As a dad-to-be, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going into a hypnobirthing class. If I'm being…read morehonest, I was a little skeptical at first--"hypno" anything sounded a bit out there to me. But I signed up to support my wife, and I'm really glad I did. This class completely changed how I see birth and my role in it. Instead of feeling like a bystander, I walked away feeling informed, useful, and actually confident in how I can support my wife during labor. The techniques we learned--breathing, relaxation, visualization--aren't just for moms. I found myself using them too, and they've already helped us both stay calmer leading up to the big day. What stood out most was how much emphasis was placed on teamwork. I learned specific, practical ways to advocate for my wife, help her stay relaxed, and create a positive environment no matter how the birth unfolds. It made me feel like an active participant instead of just "the guy in the room." The instructor, Care, was very knowledgeable, approachable, and never made any question feel silly. She made the classes very comfortable and even pretty funny at times. The class also struck a great balance between education and hands-on practice, so it didn't feel like we were just sitting through lectures. If you're a partner on the fence about taking a hypnobirthing class--do it. Even if you're skeptical like I was, you'll come away with tools, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of what your partner is going through. Honestly, it's one of the best things we've done together to prepare for becoming parents.

I gave birth a couple months ago, and decided to go through Care's Hypnobirthing class, and also…read moreuse her for my placenta encapsulation, and I can't recommend her highly enough! From the very first class, it was clear that Care is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about empowering expectant parents. Her approach to hypnobirthing and breathing techniques was not only informative but also calming and reassuring for both me and my partner. We completed it feeling much more prepared and confident for the birth experience ahead. Care provided a wealth of resources, ensuring we had everything we needed to make informed decisions about our birthing plan. She was always responsive to our questions, both during the classes and even after the birth, which made a world of difference in our journey. It's rare to find someone who continues to support you even after the classes are over. Overall, the entire experience with Care was amazing. Her warmth, expertise, and dedication to her clients truly set her apart. If you're looking for guidance and support in your birth preparation, look no further than Care Messer at the Birth Education Center!

My husband and I decided to take Janine's class due to our holistic approach to birthing and our…read moregoal to best prepare ourselves with pain-coping strategies for a natural birth plan. Not only did Janine optimally prepare us, but we got so much more out of the class than we ever expected. Janine's approach is relatable, compassionate, friendly, kind and incredibly positive. She provided my husband and I space, in an intimate group setting, to have the tough conversations around birthing, our relationship with each other as future parents, and space to create tangible plans for prenatal care, labor and postpartum support. We would not have carved out this time to work through these topics on our own, and have so much appreciation for the tools and revelations Janine was able to help us uncover. My husband and I felt emotionally and physically ready to take on the birthing process, and felt intimately aligned as a partner duo in the process. We were especially grateful for the way Janine shed light on the birthing process due to COVID-19 and the fact that our Doula couldn't join us in the hospital as planned. My husband has such a greater understanding, respect and comfortability with supporting me in the toughest times of delivery because of Janine's curriculum. I highly recommend Janine's Birth From Love course to any conscious parents who are looking for a deeper connection, understanding and confidence in the birthing process, whether you are planning a natural birth or not. We had a smooth labor and delivery and now a happy, healthy baby girl to enjoy!

Janine is absolutely amazing! My husband and I did a private class - Birthing Again at home, which…read morewas so convenient and suitable as we are planning this birth to be at our home so it was a more appropriate comfortable setting for us. She has a ton of insight and recommendations not just about birthing/laboring the baby again, but on other topics such as postpartum plans and managing a healthy communicative relationship with your partner. Initially I thought 6 hours for a class was a bit long but it went by so fast! And we are more than happy we chose her as a guide to preparing us to do this again! Thank you Janine!!

