As a dad-to-be, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going into a hypnobirthing class. If I'm being…read morehonest, I was a little skeptical at first--"hypno" anything sounded a bit out there to me. But I signed up to support my wife, and I'm really glad I did. This class completely changed how I see birth and my role in it. Instead of feeling like a bystander, I walked away feeling informed, useful, and actually confident in how I can support my wife during labor. The techniques we learned--breathing, relaxation, visualization--aren't just for moms. I found myself using them too, and they've already helped us both stay calmer leading up to the big day. What stood out most was how much emphasis was placed on teamwork. I learned specific, practical ways to advocate for my wife, help her stay relaxed, and create a positive environment no matter how the birth unfolds. It made me feel like an active participant instead of just "the guy in the room." The instructor, Care, was very knowledgeable, approachable, and never made any question feel silly. She made the classes very comfortable and even pretty funny at times. The class also struck a great balance between education and hands-on practice, so it didn't feel like we were just sitting through lectures. If you're a partner on the fence about taking a hypnobirthing class--do it. Even if you're skeptical like I was, you'll come away with tools, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of what your partner is going through. Honestly, it's one of the best things we've done together to prepare for becoming parents.

I gave birth a couple months ago, and decided to go through Care's Hypnobirthing class, and also…read moreuse her for my placenta encapsulation, and I can't recommend her highly enough! From the very first class, it was clear that Care is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about empowering expectant parents. Her approach to hypnobirthing and breathing techniques was not only informative but also calming and reassuring for both me and my partner. We completed it feeling much more prepared and confident for the birth experience ahead. Care provided a wealth of resources, ensuring we had everything we needed to make informed decisions about our birthing plan. She was always responsive to our questions, both during the classes and even after the birth, which made a world of difference in our journey. It's rare to find someone who continues to support you even after the classes are over. Overall, the entire experience with Care was amazing. Her warmth, expertise, and dedication to her clients truly set her apart. If you're looking for guidance and support in your birth preparation, look no further than Care Messer at the Birth Education Center!

Short answer: Hire a doula, if you can afford it, it is so worth it!…read more Long review: I worked with birth doulas from BBD for both of my births (2024 and 2026). I was extremely nervous about giving birth, and my main goal the first time was just to not have trauma. Thanks to amazing support from our doulas, I discovered not only did I not have trauma, but I also find giving birth such a transformative and positive experience, something I never even considered a possibility for me. I worked with Tamara and Sage for my first birth, a late-term induction and vaginal delivery (both attended), and Tamara and Kim for my second, spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery (Kim attended). A goal in both my births was to wait until transition to get an epidural, and thanks to Sage helping me ride contractions and helping my spouse keep me comfortable I was able to wait as I had hoped. In my second birth, I used techniques I had learned from Sage as well as new ones from Kim to stay so comfortable laboring that I got to the hospital pretty late without realizing how far labor had progressed! I never considered an unmedicated birth a possibility for me, but due to doula support allowing me to stay comfortable I think I would give it a try if I have another baby. Doula support was key to keeping me out of my "fear brain", as in both births, things happened that I didn't understand and they were able to explain them, both on the phone and in person at the hospital. This allowed me to keep calm. We didn't do the birth class due to our schedules, so did 2 prenatal visits instead both times. These were helpful in getting to know the doulas, but also they gave a wealth of recommendations for birth and for postpartum - for instance, Tamara suggested identifying a lactation consultant before birth, which was an amazing suggestion given that I needed lactation support immediately with my first and I would have not lined this up without her suggestion. We really like the 2 doula model, also, which seems pretty unique. We highly recommend BBD!

I had the best experience with Breathe Bitch Doula! Louise and Mahri were incredible. They made me…read morefeel so supported and relaxed throughout my whole journey. They are set up to tag team so one of them is guaranteed to be there for the brith which was so helpful to know that someone would be there no matter what. They helped prep me and we amazing resources throughout my pregnancy, obviously during labor, and even postpartum. I'd text them with all my "my baby is doing this is it normal" questions. I want them there for any future pregnancies and labor!

