Madrone - Monitrice package…read more We chose Madrone as our midwife because from the first time we met, they had a calming, safe presence that made us feel completely at ease with our upcoming birth. We chose the monitrice package because I wanted the reassurance a midwife could provide me with, and it was the absolute best decision. Having a Doula and midwife was the best of both worlds, we felt supported emotionally and had the hands on care from a midwife. This helped us realize our goals of laboring at home as long as possible, and having an unmedicated, natural birth at the hospital. I had my partner, mother and Madrone in the birth room, and Madrone balanced everyone out perfectly. They helped ensure each person had a place and space in my birth, all while taking photos to document it which I will treasure for the rest of time. Madrone was not only there for us during our birth, but before and after in such an impactful way. They helped us prepare before mentally and physically, helping us put together our birth plan and leading us through meditative breathing exercises. Madrone was also there after our birth, with several in person sessions as well as available for support along the way as we got settled in at home. It was so reassuring to have someone so knowledgable to ask questions as things came up - breastfeeding, diaper rash, eye boogers - Madrone had helpful information and answers to everything we asked them. Why we loved working with Madrone: - They are knowledgable and incredibly good at being a Doula and Midwife - They have a warmth and calming presence that always made us feel at ease and safe - They have a very balanced and practical approach to preparing, birth, and the postpartum. - They are respected by every birth worker I came in to contact with. Everyone loves Madrone! - They are humorous and full of so much bright energy, and that helped me through some of the most painful moments during birth. - They allowed me to confidently labor at home as long as possible, monitoring baby's heart rate while my contractions intensified - they cut out my stitches at three weeks when they were no longer serving me. Saving me an unnecessary visit to the doctor. Questions I asked Madrone that they were able to support and guide me through: - What are the pros/cons of the hep b shot? - I think my water just broke... does this look like amniotic fluid (photo of captured fluid in a jar sent... lol)? - How do we communicate to our family that we need them to get the Tdap and flue shots if they want to be around the baby? - Why does our baby have goop on his eyes? - I think my milk supply is too strong for baby to drink, what should I do? - I think my stitches fell out, what should I do? - Is the level of prolapse normal at 3 weeks? - How much should I be resting?

STOP. THIS IS IT. You can stop researching and interviewing doulas now because Mireille is THE…read moreBEST! We started looking for a doula at 6 weeks pregnant so we definitely had the time and energy to look for a doula and we are SO HAPPY we found Mireille. After she came to our home to chat with us, we knew she was the one! We found Mireille through our birthing class at Harmony. she had worked with our midwives, Lin and Maria (shoutout to BAM!) before and was familiar with El Camino Los Gatos so we knew she was perfect! Mireille helped us with our birth plan, eased any fears, and supported us to have a natural childbirth! We couldn't have done it without her. She was there from when we first called her all the way until baby was born, never leaving us :) The best part was she really supported my partner in being part of the birthing process. Will definitely come back to Mireille for our next birth :)

I was referred by my acupuncturist and lactation at Sutter for another opinion regarding my painful…read morebreastfeeding experience and daughters latch. Felt so comfortable with Lisa and am glad she was in my wheelhouse of help. Would definitely recommend her!

Lisa has been my go-to resource for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. With my third child, I…read morestruggled tremendously with breastfeeding. I was injured from the very first feed. Lisa came to my house, she assessed both me and my baby. She determined that my baby was simply clamping and not pulling with her tongue. With some very light physical therapy, helping to exercise my baby's tongue, she finally learned how to pull milk out on her own. Until she figured it out, Lisa treated my injuries, helped me figure out the best pump schedule to keep removing milk and treated me with acupuncture. She is the best of the best and I am so happy to be able to send new mothers to her.

Great selection of maternity (and non-maternity) lingerie. I was able to find two nursing bras and…read morea nightgown that not only make me feel beautiful but are also practical, comfortable, and affordable. The owner, Vanessa, is also very helpful but not pushy. She gave me ample space to look around but was right there when I needed her while trying on sizes.

Good deals, and happy mother to be after our visit! Comfortable nursing bras and great customer…read moreservice.

