Recruiting Aliya as my midwife was hands down the best decision I made for my pregnancy and birth. She completely transformed my idea of what medical care can be - kind, attentive, family-centered, empowered. She helped me unlock my own power, not just during my baby's birth, but in all of the months leading up to it. Now, nearly a year after my baby was born, I still feel so lucky for the gift of a home birth with Aliya. My older child still talks about listening to our baby's heartbeat on the couch, I still drink her tea recipe, and we have a friend for life. Here's how home midwifery care worked with Aliya: Have you ever had a medical appointment that was actually fun? I have with Aliya! She came to me in the comfort of my home for every prenatal appointment. We'd listen to the baby's heartbeat, check their position, discuss questions. It was amazing not to have to go to a clinic or a hospital. No rushed appointments, no rotating door of staff. She'd stay for an hour. She involved my older child and listened to my partner's questions and comments as much as mine. She provided recipes, nutrition advice, videos to watch, books to read, doulas to know. She supported me and my whole family in a deep way that goes far beyond just measuring baby's size and taking blood. This time in the prenatal appointments built so much trust and comfort inside my own home that when it came time to give birth, it felt seamless, easy, safe and comfortable. No fear, no stress. I had already formed a close relationship with her, so she knew exactly how to support me. She met me right where I was -- physically and mentally. I love a photo that my partner took of Aliya down on the ground listening to the baby while I labored at the edge of the couch. After the birth, she felt like my constant companion. She visited regularly to check in on myself, the baby, and the rest of my family. We texted constantly - if it wasn't me with some question, it was her just checking in. She cozied up in bed with me while I recovered and we talked about whatever. She made me tea. It was everything you want in the weeks after giving birth and nothing you don't. I looked forward to every visit and was truly sad when I knew our birthing adventure had to come to an end. If you are considering a homebirth, this is your gal! You will not regret having a brilliant and tuned-in midwife in your corner (literally in your house) during such a special time in your family's life. We love you, Aliya! read more

I highly recommend Birthing Adventures in Midwifery. As a Nurse practitioner I am very aware of our current medical model of birth and the often high number of interventions used during birth. When you need an intervention they are great but for our healthy/uncomplicated pregnancy and birth I really wanted to do a home birth. I really enjoyed both Aliya and Kara right from the first zoom call. They were very knowledgeable and both empathetic and frank about my first time Mom anxieties. I also really appreciated their involvement of my husband and pup. Not everyone can accommodate a 75 pound dog but he got lots of love during visits and was present for the whole birth. They were patient and caring with all of us! As a medical provider I have to say having hour long prenatal visits at your house is AMAZING and rare. Nothing ever felt rushed. By the time the birth happened I already felt comfortable with Aliya and Kara in our space. Birth was hard work but I felt very supported the whole time. The follow up visits after the birth were equally wonderful and really allowed of us to heal and spend time with our new baby. They were very available for phone check ins and concerns that came up post birth. Shout out to their midwifery student, who was also our doula, Alia. The whole team was wonderful. I had the birth I wanted and felt very empowered through it. It was a sad last visit at 6 weeks postpartum as we had become accustomed to seeing them regularly. If/when we have a second child we would 100% work with the team again. I really can't stress how happy we were with the whole experience. Images from our great photographer: Azara Images read more

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It is time to give my review. Truthfully, it was hard to begin because I wanted to do Aliya and Kara the justice of the most honest, heartfelt review I could manage. They deserve every single thing I am about to write. If you're looking for a short and sweet snippet here it is: They provide absolutely beautiful and life-changing prenatal, birth, and post partum care. Yes, I said life-changing because my midwives went on the most beautiful chaotic life with me and my family. They buckled in with their whole hearts and my heart recognized their genuine respect, love, and care for me. They listen. Truly listen. To every single thing. They dance your dance. They match your rhythm. They come prepared with the knowledge of professional, seasoned midwives and the heart and spirit of a brand new midwives (meaning their energy and love for this is massively apparent with every single interaction you have. READ ON FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO KARA AND ALIYA ARE: A little about me: I was a mid-twenty year old Latina-indigenous dentified woman pregnant with my second baby. It must also be highlighted that it was a solo pregnancy (therefore finding the people who could manage the vulnerability and complexity of that was really important). From the moment we met on our virtual interview in November 2020, something just felt "right." They were the first people I interviewed, so I felt that my due diligence would require I interview others. I ended up interviewing 5 other midwives, and 1 other midwife team. In that time I emailed Aliya to ask, "how much time do I have before you need an answer?" Her response was so congruent with Birthing Adventure's beliefs, "we want you to make this decision with your whole heart, " meaning TAKE YOUR TIME. Do what you gotta do. It's a huge decision. And I felt honored. Aliya is intelligent, gentle, intuitive and rallies for her clients in ways that I admire and truly hope to aspire to embody one day. Kara brings a gentle, nurturing energy that envelops the room during prenatal and post partum care. Her gentle, expansive spirit creates ease immediately. Together, they form an incredibly beautiful team--you, your baby, and your family become immersed and together everyone becomes the most amazing birth team. I would even go as far as to say, that I truly believe they were meant to cross paths because what they provide together is...beyond words. I began care with Kara and Aliya at about 15 weeks pregnant, they became FAMILY. They respected my community, where others might have looked at my situation and my community and raised an eyebrow, they never did. The respect for my indigenous beliefs, my unusual structure of family, and who I was and what I needed was always there. I was able to discuss healthcare inequity and concerns with them comfortably. Everyone who saw, witnessed, or participated in my prenatal and post partum care said they had never witnessed care so deeply committed to the whole dignity of the birthing person, the family, and the unique set of LIFE that makes each unit unique, beautiful and magical. Giving birth to my son at home was an experience I will never, ever forget. Having my 8 year old daughter, doula, and friend there in the middle of a pandemic was invaluable. I gave birth in dignity, surrounded by genuine love, safely, and in my entire power with them. I could never explain how magical it is to work with them. Truly, I am so grateful that I found them. They changed my storyline. I am sure of that. They really went on a WHOLE adventure with me. And I love them for it! Extras: they do all blood work at home! I got to lay in my bed, comfortably. Prenatal visits at home are amazing. And never having to leave anywhere after birth is such a game changer. read more

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Working with Aliya and Kara is easily the best decision my husband and I have made as a couple. Their deep presence, shared wisdom, great sense of humor, and constant love and care is unparalleled, especially from a health care provider. I cannot imagine pregnancy, labor and the fourth trimester without them and wish that everyone could have access to such incredible support. During the early prenatal visits, Kara and Aliya do an excellent job of building rapport, providing resources, and making you feel seen. Our visits would stretch for hours, and every question, worry and irrational fear was responded to with love and care. They were such a grounding presence during pregnancy and helped me feel safe, confident, and excited to meet my baby. Labor was also incredible. The team made me feel like a bad-ass birthing goddess. I don't think I would have ever been able to push my little boy out without Aliya's guidance and encouragement. And then getting tucked into bed that night with a bowl of soup and our little nugget... this is the stuff of dreams! And then there was the postpartum care, truly an unexpected and magical delight. By now, Kara and Aliya felt like family BUT the kind of family who has all the answers, always refills your peri bottles with fresh sitz herbs, and makes you feel like you can do it even when you have no idea what you are doing. It's really special. If you are even considering a home birth, do it and do it with Birthing Adventures. They are absolutely amazing, I cannot recommend them enough. Working with them was a life changing experience for our family, thank you! read more