Charda' was utilized as a lactation consultant for myself and my daughter's needs. She's has even…read moresupported us during transition to solids and change from breastmilk to formula to whole milk. She's approachable, has a wealth of knowledge, and she's patient. Her care plans are detailed. She doesn't make me feel rushed either when I have additional questions. If there are urgent issues, her or a member of her team are available. Thanks so much!

From the owner: Experienced & Certified Black Doula, Lactation Consultant & Mom in San Diego, CA. Your search is…read moreover! We train doulas too.

My husband and I decided to take Janine's class due to our holistic approach to birthing and our…read moregoal to best prepare ourselves with pain-coping strategies for a natural birth plan. Not only did Janine optimally prepare us, but we got so much more out of the class than we ever expected. Janine's approach is relatable, compassionate, friendly, kind and incredibly positive. She provided my husband and I space, in an intimate group setting, to have the tough conversations around birthing, our relationship with each other as future parents, and space to create tangible plans for prenatal care, labor and postpartum support. We would not have carved out this time to work through these topics on our own, and have so much appreciation for the tools and revelations Janine was able to help us uncover. My husband and I felt emotionally and physically ready to take on the birthing process, and felt intimately aligned as a partner duo in the process. We were especially grateful for the way Janine shed light on the birthing process due to COVID-19 and the fact that our Doula couldn't join us in the hospital as planned. My husband has such a greater understanding, respect and comfortability with supporting me in the toughest times of delivery because of Janine's curriculum. I highly recommend Janine's Birth From Love course to any conscious parents who are looking for a deeper connection, understanding and confidence in the birthing process, whether you are planning a natural birth or not. We had a smooth labor and delivery and now a happy, healthy baby girl to enjoy!

Janine is absolutely amazing! My husband and I did a private class - Birthing Again at home, which…read morewas so convenient and suitable as we are planning this birth to be at our home so it was a more appropriate comfortable setting for us. She has a ton of insight and recommendations not just about birthing/laboring the baby again, but on other topics such as postpartum plans and managing a healthy communicative relationship with your partner. Initially I thought 6 hours for a class was a bit long but it went by so fast! And we are more than happy we chose her as a guide to preparing us to do this again! Thank you Janine!!

Although the name "hypnobirthing" conjures up images of David Bowie from Labyrinth performing a…read morefreaky-mystical birth while looking into a crystal ball, I think a more accurate name might be "focusing your energy through breathing and concentration - birthing". My wife and I first met Julie as our hypnobirthing instructor and felt very comfortable with her and decided that she would be a perfect fit as our doula. We were looking for someone who was familiar with natural child birth but wasn't named "Rainbow" and lived in a VW bus. Julie is that perfect mix of knowledge, experience & assertiveness while still having a calming presence. We had a beautiful 100% natural birth and don't think we could have done it without the support of Julie. She exceeded our exceptations in every way. If you are looking to do the whole natural thing you should definitely give her a call.

This review is way over due but I have a 2 month old now so I am making time to express how amazing…read moreJulie is! Thank God for Yelp/Reviews! After reading all the wonderful reviews on Julie, my husband and I decided to hire her. Being first time parents, we knew we needed support and the moment we met Julie, we fell in love with her! Out of all of the Doulas that I reached out to, Julie was the only one who was very responsive, she makes you feel like you are her only client and this is very difficult to do. Julie met with us several times and explained in detail everything we needed to know, her recommendations, for example taking a birthing class was spot on and it really did help us understand the labor process in phases. Julie is extremely knowledgeable, warm, sincere, genuine and very straight forward. I had a hospital birth and she worked very well with the hospital staff, she always made me feel secure and calm. Unfortunately, I had to be induced at 41 wks & 4 days and during my early to mid labor period, Julie made sure I changed positions so that I could handle the surges better, she did an amazing job at helping me through each surge like the experienced professional that she is. After 13 hours on Pitocin, I decided to get an epidural, I was exhausted and soon after that my baby was not responding well to the surges so I had a c-section. We can't thank Julie enough for the tremendous support and beautiful pictures, we could have not done this without her, we absolutely recommend her! Thank you Julie for an amazing experience! We love you!

