I have received multiple massages from Gracie during pregnancy and postpartum and they have all…read morebeen fabulous. Especially when I was 9 months pregnant, she did a fantastic job making sure I felt comfortable and helping relieving the physical pain of the third trimester. During postpartum, I have received a couple of massages for back pain related to breastfeeding and I always leave feeling rejuvenated and more aligned. Highly recommend

I reached out to Brilliant Births to find a birth doula. They offer a matching service and…read moreconnected me to 3 doulas who work independently (not employees of BB). We were really fortunate to find our birth doula (who we love!), but the other 2 candidates were not very impressive. The first doula missed our appointment with no follow-up communication. We were initially confused and thought she was the coordinator for BB, because she only communicated by text. The actual meeting was just by telephone so there was no face-to-face interaction, which felt strange. We could've easily FaceTimed or Zoomed. So communication and reliability were not great. The second doula abruptly canceled our half-hour appointment when we were 10 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment due to my husband wrapping up a Zoom meeting. During our appointment time, she was responding to my emails (in which I apologized for being late), but insisted she could no longer meet with us. I thought this was a really bad sign about what she would be like to work with - labor and delivery is rarely precisely timed and some flexibility is needed. In addition, her email said that she lives in Portola Valley, but we live Berkeley (also where Brilliant Births is located). This also struck me as strange, because it would take 1.5 hours for her to arrive to meet us at the hospital, which is not ideal.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Loving Arms Childbirth Services' birthing class! Jessica Cristen was our…read moreinstructor, and she was excellent! She's a certified midwife and lactation support specialist, with years of experience. Taking this class was the best decision I made for preparing for the birth of our baby girl. (even with the countless books I read and classes taken from Kaiser) My birth did NOT go at all as expected, but thanks to these classes I was super well prepared about all the possibilities that could occur during labor & delivery and helped my partner and I be on the same page (and have my partner know how he could best support me). Thus when things started to go different than what we prepared for in our birthing plan, we were really able to navigate the various options skillfully and have educated conversations with our care team. This made me feel way more secure when my health was declining during delivery. Even though I didn't have the birth I pictured for myself, I felt I had a wonderful birth story thanks to the classes from Loving Arms and our care support team. The class is very comfortable, super educational, and a good place to meet other couples about to have babies too. The instructors here really care about helping new families, and have years of experience and maturity. Again, best decision to take this class here @ Loving Arms. So glad I chose them!

We are so grateful we found Loving Arms and were able to take their childbirth prep class. I didn't…read morewant to have a doula and these courses helped me feel so knowledgeable about what to expect during childbirth and allowed my husband to know how best to support me. The lactation support and honest expectations about what to expect in the first few days with a newborn were invaluable. I ended up not having time to get an epidural and without this class, I think I would have panicked giving birth. However, armed with the knowledge from the courses, I was able to get through it and have a positive experience. Another plus is that we were able to bond with the other couples in the class and are still in touch now 9 months after our babies were born. Highly suggest!

Hiring Erin was one of the best decisions we made as first-time parents. From day one, she brought…read moreso much knowledge, warmth, and reassurance. She helped us understand our newborn's cues, feeding, sleep, soothing techniques, and so much more. No question was ever too small for Erin. She gave both my husband and me the confidence we needed as new parents. Her support during my breastfeeding journey was truly amazing. I went through mastitis that eventually developed into a breast abscess requiring surgery, and it was one of the hardest parts of my postpartum recovery. Her experience with lactation, practical advice, and constant encouragement helped me through one of the most difficult times. She also cared for our baby girl with so much love and tenderness, which gave us complete peace of mind. On top of that, she prepared the most amazing homemade meals. Her chicken recipe was so yum! We are so grateful for everything Erin did for us. If you're looking for a postpartum doula who is experienced, compassionate, professional, and truly passionate about supporting new families, I cannot recommend Erin highly enough.

There are no words worthy to describe how incredible Erin is. I was beyond lucky to come across her…read moreon my search for a doula. She was mentoring Julia at the time so I was able to have the knowledge and insight from these two incredible humans during my journey. Erin clearly demonstrates she has years of experience being a doula. The organized nature of Erin's practice continued from the introduction call all the way through each and every pre labor visit, and even after into postpartum care. Every session helped pave the path for my labor to become a dream (I know, some first time moms reading this might think it's hard to believe!). Erin was not only there for me weeks leading up to birth but also afterwards- guiding me through the newborn stage and with breastfeeding. I remember waking up one morning in tears as I was navigating one of my first nights of cluster feeding bouts and Erin came to help only a few short hours later. This type of support is unmatched during these desperate first few weeks with a newborn and this was such a shining example of Erin's compassion and true desire to help. What I love about Erin is her individualized approach, as you bring up issues/concerns, she employs her vast bank of tips and tricks to help you address issues of baby while factoring in the mental health of the parents to make the game plan doable in a time where you are merely trying to survive. I truly could not praise Erin enough and would 100% wish Erin could be everyone's doula because like my husband and I have said a million times we just couldn't imagine this era of our lives without her.

