When I first found out I was pregnant with my second baby I knew that I wanted to attempt a home…read morebirth. I search online for the best midwifes in SF and Maria popped up. After my first in person visit with Maria and Suzannah I felt confident in my decision. My husband, who was apprehensive at first of a home birth, also felt more at ease. Throughout my pregnancy, Maria was there for me physically and emotionally every step of the way. The student midwife/photographer, Suzannah, was even able to schedule a maternity photo shoot for me! Once it came time for my labor I was met with a hands on team, compassion, and professionalism. Since I had a toddler at home, my husband had to take care of the little one for parts of the labor. Maria filled in the gaps that were needed when my husband couldn't be present. Overall, having a home birth was such a special, intimate, and pure moment. It was the best decision I could have made for myself, my baby, and my family. I did not anticipate how fulfilled and proud of myself I would feel. Thank you Maria and Suzannah for supporting me through my pregnancy and labor. You both helped create such a calm and safe environment for me to bring my baby into the world. The support I felt from other women during this journey is unmatched. I could not have gotten this type of support and compassion in a hospital setting. I will definitely be reaching out to Maria when we're ready for baby #3!

We used Maria for our two boys, one born in 2018, and one in 2021. Both experiences were great…read more Through both pregnancies, we had ample time in appointments to get to know each other. She had calm and thoughtful responses to our questions, and a refreshing openness to discuss benefits and concerns at any stage without giving any feeling of pressure. By the time my wife was in labor with our first boy, we had complete trust that Maria could encourage and guide us through labor and delivery at home. We chose a home-birth for our second son, too. Maria always stays steady, clear, and calm, exactly the type of person you'd want at such a special and transformative event. Just like all the other reviewers, we can thank Maria enough - she is a true gem!

I had both of my babies at home with Kara and Liz, and I can say without hesitation that they were…read moreone of the greatest gifts of my pregnancy and birth experiences. From our prenatal visits all the way through postpartum care, they created a level of trust, safety, and calm that allowed me to fully surrender to birth in a way I didn't know was possible. My two births were completely different... One intense and primal, the other calm and deeply present. Both were incredibly powerful and positive. Kara and Liz have this rare ability to read a room and support you exactly how you need in each moment. They know when to gently guide you, when to reassure you, and when to simply hold steady space. Their presence alone brings a sense of peace and confidence that makes you feel safe doing something so big. What stood out most to me is that they trust birth, they trust mothers, and they honor the process without rushing or controlling it. I felt respected, supported, and genuinely cared for every step of the way. And after each birth, I got to climb into my own bed with my baby, surrounded by calm instead of chaos... Something I will always treasure. If you're even thinking about home birth, I cannot recommend Kara and Liz enough. They are not just skilled and knowledgeable, they are intuitive, compassionate, and truly exceptional at what they do.

This is long over due! Kara, and her assistant Liz are absolutely amazing! We are eternally…read moregrateful for them. From prenatal support to postnatal support, they were there every step of the way. They really shined at the most important part, the actual birth. We had the most BEAUTIFUL and FLAWLESS home birth. I couldn't imagine a better experience. They became like family. If we end up having another baby, we would without a doubt call them again. Thank you so much!

I can't say enough good things about the San Francisco Birth Center. I gave birth to both of my…read moresons here--my first in March 2019 and my second in November 2021--and both experiences were everything I hoped for and more. From the very first prenatal class, I felt truly respected and empowered. The midwives and educators took time to explain every part of the process--no condescension, no pressure, just real information that helped me feel confident and grounded. The birth prep classes weren't just informative--they were community-building. I connected with other expectant parents, and we grew together as we learned what it meant to welcome our babies into the world with intention and care. Both of my births were completely natural and 1 took place on the bed and the other in the tub--peaceful, powerful, and free of any complications thanks to the expert, attentive care of the midwives. Their calm presence, deep knowledge, and trust in the birthing process made me feel safe and supported every step of the way. San Francisco Birth Center isn't just a place to give birth--it's a space that honors families, nurtures community, and deeply respects birthing people. I'm endlessly grateful for the role they played in two of the most important days of my life.

