Absolutely amazing class! Had so much fun learning and taking this class. Left feeling less…read moreanxious, reassured and with a birth plan! Would 100% recommend for first time moms, such a great experience.

Felicia is absolutely the best. This class is very informative! I'd say the best part is Felicia is…read morealso my birth doula, which I'm extremely grateful to have her. She helped with me the best birth experience I can ask for. I'd strongly recommend every expecting mama to take this class AND hire Felicia as your birth doula if you are considering a doula!

TLDR; YES if you're a first time mom considering Kinspace, you need to sign up. It might seem…read moredaunting (another thing I need to do NOW?) but trust me it's worth it. My baby and I started at 2 months postpartum, have done a full year of Kinspace, and just "graduated." We've learned so much! Susan is phenomenal. The community is amazing and supportive. You'll meet local moms with babies of the same age, and together tackle a bunch of parenting "firsts" in the first year. I can't imagine going through it all without Susan and our mom group.

Hands down, this was the #1 best thing I did for myself and my baby postpartum…read more Susan has created such a safe and welcoming place for moms to meet other moms and learn about all things motherhood. Motherhood can be incredibly lonely and isolating and meeting up with the other moms weekly was truly a blessing. We learned so many tips and tricks and Susan always answered all of our questions. I not only came out of the group with so much knowledge but now I have a whole group of mom friends and friends for my son! I am so incredibly happy I joined Susan's group and I encourage every new mom I know to do it too.

We learned so much in the pre-work for Rachel's birthing class that we felt the need to consider…read morealtering our birth plan. Once we started Rachel's class, we actually did change our birth plan and never felt more confident in such a life-changing decision. Her guidance and the education we received EMPOWERED us to plan for an incredibly transformational birth experience with no interventions in the comfort of our own home. My husband and I grew closer and more aligned during the class and after, as we prepared to welcome our first child. The exercises she has you practice and the information she shares should be something every expecting couple goes through. Her audio tracks taught me what I needed and helped me before during and after birth. I was even lucky enough to attend one of her prenatal yoga classes which left me with a sense of calm and space in my belly (which is rare for a pregnant woman in her third trimester)! I highly recommend you make Rachel part of your birth team by signing up for one of her classes.

Video Birth Course Review-…read more My husband and I took the YES to Birth class virtually to prepare for the birth of our daughter. I wanted a natural/un-medicated hospital birth and this class prepared me to achieve that. If I could use one word to describe my birth, I would say it was: PERFECT. Every aspect of it felt so right, and I absolutely said YES to every moment of it. My husband and I used the tools learned in this course to relax, go with the direction of my baby and my body, and have a smooth, unmedicated, natural hospital delivery. Thanks to Rachel for helping us get there!

I have received multiple massages from Gracie during pregnancy and postpartum and they have all…read morebeen fabulous. Especially when I was 9 months pregnant, she did a fantastic job making sure I felt comfortable and helping relieving the physical pain of the third trimester. During postpartum, I have received a couple of massages for back pain related to breastfeeding and I always leave feeling rejuvenated and more aligned. Highly recommend

I reached out to Brilliant Births to find a birth doula. They offer a matching service and…read moreconnected me to 3 doulas who work independently (not employees of BB). We were really fortunate to find our birth doula (who we love!), but the other 2 candidates were not very impressive. The first doula missed our appointment with no follow-up communication. We were initially confused and thought she was the coordinator for BB, because she only communicated by text. The actual meeting was just by telephone so there was no face-to-face interaction, which felt strange. We could've easily FaceTimed or Zoomed. So communication and reliability were not great. The second doula abruptly canceled our half-hour appointment when we were 10 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment due to my husband wrapping up a Zoom meeting. During our appointment time, she was responding to my emails (in which I apologized for being late), but insisted she could no longer meet with us. I thought this was a really bad sign about what she would be like to work with - labor and delivery is rarely precisely timed and some flexibility is needed. In addition, her email said that she lives in Portola Valley, but we live Berkeley (also where Brilliant Births is located). This also struck me as strange, because it would take 1.5 hours for her to arrive to meet us at the hospital, which is not ideal.