My husband and I attended a private Spinning Babies parent class with Ilka, and we found the…read moresession so valuable! After the session was over, we stepped out for a short evening walk, and I was stunned at the difference I felt-- all of a sudden I was able to walk completely comfortably. I hadn't even realized that I had been starting to waddle a bit. The following night, we had our final session of a different childbirth class, and we kept referring back to the anatomy lesson Ilka had shared with us. The information she provided made a number of the concepts covered by the other instructor so clear, and I think they wouldn't have sunk in as well without having that background. I would heartily recommend this parent session to any soon-to-be parent-- Ilka's depth of knowledge, clarity of explanation, and kindness made it one of the most valuable pieces of education we have had.

What do you say about a person whose love and presence transcends words? Ilka is just that. She…read moreassisted the birth of my son and added so many layers of support that my son found it safe to shoot out of my body in under 1.5 hours! Unwavering in her calm, collected being, there's a steadiness to Ilka unrivaled by anyone I've ever met, frankly. In my experience of childbirth (I've had 2 babies, both at home. Ilka attended the second birth 9 months ago), safety isn't derived from statistics, formulas or algorithms. What you want and need is a birth worker who will go with you there, 100%, no holding back. And honestly I can't remember anyone doing anything when I birthed my son but I know Ilka was there. She kept it locked down tight just by being in the room. And not all birth workers create a container like that. It's a skill you don't know you need until you have it ...or don't have it as was the case with the birth of my first child. Thank you, Ilka. You're forever woven into the fabric of my family in this amazing human tapestry. We love you.

Christina's class has been THE most supportive thing I've done for myself and baby boy. We joined…read moreher playgroup class when he was only 4 months old (over a year ago) and he's thrived so much because of it. Our weekly play group-classes have provided invaluable social skills, bodily coordination development/learning, and parent education; my now one and a half yr. old is thriving, confident, secure & super coordinated! Christina holds a 1.5 hour class, almost all free play, with simple age appropriate objects/toys in a light-filled play space (at Then Comes Baby in Oakland). The RIE principles that she teaches has supported my son's natural development; like letting him roll, crawl, walk, etc, at his own natural pace as opposed to propping him up or helping him in ways that might by-pass his own learning & discovering. It's been such good practice to learn to let them figure things out on their own and resist the temptation to "help" or interrupt their natural curiosity and frustration as they learn new skills and limits. Of course we also get plenty of practice of setting boundaries for and with our children as well. This group has really helped my partner & I have a healthy and balanced parenting style and reduced our stress as new parents. The community of babies and parents has also been super sweet; you don't have to do this alone! Christina is experienced, knowledgable, and very encouraging. I highly recommend working with her!

From the owner: Respectful Caregiving: Balanced Families, Secure Babies…read more Respectful Caregiving is dedicated to supporting families with babies and toddlers throughout the Bay Area. My work is inspired by Magda Gerber's Educaring® Approach (RIE®). This Approach encourages trust in the infant for knowing how and when to develop. We caregivers do not consider it our responsibility to "teach" children how to move, play, or learn. Instead, it is our responsibility to provide a safe environment conducive to self-initiated play and discovery. The Approach places emphasis on the quality of the nurturing relationship between caregiver and child, and has many specific suggestions for how to make that relationship as respectful and cooperative as possible. Parents using the Educaring® Approach report significant a decrease in the perceived burden of parenthood, and a corresponding increases in their confidence and enjoyment as parents. Children raised with this Approach are emotionally aware, confident, graceful, creative, independent, and secure in their sense of selves. I offer RIE® certified classes such as Before Baby™ and Nurturing Nanny. I also offer sleep consulting, parent coaching, nursery design/babyproofing, workshops, and individualized nanny training.

The Family Room offers such a welcoming and knowledgeable gathering space for families to create…read morecommunity while navigating the perinatal time and beyond. I'm a Fertility Awareness Educator in the community and have hosted talks and workshops in their group space, and it's been perfect for my needs. The space is comfortable, thoughtfully decorated, and offers all the necessities for my presentations including a projector and large viewing screen as well as ample seating space. The practitioners behind The Family Room are incredibly generous with their time, offering support in marketing efforts and engaging with fellow practitioners using the space. I would highly recommend considering The Family Room for your next workshop, support group, or other meeting space needs.

From the owner: The Family Room on Solano is a new gathering space and a classroom passionately dedicated to…read morenurturing families from preconception to birth and beyond. We offer groups and classes like prenatal yoga, new parents groups, a fertility support group, childbirth education, music for kids and much more!

