Since I have Yelped my doctors and professional health care providers, I though I would go ahead…read moreand yelp my birth instructor as well! Denyse is awesome! She is so knowledgeable about birth...be it in a hospital or at home, with a doctor or midwife. Getting pregnant can be very scary for some people, but having options to learn about the birth process is a great way to calm those tensions. First, the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth is a set of 12 classes in small groups that meet over 12 weeks to teach childbirth education. The classes focus on the health of the mother, baby and family. The classes focus on helping the couple take responsibility for their birth process by giving them the proper education in birth preparation. After taking the class with Denyse, my husband and I decided to have a natural birth at home. This is not the norm though! There were 3 other couples in the class with us, all of whom were having hospital births. For us, the Bradley Method gave us the confidence to choose where we wanted to birth and the process in which to fulfill that choice. You can learn more about the Bradley Method by going to their website at: www.bradleybirth.com. Info from their site: "Bradley Classes: 1. Teach a natural childbirth method that works - Natural childbirth is an important goal since most people want to give their babies every possible advantage. Without the side effects of drugs given during labor and birth. Bradley classes teach families how to have natural births. The techniques are simple and effective. They are based on information about how the human body works during labor. Couples are taught how they can work with their bodies to reduce pain and make their labors more efficient. Of over 200,000 Bradley-trained couples nationwide, over 86% of them have had spontaneous, unmedicated vaginal births. This is a method that works! 2. Provide each couple a 125 page Student Workbook containing the class curriculum, study guides, vocabulary, information on pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, coaches/doula training, ways of handling pain in labor, pre-birth bonding, staying healthy and low risk, nutrition, protein counter, general assignments, birth plans, relaxation exercises, labor rehearsals, Certificate of Congratulations, pictures and more. The workbook provides standardization and insures couples that their teacher is teaching according to today's standard of Bradley classes. 3. Provide excellent coach/doula training - Coaches face some special challenges in labor. They need special training as well as the mother. This is not a spectator sport. We begin by teaching the coach how to help her during pregnancy to be aware of things that help her be as healthy and low risk as possible. What to expect in the natural course of a birth, how to avoid unnecessary pain in labor, how to support and be an advocate for this mother. Coaches learn a series of relaxation techniques and effective labor and birth positions. The classes provide relaxation practice and labor rehearsals. They are designed to educate and motivate coaches and make them a valuable part of the birth experience. 4. Offer comprehensive education - When you take a class in the Bradley Method you don't need most "extra" classes that are commonly offered. Bradley classes cover it all: nutrition, exercise, being more comfortable during pregnancy, the coaches role, introductory information about labor and birth, advanced techniques for labor and birth, complications, cesarean sections, postpartum care, breastfeeding (we do recommend La Leche League meetings) and caring for your new baby. Our classes cover a few topics that are rarely discussed in other classes like: how to reduce the need for an episiotomy and the likelihood of a tear, how to avoid needing a cesarean, how to make the best of it if a cesarean is necessary, and what the coach should do if the baby is accidentally born in the car. 5. Keep classes small enough for individual attention - Bradley classes average 3-6 (or 6-8) couples per class. Classes are kept small so that your instructor can get to know you and present a class that meets your needs. Small classes are also important so that you will have the space to do plenty of practice in class. Studies have shown that the Hawthorne effect (the effect of personal attention) makes for better learning and successful results. 6. Use only certified instructors - Certified Bradley instructors are trained professionals and experts in the field of childbirth education. Most of them have given birth naturally themselves or attended many unmedicated natural births. They have undergone an extensive training program with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth and are required to complete continuing education requirements and reaffiliate every year. 7. Teach 12 weeks of classes, because it works. Couples who take a 12 week series are more likely to give birth naturally."

When my wife first signed up for this class, I thought I couldn't handle 9(!!) 3-hour classes. But…read morenow, I am a believer. Denyse is thorough, thoughtful and knowledgeable about the entire birthing process and infant care. While the little one isn't here yet, I feel comfortable that Denyse's class prepared us for the unknown. I highly recommend this class to anyone!

As soon-to-be first-time parents, my husband and I (well, mostly I) have done lots of research on…read morewhat to expect as parents of multiples. Even so, attending this two-part class was certainly worth the money! Julie, a parent of twins herself, is a great teacher/presenter and really knows her stuff. Her attitude was welcoming, and she answered all of our questions--or told us that she'd get back to us with answers (and then did!). After each class, she sent us a follow-up email with a review of the previous night's class; the email included TONS of helpful links! The goodie bag given out on the second night plus the prizes at each class (and the delicious dinners!) were probably nearly equal in value to the cost of the class. As we walked out after the second class, my husband told me that he was so glad we attended the course and that he feels much more prepared now. Thank you, Julie!

