Had my second baby at Pacifica recently, and want to double down on my review from 2023. It's still an amazing place run by wonderful, caring people. I feel grateful to have had access to it. I wish for this model of perinatal care to become widespread some day. Looking forward to bringing my bebes here when they grow up so they can meet Cindy and see the room (and magical tub!) where they were born. read more

Our family loved the experience of caring for my pregnancy and childbirth with the team and at this space at Pacifica. Through pregnancy we had an extraordinary care experience. The prenatal classes and individual midwife care were more than what we dreamed for. We ended up having our birth at a hospital and even there Cindy was crucial for us to have a positive experience not just for myself but also for my partner, our baby, and my mother. Some of our appointments were in Spanish so my mom could understand and ask all the questions she had. At Pacifica we found an invaluable care and even made friends with other families for life. read more

I loved my experience with Pacifica, and I can't thank the midwives enough for their deep level of care throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I felt supported, safe, and connected throughout, and my baby and I had a beautiful birth surrounded and held by their team. When I first got pregnant, I started out seeing an OB. In the medical system, the visits were short and perfunctory. I felt like I was checking off boxes on their end, and not getting any value or support. When we switched to Pacifica care, the difference was immediate and apparent to both myself and my partner. They cared about how my partner and I were doing mentally, emotionally, and physically, and provided holistic advice whenever we had to make decisions for the baby. Having a natural birth was challenging but such an amazing experience, and I can't imagine having done it without the midwives or in an environment that felt super familiar, homey, and safe. Thank you Cindy, Audrey, Tracy, Evaly, Esther for your love and care bringing our baby into this world. read more

After having most of my prenatal care with hospital appointments, my husband and I felt immediate relief after our first visit at Pacifica and had no hesitation switching our care over to them in my third trimester. For the first time I felt like we were truly being listened to and that all the treatment and advice I was getting was based specifically on everything that pertained to me- my lifestyle, my hopes, fears, my needs. In the hospital settings I felt like so much of what I was being told was based off of broad generalizations that were not accurate to who I was as a patient. Pacifica was such an amazing team that each time we had a visit I felt like everyone knew my family, even if it was our first time with that team member, which made it clear to us how much of a genuine team/family they are. They were an amazing birth team, I would not have changed anything, and I hope we have the opportunity to birth with them again. I have and will continue to recommend Pacifica to anyone ready to find their birth team. read more

So much love for this place. I worked with Pacifica for both of my pregnancies and births, one in Oct 2022 and my second in Sept 2024. I'm so grateful for the quality of care I received there. My first birth was a bit traumatic and they did a great job of holding space during the birth and being there for me afterward to talk through the experience and help me process what had happened. We ended up transferring to the hospital, but two of the midwives came with us and they did a lot to help me have the birth I wanted even though it wasn't the birth place or experience I had hoped for. I gave birth to my second baby at Pacifica and had an amazing birth, which I can't imagine being nearly as good in a hospital setting. I was surrounded by people I knew and deeply trusted, never felt rushed, and I felt like I was really in charge of my birth experience. There were moments that could have been traumatic if I'd had less trust in my care team -- my baby had shoulder dystocia, which I know is an emergency and could have been really stressful, but I was never scared because I knew Cindy could handle getting the baby out safely while also communicating clearly and respectfully to me what she was doing to my body and why, and what I needed to do to help get her out quickly. I came away with no trauma from this birth even though the events could have been pretty scary, and that feels like a huge gift. During my prenatal and postnatal care, I always found the midwives very warm and caring and attentive to my emotional experience. Appointments were never rushed, they always made time to cover everything on my mind and often that meant we'd stay for a full hour. After the birth they asked if I wanted to discuss anything to help me process the birth, which I think is such an important part of postnatal care that so many women don't get. I asked them to show me how the baby had come out and how she'd gotten stuck so I could picture it, and they used a baby doll and a toy pelvis to show me what happened. Even though the birth wasn't traumatic, this helped me situate what had happened and match it to my physical experience so I could understand it better. The facility itself is welcoming and the birth rooms are really well equipped -- notably with really huge deep birthing tubs and a cozy queen bed. I was able to labor in the tub and found that so peaceful, even though contractions were still really intense. Throughout my care I had a strong feeling that the midwives and I were on the same team and that they would do as much as they could to both solicit and honor my preferences related to the birth (as well as other prenatal and postnatal care). They're also available 24/7 to respond to any urgent questions that come up -- you can text them and they'll respond within 5 minutes and have a phone call to discuss next steps if needed. I made use of this a number of times: once when I worried that I was going into labor too early, another time when I noticed the baby had been less active than usual and wasn't sure if I should do any testing, another time when I was pretty sure the baby had flipped posterior and they invited me to come in for a position check to confirm so I could figure out whether to do spinning babies moves to try to flip her back. Whatever came up, it was so reassuring to know I could always reach out and talk to someone immediately if I needed to. I don't know if I'll have any more babies, but if I do I'll definitely be back! read more

I cannot recommend this facility enough! I came here for my 2nd birth after a traumatic first birth in a hospital and had the most amazing, life changing experience. The midwives welcomed me with open arms at 38 weeks (almost the end!) and squeezed me in so my partner and I felt comfortable with each care giver. I am eternally grateful for the attentive and holistic care we received and only wish every birthing person could have access to this level of care. Worth every penny! read more

