fee with my insurance. I was only at the birth center for two hours before my husband had to drive me to the hospital himself -- after the midwife suggested I walk the apartment complex stairs at 3am to try to "get things going." And yet, I'm being charged as if they coordinated an emergency transfer. Save yourself the time, stress, and incompetence. What was supposed to be a supportive, natural, empowering birth experience turned into chaos, confusion, and unnecessary risk to my baby. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone looking for truly safe and supportive midwifery care.

I started my pregnancy with an OB/GYN, but made the switch to this birth center at 26 weeks. It was…read morethe best decision ever! Both midwives; Heather and Blake are lovely! I looked forward to every appointment and never left feeling like I wasn't heard. Heather was at my birth and she made me feel calm, safe, and confident that I can do it natural (which was my goal). As a first time, mom I am very happy I made the switch. I would recommend this birth center to any and all the pregnant people I know!

Simply amazing through two experiences. As a partner, Kristin is an invaluable resource. Her…read moreinsights are key, she's a great advocate and frankly you cannot put a price on another set of hands. Highly recommend (in fact I already have...).

Kristin from Kind Birth Services was my doula for the birth of my first daughter. I also took her…read moreassociated birth class, based on her book Expecting Kindness. Throughout preparing for and delivering my daughter, Kristin worked with me for over 30 hours. She's a stellar doula. At the time she was working as my doula, she had already delivered over 350 babies throughout her 20 year career. Her experience showed through in every interaction I had with her. Every question I had she could answer not only with broad knowledge, but also with specific examples from past deliveries. She knows birth inside and out. Beyond her deep knowledge and experience, she is also incredible at holding space and advocating for a mother-to-be through the birthing process. My original plan was to deliver at a midwifery clinic, but I had to transfer care to a hospital a week before my labor started. This unexpected change of plans would have been massively stressful had it not been for Kristin's steady consistency and emotional presence through the process. Her experience in both birth centers and hospitals again showed through to me. Throughout labor and delivery, she guided me through with clear suggestions and a calm demeanor. Because of her presence and the preparation I had from her class, I was confident in my ability to delivery vaginally without medication. She taught me (and reminded me in the moment) of the details of each stage of labor and how I could best empower myself through the process. She also helped me to be a strong advocate for myself and my own control over the birth process, which was invaluable in my transition to hospital delivery. One of my favorite things about Kristin was her passion for integrating my partner in the birth process, from the birth classes through delivery participation. My partner was well prepared and confident to be fully present in the birth process. Kristin is an excellent coach, guide and guru from the classroom to the delivery suite, and I couldn't recommend her more strongly. She also gave our daughter one of her first gifts during one of our follow up appointments with her!

Troop saved my life!!! I could not have survived the newborn phase without the help of my doulas…read more They were all so caring, helpful and knowledgeable. Even though it can be tough to be separated from one's newborn baby, I felt so comfortable sleeping while my doula took care of him. Having overnight support allowed me to get the rest I needed to heal and gave me energy to spend time with my toddler during the day. Troop is like family to me! I would recommend them to anyone in need of support.

Pregnant and postpartum moms - DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY…read more We signed up for doulas for 12 weeks while I was pregnant and put down the deposit (roughly $10k). Our needs changed postpartum and when we went to update our timeline we were told that the deposit we put down would not be applied to the updated timeline - basically we were asking for $8k in services and even though we had already paid $10k we were told that we still needed to pay more. They quoted the handbook which was not noted in the contract we signed and we were never told of this "policy" while interviewing or signing the contract. We received the handbook after we had signed the contract. We worked out an agreement after pointing out how ridiculous this was and we felt it was still worth it to move forward as we were hopeful that they would provide the services they promised. Over the course of four visits we had two different doulas. Both were very polite and nice but had totally different levels of care. The first doula set timers on her phone to wake up and check on our daughter as well as wake and bring her to feed so that she didn't go too long without eating. As a mom that is EBF this was immensely helpful and she was great to work with. The second doula was polite but did not take care of our daughter. She slept so deeply that did not wake during my daughter's feeding cues/crying. I awoke to engorged breasts and when I checked the monitor I could see my daughter fussing in her bassinet while the doula slept on. I also saw that she had set the temperature of the room to 74 degrees. For a 6 week old that can't regulate heat this was VERY concerning. I went to wake my husband to figure out how we could change it to a safe temperature and then went downstairs and woke the doula while getting my daughter from the bassinet. My daughter was so overheated that she could barely finish one side even though she regularly finishes both. While I was feeding her, this doula fell asleep again and when I brought my daughter back she did not wake to me entering the room- I changed my daughter's diaper and only after returning with a light on did she wake up. We were scheduled to have her for the next month and my husband and I did not feel comfortable leaving our child in her care again. When I emailed the company to cancel (on a Thursday with our next visit being a Monday), I received an OOO message from Lynette Wilson the Director of Operations. The following day (Friday) I forwarded the message to the scheduling team and did not receive a response. When Lynette returned that following Monday she did not ask why we were suddenly cancelling but did try to tell us that she was going to charge us for not cancelling 24 hours before the shift even though the message was sent several days before. Only after I was able to get Lynette on the phone (you cannot contact anyone in the office directly) did she relent. I also brought up the concerns with the doula - again she did not once ask why. She did not seem to care or bother to offer solutions but rather wanted to end the conversation. We've spent $10k+ for 4 nights. Pregnant and postpartum moms - this company does not care about you or your child. Their team of overnight doulas is sporadic in their level of care and created an unsafe environment for my child. This company only cares about squeezing you for money during one of the most stressful and vulnerable times of your life.