Nancy, Serena, Mason, Echo, and everybody who works at the birth center are absolute legends. I…read morecannot recommend them enough. I delivered my first baby at the birth center a couple months ago and it was the single best medical experience of my life (which is a high bar as I founded and sold a healthcare company and have a lot of experience in the space!). Like many people, I was hesitant to choose a birth center over a hospital--especially for my first child--but I am so glad I did. None of my friends who delivered at a hospital had the kind of personalized care, home visits, texting support, or thoughtful pregnancy and postpartum care that I received. I ended up coaching and advising my hospital friends because they just didn't get the same support. The birth center itself is immaculate, warm, and calming. I was able to move freely throughout labor without being hooked up to monitors, and everything around me--from the music to the lighting to the temperature--was set up with care. I was physically and emotionally supported every step of the way. My husband was also included fully in the process, and he was moved to tears watching how incredibly these women cared for us. The only reason to become a midwife is if you truly love it. It's a demanding, 24/7 job, and the system doesn't make it easy. These women clearly love what they do, and it shows in every interaction. I labored for 21 hours and felt deeply supported every minute. The education and classes offered during pregnancy helped me feel ready, prepared, and confident. I met great people there who I'm still in touch with. Postpartum care--including home visits and constant texting with the team-- was incredible because they knew me and I could ask questions and know I was going to get an answer I trusted asap. They helped me through full recovery, mastitis, feeding issues, and more. I will 100% have my future kids here.

I can't imagine how my experience could have been better and wholeheartedly agree with all the…read moreother comments. I also can't wait to have more babies just so we can do all of this again :) Having Sue by my side in this journey made all the difference in the world. Thank you so much! We were so lucky to find Sacred Body Midwifery, and if you reading this looking for a midwife - you are lucky too.

Sue is amazing!! She was our midwife from several months in and supported us even post-birth…read more One thing I didn't consider until we started with a midwife-- It's SO MUCH BETTER having Sue checkups than traditional doctors. She also came to our home, which was heaven-sent as I was SUPER nauseous and the last thing I wanted to do was get into a car during part of the pregnancy. My husband and I had a couple of appointments for ultrasounds, etc, before I knew about midwives and one of them was awful. He and I were more stressed out than when we entered. Sue is kind, patient, and understands it's not just about "OH, yup, you're pregnant"-- It's about your state of mind, mental preparations, understanding options, and more. She has so many years of experience and listens and treats you with respect and kindness... I spoke with a number of midwives and all of them seemed great but there is something very special about Sue - She's very holistic and helps guide other midwives, something I thought was amazing. She even helped an acquaintance of mine who was in our home birth class have a natural birth - after a cesarian! (VBAC for those of you who are new like I was -- Very few will help with this sort of thing.) My situation was a bit wild and crazy, but Sue had MANY great tips for us and getting through some unexpected patches and even being like a counselor to us after the birth (she stopped by several times and ... Wew... hormones..) She's well-known in the community by others and doulas as well. When my husband and I were panicking during various situations, she was available to help guide us and even did home visits. If you're not sure - Give her a call / email! I can't imagine what it would have been like without her help! Thank you Sue!

Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, dang, that human was born to do this kind of…read morework and has a real gifting for it? That was my thought about Lauren after meeting her for the first time (she taught our 6 week birth prep course). This woman was in her element. She cared, she was knowledgeable, and and she lit up the room. To our pleasant surprise and an epic answer to prayer, she ended up being our doula and what a gift she was in that space for us too. Lauren knew when to say or do something and the art of not saying or doing. We ended up having a dream birth and I'm not sure I would have been able to do it without her support. She was a part of the dream birth. She came along and partnered with me and my husband in a way that complemented and strengthened. Lauren helped me to trust myself and my body. There are no guarantees with birth. I don't love Lauren because I had a dream birth; I love her because of who she is and am so grateful she was with us and for us in the tender, sacred space of birth. No doula is for everyone, but if something about her resonates with you, book a call to see if there's a match.