I decided to pursue a private class in my home to learn the basics of breastfeeding, newborn care,…read moreand preparation for labor, rather than take a series of separate classes at the hospital. The price was comparable to what I would have paid to take the hospital classes and I was able to learn in a setting that was not only more convenient in terms of location and timing, but more comfortable - and comfort is key in the 9th month of pregnancy! This is my first pregnancy and I had a lot of questions, fears and insecurities. Laura started off by sending me a brief questionnaire to get a sense of my expectations for the class. She made sure to customize the curriculum to not only cover the basics but to allay all of my specific concerns and fears. She even helped me assemble my breast pump! - something that was super intimidating with all of its tubes, parts and pieces, and accessories. My favorite part of the class was a relaxation for labor technique that my husband was also able to participate in. Holding an ice cube in your hand for a minute shows you how long a minute really is (contractions last a minute) and you practice techniques to help you get your mind off of the discomfort and pain until the minute passes. It is really difficult! Now maybe my husband will have a better appreciation for the strength of body and mind that is required to endure childbirth. :-) There's a lot of information in the class but it didn't feel like information overload. It was well organized and the professionally done video animations helped convey the specifics of childbirth and c-sections without traumatizing a squeemish husband. Having handouts available to refer back to later made me feel like I didn't have to absorb and retain every piece of information. I highly recommend Laura and her childbirth classes. Her demeanor is so comforting and encouraging! I am feeling optimistic about the remainder of my pregnancy and my birth experience, and confident that I will have a successful breastfeeding experience with my newborn. Thank you, Laura, for helping me get to this point - I am so grateful for all you have done to help me get ready!

From the owner: Birth and breastfeeding classes, doula servicesread more

I can not say enough great things about the hynpobirthing class with Care Messer. My partner and I…read moreare first time parents and did not know the first thing about the labor and delivery process. We were very unsure about everything and looking for direction. In class we learned about what the different labor and delivery options are, what to expect from hospitals, and different techniques to use during labor. We now feel we have the tools to better understand the whole process and make the decisions that are right for us and our family. The class addressed all of my questions and I feel like the information was presented in a very unbiased way, not to mention Care is super funny and the time in class flys by! I would recommend this class to all of my friends and family.

If you are pregnant, book your class asap! I can't rave enough about their approach to preparing…read morefor birth. My husband had two kids from a previous relationship, but still was able to learn things he hadn't been present for with them. It improved our communication surrounding my pregnancy and birth, even when it took a different turn. We'd made it through four of the five classes when my son decided to he needed to get out at 30 weeks. I had so many tools in my toolbox that I felt prepared, even during the scary prospects of having preeclampsia and a NICU baby. I'm so grateful for Care and her entire team. Such a blessing!!!!

This class was amazing. Emilie is one of the most caring people. She taught me so many necessary…read morethings to prepare for child birth. She is funny and made me feel seen and heard.

