Nikki is a force to be reckoned with... educated, kind, loving. She will advocate for you, your…read morebirth, your family. Because of her, I can say that I was given the dignity to labor/birth the way I wanted/needed, I can say that I was surrounded with love and LAUGHTER, and I am changed forever by the energy exchange. It is an honor to know Nikki, we love her so much!

When I first met Nikki, I just knew that I had met the doula for me. There were many reasons such…read moreas she changed up the language of labor and birth. She told me that instead of calling it a contraction, that she calls it a wave and instead of transition, transformation. I had never heard some of these terms used in the birth world. I never experienced it with my first birth so it made a huge difference for me. It was like she knew what I wanted and needed before I could put into words. Nikki was all about changing your mindset about how you viewed birth. I also talked to her about my previous birth and that I wanted to try for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean). It was important that I had a supportive birth team. Once I told her my desire, she was on board and started to encourage me. I remember her telling me that "you're going to get it!". It was moments like this that made the difference and I knew in my heart that she was the doula for me. Guess what? She was right. I got my VBAC! I couldn't have done it without her love and support. She made me feel safe and I had just met her. She just has a calming presence about her that was infectious. It was important for me that my husband and her had a connection. They did. She read him and made a joke with him. She made us both feel comfortable. I have no family here in Bakersfield so hiring a doula was necessary because my husband wanted me to have support in case my mom couldn't make it down in time to watch our son. We shared this at our consultation with Nikki and she said that she would stay with me at the hospital if I was transferred if it ended in a cesarean. Thankfully, none of that happened but it meant the world to me that she offered to be by my side regardless. She even offered some really cool ideas if I did have to have a cesarean. She outdid herself. She exceeded every expectation I had of her. She was there for me when fears started to creep in. She always knew the right thing to say. She truly has a heart and passion for what she does. She does everything in EXCELLENCE!! She became more than just my doula, she became family. So, what are you waiting for? Book your consultation. Hire her as your doula! You will not be disappointed! She will be more than what you thought you needed. She was truly a God send and I am truly thankful for you. I had a redemptive birth and I know that it was because I had THE BEST BIRTH TEAM. Thank you, Nikki! May God continue to Bless you in all you do!

I decided to go the home birth route with my second pregnancy and choosing to go with Heather did…read morenot disappoint! She was referred to me from a friend, yet I still did my own research and interviewed a few other midwives before committing and I felt like she was the best fit. Each prenatal visit was at least an hour long - she gave me time to ask my questions and never made me feel silly or brushed me off. Having no previous exposure to a home birth, I had a lot of questions yet she answered them all gracefully and in great detail - giving my the confidence I needed to believe in myself that I could do this and that it is safe. Also included in the package was a prenatal massage around 36 weeks and when I tell you it was the best massage in my life - you have to believe me! It was amazing! That hour flew by and I was ready to book another one When I went into labor, I waited until almost the last minute to tell anyone, just to be sure it was the real thing. Well, it was the real thing and it was go time by the time my husband got home from work and Heather arrived. But she didn't waste any time, she jumped in and gave me the encouragement and reassurance I needed to get through transition and birth my baby girl. She was so amazing and was not afraid to get her hands dirty. My 3 year old was there and Heather included her in everything and never pushed her out of the way. Even though I was almost pushing as she walked through the door, she still handled everything with such a calmness and peacefulness that it made that crazy intense last part of birth go so perfectly. If I decide to have baby number 3, a home birth will definitely be my preferred route and Heather would be at the top of my list of midwives (but I would give a longer heads up next time ).

Heather is a beautiful soul who loves what she does. Being a trusted, highly trained, professional,…read morethorough midwife is her utmost desire. She guided me and my body through the pregnancy, birth and postpartum phases with such love and expertise. I will always recommend her to my friends, as I implicitly trust her to provide safety and comfort.

