Jessica Chapman is a wonderful teacher! I would recommend her to anyone! My husband and I attended…read moreher Birthing from Within class in July and she definitely helped us to understand that birth can be a wonderfully natural, beautiful experience. Olivia was born on Aug 12 at 1012 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 21 in long. I began having contractions at 4 am and my water broke at 630 pm. The hard labor was intense but I did it with no medications, and we had no complications! She was/is perfectly healthy thank God. Her class was instrumental in helping me to go forward with no medications. I couldn't have asked for a better birth (unless I can get one with absolutely no pain) haha. Anyway, thank you again to Jessica!! -CC Oronoz image1.JPG

I will never forget my experience with Jessica's birthing class - it's incredible how someone can…read morewalk you into a situation where you're faced emotionally with what's to come during birth. That's about as close to it as you can get without yet experiencing it. Facing natural childbirth is something she clearly has a WIDE range of experience with and it was so comforting to be a part of that learning experience with my husband. We left feeling closer to each other and more understanding of our strengths, weaknesses, fears and needs, which really does hold a tremendous amount of weight when going through labor, birth and bringing a child into the world together. I had quite a few people roll their eyes when they heard about my 4 Saturdays spent at birthing classes as if it was a "hoo-hoo-hee" Lamaze type of class, with responses like "None of that shit does any good when you get there." Little do they know what we were able to take away from this wonderful experience together on such a deeper level than some generic breathing technique. I feel more confident in my (and my husband's) emotional and physical ability to get through this naturally, assuming we have that opportunity :) Jessica is unfortunately unable to be my doula as she was booked with another Mommy-to-be the same week (which is this week!), which is a super bummer as my connection with her was on point (to say the least), so don't hesitate when reaching out and scheduling a consultation as she's well sought out! Also, my birthday fell out on one of the Saturdays of our class and she made a chocolate ganache cake for me and our class. Her delivery of it was so so special, she is just an absolute gem who has 100% found her calling in this world.

A friend introduce me to this mommy and I class when my baby was 2 months old. I have attended…read morethese classes since then and my baby is 9 months old now. I highly recommend the Butterfly center. Rina is very knowledgeable, caring, patient, and friendly. These classes have helped my son become more social and these have also helped ME be better prepared as a new mom. It can be isolating staying at home taking care of a little one (and quite scary not knowing what to do as they grow). These classes have given me peace of mind and both my son and I get a lot from them. It also offers and opportunity to see other moms and learn from each other's experiences. Highly recommend!

We LOVE The Butterfly Center! I have taken 3 different series of classes with Rina and loved every…read moreone of them. I don't know how I would have gotten through the first year of my daughter's life without the guidance and support of Rina and all the wonderful moms that I have met through this program. Highly recommend!!

I don't even know where to begin!! Amanda our doula was an absolute godsend. From the moment we…read moreconnected over a quick phone call she brought an incredible sense of calm, confidence, and compassion to our journey. She supported me (and my partner!) through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with so much patience and grace. During labor amanda was the best dula bff , she was my rock. Her quick response to text and phone calls made me feel safe, empowered, and genuinely cared for. She anticipated my needs before I could say a word, offered comfort and encouragement at just the right times, and helped me and my partner advocate for myself in a way I didn't know I could. She also supported my partner beautifully--never overstepping, just enhancing everything we hoped for as a birth team. Amanda will forever be a part of our little family. Even after the birth, she checked in, offered guidance, and reminded me to be gentle with myself as I adjusted to new motherhood. I can't imagine going through this experience without her by our side. If you're on the fence about hiring a doula, this is your sign. Amanda made all the difference, and I am forever grateful.

