I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Loving Arms Childbirth Services' birthing class! Jessica Cristen was our…read moreinstructor, and she was excellent! She's a certified midwife and lactation support specialist, with years of experience. Taking this class was the best decision I made for preparing for the birth of our baby girl. (even with the countless books I read and classes taken from Kaiser) My birth did NOT go at all as expected, but thanks to these classes I was super well prepared about all the possibilities that could occur during labor & delivery and helped my partner and I be on the same page (and have my partner know how he could best support me). Thus when things started to go different than what we prepared for in our birthing plan, we were really able to navigate the various options skillfully and have educated conversations with our care team. This made me feel way more secure when my health was declining during delivery. Even though I didn't have the birth I pictured for myself, I felt I had a wonderful birth story thanks to the classes from Loving Arms and our care support team. The class is very comfortable, super educational, and a good place to meet other couples about to have babies too. The instructors here really care about helping new families, and have years of experience and maturity. Again, best decision to take this class here @ Loving Arms. So glad I chose them!

We are so grateful we found Loving Arms and were able to take their childbirth prep class. I didn't…read morewant to have a doula and these courses helped me feel so knowledgeable about what to expect during childbirth and allowed my husband to know how best to support me. The lactation support and honest expectations about what to expect in the first few days with a newborn were invaluable. I ended up not having time to get an epidural and without this class, I think I would have panicked giving birth. However, armed with the knowledge from the courses, I was able to get through it and have a positive experience. Another plus is that we were able to bond with the other couples in the class and are still in touch now 9 months after our babies were born. Highly suggest!

Erin was recommended to us through our pediatrician's office as an IBCLC, and I'm so glad we found…read moreher. Firstly , I loved how easy Erin's website was to use -- from checking insurance and understanding what to expect, to reaching out and hearing back from her shortly after. As a first-time mom who really wanted to exclusively breastfeed, I ran into several challenges during the first few months. Erin was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, and she helped us work through multiple issues along the way. She always made me feel comfortable, supported, and confident in what I was doing. I'm truly grateful I reached out to Erin. Thank you so much, Erin, for your expertise and all of your help - it made such a difference for our family.

Erin provided the kind of care to my little family I didn't know *existed* in this country…read more Our UCSF birth was complicated, but Erin is one of the reasons we reflect back on it with gratitude and agency. Her presence arrived half by magic -- as our backup doula!! -- and went from a text to a stranger to laboring in our bedroom, UCSF and weeks of care with her as our lactation consultant. Every early week was dotted with an Erin meeting, and they were like mini-meditations in that newborn era: lessons on how to do it and the feeling, as she departed, that we could. Everything we know, we learned from Erin -- from how to breastfeed, bottle feed, how to pair the two in a way that supported our goals and our baby's health. Her home visits and hands-on teaching were invaluable, and always swiftly documented with an email our sleep-deprived parenting brains could re-read for reference. Her advice on low milk supply always centered my well-being with my baby's. Without Erin's instruction, it would have been easy to feel occasionally scared or at a loss -- but we're coming to the end of our parental leave feeling closer than ever as a family. That feeling wouldn't be possible without Erin.

My husband and I attended a private Spinning Babies parent class with Ilka, and we found the…read moresession so valuable! After the session was over, we stepped out for a short evening walk, and I was stunned at the difference I felt-- all of a sudden I was able to walk completely comfortably. I hadn't even realized that I had been starting to waddle a bit. The following night, we had our final session of a different childbirth class, and we kept referring back to the anatomy lesson Ilka had shared with us. The information she provided made a number of the concepts covered by the other instructor so clear, and I think they wouldn't have sunk in as well without having that background. I would heartily recommend this parent session to any soon-to-be parent-- Ilka's depth of knowledge, clarity of explanation, and kindness made it one of the most valuable pieces of education we have had.

