I loved my experience at best start and am heart broken that it is no longer open for clients…read more I had wonderful interactions with the staff from the beginning. They accepted me midway through my pregnancy which was amazing because I moved to SD at 30 weeks pregnant. At my prenatal appointments the midwives were thorough, respectful, friendly, and never seemed rushed. The building itself was cozy and I never had issues parking. I ended up barely making it to the birth center before my baby was born (my fault for waiting too long), but Erina, my midwife, was so calm, direct, and encouraging. They were so respectful of my wishes and gave us space and time as a family of three after my baby was born. I would hands down birth here again if it opens!

I am a military veteran, and at the time I was a single mother back in 2012 I was recommended this…read moreplace by a friend of mine who gave birth there . She told me about the wonderful experience that she had and how the owner was so welcoming I got my consultation signed up for all the classes took all the classes initially it was a really good experience I had my sisters come in and help through the classes we had a really good experience however I got changed over to a different nurse. Her name was Sharon Wilson. She looked at my profile and instantly start questioning me about who was unborn childs father, who was gonna take care of my kid how I was gonna take care of my kid if the father was gonna be involved all of these questions. She was supposed to only be offering me healthcare. I didn't argue. I was a bit upset that she was questioning me like I was in an interrogation room. Shortly after she starts writing in my file I'm not sure what she wrote then the owner comes in and tells me her facility cannot accommodate me. They did recommend a great doctor, Dr. Wong, who ultimately delivered My Baby. However, the bias and treatment that I got from Sharon Wilson was not great. I felt like she was trying to intimidate me to get me angry so that she can write me off not giving me a chance to have the same experience as my friend. Now I know that it's their choice based upon certain medical issues . However.I felt like Sharon was against me and whatever she wrote in those files was not the truth. Looking back almost 13 years later I realize that going to Dr. Wong was the best choice for me hewas patient. He was kind understanding and he was nonjudgmental. everything you would have thought a nurse would be,Not sure if best start is still open however, if you are, please hire people who are willing to ensure that the patients are not prejudged and they don't have a bias against other others.

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.

If you are thinking about reaching out to Aly at New Wave consider this your sign to DO IT…read moreIMMEDIATELY! It will be the best decision you make for yourself and your new family. From the earliest days of postpartum, Aly met me with kindness, calm, and such deep knowledge that I instantly felt supported and safe. She gently taught me the intricacies of breastfeeding and lactation, helped me understand my newborn in ways that felt empowering instead of overwhelming, and somehow always knew what I needed before I even had to ask. She cared for my baby overnight on several occasions so I could actually rest, but we spent a lot of our time together during the day when she cooked meals, helped keep my space together, and made those foggy early weeks feel manageable and human. But what makes Aly so special is that she never just cared for my son--she cared for me. She encouraged me to take showers, watched the baby while I squeezed in a workout once the time felt right for my body, and slowly helped guide me back to feeling like myself again. Her support was lighthearted and warm, yet deeply grounding. She brought peace into our home during such a tender, vulnerable season, and I will forever be grateful for the way she showed up for our family. Aly is a gift, and anyone lucky enough to have her as their doula is truly in the best hands.

I am a true believer of postpartum doula care after working with Aly and her team! As a first time…read moreparent, I was really nervous about raising a baby and the toll postpartum takes on a new mom. The care I received from Aly's team made a HUGE difference in my experience. We worked with Aly, Naomi, Ledale, and Tori - who provided night support for 6 weeks. I couldn't recommend them enough. Everyone was focused on both newborn education and the mental/physical wellbeing of parents. It was so nice to have someone to talk to about my baby - what her personality is like, care goals to work on, and just providing humor to the whole experience. Naomi, our primary doula, went above and beyond at this and I was sad to see her go after our 6 weeks was up. I wish everyone could have this type of support postpartum because it made the newborn trenches so much better.

I have used Candace now as a lactation consultant with both of my newborn daughters. She is the…read moremost amazing person that takes care in helping you along every step of the way with breastfeeding. She checks in often and is available to provide assistance and advice as you need it. She has helped make both of my postpartum and feeding journeys feel a lot less lonely and do-able!!