We feel so incredibly lucky to have had Marilou as our postpartum night doula. I ended up needing…read moreto be induced earlier than expected, so we had to arrange support at the very last minute. I was honestly pretty anxious going into it because we didn't have the opportunity to interview or even speak with her beforehand, and we were simply going off her profile that was shared with us. But from the moment she arrived, she immediately put us at ease. She was with us for those first few nights home from the hospital, when I was exhausted, emotional, and very newly postpartum. She had such a warm, gentle, and calming presence, and having her there made those overwhelming first nights feel so much more manageable. She was incredibly sweet and attentive with our baby, but she was equally caring toward me, always checking in and offering thoughtful tips for both newborn care and taking care of myself during recovery. She helped with feeds, baby laundry, and washing and assembling bottles and pump parts, and was always punctual, dependable, and proactive. Most importantly, we felt completely comfortable having her care for our brand new baby during such a vulnerable time. Our only regret is that we didn't find her sooner! Because everything came together so last minute, she was only available to be with us for a few nights, and we absolutely would have loved to have had her for longer. We're so grateful she was there when we needed her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any family looking for a kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring postpartum doula. Thanks Marilou and Doulas by the Bay!

We had a wonderful experience with Brenda. She came to meet us before the baby was born, which was…read morereally helpful and gave us a chance to get comfortable with each other beforehand. Once the baby arrived, she was incredibly helpful, especially with tips and guidance on how to soothe him and help him get to sleep. She was so kind, gentle, and caring with our baby, and it was such a pleasure to have her with us during these first days. We're very grateful for all her help and would absolutely recommend her!

I love Golden Gate OBGYN! I've been coming here for about 2 years now and have always had fantastic…read moreproviders and experiences. Specifically I've seen Natalia Oviedo-Rojas, Jessica Dyatlov, and Alexis Reiger who are all absolutely fantastic. I have a tendency to get nervous with injections and cervical exams and they are the best with walking me through each appointment and making me feel comfortable and at ease. You definitely have to schedule appointments pretty far in advance, though this doesn't feel abnormal for a doctor's office. I feel very cared for at Golden Gate Obstetrics and will continue coming back!

I came here to see Karen Chu for my annual exam and pap and had a great experience. Office was…read moreclean, the staff was so friendly and timely, and the doctor was kind and attentive. The facility has a lab attached to it so it's very convenient! Not only am I able to do my annual wellness there, but I can complete my bloodwork in the same appointment too. This office does have very strict scheduling guidelines though; you need to give them a deposit of $300 before you come for your first appointment and there's a $100 no show fee from then on out. Still, I think this office is worth the hassle. It's so hard to find a great doctor and office staff who prioritize patient needs. I'm very pleased with my experience and will continue coming back!

Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, dang, that human was born to do this kind of…read morework and has a real gifting for it? That was my thought about Lauren after meeting her for the first time (she taught our 6 week birth prep course). This woman was in her element. She cared, she was knowledgeable, and and she lit up the room. To our pleasant surprise and an epic answer to prayer, she ended up being our doula and what a gift she was in that space for us too. Lauren knew when to say or do something and the art of not saying or doing. We ended up having a dream birth and I'm not sure I would have been able to do it without her support. She was a part of the dream birth. She came along and partnered with me and my husband in a way that complemented and strengthened. Lauren helped me to trust myself and my body. There are no guarantees with birth. I don't love Lauren because I had a dream birth; I love her because of who she is and am so grateful she was with us and for us in the tender, sacred space of birth. No doula is for everyone, but if something about her resonates with you, book a call to see if there's a match.

Lauren is incredible! She helped me bring both of my babies into the world and I couldn't imagine…read morethe birth experience without her. She brought such a truly compassionate, intuitive, calming, and empowering presence to the experiences, and navigated all of the twists and turns with us. She felt like part of the family, and made us feel so held throughout the entire process from prenatal to postpartum. I couldn't recommend Lauren more highly. I almost want to have another baby just to be able to work with her again! If you're considering hiring her, DO IT! She's the absolute best.

