I was cared for by this extraordinary group of women from 10 weeks gestation - 6 weeks postpartum…read morefor my second pregnancy. I can truly say that they are now part of my extended family. This experience was truly unlike any other and we would do again without hesitation If we were to have any more babies in the future! My first birth was in the hospital and while I still managed to have an unmedicated natural birth, the experience was entirely different from start to finish. At Bloom you are cared for by all of the wonderful midwives who make you feel like family. This is one of the only healthcare experiences where I absolutely did not mind seeing a different provider at each visit (there are only 3 midwives) but they are each equally amazing and each bring such valuable experience and perspective. They are always willing to make themselves available and It was so comforting to be able to call or text with any questions or concerns I had. Its truly a unique experience now a days to be able to have a completely relaxed and unrushed prenatal appointment in a peaceful environment, compared to the typical medical office experience where you are often treated impersonally and rushed out with only 10-15 minutes of your providers time (my past Experience at least). On more than one occasion Heidi, Kristi, and Adri would spend over an hour talking with me to address anything I wanted to talk about. They are incredible humans and it honestly felt more like hanging out with your best girlfriends where you can feel safe to open up about anything! And ofcourse they are all highly experienced and knowledgeable- never once did I have concern that if things were to go south during my birth that they wouldn't be able to recognize it immediately and act accordingly. Heidi and Adri along with Kassie their student midwife were the ones who attended the birth of my daughter and their presence was so calming throughout the whole process. They respected my wishes and went above and beyond to support me and my partner at all the right moments when we needed them, without interfering in OUR process. Their encouragement and many empowering discussions we had about trusting your instincts leading up to my birth gave me the confidence to follow my intuition, trust my body, and just relinquish control- which in the end was key. No matter how many times you birth there is always some level of anxiety and nerves leading up and I can truly say that the moment we set foot inside Bloom while I was in active labor I felt all the fear instantly Melt away and I was ready (and Excited!) to meet my baby. The familiarity of the space (after attending every appointment there in the same building) and the rapport you build with these women makes all the difference when you are about to give birth- the most raw and open you will ever be both physically and emotionally. I feel so grateful to have had such an amazing experience. I prayed and envisioned a peaceful waterbirth surrounded by people who care for me and that that is exactly what they helped bring to fruition. We prepared, birthed and recovered all under one roof in the most beautiful suite that feels more like someone's beautiful home in the woods or a lovely hotel suite, and these women even came to my home for several postpartum appointments to meet me in my most vulnerable moments. All I can say is-What a gift. If you are on the fence about where to birth I can assure you it was worth it in all respects and I wish I could do it again!

Heidi and her team of midwives at Bloom literally changed my life. I didn't know what I needed as…read morethis baby was my first, and I was on the fence at first. However, I NEEDED the support I got -- from hour-long prenatal visits that truly encompass the whole family's values to the birth itself, these women were a godsend to our family. I unfortunately had a complicated birth, and ended up going to the hospital. Having the midwives there with us made the experience SO MUCH less scary. I can't even begin to explain how priceless their presence in the hospital was -- at 3am nonetheless! The lactation support was also key, and got us set up to have a very healthy breastfeeding routine. However, the most important thing that I didn't know I'd need was the postpartum support. You guys, having a baby is WILD. You think about the pregnancy and the birth, but nobody really prepares you for what comes next. I was able to call the midwives and get help after our baby was born, with everything from sleeping arrangements with a newborn to what to do when he got a cold at 3 weeks old. You just don't get this level of care anywhere else. Please consider this option for your family -- it's worth it!

Sarah provided me with compassionate and expert support in my journey feeding my kiddo. I greatly…read moreappreciated her warm, non-judgmental approach and her wise advice. She was able to meet with me on short notice, followed up via text to check in on me after our first appointment, and has fielded several questions via email, even while she was traveling. I am very grateful for her support and would highly recommend her!

At 5 days postpartum, I was feeling incredibly stressed and overwhelmed, but Sarah came to our home…read moreimmediately to help. She spent several hours with my husband and me, teaching us everything from the basics of breastfeeding and milk supply to the specifics of breast anatomy. Her calm demeanor was exactly what we needed; she completely eased my anxiety and gave us the confidence we were lacking. This was truly the most helpful support we've received since coming home from the hospital. If you are looking for an expert who is both knowledgeable and deeply compassionate, look no further.

