My experience with Paula was so traumatic it's taken me almost a year since my birthing experience to finally leave a review. As difficult as this, I feel responsible to share the truth so others can be informed. I wish others would've done the same when I came to check these reviews before hiring her for the prenatal care and delivery of our first baby. Her 5-star rating turned out to be devastatingly misleading. Initally Paula seemed so supportive and caring, but once she had our money it was downhill from there. She was constantly distracted, forgetful, negligent, and often disrespectful - all signs I should have gotten the hell out of there. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how bad everything was until it was too late to get my money back and I couldn't get another midwife in time. I told Paula straight up "dealing with you has been the most stressful part of my pregnancy." The anxiety she caused me was unreal and seriously harmful to me and my baby. Sadly, things only got worse when I tried to deliver at her "birthing center" in Napa. Do not be deceived by how beautiful and welcoming it seems. It turned into a dreadful place after 3 days of labor with very little support and care from her.  Maybe at one time Paula and Fawn were great at midwifery, but my experience with them was quite contrary. This was very confusing for me and took time to process how horific my experience was with them, since I was so convinced I was working with wise women. Paula did nothing to comfort me or support me during labor. She would only pop in the room for cervical/doppler/blood pressure checks. She told me to take a benadryl, Tylenol, and drink a glass of wine and try to get some sleep. She sent my husband to the store multiple times - for these items as well as nausea medicine, leaving me all alone and him scrambling for things she should have provided.  When I was 8 cm dilated she called in her team and laid down in my bed...ON MY PILLOW! She literally laid there until my labor stalled and I went down to 3 cm. My baby and my body knew it was NOT SAFE to give birth in this woman's hands. The next day my water broke. She laid a diaper on the bed and promptly walked out, leaving me legs spread with gushing fluids and unable to help myself amid contractions. Thankfully, a godsend doula - Denise Lee Haye- kindly stepped up and helped me into the diaper. Every time it needed changing Denise and my husband were the only ones to help. When my best friend asked Paula how much time does she have after the water breaks? Paula replied "indefinitely!" This turned out to be not true and put me and my baby in harm. We barey escaped ICU due to this. At the hospital, Paula struggled to provide the nurses with all of the pertinent info and left as soon as she could. In her stead, a doula named Carolyn stayed with us. She was very sweet, but in retrospect, she prolonged my labor by questioning everything the doctor was doing, imbuing more doubt and hesitation than the confidence and reassurance I needed. I wish she would have questioned and advocated for me like that where I really needed it - at the birthing center. We paid Paula $6,500, $100 for the birthing kit $50 for her "insurance woman," plus those random items she sent my husband to the store for. After submitting her superbill, we were only reimbursed $700. As brand new parents in the thick of everything, this was super stressful and such a huge distraction at a crucial time for our little family. We weren't in a place to be in contact with Paula at all, it was too triggering and unhealthy. Now, we are sharing our story, and now we will reach out for this much warranted refund. A refund is the least whe can do for such a damaging experience. I will update my review when we receive a response on this. Her refund policy ensures she keeps most of your money, even if you don't deliver with her (which should be the most expensive part). In the future, I would look for someone with a more reasonable financial policy, who doesn't have a conflict of interest - ie, will send you to the hospital when it's warranted without the motivation of keeping you to birth with them so they can receive a higher insurance payout. I would also look for a midwife who offers community/group amongst clients, which provides support for parents and babies and more transparency/accountability within the practice (AKA, nothing to hide). SF birth center is really good with this.  I am so lucky my precious baby and I are both okay, although the trauma is hefty. I am grateful for the skilled, caring (unpaid) souls who did help me in my darkest hours and I would highly recommend working with them and paying them directly, not through Paula or Fawn: Jamie Weaver, Kim Stanford, Denise Lee-Haye. And of course, (divine) Providence/Queen of the Valley. read more

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Choosing Paula and The Midwives was the best thing I have done for myself and my baby throughout my journey to motherhood. My care was supportive, kind, loving, knowledgeable, reassuring, personal, and professional. Each of my appointments throughout my pregnancy lasted as long as they needed to. All my questions and concerns answered and expanded upon. Pregnancy and birth are outrageously vulnerable times and the people you hire to help you throughout it can make a huge impact. My care team had absolute faith in me my whole pregnancy. By the time I went into labor I had no doubts that Paula and her team would support me through a healthy and safe labor. I delivered my beautiful son at the birth center in Napa unmedicated and completely undisturbed. I utilized their enormous birthing tub and had the birth of my dreams. All through the birth center I was able to encapsulate my placenta to help with postpartum healing. They made getting a birth certificate so easy. The postpartum care was amazing. I honestly feel like I can reach out to the team any time. I would absolutely recommend this path to any women. Not so long ago, women gave birth with the help and wisdom of other women in their community who had gone through it countless times and seen it done countless times- this is the experience you will have if you chose to have your baby with Paula and the Midwives. You will be led through your pregnancy and birth by women who believe in your biological ability to do it. read more

