Where to start when describing Ronnie? She was immensely supportive of our most recent pregnancy…read moreand birth, working with our whole family (husband and sibling at every appointment!) to counsel us on our way to becoming a family of four. Not only is she completely professional and incredibly knowledgeable, she is also relaxed, friendly, and gracious in a way that put our whole family at ease. When she was in our home for visits and for the birth of our second child, it was seamless and effortless. Prenatal care with Ronnie was like therapy++ -- I looked forward to every appointment as a way to enjoy and celebrate the pregnancy. We were never rushed and often spent over an hour chatting with her, in addition to covering all of the clinical bases. At our birth, she was a calm, unobtrusive presence -- reassuring to have there in case she was needed, but also content to be hands-off as we desired. Overall, I'd recommend Ronnie to anyone considering a homebirth, and I would certainly have Ronnie as our midwife again if we have another child.

Ronnie supported me during my journey to my VBAC and she was such an amazing support. I first found…read moreRonnie through her website and met with her shortly after having my c section to discuss my options for a VBAC and what could have led to my first birth experience. When I became pregnant 3 years later I had moved to Southern California but knew I wanted Ronnie to help me and so we talked at various milestones in my pregnancy over the phone. She is so knowledgeable about everything pregnancy and baby related. It was really good to have a second opinion in regards to things my doctor wanted for me and she gave me the courage to ask more questions. She recommended herbs at the end of my pregnancy which I think really helped me achieve my VBAC. Thanks Ronnie you're great!

I have nothing but glowing things to say about Shannon! She is amazing and I am so thankful to have…read moreher in my corner for the birth of both my sons (in 2021 & 2023). Overall: if you are looking for a doula who is approachable, accessible, nonjudgmental, and has a good balance of respecting medical decision making as well as understanding traditional birth support methods, look no further! Pre-natal: - Shannon offers two formal sessions to talk through expectations for birth and exercises. These don't substitute a full birthing course, but were a great primer and supplement to the course we took. - Shannon was extremely accessible via text, email, and phone for any support as needed; she checked in frequently, especially before and after OB visits to make sure I understood my options for any decisions that came up. - Shannon helped me draft a birth plan to discuss with my OB, presented different options, and was extremely supportive as I picked what was right for our family. - As we got closer to the due date, Shannon advised us on some exercises to do to manage various aches, pains, and help prep for labor. - For my first, Shannon was unavailable for 2 days about 2 weeks before the due date; she set up a backup doula just in case, which we appreciated! Labor & Delivery: - Shannon was highly communicative as labor started and progressed, coaching us via text in the middle of the night and advising us when it was time to head to the hospital. - She met us at the hospital promptly, helped us navigate the paperwork efficiently, and aided in settling in to the room with music, aromatherapy, and lights. - During labor at the hospital, she helped with different positions and massages to keep me calm and manage the contractions. - She made sure my partner got a break to rest and eat before the baby arrived. - Our L&D nurse asked me for Shannon's name as she really enjoyed working with her, which is a huge testament to her behavior in the room and interactions with medical professionals! Postpartum: - Shannon checked in with us a few times during text, as well as came in person to make sure we were settling in OK. - She had several recommendations for lactation consultants, postpartum doulas, etc. I can't say enough good things about Shannon and feel so grateful she was a part of our birthing journey. I look back at both of my deliveries with such positivity, fondness, and joy--largely thanks to her!

It was a pleasure to have Shannon as my doula. Shannon exudes warmth and kindness. She's…read moreapproachable and makes herself available. Shannon always provided evidence based unbiased information and respected our decisions. She has lots of connections to the birth community in the area and all her referrals and resources were amazing too! I definitely will be recommending Shannon to anyone looking for a doula. Thank you Shannon!

Wendy was fantastic, and I would absolutely hire her again…read more She was a tremendous support during the pregnancy, during the birth itself, and then later during the first months. Wendy is super knowledgeable, has some great skills herself, and most importantly knows a lot of people. At the same time, she is a great listener, not trying to push you into anything, but rather helping you discover what's best for you. This combination helped guide my wife through all the options, connect with like-minded experts, and eventually find a fantastic midwife and do a home birth. So, while all of what Wendy did was extremely valuable (eg. body work sessions during the pregnancy, including fixing my back, or support during the birth), I think the best part is that she truly cares about you and your experience. In other words, it's about you, not about her -- she was always happy to connect us with other people who might be a better fit for something and was always ready to step aside and come back when she was needed. To me, this is rare and something I can only see and appreciate in hindsight. The result was a wonderful, life changing experience for me, and my wife, and I'm convinced that Wendy deserves a lot of credit for it.