Short answer: Hire a doula, if you can afford it, it is so worth it!…read more Long review: I worked with birth doulas from BBD for both of my births (2024 and 2026). I was extremely nervous about giving birth, and my main goal the first time was just to not have trauma. Thanks to amazing support from our doulas, I discovered not only did I not have trauma, but I also find giving birth such a transformative and positive experience, something I never even considered a possibility for me. I worked with Tamara and Sage for my first birth, a late-term induction and vaginal delivery (both attended), and Tamara and Kim for my second, spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery (Kim attended). A goal in both my births was to wait until transition to get an epidural, and thanks to Sage helping me ride contractions and helping my spouse keep me comfortable I was able to wait as I had hoped. In my second birth, I used techniques I had learned from Sage as well as new ones from Kim to stay so comfortable laboring that I got to the hospital pretty late without realizing how far labor had progressed! I never considered an unmedicated birth a possibility for me, but due to doula support allowing me to stay comfortable I think I would give it a try if I have another baby. Doula support was key to keeping me out of my "fear brain", as in both births, things happened that I didn't understand and they were able to explain them, both on the phone and in person at the hospital. This allowed me to keep calm. We didn't do the birth class due to our schedules, so did 2 prenatal visits instead both times. These were helpful in getting to know the doulas, but also they gave a wealth of recommendations for birth and for postpartum - for instance, Tamara suggested identifying a lactation consultant before birth, which was an amazing suggestion given that I needed lactation support immediately with my first and I would have not lined this up without her suggestion. We really like the 2 doula model, also, which seems pretty unique. We highly recommend BBD!

I had the best experience with Breathe Bitch Doula! Louise and Mahri were incredible. They made me…read morefeel so supported and relaxed throughout my whole journey. They are set up to tag team so one of them is guaranteed to be there for the brith which was so helpful to know that someone would be there no matter what. They helped prep me and we amazing resources throughout my pregnancy, obviously during labor, and even postpartum. I'd text them with all my "my baby is doing this is it normal" questions. I want them there for any future pregnancies and labor!

April & Joy were a huge part of my pregnancy and our birth story. They quickly became one the…read morehighlights of everything we did to prepare and celebrate baby. My husband and I were so anxious about this new experience and really had no idea what to expect and how to best prepare in this age of social media. We felt so overwhelmed with the over-saturation of information and since neither of us had done this before we wanted to have a trusted source and know we could prepare mentally as much as physically and financially. From the first consultation we felt comfortable and confident in Joyful Roots. My husband is a yogi and told me he instantly felt that same sense of calm with April & Joy. We joined this process a bit late so we were worried we would have to rush to learn and get through everything, but with the ease of the portal, videos and their flexibility and dedication, we were able to fit everything in and not feel pressured or rushed. They came to our home twice before birth and we met each of them separately. We also had zoom calls and a group chat up until 2+ weeks after birth. My labor and birth story was very unique and unexpected, however with the constant support and easy communication, we felt taken care of through it all. I ended up in early prodromal labor for 72+ hours and April and Joy were there for us through all of it! When I was finally admitted to the hospital, April was there to walk us through labor positions and help me feel safe. She knew what positions to help get baby in the right position as well as ease my nerves. She also made sure I was fed and hydrated. She helped my husband interpret what options we had each step of the way and how to speak to the staff, while making sure we were asking the right questions and able to advocate for what we wanted. Due to unexpected circumstances, I was not able to have a natural birth and this was not because we didn't try everything. She could tell I was exhausted and did all she could to give me a pleasant birth experience; one without trauma. She stayed until after my cesarean and I felt so cared for when I saw she was still there waiting for baby and I to return. We cannot thank April and Joy enough for all they did. I don't know how we would have navigated ourselves through this arduous journey without them. It was a hard week and we made it through with their warmth, positivity and encouragement. In our final follow up zoom, they told us "they would always be our Doulas" and we will definitely keep in touch and look forward to having them in our lives later on down the road. Thank you for everything! Love, Chelsea, Lafras and baby Atlas

I am deeply grateful to Joy and April for the support they provided during my pregnancy, birth, and…read morepostpartum journey. I came into this pregnancy with a history of a prior C-section, which naturally carried emotional weight, fear, and many unanswered questions. From the very beginning, Joy and April met me exactly where I was -- without judgment, pressure, or agenda. They never tried to "sell" me a birth outcome. Instead, they supported me as a whole person and honored my autonomy at every step. What stood out most was how grounded and steady they were. During moments of doubt, fear, exhaustion, and decision-making, they helped me feel calm, informed, and supported -- not rushed or overridden. Their presence was reassuring, compassionate, and deeply respectful of my instincts as a mother. They also supported my husband beautifully, helping him feel included, confident, and empowered throughout the process. This made a huge difference for us as a family. Postpartum, their care didn't suddenly disappear. They continued to check in, offer reassurance, and remind me that recovery -- physically and emotionally -- is a process, especially after a complex birth history. If you are looking for doulas who are experienced, emotionally intelligent, trauma-informed, and truly on your side, Joy and April are it. Whether you are navigating a VBAC, a prior C-section, or simply want compassionate, steady support -- you will be in incredibly capable hands. I will always be thankful for the way they held space for me and my family during one of the most vulnerable and important seasons of my life.