After a very difficult journey to get pregnant, I welcome my baby girl just 2 weeks ago but nothing…read morewent according to plan and I felt like I was struggling with everything that should "come naturally" to a mom. I was recommended Candace to help me navigate through all my questions and worries and it was a game changer to say the least!!! Right away she listened to all my concerns and I felt like she was really listening and cared about our family. She went above and beyond in following up and made some amazing suggestions, for feedings, that took away so much stress and frustration. I don't know what I would have done without her! Highly highly recommend!

As a dad-to-be, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going into a hypnobirthing class. If I'm being…read morehonest, I was a little skeptical at first--"hypno" anything sounded a bit out there to me. But I signed up to support my wife, and I'm really glad I did. This class completely changed how I see birth and my role in it. Instead of feeling like a bystander, I walked away feeling informed, useful, and actually confident in how I can support my wife during labor. The techniques we learned--breathing, relaxation, visualization--aren't just for moms. I found myself using them too, and they've already helped us both stay calmer leading up to the big day. What stood out most was how much emphasis was placed on teamwork. I learned specific, practical ways to advocate for my wife, help her stay relaxed, and create a positive environment no matter how the birth unfolds. It made me feel like an active participant instead of just "the guy in the room." The instructor, Care, was very knowledgeable, approachable, and never made any question feel silly. She made the classes very comfortable and even pretty funny at times. The class also struck a great balance between education and hands-on practice, so it didn't feel like we were just sitting through lectures. If you're a partner on the fence about taking a hypnobirthing class--do it. Even if you're skeptical like I was, you'll come away with tools, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of what your partner is going through. Honestly, it's one of the best things we've done together to prepare for becoming parents.

I gave birth a couple months ago, and decided to go through Care's Hypnobirthing class, and also…read moreuse her for my placenta encapsulation, and I can't recommend her highly enough! From the very first class, it was clear that Care is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about empowering expectant parents. Her approach to hypnobirthing and breathing techniques was not only informative but also calming and reassuring for both me and my partner. We completed it feeling much more prepared and confident for the birth experience ahead. Care provided a wealth of resources, ensuring we had everything we needed to make informed decisions about our birthing plan. She was always responsive to our questions, both during the classes and even after the birth, which made a world of difference in our journey. It's rare to find someone who continues to support you even after the classes are over. Overall, the entire experience with Care was amazing. Her warmth, expertise, and dedication to her clients truly set her apart. If you're looking for guidance and support in your birth preparation, look no further than Care Messer at the Birth Education Center!

I can not say enough great things about the hynpobirthing class with Care Messer. My partner and I…read moreare first time parents and did not know the first thing about the labor and delivery process. We were very unsure about everything and looking for direction. In class we learned about what the different labor and delivery options are, what to expect from hospitals, and different techniques to use during labor. We now feel we have the tools to better understand the whole process and make the decisions that are right for us and our family. The class addressed all of my questions and I feel like the information was presented in a very unbiased way, not to mention Care is super funny and the time in class flys by! I would recommend this class to all of my friends and family.

If you are pregnant, book your class asap! I can't rave enough about their approach to preparing…read morefor birth. My husband had two kids from a previous relationship, but still was able to learn things he hadn't been present for with them. It improved our communication surrounding my pregnancy and birth, even when it took a different turn. We'd made it through four of the five classes when my son decided to he needed to get out at 30 weeks. I had so many tools in my toolbox that I felt prepared, even during the scary prospects of having preeclampsia and a NICU baby. I'm so grateful for Care and her entire team. Such a blessing!!!!

