Very grateful to have them with me. First time doing this and also first one in my family. My…read morepregnancy was very emotional, a lot of tears and I always felt in a safe environment when I was with them. Alix was my main midwife, so cheerful, supportive and looking for the best answer, with best answer no only to my questions but to my health, soul and mind. Can sound very promising and in reality the flow/pregnancy feels simple having their help. I guess is the very experience support that they have. I wish I could express more because words are short for my feeling of gratitude. Much love and best wishes for you. If you are already here...this is your way.

A million times over, I would choose Tema and her student midwife team to guide me on my pregnancy…read moreand birth journey. As a second time mom and healthcare practioner, i thought I had pretty good education on natural birth. Tema not only furthered my knowledge, but also made me and my husband feel beyond supported every step on the way. My whole body wellness was cared for, and having my emotional and spiritual health nourished along with my physical health during pregnancy was beyond what I expected. Tema takes the time to get to know you, your baby, and your partner, so by the time It is birth day, she feels like family. I completely trusted her at a moment that was so vulnerable to me. We hit a snag during labor, but Tema handled it so professionally and confidently and we were able to safely deliver my healthy baby boy at home. It was a beautiful experience. I am convinced that Tema's knowledge of spinning babies facilitated my labor to progress and if I had been in a traditional birth setting, it would have went differently. If you are looking for a caring and trustworthy midwife for your home birth, please choose Tema. Her passion for her calling is evident in every interaction and she is a blessing to the home birth community.

So much gratitude to this amazing doula duo!!…read more From the first time we met with April and Joy we felt comfortable and confident in our decision to work together. We are from out of town and I came down to San Diego first as my husband had to finish work and it was very reassuring to have April and Joy as part of our birth team in case I went into labor earlier than expected. Throughout my pregnancy all the resources, check ins, and words of encouragement that April and Joy provided were much appreciated. They were also very quick to respond to any questions/concerns that I had. The morning of my delivery my surges came in very quickly. I contacted Joy and April right away and shortly after had a phone conversation with Joy to confirm it was time to head to the hospital. She met my husband and I there and it was such a relief to see and have her support during the most challenging part of my labor. Her calming presence, hands on comfort measures were invaluable and she worked so harmoniously with the hospital staff. The photos she captured of our first moments with our second born are truly priceless. After delivery I had unexpected bleeding and I'm so thankful to have Joy's knowledge on the different types of medications. She helped slowed things down and explained the benefits of them for my case and I felt confident in my decision making. I am incredibly thankful for April's belly binding offering postpartum. The foot bath and belly massage was such a treat and it was a lovely way to wrap up our time together with her. There isn't a single thing I would have changed with my birth experience. April and Joy are a fantastic team, highly highly recommend them!

Working with Joyful Roots was truly one of the best decisions we made, and I can honestly say that…read moreJoy and April are the number one thing I credit for helping me have such a beautiful, positive birth experience. Before giving birth, I was someone who felt really nervous and unsure about the whole experience. But after going through it, I genuinely tell everyone that I loved giving birth, which is something I never thought I would say! That is such a testament to the incredible support and care Joy and April provided throughout my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience. My hope going into birth was to labor naturally at home as long as possible and remain open to getting an epidural once I was at the hospital and further along in active labor. They helped me achieve exactly that. While we were laboring at home, April was the one on the phone coaching my husband and me through contractions, helping us feel safe and calm. She offered different suggestions for positions and comfort measures that made such a difference. My husband shared after that he would have been freaking out much more and probably would have pushed going to the hospital earlier if it was not for her guidance. When Joy met us at the hospital, I instantly felt a huge sense of comfort and relief the moment I saw her. She was tremendously helpful supporting me through contractions with her touch through different comfort measures. After I got the epidural, she continued to be so knowledgeable and helped position me in ways that encouraged baby to be in the best possible position for birth. He was more to the side before but she made such a difference in getting him in a great position. What stood out most to me was how deeply seen and understood I felt by her. She was so in tune with my needs, emotions, and what I needed in each moment in a way that felt different from anyone else present in the room at my birth. Her presence was grounding and incredibly reassuring. Even after I gave birth, when I was feeling overwhelmed by all the emotions and hormones, she noticed immediately and supported me so thoughtfully and gently. That care meant so much to me. I know hiring a doula is an investment, but truly, it was one of the greatest gifts I could have given myself, my family, and my birth experience. If you are considering working with Joyful Roots, I cannot recommend Joy and April enough.