This was a great class, I'd suggest it to anyone facing multiples. We'd read the books, but having…read morereal instruction and conversation from someone who has been there and done that was invaluable. As an instructor, Julie brought great energy and caring to the course. It was also great to get to meet other parents going through the same thing. Then there was the copious swag we got along the way that made the class price seem more negligible.

My husband and I worked with Tanya for the 2005 birth of our only child. After taking her courses…read moreand meeting with her privately for a few sessions, we felt confident and ready for the big day, and very relaxed, a feeling that many of my friends who had prepared in other ways did not share. The hypnosis practice she introduced to us not only prepared us for birth, but drew us closer during the pregnancy, and helped us to help each other feel calm and ready for what was ahead. When our daughter was born, Tanya was an amazing advocate, comfort, and team member both at home and at the hospital. Working within a very rigid hospital system, Tanya really helped us to navigate the terrain and ask for what we needed. Unfortunately, the birth of our daughter was a traumatic one, and resulted in a c-section. Without Tanya, I don't know how we would have managed the fear that was associated with that experience. Thankfully, our daughter was born healthy and happy. Four years later, because of the unresolved trauma, I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I had attempted, since the birth, to forget about the experience---to ignore the feelings---and unfortunately, this led me to feel depressed, angry, and generally unwell. The first person I called when I received this diagnosis was Tanya, and she immediately let me know that a) I am not alone---this is an experience that happens to many women, b) she could verify that, yes, the birth was a trauma, and she was a witness to it, and best yet, c) she could help me feel better. What has happened in the past month, as Tanya and I have met to talk about the birth, and she has used her training to help me access (safely) the memories of that day in July 2005, is nothing short of miraculous. For the first time in four years, I am feeling better, happier, less fearful and anxious and generally stressed. She helped me to unlock a door that I had barricaded shut in my mind, and although I have a lot of work left to do to heal, I am feeling a sense of peace and understanding that I haven't felt in years. Tanya is, in short, a blessing. She is wonderful before birth, amazing during birth, and incredible after birth. I would recommend her, without hesitation, to any family seeking the best birth experience possible. As my story testifies, even in a suboptimal situation, Tanya is able to care for mothers in a way that is unparalleled.

My husband and I took Hypnobirthing classes at Masonic with Tanya before our birth. Her classes…read morewere some of the best things we did before we had our beautiful baby boy on January 19th, 2013. In her classes you learn about the nature behind giving birth and how your body is equipped to handle delivery without interventions. She thoroughly addressees the progress of labor every step of the way. If you're in for understanding the chemistry and body awareness behind natural birth then this is definitely a class for you. It put us at ease regarding the impending pain and unknowns that come with birth. I was on the fence about hiring a doula for birth support but a few things happened leading up to the final month of my pregnancy and we decided we needed that extra support on the day of delivery. I called Tanya to get recommendations and discuss my thoughts for hiring a doula this late in my pregnancy. She, as always, listened and gave her feedback. She also told me that she was available and after talking to my husband about it that night we decided to hire her immediately. We knew her from the classes so we were extremely ecstatic and put at ease knowing that she was going to be with us every step of the way leading up to the birth. I can honestly say that while going to Tanya's classes was a great decision, making that final decision to hire her as our monitrice before our delivery may have been the best decision I've ever made in my life. Her support, encouragement, hypnobirthing techniques and relaxation methods are the only thing that allowed me to have a natural birth- what I wanted more than anything. The hospital we delivered at is pretty heavy on meds and interventions and it was all we could do to have a natural birth with no interventions. Tanya was a great voice for us as well as great at assuring us everything was a-okay! She is an expert in her field and very professional. I trusted her with my life and the life of my son and I would recommend her to anyone and everyone. She without a doubt made my birth experience so beautiful, supported and exactly what I wanted. Nothing was going to get in the way of that once we made the decision to hire Tanya and it was true. She is a very strong, and very professional advocate for women who want to experience the true nature of a natural and intervention-free birth. I can't say enough how grateful, appreciative and honored we were to have Tanya there for the birth of our baby boy. Thank you, Tanya. You made bringing my son into this world a joyful, honest, natural and truly supported experience.

