I had my second baby with Family Centered Birth in October of 2021, loved it once again! This time we opted for a home birth and Kate and Jenna were my midwives. They both did amazingly during my entire prenatal and postpartum timeframe. The actual birth was great too! I went into labor around 2am and they were at my house within the hour! As always, they were so encouraging and helpful during the process. There was a moment when I felt like giving up, of course by then it was too late, but even still they were so supportive! Again I say, I will definitely be calling them again next pregnancy and recommend them over and over. read more

Family Centered Birth - Midwives Near Me - Riverside, California

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I could not have been happier with our birthing process at Family Centered Birth. Being this was my second pregnancy I knew all about a hospital birth and I knew what I wanted to do differently. The ladies at Family Centered Birth embodied everything I was hoping for!! They truly practice informed consent and do the research outside of social media and societal beliefs. I was recommended this midwifery by a outsider doula (that right there says a lot!) While trying to make my decision, I spent over an hour on the phone with Lisa, the office manager and Doula. We had great conversation and I immediately knew it was a great match. Office visits throughout my pregnancy were great. My 3 year old daughter and husband were able to be in the office, we never waited more then 5 minutes to be seen and they took as much time as needed answering any questions. The office is a very comfortable, Laid back atmosphere and yes, Genevieve (the midwife) and one of the student midwifes had their young, breastfeeding babies with them...I personally appreciated this culture and it never took away from my appointment. Midwifery is just that...workin mamas supporting other mamas and their babies! The hubby and I took the 5 week Hypnobirthing course that was included in our midwifery package. The class was taught by Lisa and we absolutely loved it! Keep in mind, we attended a local hospitals birthing course with our first pregnancy, we both agree this was much more valuable! When it came to delivery, Kate was our midwife. We gave her very little notice to make it to our home delivery before baby haha but she got there much faster then I expected. Kate is very calm and reserved but confident in her skill (with over 10 years experience). I was very happy to have her with us! Our son was born in the comfort of our home, in a birthing tub with my 3 year old daughter in the water with me the whole time and my hubby and mom at my side. This means a lot because we are in the middle of the Covid plandemic and hospitals barely allow the father to be present, let alone other family. We also had Lisa as our doula at the birth. She was a great resource and there for me the second I needed her! She also took the most beautiful birthing pictures that I will forever cherish!! A few weeks Postpartum I had some healing concerns. I text Kate and no questions asked, the very next morning she was at my house to check things out (we live about 1 hour away from here)...you won't find that at any doctors office!! We thank them very much, this birth was literally healing to my soul and a much quicker healing process than my previous hospital birth read more

I couldn't have asked for a better experience. This review is a year late but it's been on my mind as I hope to have a third baby next year and I will definitely be coming back. Kate and LeighAnn were so wonderful. There was a nearby provider I had returned to after my first baby but they were in the process of rebuilding their birth center and no longer offered home births (which is what I wanted for my second). I was so happy to find out that Family Centered Birth did offer home births and that they were in Riverside which was perfect because my babies are born very fast. I came to them around the end of my second/beginning of third trimester and they worked out a payment plan and appointment schedule for me. I could tell both LeighAnn and Kate were very knowledgeable in their profession and this gave me reassurance that everything would be okay. Since my first baby was very fast they told me to let them know as soon as I felt anything. I text LeighAnn and she was at my house in less than ten minutes. She had everything set up within minutes of arriving and my baby was born maybe 45 minutes later. I hope she never leaves because I want her here for my future deliveries :). read more

Wow what a disappointing experience. My wife went for her first appointment and noticed no mask usage or social distancing. Genevieve was at the helm and looked like she had just fallen out of bed. She had her own baby at the office sucking on her car keys while playing on the floor. We paid the $1,500 deposit and left. The whole thing didn't feel right but the reviews were good so we figured all would be okay. After thinking long and hard about the impression that was made, we decided this wouldn't be the right team for us. I called Lisa to explain the concerns we had and to let her know we would not be needing their services. Lisa stated that the deposit was non-refundable because there were services involved with the first visit. I explained that there were no services rendered since the woman at the office was clearly sick when we were there. Lisa said she would work on a refund so I thanked her. Everything seemed reasonable. The following week we received a check in the mail for 1/3 of our deposit. With no services rendered, and after admitting that they had done a poor job of representing themselves, this group felt the right thing to do was take $1,000 from us. It's okay... a business that doesn't do the right thing for its customers won't last. I just hope this review helps someone make an informed decision. read more

I'm so grateful I found Kate & family centered birth! Before Covid I was planning to deliver my daughter at Kaiser just like I did with my son 2 years ago. However in March 2020 at my last OB visit, I left the hospital in tears. All the changes due to Covid made things so impersonal. So many strict guidelines that I was not okay with. I was referred to Family Centered Birth by a relative who had an amazing experience with Kate. My home birth was perfect, exactly as I pictured it would be. I was so comfortable with Kate and Lisa. I never felt rushed, or like they wanted to get things moving along at all. They were there to support me every step of the way. I will never have another hospital birth again. read more