So grateful to Better Beginnings and Rose! She came to my house when my newborn and I were having…read moredifficulty latching in the first month and was my saving grace a few times. I really appreciate these free and much needed services! I was also able to do an in-person consult with the resident expert and they even sent me home with a breastfeeding stool to use during my journey. They are so kind and helpful, thank you all very much!

The Breastfeeding Cafe is an amazing source for mom's. I struggled with my first and ultimately our…read morebreastfeeding relationship ended earlier than I had hoped. I found this group during a long painful night of feeding my second and thought I'd give it a shot. That was about a month ago. We are now feeding better and getting better on our latching. Not only do you get FREE lactation help (one on one and group setting ) you also are surrounded mom's who are seeking the same support. The Cafe is not a hospital environment, it is cozy and welcoming. Because of the Cafe and the support we receive there, I feel more confident that my son and I will reach our one year breastfeeding goal. The whole Breastfeeding Cafe team are wonderful people, here to support you in any way they possibly can. I am truly blessed to have found them!

My wife and I had our third baby at home through Thrive in November, and again, I can do nothing…read morebut sing their praises. I had complete confidence that Thrive had our best interests at heart every moment my wife and son were in their care. As usual, they practiced informed consent, validation of experiences, and love to a degree that I have never seen or even dreamed of previously in health care settings. The highlight of this birth experience was (of course) the birth itself. This time we were graced with three of the midwives through good fortune. Again, immediately after birth, our newborn struggled to take his first breaths. We waited about 8 minutes for him to take that first breath, and yet, my wife, daughter, son and I were all calm and felt immensely supported in that moment by the three women in our presence who absolutely knew what their calling was and what their roles were in that moment. It is hard to comprehend how different that experience could have felt from a sterile, medical, environment of a hospital, and how different our newborn's first few minutes, hours, and days after birth could have been. Not to mention how the perception and feelings surrounding births could have been malformed for our young son and daughter. We are so immensely thankful to have this collective of women in Sonoma County who are such a breath of fresh air!

We had our baby at Thrive in July and it was the best experience! This was our first baby and we…read moreare so happy we decided to transfer our care from Kaiser to Thrive. The midwives are amazing; supportive, loving and really helpful. I had pregnancy insomnia and Tracy turned me onto a sleep tincture that she sells and it was like magic. I was finally able to sleep!!! The appointments were an hour long and the post partum appointments are at your home! We had trouble with breastfeeding and received so much support through text and having them come to our house. We cannot say enough good things about Thrive and Taya, Tracy, Morgan and Hannah.

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.

I had the pleasure of a mother roasting session and also chose Monika for my annual pap smear and…read morebreast exam this past year. You don't find the level of thoughtfulness and presence with many other providers. Midwife Monika is truly a rare gem. I always feel comfortable and at ease while in her care. Monika is a wealth of knowledge but is also very straightforward. She also offers a wide range of services. If I ever have another baby I would be so lucky to be in her care. Highly recommend to anyone.

From the owner: I specialize in home and out of hospital births, water births, holistic women's health, and…read moreplacenta encapsulation all over Mendocino, Lake, and S Humboldt Counties. Free Initial Consultation. Office in Ukiah with option to meet in your home as well. "Birth is not an emergency. It's an emergence." Jeannie Parvati Baker

As a first time mom, I can honestly say that I don't know what I would have done without Meleah! In…read morethe months leading up to my due date, Meleah helped me build my birth plan; she provided reading material that discussed the pros and cons of each decision I needed to make and then went through them with me, answering any questions I had, so I could make informed decisions. She even covered contingencies that I hadn't even considered. She also worked with us on techniques for coping with labor pains and guided us through what to expect once I was in labor. When my induction did not go as planned and I completely lost trust in my doctor (who made some very questionable recommendations), I was SO grateful that I had Meleah by my side every step of the way to make sure I understood my options and help me advocate for myself. She was then with me during my c-section, narrating what was happening and snapping pictures when my son was delivered. Then, when he was taken to the NICU for a brief period after delivery, she stayed with me, keeping me calm and relaying any news from my husband who went with our baby. It was definitely not the birth we had planned, but I feel so fortunate that Meleah was there guiding us through it. She also went above and beyond after the birth and was an immense support to us during our first days home with a newborn. She gave us helpful tips on breastfeeding, swaddling, and baby wearing, and helped us locate additional postpartum support when we found we needed it. She really cares about her clients and is amazing with babies! You can tell that she has found her calling and really enjoys what she does.