Lauren is incredible! She helped me bring both of my babies into the world and I couldn't imagine…read morethe birth experience without her. She brought such a truly compassionate, intuitive, calming, and empowering presence to the experiences, and navigated all of the twists and turns with us. She felt like part of the family, and made us feel so held throughout the entire process from prenatal to postpartum. I couldn't recommend Lauren more highly. I almost want to have another baby just to be able to work with her again! If you're considering hiring her, DO IT! She's the absolute best.

We had an outstanding experience with DOULAS by the BAY. They matched us with Mary Ann Cherie…read moreWolowski, who was with our family for the first eight weeks after our baby was born. She started right on the day after delivery while we were still at the hospital. This was incredibly helpful because it allowed my partner to focus on caring for our toddler while I recovered from my C-section and bonded with our newborn. Mary Ann was exceptional in every aspect of newborn and postpartum care. With her background as RN and an experienced nanny, she confidently took charge from day one. She handled everything--from swaddling and keeping the baby on a feeding schedule to making sure I stayed on track with pumping. She always had my pump parts cleaned, sterilized, and ready to use, which made those early weeks so much easier. She also gave me invaluable breastfeeding support. Thanks to her guidance, I established a full milk supply within just three days of my C-section, and I'm still successfully breastfeeding. She also referred us to an amazing lactation consultant who was an absolute game changer. Mary Ann was meticulous about everything baby-related and followed best practices in every detail. Her logging and tracking were incredibly thorough, giving us complete peace of mind. She was professional, respectful, organized, and kept everything spotless. The greatest gift she gave our family was rest. There were moments when it almost felt unreal how much recovery time my partner and I were able to get because we trusted her completely. She would even bring me a glass of iced water wherever I was--a small act of kindness that made a huge difference in my recovery. Because she took care of so much, I was able to focus on postpartum healing and even carve out time for simple self-care, like getting a haircut. Although her primary responsibility was caring for our newborn, she also formed a wonderful bond with our toddler and always made him feel included. She consistently went above and beyond by helping keep our home clean, making countless trips up and down the stairs without ever complaining, and never leaving before everything was tidied up--even if it meant staying a little past the end of her shift. We're incredibly grateful to Doulas by the Bay for matching us with someone who fit our family so perfectly. The agency made the process smooth, and Mary Ann exceeded every expectation we had. We wholeheartedly recommend Doulas by the Bay to any family looking for expert postpartum support. They gave us the gift of rest, confidence, and a much smoother transition into life as a family of four.

I reached out to find a birth doula and the initial meeting giving an overview of how they work was…read moreclear and straightforward. Doulas through this company are employees (not independent providers) and they stress that this is really good for always having a backup. We were then matched with 2 doula candidates and the scheduling process was easy and professional. However, we ultimately felt that these candidates were not properly trained or vetted. We never received any materials such as CVs for the doulas. The first doula said right away that she had never been a birth doula before and we would be her first birth. Her only experience was that she had been a night doula before. I was shocked that she had never even shadowed another birth doula as part of her training as a company employee. Bless her heart for being honest, but I did not want to pay to be her guinea pig. After this, I requested an additional candidate, but I was told the other one should be great. The second doula was also not a good fit. She kept emphasizing that at previous births hospital staff did not believe she was a birth doula (and thought she was just a family friend). It became clear why. I asked about her qualifications and she said she's working on her bachelor's degree even though she already has a master's degree. I thought this was strange and asked some follow up questions and ultimately could not determine what degree she had (maybe an associate's degree) or didn't have (definitely did not already have a master's). I also asked some basic medical questions about pain control and epidurals and she was not able to answer them. Ultimately we were able to find a wonderful birth doula through another matching company - experienced and with a real master's degree (in public health).

