Terrible customer service. I called them first when I was searching for a lactation consultant and they never returned my call.

Tabitha is a wellspring of knowledge for everything birth related. I took a 7 week class with her before giving birth and I feel like I really new what to expect in regards to pain, potential injury, breastfeeding, and comfort strategies. When I signed up for her class, I had virtually no idea what birth would be like (or motherhood) and I wanted someone to reassure me as I approached this pivotal change in my life. Everything about the process struck me as scary and Tabitha provided clear answers, which were very reassuring. Sometimes knowing is all it takes to calm down. I am forever grateful to her for some of the tips she gave me about breathing exercises during contractions, the suggestion to bring mint oil to the hospital (it saved me from so many potential vomiting sessions), and for the gradual pace of her class that helped me know what to expect. Better than any book: Tabitha can give you the best rundown. I'm sure she would also be a great doula. read more

Tabitha attended the home birth of my daughter as the assistant to our Midwife, Treesa McLean. She was involved with my prenatal care from the very beginning, and always made me feel comfortable and confident. During my daughter's birth, she was the calm and loving presence I needed when I began to have self-doubt. Tabitha played such a pivotal role in our birthing experience. She was also excellent with postpartum care. As a mother of 3, she has such an extensive knowledge of breastfeeding and newborn care, you can really trust all of her recommendations. I am so glad that Tabitha will soon be a Midwife herself, because that means that she will continue to empower birthing mothers and their partners for many years to come. read more

Bay Area Birth Support - Tabitha enabled us to experience this moment, the best moment of our lives. - Lactation Services Near Me

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My daughter had a wonderfully special birth, with the help of my doula (and new found friend) Tabitha. My birth was full of interventions because of a preexisting medical condition. A total of 30 hours of pitocin, and I was able to manage the pain entirely medication free, thanks to Tabitha and my husband. Tabitha taught us different pain coping techniques before the birth, reminded my husband of how to use those techniques, and supported both of us by taking over the physical aspects of the pain coping, so my husband could support me emotionally. (She pressed against my back during labor, while my husband held me, stroked my hair, and talked to me.) Tabitha was such a calming presence for the entire time she was with us. My doctor was wanting to take a more aggressive approach when I wasn't dilating "fast enough". I had been keeping Tabitha in the loop while I was hooked up to the pitocin, and when I did finally ask her to come in so we could talk about our options, her attitude and presence helped me relax enough to actually start to have some change! I wanted my labor to be as natural as possible, and I got pretty much what I wanted. I haven't used her postpartum services, but Tabitha is still an invaluable asset to me. Every time I look at my beautiful daughter, I remember all the hard work I did, and all the help Tabitha gave us. If it wasn't for Tabitha, my birth would have a very different story. If we have another baby, even though I've been through labor and delivery now, we will DEFINITELY be hiring Tabitha again. read more

I had the pleasure of meeting Tabitha a couple of years ago through a birth workers organization. I was very impressed by her warm personality that all new parents will find comfort in. She is also very knowledgeable about breastfeeding and is able to engage as well as empathize with new moms during their most fragile times. As a local pediatrician, I've referred new moms to her who needed some extra doula support with wonderful feedback! Tabitha will be an asset to whomever uses her services before, during, and after the birth. read more

Shoshana and Tabitha were my doula team for the birth of my first child. What an incredible team! Both were there to help me out during the pregnancy with the pre-natal visits. Their in home visits felt supportive and were really informative.They helped to boost my confidence and to feel more ready for this life changing event! I had several unexpected twists during my pregnancy and the information and resources they provided proved invaluable. I was impressed with the amount of thought they put into their responses to my questions and the thoroughness of their answers. I went from feeling stressed and confused, to confident and empowered thanks to their support. It was great to meet and work with both of them. They alternate their schedules so that one of them can assist at the birth. So during the labor, you either get one of the other to support you. It's great to have already established some rapport with both of them ahead of time with the prenatal visits. Shoshana was on call when I went into labor. Turned out that I had a very long labor, around 50 hours! She was there to keep me grounded and focused the entire time. She was mindful of the birth plan that we had created beforehand and did an excellent job of gently steering me back towards the original goals that I had expressed. However, as the labor progressed and dragged on, I changed my mind regarding some of my pain options. She was respectful of my decision and supportive. I am absolutely happy with the way that my son's birth unfolded and have no regrets. I know that I did my absolute best and gave 100%; I don't feel that I would have been able to be so present without Shoshana by my side. Birthing is absolutely the most incredible experience I've had in life. The feeling of being so strong and so vulnerable all at once is almost indescribable. Shoshana had a way of making me feel completely at ease in her presence and that was truly a gift when I was riding those waves of pain! If we decide to give our son a brother or sister, we will absolutely call on Shoshana and Tabitha again for their support. read more

Tabitha is so warm and comforting. I felt incredibly supported and unjudged. She is absolutely wonderful!