At the risk of sounding dramatic, Wendy and Kersti have changed my life. There's no other way I…read moreknow how to put it. I went into this pregnancy not knowing anything about pregnancy nor birth. I mean that - I'd never even held a baby before, and I'm in my thirties! I was nervous and knew I needed guidance. A close friend of mine referred them to me after she had her own positive experience delivering her first baby at the hospital (without an epidural). A delivery without an epidural sounded like a good idea, and if my friend can do it with their help, I felt SO COULD I! So I scheduled to meet them in person, and then Googled the definition of a doula because that's how foreign the birth world was to me. Fast forward to today, I am 3 months postpartum, and incredibly grateful to have had Wendy and Kersti there for me, as a first time mom home birth. They prepared me, a total pregnancy/birth newbie, to having a home birth! They are supportive with whatever birth plan you decide and will provide tons of resources and information to help you make an informed decision, on whatever you feel comfortable with. I appreciated that they are well balanced, and will present evidence based research, as well as speak from their own experiences, but never pushing their opinions upon you. After months of research, I made the decision to go forward with a home birth and it was the most magical experience of my life. It was relaxing, calm, stress-free, and I felt SO supported throughout my entire pregnancy journey, after birth, and ESPECIALLY during labor. Wendy was present during my labor. When she arrived it was like my guardian angel had arrived, and I was so happy to see her. She had lavender essential oils and her hands worked magic on me during the most intense contractions. The back massages helped me Soooo much and she did it for hours. She not only supported me, but also my husband, and she knew just what to say to keep me positive and relaxed, and knew how to direct my husband to help. She also took photos throughout the labor. It all happened so fast, so it was so fun to have photos to go back and relive the moments. I will cherish these photos forever. Thank you Wendy and Kersti for helping bring my baby boy to this world. I know without a doubt that I'd like them to be my doulas again for my future baby.

Working with Katelyn was hands down the best decision we made for our birth and postpartum journey…read more She was truly irreplaceable, and I honestly know I wouldn't have had such a successful, positive birth experience without her. From the start, Katelyn prepped both my husband and me so thoroughly that we felt confident going into labor. When a preeclampsia diagnosis completely threw our original expectations out the window, Katelyn didn't miss a beat. She immediately helped us pivot and had a brand-new birth plan ready, guiding us through every shift with calm, compassionate expertise. Her care didn't stop in the delivery room, either. As someone navigating postpartum anxiety, Katelyn was an absolute lifeline. She helped us ease into newborn sleep schedules, patiently answered our endless questions, and gave us so much peace of mind during those vulnerable early weeks. If you are looking for a doula who is knowledgeable, adaptable, and deeply supportive, hire Katelyn immediately. We are forever grateful for her!

