I emailed Lauren the day that I found out I was pregnant with our second daughter to make sure she…read morewould be available for our home birth! Lauren was an attending midwife at our first daughter's birth, and she brought such a peaceful, calming presence to the birth of my first baby. During my entire pregnancy, Lauren was nothing but supportive and helpful. We laughed, and I cried during some emotional visits, but I always felt supported, loved and safe in her care. My daughter was nearly two weeks late, and while I was nervous about getting to our 'deadline', Lauren put my husband and I at ease and assured us everything would work out! Even though I was not a 'new' mom, getting back into nursing and all things newborns was a little difficult! Lauren was so helpful with all of my postpartum care, as well! Lauren is an amazing midwife, and she makes me want to have more babies just so that I can have another magical home birth!

I highly recommend Lauren for all her services…read more I first met Lauren in 2015 when she became my current (at the time) midwifes assistant as I delivered my baby boy #2. I loved how soft, sweet & gentle she was. I also appreciated how she remained calm & grounded as my baby was born with his cord wrapped around his neck. She was on top of it and everything worked out smoothly, which I am so grateful for. She was great then & even more amazing when I had the pleasure of having her as my midwife for my 3rd baby boy! As my midwife, Lauren was very involved and attentive to every single need and desire I had. She was so supportive, which meant the world to me. Lauren is extremely knowledgeable and is still always building on that knowledge which I love! With her in charge, I felt more at ease during this pregnancy & especially during my delivery. She genuinely cares. She's there when you need her, even far after delivery. That includes being on top of all the paperwork too! We had Lauren encapsulate my placenta after both births with no complaints. We also loved the umbilical cord art she made. Should I decide to be so daring to have baby #4, I hope to have her by my side again! She is absolutely amazing!

Christy is seriously amazing. Finding the right midwife was really important to me because birth is…read moresuch a personal experience, and I knew I needed someone I felt 100% comfortable with. From the moment we met her, we just knew she was the perfect fit for us. This was our first baby, and she guided us through everything. She answered all of our questions, made us feel so supported, and honestly exceeded every expectation we had. I also really loved that she's the perfect balance of holistic, but will absolutely speak up if something medical is needed. You can tell her top priority is always keeping both mom and baby safe. We also took her Bradley Method class, which was so helpful and made me feel way more prepared and confident going into birth. We learned so much, and I've already been recommending it to everyone. I fully trusted her the entire time, which made such a difference for me going into labor and birth. Throughout my labor, she was there at any time of day to answer my calls and questions, and she always helped me feel calm and educated about what was happening. On the day of the birth, she was calm, confident, and completely in her element. She made the whole experience feel so smooth and magical. I recommend Christy to anyone, and I already know I'll want her as my midwife for all of my future babies

Safe, warmth and validation. Three words that I experienced with Honey Midwifery during my second…read morepregnancy and birth that I didn't experience with my first. The team at Honey Midwifery has been cultivated with love and education. Every step of the way we talked through my concerns and we talked about the vision of how I wanted my birth to look. My partner was included at every appointment and together we celebrated each new milestone in my pregnancy with love and guidance from Christy and her team. When it was time for my son to make his earthside debut, Christy and her team created a safe space for me and my partner. It's hard to describe but they knew exactly when to check in and when to respect my space. Christy was right there when I needed her wisdom the most. Her words provided the warmth and safety I needed in my most vulnerable time. Honey Midwifery is committed to not only caring for mothers and their families during pregnancy (and postpartum), but also in providing education so families can make informed decisions. I am so glad we chose Honey Midwifery for our health team!

Having Jessie as a midwife enabled me to have the most beautiful pregnancy and birth experience. I…read morefeel so grateful that I had the ability to have a home birth because it was a life changing and transformative experience, and that was in no small part due to who Jessie is and how she works. Contrasting from OB care where every appointment is hurried and routine, Jessie invests in you as a person. Appointments are up to one hour and explore all aspects of health: physical, emotional, mental, etc. Jessie has a magical way about her in the way she advises you and listens that's non-judgmental but supportive. I felt so empowered and supported through it all. During the birth, I'll never forget when Jessie looked me in the eye as I neared the end and told me the only way out was through and I took a big breath and powered through. We did a home, water birth and it was the most special experience. I hope more and more women are able to navigate pregnancy and birth with Jessie or midwives like her. And overall I left this experience wiser about my own body and health, prepared to care for our baby, more confident and more.

