I gave birth in September 2024 and had a very disappointing experience with Miami Holistic Birth Center and would not recommend them. From the beginning, I felt misled about costs and insurance coverage. I paid thousands of dollars out-of-pocket, only to later find out that my insurance had already covered the prenatal care they billed for. When I asked for a refund for services they never provided -- including delivery and postnatal care -- I was denied. Lily and Anna made sure to have these conversations over the phone and not through email so there was no paper trail. The prenatal care itself was lacking. I often felt the facility was lacking, personally unsupported, and not given the thorough information or guidance I expected. Once my care had to be transferred to the hospital (because I was past 42 weeks and legally could not deliver at the center), I received no real support or follow-up from the birth center. The "holistic" and supportive experience they promise was simply not there. In the end, I felt deceived, financially taken advantage of, and left without the compassionate care every mother deserves during such an important life event. Families considering Miami Holistic Birth Center should be very cautious -- ask for every detail in writing, especially about costs, insurance coverage, and what happens if you need to transfer. My experience was the opposite of empowering and supportive, and I would not want another family to go through the same. read more

My experience at Dr Ronald Sancetta's Miami Holistic Birth Center with Dr Berryer and office staff Nastassia- was one of the most heartbreaking times of my life. If you are pregnant and considering this center, please take every negative review seriously. I made the mistake of overlooking them, only to find myself facing the same mistreatment--and worse. When I attempted to address my concerns after the incidents, I was asked to sign a non-disparagement agreement in exchange for the return of funds that rightfully belonged to me. Ronald Sancetta charged my insurance and was paid out for those services- even though I had paid for those services up front. Let me be clear: this business is not under new management. Dr. Sancetta, the key decision-maker, remains involved, and the revolving door of staff reflects the toxic environment. Initially, I was drawn in by the holistic promises advertised on their website. The staff at the time seemed competent, and we trusted them enough to choose a birth center delivery over a hospital birth. This decision required an enormous amount of trust, which the center ultimately betrayed. My Delivery: The plan was to labor at home as long as possible, then arrive at the center for delivery. After 16 hours of labor at home with no doula help, I couldn't endure the pain any longer. We drove an hour and fifteen minutes in Miami rush hour traffic, but no one was there when we arrived. When Dr. Berryer finally checked me, I was told, after just 30 minutes, that I "couldn't be here" because I wasn't dilated enough--even though my cervix was extremely thin, contractions were a minute apart and babies head was low. I was told to stop timing my contractions, "take a Benadryl",  and to "go home "or "get a hotel room" if I didn't feel like driving. They didn't offer a trial of labor or a follow-up check within an hour, as promised. Even the doula trying to assist me was dismissed by Dr. Berryer. I was devastated and in excruciating pain. Two hours later, I gave birth--after being forced to hold my baby in for the last hour in Miami traffic. My body and baby was ready, but I had been denied access to the center I had paid for. At my in-laws' home, who are doctors, I couldn't even speak through the pain. Realizing the baby was coming, they rushed me back to the center. Again, no one was there when we arrived. By the time I walked in, my baby's head was crowning, and I delivered him moments later. Even then, Dr. Berryer walked in the room asking about my dilation, showing an appalling lack of awareness. When I was discharged from the center, I was rolled out to the car in an office chair. Postpartum Neglect: The center failed to submit our baby's birth certificate to the state until a month later, delaying our ability to secure health insurance. It took five or six emails to get them to send the document. Their negligence caused significant stress during a critical time. Booking my post partum appointment took several phone calls and messages. I only went to one post partum appointment to make sure my stitches were healing correctly and then I skipped the final appointment due to feeling unsafe in the centers care. Weeks Leading Up to Delivery: At 36 weeks, my regular provider was absent, and a stranger conducted my appointment without explanation. When I asked about my provider, the new staff member claimed not to know her. Over the next week and a half, I repeatedly reached out for clarification, but my calls and messages went unanswered. Finally, 11 days later, Nastassia returned my call- just days away from me giving birth. Her response to my concerns was dismissive and unprofessional, focusing on outstanding bills rather than addressing my fears for my and my baby's safety. Essential tests and procedures had been neglected, further compounding my anxiety. Nastassia, whom is employed by Dr Sancetta, has the warmth of someone working with criminals at a woman's prison. I am unsure how she is employed at a place meant to make women feel seen and heard. Final Thoughts: This center is dishonest and incompetent. They abandoned, lied to, and financially exploited me during one of the most vulnerable times in my life. I don't know if their behavior is malicious or purely inept, but I wouldn't wish my experience on anyone. Please take the negative reviews seriously--mine included. Women who write these reviews are not taking precious time in their post partum period for no good reason; they are trying to protect others from trauma. Miami Holistic Birth Center failed to deliver the care they promised, leaving me traumatized and betrayed. I urge anyone considering this facility to look elsewhere for a safe and compassionate birthing experience. read more