We truly could not have asked for a better doula than Katelyn. From the very beginning, she made us…read morefeel informed, confident, and supported. Before the birth, she spent time educating us, answering every question with patience, and helping us prepare for labor, delivery, and life with a newborn. Our birth didn't go as planned, and I ended up needing an emergency C-section. It was an incredibly overwhelming experience, but Katelyn was there the very next morning to help us navigate the hospital, explain what was happening, advocate for us, and make sure we felt cared for during such a vulnerable time. Her calm presence and expertise brought us so much comfort when we needed it most. Katelyn also became our night doula, and trusting someone with your newborn is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. We trusted her completely. She cared for our daughter with so much love and professionalism, while also taking incredible care of us as new parents. She answered every question, eased every fear, and gave us the confidence we needed to settle into parenthood. Every step of the way, she put our minds at ease. Katelyn has been one of the greatest gifts to our family. Her knowledge, compassion, and genuine care are truly exceptional. We are forever grateful for everything she has done for us, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Jen is such a sweet, kind person. She is definitely someone you want to have on your team when…read moreyou're in the midst of what might be the most exciting, yet vulnerable time in your life--the birth of your child. Jen was the apprentice midwife for my home birth but she might as well have been a regularly practicing fully certified midwife because she was as much involved in my check ups and the actual labor and delivery of my baby as my main midwife , Sue Baelen (also amazing! Highly recommended!) Jen has a very calm presence, and even though she is young, it's clear that she possesses so much wisdom that it feels very natural to trust her. She has a lot of experience with birth, having started as a doula. I always felt completely safe and honored in her care, both in the visits to my house for check ups and at the birth of my son. One of the best parts of the care I got from Sue and Jen were the check ups leading up to the birth. They came to my house and it felt like a combo medical check up and therapy session! They were always curious to hear how things were going, answer any questions I had and take care of my emotional and spiritual transition to motherhood, not just the physical. I loved getting to know Jen in these sessions and it created a lot of trust and closeness. The birth was everything I hoped it would be. It was hard, of course, but I knew I could do it in great part because of the support I had with my awesome team. I felt very safe with Jen and Sue, and they gave me a lot of confidence. Another best part was the after care. Jen and Sue came to our house several times over the 6 week period after my son was born. It was so wonderful to have them here checking on us, answering questions, sharing in our joy and alleviating the inevitable worries. Jen also did the prep and encapsulation of my placenta, which I also recommend. My recovery was remarkably quick and easy and I think the placenta pills really helped. Jen is a wonderful, kind, smart, caring person. You'll be well taken care of if you choose to work with her.

After my first long, hard delivery, I knew I wanted a doula for my second. It was my second at…read moreUCSF, and because I didn't know which midwife/resident would be there for the delivery, I wanted someone to count on for sure. And thanks to Jen, I actually made it to the hospital to have the baby! Turns out my second labor was pretty short and not as intense as my first, and she saw the signs and got me to the hospital just in time--at 9cm! Because I was so mellow (in large part to Jen being so fun and relaxed), the hospital staff didn't think I was very far and left me in triage forever. Once again, Jen was to the rescue and got the hospital staff jumping; I don't know what she told them but I made it to a delivery room with a few minutes to spare. She quickly made friends with the nurses and residents, told them my birth plan, and made sure all my wishes were understood, even ones that went against standard procedure like not getting the pitocin shot to deliver the placenta. She did all this while being respectful and assertive with everyone, not an easy task! I can't say how reassuring it was to have her there during the quick transition from home to the hospital to popping out the baby. My husband and I could focus on the baby while she took care of everything else. I highly recommend her, especially if you are planning a natural/unmedicated/hippie/read-too-much-Ina-May-Gaskin birth in a hospital. If you are looking for someone no-nonsense, without much "woo", energetic, reassuring, and who will make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time doing the right thing without being bossy or overbearing, Jen is the doula you're looking for. Oh, one more thing: she was very responsive via email and text, so it was great checking in with her with those "hi, I'm not sure if I'm having a contraction or not, but just wanted to check in and let you know" conversations leading up to the action.

I loved Lin she was amazing !…read more She helped me accomplish my goals of having a natural un medicated birth. She was always cheerful and honest. I'm thankful for her. I never thought I could give birthday without medication but she gave me the confidence I needed.

Lyn is just amazing! I cannot recommend her enough. I July, I gave birth to my son under her…read moresupervision and I couldn't be happier with her support. During pregnancy, I always felt extremely respected and heard. She was fully supportive of my idea to have natural birth and never made me feel uncomfortable asking any question etc. She carefully reacted to my concerns (ordered additional labs / checks etc.), so I always felt in peace. She is extremely knowlegable and experienced, I always felt I could trust her 100%. During birth she was also extremely supportive. The whole experience was wonderful because of Lyn! She would always give me wide range of info based on which I could make informed decisions, while also respecting my "plan". I had a 2-week and 6-week postnatal visit, and just scheduled another 6-month one. I tell every pregnant woman to choose her care! Birth can be a transforming experience and also one that you will forever love to remember -- if done and supervised by Lyn! PS. The whole BAM (Bay Area Maternity) experience was wonderful, but mentioning just Lyn here -- I'm also giving credits to Kavitha and Melina. Thank you!