This review is long over due. First and foremost the quality of care you will receive from Jessie…read moreprenatally and postpartum is like nothing you will ever experience from a traditional OB/ Provider. She is genuinely caring, compassionate, nurturing and responsive. We had a few scares during our pregnancy that of course had to happen later at night and she was quick to answer and respond in a calm but urgent way. The same has been true postpartum. She ALWAYS has you & your babies health and best interests in mind when discussing options and care. She is informative and relays the perfect mix of holistic/ evidence based medicine and western medicine if needed. Once you have a conversation with her you'll understand why she is the best. Jessie, We love you so much and we are so grateful that you were with us every step of the way to bring our baby girl into the world happy and healthy.

If you have tons of time to waste then this is your place…read more I would definitely avoid this practice for OB care as a whole if you can! They have no availability for appointments EVER and they constantly cancel your scheduled appointments which you can't do anything about. I've been canceled 7 TIMES. 3 of the times they didn't even tell me it was canceled, no notice at all, so I showed up for my appointments. Also one time they changed my anatomy scan date without asking me first.

So grateful I found this practice - specifically Dr. Kalra. I came to the practice at the…read morerecommendation of fertility specialist because I didn't want to go back to my previous OBGYN (due to obsurd wait times, no patient portal, etc.) and boy am I glad I did. Dr. Kalra is full of energy, so passionate and genuinely cares for her patients. She takes the time to always answer my questions, explain what's going on, and make sure by the time I leave, I feel comfortable and confident in our plan (hello first time mamas out there!). Additionally, the clinic is so patient-centric. You can easily make and change appts online via their portal, see test results, view notes from your appointments, and the wait time thus far has never been ridiculous (sometimes having your blood drawn or an ultrasound can take awhile, but it is a busy practice). I'm grateful to have a care team that seems to genuinely love what they do.

Ana is very professional and knowledgeable, yet deeply caring and respectful of your opinions and…read morevalues. Even though this was my third pregnancy, I learned so much about how to care for myself and my baby. I loved that she wasn't pushy, but gave us the facts and let us make our own decisions. We often covered the importance of exercise and nutrition, and I made changes from that, which I believe contributed to a smoother and easier pregnancy than my first two. She also was so calm and professional throughout my labor and delivery. My husband noted how much he appreciated her composure during the most intense moments of my labor. She's the kind of person you'd want by your side when you're not in the right frame of mind. She also collaborated very well with her assistant, respecting her skills and experience during my postpartum assessment. We loved having her as our first midwife and home birth experience and will definitely be reaching out to her again in the future!

Ana is a godsend. When I was planning to have my 5th baby, the one thing I knew for sure is that I…read morewanted to have him at home. I interviewed so many great midwives, but as soon as I met Ana, I knew she was the right fit. She took me on late in my pregnancy (27ish weeks), and onboarding with her was so easy. The care that I received from her was supportive, kind, compassionate and steady. I appreciate how calm and nurturing she is while staying firm in her knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and of a woman's body overall. Her care is holistic and evidence-based, and she makes her clients actual partners in their care. We never did anything that I was uncomfortable with (which is almost unheard of in a hospital birth). When I started to go overdue, she was there to reassure me, and because she genuinely trusts the process of birth, she helped me trust my body as well. I had an absolutely amazing birth experience that my husband and I wouldn't trade for anything. My baby is two now (sorry this is so late!), but I still think of Ana often and so fondly. She became part of our family for the time she was with us and I will always love her for helping me have the birth experience of my dreams (even at 43 years old). Thank you Ana!