So grateful to be sharing this review. We joined the Pacifica community 3 months before the arrival of our 2nd child. With many reasons to birth outside of the hospital being a Black woman within a pandemic was at the top. A friend referred me to Sydney, a midwife at Pacifica and I am forever grateful. The intention, grace, and support received prenatal & postpartum is unlike anything I would of received at the hospital. The space is inviting and serene. I was empowered in supported in my choices. Amaya, Lacey, and Sydney are amazing at what they do. 10/10 - highly recommend. read more

I honestly cannot say enough good things about my experience at Pacifica! This review is overdue-I have a 7-month-old now. One of the other reviewers said that choosing to give birth at Pacifica was the best decision of their life. I concur that it was one of the best decisions of mine. We chose Pacifica because my wife had a home birth years ago with one of the midwives who now works at Pacifica and she'd felt she was in such compassionate and expert hands through her birth experience. I had a similar experience with the midwives at Pacifica. Their care was so compassionate, holistic and individualized. I loved the patient communication program that they use. It was so easy to send a message with a question, to upload labs from outside providers (I did my ultrasounds and bloodwork with Kaiser) and there's a huge resource library online with helpful and succinct articles. Our prenatal care was excellent. At our appointments, I felt unrushed and that we were seen as humans. Our midwives were so knowledgeable, able to talk to me about the most recent research on things like preventing pre-eclampsia. And they were also so kind and practiced active listening in a way that I had never experienced with a medical provider. The prenatal education groups provided were also invaluable! I had signed up for something similar with Kaiser, but quickly opted to just do the sessions with Pacifica instead. The sessions were extremely informative and empowering to prepare me for an unmedicated birth. There was also space to discuss our fears and what we looked forward to which was therapeutic. The admin side was also very helpful when I changed insurance in the middle of my pregnancy. They were so easy to work with overall-always super responsive to a phone call or message. The facility is also lovely. The birthing suites feel like a comfy hotel room with large, beautiful tubs! There's a small kitchen so we were able to bring some food for the birth. We had a back-up plan in case I needed to give birth in the hospital if any medical challenges arose, but I was able to give birth at Pacifica! It was an amazing, peak life experience. I felt very held and empowered by all the strong women in the room! And so cared for afterwards. They were extremely thoughtful and respectful of all our wishes (which they had discussed with me over the course of our prenatal care). The examinations of the baby were done with her in my arms whenever possible and we were given time for the Golden Hour(s) of that first nursing session. I also loved that I could have several support people at my birth and appointments! I did end up having a postpartum complication which was somewhat emergent and I was so grateful with the care that the on-call Pacifica midwife provided for me. I can't tell you how dedicated these midwives are! After all that AMAZING care, I was floored by the postpartum care. The midwives came for several home visits to care for me and the baby. I've talked to many birthing people about their postpartum care and I haven't heard of anything that comes close to what Pacifica provides. It is seriously what all women and babies should receive but actually only a lucky few of us do (although Pacifica is trying to change that!). Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the midwives who cared for us! read more

My partner and I toured Pacifica early on in our first pregnancy and quickly switched from my OB/hospital birth vision. The pre-natal care was intimate and thorough! Through Pacifica, I learned so much about labor and birth but also newborn care and got a glimpse into postpartum life. I felt educated, safe and at ease. Our son's natural birth was an empowering and profound experience-- I was honored to share it with Pacifica midwife team. The postpartum care includes two home visits and constant engagement to support a successful recovery, breastfeeding and optimal health all around. Thank you, Pacifica, for the experience of a lifetime! read more

Pacifica Family Maternity Center - Midwives Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's a bit with a heavy heart that I write this review. I have had a couple of friends have amazing experiences at Pacifica, and though I loved the ladies and prenatal care, they dropped the ball on my labor and delivery. First, the prenatal care is great - spent lots of time with all of the midwives and students answering my many questions. I felt well respected and cared for, without concern that comes with medical care in the US in traditional hospitals. But, my care during labor and delivery was unfortunately inadequate. I went to Pacifica to labor and was told relatively early on that the baby was posterior and it would take 12+ hours for the baby to turn without medical assistance. Based on that advice, I agreed to transfer to the nearby hospital where I ended up with a whole host of interventions leading to a c-section. There are a few things about my care that give me heartburn: first, the transfer rate is really high - I wish I had known how high it was, because ultimately we had a last minute switcheroo to a completely different care provider that we had never met / knew nothing about. Then, (and this may have been because of covid, but the experience was what it was for me), no midwives came with me - only a student - which honestly felt like my husband and I were on our own at the hospital. We really had no one to talk things through and basically had to navigate it all ourselves. Lastly, hindsight is 20/20, but I wish the midwives had tried to help me turn my baby naturally vs turn to medical intervention immediately. I expected that of them given all of the conversations we had had - hands on support throughout labor. But, I believe that as a stand-alone birth center they are more risk averse, and the downside can be significant. We landed in a c section (which may or may not have happened anyway) with a lot of trauma for both my husband and me. Ultimately, we had chosen a care provider and spent lots of time with them, only to be recommended to transfer with very little effort to help our baby naturally and then with basically no support at the hospital. I've had a birth since my time at Pacifica with another midwife practice in the area and know that better care does exist (though maybe not at a birth center). Even though my friends had great experiences and there is a lot of good about Pacifica and I genuinely care about the ladies, I just can't recommend this center to those that wish for a natural birth experience. If I had 3 things to recommend to Pacifica, it's: 1) be more transparent about transfer rates and help your patients develop a back up plan in the not small probability that they have to transfer and wind up with all new care, 2) provide more hands on care during labor and suggest more natural choices first, 3) send a midwife with patients.. not a student. It's too big of a transition to an all new environment with doctors with tons of experience that anything short of a midwife just isn't helpful. I do wish all the ladies the best. read more

