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!

Ana is lovely. I wasn't sure what services I was going to want and she was flexible and kind and…read moremade it easy to stay fluid. We ended up doing mostly meal support. The meals were simple, but satiating and healthy. We were happy to have that off our plate as we cared for our toddler & newborn!

I highly recommend Ana for her postpartum doula services! I hired her after I had my second baby…read moreand it was the best decision. Ana came to my house 3 times a week and she would make delicious food, help with household tasks like laundry and dishes, and take care of my baby while I caught up on sleep or showered. She's so kind and thoughtful, and both my baby and toddler quickly adapted to her. I genuinely believe that her presence had a positive impact on my mental health postpartum and physical recovery.

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 could not be happier with my placenta encapsulation. I reached out to Trisha from Zoe Bella after…read moremy birthing doula recommended her placenta encapsulation services. Trisha explained the whole process to me and answered all of my questions. She even offered a print of my placenta before she encapsulated it. We unexpectedly had to stay a few days longer in the hospital while my son received care in the NICU and Trisha graciously offered to get me the capsules to me within 48 hours AND personally delivered them to the hospital herself. I could not have been more thankful because I was experiencing a lot of stress at the time and the capsules helped regulate me. I've been taking the capsules as Trisha described for 6 weeks now and I have not experienced any postpartum blues, no dips in my mood or emotional rollercoasters. I've even experienced a surge of energy similar to having a cup of coffee about an hour after taking them (without the caffeine crash) which has been so helpful in the postpartum days caring for a little one. I would HIGHLY recommend any expecting mama to get her placenta encapsulated and would HIGHLY recommend Trisha at Zoe Bella for this service. You won't regret it!

Trisha is the best! I reached out just two weeks before my baby arrived, and she still managed to…read moreencapsulate my placenta for me. She was incredibly communicative, answered every question I had, and made the whole process feel so easy. I was honestly shocked by how fast she worked--she encapsulated everything and hand-delivered the pills so quickly. When she dropped them off, she even helped me with some breastfeeding questions I had, which meant so much to me as a first-time mom. And the cord artwork that comes with the pills is absolutely beautiful--something I'll treasure forever. This was my first baby, so I don't have another postpartum to compare it to, but I truly believe these pills made a positive difference. I had zero PPD or PPA, my milk supply was super healthy, and overall I had such a smooth postpartum experience. I'll definitely do this again for my next baby. Amazing experience! I recommend Trisha to all mamas--because honestly, when else do you get the chance to eat your own placenta?!

As a first-time mom, I knew I wanted a doula we could truly trust. From our very first video call,…read moreI knew Katarina was the perfect fit. She is incredibly knowledgeable and answered every question I had with patience and expertise.  What truly set her apart for us was our shared faith. Being able to pray together through the different phases of birth gave me such peace, knowing we were trusting God together no matter what happened. Katarina was always available by text or call for updates and advice during my pregnancy.  When unexpected health issues changed my plans for a natural birth, Katarina was a total blessing. She met us at the hospital immediately, turning a scary and intimidating situation into one where we felt supported and safe. We are so grateful for her and can't wait to work with her again for our future children! Birth can be unpredictable, I would never want to do it alone... If you want someone you can trust completely, hire Katarina!

I truly cannot say enough amazing things about my birth doula, Katarina. From the very beginning,…read moreshe brought such a calming, peaceful presence into my pregnancy and birth experience. Her faith-centered approach meant so much to me--she continuously spoke life, truth, and encouragement over me, reminding me of God's design for my body and baby. During labor, she was an absolute anchor. She supported me physically, emotionally, and spiritually, always knowing exactly what I needed in each moment. Whether it was gentle guidance, hands-on comfort, or quiet prayer, she created such a safe and empowering space for me to bring my baby into the world. Because of Katarina, my birth was not only beautiful--it was truly the best experience I could have hoped for. I felt strong, supported, and deeply cared for every step of the way. If you are looking for a doula who will stand beside you with compassion, knowledge, and unwavering faith, Katarina is the one. I am forever grateful for her and would recommend her a thousand times over.