Deb provided the support my husband and I desperately needed in the early, bleary-eyed days of our…read moreparenting journey with twins. I had hit a wall of fatigue about six weeks postpartum. The endless cycle of breastfeeding and pumping bordered on grueling. I was anxious, irritable and found it hard to sleep (although I was exhausted!). Enter Doula Deb, who helped us mostly with overnight care so we could get the restorative sleep we desperately needed. Deb was calm, caring, supportive, reliable and positive. She listened and provided us with information, baby-care tips and encouragement. With her watching over and helping care for our daughters (and us!) in the wee hours, I felt like I could finally exhale. Welcoming Deb into our home was like getting the whiffs of parenting oxygen we needed to help us reset and find our way through the early days of parenthood.

Deborah is great at her job. She is the perfect balance of communicating her expertise without…read moredisplacing you as the parent. I do not know how I would have made it through the sleep deprivation I suffered during my daughter's infancy without Deborah's help. Knowing I could have restful, restorative sleep while she was caring for my daughter was amazing. I cannot recommend her enough as a caregiver and a person.

All the five star reviews speak for themselves! My husband and I attended a HypnoBirthing class…read morewith Tracy and had an amazing experience. We learned so much and we really developed a strong practice and relationship as we prepared for our birth. On the day of our son's birth my husband and I walked into the hospital on the same page and as a great team. All thanks to Tracy and her work with us. We were able to have a natural birth and all of the techniques we learned in class helped immensely. Tracy is a great educator, incredibly kind, and very supportive of each couple's decisions and preferences. I appreciated how optimistic she was and how she helped us understand that Hypno birth techniques can be flexible and be used in a variety of birth settings. I would highly recommend this class if you have any anxiety around birth and/or if your birth partner wants to play an active role on the day of your baby's birth.

We took the class in the winter of 2018 and found it so helpful to prepare for the birth of our…read morebaby girl. In addition to the hypnobirthing philosophy and techniques, you learn how to be your own advocate in the birthing process and how to prepare for the inevitability of medical intervention (that will arise in some form). We felt truly supported and educated when facing an induction that I did not want, nor need. Tracy gave us the tools and knowledge to push back when we were feeling pressure from our medical caregivers. Once labor started things progressed fast and although I felt as though I was not utilizing the techniques given the intensity and speed of the labor, the midwife that delivered our baby said she could really tell how focused and relaxed I was given the intensity of my contractions. Our baby was born healthy according to the birth preferences that we had hoped for. We HIGHLY recommend this class to anyone preparing for your labor and parenthood.