We took Natalie's 3-week Birth Intensive class at Bloom Yoga studio and it was just perfect. In a…read moreday and age where many feel like you can YouTube or Google all the answers, Natalie offered real life stories, anecdotes, and empowering reminders that we could add to "what was read in a book". She covered various scenarios and shared what the latest birth practices were, without judgement or pressure that one way was better than the other. Personally, our favorite part was probably the comfort measures portion of the class (1-2 exercises each hour), which we use daily. It was a great way to chat with other soon-to-be's, share our questions and fears, and walk away with someone who truly wanted us to be successful in our birthing experience, no matter which way it turns out. It was truly invaluable and I would highly recommend her class.

Natalie was our doula for the births of our first two babies, and she provided invaluable support…read moreto me before, during, and after the labor and delivery. She was a calming and reassuring presence for both me and my husband. I felt secure and confident that she would help us to navigate our way through any situation that arose with each birth. Whenever we needed clarification, more information, or guidance throughout each labor and delivery, she was there to help us. Furthermore, her years of experience as a doula was quite productive when it became necessary to speak up to the nurses and doctors when we felt that we needed additional attention. She knew exactly what to say to them to get them to be more attentive and responsive at the appropriate times. If hiring a doula is something you've been considering, I'd suggest attending Natalie's "Meet the Doulas" session at Bloom Yoga Studio. This is where we met her and realized that we would like to work with her in this capacity. Finally, we have every intention of asking her to be our doula again, should we have another baby!

Juli is absolutely amazing and exceeded all my expectations. We saw Juli for an in-home visit,…read moreabout 2 weeks after my baby was born. At this point, we were triple feeding and I was having trouble getting my baby to latch, building my breast milk supply, and also with bottle feeding. Juli was firing on all cylinders! She is sharp, smart, and efficient. She helped me develop a realistic goal and care plan, based on my priorities. She was sensitive, informative, and caring. We got so much out of the initial visit. Our second and subsequent visits were just as fruitful. Juli has so much knowledge and experience. She practices evidence-based medicine. Her advice was so valuable. I felt better after every visit. I've interacted with other great lactation consultants, but still feel like Juli is a true gem and feel so lucky to have been able to work with her!

I truly believe I owe the success of my second breastfeeding journey to Juli! From our first visit…read morewith my boy as a newborn, she helped me ditch the nipple shields and immediately get a more comfortable, deeper latch with some simple positioning changes. She also gave me invaluable tips on battling sleepy eaters, cluster feeding, and more. I was immediately more confident, after a stressful and unsuccessful bf journey with my first. She then came back to help me formulate a pumping plan for my return to work. Again, she gave me so much confidence going into that new phase and really made me feel like this pumping journey didn't need to be as stressful as the first time around. Since then, she's supported me in questions, came back for a weighted feed to get an idea of how much baby was taking after my supply had seemingly dropped, and continued to just instill confidence. She really brings a low stress vibe to her appointments which I REALLY appreciate! I pass her name on to any mom, first timer or not, as a must have postpartum support!

I don't even know where to begin! I knew this second time around I wanted to do a home birth but I…read morewas naturally scared and wanted to find the right doula for such a big decision. I reached out to many doulas, but when I met with Samantha, I immediately knew I wanted her to be the one to guide me in this beautiful process of bringing my baby earthside. I could tell Samantha was experienced, kind, knowledgeable and she had such a calming and soothing presence. The weeks before giving birth, Samantha was always quick to respond to my questions and eased any concerns . Leading up to my birth, I knew Samantha was going to be reliable and I already felt comfortable with her. The day I went into labor around 4am, she was quick to respond to my call and was able to make it to my home promptly. As soon as she got to my house there was such a calming presence about her that I instantly relaxed and felt so much more at ease. She assisted my husband and the rest of my laboring team in setting up our home for the delivery while helping me labor. I told Sam I wanted my labor to progress quickly, and she listened and delivered! She knew so many exercises and positions to get my baby to descend and guided me every step of the way. Her expertise, her calmness, and reassurance made my laboring so much faster and more manageable. Sam helped me feel safe, calm and supported through the entire process. I also really appreciated that she kept me hydrated, fed and just overall was always checking in on me to make sure I was managing well. After delivery she also kept checking in with me and my husband to see how else she could assist us. She was so wonderful to have around post delivery to make sure I was coping well with the pain as well. She was truly amazing throughout the entire process and so easy to work with. My labor and delivery was a dream thanks to Samantha!