I decided to pursue a private class in my home to learn the basics of breastfeeding, newborn care,…read moreand preparation for labor, rather than take a series of separate classes at the hospital. The price was comparable to what I would have paid to take the hospital classes and I was able to learn in a setting that was not only more convenient in terms of location and timing, but more comfortable - and comfort is key in the 9th month of pregnancy! This is my first pregnancy and I had a lot of questions, fears and insecurities. Laura started off by sending me a brief questionnaire to get a sense of my expectations for the class. She made sure to customize the curriculum to not only cover the basics but to allay all of my specific concerns and fears. She even helped me assemble my breast pump! - something that was super intimidating with all of its tubes, parts and pieces, and accessories. My favorite part of the class was a relaxation for labor technique that my husband was also able to participate in. Holding an ice cube in your hand for a minute shows you how long a minute really is (contractions last a minute) and you practice techniques to help you get your mind off of the discomfort and pain until the minute passes. It is really difficult! Now maybe my husband will have a better appreciation for the strength of body and mind that is required to endure childbirth. :-) There's a lot of information in the class but it didn't feel like information overload. It was well organized and the professionally done video animations helped convey the specifics of childbirth and c-sections without traumatizing a squeemish husband. Having handouts available to refer back to later made me feel like I didn't have to absorb and retain every piece of information. I highly recommend Laura and her childbirth classes. Her demeanor is so comforting and encouraging! I am feeling optimistic about the remainder of my pregnancy and my birth experience, and confident that I will have a successful breastfeeding experience with my newborn. Thank you, Laura, for helping me get to this point - I am so grateful for all you have done to help me get ready!

From the owner: Birth and breastfeeding classes, doula servicesread more

I can not say enough great things about the hynpobirthing class with Care Messer. My partner and I…read moreare first time parents and did not know the first thing about the labor and delivery process. We were very unsure about everything and looking for direction. In class we learned about what the different labor and delivery options are, what to expect from hospitals, and different techniques to use during labor. We now feel we have the tools to better understand the whole process and make the decisions that are right for us and our family. The class addressed all of my questions and I feel like the information was presented in a very unbiased way, not to mention Care is super funny and the time in class flys by! I would recommend this class to all of my friends and family.

If you are pregnant, book your class asap! I can't rave enough about their approach to preparing…read morefor birth. My husband had two kids from a previous relationship, but still was able to learn things he hadn't been present for with them. It improved our communication surrounding my pregnancy and birth, even when it took a different turn. We'd made it through four of the five classes when my son decided to he needed to get out at 30 weeks. I had so many tools in my toolbox that I felt prepared, even during the scary prospects of having preeclampsia and a NICU baby. I'm so grateful for Care and her entire team. Such a blessing!!!!

Choosing Tema and Matriz Midwifery Care for my first pregnancy was one of the best decisions I made…read morefor myself, my baby, and my family. I am so grateful I chose to invest in midwifery care. As a first-time mom, I received both traditional OB-GYN care through my insurance and midwifery care with Tema, which allowed me to experience the difference in approaches firsthand. Tema's care was incredibly well-rounded. She didn't just focus on prenatal checkups--she cared for me as a whole person, helping me understand how everything in my body was connected. She guided me through nutrition, hydration, overall wellness, preparing my body for birth, and of course, prenatal care. I always felt safe, informed, listened to, and genuinely cared for. The cultural connection I felt with Tema and her practice was also deeply meaningful to me. There was something so reassuring and special about receiving care that felt connected to who I am and to the pregnancy and birth experience I had always dreamed of. Alix was such a lovely, calm, and grounding presence throughout my prenatal care. I loved having both Tema and Alix's expertise, experience, and personalities supporting and loving on me, my husband, and our baby. Their care during my labor and birth was outstanding. The guidance they gave me was exactly what I needed in those moments. Throughout my entire pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, communication was clear and consistent. They were accessible when I needed them, supportive, transparent, and honest. I never felt like I was just another patient. Their care didn't simply end once my baby was born either. Being supported postpartum made me appreciate even more how special it is to have providers who see pregnancy, birth, recovery, motherhood, and baby as one connected experience. After experiencing Matriz Midwifery Care, I may forever be biased in believing Tema and Alix are angels on Earth. What they do is such a special and sacred skill--nurturing mothers and babies through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Tema, Alix, and the people Tema has chosen to surround her practice with. I will always be grateful that this was my first experience of pregnancy and motherhood. For anyone researching Matriz or wondering whether investing in midwifery care is worth it, I hope my experience helps: I felt respected, nurtured, empowered, safe, and deeply cared for every step of the way. Thank you, Tema and Alix, for caring for and loving on our little family during one of the most sacred and transformative seasons of our lives. I will carry this experience with me forever.