I am seven weeks postpartum as I write this. I found out I was pregnant in February 2024 and always knew that I wanted to work with a midwife either at home or at a birth center. I came across Paula and Midwives Childbirth Services early on in my search. Paula was quick to respond and we soon agreed to work with one another. To be honest I was quite fond of Paula and enjoyed her disposition in the beginning. Looking back on our time together, I could easily pick apart and criticize aspects along the way but I'll choose to focus on the end of my pregnancy. It truly wasn't until it came to labor and delivery where my trust in Paula was broken. Ultimately I did not get the full care and attention I was hoping for and deserving of. First off, Paula was not hands on until it came time for me to start pushing. There were a few times where she called to me from the other room instead of coming to my side to give direction and provide support. There was the lack of team work felt between Paula and her assisting midwife Savanna. When Savanna suggested I try a new position to help with progress she was met with resistance from Paula instead of encouragement. As I was in active labor and pushing through contractions Paula was intercepting text messages and processing paperwork for other clients. The amount of times her phone alerts went off was countless and beyond distracting. I can understand owning a business and having other clients but at a certain point that should all be put on hold or delegated to someone else completely. Instead, Paula dictated to Savanna, the assisting midwife, what to type in the text message and what paperwork needed to be handed off as Paula intermittently paid attention to me and my needs. And this was all going on as the two of them sat on the bed that I was laboring on! After five hours of active labor we ended up being transferred to the hospital. There was an issue with us being beyond 42 weeks and Paula was concerned with what that would mean for her and her license. We would eventually learn that I was not in fact making the progress that Paula thought I was. When we got to the hospital the doctor informed us that our baby was either zero or negative one station which contradicted the positive two that Paula had said we were at. In the end I had to have an emergency cesarean. After the birth of our child we saw Paula once more for a home visit where she forgot her scale that was necessary in conducting the two day weigh in (which was what she was there for). It was that night that my husband and I chose to end our working relationship with Paula, it wasn't worth it to me to receive postpartum care from her she had let us down too much. I can't help but wonder if things would have been different had we been given the undivided attention we so deserved from Paula. I chose to share my story because pregnancy and birth are sacred experiences, ones in which you should feel supported and be well cared for by the team you choose to surround yourself with. Unfortunately when it comes down to brass tacks I do not feel that way about working with Paula. read more

We love Paula! My husband and I had a wonderful birthing experience at The Birthing Center. Paula created a safe place where I can relax and just focus on giving birth. She welcomed us with open arms. We miss her and would definitely work with Paula again. She never gave up on us and will offer so many resources postpartum. Thank you, thank you and thank you!! read more

The Midwives Childbirth Services - Napa - Childbirth Education Near Me - Napa, California

I cannot say enough positive things about our midwife, Paula. I would without a doubt highly recommend Paula's midwifery services. Paula is extremely knowledgeable about every phase of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, etc but beyond her knowledge, she is an amazingly loving presence. I feel that I could not have given birth without her support. Her deep trust in the wisdom of my body and the birthing process is what allowed me to have the home birth of my dreams. I came to Paula when I was 38 weeks pregnant and having a horrible experience with other midwives. When things turned sour, I knew I needed a different midwife to be able to have a home birth, however, due to my previously horrible experience, I did not know how good things could be with a midwife. And I soon learned. In my first meeting with Paula, everything changed for me. She had a deep trust in my process and was not fear based at all. She could draw on years and years of experience and really see where I was at. She not only saw my pregnancy and symptoms, but she could also hold space for me emotionally with everything we had been through. Her warmth deeply moved my husband and I and we knew we were in the right place. My labor lasted 60 hours! A long labor indeed. And not once, did Paula's faith in me waiver. Her deep belief in my ability to birth and my health allowed me to push on through all those hours. I am so immensely grateful that I was able to have a home birth and this is all due to Paula! After birthing my son, I had lots of challenges with breastfeeding. Paula literally would come to my house twice a day to help me with breastfeeding. She had a fierce determination to help me and to make sure I could breastfeed and now I am! It was not easy, but Paula was there every step of the way. Also, something I love about Paula is how accessible she is; she is happy for us to text or call at any time of the day. Truly, she made us feel like no question or update was frivolous. She would text us and ask how we were doing frequently which we SO appreciated. If you want to have a home birth with an experienced, compassionate, and amazing midwife, Paula is the one! We will forever remember our experience with Paula so fondly and have gratitude for her ability to clearly assess our situation and provide us with the home birth of our dreams! When/if we have a second child, I would without a doubt choose Paula to be our midwife. read more