We took a childbirth class with Lucy that was aimed towards people choosing out-of-hospital births…read more Lucy was quite personable and knowledgeable. The class covered a lot of material and Lucy was very open to questions and discussing contingencies that may arise. She was also very good at creating community; the class was seven other couples and by the end of the course, I felt that we all knew each other and were excited for each other's births. My partner and I felt very prepared for our birth experience, and even when it didn't go quite as planned, seeing that we had talked out our expectations, boundaries and wants during the class, we still felt in control and empowered during our (4 day!) labor and birth. Lucy genuinely cares about all of her clients and that comes through when you work with her. On a side note, we also worked with Lucy in her capacity as an apprentice as Pacifica Family Maternity Center and love her there as well. If you are lucky enough to be a Pacifica family, you will love her there too!

Lucy met with my son and daughter in law several times before today's labor began. Lucy arrived…read morewith a smile and her special gifts after advising the parents in the morning about their options. We parents and family members had enjoyed a family meeting over dinner prior to Thanksgiving and I have never been so impressed with anyone before. Lucie brings love wherever she goes and within a few moments everyone was taken by her warmth and her knowledge. We all had ample time to ask questions. Lucie obviously has a passion for her work. On the evening when my daughter in law went into early labor, Lucy arrived with her bag of magical doula items to help support the couple. Lucy remained at my daughter-in-law's side, never taking any break and working very hard to keep her focused, positive and in a good state to deliver. Lucy also maintained a very collegial relationship with the nurses at the hospital. The entire labor process went from early Thursday evening, til hospitalization at around 4am Friday morning and to delivery after 7pm on Friday. Lucy was helpful, enthusiastic and so excited for the family. I can highly recommend Lucy as a doula and only wish that I had had such a great person coaching me during my chlldbirth years. You will do well to engage Lucy who is very excellent and personable.

I honestly didn't know exactly what a doula did until I spoke to one of my mentors and she…read moreenlightened me (and thank God she did!). I quickly asked fellow moms in my area for referrals and after meeting with a few over zoom, I felt this deep connection with Nattasha and decided to go with her. I was planning a VBAC and Nattasha supported my decision from day one. She was kind, attentive, warm and knowledgeable. I did have a traumatic birth experience with my first born and Nattasha was always very eager to listen to my fears and my hopes for my second birth. To prepare for the birth, she came over to our house a couple of times to discuss the process of labor, practice comfort measures, and generally talk me and my husband through our plans and emotions. I was especially grateful for how she worked with my husband, gently teaching him ways to support me in and around labor. It was nice that she included my partner in the process because they also need support to navigate all of this. From 37 weeks on, Nattasha was always available if I needed her. We exchanged texts and I constantly felt supported by her. When I went into labor at 39.5 weeks, she was ready to meet me whenever the hospital let her. During labor, my husband and I felt extremely supported by Nattasha. There was a lot of waiting and decisions to be made and Nattasha reminded me of all the things we talked about and never forced a decision on me. She took care of me like a mother would and I'm forever grateful. My husband was able to be fully focused and present because he was somewhat rested and had the support from Nattasha as well. In the end, I did have the most beautiful birth experience and we know that Nattasha was a huge part of it! After giving birth, Nattasha continued to support us by coming over to the house to talk and check in on us. We talked about my concerns and she provided a wide range of information that really helped me. If you are on the fence about hiring a doula, don't be. It was the best investment we did during this pregnancy and we highly recommend Nattasha!

I had always heard that having a doula throughout one's pregnancy and birth would be beneficial…read more But, I didn't realize how much of a difference it would make until I met Nattasha. I interviewed several different doulas and went with Nattasha because of how open and straightforward she was during our initial conversation - her warmth coupled with passion for creating a memorable birth experience drove me to choose her for our journey! Nattasha is incredible, to say the least! She was so caring from day one and provided so many insights for all the questions I had during our prenatal visits to ensure that my husband and I felt empowered to make the best decisions for our family. The prenatal visits were not only educational, but also provided an opportunity for us to develop a relationship that felt comfortable. With Nattasha, I felt cared for and supported 100%! She was a true advocate for what was best for me and I can't begin to express how important that was for me to feel ready to give birth. I can't emphasize how useful it was to have Nattasha in the room with us during labor -- her presence was calming and energizing at the same time. As soon as she thought I needed her physically present with me, she joined my husband and I at our place (and later in the hospital) to help me get through the hardest part of labor. And, for that, I'm forever grateful. Since this was our first pregnancy, I was overwhelmed and anxious throughout the process, but Nattasha eased my nerves not only during our prenatal sessions, but also during birth. I felt empowered, connected, and present throughout the experience, which is what I had visualized. Thank you Nattasha for being so phenomenal in every way -- we could not have had such a beautiful experience without your varied support. If/when my husband and I decided to have a second little one, I would, without a doubt, want Nattasha on my care team again!!