I'm so so appreciative for the incredible care I received from Kara, Aliya &, their midwife-in-training, Alia! I want to sing from the treetops how incredible my experience was working with them. If you are considering a homebirth, this is your team! What a beautiful contrast my experience with Birthing Adventures was from my first hospital birth experience. That experience was teaming with midwives and educational classes but I learned so much more from the individual time a d care I received from Birthing Adventures. In fact, it helped me heal from a lot of the hardships of my first birth. Working with them is not just about a homebirth, which I felt super well-cared for, but a huge part of the wonderfulness is the home aspect of the prenatal and postnatal care. The simple fact that I didn't have to take my brand new little baby into a germy doctor's office or hospital in the first few weeks of her life was pretty magical. I was a little scared away by the price at first, but as I researched: $8k is pretty standard for taking this process out of the factory setting of the hospital. Now on the other side: I see the price as an incredible investment in my well-being and my baby's health and my family's happiness. What a worthy life event to spend your money on and insurance might even reimburse you. If you are reading this pregnant, congrats! You've got the amazing potential for an incredible journey ahead of you! I think your chances are much better to have a well-cared-for experience if you choose to make it a Birthing Adventure! read more

I cannot recommend Aliya and Kara more highly for their support, professionalism and empathy. From the home visits during pregnancy, to an amazing birth in our apartment, and finally to the unexpectedly deep and supportive post-natal care, I cannot imagine having gone through this journey without them. Their expertise and bearing erased any lingering doubts I had about doing a homebirth. Aliya and Kara as a team did such an amazing job, and they each bring their own strengths and genuine personalities to their work. We looked forward to their prenatal visits every time. Their post-natal support helped us immensely - navigating the doubts, questions and plain old logistics of being a new parent. Their help gave us confidence and trust in what we were doing and the parents we are becoming. Looking at back this now - the visits after the birth - I cannot imagine going through this with only a 2 week visit to the pediatrician. For myself - I felt like an equal partner in our discussions and never felt like I was left in the backseat as the man in this experience. My wife was appropriately the center of attention and care, but I always felt like I had an equal voice to ask questions, bring up concerns, and be educated. The birth itself was everything we could have hoped for - they were there for my wife and I, professional and safety first for our child, and helped us have the homebirth that we wanted. I felt like we had old friends there with us for such an unforgettable and joyous moment. If you are looking for midwives - have a chat with Aliya and Kara - they are such wonderful people. read more

We chose home birth because wanted the consistency of the midwife model of care, the assurance that I would not be subject unnecessary interventions that often come with a hospital birth, and the comfort and familiarity of our home during what we assumed would be an intense experience. Aliya was our first choice for a midwife because of her qualifications not only as a midwife but also as a women's healthcare provider, and upon interviewing with her we knew immediately that we wanted to work with her. Prenatal visits in our home were a breeze, a lot of them happening on Saturdays which was perfect as it meant I wasn't taking so much time out from work to go to the hospital. In addition to checking on the growth of the baby and my physical health, we really appreciated that Aliya would check in with my husband and I about our mental health at every visit. Tests that could be administered at home were, and Aliya was clear with instructions for what appointments to request at our backup hospital for tests and ultrasounds that needed to be done there. Aliya has a biller who takes care of all insurance details, which is a godsend for anyone like me who is terrified of paperwork and bureaucracy. Throughout my pregnancy and especially during the birth itself, Aliya made it clear to me that choices about my pregnancy and my baby were mine to make, and that she was there to advise me and to answer questions. I liked knowing that I was steering the ship, but trusted Aliya to grab the wheel in any instance where she felt that there might have been a danger to myself or the baby. I loved that she was easily reachable via phone, text or email to answer questions and give advice outside of our scheduled appointments, and always in a timely manner. Aliya made me feel supported and championed through the entire experience from our first prenatal appointment until our final 6-week postpartum checkup and especially during the birth itself. We ended up going to the hospital the day after my baby was born as he was a large baby and his blood glucose levels were lower than they should have been. We spent about 30 hours in the NICU, and Aliya was there with us for a lot of it, coming with us to the hospital when we initially went and returning the next day to check on us all. The nurses and doctors were all very nice, but it was wonderful to have Aliya there to answer any medical questions about the birth or my care that my husband and I couldn't respond to from memory, and to parse any medicalese that we couldn't quite grasp. One of the biggest things that struck me about working with Aliya was the joy she expressed whenever she would check on the baby as he grew, and the genuine love and concern she felt for our family through the entire experience. We feel so lucky to have been able to work with her, and would not hesitate to do so again if we have another baby in the Bay Area. We have already recommended her to some friends who are expecting and hoping to have a home birth. read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Aliya weighs my baby in our home at our 1-month postpartum check up. - Midwives Near Me

