I don't have enough good things to say about Shannon and her business. She was absolutely incredible 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! read more

How do you simply "leave a review" for the beautiful people who facilitated an absolutely life-changing and indescribable experience? It feels so trivial to try to put into words what Shannon and A'maya gave to our family. They will forever have a space in my heart, and I cannot recommend working with them enough. From the very beginning, they gave us such a deep feeling of comfort and security, not only through their incredible knowledge but through their presence alone. During the birth, they created such a calm and steady presence in our home. I always felt supported and reassured, and their quiet confidence helped me stay grounded through the entire experience (and it was long). They knew exactly when to step in and when to simply hold space. Their care extended far beyond the clinical -- it was emotional, human, and deeply compassionate. Choosing a home birth for my first birth was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and having Shannon and A'maya as my midwives made it more beautiful than I could have imagined. And somehow, incredibly, alhamdulillah, I can honestly say I miss my birth. How many people can say that? It was such a powerful, peaceful, and empowering experience, one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. That is a testament to the environment they created and the care they provided. I am forever grateful. May Allah bless them abundantly, reward them for every moment of care they gave us, place barakah in their work, and allow them to continue being a source of comfort, safety, and strength for families like ours. Ameen. read more

Shannon helped me develop the confidence I needed to move forward of my goal of having a home birth! All of our appointments were thorough with plenty of time to talk through all the "what-ifs" in my mind! I felt supported and at ease with the whole process. The birth went beautifully, and I'm so happy we made the decision to work with Shannon and her team! Many thanks for making a home birth possible for our family! read more

I can't recommend Shannon and her team enough, I wish I could give 10 stars for how amazing she is. My OB retired when I was 23 weeks pregnant and I knew I wanted to go a different direction for care. I couldn't visualize a birth plan for myself which led to my research to a home birth midwife. While I was nervous to go the direction of home birth as this was my first birth, I reached out and chatted with Shannon for a long time. She answered all my questions and helped me understand how a home birth and the care along with it would go. Safe to say we made the right decision, with birth being so overly clinical and interventions so common, I didn't want that to be me. I had never received the level of personalized care and time that Shannon and her team give from any medical professional in my life. For a big life experience such as birth, it was a relief to know that she would be the one to guide us through the birth from the moment we started working with her. She was available and responsive when we needed and never made me feel rushed during any of our appointments. She and A'Maya (who I also can't say enough great things about) were the ones to attend my birth. It was empowering to have two people with so much experience in home births to be present, they took care of us and allowed us to have the most memorable moment of our lives be uninterrupted and uninhibited. I feel truly grateful to have found such a wonderful person and care provider to help me bring my daughter into the world. Not to mention every other provider (prenatal classes, pediatrician, lactation consultant) she recommended to me was wonderful. If you're on the fence or nervous as I was being a first time mom you will not be making a mistake to work with Shannon! read more

I could not recommend my midwives enough! I am so incredibly grateful to have been under Shannon and Tara's care throughout my pregnancy. I'm a first time mama and wanted to have a home birth and limit unnecessary medical intervention in my prenatal care. My midwives took such amazing care of me, making sure that I was prepared for birth physically, mentally and emotionally. They were always available to address any questions or concerns that I had in a very timely and detailed manner. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseeable complications I was unable to have the home birth I dreamed of. BUT, thanks to the guidance of my midwives I was able to get my baby girl here safely. Shannon provided me with crucial guidance as I navigated some difficult medical decisions for my baby and myself. I ended up having a cesarean, and Tara was the first person who came in to see me from the waiting room. I can't tell you what a relief it was to have her there! She immediately started helping me and my husband, taking care of me and providing support with nursing. Shannon was there the very next day, providing even more guidance for my baby and my healing. To say they were critical parts of my village would be an understatement. The postnatal care was tremendous. The midwives were always readily available to answer my many questions. Anytime they came for postnatal visits I was left feeling informed, nurtured and empowered. Shannon and Tara played significant roles in making my pregnancy easy and enjoyable, my delivery safe, and my postpartum period less uncertain and uncomfortable. I look forward to working with them again!! read more

I highly recommend Shannon and Tara for midwifery services!! I wanted a prenatal journey that was low intervention, with the ability to trust my own body and how it was naturally designed for birth. I wanted to have full agency throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth. I got all of that with the help from Shannon and Tara who are highly experienced, knowledgable, warm, and nurturing midwives. At every appointment, they provided invaluable guidance while being fully supportive of my hopes, desires, and concerns surrounding my pregnancy and birth. Their experience shined during my labor and delivery while remaining calm and focused to put me at ease. Their support continued after the birth of my baby with several postpartum visits to ensure baby and I were doing well. I looked forward to every appointment with them! I am so happy with my decision to entrust in Shannon and Tara for midwifery care and home birth! read more