Hiring Tabitha was one of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy! My husband and I hired her as our post-partum doula and it made a huge difference. Her calm presence, her willingness to do whatever was needed (including laundry and cooking - yay!) were the perfect thing during the first month after the birth of my daughter this past August. Also, her incredible knowledge about pregnancy, the post-partum time, and caring for a newborn made me so much more comfortable as a new mom. I could ask her all those funny little questions I had about my baby, and she gave thorough, thoughtful answers. She was also such a baby whisperer with my rather fussy baby and could get her to sleep so I could sneak away and take a shower, which even my husband sometimes had trouble doing. I highly recommend Tabitha. We also hired her and her partner Shoshana as our birth doulas. Shoshana ended up being on call when I gave birth to my daughter, but Tabitha was an excellent support person in our two meetings prior to the birth and also in the post-birth meeting. Again, she is so knowledgable, calm, and thorough in her answers. She and Shoshana made me feel so much better about a hospital birth that I had felt fretful about, and it ended up going incredibly well. I give Tabitha my very highest recommendation. read more

I feel so lucky to have found Tabitha for my second child's birth. She is an amazing doula and resource for new parents, because not only does she have tremendous expertise and experience in all things childbirth related, but she also trains childbirth professionals so she knows everyone and can unhesitatingly recommend any other kind of specialist you might need. For example, after our first meeting, when I mentioned how much I had struggled with breastfeeding with my son because of my previous breast reduction, she immediately recommended lactation consultant Serena Meyer, RN, who is a complete expert and helped us so much, just like Tabitha. More than that, she possesses a rare combination of the ability to make you feel very comfortable, both because of her warm personality and sense of humor, and the ability to present completely evidence based information without any agenda. She knows her stuff and will never pretend to know something she doesn't (though she'll research it for you!), but she never imposes her views on you. She is very sensitive to your unique needs and experience, and above all, she is a calm, grounded rock in the middle of birth-related chaos. In my case, she recognized immediately what our needs were and guided us with calm, expertise, and warmth through the whole experience - thanks to Tabitha, I was able to have a successful VBAC. She was exactly what we needed and I don't know how we could have done it without her. I really can't recommend her highly enough - in a community where we are lucky to have many skilled birth professionals, she is extraordinary. If you are looking for a highly experienced doula who combines warmth, professionalism, and a commitment to evidence based care, do yourself a favor and hire Tabitha. read more

While she was not my birth doula, she helped me transition into motherhood as a postpartum doula. She's warm, kind, caring, patient, and everything I could have asked for in a caretaker. She's also a great cook, and thanks to her I got to eat real meals and not lean cuisine or granola bars. I recommend her postpartum doula services to new mommies who need a little or a lot of TLC. read more

Tabitha is a highly knowledgable, skilled and engaging birth and breastfeeding class instructor. I found the class that she taught at Birthways to be incredibly informative and well-thought-out. She focuses on giving her students the skills and information they need to achieve their own goals and make informed decisions. I've taken other classes that paled in comparison. I would highly recommend Tabitha's classes to all expectant families. read more

Tabitha worked with us to help bring our second baby into the world, and our experience was so much richer and more complete for her having been a part of it. Our oldest had been delivered 19 months before we worked with Tabitha for our second, so we didn't lean on her as much as we might have otherwise for general prenatal knowledge and coaching, but she was a great reminder of things we'd forgotten about the process in a year and a half, as well as the differences between a first and a second delivery. During the birth process, she was an invaluable support to mom, was incredible at tagging dad out when back problems prevailed, was very discreet in partnering with the hospital staff, and was a voice of calm and strength throughout. Her postpartum follow-up helped us level-set and gain valuable perspective into our growing family, the new dynamic between our oldest and her new sister, and in setting caring and common-sense limits that helped mom have time and space to heal and rest. I'd recommend Tabitha without hesitation, she's a truly caring and supportive partner in this incredible process. read more