I had my first and only child with Paula in 2015. I am so happy about my experience with the birth, especially since my marriage ended immediately after the birth. Since I feel that I won't be having any more children, it is wonderful to look back at my experiences with my daughter's birth. Paula was very good at preparing me for the day! My appointments were always fun and helpful. She gave me so many options, so I was able to customize my pregnancy! For example, I did the test for gestational diabetes, but I didn't want to drink the nasty ingredients in the drink they often give you- so she gave me a recipe for a meal which worked the same! Phew it made me feel terrible, but it showed that I did not have a problem with sugars. She lent me the device to test my blood sugar too. It was great. I felt welcomed by Paula. I remember a nice visit when I ended up hanging out for an hour with her and a neighbor, and some kids, giving myself a nice break from my busy life preparing for baby and trying to keep my husband happy (to no avail!). I really wanted to have the baby at a birthing center with midwives, but the closest one was in Berkeley over a bridge and it seemed a bit too far from me. I am really hopeful for all of you Napa expectant mothers that the Midwives practice is able to open a Napa birthing center soon! As it was, we decided to aim for a home birth with Paula. I rented the fancier of the two available birthing tubs, and my daughter was born in the water. I could feel her coming out, and Paula caught her and had me hold her in the water for a bit, then got her quickly taken care of while I went to the bathroom, and then baby was right back with me! The days following my birth were a roller coaster, but I had a happy, healthy little girl, and I would trust Paula absolutely. They won't mess around with this practice. I chose her because she said that if anything were abnormal, we would go to a hospital, and if we went to a hospital, she would be there to help me and be my advocate. I'm so glad that I was able to have a nice more natural birth experience, and that we were all so safe. I would not skimp on the birthing tub- that thing was so awesome! My intense contractions and back pain eased tremendously in the tub. It stays the right temperature and you throw in a lot of salt, so very safe as well! Ok, well that's all for now- good luck with your birth ladies!!! read more

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My partner found Paula and The Midwives through a recommendation from a friend. We felt at home immediately after our first visit. Knowing we wanted to do a home birth we met with Paula starting around 12 weeks, and continued monthly visits and biweekly to weekly up unto our due date. This was our first child and I could not be more pleased with the outcome of our baby girl, even with a 50hour home labor, things moved smoothly and Paula's knowledge and experience guided us tremendously and kept us safe and stress free. I would recommend her to anyone interested in home birth and water birth. Even after our birth she provided us with 6 weeks of postpartum care, and continues to be available by phone/txt for any questions or concerns regarding newborn and parenthood. I definitely would use her services again if and when we have another child. read more

The Midwives Childbirth Services - Napa - Baby - Childbirth Education Near Me - Napa, California

My husband and I had to relocate from Los Angeles to Napa right in the middle of my pregnancy (with our FIRST BABY) which meant leaving our midwife behind and leaving me afraid of what we would do for the care/birth of me and our son. I emailed two groups in Napa (Paula being one of them) and told them my situation, Paula offered I call her and talk to her on the phone almost immediately. I never heard anything from the other group. I told her this was our first baby, I was scared of this move because we were set on homebirth and we needed a midwife. She offered to meet with us when we came to Napa and talk further. When we went to to find a place to live in Napa, we visited Paula and part of the birth team and my husband and I realized quickly that Paula was an answer to our prayers. She wasn't just going to be our replacement midwife to get the job done, she was our dream midwife. I can't begin to unpack how amazing Paula is AND the birth team she constructs. Every appointment is thorough, we felt cared for and she went above and beyond to get me connected to other mamas in the area. She is beyond experienced and someone you can trust. Our birth was beautiful, smooth, amazing and at home with Paula and the team just like we wanted. The way the team helped us prepare mentally and emotionally is beyond what they're required to do but they truly care and KNOW birth, babies and parents! As I laid in my bed after birth overwhelmed with emotion holding my son, I looked at Paula and told her I think that this move to Napa was so that we could have her, I couldn't imagine anyone else helping us through this. We hit a SMALL hiccup in birth that was absolutely no big deal to Paula and she quickly rectified it for me so I could push our baby out safely. Couldn't believe how simple it was for her to fix when in the hospital my outcome may have been very different. I say that to comfort you that Paula knows her stuff, she has done this 1000++ times and you are in the best of hands with mama Paula. We love her, her team and everything about our experience. The care we're getting postpartum is unbelievable as well! I could go on and on! I'm telling you, Paula is your midwife. read more

The Midwives Childbirth Services - Napa - Childbirth Education Near Me - Napa, California

Paula was truly wonderful to work with through my pregnancy. I am a first time mom and had a million questions. Paula was available and supportive in answering every one, no matter when they came up. I was unfamiliar with midwifery and always planned on a more traditional birth experience in a hospital. I am new to the area and had a hard time connecting with an OB. This struggle lead me to Paula and to better care than I could have imagined. She was supportive as I navigated all of the decisions that needed to be made and found the path that my husband and I were most comfortable with balancing midwifery with more traditional medicine. The birth center was an ideal place for us to bring our daughter into the world. I couldn't recommend her more highly. read more

I thank God for finding Paula and her team who did a fantastic job on my childbirth. That was one of the most incredible experience we ever had in life for having a home birth so we could see how perfect God is in thy works. You make people feel comfortable and happy. God bless you and your team! Peter, Luciana, Oliver and Amy read more

Paula was such a comfort to me with my seventh baby! I had endured a miscarriage a few months prior, and she helped me with all the emotions that go along with rainbow babies. She was confident and competent. The midwifery approach is so much more my style and makes more sense. Pregnancy isn't a disease and shouldn't be treated as one. Yet, when issues would arise she would tell me what to do to take care of myself and my baby, and her suggestions helped. Labor was so relaxed and calm in my home that I didn't even realize I had transitioned and hadn't called her in time. My delivery happened fast and it was just my husband and myself and our new baby for a few minutes while Paula was still on the way. We were perfectly comfortable and safe, and she came and did all the post-partum work. Had this happened in a hospital setting or if I had called an ambulance because I'd had my baby at home accidentally, it would have been so chaotic and out of control. She encouraged my family to make me rest, and stay in bed and upstairs in my bedroom as long as I could. I had at least a week (maybe more) to rest, recover, and bond with my baby, who is the sweetest and happiest little girl. I never had a recovery like that one - its how it should be. Sadly, we moved before I had my next baby and didn't have the choice to hire Paula or another home birth midwife. I have had 8 babies all naturally. 5 were in traditional hospital settings (including my last which was practically torture after having had a homebirth with Paula!) One was in a German hospital (very natural with real midwives, as opposed to the ones in most of our US hospitals) and then my home birth. If you are considering hiring Paula, or having a homebirth, this mom who has done it all (and seen it all as I worked in a birth suite in the Air Force) cannot recommend it enough! read more