I am so grateful we chose Kara and Aliya as our midwives. They come to you for every appointment as well as the birth and are a well balanced, capable, and caring team. Alongside their excellent prenatal care they build comfort and trust with you which aids in the best birthing experience possible. During the birth they followed my lead, and offered guidance and support whenever it was needed. They really shine in postpartum care offering emotional support, breastfeeding help, advice on how to manage sleep and so much more. We originally planned to have our baby at a birth center, but when we came across Birthing Adventures, we were intrigued. We did a zoom meet and greet to learn more about them and home-birth. We knew by the end of the call that we had found our midwives! Aliya is a Certified Nurse Midwife whose many year's experience working in labor and delivery brought us a sense of assurance, and Kara began as a doula before becoming a Certified Professional Midwife, bringing the experience of holding space and attention. We think the balance they bring to each other makes for a powerfully effective team. For us, the jump from birth center to home-birth wasn't a huge transition, and I was grateful this meant I would not have to labor in a car! In fact, it felt like they brought the birth center to us. They have many tools on hand including IV's, catheters, birth pool, Pitocin, oxygen, etc. This gave me and my husband peace of mind and comfort. It was so convenient to have them come to our home for every visit, not just the birth. They can even take blood, send it off to a lab for tests and screenings, perform the GBS test, and Diabetes screen all from the comfort of your own home. Their prenatal care, birth support, and postpartum care were more than I could have imagined. They offered loving support, knowledge, and attention to mine and the baby's physical well-being as well as to my husband and my emotional well-being. They addressed anxieties and fears and also shared in my excitement and joys, giving attention to emotions as they arose. I always looked forward to our prenatal appointments. They not only took my and my baby's vitals at each visit, but they really took their time answering and addressing the plethora of questions that would inevitably arise (as pregnancy can be such a wild ride). Our bodies do change daily! It felt like I was talking to dear friends as they are both incredible empathetic listeners who are also honest and caring. They also offered questions and topics for us to consider to support me in having the healthiest pregnancy possible and for us to plan and prepare for the birth as well as postpartum. In addition to these wonderful women and my husband on my birth team, I also had a friend acting as my doula. They welcomed her with open arms to the team, including her in my prenatal visits towards the end. I do encourage having a doula when choosing home-birth as the added support in early labor was great. During active labor, everyone worked so well together. I always had someone with me, which was what I wanted. They were very attuned to my needs, offering water, food, hot/cold towels, and more. They encouraged me to trust my body and my intuition during labor but offered guidance when I needed it. If I felt I was at a crossroads, or struggling, they had ideas. Ideas to move my labor forward, how to get rest, position changes, etc. Whatever it was I was needing, they were there supporting me through it. They are highly skilled not only with the birthing support but with the medical side as well. They are so well educated, experienced, and capable; I felt like I was in excellent hands and at ease with their care throughout the entire experience. My husband was equally impressed with our midwives. We decided to do a home birth together and having experienced medical professionals to guide us through the process put his mind at ease. He says that they included him in the decision-making process during labor, and took the time to explain what was happening when he asked for more information. The postpartum care Aliya and Kara provide is far greater than the care we would have received elsewhere. They visited us 24 and 72 hours post-birth. Then at weeks 1, 2, 4, & 6 postpartum! Each postpartum visit included checking my healing progress and tracking baby's weight gain, health, and stats. They helped us navigate this crazy transition into parenthood giving us invaluable advice and support on how to manage sleep, breastfeeding, nutrition, and mental/emotional support. I'm eleven weeks postpartum and we miss them already! They became part of our community and such an important part of our lives during this major life event. We know they are just a phone call/text away and are there for us if we need them. If you are looking for midwives, look no further as Kara and Aliya are a wonderful team and you would be so lucky to have them with you on your birthing journey! read more

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Kara and Aliya (and their student midwife Alia) are the team that every birthing person deserves. They do much more than just take care of your physical health and your baby. They tend to your emotional and mental health, support your partner, and bring your older children along on the journey. With this team, your whole family is cared for before, during, and after your baby's birth. When I became pregnant with our second daughter, I was undecided on where to give birth. I had a wonderful experience at the birth center for my first birth, but was intrigued by home births, as well. Three factors that excited me about home births were: the possibility of all appointments taking place in my home, my toddler being included in appointments and potentially the birth, and the fact that I wouldn't have to get in the car and go to another location during labor. When looking for a homebirth midwife, I checked out the San Francisco Homebirth Collective's website. The first practice that popped up was Birthing Adventures Midwifery. I didn't scroll much further, because I realized that Kara was the assisting midwife at my first daughter's birth and even though our time together was brief, she made a big impact on me and my birth. I also immediately loved the idea of working with a duo--two warm spirits, two minds, two perspectives. After having a Zoom call with both of them, my partner and I knew that they were our midwives and felt excited to have our first homebirth. Each prenatal visit was a therapy session, a clinical visit, a date with friends, and a playdate for our toddler all rolled into one--they were comprehensive and full of laughter. My whole family looked forward to each prenatal visit. Kara and Aliya are so knowledgeable and were able to answer all of our questions from baby's health, to updates on the pandemic, to updates on my thyroid medication. Their visits never felt rushed and often lasted 90 minutes or longer. Kara, Aliya, and Alia quickly felt like family. Kara, Aliya, and Alia were so thoughtful when it was time for our team meeting at 36 weeks. They called it a "birthday planning party" and brought party hats and treats for our toddler. They incorporated her into the prenatal visits and she got excited about measuring my belly and using the fetoscope. This is just one of the ways that they showed up for my whole family. Kara and Alia supported me at my 40 week appointment when some mild anxiety started to creep in about baby arriving past 42 weeks. With their support I felt at ease and about 36 hours later, I went into labor. My labor progressed swiftly and the midwives showed up shortly after my wonderful doula did. I was eager to get into the birth tub and my partner and birth team quickly worked to get it set up. After 2+ hours of pushing, I was starting to feel depleted, but I savored the encouraging words from Kara and Alia and felt at ease knowing I was in their care. They soon asked if I needed to use the restroom. I didn't feel like getting out of the tub, but I was willing to do what it took to move things along. They helped me out of the tub and to the bathroom. As they assumed, getting up and walking pushed my labor along and I gave birth to my daughter in the doorway to our bathroom. I was deeply focused, but my birth team quickly surrounded me in the hallway and Kara was there to catch my daughter. They grabbed our couch cushions and made a cozy place for my baby and I to lay in the minutes after her birth. My partner got our toddler and we had this wonderful moment as a new family of four with our incredible birth team. I had never felt so at home. The postpartum visits were so comprehensive. The team checked in on my emotional state, as well as the physical health of myself and my newborn daughter. She had a shallow latch, so they spent a lot of time providing lactation advice, as well. My baby and I were set up for success and I healed very quickly and she gained weight so well that the pediatrician was blown away. I feel so fortunate to know Kara, Aliya, and Alia and to now call them friends. My partner and I are grateful that with their care, our daughter has had an incredible, healthy start to her life--a foundation that will pay dividends for years to come. read more

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I gave birth to my second son at home under the medical care and loving vigilance of Aliya Caler, CNM. I could not have asked for a better experience in terms of prenatal, birth and postpartum care. Aliya is very kind and professional. I had not doubt in my mind that Aliya could provide me with a safe homebirth. I knew that she would check for everything and let me know, so we could talk about it and make a decision together. She was trained at UCSF, which provides cutting-edge training in midwifery. I knew that she had our best interest at heart, which makes a huge difference in terms of comfort and safety. She is extremely calm and caring. I loved her calming presence. At the beginning of my labor, Aliya arrived with another midwife (Kara Engelbrecht) and they came to say hi. I was lying on my side in bed, trying to relax among contractions. It felt like two friends came to say hello, in the comfort and peace of my own home. I had completely underestimated the importance of being surrounded by familiarity when you give birth. I did not even have to leave my bed. Aliya came to me and just took care of me. She also sometimes left me alone to give me some privacy as everything was going smoothly. At some point, she asked if I felt the urge to push, which surprised me, because I did feel like pushing, but had not yet realized it. It is as if she knew better than me what I was feeling. So she checked my dilation and I started pushing. My baby was born a few minutes later, surrounded by the comfort, love and peace. I would like to provide an example of how dedicated and loving Aliya is. A few hours after giving birth in my own bed, Aliya accompanied me to the bathroom. She asked me if I was OK. I replied "of course! I have never felt faint in my whole life". Just as I was standing up, I felt extremely dizzy and about to feel faint. Immediately, Aliya called the other midwife and they helped me lie down on the floor. Aliya rushed downstairs and prepared a delicious bowl with yogurt, bananas, and cashews, that was soon to be spoon-fed to me while I was recovering on the ground. This was one of the most tender and loving moments of my whole life. I can not believe the kindness that inhabits Aliya. The kindness and love of Aliya has continued through postpartum care. It was unparalleled to have her come over and check on every issue with us. I felt really supported as I was recovering from the birth. And now almost 5 months after birth, we often keep in touch via text message. It is incredible to benefit from such care. Aliya clearly loves her job. It's not her job, it's her calling. I wish that everybody could benefit from such unparalleled, cutting-edge and luxurious care. The world would be a better place. read more