Being pregnant and having a child puts you in such a vulnerable state. Every women should feel comfortable and welcomed. This is a very special time. Family birthing center just seemed so insincere. I knew after 2 hospital experiences, I wanted something different. I came here not knowing how far along I was ( all i knew was what i got from an online due dat calander.) I was uninsured at the time, but came to check it out anyways. The first woman I spoke to was very nice and helpful. She asked me questions. I let her know that One of my biggests concerns was that I was spotting and scared that I was going to miscarry, again. The second woman (the one that was signing me up) said she could have an ultrasound technician check me out, for a price of course. She seemed fine at first, but as the conversation went on, I noticed a shift in her mood and it was very uncomfortable. She gave me a tour of the house ( which was packed, not much privacy.) And I set an appointment for the ultrasound. I wasn't looking forward to coming back, because she had a sour attitude. The women who did my ultrasound used and older product that later I found out had an inaccurate reading. She wasn't able to see the baby or tell me much, but i was 7 weeks along ( still had to pay the bill.) I was then referred to another ultrasound technician facility ( so I thought.) I was given an address and told they had better machinery. Still spotting and eager to know how my child was doing I drove an hour to this location to find out it was professional ultrasound photos for babies. It was extremely embarrassing. I went in for the appointment, since i was already there. I got to see my baby, I was 9 weeks... but unfortunately my baby had a low heart rate and was told the fetus had stop growing. I didn't have to pay and they even offered to print out the ultrasound images. It was very hard to leave the ultrasound appointment. Walking out to see women having healthy pregnancies and experiencing, what id hope to experience. Knowing the chances of my baby surviving were zero to none, was heartbreaking. Why they thought it was a good idea to send me there, knowing I had spotting and something could have been wrong. Not thinking that i might have been triggered by any of it, is beyond me. A day or two later, I miscarried. I did not hear back from anyone. It was extremely upsetting, because i would at least expect a follow up. I am now pregnant again and with another company. I am well taken care of, machinery is up to date, and the facility is not over crowded with people. read more

I am extremely disappointed with my experience with this birthing center. I had my daughter in June 2020. I started going to the birthing center in November 2019 at 10 weeks pregnant. To say I was treated poorly on my labor day is an understatement. Picture this: My husband & I arrive at the birthing center, I am 8 cm dilated after laboring at home alone all night. We find out shortly after our arrival that my daughter is now mysteriously breached (I'm 41 weeks and 4 days and she's been head down my ENTIRE pregnancy). I am in full on labor and Genevieve (the MIDWIFE, yes the lady who is suppose to be delivering my daughter) has the audacity to bring her 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER with her TO THE BIRTHING CENTER WHILE I'M IN LABOR! At one point my mother goes into the other room to help with the midwifes 6 month old to ensure that I am not distracted from my process... They are unable to turn my daughter at the birthing center. Now while sitting there with this devastating news that my baby is breached trying to figure out our next move on an emergency C-section while they are offering little to no help. They are discussing another woman in their care who is also in labor....I'm Sorry... WHAT? They have completely moved on from what I'm experiencing with little sympathy and discussing where they will be going next to deliver another baby. I felt completely alone, unimportant and abandoned by this birthing center within a matter of seconds. Once they knew I wouldn't be delivering with them I was sent on my way out the door with no real direction on what was to come... I had spent the last 32 weeks in the care of these ladies who showed their true colors the second they concluded they wouldn't be delivering my baby. They tried to create a caring environment when I first met them but it was strictly business once delivery day arrived. I ended up having to pay for a C-section birth which was almost $8k. Mind you I already paid the birthing center $5,800. I explained my whole experience to Kate during my first postpartum appointment. She seemed to listen and understand. I asked her for a portion to be reimbursed to me and I never heard from her again. I had to contact my doula/the office manager Lisa multiple times while recovering from a C-section and with a newborn to finally get some of my money back, hoping they would do the right thing. They sent me a check for $450... My daughter is now 8 months old and still to this day it makes me sick when I look back on how I was treated. I chose a birthing center for many reasons and this birthing center fell short. I wanted to surround myself with strong women who truly care about mom and baby and offer support in many ways. Especially during this extremely intimate piece of my life. Traumatized by this experience to say the least. Take your money elsewhere. read more

So I am 2 years too late but as I am now out of state I am so sad that I cannot have my second birth here Everyone here from the start was so sweet to us and we had peace the moment we came. The day I went in Labor and finally got to experience my birth here was everything I hoped for. The girls reminded me as I had moments of I can't do this that I could and I was doing amazing. My boy came out so fast and the Midwives were on making sure me and baby were okay. This place is amazing and the midwives are even more!! read more

I called based on reviews. Wasn't offered a consultation appointment. So I scheduled a full appointment. The day before my appointment, I received a text message with an address that was not listed on their website. Should have seen that as a red flag. My husband already didn't like that the place listed as the birthing center was a house in a residential area with no business sign. I kept my appointment as it was a family chiropractic office and was told that would be part of the prenatal care. When I arrived, the business sign said closed but I went in, mask on, and found myself face to face with a couple, a baby, and someone I assumed to be the midwife. I quickly realized I was walking in on someone's prenatal appointment . I was greeted by a unkempt young woman, Genevieve, and told to take a seat while she continued visiting with the other pregnant woman and her partner, none had masks on. Moments later, the couple left, leaving me to realize the baby crawling around in the floor belonged to the midwife. I began visiting with Genevieve and noted that no efforts to disinfect between appointments was made. She then said they would like a selfie of me for their patient records and handed me the iPad she was holding. Normally, not a problem, but seeing that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, I reluctantly obliged removing my own mask. She asked me standard questions and handed me a referral to have my blood drawn and asked me to pee in a cup. All this taking place in under 20 mins. Upon returning from the bathroom, I noted she had given her baby her car keys to play with and chew on. Again, to each their own, but I couldn't shake the thought of those keys being handled after shopping carts and door handles in public places with COVID-19 still lurking. Genevieve asked me if I had any questions so I began asking about the "birthing center" with no business signage. She informed me for the peace of mind of their neighbors, they felt it best to not see patients there during this time. She continued to tell me that they would soon have their own office in the same complex of the office we were meeting in. The midwife informed me the last thing to do was collect the $1500. I handed it over and left feeling like the whole appointment felt very unplanned and unprofessional. I was told that Lisa would contact me to schedule my follow up visit. 3 days went by and I finally text her to schedule the next appointment hoping it would be with Kate as most the reviews were about her. I told her I needed to talk as I had concerns and said I could call her. I explained that I believe it's best to ask for more information when things don't quite add up and she was appreciative. I asked her what precautions they normally take during this time of the pandemic. She said, "We like to keep some normalcy during this time and WE DO NOT REQUIRE MASKS, NOR DO WE WEAR THEM." Normally, she is also present and disinfecting between patients and they try not to overlap patients if at all possible. They also ask if anyone is experiencing symptoms to not keep their appointment. No one asked me if I had symptoms before my appointment. I appreciated how reassuring Lisa was in answering my questions but at the end of the conversation I still didn't agree with the fact that masks are required in the state of California for everyone's safety but they were willing to look the other way for the sake of "normalcy". My husband called Lisa the next day to let her know we weren't going to keep our appointment and she informed us that since Genevieve didn't draw blood as normal protocol calls for, no services were rendered and we would be refunded. We received a letter later in the week to inform us that it was out of their kindness they were issuing us a check for $500. In the end, potentially exposing myself to COVID-19 and peeing in a cup cost me $1000. Truth be told, I do accept that there were red flags that I didn't yield to. What can I say, we are all in uncharted waters during this time of the pandemic. Not knowing fully how to respond to these situations and hoping that there is a reasonable explanation or at least giving them a chance to make things right, I felt I owed it to next mama to know my experience. read more

