My wife decided to birth with Midtown Nurse Midwives and it was an amazing experience. They are all…read moreso kind and supportive and did everything they could to make the process as comfortable as it could have been. The birthing rooms are very nice. There's a bed, bathroom, shower and a very large tub, which my wife loved. The midwives are very responsive. My wife had a 37 hour labor. Once active labor began we were at the birth center from 10pm to 9am and they were of course with us the entire time giving incredible support. My wife had to be transferred to a hospital because of a host of complications that were out of our control. The midwives arranged everything with the hospital and drove with us to the hospital and stayed with my wife until she was in her hospital room. Post-natal care has been phenomenal as well. The lactation advice has been a game changer. Sweet people, loved working with them! Thank you so much Bethany and Vicky!

I was referred to MiLC by hospital staff at Sutter Davis Hospital and by another mom…read more After seeing several lactation consultants and feeling kind of confused w/ continual challenges, Bethany at MiLC helped simplify everything, bust the myths, and give me and my baby a strong direction forward. We have been comfortably and confidently nursing after just a few visits, and I will likely continue to check in as long as I am lactating. I love that they take many different insurances and have a functional home-like space. They also provide hot teas and adorable teacups. Don't hesitate to talk about postpartum mental health, birth control, return to work, bottles/pumping, or other related topics. They will help where they can and often know where to refer for various things. Bethany is very knowledgeable, direct, and supportive. I love her sense of humor. She has helped me brainstorm and problem solve for things no one else on my care team has been able to. They fill a much-needed gap and do incredible work. Also, talking with Lindsey at the front desk feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket. :) All new mamas deserve the kind of help provided at MiLC.

My first time giving birth at home! Labor itself wasnt easy or smooth but i am so thankful to these…read morewomen who took great care of me during pregnancy and labor! Reene and Ingles are amazing, they care for you like for their own family member! You ladies are amazing!!!!

I unequivocally recommend Renee Hanevold for prenatal care and home birth. As a CNM with former L&D…read moreexperience in several hospitals, she has delivered thousands of babies, and has seen many, many different kinds of births. She is committed to home birth as a better birth process, and because of her background she really knows what she is talking about, both about the problems that can come from hospital care and how to watch for serious medical issues that require that hospital care. Renee attended the water birth of my son (she supplied the tub). She helped me through the complication of early water breaking (four days before deliver). We had a successful home birth without pitocin, but I was confident that if we had needed to, Renee would have made the call to transfer to the hospital in a timely, non-emergency manner. Her calm, confident presence at the birth made all the difference for me. Though it is unusual, I had a tear from my birth that required stitches (normally tears can be left to heal better than sewing, but mine was a different kind) and Renee sewed me so well that several doctors who examined me since commented on what an amazing job the person had done on my stitches. For prenatal care, Renee isn't in a hurry, she gives as long as it takes to get your questions answered. She orders routine prenatal labs and ultrasounds when you need / want them, but doesn't force you to get tests you don't want. She also takes care to help mothers prepare emotionally for birth and parenthood, and she welcomes dads at prenatal visits as well. Also, she can really feel what that baby is doing inside you. Even when I couldn't tell, she knew exactly where he was and what he was doing in there. I have no regrets whatsoever about choosing Renee for my home birth, and I only hope that if I have another child I will be able to have her again, or find another midwife at least half as good.

After 2 traumatic hospital births, I made it my mission to have a home birth, so choosing the right…read moremidwife was incredibly important. From our initial interview, Ariana immediately calmed my concerns and made me feel safe, supported, and confident in my decision. Throughout my pregnancy, she was professional, knowledgeable, calm, and genuinely kind. During my water birth, she advocated for me beautifully and handled family dynamics like a true professional so I could stay focused and supported during labor. The Doula was key in easing my contractions. She also recommended an amazing pre- and postpartum doula and gave me wonderful postpartum care and healing recommendations that truly helped my recovery. I'm so grateful for Ariana and cannot recommend her enough to anyone considering midwifery care. This is the personal care I wanted and beyond! Invest in yourself on your own terms and share a memory for you and your family for a lifetime!

