It's 8pm on a Saturday night and I am relaxing on my couch having a glass of wine. My little man…read morehas been sleeping in his crib since he fell asleep there, ON HIS OWN, SEVEN minutes after we put him down - without a peep. You read that right. Since I have such ample time, this review will be a long one. I gave you fair warning. I'm not so rigid to think or expect that every night will unfold like tonight. There will be teeth! walking! talking! more regressions to come. However, a month after starting this process, it has become a reasonable reality for me to expect that on more days/nights rather than not (meaning NAPS and bedtime), he will go to sleep. It is a work in progress, but Dahlia guided us through it with the confidence and clarify we ourselves needed to provide to our son for the process to work. The backstory: At 11 weeks old, my son morphed from our lovely sleeping newborn waking twice a night to waking EVERY HOUR, needing to be soothed back to sleep...while sleeping in our bed. As the weeks dragged on, it became clear he was not going to outgrow this hiccup in an amount of time that would preserve my sanity (or marriage lol), and things were snowballing from bad to dreadful (more on that below). He eventually settled on a pattern of waking 4-7 times per night; however, he started having negative sleep associations to most every soothing trick in the book. I won't waste time listing such strategies or the gimmicks I bought on Amazon. Well-meaning folks always shared their soothing strategies. Well, if you can envision it, we tried it. Don't start to tell me about white noise and black out shades. Eventually, NOTHING WORKED except the boob. So sleep - meaning all naps and bedtime plus the night wake ups - became an hour long battle with raging, screaming, kicking, tears. All of which did not guarantee an outcome of sleep in the end! This was a vicious cycle on repeat at least 4 times daily which went on for almost two months (give or take some days where baby was so exhausted he slept well for a night or two). On top of this, I had impending abdominal and oral surgeries. Just icing on the cake. We knew we had to sleep train. After pouring through blogs and books about the various sleep training techniques and studies, I still had reservations (and extreme anxiety subjecting my baby to this), and needed someone to lead me through its ups and downs. Alright I'll be honest - sleep training is mostly down. It is painful. Gutwrenchingly PTSD painful if your baby is anything like mine. Enter Dahlia. She is honest, positive, supportive, respectful, and above all, will use her knowledge to SEE YOU THROUGH IT. She makes herself available and genuinely wants to help you. I cannot thank her enough and I definitely promise you will not get that from a blog. So dread. I used to DREAD naps and bedtime. The clock would hit 5:30pm and my heart would sink a little. My soul would wail a sad song. Now, I think about the time I can spend writing long reviews and blogging while he's sleeping. And the biggest plus? The little man wakes up RELAXED and RESTED and happy to see me. THANK YOU DAHLIA!

Dahlia is the BEST! We hired her for 3 months of postpartum work, which is no small task with…read moretwins! She was so caring, nurturing, and gentle with our babies, her experience was only outweighed by her sweetness and profound gift for "twinning". I feel so lucky to have had her work with us, she taught us (first-time parents) so much, from swaddling to bathing to infant massage! Every morning when Dahila arrived it was a ray of sunshine and positive energy, my babies responded so well to her songs, her feeding techniques, and her cuddles. We were so sad to say goodbye to her when it was time, and are almost jealous of the next family that gets to work with her! :) :)

I took the 3-day birth preparation course with Amelia, and I couldn't be happier with the…read moreexperience! Her energy is truly unmatched. She explained every concept in simple, practical terms and made me feel so genuine cared for and we laughed a lot. While I expected the course to focus primarily on natural birth--and in many ways it did--it was completely free of judgment regarding medical interventions.

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

Claudia is wonderful. I took her hypnobirthing class prior to having my first baby. The tools she…read moreand her course gave me empowered me to go into labor with confidence and excitement and to deliver my child naturally despite a rather long labor. The resulting health benefits for my child are beyond what I even understood initially, and I have had an easy postpartum recovery. The class even prepped my husband to be a stellar birthing partner without whom I'm not sure I would have had the same success with a natural delivery. Claudia's warm and kind demeanor, her years of experience, and her knowledge of hypnobirthing and its methods made for the best birthing class I could have asked for. I now believe every pregnant woman should take a hypnobirthing class. I cannot recommend Claudia and CFM more highly!