I cannot say enough good things about the wonderful ladies at family centered birth. Everyone who works there is obviously a firm believer in a woman's ability to give birth naturally. These ladies are so supportive, calm, respectful and kind. I always felt very at ease from the moment I walked in the door. After having an non medicated birth at the hospital I was very disappointed with the way I was treated. When I found out I was pregnant again I knew I wanted a different experience and that is why I sought out the care of midwives. I am so grateful that I found Genevieve and Kate. Both of them are very professional and knowledgeable. Anytime I had a question they had a thoughtful, informed answer that made me feel confident that I had chosen the right place to receive prenatal care and the perfect place to give birth to my baby girl. The quality of care I received prior to my daughters birth, during the labor, and the following weeks post delivery was exceptional. It far exceeded the care that I received at the hospital. It was much more personal. A few days after I had delivered I had a concern. I text Genevieve and within minutes she responded. Within an hour Kate was at my home ready to help. As usual, she put my mind at ease. I felt better as soon as she left my home. She was reassuring and really made me feel like she truly cared. read more

My wife and I had a wonderful experience with family centered birth. Everyone was very helpful, the midwives were knowledgeable and relaxed. We felt better cared for and in better hands than when we have birth at a hospital with our first child. If you are considering a home birth or birth at the birth center, definitely give them a try. I suggest you pay no attention the the comments from a couple of Karen's as they seem to be the type who critique wall art at motels. Not everyone will have the same experience but you can't give a good review of you didn't actually use their services. read more

Choosing Family Centered Birth for helping to deliver my baby at home was the absolute best decision I could have ever made. The amazing staff, including midwives and doula, go so far above and beyond the call of duty that it truly makes the experience so personalized for each family. They empower the new soon to be moms and dads so they feel confident in the delivery of their new baby, whether at home, at the birth center or even if deciding to use the natural approach within a hospital setting. It was truly life changing for me and my family to have this opportunity and experience with these amazing people. Kate, Lisa, Genevieve and Karilynn have helped to bring our baby into this world and have become part of our family in the process. I will never be able to use the "standard method" in a hospital of birthing a baby ever again. Thank u, from the bottom of our hearts! read more

I absolutely loved my care here at the Family Centered Birth. My last week of pregnancy was difficult because I had prodromal labor pains. I experienced what I thought was abnormal bleeding as well. So that week I went in four times. (two additional due to the bleeding) I never once felt like I was being rushed or as if I was wasting their time. I was in constant contact Genevieve. It didn't matter what time it was. She gave me the best care. My labor went well despite a few drawbacks. The entire team: Kate, Genevieve, the midwife student, and Lisa are wonderful women to work so that you can have the birth that you finally wanted. They are so caring and encouraging. I can't thank them enough! read more

Learning the natural way! I can't even express enough how I feel about my birth with Kate, Roseanne, and Genevieve. These three ladies blew me away from the start. I was very nervous at first...being that my first child was a hospital born baby and everything was insanely scary and intense. I wanted this birth to be more. I sat down and met them with my husband. They asked him how he felt and answered all his questions. He was not to sure about the whole natural thing. He had some dramatic moments with our first birth. I started to explain how scary and messed up my first birth was. They were so kind and listened the whole time. They attended to my emotions like a best friend or mother would. They understood and even told me their own stories. We really hit it off well. Each midwife had her own personality and all together the balance was amazing. We laughed a lot and each check up was very helpful. It was great to have these check ups with so much care. I got to know them and feel safe. TRUST was a big deal! My husband loved them by the end. They reassured me when any fears popped up. My baby being to big, the mess that comes with birth, the embarrassment, the ripping, the pain...so many worries. Each time I left feeling sure and ready. There was a moment when my lil guy was the wrong direction and I was in tears because if he didn't turn there was no birth happening there with them naturally!!! They kept me calm. They suggested many stretches and they even massaged me. They never gave up and their faith was catching...even my little man caught on and he turned finally! When it came to having my lil tomato of a boy it was exactly how it should have gone. Natural is all about trust and feeling out the waves. I wasn't sure if my water had broke so we waited and I got nervous. I explained I was scared of infection and she noticed my fear. She gave us a quick easy test and we were in action! I had a doula with me and we started the contraction dance. It got intense quickly but still bearable. We called her up and she was like ok I am on my way! Kate was quick to respond and came to check us out. It was still waiting time but I felt sure I could be calm and continue as I needed. Later on they stopped and we waited for a little while. Once it came back on strong off to the birth center we went. Almost there! She said if I could rest now would be the time, it was going to happen soon and fast being it our second child. So we went home and I tried to sleep. Once it got to intense we went back and this time we were ready to GO! The other midwives showed up with smiles and hugs. Me, my husband and doula were in the beautiful room with the big tub and did what we could to stay calm and feel out the intense waves. All the midwives were super perfect for me and my birth. Kate was quite and calm watching over it all. Genevieve was helping and moving about calmly. Roseanne was there telling me I was doing great. We all even made jokes in between my intense contractions. They were always keeping me comfortable. They followed my body and asked me what I wanted. Unlike a hospital where you get little voice. It got pretty hard and they asked if I wanted to try the tub. YES! I did and it was perfect! We went though it all screaming, laughing and even small cat naps till the end. Even when a moment of my little man getting stuck no one panicked and we all talked it through. Then THERE HE WAS!!! 8.5oz 21 inch long! He was big and I DID IT! No ripping (which was a Miracle because the first time we had horrible issues) no need for any med's, delayed the cord cutting (my husband was a little upset that he didn't get to cut the cord though), he even got to nurse right away! It was AMAZING! What a connection. Still brings me to tears. I LOVE them and to this day still send them photos. It might not always happen this way because everyone is their own person and birth matters! But for me this was ONE OF THE GREATEST CHOICES I EVER MADE. read more

