The care and one on one was amazing. My daughter felt seen, heard and helped…read more The office was lovely, warm and spotlessly clean. The young lady who greeted us was very kind, smiled and was happy we were there.

Jen is absolutely incredible with her knowledge, compassion and care for those she interacts with!…read moreShe makes you feel supported and empowered in your choices as a parent. She is extremely generous with her time when she is working with you and generous in sharing supplies to ensure you have what you need to be able to feed your baby the way you want to be able to feed. As a first time mom, meeting with Jen was an absolute must and I cannot recommend her enough to first time and experienced mothers/families! Thank you, Jen, for the compassion and knowledge you bring to families.

This is a wonderful resource during pregnancy. I always learn a lot from the group check-in at the…read morebeginning of each class.

Carlee is the best. She is super patient, wonderful empathetic kind bedside manner and extremely…read moreknowledgeable

I had breastfeeding struggles with both my first two, and they both had tongue and lip ties. I knew…read moremy third would also, and I was quite anxious about the thought of not succeeding this time, so when seeking out a Lactation consultant, I happened across Grace's info. She made mention that she specialized in tongue and lip ties. I knew I needed to call right away and I'm so glad I did. From the moment I met Grace, she was warm and caring and made me feel safe, and encouraged me. She confirmed what I knew to be, and unlike my last two experiences with tongue and lip tie releases, I had her to walk me through the entire process. She came to the pediatric dentist with me, and was in the procedure with my baby, when I couldn't be. She helped me at follow up appointments with checking his wounds to ensure I was doing correct wound care, and then helping me improve his latch. I've never felt so cared for, and supported, and you can just see how much Grace absolutely loves her work and how passionate she is about helping mothers and babies successfully breastfeed! I would recommend Grace to ANYONE who is looking for a Lactation consultant. She has been doing this for many years, and works with some incredible doctors, who I'm also glad to have been connected with. Baby is feeding SO well now, pain is gone, and I'm producing a magnificent amount of milk! I honestly feel like I may just have the most successful journey yet, with this baby, and it truly is all thanks to Grace! If you're experiencing pain, or baby isn't latching, or you're concerned with milk supply, PLEASE call Grace. She will be able to help!

An important thing to know is that Grace seems to be a very strong advocate of tongue tie revision,…read moreand if you are not planning on revising your money may be spent elsewhere. My wife and I reached out to Grace for help breastfeeding with our second son. My wife let her know from the beginning that we are not interested in doing a tongue tie revision - this was because we did it with our first son and it was traumatic and did not actually help with his breastfeeding. Even though my wife was clear about this, Grace continued to lecture about tongue tie revisions and tongue tie risks throughout almost the entire session. She offered some but not much help outside of offering tongue tie info. The session was not very helpful for our family. Also, it's important to read the fine print that even though the session is quoted as $100, you have to pay a non refundable $25 deposit beforehand. We saw another lactation consultant a few days afterwards who was significantly more helpful - she listened to our situation and spent 2.5 hours helping us with techniques and tips to have a healthy breastfeeding relationship without a tongue tie revision. I believe Grace is a good person and doing what she believes is best and helpful, but it just may not be the best care for every family.

Breastfeeding was a really tough and painful experience with my first baby, so having Robyn by my…read moreside this time around was so important. Even as a second-time mom, I needed guidance and reassurance, and she gave me both in the most compassionate way. She helped me understand my daughter's latch, showed me the best positions to make it easier and more comfortable, and patiently answered every single question I had. What I appreciated most was how willing she was to come to my house on short notice when I was really struggling -- that support made all the difference. Because of her, I feel confident and actually enjoy breastfeeding this time around. She truly goes above and beyond, and I can't recommend her enough to any mom, whether it's your first or your second baby.

We worked with Robyn on some difficult latch issues/tongue tie with my baby…read more I can honestly say if it wasn't for her support, we would have given up. There were so many roadblocks in our feeding journey and Robyn met us where we were at and encouraged us to continue. She had so many tips and tricks to get our baby to effectively transfer milk. Breastfeeding can be a challenging and emotional time, but with Robyn's support and calming vibes we felt motivated to continue. I am happy to report that at 2 months we are not just surviving, we are thriving! None of this would have been possible without Robyn. I highly recommend her to anyone who is breastfeeding, pumping or bottle feeding! You will not regret working with her! Thank you so much for helping our family

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!

My husband and I visited Babies in Bloom in Vista, California while trying to figure out what…read morestroller and car seat would be best for our first baby--and wow, we are so glad we did! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with such warmth and kindness. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful, not pushy at all. They patiently answered all of our (many!) questions and helped us compare different stroller options based on our lifestyle and needs. We left feeling confident in our decision, which is such a huge relief as first-time parents! The store itself is absolutely adorable--full of the cutest baby items you can imagine, from thoughtful gifts and baby clothes to nursery must-haves. You can tell everything is curated with care. It has that perfect boutique vibe without being overwhelming or overpriced. Babies in Bloom is a true gem for anyone preparing to welcome a little one. We left not only knowing what stroller we want, but with a big smile on our faces. Highly, highly recommend!