I found Ariana online after having moved back to the area after 10 years, and having her serve as…read moremy midwife was the single greatest decision I made during my pregnancy. For my first birth in another state five years prior, I was under the care of midwives at a birthing center but was transferred last minute to hospital for an induction at 42 weeks. This birth at ~40 weeks with Ariana was at home, and without a doubt, this is what I would choose again in a heartbeat for any future pregnancies. From the very start, Ariana presented herself with exquisite professionalism and a real tangible warmth and compassion and that impression only grew stronger during my care. During all of my prenatal appointments, Ariana listened closely to my concerns and was able to readily recommend real solutions for the various symptoms I was feeling; her vast knowledge base and network of contacts in the birthing sphere and her steadiness and compassion always left me feeling encouraged and lighter after our checkups. She is ready with tried and true holistic and medical protocols for seemingly every scenario, checklists and resources to guide you through preparing for a home birth, and has contacts to refer you to for chiropractic care, bodywork, pelvic floor therapy, counseling, and more etc should you desire it (without ever pushing anything). On baby's birthday, I was feeling discouraged in my labor as my anatomy seems to predispose my babies to be positioned posterior, despite best preventative efforts. When Ariana arrived, the tone in the room immediately became lighter; she saw me through a particularly challenging contraction, and then with an encouraging smile and a "mama we got this" attitude presented some solid options to help me progress. Throughout the labor, Ariana's presence always made us feel secure and safe. Baby was stubbornly born sunny side up, but healthy and well, and I had no tearing, thanks to Ariana's incredible guidance and coaching. Afterwards, I was able to relish skin to skin time with my baby, while Ariana cared for us, cleaned everything, started wash, made me a snack, helped me shower and tucked us back into bed after a long night. My postpartum recovery experience this time was a night and day difference - emotionally, mentally and physically - it was all so much easier thanks to Ariana's care and her postpartum visits. Her steady spirit, her dedication to her patients, and her excellence in her craft is unmatched - she is born to do this.

Pregnancy can be a difficult and stressful time but it makes all the difference when you're cared…read morefor by an incredible, knowledgable, intelligent, and caring midwife. Home birth is so natural but it is imperative that you have a trained guide to walk with you beginning to end. Look no further than Tel and Taproot Midwifery. I was adamant that I wanted a home birth but my husband was a bit skeptical due to lack of exposure, until we began our prenatal care with Tel. Tel made us both feel immediately at ease and fully trusting in them to provide the best care possible and when it came time to welcome our baby into the world, Tel was the best person to do that with. I always felt heard and my concerns were always taken seriously. I also learned so much about my baby's development along the way. My entire pregnancy journey was made better by Tel and the Taproot staff. If you are interested in a home birth then I can't recommend Taproot Midwifery enough.

In the same way that beer makes you feel the way you ought to without a beer, Tel and Amy make…read morepregnancy feel the way it ought to whether birthing at home or in the hospital. As a 32 year old, new mama-to-be, I was very anxious about the road on which my body and mind were headed. My menstrual cramps had been brutal growing up and i equated that with having a low threshold for pain. So when I learned I was pregnant, I convinced myself that the only way I was going to get my baby out was through a self-elected cesarean, or an epidural paired with a cocktail at the very least. It wasn't until the end of my first trimester when my perspective had shifted. Propelled by my dissatisfaction with Kaiser's service, I sought out alternatives to my prenatal care. I remembered my colleague's home birth story which inspired bodily integrity and local midwifery services. Skeptical that the home birth approach was right for me, I scheduled a consultation with Taproot anyway. The consultation with Tel and Amy did more than just answer the 50 questions I had prepared beforehand. It quieted the worries racing in my head regarding patient and care provider relational dynamics on top of common pregnancy-related anxieties. While we covered many topics in the hour-long consultation, I'd like to highlight what resonated with me the most: 1. When I asked about the types of labor pain management techniques they offer, they said that a home birth itself is pain management. I wasn't sold on this response initially. With each subsequent week, however, I realized all the little things about my home that make me feel the safest and most comfortable: my bed, the cleanliness, the power to decide who enters my personal space. Ultimately, this is what put my body, mind and soul at ease during labor. 2. They believe in the power of "no" and always asked for my consent before touching any part of my body or my baby's body. This experience was unexpected but much appreciated especially as an adult survivor of child abuse. Being poked and prodded by medical providers without verbal consent is so normalized nowadays. My time with Taproot has taught me to be a stronger advocate for myself and that I have complete autonomy over my body. 3. Another thing that resonated with me was that they valued our time together. Each prenatal and postpartum appointment was scheduled to be an hour long. If i came with a list of questions, they took the time to carefully answer each one. On days i wasn't so inquisitive, they educated me and my husband about all things pregnancy and gave us practical resources to help mentally and physically prepare for labor and postpartum. If you feel drawn to some of the experiences I mentioned or are considering going the home birth route, it wouldn't hurt to schedule a free consultation with Tel and Amy. I don't know for sure what the rest of my pregnancy journey would've looked like had i remained in Kaiser's care. But i do know that my prenatal care team- Tel, Amy and my husband, was truly a dream team that empowered and supported me from pregnancy to postpartum.