I was in care of paula from week 10 until my son was 1 month plus , i had the best care it would not have been possible in hospital setting. I wished for all natural birthing without any intervention. And I am very lucky I found Paula without her it would not have been possible.in 45 min to an hour long visits she would answer all my questions patiently. She guided me throughout pregnancy at every phase. This was my first pregnancy, She exactly knows how a new mother feels, all that fear and doubts. She will give 100 percent undivided attention during visits. Which I feel is very improtant , for mother to be prepared. My son was born in May 2021 at home, paula and her team gave best care. It was the most beautiful experience. Look no further this is best care a new mother can get in today's modern times. In future whenever I will plan second baby I will go back to Paula. read more

Never have I felt so loved and cared for by my birth team. Paula has been an absolute blessing to my family from the time we met her and even after birth. She was always available when I needed her no matter the time and with Covid, it was so nice to actually have my partner apart of my visits (Kaiser did not allow him in) overall I loved the experience, she made my dream birth come true, and would do it all over again with her. read more

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We love The Midwives! I gave birth to my first child in May 2021. Being Type 1 Diabetic placed me in a "high risk" category of birth, making it nearly impossible for me to have a home birth with a midwife, as was my dream. Despite the challenges associated with my condition, Paula was committed to helping me have the most natural, safe, and respected pregnancy and birth care that I could have. During my pregnancy, she referred me to a great chiropractor for my back pain. I ended up with triple care from my Endo specialist team, my OB, and Paula as my midwife. She performed all of my routine prenatal appointments, checked on me as my labor began, and helped me decide when it was time to get to the hospital. She was ready to come and support me through my labor in the hospital if needed, and worked closely with my OB to provide the best care. After my baby was born, her team helped me get my placenta encapsulated right away, and she provided dedicated postpartum care for my baby and I: answering all my questions, encouraging me, and including my husband in every step. Throughout the whole experience she was just a text or phone call away and always willing to reassure, instruct, and counsel from her years of experience. Paula brings a serene presence, warmth, trust, and assurance to every prenatal, postpartum, and birth experience she attends. You will not be sorry if you hire her to help you bring your babe into the world! read more

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I have had both of my children under the care and supervision of Paula. I had two amazing home birth experiences. Words fail me when describing how incredible she is, and how amazing both of my experiences were bringing my babies into this world. Paula is so knowledgeable and experienced. As a mother who has had a lot of pregnancy anxiety, she helped me to embrace two beautiful pregnancies and deliveries, and grow into the mother I am today! To trust someone with your life and the life of your child is a choice made wisely when choosing to have your babies with Paula! It is the best decision I have ever made, and one I am blessed by every single day. Allow this team to walk with you through your pregnancy journey, and your life will forever be changed! I cannot thank her enough. . read more

If you're reading this, you've found the right birthing team. The Midwives is a professional group of midwives and doulas with more combined training and experience than all the books on your bedside table or bookmarked webpages you've got open in your web browser. If you don't believe me, ask them what they would have their daughters ask if they were interviewing a Midwife and see how honest they are. If you'd like to have a birth that's focused on you and not a ward of women also giving birth or if you'd like to be included in the experience of giving birth to your child, please chose The Midwives. ***Pay for the extra Doula services, your family and friends literally cannot know what you need like a professional Doula can AND get the Doula massage. You'll thank yourself later.*** read more

I had both my babies at my home with Paula there to guide and ensure our safety. We had an amazing experience and I highly recommend her. Throughout the whole process, Paula was an awesome partner and I still go to her today for my regular needs. It was night and day compared to a "normal" practitioner that I was also seeing in the case any complications arose. read more

My husband and I opted to go for a home birth and we found Paula. As a black mom it felt safer to give birth at home. She took into consideration my fears and concerns about the black maternity rate of black women and why I was choosing this path (homebirth). Paula's team was super supportive and there for me for the whole 23 plus hours that I was in labour. She has an awesome team and genuinely cares for you and wants you to have a safe birth. They also saved Naledi's umbilical cord for me and made a print of her placenta--super special! Naledi is now now 19months and strong! Thank you Paula. read more

The Midwives Childbirth Services - Napa - Childbirth Education Near Me - Napa, California