I first contacted Amanda at the end of my first trimester, and she was so communicative throughout…read moremy whole pregnancy, always available by text or phone. She met with me and my husband twice during pregnancy to prep us for birth, labor, and postpartum, and she respected all my desires for birth and answered all of my husband's never ending questions. She provided us with lots of educational material and fun extras, like a laminated birth bag list and books about natural birthing techniques. My pregnancy progressed pretty smoothly until the third trimester, when I developed gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. Amanda supported me through my emotions during this time and assured me that I was doing a good job and that we'd still do our best to achieve the birth I wanted. Well, that birth did NOT happen. I developed preeclampsia and ended up with an emergency induction, pitocin, epidural, and pretty much every other intervention. However, it was still an INCREDIBLE experience and I was still able to deliver my daughter vaginally. At the beginning of labor, Amanda came and set up the room with an essential oils diffuser, battery operated candles, sound machine, etc, and the vibes were PERFECT. I don't think we even turned on an overhead light until it was time to push. My husband and I chilled together listening to music and singing all day and felt like we were in our own dark cocoon as I progressed throughout the night. I had read books Amanda had lent me and was informed and prepared for how I would handle contractions. I labored for 24 hours before getting the epidural, including working through pitocin contractions by using techniques we'd talked about, and only got it because my BP was spiking - pain-wise, I never felt overwhelmed. I felt confident and empowered despite everything that was going on. The moment our daughter was born was unforgettable, and we are so grateful Amanda took so many pictures and videos of us! We were able to experience everything so vividly and then still look back later and have sweet pictures of our little family. After the birth, Amanda came for a postpartum visit and brought me so many fun treats. We got to discuss the birth and my feelings about it. I definitely think having Amanda on my team added a LOT of confidence to my birth journey. She was an amazing part of our birth team and I would definitely recommend her. She provides a ton of information and education and is there to support you every step of the way!

Words can't describe the vibes & energys that was on our birth room ..my wife was having her birth…read moreexperience to the fullest and exactly like her birth plan and all of that couldn't happened without Cynthia's services Cynthia is well educated in all of birth world and know everything about woman's needs in this precious time of newborn coming to the world she made our birth room look like a yoga class in a spa and our minds clear of fear allso as a husband i felt much more confident and secure to have a professional educated and highly sensitive doola that listen to my wife's needs ( and allso giving me my sleep time :) .. me and my wife moved into California not long time ago and our families are over seas it was so important to us to have a natural birth experience she was giving birth in a hospital and we were afraid to deal with medical intervention i really believe and know that we couldn't do that without Cynthia's help Thank you Cynthia for giving us the opportunity to have an amazing experience of life

From the owner: The Birth Whisperer, Cynthia Marie, PhD, has a passion for the birth process and wants to support…read moreevery woman in having the birth they choose with as few interventions as possible. She encourages each client's partner to be involved as little or as much as they are comfortable with. She offers doula and lactation support during conception, prenatal, birth, and postpartum She supports all births including Natural/Non-Medicated/Minimal Interventions, VBAC, C-Section, Home Birth, Water Birth, HypnoBirth, and Birth Center. She offers special sessions in Couple’s Birth Preparation, Childbirth Eduaction, Child Development, Reiki Energy Healing, The Fourth Trimester, The First Forty Days, Attachment Parenting, Safe Bedsharing, and Effective Child Discipline. Clients may attend sessions with a partner or solo. Birth the way you choose... Get attached to your birth plan... Happy mama, happy baby, happy family.

