I had my first two babies at GWUH (with epidurals!) and was planning the same for my third... until…read moreplans changed at 38+ weeks. (Thanks, omicron variant!) We were so incredibly lucky to get connected to Katrina. She worked with us to evaluate if we were good candidates for home birth and then helped us transition to a home birth plan... on a VERY tight timeline. She came to my house for a prenatal visit and I swear that one appointment seemed like more actual medical care than I received in the rest of my pregnancies put together. Having someone actually focused just on you and your baby - with plenty of time to get to know you and no other distractions or pressures - is an amazing experience. I wish I'd switched a lot earlier. The birth itself was... let's say full of surprises (: I don't want to go into too much detail, but I do want to say that I am deeply, profoundly grateful that Katrina was there, and will be for the rest of my life, and so will my baby when she's old enough to know the story. Katrina's calm expertise and focus supported our entire family. Having the postpartum visits at home was also wonderful, vs. having to cart myself and baby around town while still recovering from birth. Even though we ended up at the hospital after the birth (probably unnecessary in hindsight!) I'm so glad I got to give birth at home. It's definitely better; I can't imagine ever planning a hospital birth again. Thank you.

I had a wonderful experience with Katrina as my home birth midwife. Her energy is very grounded and…read morecalm, which I really appreciated and wanted to have around me during labor. Katrina is extremely knowledgeable and always had an answer or suggestion for any question I had, so throughout my pregnancy and before my labor I trusted I was in good hands. She also really took her time with me during every appointment and call, which I SO appreciate. I have been a patient for other practitioners which whom I've felt like a number to them, or with whom I felt rushed because they were overbooked or overwhelmed. Not with Katrina. She always felt grounded, calm, present, and took really good care and attention with me. During labor her energy was super grounded and calm, as well, which was so helpful. And I also really appreciate how she took the time to educate me on certain things post birth, like the placenta's "tree of life" and the umbilical cord, etc. These are the special care and extra attention that you get with Katrina that you may not get elsewhere and definitely don't get at the hospital. I highly recommend working with her as your midwife.

Very disappointed that apparently you are charged for engaging in a conversation during a routine…read moreannual exam. I was charged $20 because apparently we discussed osteoporosis. EVERY woman of my age has it. I was also not provided any feedback based on an abnormal test result. I had to inquire to them. IF you go to this practice my advice is DO NOT engage with anyone. Just nod your head and don't ask any questions. I will not return to this practice.

I initially had a great experience with Dr. Kleinman, but unfortunately was mishandled by the front…read moredesk. I made an appointment for my first prenatal visit on Oct 15th for my first appointment to be 11/6 10:30am with Dr. Echeazu. I contacted her to let her know that I didn't receive my confirmation and that something wasn't right. Not saying that it was her fault it was clearly a misstep but the front desk staff but I've been a consistent patient I always show up on time, pay on time and follow doctors recommendations. The woman I spoke to over the phone was rude to me and made me feel upset as she questioned me several times if I had my HCG confirmed when I did. She then told me she scheduled my appointment for 11/6 at 10:30am and I requested time off a month in advance only to be told by Dr. Echeazu that it wasn't her fault and that I must schedule with someone else who could be available to morrow at another location. I don't feel that this is ok as I'm sure like many women you don't want to be with just any doctor, you want to be with a doctor you can get to know and build a relationship with. As a black woman, I want to be with someone I can trust and not just be pawned off to the next available whoever when I did the correct steps and was let down by the practice. I do not wish to return this whole thing has been very upsetting. It's my first pregnancy I'm very nervous and feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I was looking forward to my first sono and building a relationship with a new provider. We are human beings as patients not just numbers to be dismissed as if we don't matter. My husband and I made a whole day of this to celebrate our first kid and it is now ruined. I will not be continuing or returning to this practice. Update: I still called the next morning to see what could be done and spoke with Crystal. She told me I didn't follow protocol which was confusing because Dr. Kleinman didn't inform me of a protocol at all neither did the first woman at the front desk I spoke to a month prior who gave me the 11/6 appointment without putting it properly in the system. It really felt like I was being gaslit as if my experience wasn't valid or real. Crystal told me that 7 weeks was too early to see a baby which is not medically true. While she gave me the runaround, I actually was able to go to a local clinic and get an ultrasound, I saw my baby and heard the heartbeat. I also found out that I had an SCH. I'm grateful that it was found early and was able to share with my new doctors office. My biggest concern is that both times I spoke to the front desk assumptions were made about me not following these "protocols" that I didn't even know about in the first place, instead of kindly explaining what the process is so that I could have made my appointment at the correct time in the first place. I broke down over the phone and hung up. I've been feeling so overwhelmed and anxious and just wanted to speak to someone who cared. I didn't take the appointment offered because to me or return any calls because at the end of the day this was a big red flag regarding what care I could receive throughout my pregnancy. I am sharing this because I think that women should be aware that this is not the right place for you if you are looking for kind and patient customer service, with clear explanation of what is required, caring and empathetic doctors who will not treat you as if you are a number. Lastly, a place that takes accountability for mistakes made. As a patient who has been consistent over the last year it was very jolting to have just been assumed that it was I that caused the problem when I called to explain what issues occcurred and how to have them resolved. DO NOT choose this clinic if you want personalized care and compassion. The saving grace was Dr. Kleinman and that is it.