This is my second time giving birth at PFMC and I wish this type of service was readily accessible to women nationwide. I tell all of my friends who are growing their families to seek out midwives due to my amazing experiences with PFMC. The thoroughness and level of care is so far beyond what I received at with my OBGYN, and I felt heard, reassured and supported. Had smooth births both times and I appreciate all of the educational information they provide as well. I highly recommend them and if I was planning on having a third I'd be right back at PFMC again. read more

This review is long overdue. My son is now 10 months old and Pacifica Family Maternity Center (PFMC) has been nothing short of a positive community. Where do I begin? No words can describe the emotional impact and detailed care-giving that PFMC does in spades. They are more than just midwife professionals. They are passionate. They are attentive. They all possess unfathomable amounts of emotional intelligence and patience. My wife and I always felt safe, respected, understood, and very well cared for. We chose PFMC because we wanted a more natural birthing experience. A hospital environment is not the most comfortable for us, and we wanted to feel more at ease and when bringing a being into the world. Additionally, we've had some unpleasant experiences with hospitals where care was rushed, not personalized (get through patients as fast as possible), and there tended to be a push to medication instead of more natural methods. I could go on and on. Fortunately for us, PFMC isn't anything like this and instead made us feel more at home and part of a trusted family. They are always informative and provided guidance, and never judgment. Now on to the outline of their offerings: - PFMC charges a flat fee and is generally considered out-of-network for most health insurance (as far as I know.). Additionally, you will also have to pay for general lab work. They can do basic things in-house and will let you know where they cannot, and can recommend places to get it done and pass along the results. It was pretty seamless for us. - You get their on-call number. Let me tell you, they respond in minutes and just as lively and helpful as ever. Even in the middle of the night. It seems they don't sleep. - They track everything through a website called "Maternity Neighborhood" where you can view their ACTUAL notes from your appointments with them, examine your lab results, check your stats, read a TON of resources (along with recommended ones for you at the time), and much more. - During First trimester: monthly check-ins. The check-ins are about 1 hour in length; and even then, they make you feel like they have all the time in the world to answer your questions! We ran over many times. - During Second trimester: monthly check-ins and bi-weekly group classes. The group classes go over important topics, and also provide a chance to share in the experience with other fellow PFMC patients. - During Third trimester: monthly check-ins switches to weekly check-ins, along with the usual bi-weekly group classes. - Post-partum appointments as needed (~4-6 weeks). - You can schedule more appointments outside of the ones provided. They generally will make time to squeeze you in. - For us, we had a total of 19 appointments, excluding the birthing event and little appointments surrounding that! The team that we had were Cindy, Kavita, Jaqxun, A'Maya, Jinny, Amanda, Sydney, Lacey. There were others as well, depending on the rotation. All were incredibly knowledgeable, supportive, attentive, patient, and just downright awesome. They all complemented each other extremely well. I was impressed with how much they even knew about different folkloric traditions of pre/postnatal care (e.g., postpartum confinement) and they were all very respective to our culture and background and ultimately whatever/however we decided to do things. They also continue to study and broaden their existing knowledge and bring forth exciting studies, stories, stats, technical concepts, etc, and share it. I'm glad they continue to push the boundaries and do their own research and cross-check it for us, which is more helpful than any advance google search I can do (and I do a ton in my line of work). As for the rest of the experience? Well, I don't want to jump to a lot of details since the journey is a rather personal one. What I can say is that we ended up having an unplanned birth at a hospital, and Cindy, Sydney, Kavita were there every step of the way and continued to provide more support than we could ever ask for. It felt like we had our own personal advisors/therapists, and they were able to be a lot more informative and supportive than the nurses/doctors at the hospital, and helped us stray away from certain decisions. When things are unplanned, it can be hectic. Luckily they were with us the entire time and they provided a lot of emotional support and made an uncomfortable situation more soothing. I can continue on and write about how special and impactful each person made us feel, but it would just end up being much longer than is deemed appropriate for this review space. At the end of the day, we have a happy, healthy boy, and we're very glad that we had PFMC the whole way. Should we decide to have another child, I know we will want to do this with PFMC again. read more

I had planned to have my birth at Kaiser because it was covered by insurance. When the Covid situation became more serious and shelter in place was enforced I was becoming increasingly nervous about giving birth in a big hospital with concerns around potential exposure for myself and baby. Also the rules being enforced for the hospital birth in response to Covid were difficult for me to adapt to and honestly intimidating. I reached out to Pacifica just to get more information as an alternative to my planned hospital birth. I made the decision to switch over one day before my due date (oh hey last minute) and it was the best decision I could have ever made. Cindy gave me an hour phone consultation and thoroughly answered all my questions. She was so kind and took so much time with me it instantly felt right. We werent able to do an in person tour of the space because of shelter in place but I felt totally ok with that. When I arrived for labor I was 8 cm dilated already and it was go time. Cindy, Jessamyn, and Sydney went right to work making sure I was comfortable and taken care of, communicating everything to me along the way and somehow managing to be gentle and nurturing in the process. The labor hit some intense parts but I felt so calmed and taken care of that at no point did I feel like I couldnt do it. I honestly dont even have the words to express how grateful I am to Pacifica and the midwives. The birth was everything I could have imagined and more and I felt so held and supported. Postpartum the midwives have continued to blow my mind with super attentive care - both in person and video appointments that literally feel like therapy. They answer all my questions, ease all my concerns and continue to make me feel well cared for. I cant imagine getting this level of care anywhere else. This center and the women who make it are so incredibly special and I really feel that despite the insanity of the Covid pandemic, that this was my silver lining blessing to have been able to birth at Pacifica Family Maternity Center and bring my son into the world this way. read more