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A dad's review here. Having gone through the experience of starting off thinking a home birth was unnecessary I am now very thankful I enlisted Birthing Adventures for our home birth. The first couple of doctor visits while we were still on the conventional hospital birthing path were much briefer than we needed and the substitute for this attention seemed to be a bag of books and pamphlets which I mostly had already found online. In contrast, Aliya (our midwife from Birthing Adventures) became a very trusted advisor through her hour long visits with us leading up to the birth. Though I could sense she had opinions about everything we talked about I never felt pressured to do one thing or the other because of those opinions. Her competence and attention made myself and my partner feel special and eased our minds when considering the daunting task of gestating and birthing a little one. I never felt sidelined or railroaded and can't speak highly enough of the expertise with which Aliya mixed professionalism and friendliness. In fact, when I voiced concerns I think that Aliya helped me by making sure my partner and I addressed those concerns even when my partner was dismissive or reluctant. As the non-birthing partner I felt listened to and considered by Aliya in a way I don't think I've felt by a medical professional in a very long time. You will get more attention, more empowerment, and more optionality in your birth by using Birthing Adventures. For example, I knew that even if things didn't go as we had planned during the birth and we had to go to the hospital, Aliya would go to the hospital with us and having Aliya with us would be a powerful thing because every decision or action taken at that hospital Aliya would consult with and explain to us, something I have heard and seen be a difficult thing to get when at a hospital. As for my partner, who brought our son into this world I will say that as I see it her physical and mental health were greatly served by the amount of time we got from Birthing Adventures before our birth and in the weeks since. Also, our son is very healthy and doing wonderful and what more could you really ask for than a happy wife and a happy baby? Birthing Adventures gets an A+ from me. read more

I am so glad I had a home birth with Birthing Adventures Midwifery! Aliya, Kara, and Alia provided excellent care before, during, and after the birth of our first baby. I research pregnancy and birth for my dissertation, and, unfortunately, I rarely hear of such knowledgeable and supportive providers. From the start, the BAM team made clear they would support the decisions my spouse and I made. I knew I wanted true bodily autonomy, and I didn't have to fight for it. They provided research- and experience- based information for key decisions and answered our questions. Because they visited us so often, they got to know us and our preferences (yes on data, no on spirituality). My pregnancy went smoothly, but I still worried. They helped quell my anxieties, which were primarily about not being able to have a home birth. Kara did the majority of prenatal visits, and her kindness and sense of humor helped put me at ease. Fortunately, the homebirth went smoothly. I felt safe and supported from the start. We hired midwife-in-training Alia to be our doula as well, and she helped me breathe through each contraction. She brought her TENS unit, which helped with the back labor. Her presence was very calming. She communicated with Aliya so my spouse and I could just focus on managing surges. The team encouraged me to follow my instincts and preferences during labor, but they also provided suggestions for positions and more effective vocalizations. They did not check dilation, which allowed me to focus on each surge rather than worry (much) about labor progress. The birth tub the BAM team provides was so comfortable and helpful. I was not excited about it before birth, but I am so glad they provided one! I also initially didn't think I wanted pictures or videos, but I'm very glad they took some and made some cool placenta art (all at my request - they value true consent). After birth, they facilitated skin-to-skin and helped with early latching. They had different tools (pitocin, herbs/tinctures) to help me birth the placenta. I had a vaginal tear that Aliya sewed up, and it seemed complicated! Kara and Alia came the day after birth, and Aliya came a few days later. They checked the baby, but they also checked on me! Their care continued after birth, so we didn't repeatedly go to the pediatrician in the early days. They helped with breastfeeding, which was key because our son had tongue ties (which Aliya had quickly identified). I'm sad I don't have the midwife visits to look forward to anymore. I wish there were midwives for early parenting! I'm looking forward to the next pregnancy - I will definitely email them ASAP. read more

Are you the partner of a soon-to-be mama who wants you to consider an at-home birth? About one year ago, I was in your shoes. When my wife told me I was going to be a dad, I was ecstatic. When she asked me how I felt about bringing our baby into the world at home, I was curious but a bit hesitant. She had already done a lot of research and felt fairly confident that she wanted to avoid the hospital and the potential "cascade of interventions," among many other concerns. Above all, she wanted to be cared for in a personal way and to be nurtured so that her body would be allowed to do what it is designed by nature to do. She wanted the journey before, during, and after birth to be beautiful. She had done her research and knew what she wanted. My learning process was just beginning, but my wife's confidence in knowing what she felt was best for her body and our baby gave me the initial confidence in taking those first steps forward with her. When we met Aliya and Kara, my confidence in our new journey increased exponentially. From our very first meeting, I knew we would be in the best of hands. Aliya and Kara are not only extremely knowledgeable and experienced midwives, but their genuine care and warmth make you feel like family. With every discussion and shared resource, my knowledge of the process and sense of being a supportive partner improved. Understanding that there's a lot to process for both mama and partner, they make themselves available to answer questions and listen patiently. As my wife mentioned in her review, Kara and Aliya were amazing on our son's birth day. They helped me be in the right places and do the right things to support my wife. Much of that was already part of our preparation in the weeks and months leading up to the big day, so I felt ready to do my part. The experience was transcendent! My wife was able to catch our son and bring him to the surface, and we all embraced as a new family. It was the most powerful experience of our lives, and we give Aliya and Kara so much gratitude for that. Their unwavering support continued in the days and weeks postpartum. They helped us with so many needs, from the subtle ways to hold and rock baby to sleep to breastfeeding support. It made my life as a new dad significantly more relaxing so I could spend more time bonding with my new family. I'm so happy we made the right choice in taking this journey with Aliya and Kara as our midwives. We are looking forward to working with them again! read more