I chose Pure Births Birthing Center because I deeply valued the philosophy of midwife-centered,…read moreholistic, and family-focused care. The environment and overall mission of the center truly resonated with me, and I appreciated the calm, natural approach they strive to provide. One of the most positive aspects of my experience was working with student midwife Alysia. I intentionally chose to have her present during my labor because she made me feel safe, supported, and emotionally grounded. Her presence was comforting, encouraging, and compassionate throughout a very vulnerable time, and I am genuinely grateful for the care she provided. I also loved the courses being offered for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum. Everyone i've met was so sweet and kindhearted. I labored at home for most of the early process and arrived at the birth center around 4:35 AM at 6 cm dilated, ready to continue laboring. Nurse midwife Angela was the on-call midwife overseeing Alysia. Early on, Angela mentioned that she had attended a birth the night before and was exhausted. While I understand that birth work is demanding, hearing this during my own labor created underlying anxiety and made me feel as though my experience might be influenced by fatigue -- something that, as a laboring mother, felt outside of my control and not something I should have had to carry emotionally in that moment. As labor progressed, I began to feel that my experience was becoming rushed despite there being no emergent medical concerns. This was my first pregnancy, and I was already navigating the physical intensity, emotional vulnerability, and uncertainty that come with first-time labor. Some comments made during labor felt discouraging rather than empowering, and I noticed that as Angela became more involved, my confidence declined and my labor felt less supported and more pressured. There was a particularly difficult moment when Angela attempted to assist with pushing using manual support internally with my consent. During this, I had an involuntary knee-jerk reaction and accidentally kicked. Instead of reassurance or redirection, the response focused heavily on her personal safety, and I was told that if the movement continued, I could be transferred. This occurred while I was actively laboring, in pain, and emotionally vulnerable. I found myself repeatedly apologizing for something that was clearly accidental and reflexive, which left me feeling ashamed, distressed, and unsupported during a moment when compassion was especially needed. Additionally, being asked questions about past sexual assault during active labor felt unexpected and emotionally jarring given the timing and intensity of the situation. As a nurse myself, I tried to remain understanding and rationalize the intent behind the questions and responses, but emotionally it contributed to my discomfort and sense of vulnerability. Another significant source of stress was feeling as though there was a time pressure placed on my labor, including comments suggesting that if birth did not occur by a certain timeframe approaching midnight, transfer would be necessary. This created a sense of failure and defeat, making me feel as though my body was not performing adequately rather than feeling supported through a normal first-time labor process. I truly believe that with more patience, reassurance, and time, my birth experience may have unfolded differently. I want to emphasize that this review is not meant to discredit anyone's clinical skills. I believe Angela is likely very knowledgeable and experienced in her field. However, bedside manner, emotional safety, and communication profoundly shape a birth experience, and in my case, I felt rushed, discouraged, and emotionally unsupported at times. In contrast, Alysia remained incredibly compassionate and reassuring. She comforted me, encouraged me to trust my body, and reminded me that if I felt the urge to push or return, I would not be turned away. Her support helped me feel seen and cared for during a moment when I was questioning myself. It took me over a year to write this review because I struggled with denial, self-blame, and not wanting to place fault on anyone. Birth is deeply personal, and processing a difficult emotional experience takes time. Ultimately, I am sharing this in hopes that future patients feel emotionally safe, unrushed, and fully supported regardless of staffing fatigue or scheduling challenges. A laboring mother should never feel like a burden or that time is working against her during a normal birth process. Pure Births offers a beautiful philosophy and environment, and I still value the concept of midwifery care. My hope is simply that emotional presence, compassionate communication, and patience remain central to every birthing experience.

Well woman care at Pure Births is second to none. From the appointment process with admin to the…read moreease of checking in at reception, everyone is so nice and accommodating. The whole experience is peaceful, respectful, gentle and I never feel rushed. HIGHLY recommend