What do you say about a person whose love and presence transcends words? Ilka is just that. She…read moreassisted the birth of my son and added so many layers of support that my son found it safe to shoot out of my body in under 1.5 hours! Unwavering in her calm, collected being, there's a steadiness to Ilka unrivaled by anyone I've ever met, frankly. In my experience of childbirth (I've had 2 babies, both at home. Ilka attended the second birth 9 months ago), safety isn't derived from statistics, formulas or algorithms. What you want and need is a birth worker who will go with you there, 100%, no holding back. And honestly I can't remember anyone doing anything when I birthed my son but I know Ilka was there. She kept it locked down tight just by being in the room. And not all birth workers create a container like that. It's a skill you don't know you need until you have it ...or don't have it as was the case with the birth of my first child. Thank you, Ilka. You're forever woven into the fabric of my family in this amazing human tapestry. We love you.

Christina's class has been THE most supportive thing I've done for myself and baby boy. We joined…read moreher playgroup class when he was only 4 months old (over a year ago) and he's thrived so much because of it. Our weekly play group-classes have provided invaluable social skills, bodily coordination development/learning, and parent education; my now one and a half yr. old is thriving, confident, secure & super coordinated! Christina holds a 1.5 hour class, almost all free play, with simple age appropriate objects/toys in a light-filled play space (at Then Comes Baby in Oakland). The RIE principles that she teaches has supported my son's natural development; like letting him roll, crawl, walk, etc, at his own natural pace as opposed to propping him up or helping him in ways that might by-pass his own learning & discovering. It's been such good practice to learn to let them figure things out on their own and resist the temptation to "help" or interrupt their natural curiosity and frustration as they learn new skills and limits. Of course we also get plenty of practice of setting boundaries for and with our children as well. This group has really helped my partner & I have a healthy and balanced parenting style and reduced our stress as new parents. The community of babies and parents has also been super sweet; you don't have to do this alone! Christina is experienced, knowledgable, and very encouraging. I highly recommend working with her!

From the owner: Respectful Caregiving: Balanced Families, Secure Babies…read more Respectful Caregiving is dedicated to supporting families with babies and toddlers throughout the Bay Area. My work is inspired by Magda Gerber's Educaring® Approach (RIE®). This Approach encourages trust in the infant for knowing how and when to develop. We caregivers do not consider it our responsibility to "teach" children how to move, play, or learn. Instead, it is our responsibility to provide a safe environment conducive to self-initiated play and discovery. The Approach places emphasis on the quality of the nurturing relationship between caregiver and child, and has many specific suggestions for how to make that relationship as respectful and cooperative as possible. Parents using the Educaring® Approach report significant a decrease in the perceived burden of parenthood, and a corresponding increases in their confidence and enjoyment as parents. Children raised with this Approach are emotionally aware, confident, graceful, creative, independent, and secure in their sense of selves. I offer RIE® certified classes such as Before Baby™ and Nurturing Nanny. I also offer sleep consulting, parent coaching, nursery design/babyproofing, workshops, and individualized nanny training.

The Family Room offers such a welcoming and knowledgeable gathering space for families to create…read morecommunity while navigating the perinatal time and beyond. I'm a Fertility Awareness Educator in the community and have hosted talks and workshops in their group space, and it's been perfect for my needs. The space is comfortable, thoughtfully decorated, and offers all the necessities for my presentations including a projector and large viewing screen as well as ample seating space. The practitioners behind The Family Room are incredibly generous with their time, offering support in marketing efforts and engaging with fellow practitioners using the space. I would highly recommend considering The Family Room for your next workshop, support group, or other meeting space needs.

From the owner: The Family Room on Solano is a new gathering space and a classroom passionately dedicated to…read morenurturing families from preconception to birth and beyond. We offer groups and classes like prenatal yoga, new parents groups, a fertility support group, childbirth education, music for kids and much more!