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I emailed The Midwives to learn more about Paula and home birth in general and received a response almost immediately! Paula scheduled for us to come in and meet with her. We we're a little concerned that a midwife would be a little too "alternative". But from the moment we met Paula, we felt so comfortable and at ease. Paula is a trained certified medical professional with extensive knowledge and experience. We decided that she would be our midwife! Each appointment was relaxed and never rushed. We had appointments once a month and then the appointments increased the further along our pregnancy progressed. We felt like she really got to know us and our baby. Paula always gave us our options, resources, and evidenced based research throughout the pregnancy and let us decide what was best for us and our baby. She showed us that home birth can be beautiful and safe. She also demonstrated that she knows when it's necessary to have medical interventions if the baby or mother needs it due to any complications. The safety of the mother and baby are clearly always her first priority. Paula and her team became family to us. She's been there for us every step of the way and now we have a healthy baby girl! read more

I cannot thank Paula enough for my birth experience. She was so patient giving me all kinds of guidance during my pregnancy, my birth and my postpartum. What I'm so thankful with the most is how knowledgable she was in any circumstances. I ended up having a fever during the labor, and had a complicated labor and a postmortem. Her midwifery tools and knowledge helped me start the labor faster and heal faster after the birth. Another thing I really enjoyed about her service was how I only needed to see Paula for both my postpartum and my baby's physical. Not needing to go to OBGYN or Pediatrician, especially during this pandemic, was great. For any questions I had, such as the thrash in my baby's mouth, the pain in my nipple, or the jaundice concern, Paula not only gave me the right assessment but said in a way that calmed me down entirely. I highly recommend Paula to anyone who is pregnant. I'm not sure if I'll have another one, but if I do, I'll certainly be calling Paula again! :-). Thank you so much Paula and her team! read more

As a first time pregnant mother-to-be I had always envisioned having my baby in the comfort of my own home. (COVID19 just emphasized how important it was to me to have a home birth, as hospitals now are filled with people who are actually ill, and I believe that pregnancy is not an illness.) During my search for a midwife, I remembered Paula and her services from a previous job, where she was a customer. After further research, her skills and experience led my husband and I to select her as our midwife for our pregnancy journey. During my prenatal visits she offered wonderful insight where she presented all information and options while being respectful of our decisions with regard to all tests and procedures available (ultrasound, prenatal screenings, etc). I carried my baby full term, and delivered on my due date with Paula being a rock of knowledge and composure. She and her team ensured that all was well with my baby, myself, and my husband in the comfort of our home. I highly recommend that if you are searching for a calm and comfortable home birth option to choose Paula as your midwife. She is extremely knowledgeable, offers great insight and remains so calm and collected. Throughout our pregnancy journey she gave us incredible service and put our concerns at ease, making us all feel confident and safe with our decision to have a home birth. Thank you Paula! read more

I started seeing Paula halfway through my pregnancy. We always planned for a home birth but we stressed when we found out we were being relocated (for a job) during the middle of the pregnancy. I had already picked out a midwife in the town we were in! When we finally landed in the area, I found Paula. She was very knowledgeable and kind. I was so thankful to have already chosen to do a home birth, as in my 3rd trimester, COVID became a true scare and I did not want to be near a hospital! read more

My experience with Paula scarred me and it's very difficult to share this publicly. First off, I am a proponent of home birth. I believe in and deeply respect the area of midwifery. Secondly, I genuinely like Paula as a person. That's why we hired her. She was warm and kind. But as a midwife to an older, first time mom, I would encourage anyone reading this to look beyond Paula and find someone who is a true professional. There are many reasons why I cannot recommend Paula as a midwife, but my primary complaint is that she was medically negligent and put me and my child in danger. For this, I thank the lucky stars I terminated our relationship at week 37. There were a lot of warning signs, but my partner and I chalked it up to first time baby jitters. And to top it off, I was feeling so nauseous and tired and that kept me from fully having a grasp of the situation. Details: She did not follow medical guidelines and failed to test me at the appropriate times for gestational diabetes (my father is diabetic and my sister had gestational diabetes) and she also failed to test me for group b strep. When I terminated our relationship, I found out that she had not requested the transfer of my medical records from my physician. She made false claims such as "your age (38) doesn't increase risk of complications in a home birth environment." Age does matter and to say that as a midwife is just not right. During my prenatal visits she took non- emergency phone calls, gossiped with her assistant midwives, balanced her checkbook, wrote checks and once tried to convince me that a string of mosquito bites on my pregnant belly could be from a government released mosquito to spread engineered disease!?! Not professional at all and it left me feeling like she didn't have my best interests in mind. Looking back I don't know why I didn't fire her earlier. But again, I was feeling so sick and tired and I didn't really put all of the pieces together until she arrived to my 37 week exam 40 minutes late. (By the way she was 20 minutes late to every prenatal visit and she didn't show up to one appt.) I reasoned with myself, "Oh maybe she's in a birth." But when she walked into my appointment, she had a fresh blow out and perfect makeup. She looked like a movie star. It left 20 minutes for her to do an exam. Thanks for looking awesome, but that does nothing for my baby. It was that night that I said to my partner, we cannot trust this women with our son's life. A true professional is focused on you, your health and your well-being. I had the unfortunate experience or learning the hard way. I hope my review helps guide pregnant moms to the best midwives in the North Bay. Do yourself a favor, Google search Paula Schnebelt complaints blog and read what I should have read before I hired her. http://paulacomplaints.blogspot.com read more