Thus is a wonderful practice and it is still open and I just went there about two months ago!read more

First -- if you're on the fence about hiring a doula for your first baby, do it. And if you're…read morewondering who to choose, the answer is Shannon. As a first-time dad, I can honestly say Shannon was invaluable -- not just for my wife, but for me too. From the start, she made us feel comfortable, informed, and genuinely prepared for what was ahead. She has this calm, thoughtful, and considerate presence that immediately lowers the temperature in the room. Nothing ever felt rushed or overwhelming because she helped us understand what was happening and what our options were. During labor, Shannon was incredible. She didn't just support my wife -- she supported us as a team. She walked us through next steps, explained the choices being presented, and made sure we felt confident in our decisions. One thing that really stood out to me was how she helped me help my wife. She showed me exercises and techniques I could guide her through to ease labor and keep things progressing. That made me feel involved and useful instead of helpless, which meant a lot. After the birth, Shannon's support didn't stop. She came to our home for a postpartum visit and helped us process the entire experience. She walked us through what to expect physically and emotionally in the days and weeks ahead, what to watch out for, and answered all of our first-time parent questions without judgment. She even helped find us a pump -- such a thoughtful and practical gesture that shows how much she truly cares. Shannon doesn't just provide information -- she provides confidence. As new parents, that's everything. We felt supported, knowledgeable, and empowered every step of the way. We can't recommend her highly enough. If you're considering working with Shannon, you will not regret it.

I signed a contract with Nova Birth Services LLC in July of 2025. In order to secure the doula…read morebirth and postpartum overnight services, we paid a 50% deposit on both services totaling $3050. In November, I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and hospitalized. Due to my condition, I had to deliver my baby early via emergency c-section at just over 31 weeks. My baby is currently in the NICU. I wasn't able to have a prenatal in-home visit due to my hospitalization and was given very short notice of my emergency C-section due to my declining health. After my birth, I was put on magnesium, and my baby was sent to the NICU. My husband and I were both so terrified that the last thing I was thinking about was having my doula attend. I was afraid for me and my baby. I reached out to Shannon after my birth and asked if I could cancel the postpartum doula services because of the new financial strain of NICU costs/my hospitalization. She informed me that if I canceled the postpartum doula services, that both contracts would be void, and all services would be considered rendered. Remember, I did not receive a prenatal visit nor birth services due to my medical condition & hospitalization. The contract I signed stated that if the doula wasn't at your birth, you would be entitled to eight hours of postpartum services. Shannon explained that because I paid a 50% deposit on both services, none of the services were paid in full so I would receive nothing else moving forward. Although we had paid $3050 and the birth doula services were $2100, I would need to pay an additional $900 in order to receive the eight hours of postpartum services. She said I could "take it or leave it" and that she would not move money from one contract to another. I was shocked at her response. There was no solution offered where I could receive any services post-birth for the $3050 we had paid. More money had to be paid. This was literally the worst experience of my entire life, and I received no care or compassion at all from Shannon. She maintained that her responsibility was to her staff/business. During our phone call, I was talking about my hospitalization and she mentioned that all of her clients were hospitalized. I clarified that I wasn't hospitalized because I was giving birth. I was hospitalized due to severe preeclampsia and potential organ failure. Trying to work things out with her made a horrible situation even more stressful and terrible. She refuses to budge and maintains that we will not receive any postpartum services if we don't pay extra. My husband and I feel as though we have paid $3050 and have received nothing. We did not receive a prenatal appointment, doula birth services, or any postpartum care. Please see the last email I received from her.