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I gave birth 3/19/16. I was going to share some pictures, but I'd like to respond to some of the points in the 1 star review. Birth is something very special and we tend to form a picture of how we want it to happen. This is not to discredit her feelings because they are very valid and she is in her right to feel disappointed. I can relate because mine didn't go as I had imagined it either (not because of the midwives). First, we have to remember this is not a hospital. Things are handled differently. The midwives trust our bodies to do what they have to. They are there to support us and cheer us on, while being prepared for an unforeseen complication. Other than that, our bodies will birth the baby. All we have to do is eat, sleep, hydrate and trust that we were made for this. They don't panic or try to hurry things up with unnecessary interventions. To us, especially first time moms, something might seem like a huge problem, but they have been through all of this and we need to remember that we chose them. We need to have trust in them when we choose them. If after you meet with your midwife, you do not have trust or you didn't feel a connection, feel free to go else where. It is a priority that you feel safe. It's your baby and your body. If you go to the hospital as soon as your water breaks, they will induce you; therefore, missing out on the natural experience. Now, this is just MY belief, but I assume they said to not go to the hospital because if your water breaks, it's okay. You don't need doctors intervening so soon. Be patient and baby will come, within reason of course. In regards to the appointment silence: the midwives are there to answer all your questions and support you. They will not kick you out. They give you the floor. So if you are done with all your questions and you are satisfied after 15 minutes, feel free to say, "okay. Thank you. See you next time." We are accustomed to doctors getting us in and out by simply walking out of the room. The midwives' intention is not for you to feel awkward, but for you to feel they are there to listen to you and that the appointment is done when we, the mother, feel satisfied. I just wanted to add another perspective for others to take into account when looking into these midwives. I have so much love for these women. They helped me bring my son into this world after a long, difficult labor due to baby's position. Roseanne was there speaking to me softly and calming me down. When I thought I couldn't do it, they spoke to me and reassured me that I would get through it and get my baby at the end. Genevieve gave me the most awesome back massage during contractions. They were by my side the whole time and I felt like they had me, they wouldn't let anything bad happen to me. I felt like I owned the room and I could freely do whatever I needed to do in order to feel comfortable and get it done. I would do it again and will be coming back when it's time to make my son a big brother lol read more

Family Centered Birth - I hope they don't mind me posting a picture of them. From left to right: Genevieve, Kate and Roseanne. I got three four one. - Midwives Near Me - Riverside, California

As an ER nurse and first time mom, I was very particular about who I trusted to deliver my babies. I interviewed many midwives before I met Kate. I knew immediately when I met Kate that she would be delivering all of my babies. She has such a calm and gentle demeanor and she is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. I had no doubt at all that she could handle any situation that arose. We delivered our first baby at home with Kate and a little over 2 years later, we had our second at home with Kate again! Both experiences were wonderful and Kate was an amazing blessing, stepping in only when totally necessary to ensure the best outcome for us all! We would absolutely recommend Kate without any reservations! read more

I've been meaning to leave this review for a long time now as my baby boy is 7 months! But hey, mom life! Haha family centered birth is such a peaceful place to have your baby. I started seeing Kate and Genevive as my midwives when I was 11 weeks. Celeste was also there sometimes but sadly she moved on to another clinic! I would come in and meet with them, talk about how I was feeling ask them a billion questions and they would check baby, make sure everything's good and then on my way! I love that it's so chill yet they are still 100% on point with everything the hospital is except they do it naturally! How amazing is that. When it came time to actually have my baby I went to the birth center and was on 1cm dilated so Genevive said to relax more at home until I was 5cm but I came back at 3cm and she let me stay for awhile to see if I would progress to 5 but I decided I wanted to go home again (we lived very close like 2 min literally) and relax more. Finally got there and stayed for good until our baby boy was born and I DEFINITELY could not have done it without Genevive, Kate, jade, Celeste, my amazing souls Kym!!!, my mom, and of course my man!! It was such an amazing space to birth my first baby and I would do it all over again when that time comes. MAybe next time a home birth but with everyone here!! Haha. I wish I could give my whole team there infinite thank yous! OH and of course DR AMANDA!! She is the amazing chiropractor at the birth center who adjusted me like every week for my whole pregnancy to keep my pelvis aligned for optimum birthing (which obviously worked!) natural birthing doesn't have to be scary or painful when you are birthing in a SAFE, peaceful, loving, warm, supportive environment with BEYOND amazing midwives. + doula. As soon as we're pregnant with baby #2, they will be the first to call! It's soooooo much better than being in a hospital / OBGYN. I come back almost weekly for chiropractic care for my baby boy and get To see the midwives so it's just an amazing bond that will last forever!!! I could keep writing all kinds of good fuzzy warm stuff. I love you guys!!! Xoxoxo read more