It was a genuine pleasure working with Lina! She helped us out as a night doula for about 5 weeks…read morewith our 2nd baby. We interviewed quite a lot of people and immediately felt at ease when we met her. She is easy to talk to, warm, engaging, and confident in her care for babies and parents. Her first night, she arrived with a sweet gift for us and the baby. Right away, she asked insightful questions about our baby, our toddler, and our daily lives that allowed her to think creatively and support us in ways we hadn't even considered. For example, the baby's overnight feeding times made it hard for me to be present with our 2.5-year-old son in the mornings before he went off to preschool. So she suggested a shift where she would feed the baby right before leaving in the morning, which gave me a wonderful stretch to spend one-on-one time with my son. He was going through a lot of transitions with a new sister, a new house, and a new preschool, and getting this time together was truly invaluable to me. Lina was great with our daughter. She was very observant about things like the temperature of her room and her gassiness, both of which she had excellent suggestions for improving. She was also incredibly helpful with breastfeeding and pumping support, even waking me up to pump and picking up and delivering clean pump parts up to my room. We're so very grateful to have worked with her!

We worked with Lina in February-March 2024 and February-March 2026 following the birth of our two…read morechildren. We can't recommend her more highly. We felt immediately and consistently safe and comfortable in her care and completely at ease handing her our newborns so that we could rest. With our first son, Lina was so helpful teaching us some basics of newborn care and sleep. She really got us feeling confident and secure helping our sons develop early sleeping skills. She strikes an excellent balance of following your family's requests, needs and cues without hesitation, while offering gentle, optional direction when helpful. It is truly money well spent. Thank you, Lina!

I honestly didn't know exactly what a doula did until I spoke to one of my mentors and she…read moreenlightened me (and thank God she did!). I quickly asked fellow moms in my area for referrals and after meeting with a few over zoom, I felt this deep connection with Nattasha and decided to go with her. I was planning a VBAC and Nattasha supported my decision from day one. She was kind, attentive, warm and knowledgeable. I did have a traumatic birth experience with my first born and Nattasha was always very eager to listen to my fears and my hopes for my second birth. To prepare for the birth, she came over to our house a couple of times to discuss the process of labor, practice comfort measures, and generally talk me and my husband through our plans and emotions. I was especially grateful for how she worked with my husband, gently teaching him ways to support me in and around labor. It was nice that she included my partner in the process because they also need support to navigate all of this. From 37 weeks on, Nattasha was always available if I needed her. We exchanged texts and I constantly felt supported by her. When I went into labor at 39.5 weeks, she was ready to meet me whenever the hospital let her. During labor, my husband and I felt extremely supported by Nattasha. There was a lot of waiting and decisions to be made and Nattasha reminded me of all the things we talked about and never forced a decision on me. She took care of me like a mother would and I'm forever grateful. My husband was able to be fully focused and present because he was somewhat rested and had the support from Nattasha as well. In the end, I did have the most beautiful birth experience and we know that Nattasha was a huge part of it! After giving birth, Nattasha continued to support us by coming over to the house to talk and check in on us. We talked about my concerns and she provided a wide range of information that really helped me. If you are on the fence about hiring a doula, don't be. It was the best investment we did during this pregnancy and we highly recommend Nattasha!

I had always heard that having a doula throughout one's pregnancy and birth would be beneficial…read more But, I didn't realize how much of a difference it would make until I met Nattasha. I interviewed several different doulas and went with Nattasha because of how open and straightforward she was during our initial conversation - her warmth coupled with passion for creating a memorable birth experience drove me to choose her for our journey! Nattasha is incredible, to say the least! She was so caring from day one and provided so many insights for all the questions I had during our prenatal visits to ensure that my husband and I felt empowered to make the best decisions for our family. The prenatal visits were not only educational, but also provided an opportunity for us to develop a relationship that felt comfortable. With Nattasha, I felt cared for and supported 100%! She was a true advocate for what was best for me and I can't begin to express how important that was for me to feel ready to give birth. I can't emphasize how useful it was to have Nattasha in the room with us during labor -- her presence was calming and energizing at the same time. As soon as she thought I needed her physically present with me, she joined my husband and I at our place (and later in the hospital) to help me get through the hardest part of labor. And, for that, I'm forever grateful. Since this was our first pregnancy, I was overwhelmed and anxious throughout the process, but Nattasha eased my nerves not only during our prenatal sessions, but also during birth. I felt empowered, connected, and present throughout the experience, which is what I had visualized. Thank you Nattasha for being so phenomenal in every way -- we could not have had such a beautiful experience without your varied support. If/when my husband and I decided to have a second little one, I would, without a doubt, want Nattasha on my care team again!!