I've had two home births with Sue and I recommend her to anyone who wants a home birth. Her…read moreexperience and knowledge are unmatched, and she always gave me the confidence I needed. After a not so stellar experience with the local birth center for my first baby, I was so thankful to have Sue. I never felt rushed, and she always made me feel like my concerns were valid. When I had my first baby with Sue, I did start bleeding a lot after the baby was born, but Sue handled it without panicking or making me panic. The second home birth went really smooth and no issues. My two boys born at home have been so healthy and I honestly can't say enough good things about Sue!

Words won't be able to express my appreciation or gratitude towards our midwife Sue Gill. When my…read morehusband and I decided on a home birth we were recommend Sue as a midwife from a well trusted friend who had gone through the process with her. There was an instant connection and we knew she would be the best fit for our growing family. Not only is Sue warm hearted, trustworthy and reliable, she is extremely good at what she does. Here are some numbers if you are more of a factual person. Sue has attended over 700 home births and out of those her hospital transport for c-section rate is about 3%. Hospital rates are about 35% or greater. Holy smokes isn't that incredible. That is a ton of healthy babies that she has successfully brought into this world providing not only the mamas but also the families with a tremendous amount of love and support. An added bonus is Sue is always accessible via text or calls for any questions or concerns that may come up. Also, I highly recommend the documentary( the business of being born). Extremely informative and was another added bonus on why a home birth was best for our family. I can't forget to mention I had the most caring and supportive doula Tessa alongside with Sue. I know I forever have a friend and am over the moon thankful for everything she has done not only for me personally but also for our family.

Melanie helped me deliver my third baby. I had a traumatic hospital birth with my first and knew I…read morewanted to do a natural home birth with my second. I went with a midwifery that operated more like a company rather than a personalized experience. This other midwifery missed my 2nd child's birth. Being pregnant with my 3rd, I still wanted to have a natural home birth but with a midwife who will be there every step of the way and not miss my birth! Melanie immediately sympathize with my experience and assured me that she would never want that to happen to me...especially because it happened to her with the same midwifery! I knew right then and there she was my gal. Her prenatal care was pleasant and enjoyable. She cared about me as a whole. We spent so much of my time talking and I felt more excited and positive about my birthing. She is kind, knowledgeable and confident. I had a couple times when my contractions that were pretty far apart but I still wanted Melanie to know. She didn't blow me off but checked in on me to see if things progressed. I still didn't have the baby. Finally when I had contractions that were 2-10 mins apart, I called her saying I think the baby was going to come. Eventhough the contractions were not consistent, she asked me if I believed it was strong like real labor contractions. I said yes and she was at my front door 45 mins later. An hour later I had the baby! She didn't miss my birth and let me guide my instincts. During my labor, she was helping me relax which help so much. At one point, the baby's head was out but hadn't turn so she strongly urged me to push with all my might. I didn't know at the time the concern but she walked me through it with confidence and didn't cause me to worry. Baby came out healthy! Baby was born at 5am and after the clean up, my other two kids woke up at 7am just in time to greet their baby sis. She was always so kind to let my girls help during all my check ups. They loved her and couldn't wait to see Melanie. Melanie came to visit me at my home at my 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks visit. It was such a blessing because I would have dreaded getting out of the house after having the baby. I still message Melanie with questions even after I have had the baby. She also did my pap smear. Eventhough I don't plan to have anymore babies, I'd definitely recommend Melanie to any moms looking to have a natural home birth.

My care with Melanie started when I was 28 weeks pregnant due to wanting a change in my care. She…read morewas recommended to me by a doula and boy am I so glad I gave her a call!!! (Always wish I had called her sooner) immediately when I met her she had such a friendly comforting vibe to her. She was super happy to help with changing my birth plan so late in the game to do a home birth and was very accommodating. She came to my house once a week and did her routine and what I loved about her was she didn't just care about my physical health but also my mental health. She helped me talk through some things I was going through and always with such positivity and care. I really looked forward to our visits. When it came to my birth she came at just the right time. She and her assistant were amazing. They offered water when I needed it, making sure the water was nice and warm, let me and my husband work through my contractions together when I needed him, all while preparing everything for my postpartum care so quietly. The care and love I received from Melanie was everything I needed during my pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. I couldn't have picked a better midwife. Our family is forever grateful for you!