It has been my great honor to work with Kate and her team of midwives on several occasions. As a birth doula I work very hard to help couples make their birth dreams come true. Each time I refer a mama to be to Kate, I am reminded of why I do what I do. They have supported my clients in home births, the birth center birth both in bed and in the tub, and even when a hospital transfer was medically necessary, at the hospital. It was during a hospital transfer that I really got to know Kate, her history, her philosophies, and even her personal life. She and I were working together on a birth, when mama required additional medical support. Once at the hospital, we never left until we knew both mom and baby were fine! She and I sat together in the waiting room for over 3 hours! It was during this conversation that I got to know Kate, how she got started, and why she chose this line of work. Working with Kate has been such a joy. She advocates, educates, and supports not only the couples that she serves, but student midwives, and other birth professionals, such as myself. I have and continue to refer couples to her because of her heart. Kate genuinely loves what she does and the couples that she serves. If you are looking to have a natural birth experience with loving support, this is a great place to be! read more

I had a home birth with Kate as my midwife and it was such an amazing experience! I can't say enough good things about how well she and her assistant Carla handle my delivery and care. As a bedside RN I knew the hospital setting wasn't for me and I was able to have the labor and delivery experience I wanted thanks to her care. I will definitely return to her for future pregnancies and would recommend her to anyone who is pregnant and wants a positive birth experience! read more

After being apprehensive to have my first child in a hospital, I was searching for a more natural option. I found my doula, Melissa Keil, who referred me to Kate. On my first phone call with her we clicked and I was instantly as ease with having a home birth. She became a member of our family and every visit was calm, peaceful, and efficient- the way being pregnant should be! No waiting room, no wait time-- but a personal touch and interest in my health and my child and his growth. Because of Kate, I honestly never got nervous about delivering at home. When the time came, I called Kate to check on my contractions, and she came over promptly. She had a team of amazing women to help, one whom even took photos for me which I treasure to this day. She was professional, prepared, well versed in what my body was doing, and had the most calming effect on me - her demeanor is a precious gift and what makes her so very special in this field. There was never panic or distress or 20 questions-- she watched carefully and monitored my delivery, and was practically in the tub with me with baby boy greeted us! My son is two now and I still reach out to her for advice, crazy questions and sometimes pictures of poop. She truly cares about each little life that she touches and I feel incredibly blessed to have had her with me on my journey to becoming a mother. read more

I love this birth center and the AMAZING WOMEN BEHIND THE WORKS!! August 23, 2015 I had my vbac2 success story with my precious son! I couldn't have done it with out this awesome support of midwives I had. Since day one they answered all my questions, made me feel like I was in control of my birth since day one. I had a hard time looking for a practice that would allow me to have a VBac after two csections. I can't thank Kate, Roseanne, and Genevieve enough! I love this group of ladies. They made me feel so empowered, and I am so thankful for all their knowledge. I am planning to have another very soon. And I would love to experience a homebirth the fourth time around. Thank you ladies for everything I live too far to come and visit the way I want. I will be sending pictures of Sylas I cannot believe it has been a year since my beautiful water birth! read more

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I am so thankful for Kate, my midwife at Family Centered Birth and the amazing care I received during the last 2 months of my pregnancy, my delivery and my postpartum care. I was pregnant during the start of the pandemic and was planning on having a hospital birth. As I was approaching my due date I wasn't comfortable delivery in the hospital and was looking into other alternatives. My chiropractor (Dr. Amanda, who specializes in prenatal care) connected me with Kate when I was about 32 weeks pregnant. I was able to be monitored and care for my Kate those last couple weeks and I wish that I had her throughout my whole pregnancy. Kate is a gifted midwife. She has a gentle and calm spirit but is the best person to have on your team when you are delivering. She comes along side you without being overbearing but with a spirit of encouragement. I felt like I had the best care for myself and my little girl. I highly recommend using Kate as your midwife and using the resources that Family Centered Birth has to offer. It's not your typical care that you may be used to having at the hospital that includes lots of tests, fear, and excessive interventions. This care is the absolute best because you are seen as a person, you get the best one-on-one care, and you get to be included in making decisions that are best for you and your baby. It was a dream that I didn't know I wanted until I was blessed enough to have a home birth- my heart will forever be thankful for Kate. read more

This is a late review but I can't be any more grateful for coming across this wonderful place. I was pregnant pre COVID and had the opportunity to birth at the center at the time and I absolutely loved the energy and peaceful ambiance there. The birth packages are awesome, equipped with The HypnoBirthing education course and two adjustments from an amazing chiropractor by the name of Amanda who specializes in the Webster technique for expecting mamas. The midwives Kate, Jenna, Geneveive are so warm and welcoming as well as the lovely Doula/Manager Lisa. As a first time mom, the feeling of community these women gave me as well as the empowered education and confidence for a natural unmedicated birth was more than I could ever ask for. I believe every women deserves their dream birthing day and these women will support that dream every step of the way! I hope anyone considering a home birth gives this place the opportunity to support your family. Highly recommended. read more

Family Centered Birth - Midwives Near Me - Riverside, California

Kate and Genevieve were exceptional mid-wives and Lisa was a fantastic doula. I had a long list of in-depth medical questions at my first consultation based on my experiences with my previous births. They had expert medical answers that made me feel confident to use them for my birth. It went far more smoothly than I had even hoped and I did not encounter any medical issues. It was a relaxing environment and wonderful birth. read more