[Acknowledging the gaslighting undertones of the owner's response. Fluffy messaging, sidestepping…read morecore issue.] Working with Princess, the owner of BelliBind, was one of the most unprofessional and distressing experiences I've had. For a long time I suppressed the memory and didn't leave a review in December 2021 because I was overwhelmed postpartum. However, receiving a recent automated email from the company brought the experience back, and I feel it's important to share a word of caution for other mothers -- especially those whose postpartum experience may not be smooth or well-supported. Like many mothers, my daughter's birth did not go according to plan. I nearly lost her, she required hospitalization in the NICU for respiratory distress, and when she came home she had an extremely severe case of colic. She could not be soothed by anyone except me, including my husband, and the situation in our home was incredibly stressful and overwhelming. When the BelliBind employee came for the first session, she was kind and genuinely tried to help. I have no criticism of her personally. She attempted to support me by assertively requesting that my husband manage the baby so I could have the appointment. Unfortunately, the reality of our situation made that impossible. Our baby was extremely distressed, tensions escalated, and I simply could not relax or continue the session. I ultimately asked to cancel the remainder of the visit. My concern arose afterward when I contacted Princess to request a refund for the remaining unused sessions. I made it clear that I was completely willing to pay for the first visit, but asked if she could consider a prorated refund for the thousands of dollars of services that had not been rendered and realistically could not be completed given my circumstances. At the time, I was in a very fragile psychological state postpartum, experiencing severe depression and even suicidal thoughts -- something I could clearly recognize as an otherwise strong Licensed Clinical Social Worker (knowing postpartum can be suddenly triggering for those who survive childhood abuse/neglect). I communicated this openly in the hope that she might approach the situation with compassion and flexibility. She knew my mission in life was to protect other vulnerable individuals, and I thought in this moment of vulnerability, hers was to look after postpartum moms. Instead, the response I received was shockingly cold and combative. The empathy that had been conveyed earlier in the process disappeared entirely. In my own telephone conversation with Princess, she refused any form of accommodation or refund and communicated in a manner that felt volatile and dismissive. The interaction became so upsetting that my husband ultimately had to step in to try to handle the conversation in order to protect me during an already vulnerable postpartum period. Following our joint attempts to reason with her over the phone and seemingly reaching a mutually agreeable resolution at the time, Princess later emailed to inform us that she decided NOT refund 4 unused sessions, and she requested that I use them in a "2-week postponement period" ... as if our unglamorous situation would somehow magically resolve in 2 weeks. If only the reality of our lives could morph it one of her captivating social media marketing photos in that 2-week period. As referenced in the attached screenshots, she states, "Please note we have offered to provide you with: 2 week postponement of services, once you have more of a handle on your child's needs." Needless to say, the latter comment to "get a handle on our child's needs" was incredibly offensive. Her additional comments were equally perplexing: "I truly believe, as a post-birth professional with a team providing in-home recovery support and newborn care guidance to birthing families for nearly a decade now, that we would be doing you a great disservice by just giving you a full refund opposed to the many options you could use with the care you already have paid for with us." The fact that a business owner of a service directed towards postpartum mothers, could be so rigid, inflexible, and tone-deaf continues to baffle me. Ultimately, I filed a claim with my credit card company, and Chase quickly reviewed the situation and happily obtained a refund for the *unused amount*, as per my request to Princess. This experience was deeply disappointing. Postpartum mothers are often in extremely vulnerable positions, and businesses that market services specifically to new mothers should operate with a basic level of compassion, integrity, and professionalism. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here, and the utter lack of integrity continues to shock me in memory. I can only hope that some version of karma eventually reinforces the importance of genuine integrity, so that other mothers receive what is truly good for them ... even when life has unexpected challenges in store.

This is my second time working with BelliBind and it was just as wonderful as the first. Princess…read moreand her staff are lovely and the service is so necessary for postpartum self care. I've gifted it to friends as well and they have been just as satisfied! Would definitely recommend for the postpartum experience.

As first-time parents, we had limited knowledge about what to expect as we prepared for childbirth…read moreand a baby. When we hired Kaitlin as our birth coach, we were so grateful to have someone as knowledgeable, encouraging, and patient as she is to support us as we embarked on this exciting yet terrifying adventure. Kaitlin listened to our concerns, shared resources and information - including giving us the name of the best Obgyn when we unexpectedly needed to move cities only a couple weeks before the birth and needed a new doctor - and gave us helpful guidance before and after the birth of our daughter. We are so grateful for her help and highly recommend Kaitlin and her services!

Kaitlin was a wonderful birth doula for us when I gave birth to my son at home almost three and a…read morehalf months ago. She helped my husband and I feel comfortable and confident going into the birth and super supported. Kaitlin and I hit it off immediately; she is warm, very knowledgeable, passionate, and intuitive. During labor, she was a calming, steady presence for both me and my husband. She tirelessly helped me cope and ride the waves of contractions, assuring me every step of the way. When I needed it, she suggested helpful ideas to both mentally and physically shift things, and I can still hear her smart words in my mind when I think about my birth. She was there when I searched for her eyes, and she answered even my most impossible questions during intense labor. She had my back and my heart every step of the way. As our son was born, she whispered beautiful words into the space, which still gives me chills to think about. In the days following, she was a great support, especially in helping my husband and I navigate early postpartum and in breastfeeding. She helped us so much in getting off on the right foot with breastfeeding. We felt cared for, supported, and in excellent hands. I definitely recommend Kaitlin as a doula, educator, and women's health advocate. Her knowledge runs deep, and her contribution to this field is already and will be vast.

