After my last review, Jada, the founder of Birth Day Presence, reached out to me for an honest and…read moreopen conversation about what she could do to improve not only my experience but classes there in general. Being a yoga teacher with pre/post natal experience I went into their classes already very knowledgeable so they weren't as informative as I would have liked but I think they are probably life saving for people who don't care to/don't have the time to do their own learning and research. Birth day presence and boober provide not only child birth and newborn care classes, but match clients with (and train) doulas, lactation consultants etc Most importantly though, and I got this sense from the beginning but really felt it after talking to Jada, they genuinely care about providing quality information and services to new families. They also understand that the birthing industry (because it is an industry) is far from perfect and they want to empower families and help them navigate it. I feel very grateful to Jada and Birth Day Presence and although I originally walked away feeling there was more to be desired I now feel like I couldn't recommend them more to anyone seeking childbirth/childcare education or training. Oh, and all their classes are conveniently online now due to covid.

My husband and I purchased weekend intensive childbirth education classes and we attended when I…read morewas 27 weeks pregnant with our first child at Birth Day Presence. We came here with an open mind and hoping to learn the important basics of childbirth. Needless to say, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We didn't feel prepared and we were hoping this class would make us feel more comfortable of what's to come. The classes we chose were on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm. Jen Buice was our instructor and she was very informative and knew her stuff. We also got to mingle with other couples who were due at around the same time as us. We got to share our experiences with each other, which I think my husband and I wouldn't have gotten a chance to do otherwise if it wasn't for this class. We watched some childbirth videos, learned about different stages of labor, pain management, labor exercises with and without the ball, a little about lactation, etc. We also went around the room and did some activities so it could be more interactive and social. Bring some snacks because the classes might seem a little long at times! We did get a short lunch break. One slight complaint I have is that I got a little antsy and didn't feel that comfortable with their seating arrangements. I felt a little claustrophobic. Overall, I think we feel better and a little bit more prepared about being parents. I would recommend this class if you have a chance to take it. It's located in a beautiful part of Park Slope in a beautiful brownstone. Price is a little steep at $395 but I think it's worth it. You can't put a price on your future bundle of joy.

Leigh was an incredible birthing coach for us, and she kept things fun and peppy the whole time…read more We're expecting our first kid, and while we're very comfortable with babies and excited about what's to come, it turned out there was so much we had no idea we didn't know! We're so glad we had these sessions with Leigh because now we have a confidence and awareness about what to expect with the stages of labor, the processes at the hospital (especially how much agency parents have with respect to them), and the first couple of weeks at home. Leigh came highly recommended to us and now we see why. We would enthusiastically recommend her to every family expecting a new addition!

As first time parents, we were so thankful to have taken Leigh's 5-week childbirth education…read moreseries! We found the course invaluable - Leigh is extremely knowledgeable, engaging, personable, and passionate about all things birth. Her warmth and openness fostered an environment where we felt comfortable asking any question and felt supported with numerous online resources, book recommendations, and community connections. We were also able to connect with other couples expecting around the same time which has been great! Under normal circumstances, we couldn't recommend Leigh's class enough, but with covid-19 and ever-changing hospital policies/ uncertainty, Leigh really went above and beyond to keep us focused on and confident about how to navigate our birth during this stressful time. We were lucky to have completed the class in person but have since engaged with Leigh a few times virtually as well. She has been an incredible resource as we welcomed our baby boy into the world. We highly recommend Leigh!!

First off I would just like to say that if you are checking out this page and CHB doesn't have a…read moreton of reviews yet it's because I liked the weekend intensive course so much that I asked Samantha to create a Yelp account for CHB. They have been around for many years (since 2011) and are very experienced. My only "negative" feedback is that when I was looking for a Childbirth Intensive class to do I wasn't able to see any reviews on Yelp for peace of mind :) That said, pregnancy is stressful business, especially for first time parents. What to expect as we get closer to the end of the pregnancy? What's up with this or that weird thing your body and baby are doing? The stressful anticipation of the big day. How are we going to do all of this together? And not to mention the overriding sense of "oh shit when this is all done it's just going to be starting".... So professional help is very welcome and NEEDED. The Childbirth Weekend Intensive with Samantha was beyond professional. It was clear that she and Melissa, who was assisting her, were doulas and educators because they are very passionate about helping women and couples have a positive and meaningful birth experience. When I originally imagined the weekend intensive course I imagined two packed and stressful days spent just jamming information into our minds, but what I experienced was the absolute opposite. The pace of the course was perfect and didn't feel overwhelming as the term "intensive" would suggest. Asking questions at any point about anything was encouraged. The other couples at the course were hugely beneficial to the overall experience since we all brought different types of questions to the table. We all learned a lot about the biology of birth, strategies for managing paying, strategies for having a good experience at the hospital, and really we received a solid foundation for coping with everything that we had ahead of us. At the end of the weekend we did not feel overwhelmed but rather empowered. I would also like to stress that I think it's unusual to interact with someone teaching a course that seems to care so much about your experience and your outcomes. Samantha's empathy and caring really stood out for me and she was also very knowledgeable and able to competently answer all of our questions (even the weird over technical ones). So THANK YOU CHB and Samantha for getting us emotionally and intellectually prepared for the big day and beyond!