Working with Claudia for the birth of our 2nd child helped us heal from a traumatic first birth…read moreexperience. We went to the hospital feeling more prepared and we were able to work together and have a great birth experience. We will share that forever. Thank you, Claudia!

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

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

Ottilia and Cody make a great team. They are alike in that they both are warm-hearted, competent…read moreand approachable. The ways in which they are different is really what makes this a strong program. They each come from a unique professional background, and that coupled with their unique struggles and triumphs as mothers themselves, is what makes their breadth of knowledge so expansive. I think for a lot of women, myself included, there seems to be an abundance of information out there relating to pregnancy and childbirth, but when you're really going through it, you want individualized answers to your questions that are sometimes hard to find online or in books. Like Ottilia, I'm also a Labor and Delivery nurse, and yet she taught me things during my pregnancy that I never knew. She was indispensable when it came to providing labor support when I had my daughter. She's an excellent listener and she's extremely intuitive- two qualities I find indispensable in this line of work. I really connected with Cody when it came to my breastfeeding journey. The thing about becoming a mom is that you have no idea what leg of the journey is going to give you the most trouble. When you actually reach this junction, you are too tired/overwhelmed/busy/etc to do any real research to guide your decision-making. Not only did Cody provide this, she also shared her experience with me and at the time I just really needed to hear from someone else who shared my experience. Apart from all of this, they both are just really cool people that you'd actually want to share this part of your life with.

I can't say enough good things about Ottilia! Although I didn't have the opportunity to experience…read moreher course with my first child I would definitely do so for my next one. I was so fortunate to have Ottilia as one of my nurses during my stay at Highland Hospital. I originally planned a home birth but my son was a bit too cozy, pushing us past the 42 week mark so I needed an emergency transfer for induction support. From the start Ottilia's care was like nothing I had ever experienced in a hospital. Not only did she radiate so much warmth, but she constantly checked in to make sure I was taken care of and that things were progressing well. She always took extra precautions to make sure that my son was in a good position and answered any of my concerns with honesty. As her shift was ending she even went out of her way to put us in the care of an amazing nurse who also had a background as a doula. My husband and I were both thrilled, however, when Ottilia was one of the nurses that was present for our son's delivery. I was in labor for a total of 40 hours and was pushing for four when I was finally dilated enough. Ottilia gave me so much encouragement, continuously sharing affirmations and empowering the birth through the end. I know that she advocated strongly for me throughout that whole process. Because my son was posterior and just had such a hard time coming out we needed to do a vacuum assist. Ottilia was right there giving me the strength I needed for that final push to meet my son! He wasn't breathing for the first six minutes, but God is good and I knew in my heart that he would pull through. When we finally heard his cry Ottilia looked at me and said, "Do you hear that? That's your son!" Aside from my dear husband, I can't imagine having anyone else by my side at that moment. She even spent the time after to show me how to manually express and get that precious colostrum my boy needed. We have so much love, respect, and adoration for Ottilia. Let's just say that if we have a girl, we'd name her after this incredible woman.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Loving Arms Childbirth Services' birthing class! Jessica Cristen was our…read moreinstructor, and she was excellent! She's a certified midwife and lactation support specialist, with years of experience. Taking this class was the best decision I made for preparing for the birth of our baby girl. (even with the countless books I read and classes taken from Kaiser) My birth did NOT go at all as expected, but thanks to these classes I was super well prepared about all the possibilities that could occur during labor & delivery and helped my partner and I be on the same page (and have my partner know how he could best support me). Thus when things started to go different than what we prepared for in our birthing plan, we were really able to navigate the various options skillfully and have educated conversations with our care team. This made me feel way more secure when my health was declining during delivery. Even though I didn't have the birth I pictured for myself, I felt I had a wonderful birth story thanks to the classes from Loving Arms and our care support team. The class is very comfortable, super educational, and a good place to meet other couples about to have babies too. The instructors here really care about helping new families, and have years of experience and maturity. Again, best decision to take this class here @ Loving Arms. So glad I chose them!