Doula Jen is amazing!! I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to go through our second pregnancy…read moreand childbirth with her by our side. From our first meeting I felt at ease by Jen's calm presence and vast experience as both a doula and a nurse. (Coincidentally we learned Jen was a birth doula twice with our neighbors' kids too, and they assured us of their own positive experience.) My pregnancy took several unexpected twists and turns, and along the way there was no question too big or small for Jen, who'd patiently educate and encourage us to make our own informed decisions. A notable facet of my pregnancy was our baby's breech position the last month and half, when my husband and I decided to try turning him head-down through what felt like every method available. Jen provided vital support in this often stressful last stretch of pregnancy with recommendations, checkins, and referrals within the Golden Gate Doula community who could help (including a wonderful acupuncturist and chiropractor group). We went in twice for external cephalic versions (ECVs)-intensive attempts to turn baby that I felt better prepped for thanks to her guidance. She was even present for one of the procedures, during which I opted in to more intensive options I otherwise would have forgone in hopes of higher chances of success. Ultimately our little guy stayed in breech and we determined a planned C-section was safest. I was super nervous going into the surgery, and Jen helped us stay as grounded as possible by her comfort techniques, encouragement, and doses of humor at just the right moments. Her background as a UCSF pediatric nurse was especially beneficial to us as I gave birth to our son at UCSF Mission Bay, where Jen worked seamlessly with their systems and staff. I can't imagine our baby arriving as smoothly or free of complication as he did without Jen's expertise and magic touch. She's one of a kind, and we absolutely loved working with her!!

Jen Darwin is absolutely fabulous!! When putting together a labor and delivery checklist, make…read moresure it includes Jen - she deserves FIVE stars and more for how good she is at her job. The support that she gave to my husband and I during the birth of our second baby DURING COVID is unmatched and I can't thank her enough for the beautifully positive birth experience that we had. During our pregnancy, Jen provided my husband and I with the information that we needed to make informed decisions on where we were going to deliver (we switched from CPMC to UCSF at 37 weeks) and how I was going to manage my gestational diabetes. She put me in contact with other women who had GD, which was extremely helpful to understand how the care was being managed at the hospital with COVID. She also met us in person at our home to help prepare us with techniques and equipment to labor at home. When we arrived at the hospital, Jen met us in the parking lot and escorted us in. If you've ever met Jen, you know that her presence is enough to put you at ease and instantly make you feel comfortable and taken care of. With her background, she is extremely knowledgeable on hospital procedures and decision making and walked us through each step as we were being admitted to the hospital. We ended up delivering in triage because so many babies were being born that night, but we had one of the larger and more spacious rooms all due to Jen and her experience in knowing the hospital layout and in working with the UCSF staff. We also had an unmedicated birth, which would not have been possible had Jen not coached me through each stage and gave me the strength and confidence to keep going. My recovery was quick and easy due in large part to how Jen helped me to prepare before and during labor and delivery. If you are thinking about getting a doula, look no further - get on her schedule before she fills up!

Michelle is incredibly thoughtful, thorough, and well-educated. She clearly cares deeply about what…read moreshe does with helping women and families have the best birthing experience possible. Michelle helped me navigate a GBS positive diagnosis and weigh the pros and cons of taking antibiotics. She provided many insightful studies, backed her information with data, and gave me a well-rounded viewpoint of my personal situation so I could make the most informed and confident decision possible. She was made for her job and those who are lucky enough to work with her are in fantastic hands!! High recommend Michelle!!