For my third and last birth, I decided to have a home birth. From the moment I called Shannon to learn about her practice it was an instant connection and bond. She eliminated all my fears and I felt confident I could really have a successful hbac. Throughout my pregnancy, she educated my husband and I on all things home birth and made us feel so safe and comfortable. She provided us with amazing care during pregnancy and postpartum as well. She is full of knowledge and experience! Although we mainly worked with Shannon, we also saw Tara a few times and she was great as well. I had an amazing home birth experience and I'm so glad I did it. I couldn't recommend their practice enough! If you want a home birth highly recommend!! read more

My wife and I were researching home birth midwives in the Bay Area already before getting pregnant and the moment we found Shannon we knew she was "the one". We wanted a midwife who has a holistic approach to pregnancy and birth and aligns with our values. She was all of the above, plus caring, supportive, knowledgeable, and fun. Every prenatal appointment with her was comfortable, and we loved the unhurried approach and time she always took to listen and chat about anything that was on our mind. It was special having her be there for us all the way to the birth and beyond! With Shannon, our first pregnancy and birth experience felt like they were supported by a good friend or family, not a clinical doctor or a stranger. She and the other midwives in her team left a lasting impression on us and we'd love to have her in our birth team also in the future! read more

Ahhh... where do I begin?! Everything from the first pre-screening call to the postpartum visit and call/text have all been beautiful! Maasya Allah. Having met Shannon, Lael & Nilo(student midwife) is a blessing! What these women do is so wholesome and amazing! As a third time mom, I must say that this 3rd pregnancy and birth is the most "relaxing" despite having caught the nasty virus, broken rib due to prolonged cough in third trimester and being much more heavier than my previous two pregnancies. Appreciate the constant checking in at every visits on my health, mentally, emotionally, physically, going over nutrition and supplements when needed, sharing nutritious recipes, herbs/homeopathic remedies recommendations, those wholesome conversations and more. I definitely appreciate that I was given full authority of how I would like my pregnancy and birth journey to look like, without ignoring their inputs. I like how their energy calmed my anxiety(yep pregnant women tend to get anxious about many things no matter how many times you've been pregnant before) throughout pregnancy. I wasn't pushed to do unnecessary tests but they're there to order them if you need any. The birth itself was smooth and beautiful(1st time homebirther). All went really well. Shannon came ready and equipped just right in time to "witness" the birth, guiding me through when she sensed that I needed one. I appreciate the fact that I wasn't rushed or "forced" to push instead I was encouraged and reminded to listen to my body. I must say that this is by far the least "painful" birth for me. Ha. Once again, Shannon and team, thank you for all the amazing work you ladies are doing. I would give 10 stars if I could! read more

Midwives Bay Area - Nilo during one of the postpartum visits. - Lactation Services Near Me

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Where to begin - If I could give Midwives of Bay Area 6 stars, I would. I was referred by another midwife to their practice and I thank my lucky stars I found them. Shannon is the most supportive, caring, knowledgeable, hilarious, rockstar of a human, and midwife. Everything you'd dream of in a practice and more. From prenatals through delivery and now onto postpartum, there was never one doubt in my mind that I chose the right midwife. Feeling welcome and empowered at every prenatal visit, to her calm and collective manner during delivery. My birth story was fast and furious and not only did Shannon provide my husband and I the right tools for labor but went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and at ease during the entire process. Pearl, the second midwife who attended the birth was equally amazing and has been the best guide through our postpartum journey. Shannon is truly a master of midwifery. An answer for any question and a recommendation for any hiccup. Someone who not only knows the ins and outs of the practice but has a true passion for bringing life into the world. My only regret is not having Shannon deliver all of my babies. Forever grateful for their team and for bringing our baby boy earth side smoothly. read more

Wow, I can't say enough to express my gratitude for this birthing team. Shannon, Lael, and Nilo, became really good trusting friends of mine that I will cherish forever. This was my first home birth and a wise decision I made. After my first borns experience in the hospital, I realized that it was not pleasing at all. I had different Drs my entire prenatal care and my labor experience from start to finish was just too much. All the unnecessary interventions, lack of support to deal with pain holistically, and constant interruptions after birth led me to Midwives Bay Area. Best choice I made. Every appointment was in a welcoming environment which was actually in a chiropractor's office that specialized in adjusting pregnant women and children. I never knew anything about chiropractors so I decided to give it a try and it was amazing and very beneficial for pregnant women. I learned so much about holistic practices during this pregnancy experience that I didn't know existed. Like postpartum care services, medications and remedies, and overall how there really isn't much to growing a baby other than proper nutrition and light exercise. I would recommend every woman have an at home birth. I understand natural birth is very painful for most but the pain is worth it. When you are in the comfort of your own home you are more relaxed and able to move around as you please. Ditch being attached to a hospital bed with a bunch of Ivs and monitors, bright lights, no food, a lot of motion going on everywhere and I can go on and on..... Also, there is a lot of malpractice that goes on during labor in hospitals that most women aren't even aware of. Hospital births are for profit-driven. Let's normalize having natural healthy drug free births as God intended us to. He makes no mistake and designed our bodies to birth children for as long as Adam and Eve were created. Midwives Bay Area stays true to holistic practice and is a very good team to work with. I loved my time with them and just knowing them motivates me to have more children just so I can hang out with them and chit-chat. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention all our appointments were like catching up with your girlfriends and having a good conversation/time. Thanks again Shannon, Lael, and Nilo! read more