I wish I could give a 6th star. I was nervous to give birth so I opted to get a doula…read more I can't say enough good things about Holly--she was truly a lifesaver during my birth experience. From the start, her calm, grounded energy helped me feel supported and confident, even when things didn't go according to plan. When my labor stalled, Holly guided me through exercises that actually got things moving--my water broke soon after, and she also shared positions that helped my baby flip. Her pain management workshop gave me tools I leaned on hard during some intense moments. And when my epidural failed (twice!), Holly didn't miss a beat. She advocated for me when I was in pain and made sure I felt heard and cared for. I honestly don't know what I would've done without her. She played a huge role in turning what could've been a traumatic experience into something empowering. If you're considering a doula, do yourself a favor and call Holly. She's the real deal.

Dr. Kate was fabulous. I started going to her in my third trimester to work through some nerve pain…read moreand prepare for labor. She helped me figure out what positions would be best for pushing so as not to aggravate my nerve pain as much and gave me exercises so I could head into labor feeling confident and strong. Post Partum she helped me navigate my unplanned c-section recovery with focus on my scar and tissue healing, exercises to challenge me throughout various stages of recovery, and to feel prepared to get back into regular exercising. I highly recommend Dr. Kate and New Journey PT!

I debated whether or not to share this experience, but ultimately decided to do so in hopes it…read morehelps other mothers--whether you're new, experienced, or somewhere in between--navigate their breastfeeding support options. I contacted this practice to request an **in-person** consultation. The first question I was asked was not my name or concern, but rather, "What insurance do you have?" I was then informed that **all initial consultations are conducted virtually**. Despite expressing multiple times that I was only comfortable with an in-person visit, I was repeatedly told to proceed with scheduling a virtual appointment and to check with my insurance about coverage. After setting an appointment, I again inquired about the earliest possible date for an in-person follow-up. I was told that most clients don't need in-person visits and that one might be possible the following week if they decided it was warranted. I felt dismissed and somewhat embarrassed for asking--despite my request being both personal and reasonable. For many, myself included, the idea of being partially undressed on a Zoom call is deeply uncomfortable, especially when discussing something as sensitive as breastfeeding. I also had concerns that a virtual visit might rely too heavily on generic recommendations, many of which I've already tried. Lactation consultants need to be present to help the mom maneuver their breast. This is supposed to be (to the extent a mother wants this) a hands-on experience. When I decided to cancel my appointment, **only then** was I offered an in-person visit the very next day. At that point, I no longer felt confident that this provider would prioritize or listen to my individual needs, so I chose to seek care elsewhere. While I do believe this practice could be a helpful resource for others, my personal experience fell short. From the initial focus on insurance over care, to the lack of flexibility or empathy regarding my comfort and preferences, it became clear this was not the right fit for me. I'm seeking support from someone who genuinely wants to help me meet my breastfeeding goals--not someone who sees me as just another appointment on the schedule.

I hesitate to write this review as I usually like to say nice things about people (particularly…read moresmall businesses), but I feel as though even though it's been two+ years, I have to get this off of my chest. Reading similar reviews has been validating to my experiences, and I hope to bring similar feelings to other women. I was paired with Melissa through my insurance and she seemed like she'd be a nice fit. The ladies in my doula group had nice things to say about her and she had very positive online reviews, so I was optimistic. We had an intake session by phone a few weeks before my baby was born and she seemed nice enough, I was still optimistic. Unfortunately, when my baby showed up it was a different story. I delivered on a Friday so the lactation consultant at the hospital wasn't there for the weekend and I was having a bit of trouble figuring out techniques etc. After a few days, my baby started to drop weight and I was absolutely terrified. I contacted Melissa hoping she could help us, but instead all I received was a dismissive response (via text) stating that she could only see us in person several weeks into the future and the only appts that she had available more immediately were online. Not very helpful in a moment like that. I felt like my baby and I didn't matter to her at all - that we were just boxes on her to do list to be checked off when she felt like it. It was very hurtful. Fortunately, our maintenance man happened to be in our apartment fixing the heat and gave us some helpful tips from what he learned from his wife and their four kids that helped us get through the night (pleasant surprises in life :)). The following day, our pediatrician really showed up for us and luckily had a lactation nurse on staff whom saw us in person ASAP and it all worked out in the long run. I don't write this review to be mean, but once again rather to validate women who might have had similar experiences or may have them in the future. This seems much more important to write a review about than a mediocre restaurant. I'm glad to hear so many women have had positive experiences with Melissa, I just wish we were one of them. As I've seen Melissa write in response to similar reviews, we wish her the best.