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!!!!

Short answer: Hire a doula, if you can afford it, it is so worth it!…read more Long review: I worked with birth doulas from BBD for both of my births (2024 and 2026). I was extremely nervous about giving birth, and my main goal the first time was just to not have trauma. Thanks to amazing support from our doulas, I discovered not only did I not have trauma, but I also find giving birth such a transformative and positive experience, something I never even considered a possibility for me. I worked with Tamara and Sage for my first birth, a late-term induction and vaginal delivery (both attended), and Tamara and Kim for my second, spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery (Kim attended). A goal in both my births was to wait until transition to get an epidural, and thanks to Sage helping me ride contractions and helping my spouse keep me comfortable I was able to wait as I had hoped. In my second birth, I used techniques I had learned from Sage as well as new ones from Kim to stay so comfortable laboring that I got to the hospital pretty late without realizing how far labor had progressed! I never considered an unmedicated birth a possibility for me, but due to doula support allowing me to stay comfortable I think I would give it a try if I have another baby. Doula support was key to keeping me out of my "fear brain", as in both births, things happened that I didn't understand and they were able to explain them, both on the phone and in person at the hospital. This allowed me to keep calm. We didn't do the birth class due to our schedules, so did 2 prenatal visits instead both times. These were helpful in getting to know the doulas, but also they gave a wealth of recommendations for birth and for postpartum - for instance, Tamara suggested identifying a lactation consultant before birth, which was an amazing suggestion given that I needed lactation support immediately with my first and I would have not lined this up without her suggestion. We really like the 2 doula model, also, which seems pretty unique. We highly recommend BBD!

I had the best experience with Breathe Bitch Doula! Louise and Mahri were incredible. They made me…read morefeel so supported and relaxed throughout my whole journey. They are set up to tag team so one of them is guaranteed to be there for the brith which was so helpful to know that someone would be there no matter what. They helped prep me and we amazing resources throughout my pregnancy, obviously during labor, and even postpartum. I'd text them with all my "my baby is doing this is it normal" questions. I want them there for any future pregnancies and labor!

Juliana was a major help during a very vulnerable time. I booked multiple at-home lactation…read moreconsultations when I was freshly postpartum, and she provided personalized and thorough after-visit reports to support my breastfeeding journey. I was dealing with blood blisters, a poor latch, doubts and fears about supply, and a baby that was temporarily not gaining enough weight. As a first-time mom, it was extremely stressful, and there were many tears. However, Juliana's visits always left me feeling more informed, reassured, and capable. We also did a weighted feed during every visit, which confirmed that my baby was indeed getting enough to eat. I still remember the relief I felt when I learned that. Juliana is a big reason why I decided to stay the course with breastfeeding. (Thank goodness, because now I LOVE it.) My insurance covered the cost of the visits, so I just paid the $60 travel fee. I also attended her breastfeeding class with my husband before giving birth. This was super helpful, but I recommend taking the class within 1 month of your due date. We took it a bit too early in my pregnancy, and forgot a couple things by the time I gave birth. Overall, I would highly recommend booking a lactation consultation with Juliana if you're in need of support!

Such a welcoming place! Juliana was very friendly & answered all and any questions she was given…read more She provided some helpful advice and I can't wait to go back to learn more.

Was gifted a massage session here for Mother's Day and it truly was such an amazing experience from…read morebeginning to end! My whole experience felt so personalized and I was super comfortable! Truly recommend.

I had a fantastic experience here! Brenda was very professional and made sure she understood what i…read moreneeded. It was one of the best, most relaxing massages we've ever had. I'm all the way from Menifee almost 2 hrs drive to San Diego just to get a postpartum massage! I will come back again. Thank you Brenda!

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.