I have known Emilie for a couple of years through church. She was an extremely trusted and…read morerecommended birth educator and doula from my friends. I had read the Hynobirthing book before the labor for my first child. I did not connect with techniques, they felt too "heady" and like they were trying to ignore the immense amount of pressure I was feeling in my body during labor. Those methods lasted about 1 hour in my labor, then I was like, "If you ask me to envision another ocean wave I will slap you!" ... Needless to say, I knew going into labor #2 with our next babe I needed to do something different. Emilie taught Bradley Method (I think she is teaching something slightly different now?) at the time (2017). My husband and I decided to attend her class in Kearny Mesa for many weeks (was it 10? 12? It's all blurry now haha!). What I LOOOOOOOVED about Emilie is she is confident in her birth knowledge, so she swayed slightly from the 90's Bradley Method book that desperately needed some updates. AND she also combined some of the more natural techniques that swung closer to hypnobirthing, included some labor videos, and brought in previous clients, midwives, and nurses for questions. She acknowledged the immense amount of pressure/pain during labor, and didn't call it something else. I NEEDED that acknowledgment. YES, labor is SO HARD. And Emilie knows that. Yet she so brilliantly taught us techniques to labor well. I think the best shift for me was the practice of the techniques in and out of her class. She made sure we practiced at least 10 minutes a day. Doing that from week 28 of pregnancy till labor-- I felt equipped. My second labor was AMAZING. I knew how to labor without exhausting myself. I was equipped with a rebozo that felt right for my height- which I only knew because I had so much time to practice with different ones during Emilie's course. I learned how to communicate to my husband without making him feel like a failure. My husband learned how to be hands on when I wanted him to, and how to serve hands off when I needed to be in my head. He learned methods like head squeezing, gentle squeezes on a wet wash cloth consistently running down my back during contractions, how to position himself to hold my full body weight on the rebozo and not hurt his back, he learned how to track my labor progress by sight without asking me any questions of where I was at, and so much more. I highly recommend Emilie's services, in whatever capacity you desire. Doula, birth educator, advice, etc.

Carlee is the best. She is super patient, wonderful empathetic kind bedside manner and extremely…read moreknowledgeable

This is a wonderful resource during pregnancy. I always learn a lot from the group check-in at the…read morebeginning of each class.

Went to the school to file a complaint against a employee for texting me to "grow up" because i…read morehung up on him since i was at work. Arrived at the school and before i could put a name to the face he actually greeted me and was cool but once i stated my name and told him it was me you were texting that he was super unprofessional and he should not talk to people/future students that way if i answer fine if not im busy and BUDDY WAS READY TO FIGHT. I said i need to talk to a higher up to file a complaint and he said he was the highest in the building and that we can talk. As we are conversating he became more agitated and started stepping up to me and telling me to be a "man" and then guided me to a empty classroom to talk behind closed doors. I said ABSOLUTELY NOT with the way he has been aggressive and essentially baiting me into an altercation. I stated i wanted a 3rd party there due to the tense situation he was creating. He then guided me to the welding area and pulled the welding teacher aside infront of students and started again saying be a man and say what you have to say and again i said i need someone thats in a high position i need to do some type of formal complaint and know its been acknowledged. Whole time the man was swaying back and forth belittling me and just asking for a fight which was not my intentions at all. The welding teacher was completely clueless and wasnt understanding what was even going on. At that point i just asked who can hell me file a complaing because this guy is extremely upset and wanting a altercation and i was directed to an office. In thay office a nice lady helped me and immediately stood up when she heard what i was trying to explain. Whole time the man was there being aggressive and still approaching me trying to coax me into doing something. The lady noticed that and quickly got me the Director of Operations even tho the man lied and said hes the highest in the building. As i was waiting the man and i were going back and forth and bickering and ultimately just displays his unprofessionalism and lack of control. He denied it was him that texted me even though he answered when i called the number with the unprofessional text message, he lied saying i came in making noise when he greeted me and i simply asked if he was who i think he is, he lied saying i went to the welding area disturbing them when he guided me there. All that for a simple text he should not have sent but he thought it was okay to do that. Never did i go with intentions for an altercation. I felt if he felt like he can just send a text like that as an employee to a possible student he clearly doesnt respect people as he should especially being in the front greeting people onna daily. I was disrespected and be littled being called less than a man and out of my name but none of it bothered me as i am confident in myself as a man, father and veteran. Moral of the story if you lose your temper as a employee and attempt to coax someone into fighting in your workplace behind closed doors theres no space for you in that establishment at all. I spoke to the director and followed the instructions he gave me to move forward and i have also submitted a complaint with BPPE. I have never been put in this situation before so i will file with whoever and wherever because this was unnecessary and someone could have been hurt or arrested.

I am grateful to have an instructor like Chuck Bouchonnet, he is a cool guy but most importantly a…read morevery smart and great welding instructor. He takes his time to help you with whatever you need, communicates clearly with you and the entire class. If you actually put the effort in his class he will give his all to help you succeed.