When I found out I was pregnant with my fourth (and likely last) baby, my husband and I decided that we wanted a home birth. All our other babies were born at hospitals and while they weren't horrible births, they weren't how I wanted to deliver this baby. A friend of mine gave me Kate's number. Later I found out another friend of mine had home birthed with Kate too! So Kate came with glowing recommendations from 2 of my friends! I knew from our first meeting that she was the midwife for me! Kate has a very calm and loving demeanor. It's very apparent that she is experienced in her field and can be trusted. Kate came to my home for all of my prenatal visits which was amazing! My 3-year-old got to help listen to the baby's heart beat and squeeze the blood pressure cuff pump. Every visit was special! Towards the end of my pregnancy, I got a little crabby. Probably very crabby. Lol Kate was very loving and understanding. I'm so thankful! I had a lot of early labor, which was hard on all of all. Kate was reassuring. She even came out one evening just to check me. I was embarrassed that I wasn't dilated or in labor, but Kate never made me feel silly. When my labor did begin, it came on fast! It was a crazy stormy night and Kate and Genevieve made it through the weather to be with us. A part of our birthing plan was for my husband to be able to participate one very part of my labor. My friend was also there to help. Kate and Genevieve were quiet and helpful in the background. My labor was very fast so there wasn't a whole lot of coaching that needed to happen. My favorite part of Owen's birth was right after he was birthed. My husband wanted to be the one who picked up the baby out of the water, but right after Owen was birthed, my husband said, "what do I do, Kate?!" :) Everything after the birth went smoothly and I felt so cared for. I'm so thankful for Kate and her team. They are precious ladies who love what they do. read more

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I see it as my responsibility to share my experience I had with the family centered birth center. It was not a good one! In my prenatal visits I had to kill 1h by desperately asking questions in order to avoid awkward long silent moments. The midwives demonized Hospitals without ensuring any objectivity. I tried to tell myself we will be happy to have made the decision of paying a ton of money for having a natural birth in the most relaxed warm environment under the caring hands of midwives...On a Saturday I started having contractions. I felt a gush and called Kate (midwife). She wasn't sure if it was amniotic fluid. I asked if I should have a check up in the hospital in order to find out. Kate and Rosanne (midwife) strongly advised me not to go to the hospital, instead they referred me to an ultrasound facility. The ultrasound technician couldn't determine if my leak was amniotic fluid, but from my description she would guess it was. After that info the midwives decided to not check me. I should relax, eat and prepare for my baby coming in the next 24 hours. My husband and I got tears in our eyes! Kate didn't want to be contacted unless my contractions are constant 5 min apart. My contractions were random, around 8 pm they had completely stopped. I was worried, I heard that the clock of infections ticks once the water broke. I was up until 3am, walking up and down steps to get my contractions going again. Nothing. I decided to get some rest. In the morning I texted Kate my contractions had completely stopped last night. She then texted back because of the infection risk, we had to get my contractions going. She told me to take castor oil and to breast pump for 2 hours straight (yes 2 hours!!) each side with a 5 min rest, then take a walk and do the same thing again. I was exhausted by the thought of it already (especially with having a manual breast pump only). But I was determined to do everything in my power to bring my baby on its way naturally. I was just about to take the castor oil, when Kate asked me how often I felt the gush. When I told her only once and that it had stopped leaking after a few hours, she asked me to stop everything, she wasn't sure if my water had broken yet after all..That was my question in the first place!! Finally we should come into the birth center. It took less than 5 sec to determine that leak was not amniotic fluid just normal discharge!!! We couldn't believe that this little test strip was all it took! Instead they assumed my water broke without seeing me in person once. Have I had known I would have not exhausted myself, freaking out and almost drinking castor oil! So much stress could have been easily prevented by just checking on me in the first place. Sunday went by and on Monday around 6am I had intense contractions, I felt a big gush again, this time I had the test strip at home and it was amniotic fluid. By the time we got to the birth center around 10:30am I could barely make it out of the car. The exam told us no dilation yet. The midwives said I should go home again. I told them under immense pain that I'm not leaving, that I can feel my baby is coming sooner. Meanwhile my contractions came on top of each other, I had barely 5 sec to take a breather. I puked twice because of the pain. They said I should walk to dilate and come back in 3 hours. I couldn't even stand, how was I supposed to walk?! They said they have to follow protocols. Since they wouldn't let us stay we got a hotel room 1 mile away. On the way there I had to puke another time. Around 12pm the pain got unbearable. I had to puke a 4th time and started feeling weak, I couldn't keep anything in me. My husband was freaking out. After 2 1/2 horrible hours I didn't know if my body was able to endure it longer. So I told my husband to get the midwives over. They came, I was 4 centimeters dilated. The pain was immense, I was not even responsive anymore. About 20 min later and back in the birth center I was fully dilated and soon after that ready to push, about 50 min later my baby was born! I have to say that last hour was exactly how we wished our birth would had been from the beginning. Rosanne was really guiding me through my contractions. ...And of course the moment our daughter was born, there's nothing like it! I'm so thankful how it ended but I will never forget how I was being kicked out while being most vulnerable. Left alone by the people I put all my trust in (and $4500!!!). Today I asked myself so many what ifs...What if something went wrong, the baby's heart rate dropped..? We had no one there to check. I had to drive (1h round trip) the next day with my newborn and 2nd degree tear and stitches for a worthless check up. I swore myself to share this experience so that other women don't have to go through the same or even worse. This birth center and the midwives shouldn't be in business anymore, they acted absolutely negligent! read more

