Prepare the Nest

6.9 mi

Simply amazing through two experiences. As a partner, Kristin is an invaluable resource. Her…read moreinsights are key, she's a great advocate and frankly you cannot put a price on another set of hands. Highly recommend (in fact I already have...).

Kristin from Kind Birth Services was my doula for the birth of my first daughter. I also took her…read moreassociated birth class, based on her book Expecting Kindness. Throughout preparing for and delivering my daughter, Kristin worked with me for over 30 hours. She's a stellar doula. At the time she was working as my doula, she had already delivered over 350 babies throughout her 20 year career. Her experience showed through in every interaction I had with her. Every question I had she could answer not only with broad knowledge, but also with specific examples from past deliveries. She knows birth inside and out. Beyond her deep knowledge and experience, she is also incredible at holding space and advocating for a mother-to-be through the birthing process. My original plan was to deliver at a midwifery clinic, but I had to transfer care to a hospital a week before my labor started. This unexpected change of plans would have been massively stressful had it not been for Kristin's steady consistency and emotional presence through the process. Her experience in both birth centers and hospitals again showed through to me. Throughout labor and delivery, she guided me through with clear suggestions and a calm demeanor. Because of her presence and the preparation I had from her class, I was confident in my ability to delivery vaginally without medication. She taught me (and reminded me in the moment) of the details of each stage of labor and how I could best empower myself through the process. She also helped me to be a strong advocate for myself and my own control over the birth process, which was invaluable in my transition to hospital delivery. One of my favorite things about Kristin was her passion for integrating my partner in the birth process, from the birth classes through delivery participation. My partner was well prepared and confident to be fully present in the birth process. Kristin is an excellent coach, guide and guru from the classroom to the delivery suite, and I couldn't recommend her more strongly. She also gave our daughter one of her first gifts during one of our follow up appointments with her!

Placenta Capsules...a fast growing part of my business!

My amazing daughter and me.

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My furry children

40 Winks: Newborn Care

(4 reviews)

13.7 mi

Initially, I was very nervous about hiring someone who would be in our home, especially during one…read moreof the most vulnerable periods our our life. From night one, Laura instantly put me at ease. Laura did an absolutely fantastic job of taking care of our little one. She went above and beyond to make sure we all felt comfortable and removed all of the unpredictable variables in the early weeks of having a baby. She washed bottles, pump parts, provided detailed reports each night (that I could look at in real time when I would wake up to pump) and was just a gentle, stable presence in our home. Honestly, I could say that she took care of all of us. As a FTM, having someone around at night who knew babies better than I did ended up being such a huge comfort. She is reliable, consistent, knowledgable and someone who we could (and can still, to this day) consistently count on to show up for us and our family. I would easily recommend Laura to anyone looking for a Night Doula.

When our regular doula caught a cold and couldn't make her usual overnight session, we were so…read morefortunate to have Laura Ellis step in to help. She took care of our newborn twin boys, handling our system of cloth diapers and mixed breast milk and formula in bottles. Even our orange cat loved her. We're looking forward to working with Laura again.

Laura Ellis--Postpartum Doula, Newborn Care Specialist, Sleep Consultant

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Seattle Doula Partners

(15 reviews)

7.7 mi

Autumn is a fantastic Doula! I am so thankful that I was able to have Autumn during my labor. She…read morewas extremely helpful with pain management and came with a bag full of goodies to aid in my comfort. She was very helpful in coaching my husband and provided an extra set of hands so he could shower and make sure we had everything we needed before leaving our place. She arrived at our apartment at nearly 2am and stayed with us for at least 24 hours! We had planned an out of hospital birth, but after a very long labor at home and at the birth center, my midwives transferred me to UW. Postpartum home visits are just as helpful, providing breastfeeding and pumping advice, she will even show you how to baby wrap and answer any questions you have. Before I decided to hire a Doula for my birth, I was unsure if I would "need one." My midwife had initially recommended that I have one, especially for first time births. I then spoke to a few people who had used a Doula, and only heard positives! No one ever says "I wish I didn't have my Doula!" Now I tell everyone "you need a Doula!"

Autumn is an awesome doula!!! We had a great experience with Seattle Doula Partners and would…read moreabsolutely hire them again. We interviewed 3-4 doulas and the team at Seattle Doula Partners stood out the best to us. They were not pushy and their experience and calmness in communicating to us through facts and information really appealed to us. The initial conversations before the birth were very helpful. I was very apprehensive about the birth and talking with them to help uncover my and my husband's anxieties about the birth and it really helped prepare us emotionally. In many ways I felt like it was a therapy session! When I was hospitalized at 32 weeks, Autumn checked in on me consistently to make sure we were doing okay which felt very reassuring. Finally when the day came, we let Autumn know we were on the way to the hospital at about 11pm and she arrived just after I settled down in the L&D room which was super speedy! She immediately attended to both mine and my husband's needs, answering any questions we had. One of the most valuable things that Autumn did was that before anything that happened, e.g. getting my epidural or pushing, Autumn talked through in detail what to expect and this helped prepare us well emotionally and in many ways, made me less fearful. She was always right by our sides coaching us on what to do in a gentle and reassuring way. She wasn't intrusive and allowed me and my husband to have our own time. Through the pattern of my contractions, the nurse hypothesized that my baby was face up. Autumn had a ton of suggestions on how to resolve this and coached the nurse to getting me in the right positions. By then, my lower half was pretty weak from the epidural and every time the nurse had to shift me, Autumn was always there to lend a helping hand. At about 2am, all of us went to rest and my husband was exhausted. The IV machine kept beeping and Autumn always promptly stood up and turned it off so that we could all rest. She was close by and helped me with every small little thing I needed so my husband could rest. Autumn coached me through the entire 2 hours of pushing and holding my legs up. She was very encouraging and her calming and reassuring words gave me a ton of confidence. Once the baby was out, she stepped back, got one of our phones and took a bunch of pictures that I really treasure today! Post birth, I had a lot of difficult breastfeeding and Autumn shifted her schedule so she could come and visit me soon after that. She helped me with the latch and gave me a bunch of ideas to help increase my supply. 3 months on and I still think about how lucky we were to have Autumn by our side! Thank you so much for your hard work, Autumn!!