The very first phone conversation my husband and I had with Shannon; our mindset shifted. Our dream of a homebirth became a true possibility. I was 10 weeks pregnant with our first child and 41 years old. Shannon, Tara, and Amaya handled all our questions and concerns with loving kindness. Each appointment my hub. and I had our confidence reset and were inspired to dive deeper into educating ourselves about having a healthy pregnancy and safe birth; which made for excellent discussion with Shannon and her lovely team. By the time I began laboring, Shannon and Tara were solid and supportive friends in an uncharted world for myself and husband (who took over communications when I couldn't). We were able to bring our child into the world with our own personal flare, at home. *back up plan was clearly understood of the possibility to go to the hospital in case medical intervention was needed. We HIGHLY recommend this truly excellent team! read more

This was a wonderful experience for me and I have to give these caring midwives praise. Lael and Shannon are a wonderful team. The hospital was always busy and giving birth during COVID 19 sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. We opted for the home birth and my midwife through lifelong submitted the approval to have a home birth. When it was time to give birth, it felt good being in your own home, that you know is clean and sanitized. I didn't need too much assistance since this was my second birth but I'd recommend the whole package. I met Lael to discuss the plan for the homebirth. I had so much going on and I truly appreciate Lael and her consistency with me. I would call or text any questions or concerns and Lael and Shannon were very patient. Delivery Day: Lael showed up and I was able to do things my way, if I wanted to do a cartwheel I could. I started in the pool and it was as comfortable as possible, it's childbirth lol. After maybe an hour or two, I asked if I could find do a different position and Lael and Shannon said it was fine. It is honestly the best feeling to do things your way especially bringing a baby into the world. After delivery, Lael and Shannon helped me and my little one start the breastfeeding process (Fast forward she's still exclusively breastfed, woohoo!). This was tricky during my first pregnancy so I was amazed at how the baby latched on, it also was a relief for them to debunk a lot of theories on how newborns are hungry. Also, they clarified what steps to take next concerning my health. They completed post-partum check-ins and even sent me lunch which was so helpful. It was an amaZing experience for myself and my family, a lot of relatives were interested in a homebirth after that. Lael and Shannon, me and my family are grateful for your services. read more

Midwives Bay Area - Lactation Services Near Me

Lael and Shannon are the midwives I never thought I needed!!! So blessed to have been referred to the by other midwives I contacted who could not take me as their patient because of HBAC (home birth after caesarean). I believe I emailed them or filled out their form online and they asked to call me and get to know me more. I first spoke with Lael and fell inlove with her compassion, warmth, and her knowledge. She gave me confidence that my body can do what it's supposed to do. Then I met with them both in their office and just felt right at home. Every prenatal visit lasted about an hour, not like the traditional ob gyn 5-10 min visit. They gave me everything I needed to know and gave me full informed consent on anything with regards my pregnancy. Months later on March 2021, I gave birth at home to my 6lb 9 oz baby girl. The love and support I got from Shannon during those vulnerable moments was something I wish every woman can have. This is my 3rd baby and this definitelt redeemed my past 2 births. Shannon and Lael are the best in my opinion. They have the resources for you to have the natural birth every woman should experience. read more

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Wow, These Midwives are just amazing. I have had 2 births with them now and both experiences have been incredible. Always there to support you. The compassion, support and love you feel is just wonderful. How they truly hold the space for all things in pregnancy and postpartum. I am so grateful. read more

Midwives Bay Area - Lactation Services Near Me

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I was under the incredible care of Shannon and Lael with my second baby who was born in March 2023. After having my first baby in a hospital with certified nurse midwives, I knew that with my next baby, I wanted to have a home birth. I was always able to get all my questions and any concerns addressed at each prenatal and postpartum appointment. In between appointments, the midwives have a clear communication policy so you know exactly how to get in touch with them. Lael and Shannon are not only very knowledgeable and experienced, but they are also so kind, warm and nurturing. I feel so blessed to have had an amazing home birth experience, it was peaceful, intimate, empowering, and so much more than I can put into words. When I felt it was time to call the midwives, my husband called to let them know what was going on. Nilo, student midwife, who is also so amazing and a great addition to their team, arrived first, shortly followed by Shannon. They had calming and encouraging presences during my entire labor and I'm so thankful to have had the best team. Shannon and Nilo stayed a few hours after our baby's birth and made sure I was fed, gave me postpartum tips and instructions, and even do clean up from the birth. I highly recommend the Midwives Bay Area team if you are looking to have a home birth with the best midwives who genuinely care about you, provide you with informed consent, and provide you with exceptional care! read more