Had an amazing experience here. After foot surgery a year ago and PT, a CT, and an MRI my dr…read morecouldn't figure out what was wrong with my foot that it was still numb. He suggested acupuncture I also had areas in my mid back and lower neck hurting so I had these treated too. The foot acupuncture was coupled with some light shock treatment (I can't remember what it's called) and a heat pack afterwards to draw out inflammation. Looking forward to seeing the results!

Best care and doctors! Thank you! Returning ASAP and looking for a telehealth appointment for…read moreideas about herbal remedies for my current stressors and relief! Thank you to my doctors serving me with passion at this place Doctor Ava and Doctor Gary! I was the gas leak victim we were hoping it wasn't a parasitic blood or return of my cancer, but found gas leaks and excited to return to tell you all about it! Last appointment Doctor was dedicated to knowledge about my condition and was willing to call other doctor with me in asking for my labs to be forwarded for analysis. Thank you all again! Dr T was there as well for me to meet so it has been many moons and will hope you all are still there when I return to the gorgeous office and chi provided upon arrival! Thanks for balancing mine every time. Ouch! Sometimes it hurts and we just need a prick in the nerve or mind to get our cycle right! Thanks for the advice on temper with coo for my hot days and warm for other days

I am so grateful for Patty! She had a lot of tools to help me during prenatal and postnatal. I…read morecan't imagine how my birth story would be without her. My labor was good because of her support. I'm so sad that our sessions are over but best believe I'll ask her to be my doula again.

This is my second time using Pattys service. The prints are a beautiful reminder of how amazing we…read morewomen are! I've done the supplements, tincture and I have both umbilical cords. Great service, highly recommend.

Maggie was recommended to us from a mutual friend, and we could not be more grateful of the care…read moreand calm she provide for us. Our meetings leading up the the birth were so comfortable and nurturing. She has this way about her that you feel like you are in the most capable hands while also having the freedom and flexibility to choose your own birth journey. She helped us choose a birth education class was truly life changing. Because of this, we were able to have the birth we hoped for-- loving, safe, and free from fear. She made my husband feel like an integral part of the process and answered all of our questions with confidence and humility. On the big day her ability to remain calm, focused, and compassionate made all the difference in the world. Due to the fast pace of our birth, Maggie ended up driving us in her car and remained our rock during the whole process. It is an amazing feeling to trust someone, like Maggie, with the most important thing you've ever done. It was so special sharing our birth with her and we felt so incredibly supported. She seamlessly allowed my husband and I to have the most intimate experience, all the while keeping tabs on everyone in the hospital room to ensure our birth plan was followed. She was so willing to provide such loving care of me during times that were extremely vulnerable but did so in a way that let feel physically and emotionally safe. She rubbed my back, she calmed my husband, she fed us, she captured our first photo as a family and so much more. A few days after we returned home, she came over for a visit. We all laughed an reminisced about the birth as if we were old friends. We can honestly say that our birth experience was so beautiful and loving and Maggie was an integral part in all of it. She will always have a special place in our hearts for bringing our amazing baby to us in such a wholesome and wonderful way.

My husband and I chose Maggie as our Doula for our first baby. At first, I was on the fence about…read morehiring a Doula and thought we could handle this on our own, just my husband and I. However looking back, it was one of the best decisions we made for our pregnancy and labor journey. It was just nice to have that additional support, a third eye, and relief for my husband so he could simply be by my side and support me. Maggie is very knowledgeable in all things pregnancy and birth. During my pregnancy, I had a peace of mind knowing I could contact Maggie with any questions that came up! She had great resources on various topics that I had questions about. She was just a text away and was quick at responding and being available. She is also a yoga instructor (including prenatal) and carries a very relaxed and calm vibe, which we really appreciated. She has a kind and warm temperament and is also confident and assertive when needed. My family is a bit of a drive away and my husband had to work during my 9th month of pregnancy so it was really nice to know I could call Maggie if I went in to labor at any time and she would come be with me. During labor, she helped me with various labor techniques and positioning to help labor progress. She reminded us to stay hydrated and helped set the mood for a wonderful birth, she helped me achieve the birth I desired. Between Maggie and my husband, they worked together to help me through one of the most difficult things I have ever done and it was very comforting to have them there knowing exactly what I needed in the moment. She was there before, during and after my pregnancy and labor and overall was a great support systems for us. The investment was truly worth it! I would recommend Maggie to any one of my loved ones who is looking for a Doula.