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Michelle during what was a particularly intense…read morepregnancy. Choosing to work with Michelle was by far the best decision and for us, and she came highly recommended by four other midwives in the community. I interviewed multiple midwives, and even hired someone else originally, but once Michelle came into our lives, we knew we had made the right choice. From the beginning, she had such a calm warm energy and so knowledgable! I think it has been said before that Michelle is a human encyclopedia. Michelle also had great recommendations for anything you would ever need pre and postpartum such as physical therapists, massage, doula, childbirth classes and so on. She worked seamlessly with the doula that we had and they both had an incredibly way of making us feel so comfortable and supported. One of the many things I really appreciated about Michelle was how empowered I always felt to make choices and how much information she was able to provide in order for me to make those decisions. Another invaluable resource from Michelle is the network that you get connected to within the Welborn Baby community. I have gotten so much help, advice, referrals, event info, daycare/school info and so much more from the community. Michelle has touched our lives in such a special way, and we will never forget our experience having her in our home. I know she is in high demand so if you get a chance to work with her, I can't recommend her enough!

After reading Shannon's beautiful and transformative book Born Far From Home, I felt so drawn to…read morehaving a homebirth. I loved reading about Shannon's journey to Islam and birth work, and how her faith and spirituality intertwined with her midwifery care. I also enjoyed reading the compelling birth stories and the beautiful way in which she writes about birth. I especially felt connected to her book as a Muslim woman who was curious about homebirth, but wasn't sure if it was for me. Once I finished the book and had my first appointment with Shannon I felt confident, reassured, and excited about having a homebirth for my first baby. Since the start of my prenatal care with Shannon, I felt so comforted by the amount of time and personalized care she dedicated to us by listening to our concerns, answering our many questions, and providing the guidance we needed during this special time in our life. Her level of knowledge and expertise combined with her warm and comforting presence brought us ease during such a delicate time. I also have the same great things to say about Tara who was the second midwife to be present at the birth and meet with us for the postpartum appointments. Tara also has such a warm, beautiful, and comforting spirit and has been such a pleasure to meet with. When expressing the troubles I have with breast feeding, she has been so sweet and reassuring and I really appreciate the level of care she not only provides for our baby, but to me. I feel so fortunate and blessed to have had a successful and empowering homebirth with the utmost care and support from Shannon and Tara and I highly recommend them. I am so grateful to have been in their care.

I don't have enough good things to say about Shannon and her business. She was absolutely…read moreincredible from start to finish. From the very first phone call I felt so comfortable and genuinely heard. She took the time to answer every question and listen to my previous birth story and never made me feel rushed. She listened with understanding and compassion and for the first time I truly felt like a care provider was really listening to me. For my first birth, I had a typical hospital birth with a typical OB. Although I did not have a traumatic experience, I wanted something different for my second time around. I found Shannon and it truly was a blessing. The level of care and attention to detail was above and beyond anything I had experienced before. When the day came to give birth, having her there made me feel so safe supported and empowered. If I was ever to do this again, I would not hesitate to use Shannon and her team and have another home birth. It truly was a defining experience and something that I believe that all women should be able to experience. If you're looking for a quality Midwife service that treats you like family and truly listens to you look no further. I cannot recommend Shannon enough!

I meant to write this review last year. Whoops!…read more Kelly is the midwife I wish I had the last time I was pregnant. Truly. We're currently out of the bay and if I get pregnant up here in WA I am truly bummed I won't be able to see her. I saw her for IUI queer-ception purposes using frozen sperm after seeing another midwife who frankly stressed me out so bad (by focusing on all the things that could go wrong) my cycle went all wonky. Wonky cycles do not a well timed IUI make! If you need positive vibes, Kelly will bring positive vibes. Although we did not become pregnant from the two IUI's with Kelly, I felt more heard and seen than any other place we've sought treatment. Which is healing in its own way. To put it succinctly, I felt safe. She was also great at providing documentation for my insurance company.

My birth experience could have taken an entirely different trajectory if not for Kelly. I came…read moreinto her care midway through my pregnancy, and that move (out of the obstetrician's office and into the arms of midwifery) was the most important decision I've ever made in my life. Throughout the process, Kelly made me feel honored, heard, and cared for both physically and emotionally. Instead of being forcibly led down the pathway to my birth, as I felt was the case in my obstetrician's office, Kelly walked next to me, offering her wisdom, but also gently imploring me to listen to my own. She helped me see my own power as a woman, and for that, I am externally grateful.