Midwives Bay Area - Shannon weighing our baby girl and us all being surprised she was 9 lbs! - Lactation Services Near Me

Shannon and her team truly offer incredible care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. They listen to concerns, offer guidance and information with references to help you further understand the process of home birth and everything surrounding it. I have never felt so supported or comfortable until I found Shannon and her team. If you're considering having a home birth, this would be the place to start. read more

Shannon reigns supreme as the most competent, reassuring, and loving midwife around. No hyperbole. An experienced mother herself, Shannon cares about empowering women and helping families feel confident about their personal choices. A major bonus--rare in Berkeley--is she genuinely doesn't judge or bully or force any political or medical agenda whatsoever. This freedom and spiritual room to breathe is the very reason women choose home birth, so she's the real deal. Even amid staffing changes at her practice, Shannon provided rock-solid support for well over nine months. Billing and logistics were easy. She is friendly, funny, relatable, and the perfect expert you want at your birth. Our two older kids worship her and actually still talk about her/play midwife at least weekly. Go with Shannon's team and don't look back! read more

I was probably about 25 weeks or so pregnant when I started looking to switch my care to a midwife which is quite late.I am so thrilled as late as I was to get in touch with Shannon, she accepted me on with no hesitation. I immediately started my regular prenatal checks in at their office in Lafayette which is super convenient to me, as I come from downtown Walnut Creek. Shannon and the other midwives I met are all so warming and in align with beliefs around birth and were able to deliver me the calming spa like home birth of my dreams. My daughter's birth was peaceful and pain free. I have been able to feel confident in my fourth trimester thanks to this marvelous team. I would recommend this team to everybody expecting to give birth and happy to share more (but not in this already lengthy review). Make the call! You will not regret it! read more

My experience with Midwives Bay Area was amazing. Early on in my pregnancy I was interested in having a home birth, but I had some hesitation as it was my first pregnancy and I didn't personally know anybody who had done a home birth. After reaching out to Midwives Bay Area for more information about home births in general, I was sure that's what I wanted to do. Shannon and Lael were great for all of my prenatal care. They were very reassuring and addressed all of my questions and concerns. They have a wonderful, natural approach to prenatal care and birth. When it came time for me to deliver, Shannon and Nilo teamed up with my husband to help bring our baby girl into the world. I could not have asked for a better birth team. They provided me with natural comfort measures and coached me through everything. Shannon encouraged me to listen to my body and push in whatever position felt right, which doesn't often happen in a hospital setting. Being able to deliver in the comfort of my own home was such a blessing; no bright lights, beeping monitors, hospital staff walking in and out, car rides ti and from, etc. After our baby was born, Shannon and Nilo made sure I was cleaned up and fed then left my husband and I to bond with our daughter while they straightened up and started a load of laundry. They then weighed and measured our baby and ensured we had everything we needed before they left. I am so pleased we decided to do a home birth and so grateful that I found Midwives Bay Area to help my through the journey. I absolutely plan to deliver at home again if I have another baby in the future! read more

This was my third home birth experience with Lael ( and my first time working with Shannon who is also great). Each experience has been different but equally wonderful and that has so much to do with the support I received during each pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. Lael is extremely knowledgeable and her presence is always both calming and empowering. With each labor when I got to a point where I said " I can't " she would calmly say " Yes you can", and I did. I'm not sure if our family is complete but I know for certain that if I ever have another she would be the midwife I would call . read more

Midwives Bay Area - 10 hours old - Lactation Services Near Me

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If I could give them 10/5 stars, I would!!! I cannot recommend Leal and Shannon enough!! From the first phone call I knew I could trust them with this amazing experience. Both have a calming, motherly nature to them and they genuinely care and love all their clients. All my prenatal appointments were helpful, reassuring, and they were always great with our older boys. On the day our son was born, we called them when labor started and they were quickly on their way. My labor was progressing very quickly and they even called another midwife to meet me to ensure I had someone with me. Shannon stayed on the phone with me, helping guide me through the contractions. Both of these amazing women were everything and more. We cannot recommend them enough!! read more

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My experience with Midwives Bay Area was truly a transformational experience from our first pre-natal to the birth. I started off in the traditional medical OBGYN/Midwife care and it just wasn't for me. At 22 weeks I got in contact with Shannon and after our first meeting I knew this is exactly how my first pregnancy and birth was supposed to be. Every pre-natal appointment we spend at least 45 minutes with each other, vs the 10 minutes I had in the more traditional model. Shannon also respected and supported every decision I made. What was really important to me was having an unmedicated, natural birth and true informed consent and Shannon is ALL for that. Our home birth was magical... from the time my water broke, to when I gave birth, it felt like what nature intended. My body and mind felt so supported and safe, our baby boy came 6 hours after my water broke. We didn't even have time to finish filling up the birth tub haha! Shannon and her team became like family during this very vulnerable and special chapter. I can't wait to do it again with our second baby! I wish every woman knew that this type of care exists and you can have a beautiful home birth!! read more