My experience with Angela at Body and Soul Healing Arts was excellent and rose above my…read moreexpectations. We started out with a thorough history. Angela really gets to know her clients. She asked me some details about my own birth, and we talked about what was going on with my health both physically and emotionally. The treatment involved some great bodywork and massage, energetic work, essential oils, chakra work, and more. I felt incredibly calm after the treatment and have noted that my anxiety levels are significantly decreased since the treatment. Angela has not only studied to learn her trade but she also has a natural talent and ability for the work that she does. I would find her incredibly helpful to expectant moms. I have already referred my sister, who is due Feb 1st with her second child, to see Angela before she delivers. I highly recommend this gifted practitioner!

I left my appointment with Angela feeling much more relaxed as well as physically and mentally…read morebetter prepared for labor and my second baby. She has a wonderful energy! This session was better than a regular prenatal massage, especailly since she really took time to discuss a previous traumatic birth and help me to work through some of the issues around that experience. I definietly recommend seeing her.

If you're interested in a home birth + midwife around Takoma Park, look no further. Rachel is…read moreprofessional and empathetic, reassuring and earnest. If I could have all of my babies with Rachel, I would. This is my 5-star experience from start to finish: Pregnancy: I reached out to her when I had a subpar bedside manner experience at George Washington Hospital for my low-risk pregnancy. I couldn't imagine moving forward in maternity care with rotating OBs and random residents. I really wanted a home birth, but also wanted to find a midwife who would have an emergency transfer plan and not recklessly force a home birth. Cue Rachel! My husband and I both looked forward to cozy monthly appointments with her--she ensured that we were educated on important topics by guiding us through a few discussion points at every meeting. I never felt overwhelmed by information (or at a loss of what to ask). If she wasn't 100% certain about an answer to a question, she was honest about it and pointed me towards resources. Labor & Delivery: As I approached my due date, she was available by phone to discuss my uncertainty about whether or not my water broke. She arrived within an hour of us calling during active labor. She was with me during literally every contraction, tirelessly applying counter pressure, checking baby's heart rate, guiding my breath, and juggling a billion other things that I didn't know about. When I hemorrhaged during birth, she so acted quickly and calmly with Pitocin and a fundal massage that I didn't even realize the severity of the situation. There is nothing as delightful as being in my own bed eating my own food 10 minutes after giving birth, and Rachel facilitated it all so gracefully. Home births are messy (duh) and Rachel brought so much equipment, but she and the second midwife left our apartment cleaner than when they came. Postpartum & Misc Thoughts: I had so many follow-up appointments with Rachel where we were able to address everything from my baby's health to breastfeeding to my physical wellbeing and spiraling emotions. Paying a flat fee for ALL pregnancy through postpartum care is amazing--no hidden bills or up-charged items at the hospital (she administered multiple IVs during labor and didn't have to think twice about $$). There's an annual community gathering of her current and past clients, which is really special! The bond we built over the span of 9 months with Rachel is incredible and she will forever be an important person in our lives.

I had the most incredible experience with Rock Creek Midwifery and cannot recommend them highly…read moreenough. Rachel, my midwife, was gentle, caring, and deeply respectful of my needs, while also being completely professional and grounded in her expertise. Throughout my pregnancy, Rachel led me through so much more beyond standard care - like prenatal nutrition, emotional well-being, and many "what if? have we considered...?" topics. I never felt rushed during our appointments. When labor came, it lasted much longer than expected, but Rachel guided me through every moment, keeping me focused and positive. Working closely with my doula, she created a series of labor positions that helped my sunny-side-up baby make his way earthside. Her skills, patience, and steady presence were everything I needed. After the birth, Rachel continued to show up with the same care and professionalism through at-home postpartum visits, which supported my goal of self-imposed bed rest and allowed me to stay in a peaceful bubble of recovery. I felt truly cared for from start to finish. If you are considering a home birth, I wholeheartedly recommend Rachel and Rock Creek Midwifery.