I have had 2 of my 3 births (2013 & 2014) with Kate and her amazing team and I do not have enough WONDERFUL words to say about them! My first birth was with a standard OBGYN in a hospital. I would wait for an hour in the waiting room, another 30 minutes in the exam room just to be seen for maybe a 10 minute visit. They knew nothing about me or my family and I was instructed on what I could and could not do throughout my pregnancy and birth. And don't even get me started on my labor & delivery. Ugh. When I found Kate while pregnant with my second baby it was like a breath of fresh air! We planned and had a successful home birth. I never had to wait before my appointment. Our VISIT was an hour long. She got to know everything about me and my family. She informed me on every aspect of testing during pregnancy. We really built trust in each other which is a HUGE factor in birth. I looked forward to going to each appointment where I knew that I would be understood and supported. They validated all of my feelings, good and bad. When my birthing days arrived it wasn't a problem or a worry like the hospitals make birth out to be. It was calm, I had my space to do my thing. With my 2nd birth I went "over due" to 42 weeks and 1 day. I was so stressed out about going too far past due and having to go to a hospital. Kate reassured me that everything would be fine. And it was. She thoroughly informed me of all of my natural induction options. There are so many things you can do naturally to get labor rolling. It is crazy that pitocin is the go-to for so many people! I say that Kate has magic hands because with me she does! She came to check on me when I finally started having regular contractions and an hour and a half after she checked me (I was 6cm) baby was born! It was like she touched my belly and my body said "Ok! The magical midwife is here! Let's have a baby!" Transition stage came very fast. My husband and I were not prepared. She calmly and quietly told him she thinks we need to get the pool ready because baby is coming fast. She made sure I didn't feel nervous or scared. That calm energy was exactly what we both needed. She was such a great coach through the pushing stage, which became very scary and intense for me. She knew to reassure me that everything was fine and I was doing great (along with my hubby of course). After baby arrived they cleaned up SO FAST! The birth pool was drained and the room was cleaned up in a flash. I was so impressed. My third birth was completely different. We were scheduled at the birth center this time due to insurance changes. I was in labor for 31 or so hours. It was exhausting. I had a slow leak of amniotic fluid, but I was not concerned about infection because I was having no vaginal exams and we stayed home. My contractions were never regular. They would be most active at night then die off during the day. Hour 28 or 30...who knows, I text Kate so frustrated that I wasn't progressing. My contractions would not get closer than 10 minutes apart. Here comes Kate with her magic hands! She stopped by and checked baby's position and heartbeat (no vaginal exam). All was well! She told me to keep her posted and she was going to run some errands. I kid you not, 30 minutes later I was in transition! We lived only 10 minutes from the birth center but that was the longest 10 minute car ride of my life! She met us at the birth center and within 5-7 minutes of arriving baby was born! We were all blown away! I am so grateful for Kate and her magic hands. So grateful for her calm, knowledgeable, confident demeanor. If you are looking to avoid being a "patient" in a hospital and be a strong, capable woman giving birth, Kate is who you need. You will be loved, supported and INFORMED. I am done having kids now but I recommend her to everyone I know!  I quickly want to address the very poor review Kate received here. It makes me feel very said that this mama has these feelings towards Kate and her team.  I feel that this mother needed a doula. I understand that first births can be intimidating and scary. That's why we have doulas. Midwives are there to ensure a safe birth, not coach you through your entire labor. My third birth was similar to hers. I never once felt abandoned or neglected by Kate. I knew that if she felt like there was a problem she would tell me. We need to TRUST in ourselves and our bodies that we can birth without intervention because we CAN! Also, if you are ever unhappy with your care provider, then find a new one. It is important to bond and have a connection with that person. Kate and I had wonderful chemistry. Not everyone may vibe like she and I do and that is fine! That is the beauty of this world. You can find someone that you do vibe with and trust. Gather as much info as you can, educate yourself and really think about if an out-of-hospital birth is for you. read more

My husband & I had our first baby under Kate Potthast's care and we have nothing but good things to say about her! She is so caring and welcoming. Every appointment was comfortable & personal. Kate is very easy to talk & share about any concerns about anything you are going thru with your pregnancy . Kate & her team made me feel like " I am women hear me roar!" After I gave birth to my daughter, I felt so empowered! She gave me so much confidence & push in helping me have my natural water birth! My post natal care was also wonderful whenever I needed her she was always willing to drive to me and was ( & still is!) a text/phone call away. She worked with us on a flexible payment plan and even helped us out with a birthing course. I had such an amazing experience under Kate's care & I will forever be grateful to her! read more

I wouldn't recommend coming here at all. It was a negative experience and every time I talked to Lisa it felt like a burden for her just to do her job (I don't know how she's a doula). I didn't receive a refund until my baby was six months (only a small amount refunded for the practically doing nothing) and I had my baby at Loma Linda. When I think about midwifes I think about a positive intimate experience, that wasn't the case, I feel like they just want easy money and do nothing. I had high hopes for this place especially because it was my first birthing experience and I had faith they would do an amazing job but I was proven wrong. They say all these things are included in the package and if you pay at once it's discounted!! Easy way for them to screw you out of a lot of money and not do anything they promised :) I'm leaving this review to hopefully help other mommas out, please I encourage you to do your research and just not come here! read more

Though I have never hired Kate as a personal midwife, she has been in attendance to both of my births of my children and her gentle, patient, grounded spirit has provided me a tremendous amount of strength, comfort, and peace. She has been a quiet, yet strong angel to me through both birth journey's and I am forever grateful. read more

Kate was fantastic for me and the birth of my child. Having many miscarriages and finally making it through the first trimester successfully, Kate was an emotional strength and provided guidance for nutrition and support throughout the second and third trimester. My husband and I still say today that without Kate at delivery we would have not known the questions to as and the opportunities for us. Our plan was to have a home birth and our vitals of both the baby and myself were right on track for home birth. During labor early on Kate was sensitive and observant to notice that the baby's heart rate kept dropping during contractions. It continued to happen and Kate lovingly encouraged us to check into the Hopsital. She could not have been more right and little did we know that the umbilical chord was wrapped around my baby's arm making her unable to travel down the birth canal. Thanks to her guidance and support before and during the hospital time, we got the next best thing to home birth with her guidance and support. I could not imagine a better way to bring my child into this world with my husband and Kate at my sides. Thank you Kate! read more

I have nothing but good things to say about Kate and her team. They made me feel comfortable and supported me throughout all of the prenatal visits and our home water birth. It was such a pleasant experience compared to my two previous hospital births. read more