First of all, I want to point out the positives. Jan is a very kind, caring, knowledgeable and…read morepassionate person. She has a lot of resources and experience in everything childbirth-related. Second of all, the Bradley Birth philosophy is well worth looking into. I believe the idea behind it is empowering, and just being exposed to the information is inspiring enough to help many couples have a natural birth. That being said, I felt a lot of time in the class was purely wasted. Two hours a week for twelve weeks, and I felt there was very little information learned in class. Jan has a tendency to go off topic rambling on and on about people she knows and other miscellaneous topics ... Much of the class will be spent watching videos from the 70s...many of which drill into your head how wonderful it is to have a midwife and a home water birth, while bashing having an OBGYN and the typical hospital birth experience. Fantastic, because at the point of your pregnancy where you would take this class, you most likely have been seeing a OB and chosen your hospital. So you get to sit there and feel like crap. Also, some of these(expensive) classes will be largely taken up by recent couples who have had successful Bradley Births who come in for "show and tell" to talk about their birth story. It is meant to be inspiring and it's cute to see newborns. But what happens is these guests come in at 7pm and end up taking up an hour and a half of a two hour class. And if we're being honest, hearing other people's stories gives you absolutely NO insight into what is going to happen during your birth. Not to mention, you have taken time out of your busy schedule and driven to class to hear someone's natural birth story. Oh, by the way, not all the "natural" birth stories are nice easy births. We heard some that involved excessive bleeding and general anesthesia after the birth. Those were somehow fine to share with the class...but one thing you will NOT see or hear of in Jan's class is a birth story from someone who has gotten an epidural or a c section. So if you take her class and end up having a less than natural experience, do not expect to be invited back to share your cute little bundle with future parents taking her class. Even if you have a positive experience, if your birth involves drugs of any kind, your story is not worthy of sharing with aspiring Bradley parents. My advice: read the books!

Jan was teaching these classes when I was a "trepedatious-yuppie- buying-…read more$40-worth-of-books-pregnant -Mom-2-B." I was so happy with her classes that I have since referred her dozens of times and even PAID for my neighbor's maid to go to her classes. The maid's husband learned from the OTHER Dads in the class that men are expected and WILL change diapers, too! You should know that Jan wrote the seminal work in her field: " Teaching Natural Birth: Deciding to Teach and Establishing Your Own Successful Business." There are two class series per week from 7-9 p.m. and she alternates between starting a Monday series and a Tuesday series.. If you're not sure, she has a FREE, introductory Healthy Pregnancy Class every three months or so. Go to her website for the current schedule. Of course you know that you bring two pillows when you bring your spouse to the first class. These pillows determine your place in the pecking order of the class. Don't bring those ratty things from the back bedroom, and don't do as we did and specially buy brand-new designer silk pillows. Do remember they will be on the floor, so you wont want to sleep with them later unless you double pillowcase them, and plan on keeping them in the trunk until the class is over. It looks bad when you forget the pillows. You don't want to be known as the idiot couple who couldn't remember their pillows: what: are you going to forget the kid next? Jan distributes tons of handouts, and is super thorough about answering questions (and my gosh there were some stupid questions. Not me, of course, I had already read each and every page of those $400 worth of books: [say it togther class: OCD] How my kid turned out so great is a complete mystery to me. I can only imagine it was Jan's classes that influenced her to normality.) There are 8 couples, and you tend to network with them, have baby parties with them, exchange baby-info with them, etc, for the next twenty years. If you get the chance to meet Jan's husband, Lee, you'll love him. Such a doll, and so discreet and charming! One last thing: Jan has the most phenomenal memory I have ever seen. She remembers every single kid, the kids birth experience, all of their siblings and parents and often their relatives, the birth doctor, and tons of other data. She never forgets a birthday and if she sees a kid on the street TWENTY YEARS LATER, she will still recognize and remember that child, even all grown-up If you saw Erin Brckovich you know what I mean. She is such a humble, gracious and godly woman, you wont realize at first how smart she really is. Oh yes, and she has a beautiful singing voice, too. Finally, those of you who want a wonderful birth experience owe it to yourself to spend the time in these classes with your spouse. Seriously, you'll thank me.