Recommend 1000 times!! They are amazing! Don't bother reading the olds reviews it's litterally like reading reviews from an other place! Management and whole staff changed! I know first hand because my pregnancy was right in that restructuration time. I won't lie the old management was a nightmare and we were looking to go elsewhere but as soon as the management/staff change it was night and day! They were dedicated, passionate and driven because they had to deal and "repair" all the wrongs of the past birth center so they are outstanding to had gone through that! We are so glad we decided to stay and have a dream birth with the best birth team! I deliver my first child there on July 21rst, 2023 and my birth was wonderful! They know what they are doing, they are knowledgeable, so kind, helpful, caring, professional and they make you feel like friends and family. I was looking for a natural birth, hoping I would enjoy it and remember it as a positive/calm/pleasant experience and it was even more than I could imagined! The care they provided, the feeling of trusting my birth team/myself/my baby/my husband, playing an active role, the calm of the room, the freedom of movements, the bath tub, shower felt so good and all the accessories to help made this experience incredible for our family. Its been a year and I still can't believe how powerful, positive, calm, joyful and agreeable this experience was I felt my baby, husband and I were in control of the birth with the greatest support team. It was the perfect combinaison of a home birth with guidance and feeling safe that if something happen you have the care you need and if anything more serious happen you are just across the hospital. I knew that Dr Sancetta is an exceptional doctor and the staff of the birth center would come with me and advocate for me too if it was needed. I cannot thank enough Dr Barryer, Anna and Lily to have made this experience so incredible for us. My husband wasn't sure what to expect from a natural birth and he really enjoy to be part of it and even catch the baby and he wouldn't make it any other way if we have more babies. It felt good that every appointment we had, they took all the time necessary for any questions or concerns and help us make our birth plan so we felt confident. We also found the birth course was very helpful so I highly recommend taking it! The Postpartum services where perfect too and I was happy to return to go see them again and kinda sad to not go anymore as often hehe Don't hesitate if you want an amazing birth experience! Thank you so much Holistic South! Dominique Chalifoux read more

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Holistic South is under new management, don't let past negative reviews dissuade you from reaching out! From the very beginning my experience with Holistic South was just amazing. I transferred to Holistic South at the beginning of my third trimester due to bad experiences with an OB/GYN office. From the moment we toured the birth center, my husband and I knew that this was the experience we wanted. Lily and Anna are truly wonderful and super knowledgeable. After an induction with our first child we wanted as little intervention as possible with our second. Lily, Anna, and Dr. Berryer made prenatal care feel so supportive and they truly care about their patients, unlike most OB offices. When it came to my labor experience, it was like a dream. I was able to have text support from both Lily and Anna so that I was confident I was in labor when we went to the birth center. We arrived at 10:30 am and our baby girl was born at 2:39 pm. The atmosphere the whole time was so relaxing, I was surrounded by my support system, and I knew I was in great hands. The birth went great and my recovery was and has been so smooth. I cannot recommend Holistic South enough, if you are considering a birth center, this is the one! read more

Miami Holistic Birth Center - Doulas Near Me - Miami, Florida

They aren't "under new management"... one of the part owners left & a number of staff quit. After being transferred out of care my insurance was never billed (in spite of many assurances that it would be) & we were denied any kind of refund from the $9,000 we paid for the birth suite, midwife, doula, & postpartum care we never received. If you get involved with this practice be VERY CAREFUL. Sign an actual contract, get everything in writing, and insist on itemized/transparent/timely billing & reimbursement... & even then, good luck getting these people to behave honestly. read more