First of all their pre and postnatal care is unmatched by anyone. 5+ stars for that. I feel eternally grateful for their guidance before and after we had our baby. However, I would not labor or deliver with them again. As someone who has been very pro-midwifery care for ever and ever I was disappointed by the experience. If you want a very very hands off approach then you will be satisfied here. If you're expecting someone to be able to offer positions to labor in or who will be with you during labor then this may not be the place for you. Everyone's needs are unique and many people have had excellent experiences here. The medical care here wasn't what I needed or expected. But the people are all very kind, respectful, caring, and thoughtful. And that means a lot. read more

I had the most incredible experience at Pacifica. The midwives are wonderful, knowledgable and made me (who has doctors for parents) feel secure and confident in their ability to safely deliver my daughter. They took time to field all my questions, saw me multiple times before my delivery, and more times postpartum. Through the entire process I felt cared for to a greater degree than I would have received at a hospital. The facility is beautiful, cozy, and inviting - and I got to use the birth tub! I couldn't have asked for more out of such a momentous experience. Thank you Pacifica! read more

We wanted a natural, relaxed birthing experience with a tub and minimal interventions, and though this place is a good 45 minutes from home, we feel it was more than worth it. We got what we were searching for and more. I describe our experience as having a home birth, but in someone else's home. Freedom to eat and move around during labor, no wires/needles tethering me, a relaxing tub, a comfortable place for my husband to lie down and rest, a kitchen to store and prep food, freedom to try different pushing positions... I loved my birth experience. Also, the midwives are like OB/GYN's, pediatricians, and lactation consultants rolled into one. Their care for us was so personal and holistic. They taught us how to care for our newborn, provided group support, lent me a sitz bath to speed up recovery, and helped me breast feed. They even have a library of books, toys, clothes, etc. I especially appreciated the home visits on days 1 and 3 after the birth. Being so sore and tired after the birth, it was so great receiving care without having to get out of bed! On top of all that, our insurance paid for almost all of it. No extra fees for breast feeding help, or getting advice outside of appointments. This is truly CARING healthcare. We love this place and the team of midwives and would gladly come again for future pregnancies. read more

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There are no powerful enough words to describe how wonderful these midwives and their apprentices are. From the birth center orientation to my son's birth and beyond, this group of talented and knowledgeable midwives have made me and my birth team feel safe, well-taken care of and very loved. Having transitioned from hospital-care to Pacifica, it felt so great to be more involved in my care. The prenatal visits are warm, comfortable and thorough. The prenatal group classes are led by the student midwives and are so helpful in providing all the necessary information and emotional support you will need as your baby grows and you both prepare for birth and postpartum. They also serve as a meeting ground of people navigating a common experience. It was so nice to never feel alone in this journey. As labor begins and your baby's birth draws nearer, the midwives welcome you into the center with a peaceful and compassionate energy. The birthing spaces are welcoming and homelike, creating the perfect environment to welcome your little babe Earthside. The rest of the birth center is much the same - always clean and inviting. Cindy, Carlee Ann, Renee and Ellen are experienced, professional, and warm practitioners who are wonderful to have by your side on the amazing journey through pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Their student apprentices (Kim, Jennifer and Tess) are so insightful and well on their way to becoming wonderful midwives themselves. If you have any desire to give birth in a birth center and be under the care of a loving, kind and compassionate team of midwives, please attend one of Pacifica's orientations. It would only be a disservice to yourself not to. Should another child be in my future, my hope is to reunite with these beautiful women. Best of luck to all you soon-to-be parents! read more

Pacifica Family Maternity Center - Midwives Near Me - Berkeley, California

This review is long overdue - I delivered both my three year old and my 5 month old at Pacifica! If you're not interested in the details, I'll just say that my care and birth experiences at Pacifica were phenomenal and I can't recommend them enough, especially for LGBTQ+ families. The midwives and students are kind, gentle, and powerful guides through one of the wildest experiences life has to offer My partner and I chose Pacifica for my first pregnancy because I wanted a natural birth in a home-like environment with people I knew and trusted. It's easy to make the story of your pregnancy and birth very long, but the short version is that I felt really safe and cared for with the midwives and students throughout my pregnancy (which was difficult at times) and they were always respectful of my decisions and autonomy. The prenatal classes were thorough but supportive and friendly, and we were able to take a childbirth class specifically for LGBTQ+ families which was great. My birth experience was everything I had hoped for, it was intense and painful and wild but I felt completely safe and supported. I had postpartum depression and the postpartum group was really important to me to connect with other new moms and have support, I came with my baby almost every week for a year! The experience with my second was very different, we didn't have very many in-person appointments before COVID hit, and having my prenatal care by video appointments was challenging. The midwives, students, and staff are putting so much work into giving people a good experience, and in-person care is still available if you need it - my baby took forever to turn head-down this time and I appreciated being able to come in for an ultrasound when I was freaking out about it. My second labor was fast and hard but I had my baby in the same room as my kid! I'm not going to say it's fun but it's an incredibly powerful experience and I would absolutely do it again. It means a lot to be with people you trust and not whichever stranger happens to be on shift. I do really miss the in-person postpartum group but hey times are weird and we're all doing the best we can. If I were going to have a third kid I would definitely go back to Pacifica! read more