From the owner: Carriage House Birth trains top notch birth and postpartum doulas world wide and provides doula…read moreservices and childbirth education to families in LA, NYC and growing with our holistic approach to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. We are honored to have served over 1500+ families in New York and Los Angeles since 2011.

I can't say enough wonderful things about our birth experience with Sam. At our first meeting, my…read morehusband and I were struck by her knowledge, energy and strength and we knew she was the right match for us. Throughout the whole process leading up to birth she was supportive and available in a way that made me feel much calmer about the unknown experience ahead. During my birth she was 1000% there for us the whole time, supporting me and my partner no matter what was happening. She was our anchor and without her I can't imagine I would have made it through my unmedicated birth. She was amazing and I would never birth a baby without her.

Samantha took care of me during the birth of my first baby. We knew from the first moments of…read moremeeting Samantha that she will be our labor doula. It was her positive energy, confidence, warmth and knowledge what made us feel very comfortable with her from the start. Our first impressions turned out to be true, even more! She spent with us over 20 hours in our crazy non progressing labor, didn't close her eyes even when I was trying to doze for a moment. she stayed alert and focus in case I needed her, helped me through contractions and kept me positive. It is only thanks to her we didn't panic and avoided confusion and unnecessary trip to the hospital. We stayed at home for as long as it was possible and on the end spent only few hours on the Labor and Delivery. I can't imagine going through it without her wisdom, knowledge and support.

I thank my lucky stars that I found Andrea. I knew from the start that I wanted to breastfeed,…read moregiven the benefits, but was mystified by the whole process as I was not breastfed and unfortunately could not rely on my mother as a resource in this specific area. Andrea was recommended by my doula when I was struggling and ready to give up breastfeeding and move to formula at the 6 week mark. But with Andrea's ongoing support and encouragement, we went from feeding our son a combination of formula and breastmilk to just breastmilk -- and my gosh -- he has grown beautifully! To say that I'm proud of myself for not giving up is an understatement. To nurse and witness my son grow into a thriving, happy and endlessly curious 9-month old has been one of the greatest achievements of my life. I have so much more confidence as a mother and a person in this world. I also feel an indescribable bond to my son, and I cannot thank Andrea enough for her monumental role in helping me transform into the strong and confident mama I only dreamed I could be.

I went to Andrea after the birth of my first baby because breastfeeding was so painful. I was…read morecrying every time I had to feed my daughter and my nipples were becoming very bruised and damaged. In one session Andrea helped me fix the problem, using baby led latching. She is incredibly knowledgeable- far more than any of the LCs at the hospital or than most I've dealt with since. I breastfed my oldest until about 18 mos without any trouble. She was incredibly thorough, taught me how to most effectively use the breast pump, care for engorged breasts, and explained the physiology behind latching, including why baby led latching was a better way than The manhandling of a baby's head that is been taught at the hospital. Watching my one week old find her own way to my breast - and the fuller breast every time - was amazing. When my second daughter was born, I lived in another state and gave the LCs from the birth center a try, but found the same limited scope of knowledge and manhandling of baby's mouth and head was all they had to offer. I contacted Andrea, skeptical of help via zoom but was just was pleasantly surprised and grateful for her comprehensive approach, depth of knowledge and ability to address the issues I had starting to breastfeed again with my second child. She does an impressive job of providing information and guidance remotely, I did not at all feel that I'd lost anything in the telehealth vs in person appointment I'd had with my first child. I truly cannot recommend her enough.

Nubia brings all the warm, encouraging, supportive vibes that truly helped make my birth experience…read moreas positive as it was. Having birthed my first at an incredible birthing center in another state, I was nervous about birthing in a hospital setting knowing I'd want to go the unmedicated route. Nubia's presence and support were nothing short of deeply empowering - for both me and my partner. She is a real gem. Get her on your birthing team if you can!

Nubia has been providing exceptional postpartum support since the day I was discharged from the…read morehospital. During the first few days, our baby was crying a lot, but Nubia took care of her with incredible patience and care. Thanks to Nubia's professional advice and guidance, our baby has been improving, especially during the night. We can't imagine how we would have managed without her support. Her assistance has allowed me to sleep and rest much longer. We are extremely grateful for everything she has done for us.