Tabitha was my doula for my second baby, and I can't say enough great things about her. I was going through a difficult situation during my pregnancy, and she was very accommodating and supportive. Tabitha knows a lot more than your average doula as well. She was better able to explain placenta previa than the doctors. During my labor, she helped me have the natural birth I wanted even when I thought I couldn't do it, all while helping me manage a difficult L&D nurse. I wish she had been the doula for my first baby too! read more

I think Tabitha is a real professional! Her education and her calm and intuitive presence is the backbone of her success. :)

It was amazing having Tabitha as our birth doula. She took the time to really get to know us and our preferences before the birth, and during labor she was an invaluable resource for us. I really liked the fact that she has a scientific back ground and that she keeps up to date on the latest evidence-based practices and recommendations. It meant that my husband and I never had to second guess her advice or information, and it really put our minds at ease. Having Tabitha as our doula undoubtedly made a huge difference to my stress level during the pregnancy and the labor. I am so grateful to her! She is also very well connected in the birthing, breastfeeding, and childcare community, and I have made so many invaluable connections through her since the birth of my son. read more

I worked with Serena from BABS about a year ago. As a new mom with low supply issues I had such a struggle physically and emotionally with breastfeeding. Serena was amazing and really made me feel better about my breastfeeding relationship. The best advice she gave me was "fed is fed. Regardless if you're able to exclusively breastfeed or have the money to buy formula, fed is always best." She really changed my perspective and helped me find peace. She will be one of the first calls I make when number two comes along! read more

Tabitha led a private breastfeeding class for us and another couple. It was fantastic! She is so knowledgeable, warm, and fun. We asked a million questions and learned so much. As first time parents, we feel much more prepared to get breastfeeding off to a good start, and now know what to look for and address if there are issues early on. Plus, it was so convenient to have Tabitha come to our house for the class. Thank you Tabitha!! read more

I took Tabitha's Home Birth Preperation Class and if your having a home birth esp for the first time, this class is a requirement. She went through every step and what to do in a home birth, just in case of a hospital transfer, and of course the ice exerise... as a single mama doing a home birth this really supported me esp when my mom came to the class as my support person and she also works great with couples as well. She knows any of the midwifes in the bay area and really gives you a bigger picture on homebirthing, it made me more confident esp in case of a hospital transfer and she offers after support help through email after class is done. Her written materials are all on the student portion of the site so if you lose you materials you can just download. I fully reccomend any mama, who is planning a home birth to take her class, and also meet other home birth mamas because our journey is a unique one... read more

My husband and I had Tabitha come and do a refresher course in comfort measures for us when we were about to have our second child. She came over and spent 2.5 hours talking to us about all kinds of strategies and tools for managing labor and also answered all of our questions as they popped up. She was wonderfully calming and gave me so much confidence that I could do it. My first birth had been long and very medical - lots of interventions and drugs, but my second birth was 3 hours and drug free! I attribute so much of that to using Tabitha's coping strategies. Both my husband and I felt so prepared and used many of her techniques while I was in labor. I would absolutely recommend her services! read more

Tabitha's birthing course was a truly incredible and empowering experience. The course brought my partner Matt and I closer together. Till this course, becoming a father still felt pretty abstract to him, and by taking the course, he was able to learn techniques for supporting me during the birth process. My birth plan had been to have my daughter, River, at a birthing center, but when my water broke at 33 weeks, that was no longer an option. Though having my baby at a hospital wasn't in the plan, it was extremely valuable to be able to tap into the skills and tools I'd learned in Tabitha's class when I was in labor. It gave me a way to feel powerful even within a context that I hadn't chosen. I'm grateful to have learned a variety of different techniques from her, many of which we implemented. Tabitha's course was filled with information, highly interactive, personalized, fun, and creative. One of my favorite moments from being in labor was having my partner and my dear friend sing to me while I was experiencing intense contractions. Though I was experiencing a lot of intensity and discomfort, that singing really carried me through. Without Tabitha's course, it would have never occurred to me to sing while in labor, and I wouldn't have such a sweet and tender memory of the way in which we brought our daughter into the world. read more