I highly recommend booking Shawna to encapsulate your placenta. I used her services for my first…read moredelivery and it was a pleasant and easy experience. Her website is very thorough in explaining the process and booking was really easy. I went with having her pick up the goods at our hospital. My delivery happened at 10pm and we contacted Shawna at 6am the next day, and she was able to get to us by 11am the same day for pickup. Communication was friendly and quick which we really appreciated. After the pills were delivered, Shawna sent a helpful email with suggestions and tips on taking them. Also, I went with the coffee flavor for the pills and it really did mask the taste. 10/10, highly recommend!

Shawna out did her self with my placenta encapsulation. Shawna drove to my house to pick up my…read moreplacenta, and home delivered my pills within 24hours of picking up my placenta. Her quick response to my questions and needs gave me a sigh of relief so I can focus on my baby. My baby and I are thriving during our postpartum. I highly recommend Bay Area Placenta.

We are not "doula" people. But we were first time parents, and although I had to ask a friend what…read morethe purpose of a doula was and winced at the price tag - we felt it might be a good safety blanket. We interviewed two excellent doulas and ended up going with Lindsay due to our friend's recommendation and the fact that we felt like we could relate to her better due to her straightforward demeanor and since she's close to us in age. Lindsay provides you with two pre-natal visits and one post-partum visit in addition to the birth visit. She also gives you a hefty packet of info on pregnancy and post partum stuff- some of which is medically accurate, but serves more as a good starting point to talk with your ob or midwife (and she's clear about that). Lindsay has a great demeanor, kind, helpful, smart, and strong. She has this amazing ability of being there for you during labor/delivery without being intrusive and giving you and your partner the space to do your own thing while providing support. And when we needed her to step in, she was there 100%!!! In fact, it was during a difficult labor that Lindsay's experience, skill, and bedside manner really shone - she really wowed us and physically invested herself in making it work. We had a long labor and she was prepared to be there and totally present and actively supporting us for the whole thing!! I can honestly say that the price is worth it, in fact I almost feel we under paid!! Go with Lindsay, you won't be disappointed!

Lindsay is a god send. I had a home birth in May (also thanks to her!), and she was my doula. My…read morelabor came one fast and hard. My husband was filling the tub while my mother was making the bed, and I was stuck on all fours in the baby room with back labor. I was terrified and didn't think I was going to make it through this; I'd definitely need to go to the hospital. I called Lindsay, and she came over very quickly. As soon as she entered the room, everything got better. Lindsay jumped in without missing a beat, telling me in a calming voice that the things that were happening to me were all okay and coaching me through deep breathing techniques with each surge. She helped put me in the tub even though I was resistant to move, and suddenly my labor was more manageable. She also communicated with my midwife, getting her there on time as things were moving along very quickly. Lindsay made me feel safe throughout the entire process. Her voice was calming and she knew exactly what to say at the exact right time. She made sure I was hydrated and comfortable. She placed her hands just where I needed them right when I needed them there. She knew when to step in and when to step back. Above all else, she emitted a calming vibe that helped everyone stay cool, calm, and collected, even a basket case like me. She empowered me to birth my first born at home, with the labor I wanted (and deserved), and supported me the entire way, through pregnancy and beyond. Before she left after my birth, I asked her if I could keep her forever and ever. I really couldn't have done any of this without her, and will be thankful for her presence in my life for many years to come. Needless to say, if you are looking for the most loving and educated doula on the block, Lindsay is your gal. 5+ stars!!

Amanda cared for my partner and I after our baby was born. She is very skillful as a masseuse and a…read moredelight to have in your home. Couldn't be a bigger fan!

I met Amanda when I was very disappointed and stressed by my OB/GYN and she supported me so much,…read moresince our first talk I felt that I trust her and want her to be with me on my delivery. She is so calm and positive thinker, and when you with her you 100 percent sure that things will go in right direction. She helped me to change doctor, what was right decision and have natural birth without epidural. She was so supportive and always was in touch with me before and during delivery, she was my shrink, midwife and much more. Amanda is amazing person who I'm trust and definitely recommend as great professional doula. P.S. She also do a great massage

Working with Juliana was a great experience. This was my third baby, and I specifically wanted a…read moredoula for emotional support and guidance through an unmedicated birth and she exceeded all my expectations. Juliana was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout the entire process. I really appreciated how she took the time to listen to my needs and consistently checked in for feedback, making sure I felt comfortable and heard every step of the way. Her presence brought a sense of calm and confidence during labor that made such a difference. I'm so grateful to have had her support and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled doula.