Hmmm where to start. I will do my best to keep this review professional, unlike our experience…read morehere. Not everyone that works here is uncaring... but long story short my wife's pregnancy took a turn for the worse. We found this out from a phone call after a test. The lady on the phone was eating what sounded like chips dustheap phone call!! Iam not kidding she was crunching away, it was beyond disgusting. Let me ask you a question. If you were given traumatic news, and someone on the other line was eating crunching away, smacking their lips. How would you feel? I feel hurt and sick writing this review. Oh yeah, one last thing never a follow up phone call or anything. They got their money and that's all they cared about for real.

Giving birth at California Birth Center was one of the most empowering experiences of my life…read more Everything is impeccably clean and thoughtfully designed, which gave me full confidence in the professionalism and safety of the care I received. The center operates with a team of midwives, and you meet a different one at each appointment. I genuinely appreciated how intentional and unhurried the prenatal care was. Each visit lasted a full hour, giving us the time and space to connect with the midwives, ask questions, and feel truly heard. Nothing ever felt rushed or overly clinical -- every appointment felt like a deep check-in, not only with my physical health but also with my emotional and spiritual well-being throughout the pregnancy. During labor, a midwife and an assistant were present. They held space for me with such grace -- never intrusive, but always present and intuitive when I needed support. After the birth, we were thoroughly cared for and sent home with everything we needed. The following day, they visited our home to check on both baby and me. They offered helpful lactation support, guidance, and continued postpartum care for both of us in the weeks that followed. I felt seen, heard, and deeply respected every step of the way. I truly cannot recommend California Birth Center enough.

If you're in the market for a best in class midwife to assist with your home birth, I highly…read morerecommend Christie from Cambridge Midwifery Care. Christie did such an excellent job caring for me and my family from the first time we came to her clinic through pregnancy and birth and well beyond the postpartum period. Not only did Christie bring a deep knowledge of traditional midwifery care, but also her expertise around nutrition and the natural holistic approach of her practice were what made such a big difference for me in this pregnancy. The prenatal visits were detailed, personal and every discomfort I experienced was met with a suggestion on how to provide relief rather than it being dismissed as another pregnancy symptom. Along the way, Christie made sure to provide options and education for her treatment so I could make the best decision for me and my family. I couldn't have asked for a more positive and empowering home birth experience. Whether it's your first or fourth pregnancy, every woman should have the blessing to experience a natural childbirth and with the support of Christie I was able to do that in the most beautiful way, from the comfort of our home.

If your wanting a home birth these two are the best power team you could have. They have assisted…read moreme through two home births now. They are very professional, knowledgeable and in tune with your pregnancy. Careful they will become your best friends and you'll never want to stop having babies! ;)

Tara is simply the best! My delivery was an amazing life experience. She was attentive, gentle…read moreyet firm and made me feel as relaxed as someone can be during labor. We did almost all of my labor at home and she got me to the hospital in perfect time for the delivery. My request was to be 100% natural birth. She helped guide my pregnancy wishes to full fruition. Would I recommend her? Absolutely yes!

Tara is warm, comforting ,and knowledgeable. She is exactly the person you would want guiding you…read morethrough pregnancy and birth. Her care didn't stop after birth either , it extended far beyond that. When I was worried about my sons jaundice she accompanied me to the ER and waited with me for hours into the evening while his levels were checked. She was a true advocate for us in a place where it's easy to feel timid and pushed along. And even though his levels were fine , she taught me it was better to have peace of mind and okay to seek reassurance. I'll never forget her kindness .