I had two children at Pacifica - my first in 2018, and the second earlier this year (after COVID started). I had great experiences both times, although the circumstances were quite different, and felt supported and empowered by both the midwives and the students. My first baby came very quickly - within three hours from first contraction to delivery, and at no point did I feel like things were out of control or that the caregivers didn't know what to do. We were lucky to have Cindy, the center's co-founder, deliver both children, and also to have continuity with the students (the same student, Lacey, met with me throughout both pregnancies and helped deliver both kids). The other midwives are great too - the prenatal meetings will rotate so I got at least some time with each of them, to ensure sufficient comfort when it came to delivery since they rotate on-call times. With the second child, delivery at the birth center meant that I was able to have my husband in the room at a time when hospitals were preventing any visitors due to COVID concerns. We felt safe throughout, because the caregivers took every precaution to maintain safety and follow current healthcare best practices. Unfortunately, that also meant only one home visit after the birth, substituting virtual meetings for in-person ones, but what can you do? It's a pandemic. All visits, records, and online communication are routed through a system called Maternity Center, which is accessible by computer or phone and makes it easy to find records / ask questions. There's also an "on-call" number to text when contractions start (I was also encouraged to use it several times for non-emergencies), which is very effective and ensures a quick response even at off-hours. To summarize, I'd encourage anyone considering an out-of-hospital birth to check out Pacifica... and for those who aren't considering it, you should! I never regretted it and really feel lucky to have had the opportunity for natural births, with consistent support and confidence from the Pacifica team. Thank you all! read more

I am just 5 days postpartum and still glowing from my experience with Pacifica Maternity. This is my second baby, the first I delivered at Alta Bates hospital. That first delivery was natural and fairly text book. Alta Bates felt progressive for a hospital, but it still treated even minor things over-medically and ultimately felt like far too cold and clinical for an experience so natural. I knew for a second pregnancy I did not want a hospital birth if I didn't have to. I engaged with Pacifica as soon as my second pregnancy was confirmed by my OBGYN. I transferred care to Pacifica at that point. The midwives and midwife students all took part in some of the meetings (many virtual at the start, but some in person towards the 3rd trimester, all due to covid) so I was able to meet most of the staff there and get familiar with all of them. I had a few medical concerns in the pregnancy and the midwives were wonderful advocates as well as translators for information I was getting from other perinatal specialists. They helped me understand risks, options, and helped me think through my own thoughts without being at all dogmatic or judgemental. For that I cannot thank them enough. They were knowledgeable, supportive, and willing to answer any question. They spoke to perinatal doctors for me, and found options when the doctors I worked with weren't available. My delivery was ultimately very fast (I barely made it to the center before delivering), but the process of delivering and then the aftercare and rest was lovely and supportive, warm and calm. The next day followup in home visit was also calm and really nice to have. All in all, I am going to recommend Pacifica to anyone in the Bay Area who is pregnant. I wish for all births that the norm was to birth in places like this with care like this. There are a couple aspects of working with Pacifica that I found really wonderful. - They use a great online tool to access all your information and communication called My Maternity. I write software and honestly its one of the best "platform" systems I've seen implemented for online services. Seriously, I was in there all the time. - They have a "Urgent Hotline" phone that is always staffed to which you can text or call anytime with anything. They often will suggest you use it even if you're thinking or feeling something strange as a non-emergency. - They are just 2 blocks from Alta Bates and have a good relationship with the Labor and Delivery group there. This made my partner feel secure that even in an emergency, we could get to a hospital easily. - They make sure you meet everyone on staff so no matter who is on call the day you deliver, you've met and had a conversation with the midwife. - The midwife students stay with you through your pregnancy, so you have that continuity no matter if its a different midwife on call, you will have the same student. - They have a bunch of additional resources, groups, even a chat platform for support beyond pregnancy and birth. - Like other reviewers have said, I really felt I bonded with these women, that they cared about my family, and that they care and love what they do. I'm honestly going to miss them! read more

My hope in writing this review is to warn others considering having their babies at Pacifica to take a long, hard look at if it is worth the risk. My advice: DO NOT ENTRUST YOUR BIRTH PLAN TO PACIFICA BIRTH CENTER. Have a solid Plan B in place, at least. My husband and I went into partnership for the birth of our first child in the middle of my 2nd trimester (about 25 weeks into my pregnancy) after carefully weighing out options (between other birth centers; home birth; and a hospital birth). During the two months the Pacifica team provided support, I was interviewed many times and shared all necessary medical information. I thought the midwives and student midwives were knowledgeable and compassionate. So, I was blindsided when Pacifica waited until I was 35 weeks pregnant to inform me that they were not going to support my birth...via an email late on a Friday night! I would have never waited until I was a month away from my first birth to begin choosing where to go for the birth...but Pacifica forced me to do just that. FYI, eight months into pregnancy is generally too late to find available birth professionals in the Bay Area. Your choices if you are looking at eight months are limited. After being blindsided, my last month of pregnancy was flooded with unanticipated anxiety, which was not good for me or my baby. I started to question if what happened was my fault. I poured through all my pre-pregnancy and pregnancy tests and still find no good reason to have been dropped as a Pacifica patient. I was not even given the dignity and respect by the Pacifica staff of being engaged before they reached their indelible conclusion. Yes, Pacifica is free to choose with who they accept. I understand that they assume a lot of risk in doing the work they do. But to wait until the last minute to inform me was terrifying and inconsiderate to do to a new mom-to-be. read more