Kelly is awesome. She really is. I don't think you can say badass on Yelp but it is an apt word to…read moredescribe her. My wife and I both felt strongly about having a midwife that was compassionate but also assertive. We met with maybe 6 total midwives and Kelly was the only one who seemed extremely confident, not too lackadaisical, but also felt there was a right time to have humility and ask for help from elsewhere. This was the perfect balance for us. I believe my wife was one of Kelly's most difficult cases (sick both of her entire pregnancies 24/7), but Kelly went so far out of her way to help us and make us feel like we had support, I can't say enough about how much that means to us. And much as we had expected when hiring her, she was very helpful in seeking treatment for my wife's sickness and helping us navigate what could have been an otherwise very difficult path of doctors and specialists. Kelly is super energetic and fun, being that she has 3 kids of her own. She really has a great personality for her chosen profession. The only knock is that she did not laugh when I told her I was going to check the surf mid-labor. That was actually a very good joke.

Kelly Olmstead is not only a sweet and generous person but also an amazing resource for anything…read morerelated to birth. From the beginning she answered all of our questions without any pressure about homebirth vs hospital. After sitting with her for an hour, our minds were already made up, she clearly had to be the one to deliver our child. For months we looked forward to each visit and would always leave with delightful smiles, excited for the new adventure that was to come. When it was time for labor she was at our house ready to check me even in the early stages. She checked back often and monitored my progress until it was finally time to call the second midwife to come in and assist (Laura was a gem). During labor Kelly encouraged me and put my mind at ease for any aches and pains that I was feeling. When it seems like I couldn't take anymore she was there to tell me that this was the stage where it should feel like I cannot take anymore but she assured me that I could, and I would, and I did. Having our baby at home was the most magical experience and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone other than Kelly Olmstead. Since the birth she's been by several times to check our little babe and I must say that we are going to miss her and can't wait to get pregnant again! (but not too soon) ;)

Shana and I met twice before she attended the birth of my son and during the first meeting we…read moretalked through my hopes and desires for the birth, discussing what I would like her help with. We also discussed things I was worried about and how she could ease those fears. Right from the get-go I knew she'd be a huge help and I was excited to have her attend my labor. As the weeks passed and we waited for me son to arrive, she continued to send me resources and remind me that if I had any questions she would be happy to help. I loved how on top of things she was as I was busy keeping track of my toddler while feeling very pregnant. Finally, the day arrived to have my son and Shana was such a blessing to have present for it. When I texted to say labor might be starting, she offered to come over and even if labor didn't progress, was happy to stay with me to make sure she would be there for the labor when it did happen. We thought it might be a precipitous labor considering my first came in 8 hours. I didn't have a doula for the birth of my first, so it was a delight to have Shana there for my second more difficult birth experience. I was hoping that my second birth experience would be shorter than the first, however, when labor proved to take about as long as the first but with more intense contractions I was disappointed and found myself struggling. What worked for me through my first labor wasn't working as well this time and having Shana's support was invaluable. She was right there with me, softly saying soothing words of encouragement, gently massaging me, and physically supporting my head while I was in the birth pool. Her support kept me calm and gave me faith that I could make it through. Her constant reminders on how to breathe through the contractions and keep my cries low and grounded were a huge help as contractions intensified and the pain grew. Prior to labor I had taped encouraging quotes up on the wall above my labor space which I was too lost in labor land to pay any attention to, but she started reading them to me. Having those quotes to give my mind focus through labor provided a boost that I wouldn't have had without her. Shana was exceptional at noticing what I needed without having to say anything. Throughout my labor she was calm and ready to help in any way I needed, her presence as labor went on through that long night was invaluable and I could not recommend her more.

From the owner: Welcome! I’m Shana Bartlett, a certified Birth Doula serving Santa Cruz, California, and the…read moresurrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience supporting families during pregnancy and birth, I am passionate about providing compassionate, personalized care during one of life’s most transformative seasons. My Services Include: • Prenatal Support: 2–3 in-depth meetings to prepare for birth, answer questions, and create a personalized birth plan. • 24/7 On-Call Availability: Starting at 38 weeks, I am on-call to support you whenever labor begins. • Labor and Delivery Support: Early labor support at home and continuous guidance and care during active labor at your chosen birthplace. • Advocacy and Education: Ensuring your birth preferences are respected while empowering you with evidence-based information. • Postpartum Visit: A follow-up visit to debrief, offer support, and ensure you are adjusting well. As a mother of five, a lifelong Santa Cruz resident, and someone who has personally experienced the beauty and challenges of pregnancy and birth, I understand how vital it is to have someone by your side who truly listens, encourages, and supports your unique journey. Whether you’re planning a home birth, hospital delivery, or anything in between, I am here to help you feel prepared, empowered, and cared for. Let’s connect! I’d be honored to help you welcome your little one with confidence and peace.