I had a great experience working with Lael and Shannon. This was my first time having a home birth so When I was looking to hire a midwife Lael was able to answer all my questions. She was also able to work with me on pricing so that it could fit our family's budget, which I am so thankful for. They have group prenatal appointments, I enjoyed talking with other expecting moms on their past experience with home birth and also if you are going through something in pregnancy someone else may be going through it or did before and they can share tips. I love the little community. I love the conversations with the women, Lael and Shannon. I learn a lot from Lael and Shannon during the appointments. One of my favorites was on postpartum care, something I didn't really think about in past pregnancies. When I went into labor I contacted Shannon and she came right over when they started to get intense. Shannon was very patient with me when I was expressing that I felt couldn't push my baby out. She reminded me that I could do it and that I was doing it. When my son was born I was able to do skin to skin and Shannon made sure that I got something to eat since I had not ate since the morning. She checked on the baby and made sure he was latching correctly. I had questions in the beginning days of having a new born I texted Lael and Shannon and they made sure to answer them. Lael saw me for my last postpartum appointment. We had a good conversation and she made it clear that if I had any questions I could always contact her. It is so comforting to know that even after having my baby I can refer back to her. I think my family is complete, but if we somehow are blessed with another baby I would hire Lael and Shannon and do a home birth all over again. read more

Where do I start?! Pro-medical freedom & choices Decades of experience and wisdom Pro-woman-only birthing (no "birthing person" or "chest feeding" language) Supportive, encouraging, empathetic, kind, intelligent... all things you want when you're at your most vulnerable in pregnancy & childbirth. I can not recommend Shannon enough. Both of our children were born at home with Shannon. The first in 2022 and our second in November 2023. The entire experience both times was so enjoyable from start to finish. I knew for years that I wanted a homebirth and from the first call in 2021 through to postpartum 2024, Shannon has become a true friend. With both pregnancies, the prenatals were spent chatting like you would a friend, talking about the wild post-COVID state of the world, any concerns I had, and of course, what I wanted for my birth experience. Not like your average OB visit where you spend an hour waiting for a 15 minute appointment. I never felt like there was anything pushed on us or certain rules they needed us to comply with. It was very individualized for each situation of both pregnancies. My first pregnancy was very easy and I felt they were as hands on as they needed to be. Answering my texts or calls very quickly with knowledge and expertise only passionate midwives would have. On my guess date, my water broke and labor didn't start for 4 days. I wanted to wait until I naturally and spontaneously went into labor and Shannon trusted the birthing process (I had no complications or fever, etc.). My first labor was 27 hours total and her and her assistant were there for 14 hours supporting me patiently, giving suggestions of different things when wanted or needed, and made sure I was cared for after birth as well.  For my second pregnancy, it was a bit harder on me (maybe it was the toddler running around!). We collectively decided to naturally induce based on my individual concerns & being 41+5 days (midwifery care is individualized care!). I had a fast and powerful 4 hour labor. A rare thing occurred - our baby came out not breathing and she quickly knew what to do - CPR and ultimately called paramedics. Our daughter is perfectly healthy now thanks to Shannon's quick thinking and expertise. I cannot recommend Bay Area Midwives enough. If God blesses us with another baby, we will 100% choose Shannon, even if we have to fly her to another state! read more

If you want your baby to be delivered and brought into the world among family, Lael and Shannon are who you want to work with. I found them around week 19 of my pregnancy after a horrible experience with an OBGYN. My husband and I had a phone interview with Shannon on a Saturday morning to see if they would be a good fit (after already feilding over 20 other midwives in the area). Within the first minute if the convo my husband and I both agreed this was our team. Lael and her assistant Jenni attended the birth of my son in August 2021. They were calming and helpful. Always asked permission to check on baby and informed me of what was going on. I felt at ease and thankful to have someone who's opinion I trusted, knowing she wouldn't suggest or ask to do something if it wasn't for our best. They also host get togethers for their clients to get to know each other and share experiences. The prenatal appointments were night and day from those I experienced with an OB office. They listened, informed me of choices we'd have to make, provided resources to make those choices, made me feel heard and comfortable. They built trust which became a huge factor in labor. I didn't have to worry about a stranger delivering our baby or being pressured to do procedures because they are "routine"... I got to have the birth I wanted with the support/guidance I needed. In addition to amazing, quality care prenatal and through labor- they provided postnatal care in home as well, which is life changing as a new mom. I feel bad for my friends who have to pack up their newborn at a days old for their check ups when they should be able to be in full recovery mode. I was able to stay in bed with my newborn when they came to me for our checkup. I could go on forever about my new passion for homebirth thanks to this experience. I'm so thankful I found them and chose a homebirth for our first child and will do so for those to come! read more