If you desire customer service and actual healthcare for your future loved one I would recommend you do not use Holistic South. If you do use Holistic- get a contract signed and make sure that the office staff and owners are on board with agreements and signatures. They put up a great front and fall short- or at least in our situation, they did. During our time with Holistic, they had multiple changes of office managers and became very disorganized. Their original website claimed to "work with insurers"... they do not work with insurers. In fact, after changing their website they claimed they didn't offer that service to our family- even though we came to Holistic pre website change. They also charged us the entire amount (8,500+) for prenatal care since they "helped us out". (their words not ours) We didn't use their facilities for our birth, doula support, midwife services, or postpartum care- we instead checked in to the hospital and had no postpartum care or doula support- Holistic claimed they would provide these services, when speaking to their managers hence the reason why they charge 8,500+ when working with their facilities (this was the only reason we paid the entire amount up front) We were confused and very disappointed to hear that they would keep our total amount unless we settled on a 1k reimbursement as a "courtesy" on their behalf. Even though the services weren't rendered at their facility and we even paid their "doctor" through our insurance and the hospital for the live hospital birth. In order to receive some sort of refund we had to try and resolve the situation with our credit card company. Unfortunately it didn't resolve they way we would have liked and we have had to just deal with the consequences of using this birth center. Our part in this unfortunate circumstance was that there was no contract signed- due to our desperate situation of wanting something different we agreed and got short handed from a "holistic" institution. (Hence why our credit card company couldn't help us) And yes- we know that was a misinformed decision this side of the birth. If you are going to use Holistic South make sure to have all things documented and signed. If you notice- they are cleaning up their reviews. I'm hoping that someone will step in and hold institutions like this accountable- if not we have to deal with businesses who go unchecked. I'm sure they are not "bad people"- but they definitely know how to work their system. Kudos to you Holistic. read more

It has taken me a few weeks to write this review because I needed to process what I went through. Let me start off by saying that I was sold a beautiful experience; a place where people cared about my well-being, a room that I could enjoy, relax and meditate until the birth of my child. Furthermore, I was even told that the living room area was for my close fam members to relax and wait for the baby's arrival. I prepared excitedly for the day with my music, my incense, my affirmations. On the morning of labor, and upon arrival to the center Debra immediately starts to argue w my mother for bringing luggage to the center. Hello? Baby bag, and hotel bag. She completely ignored the fact I was in labor and chose bags over my well-being. I walked away while the arguing continued. Once I was brought into the room I so willingly paid for weeks in advance, I wasn't allowed to TOUCH THE BED! I begged her numerous times to please allow me to sit down on it but she insisted I needed to go back home until I was "ready". She never asked how close my contractions were nor did she check me. Allow me to tell every single person reading her reviews- she left me ON THE FLOOR ON ALL FOUR, as SHE sat on the bed and told me I needed to go back out and that I couldn't touch her bed because I wasn't staying. It was at that point my midwife came in to check on my vitals and see if I was okay. If it wasn't for Kathy, my midwife, I would've been sent back home (1 hour drive) and would've found myself delivering my baby in a cab. Kathy tried to calm my mother who was very upset over Debra's request to leave the site. She also ended arguing w Debra so that I could stay and wait for my delivery. Debra kept insisting I wasn't ready. Well after spending 1 hour on the floor with contractions speeding up and almost passing out, I was removed from the floor by Kathy and placed on the toilet! for assessing. It was then that she realized I was about to give birth. It was at this moment that she ran to open the water in tub for me. So while the doulas and the midwife prepped me to sit in water and took everything off me- Debra just stood there behind everyone and watched. No assistance in opening faucets or anything. The minute my body touched a foot of water (that was my full "bath experience" -a foot of water), I gave birth. I want to add a few things. When I walked in, the bed looked like someone had laid in it previously, which is why I though was the reason I couldn't touch it. I was later placed on this same bed postpartum w the dirty sheets. Second, while the midwife tended to me- Debra literally stood there arguing w her on a power struggle all during my recuperation. If it hadn't been for my midwife at the time, I would've lost my mind w Debra's unprofessional attitude. Her energy is very negative and that of wanting to be a leader- however she lacks much to get there. She bickered for what seemed like 2 hours w my midwife as I laid there trying to recoup. Previously, I was told that I had to take these "mandatory" courses she taught and they cost me close to $400. These same courses, I found on Groupon she offered at $40 each online. When I came back to visit my midwife for a few minutes a week later, Debra caught an attitude w me because she wanted my cc immediately to pay for placenta pills. She was "afraid I was going to run out with them without paying". She couldn't wait for me to finish the visit w midwife. Let me rephrase that. She thought I would steal her $80 pills but forgot I paid $5700 for a room I didn't get to enjoy. Debra comes across VERY money hungry, very nasty and with zero regard for her patients. Today, I found out she has registered my baby without a father and without my filling out the application to submit! When I called her she told me she "didn't know who completed the form" yet a week ago she informed the partnering OBGYN upstairs I needed to complete the application. She has filed out of spite without my consent and now I am left to fix the damages she has caused because I refused to go back to her after birthing. She takes no accountability for her actions and points the finger at everyone else including the staff she hires. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MADWOMAN. It's a shame that something that should be a beautiful experience is tainted by the owner of this establishment. She wants to monitor every move but offers absolutely no solution if it doesn't fill her pockets. Save yourself the grief I experienced. This woman is volatile and you will be left w a sour taste. These reviews found on this page are not a lie! read more