Loved her content, so helpful during my own pregnancy and a great resource for my own doula clients.read more

We discovered Bridget near the end of our pregnancy just searching on YouTube for breathing…read moretechniques and natural birth / labor ... that's how we found that she was a doula in the Bay Area! We quickly set up time for a FaceTime call and an in person meeting ... she seemed to be a great fit but we weren't sure if we wanted to hire a doula this late in the game but was always something we thought about. After getting to Know Bridget a little bit more we felt that she may be the missing piece that would help us feel at ease going into labor... And she definitely was ! Bridget is an absolute gem of a human, she is professional, punctual, approachable, funny, caring, genuinely interested and very knowledgeable. She worked with us only a few weeks but eased my nerves and anxieties from the days leading up to labor, the days in the hospital and even the days afterwards as she checked in on us. If you are in the Bay Area and you are thinking about getting a doula - there is no one better ! She was flexible, understanding and available when we needed her In the labor room - she was a rock star, helping me breathe through all of the pain and uneasiness ... trying different positions, setting up my room with lights and candles and essential oils --- she brought her whole bag of equipment, tricks and knowledge into that room To ensure an amazing experience for me and my birth team. She helped us navigate through difficult decisions, empowered us to ask the right questions and encouraged us with no judgement Without a doubt one of the best decisions we made for our birth - and truly a main reason I can look back and love my birth experience

This review is long overdue. Alana was our birth doula last June and is nothing short of…read moreexceptional. Let me touch on different areas: Education: My husband and I couldn't be more opposite - I lean natural/functional and he leans conventional, needless to say there were alot of unknowns for us experiencing pregnancy and birth for the first time. The education she provided during our prenatal visits was thorough enough to answer questions and guide both of us through our different perspectives and we are both very satisfied with the knowledge we now have. Birth experience: I had an unmedicated birth with minimal intervention, exactly how I planned. If it wasn't for Alana being there as support, it would have been so much more difficult. I tend to be a more reserved and private person and was internally debating going through the birth with just me and my husband, since I felt the prenatal care and education we received was so substantial. Thankfully, Alana asked if she could come to the hospital to help support us. The hands-on support was so crucial to my overall birth experience, and I couldn't thank Alana enough! She had my back, literally and figuratively, the entire time. Overall 10/10 experience working with her, and I will definitely be hiring her again if/when needed in the future :)

We had the most incredible experience working with Alana. From the very beginning, she made us feel…read morecompletely supported, heard, and never judged. Our prenatal meetings were so helpful -- we left each one feeling more informed, confident, and empowered going into the birth. During labor, she was a calm, steady presence and exactly the kind of support we hoped for. But what blew me away was the postpartum care she provided. When I was having a really hard time with nursing, she showed up with so much compassion and patience. She truly met me where I was at, helping relieve pressure while still supporting us in working toward our goals. I honestly can't imagine a better person to have alongside you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We felt so cared for every step of the way. I would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking for thoughtful, skilled, and deeply supportive doula care.

This is a lovely break from the hustle of city life and tourist rushing. The Way of Tea is…read moreparticularly focused on noticing *this* moment right here - this one that will never happen again because even if we came back to this place later we would be different people. Urasenke hosts an abbreviated (not the four-hour long-form) tea ceremony at 6 PM on the first Wednesdays of each month. It's part educational program - because the hosts encourage everyone to ask questions as they go - and part tea ceremony. If you have no idea what to expect, here's some help: - You will be kneeling or sitting on mats the whole time, so wear clothes that are comfortable and stretchy (jeans can be binding in the knees). But do dress up a bit, as this is a somewhat formal event. - You will be asked to remove your shoes just inside the door. Wear clean socks. - You won't be served a meal. While the long-form ceremony includes a light meal, this presentation does not. You'll get a little sweet to contrast with the tea. And the thin tea is meant to be exactly three-and-a-half sips. - You really can ask as many questions as you like. Take some time soon to pause and notice the moment. Have some tea at Urasenke.

If you've ever read "The Book of Tea" by Kakuzo Okakura this is place for you to experience the…read morefull tea ritual involving all of your senses. This unmarked tea room presents the entire experience of formal tea ritual as practiced by the Urasenke Foundation, a Kyoto-based non-profit. From the Japanese prints, to the flower arrangement, to an inspiring poem to the subdued lighting and tatami mats, a theme for the season is expressed to prepare your mind...then you enter the tea room. Each tea utensil and movement in making the tea has been refined to create a meaningful ritual that celebrates the beauty of the moment and being in the present. We had a very bitter live tea that was whipped and served with sweets that created an effect that the bitterness became suprisingly pleasant and refreshing. The students and teachers were exceedingly friendly and calmly dispelled any awkwardness for those of us on dial-a-clue as to the subtlties of Japanese etiquette. Among our group was a Buddhist monk from Tibet who asked a number of interesting questions relating tea to zen. Check their calendar online for the weekly "Open Hearth" dates and make a reservation as this is no casual cup of tea. I believe the Urasenke people also host occasional tea services at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.