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Signing up to work with Shannon and Lael was the best and most important healthcare decision I've ever made. I switched to midwifery care early in the third trimester because I was unsatisfied that my OB was taking my desires for the birth seriously. As a first time mom, I had a lot of questions and just never felt heard by the hospital medical team. The switch to midwifery care was a complete 180. I left my appointments with Shannon and Lael with a sense of peace and excitement about the birth. And as we planned and discussed the birth more and more, I grew to completely trust their judgment. Perhaps most importantly, I felt like they really cared about me and my family, and that they were partners in this enormous life experience we were going to go through together. Faye was born in October, 2020 at 42 weeks. The labor and delivery only took eight hours from start to finish! I credit the speed of the birth in part because of the excellent Bradley Method class we took at Lael's recommendation, and because of the peaceful setting of giving birth at home. Shannon was there to support me and my partner and explain what was happening through the whole thing. Giving birth was a big experience. I can't imagine a team more worthy of our trust and Shannon and Lael. If we are lucky enough to have another baby, I will be giving them a call on day one. read more

When I tell my birth story, I feel so proud to tell family&friends about the experience of home birth. But really, that story is mostly just one about how incredible Lael is as a midwife and human being. I made the very last-minute decision of home birth, and that was 100% a reaction to the pandemic. Due in May 2020, we were not feeling great about what hospitals were going to look like with CoVid at that time, the fear of exposure, the thought of laboring with a mask on, worrying if my husband would even be allowed in for the birth of our first son. I had met Lael at about 32 weeks when I first started researching the idea of home birth (a little late, yes, but she came highly recommended by two of the doulas I interviewed) and even though it all seemed last minute, she made me feel more calm and taken care of than any doctor had been able to do in 7+ months of visits. No small feat, given how anxious I was with everything going on in the world and this being my first child. Despite my instinct that home birth and Lael were the right choices for me, I let insurance and their refusal to cover home birth stand in our way. We stuck with the hospital plan because it felt like the financially "responsible" thing to do. Big mistake. After 14 hours of intense laboring at home and heading to the hospital, I was met not only with a CoVid swab while having contractions, but then given a cervical exam, only to be told I was not far enough along to stay at the hospital. The whole experience was traumatic, i was in so much pain, sobbing and exhausted, and despite the fact I begged to stay because we lived so far away and did not want to make that painful drive a second time, they sent me home with a shot of morphine so I could "rest". When the drugs wore off the next day, the contractions were so intense. My doula made the call to Lael, knowing I trusted her, with the idea that Lael might be able to come to the house and do the exam so we could at least be 100% sure I should head to the hospital again. This was at 9pm. Despite my decision to not work with her, Lael didn't hesitate to drop everything and come give me that exam. I'm so lucky she did. As soon as she arrived, it was clear it was go-time. Within the hour, our baby arrived, perfect and happy. It was intense, but hands down the most empowering and beautiful experience of my life. I look back and realize my only regret was not trusting my gut to work with Lael when I first knew I wanted to. What she did for me was incredible. But even AFTER the birth, she became a godsend considering we had no idea what we were doing and all our family that had planned to be there could no longer travel from the east coast. She became our go-to lifeline, the only person who saw the baby besides the doula for the first month of his life. We looked forward to her visits so much, and still to this day are so thankful we were able to text her with basically every question and weird photo asking "If this is normal?" (99.999% of the time, she would say we were fine and saved us yet another unnecessary trip to the doctor.) If you've made it this far into my novel of a Yelp review, let me just say: You will not regret having Lael has part of your birth story. I have no doubt she has played this significant, godsend of a role to countless other women. What an incredible gift. On top of all that, she's just a wonderful person to be around. I loved our conversations and looked forward to every time she came over to check on the baby because both my husband and I thought she was just the coolest person to talk to. (Pretty sure we kept her way too long each time because we were just so glad to be able to socialize with her. ha!) In summary: If you're going to trust someone with the most vulnerable moments of your life, it's one thing to trust their expertise which we absolutely did. But, on top of that, we truly loved her as a person. Lael became so much more than a midwife to us. And I will be forever thankful that she made this experience possible, even at a moment's notice. Thanks again for everything, Lael. I realize this is obnoxiously long for Yelp (lol) but suffice it to say I will forever be so grateful to you! read more

When we found out we were pregnant in the state of covid ; we were scared of what birth would look like. We had another midwife lined up, but they dropped some "protocols" on us last minute (33 weeks) and we very VERY uncomfortable- I found Shannon and Lael through a friend, I am so happy I did. What a relief! I was so comfortable as soon as I met them they immediately made me feel so uplifted in my pregnancy. they both are so warm and knowledgeable I felt heard and supported. They were a dream to work with. my birth was so beautiful I couldn't imagined it any other way. I am honored to call them our midwives . Grab them ASAP !! read more