The birth experience was fantastic but everything else was a headache. The staff was always arguing with Debra, the owner. One time we had to wait outside with two other couples while the staff had a screaming match. The turnover there is insane. Over four months we saw three of the nurses and the office manager quit. They didn't submit the paperwork to our insurance (though Debra said they did), it was a year before we finally got paid and we had to hire a lawyer. read more

Miami Holistic Birth Center - Baby Jack - Doulas Near Me - Miami, Florida

TRUST THE REVIEWS YOU ARE READING. Just because they are under new staff doesn't mean the moral compass of the owner has changed. Stay far away from this place. Get your prenatal care done somewhere else and have the birth you want while knowing your rights by hiring a doula privately. I wish I would have read the reviews before they took $4000 from me and didn't give it back after not giving birth at the birth center. Was NEVER SEEN by an OBGYN for prenatal care & I ended up having an emergency c section because they failed to test me for preeclampsia until it was too late and I had to go to the hospital immediately and give birth 7 weeks early resulting in a 9 day nicu stay for my daughter. The birth center told me they accepted my insurance and after the fact apparently they did not. So they kept $4000 AND their "emergency doctor" who is also THE OWNER (Dr Sancetta OBGYN) his office was paid by my insurance as well. This place NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN. read more

After doing a home birth with my 1st, we relocated and I was looking for a midwife somewhere closer to our home and found this center. I must say I was very disappointed. 1st set an appointment that wasnt convenient for me but due to their limited availability I made it work. When I arrived literally while walking up to the door I received a call that I have to reschedule due to no midwife availability to do our tour. I informed the lady on the phone I was already at the facility so she said she would do my tour. She was a little helpful in explaining the in and outs however alot of my questions she couldn't answer. She then said the Midwife would follow up with me, as I read on the previously posted review she never reached out or followed up. Sad because this facility was super close to my home. read more

Debra and her whole team are awesome! I recommend the birthing center to any and every woman considering having a beautiful, unmedicated birth. Two years ago I had the absolute best experience giving birth to my first son in the Goddess Suite and I have never stopped raving about how great I felt, how supportive everyone was, and how there is no other way I would have wanted my baby to come into the world. Now, I'm back again for my second baby! The whole center looks like a spa; you'll feel well taken care of, personally known, and safe. It is completely amazing! Check them out you really won't look back. read more