Aliya and Kara are the best. I couldn't be more grateful and happy that I've found them and got to be cared for by them during this incredible journey. It's my first baby, and after a lot of thinking and reading, I decided I wanted a home birth. I'm so happy I did, and I'm so happy I found Kara & Aliya. It's amazing to be cared for by people who truly know you, *want* to get to know you, truly care about who you are and what you want, and are there to support MY individual journey -- as opposed to hospital workers who don't have the privilege of really knowing their patients simply because there are so many. Our prenatal visits were wonderful. I always looked forward to them. It was during the summer so we did the talking part out in the backyard - it was so fun! It's such a luxury to have your midwives come to your home and have unrushed time to share -- share what's going on with me, my body, and my head. And to have my partner at the visits, too! I was also doing my prenatal visits at Kaiser in parallel, and it was like night and day. A) I could only have my husband visit 2 of the appointments throughout the whole pregnancy at Kaiser (and only for, like 5 mins, while they do the ultrasound), and B) there wasn't anything worth visiting for him. What a stark difference with the home visits with Kara & Aliya - they addressed the many questions (and emotions and fears) he had, and even taught him how to feel the baby in my belly and understand how he's positioned! At Kaiser, I was meeting a new midwife at each of my prenatal visits; the thought of not actually knowing who'd be attending my birth was crazy to me. I wanted to have people I knew well and trusted by my side. On to the birth itself: it went great. To start, it was awesome to be able to text and call my midwife the moment my labor started and keep her updated on the progress of early labor (and be reassured that everything was going great). When labor intensified and my primary midwife, Aliya, and the team's midwife-in-training, Alia, came to our house. At first, they mostly stayed out of the way, just taking the important measurements and reassuring me that I was doing everything right. There was a moment during my labor when Aliya asked if she could check my dilation. They don't do that routinely, but she wanted to have a better sense of where I was in labor. She found that I was fully dilated on the right side of the cervix but not on the left, and she asked if she could help the cervix dilate with her hand on the side where it wasn't. She did that; it took about an hour for the cervix to dilate fully, then I started pushing right away and had my baby shortly thereafter! If it wasn't for Aliya's call to do that, I might have been laboring for God knows how long, could have gotten too exhausted and who knows what would happen. I'm so grateful she made that call and did what needed to be done successfully. And now, to the final and maybe the best part (all parts are the best as they happen, though): postpartum visits. I don't even understand how women in the first weeks after birth go to a hospital for visits. That's crazy! You should be staying in bed and your home, caring for yourself and the baby. It was so, so, so wonderful to have Aliya and Kara come to us, do all of the exams in my bed with the baby on me, and be able to text them if anything seemed out of the ordinary. And again, it just makes such a difference when your medical professionals actually know you and care for you as a human. I know that me and my baby are not just #7 in their shift, and that they're not going to give me a templated answer. Having heard stories from my friends who had babies in the hospital, I feel like there are SO many things that we did right thanks to Aliya and Kara in the moments and weeks after birth that set me up for success with breastfeeding and my personal healing. I can go on and on about Aliya and Kara (and Alia!) - they are truly amazing professionals and wonderful people. I felt cared for each moment of the way - prenatally, during birth, and postpartum. If and when there's baby #2, I'm definitely going back to them! read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - The Birthing Adventures team and me at the last postpartum visit. - Midwives Near Me

I wish I had found Kara and Aliya sooner!! I knew from the start of my pregnancy that I wanted an intervention free, 100% natural birth. As I started to do more research on how to make this happen, I started to feel like achieving this in a traditional hospital setting was going to be difficult, even with the presence of a doula. I originally looked at birthing centers but they were either all full for my due date or they were too far away. So, at 28 weeks, I decided to switch from my traditional OBGYN to midwives and a homebirth. Kara and Aliya were the first homebirth midwives we interviewed and even over Zoom we immediately had a connection with them. They were warm, vibrant, confident, and passionate about being midwives. They answered all of our questions and concerns clearly and without any judgment. Their confidence and knowledge helped calm my husband's fears and concerns about the safety of homebirth. After that initial meeting, I knew that Aliya and Kara were the right fit for us. We did our due diligence and interviewed a few other midwives but they just weren't A + K. We went from run of the mill 15 minute OBGYN appointments of checking baby's heartbeat and fundal height measurements to hour and a half to two hour in-home appointments. I looked forward to every single visit with Kara and Aliya and I would genuinely be a little sad when they had to go to their next appointment. A + K are more than health care providers, they become part of your family and they genuinely care for you and your partner; they even loved our kitties! The in-home prenatal visits are amazing. They truly take the time to make sure that not only is baby doing well but they make sure that you and your partner are also doing well physically, mentally, and emotionally. They will sit there with you and talk about anything and everything with open ears and hearts, no judgment. I truly felt cared for and felt like I was their only client versus feeling like one of many pregnant women that my OBGYN saw on a daily basis. Come birth day Aliya and Kara were amazing. They worked seamlessly with my doula, who none of us had ever met since my original doula was with another client who was also in labor. They arrived exactly when they needed to and helped direct my husband on setting up the birthing tub. They will be hands on as much as you want or they will hang back and just hold space for you if that's what you want. While I was in labor land they consistently checked on me and baby to make sure we were both progressing well and they were there when I needed some words of encouragement. Shoutout to Kara for applying pressure to my perineum the entire time I was pushing when I told her I couldn't do it myself and she would have to do it! They knew I had a fear of tearing and they did everything they could in the moment to help prevent that and give me reminders to breathe my baby down. Baby boy arrived safely and I only had one very small tear that did not need any stitches and healed perfectly well on its own. Their postpartum care is PHENOMENAL! Even if I ended up having a hospital birth for whatever reason, their postpartum care alone would be worth signing a contract with them. As first time parents with no family to help us, their care for all of us after baby's arrival was invaluable. Over the course of 10 weeks they came to check on us 8 times. We had lots of nursing issues and weight gain issues and both Kara and Aliya worked close with us as well as helped us with finding lactation consultants and specialists to help with these issues. They are there for both you and your partner 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns. I sent videos to make sure baby's breathing was okay, I sent pictures of poopy diapers to make sure everything was okay, they will even sit on the phone with you if you just need a friend because postpartum is HARD and they understand that. I honestly think that my postpartum experience would not have been as good as it was if it were not for A+K. They really helped both me and my husband navigate our new roles and help us become the confident first time parents that we are today. I cried at the end of our very last postpartum appointment because I was soooo sad that they wouldn't be visiting us every couple weeks anymore. Baby boy is 6 months old and they still check in on us from time to time, are always willing to answer a question, and always welcome pictures and updates about baby! I can't wait to have another homebirth with Kara and Aliya as the midwives.w read more