My birth experience was an absolute dream! I knew I wanted a natural birth, so I interviewed a…read morehandful of midwifes around San Diego county. I highly recommend Mother to Mother! With an entire hour of face time at each prenatal appointment, my questions were always thoroughly answered. I rotated appointments with all the midwifes and loved them all! These ladies really make sure that you and your baby are supported physically AND emotionally. Of course, family and friends thought I was a bit crazy to opt for a home birth. They warned me that "the first baby is the hardest" to birth and that I would need an epidural. I am SO glad that I went with my gut instead! I felt amazingly comfortable giving birth in my own space. Everything went smoothly and I felt safe and supported by my midwives the entire time. It was wonderful to be able to snuggle up to my baby immediately and not worry about traveling anywhere. The midwives even came to my home a few additional times after the birth to check on baby and me. Administratively, the team is organized and has a spectacular office manager who is always quick to answer my emails. She took care of billing my insurance, so I didn't have to deal with any paperwork! How we bring our babies into this world matters. If you are looking for a smart, experienced, loving team, I highly recommend Mother to Mother. My baby is now 6 weeks old and I am happy to report that we are both doing fantastic!

I don't even know where to start... maybe I'll start by saying that The midwives and staff and…read moreMother to Mother midwifery have gone above and beyond all expectations for me as a pregnant woman, during my birth and as a new mother. After watching the business of being born- and my mom telling me her horror story of my birth in the hospital- I began researching my options for a home birth. I decided to do a home birth after meeting with Brooke and Sunshine. Lovely, absolutely lovely people. The whole staff, just so beautiful and kind. Yes, I was worried I would be loud at home while I labored... but the facts are: 1. you labor at home for the most part if you have planned hospital birth anyway and 2. after your baby is born you're going to rethink exactly what it was you ever 'worried' about. During your pregnancy you'll have regular checkups, there is an emergency line to call (which I had to use because of some worrisome braxton hicks, and they were very quick to respond), you can go get a sonogram at a cute little place they'll refer you to, they do all of your blood tests there (Brooke is a certified nurse midwife), any questions at all they answer and even have books they loan you and they also have mixers which are really great to meet new or soon to be moms. They were also really sensitive to my requests to alter the language they used. For example, I wanted to use the word surges instead of contractions. Which seems like such a silly thing in retrospect, but it just goes to show how kind and sensitive these women were to my wants and needs as a patient. My birth was 9.5 hours and I had a 6.5 pound baby. No tears, yippee!!! So.... this was a relatively easy first birth. It was incredibly painful (I'll spare you the details) but I was surrounded by women that I love and trust and that made a HUGE difference. It was exactly what I wanted and had envisioned. The midwives come to check up on you and your baby at your home a couple times, then you take your baby to a pediatrician. It's so wonderful to just stay at home with your baby and not have to worry about getting out of the car to get to the hospital. But in hindsight... I wish I would have hired a postpartum doula. To have somebody there with you to help with the transition, breastfeeding and just to have somebody knowledgeable about newborns can really alleviate a lot of stress and fear. It's like, one day you're a free woman- then the next it's baby, baby, baby... 24/7! About 8 months after my baby was born- I started getting bouts of depression. I asked the midwives about it and they were incredibly helpful. I attended one of their mixers, met some moms and got some information on Postpartum Depression. I was even offered a follow up appointment to talk to Brooke. Midwives are not therapists, or psychologists... but they KNOW and they have TONS of experience with moms. That one meeting with Brooke has helped me receive more clarity and insight into my situation than anything else. You hire these midwives to help you birth your baby. But what you also get is peace of mind, lifelong friends, a loving community and the support you will need as a new mom.

I recently attended the BirthFit Postpartum Series and it was awesome! I am a birth and postpartum…read moredoula and I sat in on the class with the goal of learning more about how to support my clients during the postpartum period. I gained so much more information about postpartum exercise and nutrition than I ever expected! Kiersten is an amazing instructor and the whole series has such a positive and supportive vibe. Although I have not given birth, I have been doing many of the exercises that Kiersten taught us and my body is feeling much stronger and more balanced. I am so glad that BirthFit has come to San Diego and I now suggest this course to all of my doula clients! Thanks so much for being such an amazing part of the San Diego wellness community, Kiersten!