If you're looking for positive and supportive prenatal care and birthing experience, Holistic South Pregnancy & Birth Center is the absolute best option. My husband and I moved to south Florida when I was halfway through my pregnancy and really wanted to birth outside of a hospital. We did extensive research since we were looking for care under midwives. Scheduling a tour was simple, and as soon as we completed our tour, we knew that this was where I would birth our first little one. The center itself is clean and always feels warm and inviting. It made my husband and I feel at ease that the center is across from the hospital and that the staff would continue their care there if needed. Dr. Sancetta assured us that if we did need to transfer he would strive for a vaginal birth, if possible, which was important to us both. During prenatal appointments, I never felt rushed and as a first-time mom always felt comfortable asking questions and for guidance. Mary, Pauline, Lindsey, Jen, and Christy were absolutely wonderful, always sharing their abundance of knowledge and making me feel cared for. My birth experience was beyond what I ever expected. Mary was an absolute blessing, and Debra and Jen were so incredibly supportive and calm throughout. I never felt rushed, stressed, or that I had to be on the defensive to advocate for myself and my desires. The staff made me feel so comfortable and empowered. We chose to have our mothers present for the birth, and they are still raving about how wonderful, calm, and beautiful it was to watch my daughter come into the world. Post birth I have also felt supported and cared for. I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience and truly recommend the center to anyone looking for a natural birth with care under the most incredible individuals. read more

AVOID!!!!!!!! if you're a pregnant woman looking for a birthing center, please go far far away from here. It is not the place you think it is and the people will act very kind and forthcoming just to lure you in and your money. They will feed you lie after lie and when the time comes to give birth they have no staff or Debra will tell you to stay home. After months of planning our sons delivery we had to do it in the hospital because Debra and her staff were ill prepared and quite frankly didn't care at all. Everything we were told from day 1 did not happen. We paid for a midwife and never actually had one following up with my wife and or helping her get through the labor process. It's extremely upsetting and also kind of ridiculous they would advertise false information. We asked for a reimbursement for not using the facility, guess what? That's going to be whole other battle now because they aren't probably going to do it willingly. Please go somewhere else. read more

I loved my experience - specifically, my midwife Mary Allen is what keeps my love for this place whole!! Great experience with natural birth of my first child. Mary Allen was kind, welcoming, patient, encouraging, all things beautiful. I do recommend to moms to wait until the very end to pay for their out-of-network cost here. Insurance's can be a bit sticky. For my second child, I had to have a C-section and the birthing center was morally supportive during and after. This is another reason I encourage payment towards week 37-40, in the event you end up a C-section. read more

Miami Holistic Birth Center - Doulas Near Me - Miami, Florida

How ethical is it for Debra, the part owner and doula for this birthing center, to refuse to get the COVID vaccine and not inform her delivering mothers that she is unvaccinated? It's one thing for her to make this decision for herself, but not when she's assisting unmasked women with their water births and putting their newborns at risk. read more

I felt abandoned and unprotected. Terrible memories. Debra didn't act as a Doula at all.

Came to Holistic South when I was 20 weeks pregnant, when I knew for sure I wanted to deliver in the water. From the moment I stepped in they truly make you feel like family. I had an appointment with all the midwives and felt connected to each one as they make sure to remember you and read your chart before hand so even if they don't remember you, it sure feels like they do. The midwives are sure to exchange numbers and everyone at Holistic South never makes you feel like a bother with questions. Dominique is sure to have all paperwork ready to make it as simple and easy as possible. My labor was very fast at 4am so I didn't get to use all the amazing things the room has to offer like the labor bars and tub but my midwife helped me breathe thru my contractions so that we can get in the tub because they knew that was my vision. After I had my son my husband and I were out in 4 hours. This was my third child and boy do I wish I labored here for the first two. We upgraded to the goddess suite and it was worth it for us. I honestly wish my labor took longer so I could enjoy the suite more lol. read more

Holistic south pregnancy makes you feel at home. From the moment I walked in there the energy was amazing. I felt calm, welcomed, and blissful. I had visited another birth center and the vibe was VERY different and I was not comfortable there at all so feeling so at peace at holistic south was reassuring and took all my worries away. I was able to take a tour and talk to the head doula who answered all of my questions and made me feel excited and safe. As I continued my pregnancy journey here I would be excited to go to all my prenatal visits which was something new to me. The care they provide seems to be in your best interest and you really feel how they genuinely care about you! They are always there to answer and questions or concerns. I feel so blessed that I got to meet so many amazing women at that practice. They have made a huge impact in my life and I would not have been able to get through labor and delivery how I did If it wasn't for my doula by my side (even though I had to give birth in a hospital due to medical reasons). If you are looking to have a natural, powerful, blissful birth where you are fully supported in the way you want to do things, holistic south is the way to go. read more