Leilani truly saved my breastfeeding journey. As a first-time mom to premature twins, I was ready…read moreto quit breastfeeding and pumping, but finding her was a game changer. She helped me with ultrasound therapy, correctly sized my flanges after multiple hospital lactation consultants got it wrong, and supported me through countless breastfeeding and pumping challenges. As an IBCLC, her expertise is incredible, and there really is a difference. Her online videos and resources have also been invaluable. Because of her support, I've been able to continue providing breast milk for my twins far longer than I thought possible. I am so grateful and highly recommend her to any breastfeeding or pumping mom.

Leilani is very responsive and helpful navigating the challenges of breastfeeding and postpartum in…read moregeneral. She is quick to respond and makes you feel very comfortable in her sessions.

I cannot say enough good things about Kimberly! I went to a breastfeeding class when I was still…read morepregnant that I found through our hospital and Kimberly was the educator. My husband and I both really liked her and learned a lot from the class. Fast forwarding to a couple of weeks after our little one was born, I contacted Kimberly for her help with some issues I was having with breastfeeding. She Not only responded right away to set up an in-home consultation, but she answered a bunch of my questions via text messages before I had even met with her or paid her for any services. She is truly passionate about what she does and has been a wonderful educator and support system for me and my breastfeeding journey :) She is absolutely wonderful and is so easy going and fun to be around and is full of knowledge! I wouldn't recommend anyone else!

I LOVE Pregnatique! Kimberly has so many awesome items there for pregnant woman and also for…read morebabies. The store is decorated so beautiful and is such a warm feeling in there!

I had my second son last year, May 2020, at the beginning of a lot of unknowns during COVID. I had…read morebeen seeing an OB, with plans to have a nature delivery at Pomerado Hospital. In the last 8 weeks of my pregnancy, I contacted San Diego Midwives to see if they'd add me to their care, in order to deliver at a birth center. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate me so late in my pregnancy, and they offered a Covid cash discount because my insurance didn't cover midwifery , and the birthing center wasn't in network with my insurance. They also partnered with a billing service to help me confirm my benefits. Had my insurance covered, they would have worked with me to submit all the required billing information to my insurance for a small fee. They offered majority of my prenatal visits on telehealth , and the appointment I had in office, they clearly took careful precautions to follow Covid safety protocols. I felt like they went to great lengths to make sure I was comfortable with everything (to the extent I could be at 34-40 weeks wearing a mask!). Gerri, Heather and Andrea are a wonderful team. During my delivery at the birth center, they all ended up being there, and they were all so calm , I didn't even realize Gerri had shown up until I was almost pushing. They honored all my birth plans, and made any pre anxiety I had about not delivering at a hospital disappear. The follow up appts at my house were also very attentive and caring. I feel like the post partum care was definitely above and beyond what I received during my first birth, and I really appreciated that , especially since Covid made my post partum experience very different in terms of support. The birth center, A Family Affair, was extremely comfortable, including the bath tub , and the bed where I delivered. We were in and out in 6 hours ! I highly recommend this group of amazing midwives, and the birth center they partner with (or home birth if you choose!).

Please think twice before choosing Heather LeMaster as your provider…read more I wish I had listened to my intuition sooner and not ignored the many red flags I encountered throughout my care. I'm writing this review for anyone considering her as their midwife -- I encourage you to truly, deeply reconsider whether she is the right fit for you. From early on, I felt invalidated and dismissed. I had chronically low blood sugar throughout my entire pregnancy, and rather than receiving the support and care I needed, Heather denied my symptoms and was dismissive of my concerns. Instead of offering evidence-based guidance, I was shamed -- for eating fruit, for eating carbs -- at a time (first trimester) when I was sick and just trying to get through each day. Her constant warnings about delivering a "sugar baby" felt more like threats than medical advice, adding to my stress and confusion. I consulted the rest of my care team, including my PCP, and Heather heavily criticized that decision, routinely telling me that they did not know what they were talking about. She also claims to practice spinning babies, but none of what we did during my pregnancy aligned with the true Spinning Babies exercises and practices that my Doula had me practicing. It was frustrating, as I initially sought out a Spinning Babies provider. In addition to that, the one time I used the 24-hour help line, no one responded to me for over 16 hours. In her practice, she relied far too heavily on forms and checklists in an online portal, and rarely showed the kind of human care and emotional support that is absolutely essential in midwifery. When things got scary and I truly needed her -- emotionally and physically -- she simply was not there in the ways that mattered most. We ended up having to transfer to a hospital instead of our planned home birth, and despite it being in the contract, Heather did not transfer with us and was not involved in the birth at all. She sent a pathetic text message after hearing from her assistant encapsulating the placenta that the birth had happened. Looking back, I realize that, despite Heather always making me feel as if it was my direct fault when something went wrong, what actually went wrong with my birth wasn't about my body or my baby -- it was about my decision to stay with a provider who made me feel unheard, unsupported, and often blamed. That choice is something I now deeply regret. One of the most hurtful moments came in early postpartum (2 weeks), when she tried to go behind my back and privately consult my husband in an attempt to pressure me into medication -- after I had explicitly told her that I was not interested. She also pressured me to start it ASAP, as it can take a month to "kick in" and I "obviously needed it." Since my experience, I've met several others in the industry who shared similar concerns about her care. Many of them were just as confused as I was by the glowing reviews she has received, given the inconsistency in her approach and lack of real support. This further confirms my decision to speak out, as I hope others will be more cautious when choosing their provider. This review isn't written lightly -- my birth was over 8 months ago. It's written from a place of hoping that someone else who feels any of those early twinges of doubt listens to themselves and chooses a care provider who will honor them, respect them, and hold space for the incredibly vulnerable journey of birth.