We had an incredible experience with Wellspring Midwifery. I had recently had a missed miscarriage…read morewhen I came into their care with my second pregnancy. The midwifery clinic I was previously with for the first pregnancy , told me I could no longer work with them and did not give a reason. Valley medical midwives said they would not work with me because I am overweight and of advanced maternal age. The other midwives clinics in the area said they were full for my due date. Swedish midwives did not take my insurance. When I went to the obgyn, she made me feel like I was wasting her time and I felt rushed during a very tender time. I felt discouraged and decided to widen how far I was willing to travel for care. I reached out to Wellspring Midwifery, and they promptly set up a zoom call where I asked tons of questions, we discussed our experience and they shared info about their practice. I felt so relieved to find them during such a hard time, filled with fear and anxiety. Our first appointment was over an hour and Lizz made me feel so comfortable and heard. It was amazing, they even did Saturday appointments so we didn't have to miss work and the traffic was much better. I met Elliot a few appointments later and she was equally awesome to Lizz! Throughout the process, I had monthly appointments and additionally was able to call for questions or write them in the online portal and they would promptly respond. Later in my pregnancy, we made the informed decision that we would prefer to transfer my care to a hospital so that I could access an epidural during labor and knowing which hospital we were going to. Lizz and Elliot were supportive of this decision and helped with the transition of paperwork. They allowed me to stay on for postpartum care. I even called them during my labor when I was trying to make a decision. It was awesome to have the support of their postpartum care because my obgyn only scheduled me for 1 appointment at 8 weeks postpartum. Lizz and La-Kiesha (their midwifery student who joined many of my appointments) came into my home 2 days after my baby was born and did a visit where we talked about the baby, my husband and myself and did some checks on the baby and me. They also gave me breastfeeding support. I had multiple follow ups in office during the first 6 weeks postpartum. It was so helpful to get regular support throughout that period of time. I am forever grateful for my experience with Wellspring Midwifery and I highly recommend them for your prenatal and postpartum care.

Can't say enough good things about Lizz and Elliott! They really allow time at each prenatal visit…read moreto ask as many questions as needed, which really helps you feel seen and well cared for. You're not just "another patient" - this is a safe space to build a relationship with people that will be present for one of the most vulnerable and sacred experiences of your life. They were professional, yet personable. Kind, patient, and just incredible humans. I really admire them and the crucial work they do to help empower women with knowledge and confidence in their ability to birth. I worked closely with one of the student midwives, and she was wonderful too. No doubt you will be in good hands in their care. Can't recommend Wellspring Midwifery highly enough!!

I found my doula, Shelia Kandeler, via a friend's referral rather than the Swedish Hospital Doula…read moreServices, but the Swedish Hospital Doula program made things incredibly easy administratively. I keep telling people that doulas aren't just for people who want a natural childbirth! It's a huge benefit for any laboring mother-to-be to have an experienced person on hand whose only role is to provide emotional support and comfort. In childbirth classes, Dad is sometimes coached to play that role, but the reality is that a first-time father isn't going to have any better idea what to expect than the mother. Birth plans can easily go awry, and an experienced doula can be a great help in getting the mother back into a a calm emotional state regardless of whether the mother wishes for as little intervention as possible or all the painkillers in the book. The presence of a doula has been shown in studies to reduce the odds of C-Section or instrumental delivery. Both the doulas I've had also provide lactation support after the baby is born. The fact that Swedish respects the role of the doula says volumes about the level of care they provide for expectant parents.

Laurie Levy is the best! We interviewed a couple of doulas who were very good, but we clicked with…read moreLaurie right away and were very excited to partner with her for the birth of our first child. Laurie met with us twice before the birth to go over questions and our thoughts on how we wanted everything to go. When I found our I was going to be induced, I thought I might not need her assistance as much - I was completely wrong! She was the greatest support, especially during the last 4 hours of hard labor. I ended up having complications during the actual birth and I am so glad that Laurie was by my side. The room was chaotic with lots of nurses and doctors and having someone I knew and trusted next to me was a life saver. She kept me calm and focused, and made a scary situation much less so. I'm so thankful we found Laurie through Swedish and hired her as our doula - I highly recommend her!

Jenne was recommended to us by friends who had used her for their birth. I met with her right away…read morewhen I found I was pregnant and she was immediately calming. I felt confident in hiring her to support myself and my husband during our second birth. Jenne was incredibly thorough, meeting with us before our due date to ensure she got to know us and would be able to offer the kind of support we were looking for on the day. When it came time to deliver, Jenne was again an incredibly calming presence and support that truly allowed for such a beautiful birth as we welcomed our son. Jenne also followed up with us several times after the birth to make sure we were adjusting well. Her experience and knowledge of adding a second child to our family was invaluable. I also found Jenne to be incredibly professional and knowledgeable. It is clear that this is a true passion for her, as well that she takes her role very seriously. We were so pleased that we hired Jenne and would absolutely work with her again.

Jenne was a real pleasure to work with. She provided so much support not only for my labor but also…read morepostpartum. She's incredibly knowledgeable and truly cares about your well being. I highly recommend working with her!