I was eager to check out this birthing center as it is awfully close to my job. I called to schedule an appointment and was told that tours are only scheduled in the middle of the day on two specific weekdays because those are the times when the owner is available. I thought it was a bit strange that a new client had to accommodate to their limited schedule but I was eager to make this work. I took time off work, went to the birth center and was greeted by the front desk girl who informed me that she would be giving me the grand tour as the owner was away. Well, that's disappointing after I went out of my way to show up on their terms. The tour was not very informative and no one ever called me to follow up. I ended up birthing at another birth center. I don't know if I was just unlucky or if this is indicative of their service throughout but it didn't leave me with a good impression. read more

The most INHUMANE practice I had visited in my life! Debra is all nice and pleasant when you go visit the first time, but when any issues appear she clearly states that she's "only" the owner of the practice, and not responsible for the midwives, in demonstration of the most LACK of empathy possible. She was not looking after us. As our doula, she didn't even remember our names. Not to mention that she tries to sell any class possible to you. As a 1st time parent, living abroad, for my wife and I this was great and we were grateful to have that apparent support. Nothing but imagery; no actual content, no actual help. The midwives are clearly not in sync in practice and apparently no accurate records are kept. My wife has thyroid issues, and although having that accompanied during pregnancy with one midwife, with 28 weeks, a different midwife, Pauline, told that she wouldn't ask for the exam to recheck it and that by the way they shouldn't be doing it. That triggered obviously Debra, who after hours of explaining herself and her clinic, with not sure on how things are done in there, told us she would not should not accept foreigners in her clinic, as she doesn't know what type of doctors and practice we come from. What helped us able to endure that place was Lindsay, one of the midwives, and Dominique, the admin manager. These 2 were angels that we had the luck to have as our saviors. They are true and GENUINE CARING that we will forever be thankful. Unfortunately, or actually, much more fortunately, my daughter didn't came into the world in that uncaring place. After 16 hours of labor, we decided to go to hospital, as clearly the place didn't have the structure to provide safety for my wife and baby. On that, with a great demonstration of insensitiveness, Pauline, walked us in, and didn't even held my wife's hand when she had contractions in the middle of the hospital corridor, while I was outside waiting the COVID negative test to be able to enter. Also, she didn't "agree" nor recommended giving my wife anesthesia, even after my wife was literally crying for it, after 20 hours of labor and pain. What we heard was "this was only the beginning" , "motherhood hurts mommy" , "dad you have to believe she can". Pauline, though, doesn't know us, hasn't remembered our names, and wasn't with us during labor and pregnancy. By the way, at this point, Debra, supposedly our doula, didn't participated in any of the labor process, not assisted in the exercises, no support, no nursing assistance. With the contract "end" - Debra also didn't show courtesy to call, nor to visit, she did send a text though... When asked for nursing help her response was - "I know a nurse, she works at hospital X , don't remember her phone though, you have to call her and ask for her, and by the way, don't know her last name". It sounds a lie; unfortunately it's NOT. I thank everyday that "things went wrong" and we had to go to the hospital and not on a facility that embraced us only on their terms. I feel sad about writing this, but if anyone out there that yes, wants something as the holistic south pregnancy and birth center, look someplace similar, where it's actually a HUMANIZED delivery. read more

Debra was amazing in coaching my husband and I through infant CPR, the breastfeeding class, and showing us ways my husband can participate during labor. Throughout my labor she helped me stay calm, confident and secure, her and my midwife Mary Allen helped me walk and squat, they were all so patient and helpful throughout my labor it was unbelievable, there is no way i would have received the same help or had such an amzing experience at hospital. The nurse I had was so sweet and made sure baby was healthy the whole time. I didn't have doctors or nurses trying to drug me up or scare me, I was never left alone. They have such an amazing and supportive team of docs, nurses, midwives, doula, even the front desk receptionist milenia is as sweet as can be and very helpful, they are on top of getting this done right. I swear I can write at least 3 pages of the great experience I had delivering my baby here and post partum. The staff is beyond amazing, the facility is very clean and prepared for any unexpected emergency as well as it being across from a hospital. If you want to have a holistic and natural birth THIS is the perfect place. read more