Paula and her team deserve more than 5 stars. She helped me have my dream birth and I couldn't be more grateful for her. From the first phone call she was warm and welcoming and after calling around I ended up calling her back because she was just so sweet over the phone. We had our first consultation and my husband and I agreed this was the way to go. She took me on fairly late in my pregnancy but every single appointment was so thorough and worth the money. At the doctors you get maybe 5-10 minutes but Paula took the time to get to know me, address any questions or concerns I had and always offered support and advice when needed. She allowed me to make my own decisions and gave me the information necessary to make those decisions confidently and then supported my decisions. I appreciate that more than she knows. She always responded to my texts and phone calls in a timely manner. I read some reviews where people complained that she was late to appointments. To be honest you have to expect that with midwives because there is a high chance they are assisting another laboring mother. Yes there were a couple of appointments that she ran a little late to but she always gave me a heads up and there were times that I was late as well. Its just how it goes in this line of work. As far as the birth, the center is very nice and cozy. Paula basically let me do my own thing while I was in labor with some suggestions here and there when I needed them but it was what I preferred and my body did what it was supposed to so much faster than my first labor because we trusted it and let my body lead. We got there at 11 am and my son was born at 1:45 pm. It was absolutely amazing. She took such good care of me afterwards, even did my laundry before we left and made sure I had water and was doing ok. We got to go home after we ate and rested for a little bit, probably about 4 hours postpartum. We were welcome to stay longer but I wanted to sleep in my own bed and see my daughter. For the first two postpartum visits Paul came to my house. That was an unbelievable relief to not have to leave the house with a newborn and a toddler. I got to rest and recover while she checked in on us. We just had our last postpartum visit and I am honestly sad that I will not have any more visits with Paula. She is just such a sweet, loving soul and really does give the best hugs. She truly went above and beyond for me. I had the best experience with her and if I have any more children I would most definitely do it all over again. Thank you Paula! read more

Paula and her team went above and beyond. Their support and guidance allowed for the best birthing experience imaginable. Our whole family got to be a part of the experience which was not allowed at a hospital setting. Paula went out of her way to help us feel at ease every step of the way with prenatal care, labor/birth, and postpartum care. The Midwives get the highest recommendation possible from us. It was such a blessing that we connected with them for the recent birth of our child. read more

The Midwives- Paula Schnebelt, LM CPM 8+ The Midwives- Paula Schnebelt, LM CPM 4.4 (5) Midwife in Napa, California OVERVIEW POSTS REVIEWS PHOTOS 1 of 4 CALL SAVE WEBSITE Napa, CA Open 24 hours (707) 287-2822 Suggest an edit QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Be the first to ask a question 8+ Photos Add a photo REVIEW SUMMARY 5 4 3 2 1 4.4 5 reviews "Highly recommend her to anyone looking to have a home birth!" "We love her, her team and everything about our experience." "Paula is extremely knowledgable in a multitude of areas." Ashley Gevas - Edit 4 minutes ago More Google reviews VIEW ALL PEOPLE ALSO SEARCH FOR Napa Valley Midwives 5.0 (8) Midwife PachaMama Midwifery 1.0 (2) Obstetrician-Gynecologist Brandi L. Lauher, LM 1.0 (1) Doctor Rebecca Levy DO 5.0 (1) Doctor Meltzer Chiropractic Center: David Melt... 5.0 (6) Chiropractor View all WEB RESULTS Midwife | Midwife & Doula- Paula Schnebelt, LM https://www.themidwives.com Newborn baby born with midwife Paula  Schnebelt in Napa ... Meet Paula Schnebelt  LM, CPM ... Paula has been attending births  for almost twenty years and is a California  Licensed ... The Midwives- Paula Schnebelt, LM CPM - Napa, CA - AARP https://local.aarp.org ' local-services The Midwives- Paula Schnebelt, LM CPM.  Address: Napa, CA, USA. Rating: Website:  www.themidwives.com; Phone: (707) 287- 2822 ... Paula Schnebelt, LM, CPM - Midwives, Will Travel in Napa, ... www.midwifesearch.com ' Location Midwives, Will Travel serving the mothers and  families in the Napa, California area of the  United States. Paula Schnebelt, LM, CPM is ... LATEST POSTS FROM THIS BUSINESS 2 of 4 3 of 4 GOOGLE REVIEW SUMMARY 5 4 3 2 1 4.4 5 reviews "Highly recommend her to anyone looking to have a home birth!" "We love her, her team and everything about our experience." "Paula is extremely knowledgable in a multitude of areas." GOOGLE REVIEWS Most relevant Ashley Gevas 5 reviews 4 minutes ago I feel like Paula cared a lot and wanted to provide us excellent care, but just couldn't... Maybe she was just overextended. I don't know. I never felt she took the time to get to know us or my desires/fears/vision personally for the birth. She was a minimum of 15min late to literally 100% of the prenatal appts. most of them were joined by multiple "interns". She brought beer to the delivery. I don't know if that impacted her capacity to support us or not, but I think so. During labor she had an intern I had never met come and a doula I never met do the majority of supporting us. I felt confused the whole time and afraid. Through the whole pushing phase Paula was asleep on our couch. When my baby crowned no one was there, but my husband. I pushed much too hard, long and incorrectly. I sustained a 3rd degree tear, prolapse of bladder and rectum. Paula wasnt even in the room. To her credit however when she realized what had happened she sewed me and transferred me to ER. Kudos for her willingness and humility to know I needed higher care. Sadly this was one of the most traumatic and unsupported experiences I've ever had. I had a second baby 18months later. Home birth and different midwife. WHAT A HEALING EXPERIENCE!!!!! It was night and day from my care with Paula. From my first appt. to my tender supported delivery the new midwife helped me understand how it should have been. I think Paula is a lovely person with a huge heart, but she was negligent with us. read more