We are so grateful we found Loving Arms and were able to take their childbirth prep class. I didn't…read morewant to have a doula and these courses helped me feel so knowledgeable about what to expect during childbirth and allowed my husband to know how best to support me. The lactation support and honest expectations about what to expect in the first few days with a newborn were invaluable. I ended up not having time to get an epidural and without this class, I think I would have panicked giving birth. However, armed with the knowledge from the courses, I was able to get through it and have a positive experience. Another plus is that we were able to bond with the other couples in the class and are still in touch now 9 months after our babies were born. Highly suggest!

Deanna was not my doula; but I wanted a consultation with her to possibly become my doula. Her CV…read moreappeared impressive, an educator and DONA certified, which is why I emailed via Yelp and her website to set a consultation up....never received a reply. Ended up going with someone who was prompt and responsive. Expected more from a veteran doula.

When my husband and I were preparing for our first baby to be born, I knew I wanted to hire a doula…read morebecause I wanted to give birth naturally with no epidural or any other pain medications. We did our research and chose three doula services that we were interested in. After having multiple phone and in person meetings with all three, I knew Deanna was the right one for me. Meeting Deanna for the first time is like meeting a friend you haven't seen in a long time. She definitely gives you a sense of comfort. She's also very knowledgable and answered all of my husband's and I's questions we had about my pregnancy and prepared us for what to expect during labor and delivery. When that day finally came (about 2.5 weeks earlier than expected) Deanna and my husband were on it. Both of them worked so hard to make me feel comfortable. Deanna definitely helped my husband be more hands on during my labor which took over 24 hours. As much as I wanted to give birth vaginally, I eventually had to get a c-section after pushing for 6 hours and trying all the possible birthing positions Deanna recommended. I was also prepared going in to the operating room as Deanna also educated us about what would happen if I was to get a c-section. Deanna was by my side the whole time up until I had the c-section. When the nurses where not available Deanna was moving the bed to get me to a comfortable position and also helping me get to the bathroom. So if you're looking for a knowledgable doula with lots of experience and is hands on, I would definitely recommend Deanna.

It is really hard to write a review for Michi because I cannot fully put into words how much I…read moreappreciated her presence through my pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. In the final months of pregnancy, I found myself looking for someone who was deeply attuned to cultural and ancestral wisdom, while also being medically knowledgeable and grounded in evidence. I thank my lucky stars that I found Michi. From the beginning, I noticed the calm, grounded energy she carried. As a first-time mother, there is so much information to take in, so many decisions to make, and so many fears and uncertainties to navigate. Michi had a way of helping me slow down and trust my own intuition amidst the noise. She listened deeply when I shared my fears, including concerns around my mental health, and helped me think about ways of caring for myself both before and after birth. What I loved was that her suggestions were not only informed by current evidence and medical knowledge, but also rooted in practices and cultural wisdom that women have carried for generations. To me, Michi is a bridge between two worlds. She understands that pregnancy and childbirth are ancient processes happening inside a very modern society, and she has an incredible capacity to hold women through that transition without reducing it to something purely medical or purely spiritual. She is also gifted in bodywork. During pregnancy, she taught me exercises and worked with my body to help my baby into a good position for birth. Four weeks postpartum, she performed a traditional Mesoamerican hip-sealing practice for me. It was one of the most deeply nourishing and grounding experiences of my postpartum period. At a time when so much attention naturally goes toward the baby, it felt powerful to have someone tending to the mother and acknowledging what my body had just gone through. Michi was also an enormous support during the birth itself. I had planned to give birth at a birth center but ultimately needed to transfer to the hospital. Having her steady presence with me through both environments was incredibly calming and reassuring. She helped me understand how to work with my breath and push effectively, and once I was fully dilated, I gave birth in less than an hour. As our postpartum doula, she was wonderful with our baby and taught my husband and me so many of the small but important things that helped us grow into being parents: how to bathe him, co-regulate him, help him sleep, wear him, and understand what he might need. What stands out to me most is that Michi is deeply mother-centric. She understands that while a baby is being born, a mother is also being born, and both deserve care. I would HIGHLY recommend Michi to anyone looking for a doula who can hold the full experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum: someone rooted in cultural wisdom, deeply respectful of the body, and at the same time knowledgeable about modern medicine and evidence-based care. I feel incredibly grateful that she was part of this transition in my life.