Kim was not only a friendly instructor but also filled with knowledge! She made our class super…read moreenjoyable and fun. We came out of each class feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on our daily hypnosis sessions. My husband and I feel very ready for the birth of our baby thanks to Kim!

Kim is an incredibly kind, accommodating, and knowledgable birth educator. From the very beginning…read moreof the Hypnobabies course, my partner and I knew we were in the best hands possible. Her breadth of experience as a doula and an educator comes through in every session, and she made herself completely available for questions and conversations outside of the class structure. My partner and I experienced several challenges in our pregnancy, and up until I started Hypnobabies I was really struggling with how to have hope and cultivate a positive mindset for the birth ahead. The Hypnobabies content and Kim's gentle yet direct approach were exactly what I needed to shift my perspective. Now, I'm enjoying the last weeks of my pregnancy and eagerly anticipating giving birth. I can't wait to apply everything I've learned and meet my baby.

Taking Hypnobirthing with Alisha Tamburri in March 2020 was one of the best decisions I made while…read morepreparing for the birth of my first child that July. The tools and techniques I learned in her class gave me the confidence and calm I needed--and I used them again when I gave birth to my second child in June 2023. Both births were completely unmedicated, peaceful, and empowering. I wasn't afraid--I actually enjoyed the experience. Alisha is incredibly warm, kind, and grounded. Her presence alone is calming, and she was always able to soothe any fears or anxieties I had. I even called her while in labor, and she guided me through breathing techniques that helped me stay centered. With my first, I arrived at the hospital already 9 centimeters dilated after laboring at home most of the day. It was a beautiful experience. My husband took the class with me, which was so helpful. He knew exactly how to support me and understood the birth experience I envisioned. Because I had such a positive experience, I even reached out to Alisha while my sister was in labor. Although my sister hadn't taken the course, Alisha generously offered to speak with her and provided much-needed reassurance during a stressful time. To this day, I still use the calming techniques I learned, and I'm teaching my children the importance of mindfulness and meditation. Alisha's guidance has truly had a lasting impact on me and my family.

Alisha's Hypnobirthing course took all the fear and nervousness out of the picture and changed my…read morewhole mindset going into labor. I had an extremely long labor and my husband and I were so lucky to have Alisha in the room with us for the entire thing. She was such a calming presence throughout. In the end I needed to get an episiotomy and Alisha put me into hypnosis during the proceedure and I barely even felt it. I couldn't believe it. After it was over, the Dr. who was a neo-natal surgeon (and wasn't too sure about hypnobirthing) was so impressed, he took Alisha aside in the room and said he'd never had a patient so calm while he was suturing them. I will always be grateful she was there with us and all the training she gave us ahead of time made an incredible difference. I cannot recommend her enough!

Decided to brush up on my Spanish after many years out of the classroom, I'm going back. I wasn't…read moresure which level to register for so stopped by the office to speak with the lovely folks inside. So glad I did. Was given choices, shown the text books and had all questions answered and then some more! Looking forward to starting! If the registration process was as smoothly as the classes will be, this is gonna be a wonderful adventure. Thank you Conejo Valkley Education for being an excellent resource for our community.

I have been out of the administrative world since 2008. At that time I had jobs as executive…read moreassistant or office manager. Obviously technology has passed me by. I recently enrolled at Conejo Valley adult education for a certificate program for office manager in order to get back up to speed in order to support myself after my divorce is final. It is a scary time... but fortunately for me, Chris Wilson has been my teacher for the first two classes in my certificate program. He is so thorough and makes sure every student knows what they are doing. I suddenly feel empowered. Because I am not just going through the motions. I am re-learning what I knew so long ago after many years. The class projects that he gives us proves to me that I actually know what he's teaching. I did not think I would be able to get back what I have lost. It is apparent that Mr. Wilson loves his job and he truly is rooting for his students and is willing to help them however he can. I recently had an early meeting with my attorney during class hours which I could not change. So I ended up being over an hour late for class. He was so accommodating and came to me during class break and caught me up on everything that the rest of the class had gone over that morning. Mr. Wilson has been my instructor for the first two classes for my certificate program. I can only hope that as I move forward, any other instructor that I encounter at the Conejo Valley adult school will be as knowledgeable, enthusiastic and patient as he has been with the entire class.