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I have never written a yelp review before and I wanted this to be my first because I cannot speak more highly of Lael and Shannon. I met them during the third trimester of my first pregnancy and, due to COVID-related policy changes at our hospital, made the switch to home birth to ensure our family could be together. I'll admit I didn't have any exposure to home births in my life prior but, after doing my own research and then speaking to Lael for the first time, I was grateful that the current circumstances had nudged me in this direction. I was immediately struck by Lael and Shannon's confident, calm and authentic presence. Since I had made the switch to home birth a little later in my pregnancy, I was nervous that it would be too late to build a strong rapport with a new birth team on a shorter timeline. However, when they came to our home for that first prenatal visit, they were extremely warm, knowledgeable, and approachable. I honestly felt like I'd known them for years and the depth of care that they showed put me at ease immediately. During my long labor, they were incredibly responsive and attentive. They even had to arrive in the early hours of the morning around 3AM and stayed with me until 6pm the next day. They were everything you'd want around you - calm, confident and supportive. They intuitively knew just how and when to give me and my husband space, and when to be more actively involved. My delivery was tough due to a not-so-common combination of factors having to do with the baby's position and they were helping me with pushing for hours on end. They would offer up suggestions when they could see when a position was no longer working for me and coached me through how to progress the baby down. I trusted them completely and it was their skillfulness and coaching in the end that helped me actually deliver the baby. When she arrived, they encouraged as much mommy and baby bonding as possible and even gave my husband and I ample alone time with her to soak up the moment before cutting the cord. They then stayed with me for a few hours and even helped me walk, shower and get dressed. They were extremely thorough in their care of all of us. Overall, I would say that my husband and I were awestruck and deeply moved by the experience. I truly feel that it is an honor to witness them doing the miraculous and intense work that they are clearly made to do. I'm already looking forward to working with them again when the next baby rolls around and I'm just so grateful to have them in our lives. read more

Midwives Bay Area - Lactation Services Near Me

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So grateful for the majestic experience of giving birth at home supported by our incredible midwives Shannon and A'Maya. Having them made all the difference in our feeling empowered, safe, courageous, prepared, and open for a unique journey through pregnancy and labor. Beyond their medical knowledge, our midwives hold such vast experience and deep wisdom about women's and baby's health throughout pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postnatal. My husband and I could not be more grateful for the care and coaching that we received through many pivotal moments and for getting to have the beautiful experience of having a home birth. read more

Being pregnant, the choices you need to make, where to give birth and so much more is extremely overwhelming! You're so vulnerable. If you're reading this and you're pregnant, stay calm. You have choices and getting informed is my advice to all moms to be. And with that, that is exactly what Lael and Shannon offer amongst all that they do to bring your baby into this world. They are not only a world of information, but they themselves have had their own children born at home (7 amongst the 2 of them!) which was a key factor for me when choosing a midwife. Someone who had been through it before, understands pregnancy, birth, labor and all that comes with it. So interviewing other midwives who didn't have their own birth experience was a deal breaker. I didn't know either of them, but as I googled to look for local midwives as I was new to Bay Area, I was introduced to Lael through another midwife who wasn't available. (thankful that it worked out like this...) Early in my pregnancy I went to an obgyn (because I thought that's what you do when first pregnant...again, get informed!) and subsequently to my 8 week initial appt I had a scare where I was bleeding randomly. I had thought it might have been a miscarriage. But that didn't feel right...I called the obgyn, the medical office after hours number, who was called on an emergency line. When the dispatch finally got back to me they told me to just go to the emergency room (this was like 11pm on a Sunday night and the local ER was a low rated, unwelcoming place that I did not want to visit...) I hadn't even officially hired Lael and Shannon but called them anyway in between waiting forever dispatch to get back to me as I didn't know what else to do. Lael, wonderfully motherly, compassionate, understanding and gracious with her knowledge of the matter, calmed me in such a way that I get emotional writing this. I went to bed that night feeling confident and reassured. And slept...Having the option to contact her at anytime, any questions I had, any concerns, anything was so reassuring to me. Fast forward to the birth of my son, in the comfort of a home, even with an interesting post birth placenta situation that Shannon and Lael knew how to address albeit it being a rare post birth situation. Lael and Shannon are so competent in birthing that I know that these 2 gals are whom I would want my whole soccer team of babies to be born with They are experienced, knowledgeable, professional, licensed midwives, lactation consultants, parents to their own home birthed kids, they take insurance as well and overall a fantastic birth team to experience for your first, second or whatever numbered child. Writing this review to pay it forward for whoever is researching home birth - natural birth - midwifery - best wishes to a healthy birth experience! read more