I couldn't be more pleased with Paula, The Midwives and their services. A few months after I moved to the area from out of state, I found out I was pregnant with my third baby. Previously I have had two medication free births. One in a hospital and one in a birthing center. I was originally planning on birthing at Santa Rosa birthing center but was really not keen on driving over the hill for appointments and labor. This lead me to research the home birth option. I reached out to Paula and she was responsive right away and answered all my questions. After our first meeting I felt confident that she was the right choice for us and a home birth would be in our future. Paula was attentive and thorough at all appointments. She connected me to a local OBGYN (Dr. Kirk) for a progesterone prescription due to a previous pre-term birth and ultrasounds and a non stress test at the end of my pregnancy. Having the connection w a local OBGYN gave me an extra layer of confidence with this being my first home birth. She also connected me with a local chiropractor (Giles family chiropractor) who was amazing and helped to ease my aches and pains throughout the whole pregnancy. Paula was so supportive and encouraging through my entire pregnancy. I love that you can text her day or night and she will always get back to you, something that's impossible with a regular doctors office. I was pregnant thought the Covid pandemic and it was reassuring knowing i didn't have to go to the hospital and the my husband could be with me at any appointments and of course in labor etc. When it came time for my labor it went exactly how I had hoped it would, which is not always the case. Paula and Fawn were amazing in assisting me when needed and being pretty hands off in between. I had a small tear which they stitched for me after the birth. They were professional and attentive. Taking care of all my needs as well as cleaning up after the birth. Words truly can not express the level of gratitude I have for Paula, Fawn, Michelle and the whole crew for all that they did for me and our family. My older kids felt they were a part of something magical and are still talking about it! I highly recommend home birth, even if it's your first one. It's an incredible experience. Paula and crew even snapped some pics for us and a little video of our birth which was an amazing keepsake. Her postpartum care was exceptional too! Thank you Paula!!! read more

The Midwives Childbirth Services - Napa - Childbirth Education Near Me - Napa, California

We came to Paula late in our pregnancy after our extensive research led our small family towards a potential home-birth. Paula responded quickly to our left message and was absolutely charming from the start. My wife and I felt immediately comfortable with her friendly and knowledgeable team. The first unique and beautiful experience we had with Paula's team, was when she placed my hands on my wife's stomach and directed me as to how to feel the outline and shape of my soon to be born daughter. This was in sharp contrast to the generally cold and distant approach of our GP. The birth itself was a memory I will cherish forever. Paula's team came equipped with an unbelievable birth tub which helped my wife labor through some of the more uncomfortable contractions. I was able to stay at my wife's side for the entire journey. I was able to cut my daughters cord and wrap her up in my wife's arms in the comfort and peace of our own bed. Paula stays on top of all current clinical research, the manner in which she supported our pregnancy displayed a true ownership of the knowledge of midwifery. Even the minor complications which arose during our nineteen hour labor were immediately remedied by Paula's years of experience. The postpartum care has been equally attentive. Paula has been easy to reach through the entire pregnancy, generally responding to phone calls or texts immediately or within minutes. Never once did we feel like we where waiting on her. My only regret is that we did not contact Paula earlier in our pregnancy. read more

When I found out I was pregnant last year I was very nervous as the hospital I had gone to previously shut down their birthing unit. I called doctors in St. Helena and Napa and was basically told that my options were very limited and and that my husband would not be able to attend appointments with me due to Covid restrictions. I felt hopeless. My sister-in-law had been to Paula at The Midwives for both of her babies and suggested I give her a call. Paula came to my house, gave me a hug and assured me that there was nothing to worry about. Throughout my care I never felt pressured to do anything I was uncomfortable with and was reassured many times that I would be able to do this. When labor began Paula showed up promptly with a doula (Jamie) and made sure I had everything set up. Jamie was wonderful and calm and I couldn't have asked for a better doula. One thing I was very impressed with was Paula's knowledge on how to flip baby during labor so that I didn't have to suffer through back labor. This was something I did not experience in the hospital, I was just offered an epidural and ended up giving in to it. I am so happy that I was able to do a home-birth this time around and have Paula and Jamie to thank for that. If I have another pregnancy in the future I will be going with them again even if all Covid restrictions are lifted. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Paula Schnebelt is an amazing woman and midwife. I lost my husband in a car accident at only 13 weeks pregnant, 6 years ago. She honestly was an angel. I absolutely could not have taken care of myself and my growing baby the way I was able to, without her. She suggested and provided supplements and herbs, loved and nurtured me, and went out of her way(Quite literally) to make sure I had a healthy pregnancy. Paula knows what she is doing and has the experience and knowledge for so many unique situations. She taught me a lot about my past pregnancies and some of the side effects of medications I had taken and gave me alternate ideas. A friend of mine recommended her after having home births with Paula and I'm so glad I got connected with her. Love her! read more