Beware of significant variability in degree of skill amongst providers. I had assumed that all…read morewould be excellent at soothing a newborn. My husband gifted me 2 consecutive weeks of a night nurse upon arriving home. It was a priority to breastfeed and I was given the baby nearly every 1-2 hours to nurse for the first 4 nights. Because the Christmas holiday required a different night nurse, I experienced a dramatic difference (was given the baby every 3 hours). As I wasn't sure if this was a natural change or due to a difference in the nurse. When I completed the additional subsequent day with the primary nurse, she continued to give me the baby every 1-2 hours, and even endorsed use of formula (Which I relented to). As the pediatrician confirmed that the baby was gaining weight well, and my lactation consultant confirmed that I did not have a supply issue, I knew that the skill of my primary night nurse was inadequate. I reached out to LMS immediately. I discontinued care with the primary nurse, and complete one night on my own (baby woke every 2 hours). While they were able to switch my night nurse to one with the ability to soothe the baby, they refused to give me a refund for the nights I had worse sleep. Instead, they provided only a $500 credit ($100 per night of poor sleep). Ultimately, I paid $1600+ and got worse sleep for 5 nights! They argued that I should have contacted them earlier, but I did contact them as soon as I noticed the differences in care. As LMS advertises skilled staff with soothing techniques and bottle feeding, the assumption is that the care delivered is standardized. I recommended that (1) the night nurses send them a summary of the schedule and (2) that they administer a survey after the first and second night to evaluate the mom's experience. This may help to reduce issues for future moms that I experienced.

Had a fantastic experience with two different night nurses while spouse was away. Excellent…read morecommunication with caregivers and coordinators. Took great care of my infant overnight. Followed instructions regarding care and feeding. Even washed pumped parts and bottles and made up bed ( sofa sleeper) I had set up. You don't need an extra bed, but we had one. Nurses had infinite patience with my fussy infant overnight. The service is expensive, but well worth it if you can swing it. I would absolutely use their service again.

Mary Center 3912 Georgia Ave NW Washington DC 20011…read more Quiero expresar mi inconformidad con la forma en que algunas personas del área de llamadas para confirmar citas tratan a los pacientes. En varias ocasiones, las recepcionistas o quienes llaman se han comportado de manera grosera y con muy poco profesionalismo. No permiten que uno hable ni termine de responder si asistirá o no a la cita; interrumpen constantemente, hablan con mal tono y hacen sentir al paciente incómodo o irrespetado. Es importante recordar que muchas personas que acudimos a Mary's Center lo hacemos buscando atención médica y apoyo, no para ser tratadas con falta de cortesía. Un poco de empatía, educación y respeto harían una gran diferencia en la experiencia de los pacientes. Ojalá esta opinión sirva para que mejoren la atención telefónica y el trato hacia los usuarios, porque el profesionalismo y la amabilidad también forman parte del servicio de salud.

I would not recommend Mary's Center for dental services, specifically due to the inefficiency and…read moredisorganization of their office and scheduling agents. Over a three-week period, from November 13th until today, December 4th (the day of my appointment), I made several attempts--over three separate phone calls--to confirm whether I'd be receiving a cleaning and whether my insurance was accepted. Shockingly, their staff was unable to provide clear answers or even demonstrate a basic understanding of the services their office provides. On the day of my appointment, I had no choice but to cancel due to their continued incompetence. The front desk and administrative team at Mary's Center created unnecessary stress and frustration, failing to perform what should be standard, straightforward tasks in a professional medical office. This experience reflects a clear lack of communication and organizational efficiency. I've since scheduled an appointment with a dentist whose administrative team knows how to do their job without hindering patient care, or delaying it. If you value your time, I strongly suggest looking elsewhere.

Doula Nathalie & Associates is an incredibly supportive team. Through the online meetings covering…read morepregnancy-related topics, the childbirth classes, and the rental of a TENS unit, we felt truly supported and confident that we were with the right team. Hannah Wright was our doula, and she was incredible from the very beginning. From our first meeting, I knew she was the right person to support me and my husband during our baby's birth. She was deeply attentive, always helping me understand what I wanted and guiding me with clarity, care, and respect. I learned so much from her, and she was always checking in, offering support, and helping us make informed decisions. I had an induction and spent three days in the hospital before our baby arrived, and Hannah was consistently present, checking on us, bringing food, and being there whenever we needed her. When it was time to give birth, she arrived immediately and never left my side. I am certain that without Hannah, I would not have had the birth experience I wanted. She ensured my wishes were respected and supported me through every up and down with confidence and compassion. Hannah will always be part of our family's story.