My wife and I cherished Michi's wisdom, expertise and support before, during and after our daughter…read morewas born. We met Michi when we were seeking advice on how to navigate the bureaucracy of Kaiser. Michi coached us on how to advocate for the type of birthing experience we wanted, and also introduced us to a phenomenal midwife in the Kaiser system who would listen and support us in our birthing journey. We met with Michi several times prior to my wife going in labor. They helped us build a solid birthing plan and also provided ample information about what the experience would be like so we could have an understanding of what was ahead of us. Michi was able to answer all of our questions, and their steady, peaceful confidence was a blessing through the entire experience. When my wife began the laboring process at home, Michi was the first to arrive and was extraordinary in terms of keeping us all calm and focused. They provided a great deal of comfort and support as we began the life changing experience of birth. Additionally, their knowledge of spinning babies techniques was so helpful as the labor continued on. When we needed to transition to the hospital (and pivot from our plans for a home birth) Michi was a godsend. They were an extraordinary advocate and thought partner as we navigated all the decisions that had to be made while also being throughly exhausted (and my wife was still laboring). I truly cannot express how grateful I am to have had Michi by my side as I supported my wife. Michi coached me on what to do while also being a helpful and calming presence for my wife. After our healthy and happy baby came into the world, Michi came to our home to check in on us, do an abdominal massage for my wife, and did a beautiful ritual to acknowledge the transition into motherhood we had experienced. I've recommended Michi to every friend I know who has had a baby recently. I cannot sing their praises highly enough. They have deep knowledge and expertise in the hospital medicine side of things, while also holding vast wisdom and connection to the spiritual core of the experience. Working with Michi is a gift, and I hope you are able to partner with them as you begin your birthing journey.

We feel extremely fortunate that we got to have Keelia help us settle into being a family of four…read more She was a consistently warm and caring presence, not just for our new baby but for all four of us. And she has a special knack for just finding ways to be helpful even if we're frazzled and don't know what to ask. She's also very thoughtful about providing advice--in addition to answering whatever random questions we have, she gently offers advice without it ever feeling like she's forcing it on us or it feeling overly didactic. We could go on about how great she is, but the long and short of it is that she's amazing at what she does.

I am certain that my experience with Keelia made THE difference in achieving the birth of my…read moredaughter the ways that I wanted it- delaying at home for as long as possible, no pain meds and a positive, empowered experience. My biggest fears were my low pain tolerance and lack of control over knowing exactly how it would go. Shortly before our due date, Keelia came over to review our birth plan and a timeline of what to expect for pre-labor, active labor, travel to the birth center, transition, and delivery. She made sure we practiced comfort measures, breathing and how I wanted to be supported verbally. It wasn't until the last moments with Keelia where she looked me in the eye and said I was ready, that I actually felt prepared to go into labor and meet my daughter. 2 days later, my water broke in the middle of the night. For the next 44 hours of contractions, naps, two car rides up to the birth center, a traumatic cervical check on day one to then be sent back home, many walks around the neighborhood, yoga ball bouncing, 1 game of Monopoly, snacks, massages, and support - Keelia was at our beck and call. By the time we got to the birth center (again) on day 2 after 36 hours, I was only at 1cm and 50% effaced. Keelia helped me calm down from exhausition and frustration at this news, and we made a plan to get misoprostol to thin my cervix but hopefully proceed with no other interventions. Miraculously, Ava was born 7 hours later. Keelia coached me through contractions which came back to back for hours, waved lavendar oil in front of my face for nausea, massaged my back, covered the clock when she noticed it stressing me out, got me into the shower with Joe when I hit the wall of transition, and helped me breathe through pushing - 3 contractions! She reassured me every step of the way - calmly & knowing I could do it at all moments. In this amazing doula's hands, I felt loved, safe, and supported. Thank you, Keelia.