I have recommended Alisa and PUSH Acupuncture to all of my pregnant friends - I have only good…read morethings to say! I initially reached out to Alisa with my first pregnancy when it was looking likely that I would need to be induced. This was my first experience doing acupuncture and trying Eastern medicine but she made me feel so comfortable and cared for. We were able to focus on trying to naturally induce labor, and I was able to see her twice before my baby came. She was incredibly thoughtful and followed up after my delivery to check-in and see how I was doing. Fast forward to my second baby, I scheduled more regular visits for some other minor complications. Over the course of my visits, she also checked in on other symptoms and helped me feel better with things like congestion and other minor aches. With both babies, I had quick and healthy deliveries! If you're on the fence about trying acupuncture or exploring Eastern medicine, I would strongly recommend Alisa and her practice. She made me feel at ease and well cared for.

We came to Alisa based on our doula's recommendation because we wanted to try inducing labor…read morenaturally. We really appreciated how thorough Alisa was in understanding my wife's pain points and anxieties. After the session, my wife felt relaxed, happy, and completely pain-free.

I chose Nicole Morales as my midwife for my second child. She started care at 23 weeks. My first…read morechild I had a UCSD birth center and it was an awful experience. So when I met Nicole I had a lot of stipulations of how I wanted my care- really hands off, special training and skill in making sure baby is breathing well after born (my first child landed in NICU hour 3 after birth for not being able to transition, clear the fluid in his lungs), no required vaginal checks, short heart monitor checks for baby during labor. She will be as hands off you want and as hands on as you want. So yes, she met all my requirements. BUT the element about Nicole that won me over is her care for my heart and mind. I was so messed up mentally after my first birth. I didn't know how not to labor in fear and shame. Nicole has the training and takes the time to help walk you through emotional pain that may come up during labor. She counseled me during our prenatal sessions and helped me process my pain and disappointment with labor one. She helped me see myself in a new way. I thought I didn't do enough and I failed, even though I had my desired natural vaginal birth. But she helped me see my true self, that I would lay down my life for my child over and over again. And in my labor, even when I was giving everything, I found a way to give more. During labor, she showed up with Marli (her assistant at the time, who also is phenomenal), and played the exact role I asked her to. During transition, I thought I wasn't progressing and she just said, "Everything looks good back here. I'm seeing the progression." (she was behind me) really calmy, and it was what I needed to hear. Calm confidence. Sure enough, 20 minutes later my daughter was born. Also, after birth she stayed and cleaned up the house beautifully, allowed my husband and I to progress the baby's few exams as we were ready. Placenta stayed attached for 3 hours because we were all so chill about the process. At hour 3 my daughter started showing signs of difficulty breathing. Nicole calmly asked us to pray (which to me showed she knew my husband and I, we are Christians and believe in the power of prayer), and she decided to give our daughter 3 false breaths and to tap her back. Our daughter miraculously cleared all the fluid from those three simple methods. Much less intense than a 7 day NICU stay like our previous experience. I want Nicole as my midwife as long as I am childbearing and I will give her 100% recommendation to all those who ask. She is a birth game changer.

I was referred to Nicole by my Doula & let me tell you she is truly something special!!!…read more I have been referred to & seen numerous practitioners throughout my pregnancy for various reasons & she has been by far the best! I knew I was in excellent care when I went in to see her for one item & immediately she was able to assess & diagnose me & treat me for something completely different & inevitably what I really needed that day. I have never felt so cared for with utmost dedication, patience & true motherly care & instinct. When I later found out she delivers babies, I knew she was the one I want to deliver my next baby!! I trust her completely. I still reach out to her for advice & she is always there for me! She always knows what to say to give you her unbiased opinion & give you the power to make your own informed decisions. Nicole, thank you from the bottom of my heart & will you please deliver my next baby?!?