I had been hoping to have a home birth for a really long time, so when I got pregnant, I knew I…read morewanted to find a midwife who would help facilitate that. After our initial interview with Melissa and her assistant Ricki, my husband and I really liked them and felt like they would be a great fit for my pregnancy. My husband is fairly skeptical of any kind of hippy, holistic medicine, but Melissa was great at balancing the holistic and scientific sides of midwifery, and I really appreciated that she never pushed me to try any of the more woo-woo aspects that can come up with a home birth (such as anything to do with the placenta that didn't involve disposing of it as medical waste or telling me that I need to eat any kind of specific diet or buy expensive products). All throughout my pregnancy, Melissa and Ricki were super supportive and answered all my questions really clearly and provided so much reassurance when I started feeling anxious. They were great about responding to texts and emails, and provided me with great care. I really liked having one hour appointments, so I had time to chat with them and get all my questions answered. I was able to get all the standard testing done through their office; Ricki drew my blood to get genetic testing done at 13 weeks at my regular appointment, and when it came time to do the gestational diabetes test, they sent me out to eat pancakes before they drew blood at my appointment - no nasty orange sugar drink for me! When we were nearing the end of my pregnancy, they visited my house to help us figure out the best place to set up their inflatable birthing pool, and answered all our questions about what it would look like when I went into labor. When my baby was overdue and then my water broke but labor didn't start, they gave me suggestions for how to try to naturally induce labor, and checked in with me every day to see how things were going and listen to the baby to make sure we were both staying healthy while we waited for labor. Unfortunately, none of that worked, I ended up having to be induced at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, but I was so thankful to have them on my side. They were there with me when we checked in at the hospital and prepared us for what the medical team was going to do to get labor going. Ricki was there to support us when my contractions were getting really strong, and Melissa made sure I only had the best doctors checking in on me. When my labor didn't progress as quickly as we were hoping, Melissa was there to answer all our questions about when they would start talking about c-sections and what that experience would be like. She was so supportive and caring as I watched all my birthing hopes and plans went right out the window. Perhaps the most important thing Melissa did, though, was to make sure my baby was able to start nursing as soon as possible. She checked on him in the nursery and told the nurses that they needed to give him to me right away to nurse. She then came and helped him latch on and showed me how to hold him and get him situated so I could do it on my own later. We have had so many friends who did not have that advocacy after their births who really struggled to breastfeed their babies, and I am so so thankful that Melissa was there to make sure we didn't miss the window to feed in the first hour. My baby has been a champion breastfeeder ever since, and we had so many fewer struggles in that regard. I also really appreciated that we had Melissa and Ricki to check in on us in the days and weeks post-partum. They texted, called, and visited us at the hospital and at home to see how we were doing and to answer any questions. I really feel like they helped get us off on the right foot, and I would absolutely use them again to try for an at home VBAC.