Gingi supported my prenatal and postpartum healing journey -- helping both myself and my 8 week old…read morebaby. I attended her womb movement class while pregnant and absolutely love it! She was also incredibly knowledgeable about breastfeeding and newborn care to reduce gassiness and offered the most amazing body massage afterwards! She validated my experiences as a new mother and created a very comfortable and safe space for me. I look forward to working with her again and highly recommend her services!

VBAC/HBAC success story!…read more As a second-time mom, I knew I wanted my birth experience to be drastically different than my first. I lived in New Jersey when we found out we were pregnant, so I started looking for midwives and OBs out there. I could not find someone who felt right for me. Some wouldn't listen/validate my concerns, others were asking over $10K out-of-pocket up front. As a result, I didn't feel comfortable having any prenatal care at all for the first 30 weeks. Fast forward, my husband got a job in the Bay Area. We were eager to find prenatal care that I felt right about upon moving here. I researched midwives and found Gingi's website. I reached out. We chatted on the phone so she could get an idea of my previous birth and I could ask her some initial questions, and we agreed to meet. I kept researching other midwives, but as soon as I met Gingi, I knew she was the one. The search was over and I had finally found a care provider that I felt confident with. This is so key for an expecting mother. Confidence and trust in your care provider is crucial to obtaining the birth you desire. I could not have had the natural home birth I desired if Gingi Allen wasn't my midwife. God led me to her. She was attentive, caring, and so wise. When my labs showed low iron, she recommended natural ways of increasing my levels. It worked. When we found out my son was breech at 36 weeks, she recommended ways we could flip him. He flipped naturally. My husband was working nights 80 hours a week, I was chasing my 18-month old toddler around, working from home full-time, and unpacking from the move. She reminded me to slow down, reflect, meditate, pause. She really looked at my health from a holistic perspective. Because of her recommendations, I have a fantastic acupuncturist, osteopath and massage therapist. The team she assembled for me was amazing. She was approaching maternity leave herself, and made sure that Grace Bender, her fellow CNM, was there to attend to me postpartum. She was amazing and also at my birth. Kai, her apprentice, was fantastic, and conducted my bone closing ceremony postpartum. During my birth, Gingi really encouraged me to listen to my body. I asked her questions, like "should I push now?" LOL and she would say, "What is your body telling you to do?" She was so patient with me. Listen, my birth, from prodromal labor in the beginning to pushing at the end, was literally a total of 48 hours. She never wavered. She never said, "Well, if x, y or z doesn't happen in this timeframe, then we'll have to.....blah blah blah" That's usually what a woman hears before their care provider deviates from the birth plan. That never happened with Gingi. I loved that she didn't tell me how dilated I was. That was something triggering for me, since I stalled at 9 cm with my first son before I had the C-section. That's not even something I asked Gingi to refrain from doing. She just KNEW that dilating to 10cm was something I was concerned wouldn't happen, so she didn't allow me to worry about it during birth. I'm telling you, this woman's instincts are SUPERB. Trust me when I say, Gingi is the midwife YOU WANT AND NEED. I could not have birthed my beautiful 9lb, 11 oz son at home , after a previous C-section, if I didn't have Gingi. A comment my last midwife made (with my first son), was that my son was "big" which is why I stalled. He was 8 lbs, 12 oz. So literally my second son was almost a FULL POUND LARGER, and I had him at home, COMPLETELY NATURAL. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT GINGI! She is amazing. Just hire her already. You'll be thrilled you did. I was only under her care from weeks 30-40 and still had the most amazing prenatal care experience. My postpartum care, first with her and then, Grace, was crucial to my recovery. I had PPD the first time, but not this time! Gingi Allen will do everything she can to ensure all women in her care have an amazing prenatal care and birth experience. As you can tell, I highly recommend.