We had a great experience! Very early in my pregnancy, I reached out to Nathalie for a doula and…read moregot a response right away. She was very informative and provided my husband and I with answers to all our questions. We were initially connected with a couple different doulas that would be available during my due date and had interviews with them -- we ended up hiring Hannah Wright. From the get-go, Hannah was amazing. She was exactly what we needed. She provided great advice throughout my pregnancy and she especially gave my husband a lot of confidence in being my support person by having her there during the actual labor and birth. She provided excellent support and kept me grounded during the entire process and immediately stepped in and started providing all the tips and tricks in her wheelhouse to help me cope during my fast and intense epidural-free birth. I would certainly recommend her to anyone else. As for the more administrative end of things, we also have no complaints. Communication was excellent, the contract process with was very clear and straightforward, and we found the doula rates very reasonable.

I met Dr. Parker in January of 2016. I scheduled an appointment with her for my, at the time one…read moreyear old, son. He had a debilitating skin condition that many other providers could not figure out the root cause of. When we walked in to her office, my son had a debilitating skin condition from head to toe, was not yet crawling, and had a feeding tube. From the moment I met her, her vibe was extremely warm and understanding. I broke down in her office and for the first time felt HEARD. It was a season full of fear and frustration for me, as a first time mom. And after the experience I had with many medical providers in the mainstream medicine world, she was a breath of fresh air. She took on my son's case as if it was so own baby. We worked out a protocol and began the journey to healing my son. By, only, God's grace and Dr. Parker's heart and gift to help patients heal, within about 2-3 weeks of meeting with her; my son began to show SO much improvement. I was able to add other alternative medicine providers to his protocol, which also assisted his healing. By the time he was 3 and a half, my son was growing beautifully. As he should have been. Dr. Parker, personally, not only helped me to help my son but also helped me mentally, emotionally, and physically as a first time mom. Her support was extremely valuable. And till this day still is. I learned a lot from her. She holds such a special place in my heart & for my family. She is family.

Kai is a horror show and a scam artist…read more I was desperate for a birth plan after leaving my previous doctor in my 8th month of pregnancy for reasons unrelated to Kai. When I reached out to Kai, she was was eager to accept me as a patient even though she said her schedule was technically full. First red flag. She charged me the full price for her pre-natal, birth, and post-partum package, even though I was starting with her too late to get any pre-natal care. But I was desperate so I accepted. She messaged me like clockwork for each of my payment submissions, and then seemed to have completely lost her ability to look at a calendar or a clock. She last minute cancelled appointment after appointment. She came up with every excuse in the world: she cut her finger, her brother in law was in the hospital, she got a concussion, her kid was sick, she got delayed in traffic, etc. I had exactly one pre-natal appointment (due to her constant cancellations) and she was there for the birth (which honestly is a miracle). She was supposed to come within a week for a follow-up visit, but never came. Ever. Not once. She didn't come NOT EVEN ONE TIME to make sure the baby and I were okay. Thank god I had a pediatrician lined up who was able to see us. TRIGGER WARNING: After several weeks, Kai finally re-emerged from the infernal abyss she had vanished into right after my daughter's birth. She apologized profusely and said she couldn't provide me with the postpartum care I had already paid for because she had lost a baby she delivered right after mine and was being sued $1million. Of course she said it wasn't her fault. After months of back and forth, Kai refused to refund me for the services she never provided. She finally sent a superbill so I could be reimbursed by my insurance, but she included all the dates she was supposed to see me (even the ones she had cancelled and never rescheduled!!) and made an error in the dates so they started prior to when my new insurance went into effect. This caused me to have to fight with my insurance for TWO YEARS before they agreed to make an exception and just reimburse me considering Kai refused to even call them back and they saw the online reviews that proved she's a con artist. My one comfort is knowing that Cigna is now flagging her for insurance fraud and falsifying records. Bottom line: don't trust Kai with the most precious moment in your life. You're better giving birth in the woods alone. xoxo