I'm writing this review to highlight a flaw in the policies at Pacifica. My experience actually took place 5 years ago but it's only now that I'm planning my 2nd birth that I realized a huge glaring issue. I had gone through my entire healthy, low risk pregnancy with Pacifica and the care was great. But I came in for a check up at 41 weeks and the midwife noticed my baby's heart rate was decelerating. So she sent me to Kaiser for a non stress test. Likely knowing full well I would never leave kaiser. The midwives never offered to accompany me to kaiser and what happened was a snowball of events and interventions that ultimately resulted in a C section. I had NEVER planned to ever be at kaiser for my delivery, thus was completely unprepared to navigate that system alone. I wasn't even prepared enough to get a family centered Caesarean. My baby was not put on my chest right away, and I was given additional medications that caused my blood pressure to drop and didn't get to hold my baby for hours. Needless to say I harbor some trauma and resentment related to my birth. One of the student midwives had told me a few weeks prior that if I didn't end up delivering at Pacifica for whatever reason the cost would be pro-rated for the care I received. However this was not accurate and I had to pay the full price as if I delivered there, when in fact I received an unplanned c section at kaiser. I do think many women receive amazing care and have beautiful births at Pacifica, but just make sure you ask all the right questions before beginning your care. Looking back I'm flabbergasted that no one from Pacifica came to the hospital with me. read more

Birthing at Pacifica was the most beautiful and empowering experience. I gave birth to my first child at a hospital and had some difficult complications. This made me me a bit nervous to birth outside of a hospital, but choosing Pacifica ended up being the perfect decision. All of the care I received felt personal and loving, from prenatal to postnatal and the birth itself. I always felt listened to in a way I have never experienced in a medical setting. The midwives were completely capable and prepared for any outcome. I trusted them entirely and was able to feel at ease despite my previous experience. The student midwives were also excellent and extremely capable. I ended up delivering my 9 pound daughter in the serene and peaceful environment of the birthing center with zero complications. Even though we don't plan to have any more children, I almost want to have a third so I can birth here again. Almost. read more

I can't explain how confident I felt in my decision to giving birth to my first baby here! The care, communication, and organization were all fantastic. Six months in, COVID19 forced us to make some big moves, including one out of state temporarily. I really hope to have my second baby here and know the experience would feel empowering and supportive. read more

I cannot say enough about our incredible experience with Pacifica. We were cared for by the Pacifica team from the very start of our pregnancy. The midwives here are the most passionate people. They are extremely knowledgeable, incredible listeners and care deeply about their patients. We looked forward to every appointment with our midwives. Ultimately, my health risked us out of birthing at Pacifica but the midwives were the only reason we were able to have the unmedicated birth that we hoped for even though we were in the hospital. We just wrapped up our 6 week postpartum appointment and will miss the team so much. We will definitely return to Pacifica for our next pregnancy and birth. read more

Our family is so happy to have chosen Pacifica for the prenatal care and birth of our sweet baby (he was born in May 2016). Attend one of the monthly orientation meetings so you can meet some of the midwives and have your questions answered. We had a first ultrasound around 8 weeks at Alta Bates and then attended the orientation at Pacifica Family Maternity Center a few weeks later. Like the right shoe, you just know when it fits - my husband and I were both so excited to feel like we found a birth center that worked for us (not that we had to conform to or put up with). The prenatal care was wonderful and personalized and always on time (wohoo!). I took advantage of the monthly prenatal groups with other mamas (and papas) and enjoyed this part of the prenatal experience more than anything else. We were so happy to have had our baby born at the birth center (unfortunately there are no guarantees) and then to be able come home just a few hours later. While all the midwives and students were wonderful I do have to give a special shout out to Cindy and Tess who attended me during my labor and birth, and Ellen and Kate who attended our sweet baby. They were all remarkable and incredible. I already recommend this birth center to everyone I know. If you are even the smallest bit interested in having your birth outside of a hospital, consider Pacifica. If you feel like you don't know anything about birth, consider Pacifica - there is so much wisdom, knowledge, compassion and love to be shared with you, take it! While they don't "take insurance", they do work with a 3rd party who can help submit claims for you, etc. If you have a lower deductible or one that is met by the time your child is born, you may get a refund (we did end up getting about 20% back in the end). If you have a higher deductible anyway, it might not be any more of an out of pocket expense. So happy to have a free-standing birth center here in Oakland/Berkeley area!! read more

This review is incomplete because I did not actually deliver at Pacifica. I withdrew my care there after about a month bc of how unsatisfied I was with the care I received. A few things I later would become aware of: no matter if you begin care during the first weeks of your pregnancy or end the price is a flat rate of $5000. However if you choose to withdraw care you are charged $250 per visit that was not agreed or disclosed to me until I ended my care after one visit. I had Kaiser and found out they would not cover any of the cost at Pacifica (just an FYI). During the orientation they disclose about 1 in 5 of their deliveries end up in the hospital anyway where they become a doula to you but still pay the full cost plus whatever fees your hospital will charge. One of my main turn offs from day one was communication with Pacifica. They do not have a reliable phone line which they will tell you when you try to call and they ask that you email them instead. The problem I found with this was either not getting replies to my emails, getting incomplete information, or having a different response from a different person each time. So the information I got was hard to obtain and conflicting. Sometimes it came from midwives and other times interns. What ultimately prompted my choice to stop care was when I tried rescheduling what was supposed to be my second appointment. It took so many back and forth emails (and apparently they are so busy) it was going to be over two weeks past the original appointment. I would not recommend this birthing center and am sad to say that bc I live in Berkeley and was very excited try a birthing center. read more