I feel incredibly lucky to have had Shalin as my doula for the birth of my second child! Shalin is…read moresuch a warm, caring, and genuine person. As a doula, she is extremely capable, professional, and supportive. When I first connected with Shalin via videochat for a consultation, she instantly made me feel comfortable. I decided to go with Shalin based on how experienced and knowledgeable she seemed, as well as how comprehensive her doula services package was. Over the course of my pregnancy, Shalin visited my house several times to educate my husband and me about the birthing process, evidence-based approaches to birth, and different ways to prepare my body for birth, and to go over my birth plan. The whole process made me feel really prepared for the birth and gave me a greater understanding of what I wanted for the birth. I also appreciated that I got to know Shalin more during the pregnancy so that she didn't feel like a stranger at all. In fact, she is so warm and friendly that she felt more like a friend! She didn't push any particular views on me but wanted me to feel supported in my birth preferences.  When I went into early labor, Shalin was very responsive and kept checking in on me to see how labor was progressing, and when we decided to go to the hospital, she was super quick to meet us there. She was prepared in every way and set up lights and candles for the room. The hospital room was a vibe and very peaceful! Since I gave birth in a hospital setting, it was also important to me to have someone who could help advocate for me. When my hospital care team asked me to do certain things, Shalin checked in with me to see if I wanted to proceed with what they were asking. During the labor, she suggested different laboring positions and did counterpressure and other comfort measures, which helped me tremendously in coping with the pain. With Shalin's help and support, all my birth preferences were met! I had such a positive, empowering labor - something I never would have thought possible after my first delivery experience (without a doula).  I loved having Shalin as my doula and I highly recommend her! I can't stress enough how having her as my doula made such a difference to my second delivery experience. I am so happy with how everything went and really couldn't have done it without Shalin!

When I wrote this last time I was the supporting non-birthing parent. Thankfully just got the…read morechance to work with Shalin from the other side with the birth of our newest little one!! As always Shalin is the most incredible, compassionate, kind, resourceful, and caring doula. My full updated review is here below! :) https://yelp.to/Xwqw8UCKBk

Hiring Marlene and Kaleem was the best decision I could have made when I found out I was pregnant…read more They gave us the most incredible and loving care before, during and after our homebirth. They are insanely knowledgeable, calm, reassuring, experienced, loving....I could go on and on! I had an amazing and uncomplicated pregnancy, a powerful birth experience and a happy healthy baby girl and I know I have them to thank for that! Even my husband was thoroughly impressed with their care and he is very hard to impress!! These two wonderful midwives truly offer the best care a woman (and the whole family) could receive and they are worth so much more than what they charge. I could have had my entire birth paid for if I had seen a Dr and delivered at the hospital, but these two are worth every penny. We always felt special and never rushed at our appointments. They always made sure to tell us about all the options and helped us weigh the pros and cons of all the testing and procedures that come along with pregnancy. They always had perfect answers to my questions and their suggestions were always spot on. Everything they ever suggested that I do worked like a charm and you can really see how much they love what they do and how much they love each and every new baby! Please consider these one of a kind ladies to help you along your pregnancy journey!! You will not be disappointed

Marlene and Kaleem are amazing! They make pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum such a great…read moreexperience. They don't make you feel like you have to do certain procedures, let you make the best decision for your family and are not judgmental about it what so ever. I feel beyond blessed to have had them be my midwives.

Renee was a truly a blessing to our family while we prepared to have our first baby. After…read moreexperiencing doctors' appointments where it felt like we had maybe 10 minutes to get all of our questions out, it was a relief to be able to sit with Renee until all our questions were answered. Once labor began, she didn't hesitate to come down and help us through the tough beginning. As the husband during labor, it feels like you need to be in 3 places at once, so having Renee to help made it much more manageable. She helped us form a realistic birth plan, supported us, and advocated for us even when we were faced with friction from the medical staff! After our baby was born, she continually checked on us and helped out with the tricky lactation learning curve. I can't imagine what the birth of our first baby would have been like without Renee there through the whole process. We're so thankful for her loving care. She's very clearly passionate about her work, and we couldn't have asked for better.

Renee was a lifesaver in the early days of breastfeeding. I frantically contacted her on a weekend…read moreafter a sleepless night and she was available to come to our home that day. She did a weight check on baby, observed our latch, offered tips for both breast and bottle feeding, as well as for pumping. I felt so seen, heard, and supported during this difficult moment. Renee is amazing!!