I highly recommend Julie! I saw her with my son and she was excellent and saved my breastfeeding…read morejourney. I knew i had to see her again after my daughter was born. She is so knowledgeable when it comes to breastfeeding and has the best advice and tips on positions and excercises to help baby latch better. She is also very skilled at assessing oral ties, but is not pushy in any way to get them released. If you do decide to release a tie, she has a list of people she recommends who are all great too. The support she gives is amazing. she is always so calm and kind and truly cares about helping you. It makes you feel really comfortable. Breastfeeding is not easy but having Julie is a godsend!!

I cannot rave enough about Julie's expertise and kindness! I went in with mastitis and she helped…read moreme to cure it without antibiotics and without an emergency on my hands. She also educated me on flanges and I was using the wrong one thinking I knew everything as this was my second breastfeeding journey. She was beyond kind and took so much time with me to really assess and help me along in my breastfeeding journey! I was so thankful to have this help and now an amazing lactation provider! Every breastfeeding woman should have a Julie in their life!

Being a first-time mom I was very anxious about bringing a newborn home, we decided to hire Tamara…read morefor the first two weeks. It turned out to be the best thing we could have done! Not only was she there for the first two weeks to answer questions and give me guidance, but she has been there to help get me through all of the breast-feeding questions that have come up in the last four months. Truly the best money I invested and would recommend Tamara to any of my family and friends.

How Tamara changed our life. . . 05.02.2012 4.41PM was the…read morereason We got a chance to meet Tamara. A Day when our first daughter Adriana was born. The moment I saw my baby's face for the first time I forgot everything, including my name. But the very next thought after my brain came back to reality was: "I am so happy that we decided to hire Tamara to be our doula!" Moving to San Diego in March, on the last month of pregnancy was not the easiest thing to do. On top of it the fact of getting closer to my due date which was April 16th,2014 started to stress me out even more. Zero experience with newborns, we never had little kids in our family, big fear of labor process itself and being an immigrant in this country with no family around were adding up to my anxiety level. I knew that I needed someone's help for me to go through all that. After I personally called through a list of 40 doulas in San Diego, I picked 3 for in person interview. Tamara was one of them. She sounded very confident on the phone and I was very comfortable asking her any questions that I had. After meeting her in person we immediately felt connection with her and knew that she is "The One". We loved the fact that she combines experience of being a Doula for over 10 years, medical background and being a Mom of her own 5 children. Tamara did several prenatal visits every time making sure all my questions were answered. She gave me educational materials to read and was happy to discuss them. She showed me exercises to practice as well as other tips to help me better prepare mentally and physically for the childbirth. She responded to my text messages almost instantly and I always felt as if I had an angel behind my shoulders ready to come any second if I needed so. I delivered my baby at 42 weeks and 1 day via scheduled induction. 2 weeks that I was overdue I was so thankful that I had Tamara by my side. My boyfriend has a traveling job and he was not able to be with me every day. Tamara visited me several times to make sure that I am doing fine, there were times our conversations went far beyond topic of labor and I felt that I am just having a tea with my family member. She has such a great sense of humor and great personality! On the induction day Tamara picked me up at my house at 6 pm. Naturally having a fear of hospitals and doctors I cannot imagine me being there by myself. At 9 pm nurses started me on pitocin. Shortly after contractions started, they were getting stronger and stronger. Tamara was there with me for the whole time helping me to go through each one of them. She quickly figured out what kind of touch or way of holding of my body I needed and was able to do it for me without a word. I was just making a different sounds or a some kind of gestures and Tamara knew what exactly I was asking for. It was amazing! I was so irritated by some nurses that were coming in the room asking me how I was doing in the middle of my contraction when the least thing I wanted was to tell them how I was doing. I was in my space and didn't want anybody disturbing my rhythm. With Tamara though it was completely different. I felt as she was my shadow. She was so silent and respectful to my needs but giving me what I needed. My labor went all night and continued through the next day. At 4 pm we already knew that baby was at risk and we had to go with C-section which was another biggest fear of mine but Tamara helped me to conquer it by sharing her own stories of birth and encouraging that everything will be okay with me. After we had a healthy baby-girl born we already saw what a Wonderful Doula Tamara is. My boyfriend was so happy with our birth experience that he was telling to other guy friends that having a Doula is the best investment you can have. And having Tamara as your doula is The best experience you can have before, through and after your child birth!