As an OB Nurse, i've had plenty of exposure to the hospital birth world, more than enough to know that It wasn't for me. I wanted a natural birth with minimal interventions/interruptions with people who trust that a woman's body was made to give birth, and who wouldn't undermine the process or offer me medications I didn't need. We found family centered birth and decided that the hour commute would be worth it to have Kate, Genevieve and Celest care for me and our baby. I passed my due date and was quickly approaching 42 weeks gestation and was freaking out a little knowing that most Doctors push women into getting induced ~40 weeks (due to their concern for placental oxygenation and amniotic fluid levels). Kate knew I was too in my head with my antepartum knowledge and reassured me to trust my body and offered to give me an NST to ease my concern. She also did everything she could and gave me lots of advice on what I could do to kickstart labor. Eventually my baby decided to come, Kate, Celest, and my husband helped deliver my beautiful, healthy, 9lb 2.5oz baby girl. I cannot say enough good things about my the prenatal/labor/postpartum care my baby and I received, I'm so grateful to have gotten the simple birth my husband and I wanted. read more

I received prenatal care at Family Centered Birth with Kate, Genevieve and Roseanne from about 18 weeks pregnant up to postpartum (from late Nov.2015 to May 2016). They were amazing!! I was pregnant with my third baby but this was my first homebirth. They were helpful, kind, respectful and knowledgeable. I asked many questions and they always answered them and even shared some personal experience. I'm glad they were attentive and kept a close eye on my health. I was always able to contact them and get a response immediately. When I went into labor, Kate asked me important questions to see where I was at (labor wise) and came over soon after. Roseanne and Genevieve joined within 20 minutes later. They set up the birth pool for me while I spent most of my time laboring in the bathroom. Then I went to rest on my bed and Roseanne massaged my legs because I was complaining that they felt kind of numb. That was beyond amazing. I felt cared for. During my labor, Genevieve checked my baby's heartbeat often. Kate reassured me everything was going great..she also took some awesome pictures of me laboring and giving birth (used my phone). Very soon after I went into the pool to birth my baby boy. Genevieve made sure I wouldn't push too fast or too much to prevent tearing. All three of them helped me bring my little love into the world. I greatly appreciate everything they did for us. I would for sure go back to them if I were to have a fourth pregnancy/birth. read more

I will start by stating that there is no combination of words that could fully express the love, gratitude, admiration, and praise that I have for the women at Family Centered Birth. Because of these amazing women I was able to have a natural birth experience in a safe and comfortable space, which is something I am so grateful for. My labor was long and there were so many times when I felt completely exhausted and like I wasn't going to make it but these awesome ladies were so confident and sure that I could do it that it gave me the strength to power through. My baby took a long time getting into the right position and she was very stubborn coming into this world but these ladies knew exactly what needed to be done in order to keep my labor moving forward so that my daughter could be born safely. Never once was I afraid or uncomfortable. I was given the space and freedom to let my body labor and progress just as it was meant to without any medication or unnecessary interventions. If you are reading this review and are uncertain about doing a natural birth with a midwife I hope that this review will help ease any doubts that you may have. I would highly recommend these women to anyone searching for a more natural birthing experience. I will always be so grateful for the women at Family Centered Birth and am so thankful that they were able to help see me through my pregnancy and delivery. read more

My experience with Family Centered Birth was one I will never forget. I remember on my very first appointment, as I was preparing to leave, Kate gave me a hug. From that moment on, I knew my baby and I were in great hands, Kate has a "calm assurance" about her that can relieve even the most tense situation. She is professional, personable, and knowledgeable. I trust and value her experience as well as her opinion. I found it very empowering that Kate would always give me the choice in any situation after relaying to facts. Isn't that why most of us choose homebirth, anyways? We are the ones who get to choose what we feel is best for our baby. I appreciate that Kate respects and promotes personal responsibility, but never at the risk to us or our babies. Kate obviously loves what she does, and I am proud that she was there on my little one's birth-day! Can't forget, of course, her amazing assistants Rosanne and Genevieve, who were awesome and amazing too! They make a great team. read more

I gave birth to my two youngest sons at home, in comfort, in control, surrounded and supported by family and Kate's awesome team from Family centered birth. It was such an amazing experience and so different from the birth of my oldest in a hospital. While I cherished his birth I felt more like it was an out of control medical procedure being done to me, rather than me birthing my baby. Throughout both my pregnancies I appreciated the time the midwives spent with me during the prenatal appointments. They were way more thorough and informative then any ob/gyn appointment I have ever had. They were great with any questions I had and provided me with tons of resources to help me feel educated about my body and birth. The birth of my middle son was intense but so peaceful and joyful. I did not hesitate to contact Kate when I got pregnant again with my youngest son. This time I appreciated how much Kate encouraged and supported my desire to have my older boys be present for the birth of their youngest brother. My husband was so thankful that he was able to be so involved in the birth of his boys. My birth team was so supportive, so loving to my babies. I am forever grateful that my babies were carefully and gently cared for by only loving hands during their first hours. I appreciated the pictures that one of the midwives took during both births. You could see in their faces the love and care they had for these babies. I also appreciated that although both births wete different and some things were out of our control they went above and beyond to give us the best birth experience. I felt that it was my birth experience, my gift to my babies to give them a loving and joyful entrance to their world and their family . They respected my wishes and desires whenever possible but I felt secure that they were prepared to handle any problems that could arise. read more

After the birth of my son I spent lots of time reading and researching labor and delivery. My first delivery resulted in bad decisions and poor care at the hospital. I knew I would never trust someone else to make decisions for me or scare me into something I wasn't comfortable with again. Going into the interview at Family Centered Birth my husband was very skeptical, leaning towards a hospital birth. Almost immediately my husband and I felt we had found our team. The knowledge and care that Kate provided to us was of the highest quality. From day one Kate, Roseanne and Genevieve showered us with information and support. The made sure we were well educated for every decision and step of the pregnancy and birth. They made it their personal mission to help delivery our baby safely and heal the trauma of our first birth. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect experience and can't recommend Family Centered Birth high enough. With these 3 by our side we had an amazing (and fast!) birth of our daughter. I am forever grateful for their care and expertise! read more