Lisa is a gifted educator on all things childbirth and we're SO happy to have attended her 3 day…read moreintensive in-person classes a few months prior to our due date. I was immediately impressed by Lisa's care and high-touch approach when I saw her thoughtful response to my intake form at the time we registered for the program. And throughout the course, Lisa's wealth of knowledge, passion, and genuine desire to help really carried through. She's also a bright ray of sunshine and we really appreciated her warmth and hospitality in what could feel like a long three day class otherwise. We had snacks and drinks, were able to move around freely, sit on the floor, sit on the yoga ball, there are squatty potties in each bathroom, I mean she literally thought of everything in trying to make this experience as comfortable and smooth for us as possible. With each class, we felt more and more confident and well equipped to welcome our baby and of course the added bonus in this being in-person is that we also loved connecting with other couples that we will continue to stay in touch with. I would highly recommend to any couple who's expecting no matter the kind of birth experience you envision for yourseleves.

We absolutely loved our classes with Lisa! The class was informative, supportive, and incredibly…read moreempowering. The classes are extremely comprehensive without feeling overwhelming. We came into class feeling excited but very nervous about this next chapter and left feeling so much more confident and prepared for both birth and the newborn stage. We loved Lisa's thoughtful approach - blending evidence-based information with compassionate, personalized support in a way that felt holistic, reassuring, and never fear-based. 10/10 - Highly recommend to any expecting parents looking for a childbirth class that feels both realistic and deeply supportive! Thank you, Lisa!

I just want to start by saying, while I feel the intentions of this organization means well from my…read moreexperience, they lack customer service and professionalism. Please note this is my second pregnancy. With my first pregnancy I had a doula as well. She was very attentive, super supportive and very knowledgeable. I choose to go with Ancient song this time around because as much as I loved my first doula, she was/is very $$$$$. With Ancient Song, lets just say you will get what you pay for. They seem to be understaffed. I was assigned 3 potential doula matches. They sent me one that lived too far from me and two others that communicated with me via text and then when I replied with questions, I never heard from them again. I never received a doula match. I called this organization numerous times regarding this and I haven't received a call back from them yet. So disappointing and they were actually causing me more stress, so as much as I wanted a doula for this pregnancy/birth because of Ancient Song, its seems I will not have one.

This is an Amazing place to find a doula! I overheard a woman in my orientation at the Brooklyn…read moreBirthing Center speaking with her doula, and had been looking for one at the time! I was not working at the time but needed the emotional, and mental support of being a first time Mom. I went in for an interview and within a week I was paired with my God sent Doula Sky! She is the reason I made it through my delivery and I will cherish her for a lifetime. They also referred me to the Family Nursing Partnership Please Program and received my in home nurse Maria for the next 2 years. My fiancé and I attended Chanel's Child Birth Education class, not only did we sincerely enjoy it watching my fiancé understand the anatomy, of the female body and child birth was quite pleasurable. I am VERY THANKFUL for Ancient Song.

I wasn't sure about the type of support I'd like after having my first child. There are so many…read moreoptions and things to think about that the decision making process can be kind of overwhelming. Baby Caravan was great - when I reached out to them they answered all of my questions and before hiring a doula I was able to video chat with her so we could get to know each other. I ended up hiring Allie for post-partum visits and she was wonderful. So friendly and kind and she was so knowledgeable! She really supported me with breastfeeding techniques, helped me sort thru baby gifts and had great tips about everything from diaper changing techniques to how to properly sterilize baby bottles. She made the transition to parenthood so much easier and really helped me develop my confidence as a new mom. She also just provided some much needed relief, compassion and extra hands during those crazy first few weeks. I'm really grateful to her and Baby Caravan for all of their help during such an important time in my family's lives.

From the owner: Birth Doula Services // Daytime Postpartum Doula Services //…read moreOvernight Postpartum Doula Services // Lactation Consultants // Placenta Encapsulation // Birth Photography // Return to Work Coaching // Parental Leave Planning

I've been searching for places to explore glass, and I was excited to find a one day workshop at…read moreUrban Glass. I was drawn to the flameworking class because of the thoughtful expression of how the instructor, Saint, described the process of working with borosilicate glass in their class. Truthfully, I was so blown away by it all. Urban Glass has a beautiful community based inclusivity spirit and artist centered focus. The studio was well organized and vast. The staff and technical support team are friendly and helpful. Saint's class had a wonderful pacing to it for a 6 hour workshop. We got to know all of the participants and connect together in a fun way, had a few informative demos on equipment safety and glass techniques, and then got to creating! Han, another glass artist at Urban Glass assisted the class, and it was really great to be able to explore making marbles, small figurines on our own and also have Saint and Han jump in when we needed a bit of extra hands on help. I felt confident from the demos and my practice time to be able to rent space on my own after. Our class has stayed in touch since, and I know several of us from the class have been back to the studio since to create. I'm excited to return to explore and learn more!

We had a private glassblowing lesson in July. The lesson was very fun and well structured. We…read morestarted with learning the basics of glassblowing, and then got a choice of simple items to make (glass bubbles, flowers, cups, bowls). The lesson was pricy, but definitely worth the cost. Would recommend a lesson for special occasions, and one of their classes if you want to go more regularly!