My family and I are so grateful and lucky to have been under Ceniza's care during my pregnancy,…read morebirth, and postpartum, and that she took on our family even though we were a distance away for the majority of it. During my pregnancy, I had Hyperemesis gravidarum, HG, and through all of the emotions and challenges that came with this, Ceniza showed up for me. I appreciated how, no matter how small, she took my concerns seriously and listened intently at every visit. She guided me and helped me to learn so much about my own body, experience navigating pregnancy, and navigating the challenges of new mamahood. When Ceniza arrived for my birth, I felt at ease knowing I was in good hands. I felt this same way during our postpartum visits as she checked on my baby and I, a sense of calm that I believe my baby felt too. It meant a lot to me to know what was going on through all stages of this, and it was empowering to be educated through it. Ceniza impacted our lives in a most beautiful way, and her gentleness, kindness, and graciousness are a rare gift in this world.

I promise, working with Ceniza will be the best decision you can make in protecting your family…read moreduring pregnancy and birth. I have loved my time with her! There are few providers that are as invested in client care as Ceniza is. My birth was the most intimate and intense experience of my life and I couldn't have asked for better support. We knew right away after our interview that we wanted to work with Ceniza and we started our journey at 6 weeks. We felt she was the perfect fit for our family- we shared joy, laughter, and stories during our many prenatal visits. She held space for us as we navigated the questions, tests, and fears of a first pregnancy. She respected our decisions and my body at every visit and intentionally created a relationship with my husband as well (partners are so often left out of this experience and it meant a lot that he felt as connected with Ceniza as I did). Our visits were always 45-60 minutes and we were never rushed out the door. We built trust during our prenatal care and so when she came to our birth, I had no hesitation to listen to her. My birth was swift and she helped me believe in my body and ability to birth without medication in the safety of my home. She caught my baby girl and ensured her safety. She and her team spent 5.5 hours in our home- cleaning our space, examining us, and teaching us how to navigate the first few days and recovery. I can't say enough about how beautiful it was to be cared for by her right after welcoming our daughter. Postpartum is a tricky space to navigate and Ceniza always made herself available for our questions. So often birthing individuals are neglected and providers only care for the baby but I felt like Ceniza was invested in my recovery as well. Her follow up home visits through 6 weeks meant the world to us! We will certainly miss seeing her regularly and can't wait to see her in a few months. We will absolutely work with her again whenever we have another baby. I would recommend her to anyone looking for amazing prenatal care and birth support!

Kiersten Markham is a gem…read more As a man going through all of this, I had my world rocked in the most amazing way. My wife and I took her Conscious Conception for Couples course and honestly at a very deep level we know we are ready to bring a life into this world. From her visualizations to navigating our birth stories with our parents or the homework that kept us in tune and accountable, we not only learned more about ourselves but we were able to heal so many aspects of our lives. Through talking to our parents, it was eye-opening to hear how uninvolved men/dads were with the entire process of conception, pregnancy and birth back then and how this has absolutely affected us today as a society. Or how women were told that our patriarchal healthcare system knows more about their bodies than they do themselves... to have my mom talk about my birth was a massive step on its own but for us to reconcile much of our relationship, well, that speaks for itself. Conception, pregnancy and birth as fundamentally what has been responsible for life on earth for eons of time........ this procreative process does not need more unconscious men trying to control it whether it's husbands or our healthcare system, it needs us to be MORE conscious and yet be a part of creating and holding space for the wonder and awe that it is. Kiersten has changed our lives of not only for ourselves as individuals but as a couple who will now populate our planet with much more conscious beings. We are so blessed and excited :) This might be a weird thing for most guys to consider doing BUT trust the process. Trust Kiersten, her wisdom and her expertise... she has been doing brilliant work with this community for years and she's not just excellent, she has made an indelible imprint on our family for generations......

Kiersten's Conscious Conception course is a must for any couple planning on starting a family. This…read morecourse really dug into our own birth experiences, our parents and even grandparents births and childhoods. Through visualizations, meditations and connecting with our partner with the weekly assignments it not only brought me closer to my partner but it made me feel more connected to our spirit baby. Kiersten is an excellent resource for all things birth all the while being the absolute sweetest person on the planet. She deeply cares for everyone's situations and stories and offers heartfelt guidance and wisdom in creating the conception and birth of your dreams. I feel so grateful to have taken such a spiritual and intimate course. I highly highly recommend it.