Discovering Pacifica and deciding to receive care and give birth here was the best decision of my life. I gave birth naturally to healthy baby all thanks to the amazing team of midwives and student midwives. Everyone is so competent, some midwives witnessing and attending over a thousand births-this is their specialty and expertise! I couldn't have done this without all of them. I would be fortunate to have any of the midwives attend to the birth and delivery, the day of I had A'Maya and Clover by my side providing so much care and guidance otherwise I would have been lost-had I been at a hospital without them, I'm sure I would have just done whatever the doctors suggested in terms of unnecessary interventions and drugs out of fear and would have felt rushed and famished. I would recommend Pacifica to anyone and would go back here again if I decide to have a 2nd child. I am so grateful for such great care from everyone at Pacifica. read more

Birthing our first child at Pacifica Family Maternity Center was everything I could have hoped for in a birth experience. Each of the midwives made me feel respected and empowered to trust myself throughout the experience, while also giving me so much confidence that if any complications arose they had the wisdom to safely handle it, whether that meant going to the hospital or not. This team of midwives has been such a source of support prior to, during, and post birth that we feel like they will always have a place as part of our family. We'll surely have any future children with Pacifica, and already have convinced one of our pregnant friends to do the same. Thanks so much Pacifica! read more

I feel so lucky to have had my prenatal care, and given birth to my first baby at Pacifica. This is truly an amazing place, with incredibly competent and compassionate midwives and apprentices. I have never felt safer, or more respected, receiving care. Giving birth was the hardest thing I have ever done, but my experience at Pacifica was so great that the very next day I told my partner "I want to do that again!" In addition to helping you have a natural and truly empowering birth experience, Pacifica offers the full spectrum of care, offering all the prenatal appointments, prenatal group classes with others in your birth month, postpartum appointments (including 2 home visits), and a weekly postpartum group with other new parents and their babies. And the physical space of the birth center is so beautiful and tranquil. Prenatal appointments are so different than at the doctor's office-- instead of a rushed and curt 15 minutes focusing only on the medical aspects of your pregnancy, Pacifica appointments are much more holistic and address all the aspects of this crazy new life transition. And if anything concerning does come up, the midwives are extremely knowledgeable, up to date on all the evidence-based practices, and know how to communicate things really clearly (better than any doctor I have worked with) and help you to reach the decision that is best for you. I am happier than I ever could have imagined with the care I received and how my baby was born. The midwives at Pacifica were amazing...so skilled and so respectful, and treated me like a true partner. All this made me feel so calm and taken care of, which I believe greatly contributed to my smooth labor and delivery, and the peaceful welcome into the world my baby received. read more

I heard about Pacifica Family Maternity Center through word of mouth. I am so happy I found an amazing birth center to experience the birth of my first child. Everyone at Pacifica was warm and welcoming. I have always wanted a water birth and I was able to have one in a comfy laid back room. I felt safe, supported and cared for throughout my prenatal care up to the birth of my son. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! read more

Pacifica has made such a huge impact on my life. I feel eternally grateful to have delivered both of my babies there. I had straightforward pregnancies and births so I feel lucky for that, but I know that partly that was the case because the Pacifica was so supportive and calming the whole way through both pregnancies. Then when it actually came to birth, I was empowered and supported in the ways that felt just right for me. With my first, that meant they coached me on positions. With my second, that meant giving me space to check out and follow my own instincts. Both times I received great postpartum care. I'm only sad that I'm not planning on more kids so don't think I'll have much reason to place myself in their care going forward. 5 million stars for this unique special place. read more

I cannot say enough about the wonderful team at Pacifica Family Maternity. I came to them looking for natural, compassionate care for my first pregnancy and delivery after requiring a lot of medical intervention to conceive. Cindy, Kirstin and the student midwives were exceptional every step of the way. They are knowledgeable and insightful, guiding you through both the physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy. They are readily available via email or text when any concerns arise. While I ultimately had to deliver with an induction at Alta Bates due to some complications, the team still acted as both my advocate and my support and I was able to have a natural hospital birth. Our post partum support was exceptional, with extra appointments and weigh ins offered to help support us when we discovered our son had a congenital heart defect. Their birth center is beautiful and welcoming with two large homey labor rooms complete with giant jacuzzi tubs. Their appointment rooms are comfortable and clean and welcoming. In addition to standard care, they offer pregnancy and postpartum support groups and a lending library full of resources. We have now graduated at 6 weeks, and it is bittersweet to know that I won't be seeing them for more care. I honestly will miss the staff and their exceptional kindness. I look forward to my next pregnancy with the team. read more

My wife and I couldn't be more grateful for our privileged experience to be able to give birth to our baby girl in Pacifica Family Maternity Center. Everything about this place - beginning from the informative pre natal classes, check up visits with the midwives, then the birth process itself and the post pardum care that we received was a blessing for us. We are eternally thankful, thinking that the other option was to go to hospital to give birth is almost impossible to conceive after the natural birthing in Pacifica experience. The staff at the centre is caring, compassionate and supportive. We wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you !!! read more