We couldn't be more grateful for the exceptional support we received from Doulas Institute…read morethroughout both our pregnancy and postpartum journey. We had interviewed many Doulas til we talked to Jessica who imparted high confidence in her skills and that of the doulas in her group. Pregnancy Doula Experience: Maria Maria, our pregnancy doula, was incredible from the moment we met her. Her warmth and calming presence immediately put my wife at ease, which was definitely necessary given her high anxiety. Maria highly was available through text, and when the contractions started she came to the hospital and her skills were greatly appreciated as the pain was immense. My wife and I highly recommend Maria. Postpartum Doula Experience: Alan On the postpartum side, Jessica paired us with Alan as our night doula, and he was a lifesaver. Initially, we tried to manage the sleepless nights on our own, but after the first month, the exhaustion became overwhelming. Alan was very reliable and came twice a week for over a month, without him we would have had a much harder time. Alan helped us from 10pm to 6am, but also with strong knowledge on how to better take care of our son when it came to sleep information. He assisted as well by doing the baby's laundry and cleaning the bottles when the baby was sleeping. Alan has our high recommendation!! We can't recommend Doulas Institute, especially Maria and Alan, enough. They are professional, have high levels of expertise, and performed with great care for us and our baby. They made this experience more manageable and memorable. If you're considering getting a doula for your pregnancy, you can't go wrong with Doulas Institute!

As a new parent, the postpartum period is challenging enough without having to deal with the stress…read moreand disappointment of a difficult agency. While Stork and Sprout does have some excellent doulas on its team who provided great support and coaching, my experience with the agency's leadership was overwhelmingly negative. We had a particularly difficult time with Brittany. She demonstrated a pattern of manipulation, gaslighting, and lying, both to us and, from what I understand, to her own employees. Our contract promised consistent coverage, but the scheduling was erratic and communication was poor. We were left to wonder many nights if we would have support, and for several weeks, we only received 1 to 2 days of support instead of the 6 to 7 we paid for. When we requested a refund for the services not provided, Brittany refused and even fought our bank with out-of-context emails and more lies. She claims she "offered a refund" but is even today refusing to honor it as she says in the response. The lack of professionalism extended to some of the staff as well; one sick doula was sent to our home and intentionally caused our newborn physical pain. Brittany treated us like we were the difficult ones and responded with empathy-less chatGPT emails to manage the situation. We were also led to believe we would have one primary doula with a backup, but over the course of our service, we had seven different doulas come to our home. This complete lack of continuity made an already difficult period even more stressful. Based on my experience, I would advise new parents to skip Stork and Sprout and work directly with an independent doula. You will not only save the 30-40% extra fee the agency charges for scheduling, but you will also avoid the toxic and difficult management. This experience is unacceptable for a service that costs tens of thousands of dollars and demands payment upfront months ahead of providing the service. We were not able to switch easily due to the inflexible Carrot reimbursement process through the employer.

I truly couldn't have accomplished my VBAC goals without the incredible support of the Stork and…read moreSprout birth doula team. From the very first moment I needed them through labor and all the way until I was settled into the maternity floor with my new little boy, they were there every step of the way. Their calm presence, deep knowledge, encouragement, and advocacy made all the difference during such an intense and meaningful experience. I felt supported, empowered, and never alone. I am beyond grateful for their care and dedication and would wholeheartedly recommend Stork and Sprout to anyone preparing for birth--especially those pursuing a VBAC.

tomi is amazing!!! she has great customer service and the ability to make sure she is delivering…read morequality care....i delivered my bundle of joy and she went to work on my placenta and the results are priceless......i received my capsules in a cute little jar along with a beautiful art piece that she had mad for me and a bunch of other goodies...tomi has once again did her thanggg!!!!! and for that i want to say thank you..ill do it again

I was recommended to Tomi by my families acupuncturist and I am so glad I found her! Tomi was so…read moreeasy to communicate with throughout the whole process. All of the emails she sent were so informative and made the process smooth and so easy to understand. Although I wasn't able to meet Tomi because I am in the North Bay, my mother was able to drop off and pick up for me and said that Tomi was amazing and so nice! I was so nervous going into my second pregnancy because I had such horrible postpartum with my first, but was made aware that encapsulating my placenta could provide multiple benefits. I am absolutely shocked at how well I felt and continue to feel taking the capsules. No baby blues, my mood has boosted, more energy, and have even noticed an increase in breast milk. My package included my capsules and a complimentary picture of my placenta, my babies cord keepsake, and a blood print of my placenta and I couldn't be happier. Tomi, thank you so much!

This review is long overdue. I intended to write something soon after giving birth, and that was…read moreover 9 years ago! I was searching for an unrelated email this morning and came across our message. I remember Katherine being so great with us. From our first meeting I knew she was calm, personable, and genuinely kind. My partner and I were under a lot of stress at the time, and her energy was perfect. Not overbearing or intrusive. I went into labor on our daughter's due date and Katherine came right away. I had a natural birth, and I remember her checking in and making sure I was OK before she offered comforting touch during labor. It turned out I didn't want to be touched much, and she respected that, offering her support in other ways. She helped me push through the most painful parts of labor with breathing. I hope she knows how much I appreciated her presence.