My last review was removed because I didn't provide enough "details" about my experience employing…read moreMelissa Dean as my midwife. So Yelp reviews have set standards in terms of the number of details you must leave now? Let me give you more details. These are my OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. DO NOT REMOVE THIS REVIEW. 1. Melissa was busy with other births all scheduled around the same time as mine. There ain't no way of scheduling your birth to be when someone else's birth isn't. FYI - it's her and Ricki. That's it. So when you in the middle of a 48hr labor and Melissa's been gone for 12hrs since you crawled on your hands and knees into SCVMC. Just realize that things could have gone differently. 2. If your baby has any number of problems that could be detected with modern tech, she cannot help you with that. She'll put you in touch with other facilities for ultrasounds etc. (all extra costs) but that should be a red flag. She really ain't scientifically or medically equipped to make decisions for you or your baby. All of your visits will be soothing and cozy. But your just paying for nothing more than contact with someone who has delivered babies away from hospitals. That's great. But sometimes problems can be prevented. 3. You will be charged the full amount no matter whether or not she does anything at all when you deliver apart from direct you to SCVMC hospital. 4. If you end up needing to go to the hospital she will ask you to drive yourself to SCVMC. And by the way, there are some really smart and talented medical staff there. In the end I owe them my life. But, are there also some not so great staff there? Most definitely, in my opinion. Will you have any idea who will be there? No. The doctors will also tell you point blank that you were naive (that's the nicest way I can think of describing what I was told by multiple nurses and doctors) to put your trust in a midwife like Melissa Dean. Hopefully you don't pay for that decision with your baby's or your own life. You won't need to be told that, you'll get that exact vibe from everyone there the minute she walks in. 5. If you end up at SCVMC, and there's a bed available for you after a few hours, and you get a doctor who isn't completely disgusted with you that you endangered your own life and the baby and now you're there begging for your life to saved.... *If* that happens, and if it does happen, and you're lucky to get away with your health and the baby's health. That's awesome. But if like me, you could be separated from your baby for a week because you almost died (doctor's words not mine) and your baby is on a ventilator in the NICU as a direct result of the trauma caused from not seeing a doctor earlier. 6. Finally, you'll have paid Melissa Dean and you will have to pay her 100% of her costs. But you should budget and figure out whether your insurance is accepted at SCVMC and what your costs will be for delivering there. It might be best if you don't have insurance because it is a teaching hospital and as far one of the doctors told me they won't turn away patients in need regardless of if they have insurance or not. How the bills work out afterward for everyone, I have no idea. But the bills I got from an emergency C section and a week in the NICU were, as you can imagine, astronomical. Why two stars and not one? Because she doesn't mean any harm and she's a nice person who believes what she's doing is a great service to people who want to deliver at home or with a midwife at a birthing center. But that's not always the case. My point in leaving a "review" that gives a different side to the one that Melissa Dean tells you is so that you can be informed and ask questions. Don't go into this process without having some sort of check on the facts of what you're getting yourself into. With hindsight, if I was to give advice and you really want to deliver at home, don't be afraid of it. But also have a plan B organized. And that means having a doctor that supports your decision and also can provide you with immediate care and deliver your baby for you at a moments notice. Check in with that doctor regularly. Ultimately I blame myself for not preparing in this way for my delivery. A doctor that can tell you it's okay for Melissa Dean to leave now and he/she can take over. And does that have enough detail? Or Will Melissa Dean complain again and have the review taken down again?

My experience with BAM was overwhelmingly positive. I say with true conviction that I don't believe…read moreI would have received better care, inclusive of my birthing experience anywhere else in the Bay Area. I am a first time mom, healthy overall physically/mentally, and was seeking a low intervention and unmedicated birth. I started my pregnancy with a well regarded OB in Palo Alto. During my time there I hadn't even met my doctor and was not given more than 5 minutes per appointment. It was impersonal and not a fit, so I decided to change practices and make the long drive (I live in Redwood City) to BAM. My first appointment with BAM was night and day and continued that way through my entire pregnancy. Every midwife is professional, knowledgable, and kind. They all care deeply for their patients and take as much time as needed to discuss questions or concerns. After each appointment I'd receive notes with follow ups, and if I ever had any additional questions I could easily message them and they'd reply so quickly. I felt secure and supported leading up to my delivery. If there was ever a decision to be made, (ex. vaccines, GBS treatment, due date) the options were discussed in an evidence-based conversation without judgment and completely empowering me to make the decision - I was NEVER pushed into any medical intervention. In fact, when I had concerns over something, Lin called me on her day off to help. This is what I mean by exceptional support and care. During my delivery in Feb 2023, I was supported by Lin, Danielle, and my doula Tara Gomez. I had a long and challenging labor but ultimately was able to deliver my baby girl safely, without an epidural. I owe this completely to the care and support I was given. I am convinced, had I given birth with a traditional OB, I would have experienced many more interventions and would not have been able to deliver naturally. The entire experience was incredibly empowering! Lin is the best of the best in this field, being a midwife for over 40 years and delivering over 7,000 babies. I am just one of those numbers, but I will never forget the level of expertise she brought to my baby's birth. Regardless of where I live in the Bay Area, I plan to come back to BAM for any future pregnancy. I cannot recommend this practice more and I am SO grateful for these midwives and this practice. I trust them wholeheartedly and wish more women could have this type of prenatal/delivery experience!

BAM was the best decision I could have made for my prenatal care and delivery. Danielle delivered…read moremy baby and I will forever be grateful to her for the way she made me feel bringing my baby into the world! I did not feel comfortable with the get in get out method that a lot of traditional OBs or hospital offices have and really felt holistically cared for in this office. The midwives are connected to and well regarded by other Perinatal professionals in the community (chiropractors, Doulas, PTs). I knew I wanted a low intervention birth, and was looking for midwifery style care, but also wanted to deliver in a hospital and this was the perfect scenario. In the delivery room, I really would have trusted all four midwives and knew that they always had my well-being in mind.