Gingi supported my prenatal and postpartum healing journey -- helping both myself and my 8 week old…read morebaby. I attended her womb movement class while pregnant and absolutely love it! She was also incredibly knowledgeable about breastfeeding and newborn care to reduce gassiness and offered the most amazing body massage afterwards! She validated my experiences as a new mother and created a very comfortable and safe space for me. I look forward to working with her again and highly recommend her services!

VBAC/HBAC success story!…read more As a second-time mom, I knew I wanted my birth experience to be drastically different than my first. I lived in New Jersey when we found out we were pregnant, so I started looking for midwives and OBs out there. I could not find someone who felt right for me. Some wouldn't listen/validate my concerns, others were asking over $10K out-of-pocket up front. As a result, I didn't feel comfortable having any prenatal care at all for the first 30 weeks. Fast forward, my husband got a job in the Bay Area. We were eager to find prenatal care that I felt right about upon moving here. I researched midwives and found Gingi's website. I reached out. We chatted on the phone so she could get an idea of my previous birth and I could ask her some initial questions, and we agreed to meet. I kept researching other midwives, but as soon as I met Gingi, I knew she was the one. The search was over and I had finally found a care provider that I felt confident with. This is so key for an expecting mother. Confidence and trust in your care provider is crucial to obtaining the birth you desire. I could not have had the natural home birth I desired if Gingi Allen wasn't my midwife. God led me to her. She was attentive, caring, and so wise. When my labs showed low iron, she recommended natural ways of increasing my levels. It worked. When we found out my son was breech at 36 weeks, she recommended ways we could flip him. He flipped naturally. My husband was working nights 80 hours a week, I was chasing my 18-month old toddler around, working from home full-time, and unpacking from the move. She reminded me to slow down, reflect, meditate, pause. She really looked at my health from a holistic perspective. Because of her recommendations, I have a fantastic acupuncturist, osteopath and massage therapist. The team she assembled for me was amazing. She was approaching maternity leave herself, and made sure that Grace Bender, her fellow CNM, was there to attend to me postpartum. She was amazing and also at my birth. Kai, her apprentice, was fantastic, and conducted my bone closing ceremony postpartum. During my birth, Gingi really encouraged me to listen to my body. I asked her questions, like "should I push now?" LOL and she would say, "What is your body telling you to do?" She was so patient with me. Listen, my birth, from prodromal labor in the beginning to pushing at the end, was literally a total of 48 hours. She never wavered. She never said, "Well, if x, y or z doesn't happen in this timeframe, then we'll have to.....blah blah blah" That's usually what a woman hears before their care provider deviates from the birth plan. That never happened with Gingi. I loved that she didn't tell me how dilated I was. That was something triggering for me, since I stalled at 9 cm with my first son before I had the C-section. That's not even something I asked Gingi to refrain from doing. She just KNEW that dilating to 10cm was something I was concerned wouldn't happen, so she didn't allow me to worry about it during birth. I'm telling you, this woman's instincts are SUPERB. Trust me when I say, Gingi is the midwife YOU WANT AND NEED. I could not have birthed my beautiful 9lb, 11 oz son at home , after a previous C-section, if I didn't have Gingi. A comment my last midwife made (with my first son), was that my son was "big" which is why I stalled. He was 8 lbs, 12 oz. So literally my second son was almost a FULL POUND LARGER, and I had him at home, COMPLETELY NATURAL. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT GINGI! She is amazing. Just hire her already. You'll be thrilled you did. I was only under her care from weeks 30-40 and still had the most amazing prenatal care experience. My postpartum care, first with her and then, Grace, was crucial to my recovery. I had PPD the first time, but not this time! Gingi Allen will do everything she can to ensure all women in her care have an amazing prenatal care and birth experience. As you can tell, I highly recommend.

I love green yogi! It's one of the very first studio found where I embarked my yoga journey more…read morethan a decade ago. They have knowledgeable, solid teachers. I like where you can use your membership to both studios and to explore the variety of yoga they offered!

Best yoga studio in the Bay Area, hands down!…read more Truly every teacher here is so gifted and pours an enormous amount of love and intention into each class. The teachers are also so different from each other that you can get a mix of spirituality, self improvement, physicality, deeper learning etc...I fell in love with this studio through Vrinda's classes (she's amazing!). But I don't have a set schedule, I just go when I can - everyone is fantastic and if I could I'd just be there all day. The energy is down to earth and everyone there seems to have a good sense of humor. Simultaneously intentional while not taking life too seriously, which is how I like to practice. So happy this place exists!