This was my first pregnancy and I kept saying to my husband, "I just want a medical professional that knows me, my pregnancy, that I can trust and that will help me navigate the unknown of birth by offering natural solutions and methods before jumping first to medical intervention." (Okay, maybe not in so many words, more like "I'm scared to give birth in a hospital with doctors I've never met before.") Prenatal, birth, and postpartum care with Pacifica Family Maternity Center (PFMC) was everything I hoped for and even more wonderful than I could have imagined. I started care around 20 weeks, after what felt like months of people telling me my desire for personalized, holistic and informed care was just unrealistic. I knew that a midwife could offer me this kind of care, but I didn't realize that unless you have very specific circumstances or coverage, insurance does not help cover the cost. On top everything else COVID-19 had many Bay Area midwives booked to the brim and I was running out of time. I felt so alone, frustrated, and defeated. Pacifica was my last attempt at finding alternative care and they were tremendously supportive and accommodating from day one. With Pacifica's sliding scale and our HSA we were able to afford care and I can't express how grateful I am for my entire experience. I absolutely love how they acted as our guides, equipping both my husband and myself throughout the entire process. Each appointment the students and midwives were generous with their time and great listeners. They lead with information and consent and taught me so much about my body and the process of pregnancy and birth. During our baby girl's birth they were empowering and encouraged me to listen to my body and its urges throughout the entire process. Immediate postpartum was very family centered and allowed for sweet and peaceful bonding time together. Postpartum care in the following weeks helped me feel confident as a new mom. Lastly, Pacifica taught me what it looks like to have quality healthcare that empowers the patient. I wish we lived in a world where the kind of health care Pacifica offers was more accessible to everyone. Thank you to every single midwife and student on the team and keep up the great work! read more

The best medical care I have ever received anywhere, from any clinician, hands down. Every midwife at the birth center is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate, and the student midwives are amazing too. If you are interested in an out-of-hospital birth and want unconditional support in a caring environment for your pregnancy, delivery and postpartum journey this is the place! read more

With the help of the phenomenal midwives (Cindy and Sonja) and apprentices at Pacifica, my husband and I welcomed our son last October at the birth center. From my first prenatal appointment, I felt very well cared for. They offer prenatal groups where I learned a tremendous amount of information, and by the time our son was born, I felt as though I were part of a family. We drove from San Jose and even though the miles really added up, I would do it again (and again) in a heart beat! Our birth was a wonderful experience. My husband is now a midwifery advocate because of the way we were treated and the fact that he was such an integral part of the birth. I will never forget the care we received and the way that we welcomed our son into the world. Following our sons birth, we discovered he was tongue tied. An over-zealous pediatrician tried to convince us that our son was sick, but we were certain that the tongue tie was the source of the problems we had experienced. The midwives called and texted me repeatedly to get updates about what was happening and how our son was doing (we were in San Jose), and they continuously offered their moral support and guidance throughout the ordeal. I really cannot say enough positive things about them. I would drive twice as far if it meant having them as my care team again! read more

I cannot speak highly enough about the Pacifica Family Maternity Center and the incredible team of midwives who work there. My wife and I chose to work with the Pacifica team in part for their philosophy of care, but also primarily for the birth space. The birth center and midwives are incredibly warm and welcoming to all families, and the space felt immediately like a home away from home. Our HMO insurance would not cover the birth center so we paid entirely out of pocket. We felt, initially, like if anything happened and we ended up not being able to deliver at Pacifica, that it would feel like a wasted outlay of money. As luck would have it, our baby was a full two weeks late and we delivered at Alta Bates after a Pitocin induction. And, we now feel strongly that Pacifica was still worth every penny. The midwives provided us with prenatal care that we looked forward to, in contrast to the OBGYB prenatal appointments that felt like chores, lots of time and attention (particularly in our last week when they made last minute appointments for us nearly every day, and gave us all the time we needed at each one), amazing knowledge and community building prenatal groups, postpartum care that we can't imagine most women don't receive, and amazingly comprehensive labor and delivery support. Despite ultimately birthing at Alta Bates, the midwives were there from start to finish, and provided incredible support and advocacy in the hospital environment. I can't imagine giving birth without them. I would recommend Pacifica with no reservations! read more

Our experience at Pacifica was phenomenal. Cindy and the other midwives are extremely knowledgeable, warm, and experienced. We were in such good hands my entire pregnancy, and I am full of gratitude for our time with them - including the birth, which was beautiful. I never could have imagined saying that, but it's true, and the amazing team at Pacifica is a huge reason why. They were always open for phone calls and texts, before and after the birth, with any question in the world - truly caring and extremely knowledgeable about everything we asked. The prenatal appointments were long - they made us feel as if they had all day for us to ask questions as first-time parents. It was like night and day, what we experienced at Pacifica and at Sutter (before going to Pacifica). When our baby didn't nurse much, they were at our side (in our home! no extra charge!) for extra appointments to help us figure out nursing. Now, he is a thriving, chubby, happy little guy. We weren't sure about how payment would work at the beginning but our insurance (Aetna PPO) paid for almost everything, which was fantastic. Pacifica has an excellent quality of care and made an enormous impact on our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. I recommend Pacifica to everyone considering having a child, and if we have #2, we'll be back! read more

Cindy, Sonja, and the whole Pacifica family are wonderful! They made the birth of our daughter a (almost) pleasant experience. We heartily recommend them to anyone expecting a baby. I'll add more specifics after I've had more sleep. read more