I am so incredibly thankful for Haylee and the support she gave me during my birth. She is a…read moreChristian doula, and that made all the difference for me. She prayed with me, encouraged me through every stage of labor, and helped keep my birth centered around Christ. It was the small, intentional things she did that made all the difference. She made me feel safe, calm, and cared for every step of the way. Wherever I went, she made sure the music followed, creating an atmosphere that I could relax in. With a home birth, you really need all the support you can get, and I genuinely could not have done this without Haylee. I highly, highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula who is both deeply supportive and faith-centered.

Having a doula was by far the best investment I made during my pregnancy. Haylee is truly…read moreincredible. I highly recommend her to all pregnant women--especially first-time moms. She is knowledgeable, comforting, and overall amazing at what she does. She carries such a peaceful, Godly presence, and you can truly feel it in the hospital room. Having her by my side while giving birth to my baby made all the difference. She helped my husband and me get through a very long night with so much encouragement and reassurance--exactly what we needed in those moments. There is honestly so much I could say about her. There wasn't a single thing that turned me off--she was absolutely the best. Even now, she still answers postpartum questions I have to this day. Thank you, Haylee, for turning what felt so scary and overwhelming into something so beautiful and unforgettable.

When I got pregnant with my second baby, my doula recommended Justine. She had seen how Justine…read morehandled several tricky birth situations and felt confident that I would be in good hands. It didn't take me long to realize that she was 100% right. Not only is Justine kind and warm, but she continually educates herself with the newest research so that she can best serve the mothers and babies she works with. It was easy to go to appointments and bring my 5 year old son. The care, before and after baby, is next level:) Baby was sunny side up and I got very uncomfortable because her head was on my spine. So at 39 weeks, I asked Justine about natural induction techniques. We did a membrane sweep, then later that same day, I had Accupuncture and acupressure massage. My contractions started almost immediately when I left the appointment. Labor came on hard and fast, very differently than my first baby. At the birth center, Justine gave me the space to listen to my body. However, after a few very intense hours, nothing seemed to be moving the needle. I could feel myself running out of steam. I told her I needed to try something else, so she got me on the peanut ball. That did the trick - baby came out finally. Birth is just intense, in the hospital or out. In my situation, I surely would have had been made to have a c-section at the hospital. Justine's expertise allowed me to have the birth I wanted- and then go home and get in my own bed! I trust her completely and would definitely recommend her to anyone wanting to have an out of hospital birth.