Paula gave me the support and encouragement to birth my second child at home. She is full of positivity, joy, and happiness and put me at ease. There was never any doubt in her mind that I could not birth my second son at home. He surprised us all by weighing 10 lbs and 13 oz ! It was a fast birth and after my son arrived it was very peaceful. Paula and her team gave me the support I needed. I am forever grateful for this experience.To birth a child at home, in our dinning room, in a tub and then later that evening just being allowed to peacefully rest all together. It was incredible and it would not have happened without Paula and her team. read more

Paula is the best of the best. We planned a homebirth with her and her team. We had a wonderful pregnancy journey thanks to them. I always felt like she really cared about me, how I was feeling/doing and of course, she cared so deeply about our baby! Our appointments were never rushed and I always felt comfortable and fully supported by Paula. Even when our planned homebirth ended up becoming a cesarean birth at the hospital due to our baby being breech (which WE chose to go to the hospital), Paula and her team accompanied us to the hospital, helped me to feel heard and supported while we were there and she was still so involved after the birth as well. She would even call me late in the evenings if I was feeling unsure about something my baby was going through or if I wasn't feeling well mentally or physically. Paula became more like family than just a health professional. We feel so lucky to have found her and worked with her. -Brooke read more

The Midwives are amazing!!! We had such a wonderful experience with my pregnancy, birth and postpartum time because of Paula's loving guidance. We interviewed someone else before meeting Paula and as soon as we sat down with her, all hesistation went out the window; we knew Paula was the one! Under her care I was able to completely trust my body through the process, a true blessing during a time when there is so much fear in birth. She gave me complete confidence in my body's ability to have a healthy pregnancy, birth and baby. All of our visits were thorough and Paula always took so much time to answer our questions. She is there for you whenevr you need her (literally day or night!), is honest and gives you all the facts. Because of this amazing team, we were able to have the home birth of our dreams. We have a healthy baby girl and a new extended family through the Midwives! read more

Paula and her team were above and beyond at every step of the process. From the first heart beat to the birth and following check ups of our beautiful baby girl. Highly recommend this team to anyone wanting a professional but loving team of wonderful ladies. read more

Before meeting her, I called and left a message in the evening to inquire about possible midwife services. Paula called back, left a voicemail. When I didn't call back that night because I was pregnant and sleeping she then called me again at 10:30pm and left a very strange voicemail about being there for me (again, never met her). First red flag. She then missed my first appointment and told me she had gotten called to a birth and forgot to text or call me. Second red flag. When I finally did have an appointment it was very unprofessional and VERY uncomfortable. Both the midwife and midwife assistant were in skimpy dresses and on their phone half of the appointment. Third red flag. I ended up with another midwife who was night and day compared. Glad I went with my instinct on this one. Especially after hearing stories from others who had a horrific experiences with her but are to traumatized to write their story in a review. Obviously, many love her. But she wasn't for me. I feel like I need to write this review because despite what my heart was telling me from the get go, I still proceeded with her and wish someone else who has felt the same way (and they're are many) would have had a review because it would have made my decision in the beginning easier. Good luck to her and her staff. But there just wasn't something right here. read more

We had our first baby in May and we were so happy with our decision to hire Paula as our midwife. She is incredibly talented, knowledgeable, caring and was a true partner throughout the entire process. Her team is also fantastic -- we loved Fawn, Michelle and Jamie so much too! This was our first baby, and we felt passionately about having a natural birth and I was also passionate about avoiding unnecessary hospital interventions. We loved the supportive and personalized experience we received with Paula. She was with us every step of the way, and always available -- day or night -- if we needed something. As a first time mom, I was naturally nervous and emotional at many points along the way, but Paula was always there to help put my mind at ease. The birth and postpartum experience surpassed our expectations -- we felt so supported and comfortable...I really couldn't have done it without Paula (and Michelle and Jamie!). Thank you for making the experience so wonderful!! read more

My husband and I hired Paula and her team to be our midwife for our first child. We had been trying for two years to get pregnant. We both knew we wanted a home birth. I am an older mama, now 44 years, and I wanted someone very experienced, confident in their skills, and most importantly, competent. Paula has all of these qualities and more. She is incredibly passionate about and committed to her role as a midwife, helping mamas have the home birth experience they want. She is ALWAYS available for questions, concerns, and this being in spite of juggling many balls in the air: helping mamas all over have home births, running a birthing center, training new midwives, etc. She ALWAYS makes time for communication with me. She is kind and patient, qualities I want in a midwife. Our prenatal care with her was very thorough, and the birth of our daughter was the BIGGEST RUSH OF JOY OF MY LIFE. Paula, for us, was a great balance of being actively engaged throughout our prenatal care and birth process and also seemed to know when to give us space. We had some complications a few days after birth with latching, and Paula was exceptional in catching things quickly before they escalated and was able to help transition us out of that scary space into successful breastfeeding. She was our pediatrician for the first 6 weeks of our daughter's life and she checked in with us regularly. If we are lucky enough to have another child, we will, without hesitation, hire Paula. read more