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It's funny to review someone who had such an incredibly personal and powerful impact on your life on Yelp, but that is what Aliya did for me. We knew we wanted a home birth and we knew we wanted a midwife, and when I met Aliya, I knew we wanted her! She was so warm and friendly, she listened to me throughout my pregnancy oh, and really got to know me so that when I was in labor she could anticipate my needs. The best midwife sits and watches and waits and knows when they are needed, hands on or hands off. Her presence was soft, never overbearing, and her gentle smile was the most comforting thing in the whole world while we birthed. If you are trying to decide if you want to go with a midwife and for a home birth, there are a lot of questions you have to ask yourself and your partner. Something that was important to us was that we had a midwife who was experienced, had a really clear set of protocols for unplanned/unexpected outcomes in labor, and who respected our input and choices for our birth and our baby. She was excellent at providing comprehensive prenatal care. It is INCREDIBLE to get home visits during pregnancy and afterwards. No offices, no lines, no parking fiascos. We had an hour each appointment to measure and chat and grow our relationship. We knew that my health and my baby's health and progress we're being monitored and measured in the exact same quantities as in hospital/in office care, but we had a thousand times more of a personal experience. Aliya helped us get our son ready for his baby sister by involving him in my care. He often held the stethoscope and the tape measure over my belly as we listened to heartbeats and calculated my fundal height every visit. He felt very comfortable around her and around me as my labor began. That was really special to us. Having the right people around you when you are in labor makes SUCH a different. In fact, we decided to have a "birth party" and invited a dozen close friends to come labor with us. Aliya worked around our friends and family and was great. I can't say enough about Aliya and midwifery care in general, but if you want to learn more about midwives, you can do so here: cnma.org. That's where I found Aliya! read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Moments from our home birth with the incredible Aliya Caler, the Birthing Adventures team, and many of our friends and family. - Midwives Near Me

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Aliya is an amazing woman and extremely skillful midwife. I was planning a hospital birth until the pandemic hit. When that happened, my partner and I decided to pivot and plan a homebirth to ease our anxiety and avoid exposure. We interviewed six midwives and all were great, but Aliya really stuck out as the midwife I wanted. She is clearly very smart, relatable, quick-witted, down-to-earth, calming, but also gives it to you straight. She has a Masters in Public Health, which seems like a great adjunct knowledge base for a global pandemic. All in all, I just really like being around Aliya and trust her judgement. She is warm and easy to talk to. Our prenatal visits really helped me feel prepared for birth and grounded for whatever might come my way. Thank goodness for that, because my birth plan and my actual birth were vastly different. Feeling so supported and understood at the outset made it all okay. Also, Aliya encouraged me to take a hypnobirthing course and that was key to my having a good labor.  My labor began slowly in fits and starts and lasted a couple days at home. Aliya came over and evaluated my progress and made sure my husband and I were supported. After that, I ended up needing to transfer to the hospital because there was meconium in the amniotic fluid when my water broke. Aliya kept me calm and met us at the hospital and stayed there with us for another two days. She helped me meditate and breathe through the labor and understand all the options that were being presented at the hospital. Aliya advocated for me and having an unmedicated birth, even when my labor wasn't progressing the way the hospital might have liked. She and my husband took shifts taking naps, so I always had support. She understood where I was without my needing to communicate directly, making me laugh at the right times and helping me get into a trance-like state at other times. I think many women would walk away from my experience and feel they had had a traumatic birth, but I feel like I had the most empowering birth. I was able to stay focused on my body and the baby for four days and push him out without pain medication. I was able to be totally present. I don't think I could have done that without Aliya's support.  Aliya's postpartum care was wonderful. I miss our visits a lot. She checked on me and the baby, made sure we were healing and progressing well. She also touched base like a friend--she checked to make sure my husband was doing well in his new role, that we were doing okay with the isolation of the pandemic. Aliya also referred me to a great chiropractor and pelvic floor therapist, who have really helped with my recovery, too. I thought I wanted a home birth, but I really wanted a safe birth where I felt in control. Aliya made sure that happened. read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

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First things first: Aliya is an exceptional midwife - the best of the best - and I don't say this lightly when I set the expectation that if you are lucky enough to work with her, she will have an extraordinary impact on your life, as she did mine. Your search has ended, you've found the perfect midwife. period. the end. get on her waitlist. push. shove. cry. whatever you have to do to work with her - do it. you won't regret it. When I was around 36 weeks pregnant our world was flipped upside down by this pandemic. I was planning an unmedicated doula-assisted labor and already concerned about the unnecessary interventions that can come from a hospital birth, so this additional risk of COVID and protocols that were being put in place like partners not allowed at some hospitals, I followed my gut and made the decision to switch to a full home birth. Upon making this decision I immediately starting inquiring with local midwife practices. None stood out from the rest more than Aliya's kind voice and reassuring tone. What really struck me is that our conversation just flowed, not like the clinical discussions I had been having about my pregnancy thus far, we instantly connected and I felt like I was just sharing the current state of my life with a long lost friend. She was so easy to talk to, and she was invested in our discussion, in a way she was interviewing me too, I soon realized! It was a mutual fit, right from the start. And I couldn't be more thankful that the stars aligned and our paths crossed and she had availability and joined my birth team. Over the remaining weeks of my prenatal care my husband and I got to know Aliya so deeply in such a short time, and I never knew what I was missing with the midwife model of care. Home visits are amazing! I could never look back. And Aliya took this above and beyond, even going out of her way to connect with my husband about his expectations and support him with all he was feeling towards our birth experience to come. She even was so sweet bonding with our first "baby" our rescue German Shepard who can be such a handful sometimes. Come labor day - she was so communicative in the early stages, and upon arrival at our home was so warm and provided such a calming presence. Outside of the expertly performing her duties as far as delivering us a health son, What stands out to me was Aliya's ability to make us feel comfortable in some of the most uncomfortable moments of my life. Though birth and early postpartum can be such a blur, what is engrained in my mind forever is how cared for I felt. Immediately after birth, Aliya and her accompanying midwife (Michelle) assisted me in the shower, showed me how to use a homemade herbal sitz bath tea wash (they made for me in large batches!) to help me use the restroom, made me a delicious placenta smoothie while they expertly stitched me up, and took care of all the clean up etc. After all other birth team members left Aliya stayed for hours after my son was born, we had some issues with latching and getting colostrum so Aliya got a lactation counselor on the phone with us in addition to advice she was guiding me with, and when all else failed, she found a milk donor for us and left and picked up breastmilk for us to get our son fed and glucose levels up in those difficult early hours! I could go on and on but I couldn't have asked for a better birth team experience. For the days and weeks that followed my son's birth having Aliya by our side coming for visits is hands down the #1 thing that helped us stay sane. Above all the other family and people giving me advice at the time, Aliya stands out as the one who taught me, as a first time mom who was feeling very lost and emotional and struggling so much, she taught me how to trust my gut and empowered me that I know my child best and my husband and I are the best parents and decision makers for our child. She looked me in the eyes. She made me feel heard. She made me feel like everything was as it should be and that everything was going to be okay. Sometimes this manifested in long text exchanges, or videos on videos of me trying to breatsfeed... or sometimes it was a reminder to take a bath before witching hour, or sometimes it was a teary (me and the baby) facetime at midnight with Aliya on the other end of the phone consoling me... She was there for it all and helped more than she will ever know. Honestly, this review would be 1,000 pages long if I tried to list all the ways Aliya showed kindness, intelligence, professionalism, warmth, and love - But what I will say is that I feel so fortunate to have had Aliya on my team for prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. She is amazing beyond words and hiring her as my midwife was by far one of the best decisions my family has ever made! We love you Aliya and you will always be in our family. Always. read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