I just had a baby at Bakersfield Birth Center with Justine (and her assistant Bri) and had the most…read morewonderful experience! I want to start by saying that Justine is highly gifted at what she does and puts her heart and soul into her work. It's very obvious that it's much more than work to her, midwifery is her calling and passion. Justine came highly recommended to me by many friends and acquaintances in my community who had wonderful experiences with her also. My first baby was born in a hospital and I had a less-than-ideal experience. When I got pregnant with my second baby, I knew I wanted to go a more natural route. From the moment I met Justine at my first prenatal care appointment, she was kind, professional and knowledgeable. She always answered all my questions with patience and care. Unlike my OB in my first pregnancy, Justine cared deeply about my nutrition, supplement intake, blood sugar levels, etc. My prenatal care was specialized to me. I (and my baby) wasn't just a number to her, she cared for us and our well-being throughout my pregnancy. My prenatal appointments were done in the comfort of my home and my toddler was always welcome to be there when I didn't have a babysitter. When I went into labor, I called Justine at 5am and she answered immediately. She was calm but attentive. We met at the birth center a few hours later. Her birth center is AMAZING! It is beautiful and has the most inviting atmosphere. Laboring at the birth center was such a more pleasant experience than laboring in the hospital. At the hospital with my first birth I was hooked up to an IV, fetal monitoring system, blood pressure cuff, etc. the entire time. I was restricted from moving around, eating and drinking, even without an epidural. At the birth center, I was free to move around, eat, drink, listen to music, get in and out of the shower/ tub. Justine monitored the baby intermittently as needed. My husband was comfortable and free to support me without judgement of what that looked like for us. This freedom made my contractions so much more manageable. Justine and her assistant/ student Bri were kind, helpful and patient the entire time. They are so selfless. They cleaned up after me, got me whatever I wanted/ needed, supported me through contractions, and encouraged me to listen to my body and do what my instincts led me to do. When it was time to deliver, Justine allowed me to do what felt right instead of telling me to push in a certain position at a certain time like the hospital did. My daughter had shoulder dystocia and got stuck at the shoulders (which also happened at the hospital with my first son). The doctor who delivered my son took extreme, invasive measures to get him out, which caused me extreme trauma and pain postpartum. Unlike that doctor, when Justine saw that I needed assistance getting my daughter out, she simply had me change positions and she used her experience and skill to help me deliver my baby, leaving me without even a tear. After my daughter was born, she spent 2 hours breastfeeding and doing skin to skin with me. My husband and I marveled at the gift of our new baby girl, and Justine and Bri joined in in giving their compliments of her cuteness! Then Bri performed her newborn exam while my husband and I ate some lunch. We went over postpartum care for me and the baby. Then I took a shower and we were on our way home a few hours after our daughter was born. We didn't even have to be away from our son overnight, whereas we were forced to stay in the hospital 3 days when he was born (even though he had no complications). Justine came to our house the day after the birth for my first postpartum appointment to check on me and the baby. Justine is highly skilled in what she does, but also passionate and caring about her patients. If you are considering a midwife for your birth, I highly recommend Justine and the Bakersfield Birth Center! P.S. Justine and Bri took the most beautiful, special pictures for us throughout my labor and birth.

Hallie was my Doula in 2018 for the birth of my son, which we had naturally at the hospital, and…read moreagain in 2021 when I chose a home birth for my second child. Throughout both experiences, Hallie was an incredible source of support and knowledge for me and my husband. From the very beginning, she educated us about every aspect of pregnancy and childbirth, empowering us to make informed choices. Hallie was always by our side, providing unwavering support and encouragement, ensuring that I never gave up even during the most challenging moments. Thanks to her, I had the most amazing birth experiences I could have ever asked for. Beyond the births themselves, Hallie continued to be a pillar of support. She was always available to answer my questions and offer advice, both postpartum and in the years that followed. Her kindness, wisdom, and dedication made her an irreplaceable friend and advisor during one of the most important times of my life. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, supportive, and caring Doula, I cannot recommend Hallie enough. She truly made my birthing experiences and early motherhood the best days of my life. -Paola Vega Pomona Ca

Hallie was my doula who helped me to give vaginal birth naturally, and without any pain meds. She…read morewas so caring and knowledgeable. She supported my husband and me as a team throughout pregnancy to delivery. We were so satisfied that we hired her for our next childbirth! We couldn't have done it without her.

Dance staff is patient and makes the classes fun. My kids are under 5 and they love going. We are…read morefans of this place.

I tried signing my daughter up for classes here. I messaged them and was not able to get my…read morequestions answered via message so I figured maybe they're just not great at messaging so I called. First off the person answered the phone with "Hi" so I had to ask if it was even the Dance studio and when she said yes, I repeated my question that I had. She then HUNG up on me before saying anything, I figured okay maybe we got disconnected so I called back, this time it just rang and nobody answered. I again went and sent a message saying that we may have been disconnected, still nothing back from them. Very unprofessional. Hopefully I will have better luck somewhere else

True thrift store supporting teachingkidstofish.org. Small place that is packed, even outside and…read morein front. Clothing $3 a bag! Book room in back is more organized now. Alot of furniture outside. Low prices on everything! Best prices in town for thrift store. Take the time to look, it's worth it. Parking lot next to shop easier access than parking in front. Cash only. Very friendly help and they will load your purchases. For donation they will pick up too. Check it out! Halloween Items for 25 cents! They have facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/teachingkidstofishthriftshop