I cannot recommend this practice strongly enough. I worked with Tema and Alix who were both…read moreattentive, hugely knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive. For the difficult and vulnerable experience of pregnancy/birth, it brought me immeasurable comfort to have them by my side throughout my journey. They invest a lot of time in building trust, made space for not only questions but also emotions and mental well-being, and really give their whole selves to supporting mothers. I am so grateful for their support and if I have another baby I will certainly seek it out again.

Sumer and Hugo are two of the most amazing people I've met, and their class is phenomenal…read more My wife and I recently took their 4-week birth class, and we simply could not be happier with the class, what we learned, how connected my wife and I feel, and how much hope and joy we are bringing to this last few weeks before birth. So much of this is because of the outstanding class Sumer and Hugo offer. They only take up to 5 couples per month, which keeps it feeling so supportive and caring. They provide delicious, healthy meals (for free!). The center is wonderful, cozy, and clean, with couches and exercise balls to sit on. There is a wonderful mix of medical evidence, personal experience, and honoring that everyone has their own hopes and plans for birth. We often heard about what ACOG recommended, and we also heard about more holistic approaches. Personally, we are very by the book, birthing in a hospital, but it was wonderful to hear the range of perspectives, evidence, and experiences. With social media and culture today, we tend to forget the wonder and goodness that bringing a new life into the new world brings. Sumer and Hugo bring heart, joy, connection, and hope to birth. One thing that really stood out to me, and really surprised me, was how much Hugo brought to the birth class for me as a father. Hugo is a successful construction management professional and seems quite masculine, yet he is also one of the most compassionate and caring men I've ever met. He is just such a solid father and partner to Sumer. It gave me such a wonderful and unique perspective into not only how to support my wife through pregnancy and birth, but also how to experience it myself and be an integral part of the experience (ie, not just someone there to help his wife). My goal is to be strong, present, supportive, caring, flexible, and vulnerable. And Hugo was such a good role model for this! After this class, we also took a 3-hour class at UCSD on labor and delivery, and though the class was good, we left 60% of the way through because it was uncomparable to what we had learned in Sumer and Hugo's class. UCSD was great, but we had covered everything already. The part that was missing from the UCSD class (and probably most hospital classes) was the feeling, the acknowledgement of what happens emotionally to the mom and family throughout birth. We got so much from this class. It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I wholeheartedly recommend this class. Thank you so much, Sumer and Hugo!

Sumer and Hugo's birthing class was exactly what my husband and I were looking for in a class. It…read morehelped us prepare as first time parents and made us excited about labor and birth. My husband was able to learn from Hugo, an experienced dad, on the ways that he could be involved and how to best support me during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. This class gave us the confidence about the birthing process and all the options for any decisions we needed to make during labor and birth. Sumer's prenatal yoga classes were amazing. I felt much less stressed and more relaxed after each class. I learned different poses and breathing exercises I was able to use during labor that helped with the position of the baby and the pain! I had a great labor and birthing experience thanks to everything we learned from Sumer and Hugo and all the support and guidance they provided. Sumer was always checking in on me and we even came by postpartum to her breastfeeding support class and she helped me so much with my breastfeeding journey. My husband and I highly recommend this class and can't thank Sumer and Hugo enough for everything!

Jenn is an amazing doula! She is the reason I had a natural birth. Her support and comfort…read moremeasures made the world of a difference. Jenn came to my house when my contractions started to be difficult to manage - just having her there was therapeutic. She has such a calm, relaxed presence. She brought essential oils and used accupressure points and massage to help me during labor. She gave us suggestions for positions to try. She was a wonderful guide to help us know when it was time to go to the hospital. She stayed with me over 24 hours during my labor and birth and didn't complain once :) While I feel like Jenn was crucial for me, my husband argues that she was even more crucial for him. She gave him ideas and directed him in ways to help me. She gave him breaks from massaging me and putting pressure on my hips. She let him take a nap while she stayed with me. After the birth, my husband said, "Can she be at our next birth, too?" We took the Hynobirthing classes with Jenn also, which were so helpful. She taught us so much about birth and how to relax during labor. I am so happy that I chose Jenn to be my doula and I've already told her that she MUST be at my next birth!