We were incredibly lucky to have Meleah support the birth of our second baby. We found our way to…read moreher while I was pregnant and I was immediately drawn to her calm, supportive, and focused presence. I understood the pivotal role doulas play from my first birth, and felt at ease going into the experience again knowing Meleah would be at my side. During labor, Meleah was a constant source of strength and support -- from providing caring, spot-on advice during early labor, to coaching me through the tougher later stages. And during a quick delivery, she helped safely and securely catch my baby (!), and for that I'll be eternally beyond grateful. Meleah is the epitome of someone who is doing exactly what she was meant to do. Her passion for her work and sincere care for mothers & babies is evident in everything she does. I would recommend her without hesitation -- anyone would be very fortunate to have her on their birth team. Thank you, Meleah, for everything!!

Caitlyn is an incredible lactation consultant. She approaches the situation with a calming and…read morereassuring attitude, which is what I very much needed in my postpartum haze. I struggled with understanding whether my baby's latch was correct and whether she was getting enough milk. Caitlyn visited several times and each time was able to resolve my needs, especially with weighing baby before and after feeds. I would highly recommend using Caitlyn for lactation services!

From the owner: Your consultation is all about providing education and support. My goal is to teach you the skills…read moreand techniques to feel confident about feeding your baby.  Together we will address  any discomforts and create a care plan that will resolve any maternal or infant feeding issues.

Paula was inattentive during checkups, responding to texts, only looking up when her apprentice,…read moreJamie, asked a question. We discovered my baby was breech and, with an OB, came up with a plan for spinning baby and what to do if he didn't spin. Two days later, I went into labor. My husband updated Paula on how strong & close together my contractions were, and she said to call her back in an hour, nothing about heading to the birth center 40 minutes away. We trusted her and stayed put. She had no sense of urgency until 15 minutes later when my husband told her my water broke. My breech baby was born in an unsafe environment and needed to be revived by paramedics. We were transported to a nearby hospital separately, and I didn't see my baby until he was 3 hours old. Paula showed up at the hospital and asked my mother to watch her daughter. Almost a year later, in front of her former partner Fawn, Paula claimed that Jamie was the primary for my care and birth. This was a surprise to my husband and me. Jamie didn't know I was in labor until after my water broke as my husband was solely communicating with Paula. My baby spent time in the NICU hooked up to all matter of wires. He was in a cooling blanket for his first 3 days, during which I could only hold him for one hour a day, but not close. He suffered seizures and is still attending High Risk Infant doctors appointments over 18 months later. I'm still coming to terms with my traumatic birth and grieving the birth I wanted. When we chose Paula, there was a couple in the birthing room with their new baby. Paula said they lived 40 minutes away, but she had told them to come early. I loved that and felt we were in good hands, that we would be provided the same care. Instead, we paid thousands and were told to call her back in an hour.

Oh boy ;) where do we even start? We are beyond blessed to have found Paula as our Midwive, we…read morealways knew we wanted a home birth but knew very little about it. My wife hated the thought of going to a hospital, so we went searching and came up on "The Midwives". The whole process during pregnancy, including checkups, and all were so pleasant, Paula was very helpful and guided us on anything we had questions about. We felt very very comfortable working with her. After so many months our baby boy was finally born. It all happened exactly like we wanted it, AT HOME! It quite literally wouldn't have been possible without her. God-willing we have more babies, Paula is our go-to for that!

Incredible lady who genuinely cares about her clients and optimizing there health I would highly…read morerecommend

I feel so much better after a session with Dawn. Not only do her hands listen to what my body…read moreneeds, but she also offers me great suggestions on how to take care of myself. Her work is healing and is an integral part of my self care.