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5 stars and a yelp review doesn't do justice to the deep impact that Aliya and Kara's care have had on our lives. There's no time that's more tender, raw, sacred, and transformative like giving birth - and I feel so lucky that we had Aliya & Kara by our side. Both my partner and I felt supported, empowered, and in the driver's seat of our experience, while also feeling like we could relax and enjoy the ride knowing that we had the best guides at every step of the way. Aliya and Kara cared about us personally and took the time to make sure we had the information and resources we needed to get to the best outcomes for us. A few things about us in case others have similar questions: - This was our first baby - First two trimesters I was working with my OBGYN, reached out to birthing adventures around 25 weeks, and fully switched to their care after a virtual consultation - We live in the peninsula & work in tech - My partner got to be a part of every prenatal appt at our home even though we were in the middle of the pandemic & he always felt included - We have a not-always-well-behaved rescue dog that got to be there during labor & was well looked after even when we were really out of it! Things during labor did not go as planned and we ended up transferring to a hospital, but all throughout the labor and transfer to the hospital we felt that we (and our baby) were safe and in the best hands possible. Post birth, we really struggled with breastfeeding, and thanks to Aliya & Kara's support we were able to work through each hurdle & have had a great 6+ months breastfeeding run. I tell everyone I talk to, that without the care of Aliya & Kara we wouldn't have had such successful birth and postpartum outcomes across every dimension. It made a huge difference to have someone we could reach out to and get answers to all of our fumbling "omg we have a baby and don't know what we're doing" questions, but more importantly we had someone to talk to that normalized our experience and made us feel like we were not alone. Without them, I would have been in a much darker place postpartum and struggled without really realizing it. We seriously miss their warm, thoughtful, gentle, humorous, honest, steadfast, and sincere presence in our life and we'd be delighted to have them be a part of the next one. I hope this review helps other people find Birthing Adventures & have the positive birth experience we had! read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Kara at 6 weeks postpartum appointment with bb. - Midwives Near Me

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I had a home birth back in 2012 and was pleased with the experience and felt it was an empowering option for our family. I have known Aliya for years now and recommend her without hesitation. Aliya is grounded, knowledgable, and has a calming presence. She is the kind of person that you intuitively feel you can trust the moment you meet her and spend time around her. Not only does she have an MS as a nurse/midwife and nurse practitioner but also an MPH in sexuality and reproductive health; she is an advocate for women and their choice to do what's right for themselves. She gives you the information you need to make your own choices. One of the things that I cherished about the experience of working with a midwife was the extensive care that is simply a part of the experience. The home visits before birth and after were very important to my sense of wellness and care during that time. It put me at ease and had me feel I was supported. (I happened to also go to a regular western doctor as a potential back up if needed. And in contrast, those visits were so utilitarian and "medically" focused and lacked connection and care.) If I were to have another child I would hire Aliya because of her knowledge, ableness, and heart. If you are considering hiring a midwife or having a home birth I would definitely have a consultation with Aliya. She a gift to the SF community. read more

I want to start this review by simply stating that if you are looking for compassionate, informed, authentic, reproductive/prenatal/birthing/postnatal support stop reading and contact Birthing Adventures Midwifery! Seriously, stop now...and send them an email! Still on the fence? Keep reading. 1 year ago, almost to the day, I signed a contract with Aliya to support the birth of my first baby and reflecting back on this day I couldn't be more grateful to my past self for taking that step. The original contract I signed with Aliya was one for hybrid support (as we were originally planning a hospital birth) but that all changed on the morning of March 10th (I was 16 weeks pregnant) and woke up in a panic. A previous pregnancy ended in a silent miscarriage (at 16 weeks) and my anxiety was through the roof. I emailed Aliya at 5:45am asking if it was possible to do a Doppler before our next scheduled appointment. Aliya emailed be back by 7:30am and was at my front door, Doppler in hand, by 9:15am. That, my friends, is care in its truest and most compassionate form. That morning not only did I feel completely supported but I felt seen, heard, held and safe. I knew then, that that is how I wanted to feel during the birth of my baby and I wanted to do everything I could to have my baby at home with Aliya by my side. Obviously, 2020 threw us almost every curveball in the book but Aliya was steadfast and confident through it all. Aliya showed up for me and my family over and over and over. She shared our joys, normalized our fears, answered our questions by giving us information, trusted the choices we made, gave us space when we needed it, and was present for all the moments we had on our journey to creating a family. So..... If you are looking for someone who will not only show up for you but who will help you build the tools to show up for yourself...contact Aliya. If you are looking for someone who truly believes in your abilities to make decisions and birth your baby in the best way for you...contact Aliya. If you are looking for compassionate reproductive, prenatal, birthing and post-natal support...contact Aliya. ...You won't regret it. Trust me. She's the best. read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

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Aliya was the best midwife we could have imagined! She supported us every step of the way through my pregnancy and was able to help us come to an informed decision when I ended up needing to be induced at 42 weeks. My husband and I are grateful for her knowledge and kindness during the whole process, especially with the uncertainty with the pandemic. We will definitely work with Aliya for any future pregnancies! read more

Birthing Adventures Midwifery - Baby's weigh in with Aliya at our postpartum home visit! - Midwives Near Me

There is that saying about midwives having skilled hands and knowing how to sit on them and I love it because it describes Aliya so perfectly! She is extremely skilled, knowledgeable, empowering, up to date on new research, and can definitely use her skills when needed. She is also patient and respectful, fiercely protective of a client's autonomy and true informed consent. She will provide info and options and will give you room to fully make choices for yourself which was important to me and something I was so thankful for. She supported me to birth my baby the way I wanted to and that's exactly what I needed. I also love her model of home visits through the whole pregnancy! Aliya is flexible, happy to have a prenatal in the evening if that works best. She is also always available to answer questions or soothe a worried mind. I'm already looking forward to my next pregnancy with her on my team read more