My husband and I were so blessed to have Tiffany and Taylor be part of our pregnancy and postpartum…read morejourney! They were not only midwives to us, they were also educators, motivators, and with each home visit they became family! Even though we didn't have a home birth, these ladies stuck through over 2 days of labor with us and when we transferred to our Kaiser hospital, these ladies called the facility to prepare our transfer and faxed over their impecable records over to the hospital. The Kaiser Drs and nurses were so impressed with how these ladies handled my care and transfer, that they wished all private business midwives would give offer the same level of medical care for patients and professional documentation for transferring hospitals. When I returned home from the hospital, these ladies continued my postpartum care. They were helpful and timely with all my employers FMLA requests and California's STD forms. If you're going to be a first time mom, a mom that wants TOP QUALITY prenatal care, or are looking for a one-of-a-kind birth team, don't hesitate in selecting these two gifted and talented midwives as part of your birth team- you will not regret it!!! Today's healthcare system unfortunately can not consistently give what these ladies put into your pregnancy journey. They will ensure a healthy baby, healthy momma-to-be, and even ensure your partner is feeling prepared and feeling part of the process as well. And that is service you will NOT get in majority of OBGYN offices. Many blessings to all those families expecting and don't settle for the care you and your baby deserve.

I adore Tiffany and Taylor so much no words in this review could do it justice. Their patient care…read moreis unmatched, I am still in disbelief how much they went above and beyond to care for me and my baby. So family and love oriented I always felt incredibly safe which was especially important given the emotional trauma I was experiencing while pregnant. I really have no idea what I would have done without them. And their postpartum care and baby check ups after my child's birth was absolutely incredible as well. I gave birth to a 10 lb beautiful baby boy and I always felt like I was bugging them with questions and concerns leading up to the labor and delivery and even after when I had some postpartum questions. But they were never ever ever ever irritated or bothered by my annoying questions. They handled everything I needed so beautifully. I had some challenges that they were so amazingly patient with, just absolutely the most amazing experience. I highly recommend them to any expectant mothers if you want incredible care.

I had such an amazing experience at Acorn Community Birth Center. From the beginning to the end and…read moremy postpartum visits, it was just such a wonderful experience. I was first greeted by Cristi, the executive director and midwife. She made me feel at ease and made me and my husband feel very comfortable. The birth center itself is in a peaceful community in Fallbrook. It has 3 birth rooms to choose from that are themed differently. I believe I chose the green room which acquired to my liking and it was extremely peaceful. The rooms are a good size and very comfortable. My birth experience was just perfect thanks to my midwife Debbie and the student midwives, Azure and Mel. They were so patient, kind, and so knowledgeable. I believe I met most of the midwives and they are all lovely. I love how you get to do your birth, your way, and the midwives guide you while following your lead. I don't trust traditional hospitals and I would much rather do a holistic birth with midwives, just as it has been done for ages. I would choose Acorn over and over again if I were to have more children. I even had to switch my health insurance just so I could give birth at the center versus a hospital and it was so worth it. It was such a beautiful experience.

This review has been long overdue. My first 3 were in the…read morehospitals with epidurals and my last two experience was unmedicated at Acorn. I never thought I would ever do a natural birth... but here I am! I will start by saying, natural birth is HARD. I went into my first unmedicated birth not knowing what to expect but I prefer it that way but boy was I determined!!!! Second time around I was nervous, anxious.. all the things! My first experience was great, although after labor I experienced some hemorrhaging. Once staff figured what was wrong they acted fast and I was relieved. It was a little traumatic for me but it didn't taint my experience with Acorn. I came back for round two!!! 2nd time around two years later! I delivered my baby girl on February 20th, my experience from start to end was amazing. During labor the team gives you and your partner space, during those moments were truly special. And probably one of my favorites. I had Cristi Sedona and Kyra for my team! And I would choose the same 3 every-time. Each of them brought a different vibe, but it was a mix that you need on your team! I can't thank them enough for making each experience so special, For me my husband and my family! If I was having more kids, no questions asked... I would do it again.... and again....