Kathryn is awesome!!! She took me on last minute and was an amazing doula. I was past due and in…read morepain so she came over to show me techniques to help the pain. Shortly after she left my water broke and she came right back to help me. She kept me calm as possible and helped me focus. She also helped keep my husband calm I highly recommend her

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I wasn't sure if I was going to hire a doula, but after having…read moreTeri I can't imagine having a birth without her! Throughout my pregnancy, her classes and resources equipped us with well-researched information and pro tips, which alleviated a lot of my fears and anxiety about L&D. During my labor and delivery, Teri guided me through stressful moments and helped tremendously with pain management. I ultimately delivered unmedicated, and thanks to Teri's suggestions, I delivered safely with manageable pain. She's extremely knowledgeable and soothing, she helped us stay calm throughout the entire experience. I can say with 100% confidence that if it wasn't for Teri, it would've had been a lot longer and a lot more pain. I'm immensely grateful for Teri's help in bringing my baby into this world and creating a magical birth experience for our family!

Teri is amazing and I can't say enough about how supportive she is. She was our rock while I was in…read morelabor and provided a wealth of knowledge before hand. She is easy going and just a badass! She helped us feel at ease with everything before and after baby.

Michelle is a phenomenal doula! I hired her to attend the planned home birth of my second child…read more Michelle was really thoughtful about learning our family dynamics and building rapport with my spouse and I. Michelle is knowledgeable about Spinning Babies techniques and hypnobabies techniques, if that's your thing, and is queer competent which was important for us. During the birth, Michelle was very hands on (at my request)...truly by my side for the duration of quite a long labor. In my first birth, I labored for 18 hours and with very little dilation to show for it and very exhausted, got an epidural & pit augmentation at the hospital. When this birth started to show a similar trajectory I felt dismayed, but michelle was very proactive in making sure I got enough fuel, hydration, and rest to continue and she helped me find the confidence I needed. Michelle (gently) pushed me to stay active and do what I needed to do to keep labor progressing, even when I just wanted to curl up and make it all stop! (Remember, the only way out is through ). Michelle worked cooperatively and dynamically with the attending midwives, and most importantly, Michelle empowered my spouse to be the best birth partner she could be. If you're a first time pregnant person, you might think that hiring a doula is too expensive, and to that I have a few things to say: 1)it's the best money you'll ever spend 2)looking at it from purely an hourly perspective: Michelle provides two prenatal visits, attends labor and birth, and comes for a postnatal visit. When I add up all those hours, I honestly feel that she deserved double what I paid her! 3)Michelle was a key part of the team that kept me at home when, at the height of intensity, I wanted to "opt out" of natural labor and head to the hospital. If I had done that, I'd be looking at a hospital bill much larger than her fee.

Michelle is the best. She's a person you would want to have your back no matter when, but…read moreespecially when you're having a baby. She's solid, grounded, experienced, and sensitive to what is happening so she knows how to best respond. She gave me and my partner custom resources/information to suit our needs and sensibilities. I recommend her placenta services as well. We got the capsules in two days, and they helped me so much. During labor and delivery, she made sure I got exactly what I needed, even though the birth room circumstances did not match my birth plan. She was sensitive to this, checked in with me to make sure I was ok with everything (and I was). She thought of things I would not have thought of. For example, putting my contacts in right before the baby came out so I could actually see him. :) When I had a raging headache and labor shakes, she knew just what to do. She was so present without being overbearing in any way. If I had another baby, I'd definitely ask Michelle to be my doula again. A+

Yelp seems like a weird place to find a midwife but these reviews gave me the confidence to choose…read moreJinny and now I'd like to pass on the favor. Jinny is an incredible midwife that I'd recommend to anyone in a heartbeat. The least you can do is get in touch with her and see if you like her style. The Jinny we met at our first meeting was the same Jinny that showed up at every appointment, every diagnoses, and most importantly - at the birth. She is a knowledgeable professional that is supportive of your decisions. And the level of calmness she presents in the most intense situations is remarkable. Jinny provided thorough care from pregnancy to postpartum. Communication was easy and consistent. She heard my concerns about the birth and showed up 100% to help mitigate them as best as she could during the birth. I'm forever grateful to Jinny for giving me the home birth experience I had hoped for.

Jinny Pagle is an outstanding midwife who does both home births and can do pre- and postnatal care…read moreif you want a hospital birth. After several days of labor at home, she supported me at the hospital in making sure to remind me to remind staff about my wishes for how I wanted the birth to go, which enabled me to very narrowly avoid a C-section! She has a great roster of related experts in her network too including an acupuncturist who came to my house during labor and really helped a lot with the process. It was also really wonderful to be able to have her come to my house to check on me and the baby in the first few weeks after the birth. She offers her clients choices of a spectrum of options from alternative wellness resources to standard medical practice depending on your inclinations. Her attitude is very empowering! It was also super convenient for her to be able to do bloodwork at my house and save me time going somewhere else for that. She also does placenta encapsulation. If you're considering a homebirth, or if you want a hospital birth but want to have 60+ minutes per appointment and not the 10 min you get at an OB's office for pre/postnatal care, contact Jinny.