When I became pregnant with my second daughter, during the 1stmonths of the pandemic, I knew that I did not want a hospital birth. I knew that my family would not be able to participate in my prenatal care through Kaiser, due to COVID protocol, and it could be a lonely experience. My first daughter was born in a birth center, so I knew how magical an out of hospital birth could be. In our first Zoom appointment, I found Aliya and Kara warm and knowledgeable, but my partner was not convinced. He felt that we should be in a hospital 'just in case' something went wrong. I went about trying to educate him about risks of hospital birth and how birth can be a natural, intuitive and safe experience. Even before Aliya and Kara were officially my midwives, I reached out to them, regarding some test results that I was concerned about, hoping for some reassurance through their knowledge and experience. Kara responded with the most kind and compassionate, e-mail that provided me with information and reassured me that my natural home birth experience was still possible. I was so grateful and appreciative for this empathetic and knowledgeable response that I felt I could trust them both instinctively. As we moved forward into our official partnership my partner was still a bit apprehensive, but by participating in the prenatal visits, he eventually warmed up by seeing how knowledgeable and professional they both were and began to trust them. My 8-year-old daughter looked forward to their visits and was excited to help with measuring my belly each time. They studied my labs and made remarks such as 'you have amazing hemoglobin,' which made me laugh. Our prenatal visits provided important information and resources, belly measurements, loving examination of my growing baby with gentle touch, taking of vitals and listening to baby heartbeat and also learning about me and getting to know our family. Their visits also offered reassurance that I was doing a great job taking care of myself and baby, humor and laughter, human connection with wise women, and needed emotional support during challenging times, always reassuring me of my body's wisdom. Aliya and Kara are a wonderful team, complementing each other incredibly. I was able to develop a strong and trusting relationship with them both and I felt like I had twice the support, knowledge and care. Our visits were never rushed and my partner and daughter were able to fully participate in this amazing experience, right in our living room. Aside from the masks, I even forgot that we were in a pandemic, at times. There were moments where I needed help advocating for myself within the Kaiser medical system, where I was being pressured to go along with Kaiser protocol, against my own wishes. Kara and Aliya helped me to navigate this pressure and always supporting me to stick to my own choices, reminding me of my body's strength and health. When the time came, I felt prepared. Although this was my second birth, it was my first home birth. Aliya and Kara had clearly instructed us how to prepare our home for this day. My birth went smoothly, but I will not sugar coat it and say it was easy breezy. Aliya and Kara danced beautifully together supporting me and one another to do what they are so skilled at, alternating tasks and roles. They helped my partner participate fully, guiding him to do needed jobs as well as give me encouragement, massage and pressure to ease my discomfort. They helped me decide at what point I wanted my daughter and my family to be present, and at what time I needed silence and 0 distraction. They stayed calm, confident and focused the whole time, using creative positions and maneuvers (never imagined or seen in a hospital) to help ease my baby down. Our baby was born in the privacy of our warm, one-bedroom apartment, where I had lived for 12 years. I was comfortable and at ease in my own surroundings and I felt so blessed. Kara and Aliya shared in our afterglow, glee and excitement, took the necessary weight and measurements, examined my placenta and umbilical cord, exclaimed at how alert and observant Maia Silene was, with her eyes wide open, taking it all in. They quietly cleaned up, prepared a nourishing snack and then gracefully left us to bask in the beauty of our new family member. In the weeks after her birth, I continued to receive regular visits, phone calls, referrals and emotional support, as I navigated stressful feeding challenges, that were so hard at the time, but are now a distant memory. Now, at 10 months, our baby is chubby, so healthy, smiling and giggling, crawling around and continues to be ever curious about her world. My family and I are so grateful to Kara and Aliya for helping to give us the pregnancy and birth experience I had dreamed of. No doubt, this has given our daughter such a healthy, loving start to life. This is how birth should be and the experience i only wish all mothers could have. read more

I have been a chiropractor for over 35 years and had one homebirth myself. Working in the health and wellness industry for over 4 decades I feel fortunate to share clients with Birthing Adventures Midwifery. Together we support pregnant bodies to feel balanced, strong and healthy throughout the prenatal and postpartum period. Homebirth midwifery, healthy diet, exercise, chiropractic and physical therapy support (when needed) can make all the difference for the experience of pregnancy and birth. If you are looking for midwives that will go above and beyond Birthing Adventures Midwifery is the practice for you. And they still see you for all appointments at your home! Unheard of these days and so essential for your nervous system on birthing day. read more

I was very lucky to work with Aliya for my home birth. She was our first and only choice for a midwife - not only is she one of the few CNMs in the area, but she is also a wonderful person with a calm temperament. Aliya gave us all the support and knowledge we needed in order to make informed decisions throughout the pregnancy and delivery. Her in-home visits were thorough but comfortable, and Aliya always made my older daughter and husband feel included. For the birth, I felt confident that she would've been able to handle any situations had they arisen (though the delivery ended up being quick and problem-free). She came over at around 11am and my baby was born 2 hours later. Aliya intuited and gave me everything I needed during the process -- i.e. instructions, encouragement, pillows. Thanks to her guidance, I had no tearing or any pain afterwards - I didn't even need to use peri bottles or sitz baths. I also appreciated that Aliya was always organized and prompt with the admin work (like followups, forms, labwork, etc). I highly recommend her services for midwifery or well-woman care. read more

We first met with Aliya very late in my pregnancy, around Week 37 or 38. Fortunately, her warmth and welcomingness allowed my partner and I to connect and bond with her instantly. I was planning a hybrid birth where I wanted to stay at home as long as possible and then go to the hospital at the last minute to deliver; having Aliya with me throughout that process would allow me to feel safe about myself and baby. However, while my pregnancy was healthy throughout, I ended up going past my due date and developing some complications. I was so glad to have Aliya guide me through the process, helping me understand the information the hospital-based care team was giving me and helping me make informed decisions that were the best for me and the baby. My labor took several unexpected turns and Aliya was with me through out to make the right decision. Her seamless integration with the hospital care team helped me through some quite scary moments. Her dedication extended to her sleeping on a couch in the lobby so that she could rush in at 4 am when the baby finally decided to come! Her postpartum care was quite valuable, helping to manage some of the craziness in the birthing room in the moments after the delivery as well as in the weeks afterward as my partner and I learned to care for our new arrival. During her multiple postpartum home visits, she helped me make sure that I was healing properly as well as gave me some tips to help love and nurture my baby. Hiring Aliya was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made - she is absolutely amazing! read more

Aliya is absolutely wonderful. Her kind and uplifting spirit made me feel immediately comfortable. Her refreshing outlook on life turned a very challenging situation into a delightful and fun conversation. After talking to Aliya I was able to tackle things from a much more lighthearted perspective - something that has stayed with me and continues to guide me through. read more

Aliya is amazing. Her knowledge, calm energy, and empathy make me feel so comfortable. She listens to me, nods, and reassures me--I never feel dismissed or ignored. So empowering and refreshing to have a healthcare experience like this! I never thought I would actually look forward to a pap smear or IUD removal, but I always enjoy spending time with Aliya in the comfort of my own home. I recommend her to all of my girlfriends who don't want to spend time trying to find an OB-GYN, messing around with insurance, taking time off work, putting on a paper smock that leaves you freezing, sitting on crunchy paper, putting their feet into stirrups at the doctor's office, or spending 10 minutes max with a doctor who doesn't have time to answer all their questions. I'll never go back. With Aliya, I can get incredible and effective care in the place I feel most at home (my actual home), with a woman and provider who I trust completely. read more