Diana was our doula recently for the birth our first baby, and we had an excellent experience…read moreworking with her. She provided us with lots of information and encouragement both prior to and after our son's arrival. The prenatal visits took place in our home, and Diana really took time to get to know us, learn about our birth preferences in detail, and even practice some birthing techniques. In our case, the actual birth happened very fast, but Diana was able to meet us at the hospital and provide support during the most difficult part of the labor. The most important thing for us, though, was all the support she gave us in the postpartum period. I had a difficult healing process, and Diana was there for us through the whole thing, providing advice and resources during multiple home visits as well as by text and email. Diana always tailored her doula services to our specific situation and listened carefully to our needs. Throughout our work together, she was always friendly, professional, competent, and reliable. I would highly recommend her to any parents-to-be.

From the owner: I became certified as a birth & postpartum doula in Spring 2015 and was trained as a Lamaze…read moreInternational Childbirth Educator in July 2015.

After having our first son in 2016, I promised myself that our next baby would be born at home. In…read morea space that I created, with no one around except for my husband and my tribe of midwives empowering me and showering me with admiration for the bad ass that I am! And my vision came to fruition with SCMW. I was truly able to be present in my body and embrace every minute of my birthing celebration. There were plenty of times where I felt that I couldn't do it and they knew just what to say, or not to say to give me the encouragement to keep pushing--LITERALLY lol! Im already talking about our next baby and how I cannot wait and our sons only two months old! Cannot say thank you enough to SCMW! With our first son I was the typical hospital story of water breaking and then being pumped full of pitocin. It. Was. HORRIBLE!! I diligently searched for a midwife team who would suggest alternative options if it came down to that. Emily, Stephanie and Sharon were like my three guardian angels. Shooting me a txt every now and then asking me about my back pain and suggesting I go see their acupuncturist who is absolutely the best, and severely reduced my back pain. I ran outta prenatals and they had some in the office. I was having some issues with yeast and they had something for that. Since my pregnancy was through pandemic sometimes I used my appointments just to talk and cry and they were totally ok with that. By the end of the 9 months it felt like they were my aunts and sisters. It was such a different feeling and experience than at the hospital, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! We love the SC midwives!

Sharon, Emily, Stephanie and their team gave me and my partner amazing support through our first…read morepregnancy and home birth. I am so grateful to them We first met and decided to work with them last August. I had a miscarriage during the CZU Complex fires. Emily and Samaya (Arrow Acupuncture) supported me through the miscarriage with massage, acupuncture & herbs and I got pregnant again right away in September. My partner and I loved our visits with the midwives. They always started by asking what questions we had. We felt totally comfortable asking them anything that came to mind from logistics to spiritual and emotional questions. We really wanted my partner to see the ultrasound and they recommended an awesome tech in Los Gatos (Scan Babies) where he and my mom & dad got to see our little guy with me. I gave birth at home and the birth was amazing! I felt as prepared as I could have been for my first birth. We had the support of a doula (Gretchen Retka) for the early stages of labor, so Emily and the rest of the team arrived closer to the end of labor. After the birth the care was wonderful. I had a tear that Sharon stitched right on my bed. Our son was born with Tachypnea and the midwives recommended we transfer to the NICU at Dominican. As sad as we were to leave the house and go to the hospital, the transfer was very efficient and professional. The midwives gave us great support through the hospital stay and once we returned home. I love that they host gatherings for their clients at the park so we can get to know each other and get to see the babies grow. I wholeheartedly recommend this amazing team!

This group of practitioners is amazing. I got pregnant with the help of Dr. Rozenn and had a…read morehealthy baby and wonderful delivery with the assistance of Kris Ayer. From fertility to postpartum, this is the place to go