Midwives Bay Area - Morning of our birth - Lactation Services Near Me

I could not imagine a better experience with preparing for my home birth with a midwife than I had with Shannon! Every appointment was empowering, relaxing and comforting, and informative. I had a perfect, beautiful home birth of my dreams and am so grateful to Shannon and her team for supporting us to give birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy. Will definitely use Midwives Bay Area again for my other births. read more

Lael and Shannon are the best birth team you could ask for. I met with several midwives before I met Lael. All had impressive qualifications and experience, and I wasn't sure how I would choose. But once I met Lael, it was such an easy decision! She has a wonderfully reassuring presence that is a blend of confidence in her profession, warmth and humor. I met Shannon a little after meeting Lael and was delighted to find out that she is wonderful as well. Her gentle demeanor was always soothing to my sometimes frayed Mom-to-be nerves. Throughout my pregnancy and postpartum period, I felt secure and loved in Lael & Shannon's care. They are excellent at what they do, attentive, responsive and loving. I couldn't recommend them more highly. Thank you Lael & Shannon! read more

We had the most incredible experience with the midwife team from beginning to end. After having a very long hospital with our daughter where we had to fight for our voices to be heard, this home birth was just what we needed. The whole time I felt empowered, heard and supported. The experience couldn't have been any better and I couldn't recommend the life changing experience of home birth any more with the midwives Bay Area team! read more

Midwives Bay Area - Lactation Services Near Me

Shannon, Lael, and Nilo (a midwife student) attended the recent birth of our second child. It was such a blessing to give birth in the comfort of our home and we were so grateful to have such caring and knowledgeable birth attendants at our side. During transition I began to lose confidence. The midwives could see this and were quick to provide reassurance of progress and encouragement; but also guidance not to push prematurely. I was noted to have a cervical lip which might be why I didn't have an irresistible urge to push. I tried having rushes in different positions, but the cervical lip remained. In the end, Lael held the cervical lip up while I pushed on my back (classic position). But baby eventually came, safe and sound, and with the bag of waters still intact! After giving birth I was noted to have borderline hemorrhaging. They knew exactly what to do and immediately responded by giving me a shot of Pitocin to stop the bleeding. They stayed after the birth to monitor the bleeding, ensure I was given nourishment, and clean up the birth mess, which we really appreciated. They also made sure I understood safety during postpartum period (when to safely walk to bathroom with husband assisting, etc). In hindsight, I wished I would have tried having a few rushes in a side lunge position (which may have helped get rid of the cervical lip) and to push in a supported squat position, but this was more me not verbalizing my instincts and it's hard to think clearly in active labor Overall, we were very thankful for the care we received and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Midwives Bay Area. Thank you ladies! read more

I love Shannon and Lael. From our first meeting till the last visit, they have given me the support and company that I needed. It's hard to be pregnant during the pandemic, but we made it through. I really appreciate their knowledge, skills, and friendship. They are really good at what they are doing. If I ever have another home birth, I hope to get their service again, Insya Allah. -Sharifah read more

Midwives Bay Area did the prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care for my fifth baby (fourth home birth). I received all the wonderful care and attention I have come to appreciate when planning a homebirth. The midwives got to know me and my history in the months approaching my birth, and they helped me set up/administered routine tests like blood work and anatomy scan, so that I was confident that I was growing a healthy baby who would safely be able to be born at home. The midwives have years of experience, and answered all of my questions drawing from that knowledge. The midwives even had a text thread with me so that I could get answers right away for anything that would come up. When I brought my newborn to her first pediatrician appointment, he said to skip the 2wk visit because the baby was under such great care with Midwives Bay Area. I am very happy with my experience! read more

Lael and Shannon are both amazing human beings. I am forever grateful to them for my calm and supported pregnancy and beautiful birth at home. I found them when I was 28 weeks into my second pregnancy. I was not happy with my OBGYN care, and wanted to explore my options with the home birth. Luckily, I found Lael and Shannon, and I think we had a connection with them on a personal level, I loved their mindsets and their vast scope of interests. They also went out of their way to accommodate us financially, which we appreciate, having had an HMO insurance that didn't cover the home birth. The only thing I would have liked to see differently was their admin work - very slow and lots of errors in the paperwork, had to ask to correct several times. This is also important (not vitally important but still makes us parents who are eager to do the things as soon as possible go crazy). Overall, I am happy to recommend Shannon and Lael to all the Bay Area mamas looking for the most natural delivery possible. Thank you! read more

Lael and Shannon are incredible human beings and our home birth experience with them was perfect. For our first meeting before "committing" to them Lael visited us at our home and we knew instantly that we would be in good hands. Their many years of experience evident in everything they do. They were quick to respond to any random questions or concerns we had during pregnancy. We felt so safe with them as our partners in this, and when the big day came they were at our house within 20 mins of us calling, and they were perfectly supportive in terms of helping when needed or giving us space through labor. If considering a home birth I strongly strongly recommend calling Midwives Bay Area. read more