I loved taking the Birthfit postpartum class with Kiersten! After four weeks, my body felt stronger…read moreand healthier, and my core is healing wonderfully from diastisis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) caused by previous pregnancies. Kiersten is a excellent instructor who gives each of her students individualized attention, even in the class setting. She taught me how to reconnect with my core and how to use proper body mechanics to reduce further separation of my abdominals and to promote strength and healing. Her class is also much more than just physical workouts. I love the way her series incorporates other elements, like nutrition, support and emotional wellbeing into each class. I really felt like I was gaining a well-rounded experience that helped me re-center my whole being, and not just my physical body, during my postpartum. Thank you!!

We participated in Amanda's most recent 12 week Bradley course and we couldn't be happier with our…read moreexperience. One of the best things about the class was Amanda's openess and honesty about what to expect during pregnancy, labor and delivery. She also provided a ton of information about the Bradley method and local resources available to assist us for any issues - good and bad (lactation consultants, cloth diapers, support groups, la leche league, etc). Each were helpful as we gave birth and in the several weeks after. Amanda is younger and closer to our age and could more closely relate to what we were going through. She brough her experience with her own two children to the course which made it more personal. Having now given birth we find that we are still continually drawing from the topics we covered in our classes. The birth process was considerably easier for us than we expected because we were well prepared, knew what the doctors and nurses would be asking us, and knew the questions to ask and answers to give to have the birth experience we wanted. We highly reommend the course.

I was certainly reluctant to take any "natural" childbirth class thinking that if it is "natural"…read moreyou do not need a class. Well, after having the pleasure of taking Amanda's class, I can honestly say I am happy to swallow my ignorance. Amanda provides a casual environment where everyone is made to feel comfortable and speak his/her mind. For you queasy fathers-to-be, Amanda also eases in to some of the more visually disturbing parts of pregnancy. Amanda Mitchell proved herself extremely knowledgeable in the Bradley Method and brought in guest speakers that touched on other subjects such as cloth diapering and breast feeding. At no time were my wife and I made to feel wrong if we did not share some of her viewpoints or scolded if we were unable to attend a class. And although I hate to set a precedence for future classes, I and the other fathers were able to sample some of her husband's home brew a few classes.

I love SET High! My son is a senior there and my sister is a freshman. When i was looking at high…read moreschools in 2021 for my son, i was discouraged. He was going to go to San Diego High, but it felt big and impersonal. My son is smart and i felt like he was going to just cruise by without any challenge or any accolades. We toured SET and my son was so excited. I love that each class is small. I love McCurdy, Ms Heath and all the other teachers. Ms. Geis is such a rad human! My Daughter is the opposite of my son.... She is into dance and theatre, but after seeing how awesome SET was, we enrolled my daughter too. Love the school and staff dearly!

Is your child a nontraditional learner and are you looking for a charter school that doesn't expect…read morestudents to learn the same way as everyone else? If so, I highly suggest you check out SET High (formerly Coleman Tech Charter School). Our son graduated from SET High last year and now our daughter is attending and we couldn't be happier. She is only in 9th grade and already taking on leadership roles. The teachers exceed my expectations. They know each student by name, have great relationships with them. My son's former teachers are always happy to see him when he goes to visit, which is often. He even gave graduation presents TO some of his teachers before he left. The students are geeky, wacky, nerdy, different, intelligent, unique, confident, and wonderful! My daughter said that she didn't want to go to any other school because she is with "her people" and she is right. Dr. McCurdy said in last year's commencement speech, "If you aren't failing, you aren't learning." What a great place to make mistakes, learn from them, and make improvements. I'm so excited for the students attending SET High because they are learning real-world skills at such an early age in a supportive, caring, and fun environment. You won't find a better school for your student!