I met Jenn Smith in February 2020 after being referred to her by my chiropractor. After meeting…read moreJenn, I decided to hire her as my doula for my first child's birth in July 2020. In addition to doula services, I also hired Jenn to teach Hypnobirthing classes and to do placenta encapsulation. After sending Jenn my signed contract and her 50% retainer, communication with her started to decrease and become more difficult. I contacted Jenn at 36 weeks to try and set up our prenatal visit and received no response. I reached out again at 37 weeks on June 22nd, and Jenn finally responded and we scheduled our prenatal visit for the following week. The following day I had a placenta abruption and I had to rush to the hospital for an emergency c-section. I contacted Jenn that morning and she was able to go to the hospital and retrieve my placenta in order to do the encapsulation. Due to the emergency c-section, Jenn's contract stated I was owed three sessions of 4 hour postpartum support. We scheduled the visits the following week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and Jenn stated she would bring my placenta pills with her to the visit. After leaving the hospital, I sent Jenn the remaining 50% of the payment due on our contract to ensure that I paid according to contract terms. On the first day of the postpartum support service, Jenn texted me 45 minutes before she was supposed to arrive to let me know she would be running late due to a family emergency. After not hearing from Jenn for two hours, I decided to cancel the visit for that day. Jenn no showed, no called for the postpartum support services we had scheduled for both Wednesday, July 1st and Friday, July 3rd. My husband and I tried to contact Jenn by phone and email on numerous occasions in regards to postpartum services and receiving my placenta pills with no success. I reached out to my chiropractor who I knew was also using Jenn as a doula to let her know how difficult it had been to contact Jenn and how she still has not provided me any of the services I paid for. My chiropractor reached out to Jenn in an attempt to get my placenta pills from her to give to me. I finally received an email from Jenn on August 5 stating she heard that I was trying to contact her and she didn't know why she had not received any of my emails or phone messages. She stated she still had my pills ready to go and that she still wanted to support me postpartum. I responded to Jenn that same day and to this day I still have not received any response from Jenn. I am now four months postpartum and still have not received my placenta pills or any doula support services from Jenn. She only provided Hypnobirthing classes. I have requested a partial refund per her contract terms of Failure for a Doula to Provide Services and Jenn has not replied to my refund email and denied my payment request on Venmo. For a first time mom, who had a scary birth experience, the last thing I should have to do is try to track down my doula who I entered into a contract with for birth support. Jenn's lack of communication has left a pretty bad impression in regards to the role of a doula. Even though my delivery did not go as planned, I still made sure I lived up to my end of the contract and made sure Jenn was paid the full balance as soon as I left the hospital. I would never recommend Jenn Smith as a doula and I would not trust her with my child.

Alison was my masseuse and she was sent from heaven! I have been eyeing Rebirth Massage since my…read moresecond pregnancy. I am now onto my third pregnancy at 28 weeks and had the opportunity to try this place; I am so grateful! I hate that I haven't gone here since my first! I have two toddlers at home, 1 and 3 year old, and work full time as a bedside nurse. I was long overdue for a massage. I like a firm pressure to get all the knots out from my upper/lower back, especially working long 12 hour shifts on my feet. Other places that perform prenatal massages are too scared to apply pressure. I got the Blissful Mama Massage as a Mother's Day gift. I am so happy with Alison. She listened to all my needs and listened to what my body needed as far as back relief. I felt so relaxed afterwards. It was exactly what my body needed. I am already looking forward to the next time I'll be back! I bought a similar cervical neck pillow as soon as I got home, it made such a difference during my massage. Parking is very limited. Bathroom outside did not bother me as I know that these older buildings have different layouts and it is to be expected.

By far the most relaxing and healing massage that I received during my pregnancy. All of the…read moremassage therapists here are so good at what they do. I love the location and the attention to detail of the entire staff. The space is peaceful and it really feels like an escape coming here. Now I've returned for a postnatal massage because my prenatal experiences have been so amazing.