Briana cared for our baby girl 3 nights per week for 2 months, starting the night after we got home…read morefrom the hospital. We were first time parents and appreciated the calming presence and helpful knowledge she brought to our house in a period when we felt overwhelmed. We will be hiring her again without hesitation for all future babies!

We truly cannot say enough wonderful things about our night doula. From the time our baby boy was…read morejust 2 weeks old until he turned 3 months, she was an absolute gift to our family. Our little one struggled with reflux early on, which made nights especially challenging. She handled it with such patience, expertise, and compassion. She would gently hold him upright to help him feel comfortable and settled while he slept, always making sure he was safe and supported. Knowing he was in such caring hands allowed us to actually rest (something we desperately needed during those early weeks!) Beyond her incredible skill, she brought such a calm, reassuring presence into our home. She offered thoughtful guidance without ever being pushy, helped us better understand our baby's cues, and celebrated his milestones right alongside us. Each morning we'd wake up to a peaceful baby, clean bottles, and a detailed update from the night. If you're considering hiring a night doula, stop searching and book her. She is worth every penny and more. We are forever grateful for the care she gave our sweet boy and our whole family.

Tatiana Koontz was the light we didn't know we needed…read more After a traumatic birth experience that shifted from a planned home birth to an unexpected hospital delivery, I was left feeling emotionally shattered and overwhelmed. Enter Tatiana-- the person who truly brought us back to life in postpartum. She met us exactly where we were -- exhausted, confused, and struggling -- and guided us with compassion, wisdom, and patience. We were facing major breastfeeding challenges, sleep deprivation, and navigating a tongue tie diagnosis, but she never made us feel like we were failing. Instead, she reminded us of our strength, and gently, consistently helped us find our way. She taught us so much -- not just about newborn care, but about trusting ourselves, creating calm in chaos, and moving through trauma with grace. She stayed for hours beyond what was required, cooked nourishing meals for us, held space for me emotionally, and made sure both my baby and I were cared for in ways that felt truly holistic and human. It's hard to put into words how much her presence meant to us. We were a first time family navigating deep postpartum pain, and she helped us and me feel safe again -- seen, supported, and empowered. If you are lucky enough to have Tatiana walk with you in postpartum, or pregnancy/birth know that you are in the most caring and capable hands. She is everything I needed in a time when I felt like everything was falling apart -- and she helped me piece it back together.

My family and I are so grateful we found Tatiana. We decided to do a home birth when I was 5 months…read morepregnant and after we met with her my husband and I knew she was going to be the one. Being under Tatiana's care is unlike anything I've ever experienced. She has a calming presence that makes you feel supported, heard, and loved. At each prenatal appointment Tatiana went above and beyond to make sure everyone in the family was taken care of. She'd ask my husband how he was doing, include our toddler in the routine checkups on baby, and gave our dog lots of attention & loving. She treated my whole self and made sure I was doing well mentally & physically. Our L&D was super fast, but extremely smooth thanks to her. As soon as Tatiana arrived she brought a grounding and calm energy to the room. She brought me back into my body and helped to coach me through it all. Following the birth Tatiana was a wizard cleaning up and tending to me all at the same time. There was a zero rush feeling, and we were truly able to bask in the newborn bliss & snuggles. Her postpartum visits and care was one of the major things that stood out to us when we originally met with her. We don't have any family here, so when Tatiana comes over it feels like she's a family member checking in and hanging out with us. She helps ease any concerns we have and again keeps our entire family involved. Tatiana is absolutely incredible & a true gem!! We don't know what we'd do without her!

I had a wonderful prenatal massage with Jamie. Her touch and attention to detail made me feel safe…read moreand relaxed. Her energy and communication was very soothing. I highly recommend going to see her!

growing a human being is hard work. jamie has created a space where you can rest your body and…read morerelax. she has magic hands that can sense exactly what your body needs. i'll be back even after my pregnancy.