Clients with Giselle and Jocelyn, featured in our "What is a Doula?" video www.seattledoulapartners.com/videos (used with permission)

Client and her baby (posted with permission)

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Jocelyn with newborn after a birth (posted with permission)

Big Fat Pregnancy

(3 reviews)

14.9 mi

Emily is such a supportive, knowledgeable, and KIND person. Her advice on breastfeeding and baby…read morecare in general made such a difference during my panicked early days of motherhood. She's an excellent listener, and I felt supported in making decisions that work best for me and my baby. Emily is responsive, considerate, and highly effective at using puppets to demonstrate proper latching techniques!

Our experience with Christina was amazing. The human touch, the honesty, the company, the…read moreknowledge, it was everything we needed! During our prenatal visits I felt like I had the power to have the birth that I wanted! She was such a great support to have by our side at the hospital! She made sure all my preferences were met and respected. She stood by our side when we needed her the most. I was able to have the unmedicated birth that I wanted thanks to all her help, knowledge and support. I really never thought I could have such an amazing birth experience! And it was so nice to meet with Christina after my baby was born. She helped us with breastfeeding. I love that she really cares and creates an honest connection.

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Seattle Chinese School

(1 review)

0.5 mi

I was so thrilled to have found SCS! Immediately impressed by how organized and dedicated the…read moreteachers and administrators are. As with most educational organizations, parental involvement and volunteerism are vital to its success. Currently, the Seattle Chinese School utilizes the Interlake High School facility at 16245 NE 24th Street in Bellevue, for its Saturday morning classes. They teach Traditional Mandarin Chinese, not simplified, from age 3 and up. It follows public school calendar, with 30 weeks of classes per year. For parents who prefer a more structured educational setting, I would highly recommend to take a tour, talk with other parents to see if it's a good fit for your child.

From the owner: As the flagship Chinese School in the US Northwest, Seattle Chinese School teaches 3~17 year-old…read morestudents Chinese language (in traditional Chinese characters) and culture in our preschool, bo-po-mo phonetics (class 0) and level 1~10 classes. For non-heritage, 6 years old or older students and/or whose families don't speak Mandarin Chinese, we also offer Chinese as Second Language (CSL) classes. We aim to help these students learn the commonly used Chinese vocabulary and sentence patterns, so they can communicate in Mandarin Chinese and traditional Chinese characters. Enrollment for the new families starts in May through September. School hours are on Saturday mornings for 30 weeks from early September to early June. For more information, please check the school website. Seattle Chinese School (SCS) is a self-supporting, non-profit organization and has no political nor religious affiliations. Its primary goals are to provide the education of the Chinese language and culture for overseas Chinese, to raise the awareness of overseas Chinese of their own ancestral roots. The volunteer school administrators and teachers have always strived to plant the seeds of the Chinese culture in our hearts by offering quality Chinese education.

50th anniversary celebration!

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@ Interlake High School, Bellevue

Oclef

(3 reviews)

1.1 mi

My eight year son has been studying with Oclef the past few months and truly enjoys it. The method…read moreis so innovative and modern compared to our old traditional methods. He happily plays every day versus before he hated it. I am so happy that Oclef is in our life.

Before my older son joined Oclef 10 months ago, he had already spent four years on learning piano…read moreand was about to quit. :( All piano teachers he had before used a similar approach. They mainly focused on correcting notes, rhythms and dynamics during private lessons, and assigning pieces for my son to practice at home. Over time, my son lost his interest in piano and started refusing to practice. Thankfully, one of my friends introduced Oclef and Mr. Julian to us. In our very first interview, Mr. Julian immediately pointed out that my boy's piano learning was at a bottleneck as his sight reading and piano theory were way behind his playing level. Mr. Julian has a great vision on how a child should learn piano. Just after several lessons, we quickly noticed my son changed his attitude toward piano and had regained his interest! Oclef is totally different from any other piano teachers or school we know. They offer Kaizen classes so my son can practice piano under the teachers' guide everyday. All the teachers there are professional and wonderful. They also offer theory classes and organize performance seminars. Now my son can perform every piece he learns. More valuable, their performance seminars provide kids the opportunity of not only performing but also sharing critiques together. I will for sure send my younger boy to Oclef to learn piano once he is ready. This is my first time giving a review on yelp. Oclef is definitely a five star piano school. I hope our experience could help you and your kids.

3/14/26 - Hollywood Night: Silent Films and Piano

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The Treehouse

(21 reviews)

2.5 mi

Women-owned & operated

Locally owned & operated

My kid started at 3 at this place and WOW this place is amazing!…read moreThis place provides the perfect setting for kids to develop and grow! On top of that we REALLY LOVE the TEACHERS! YES every single one! They love the kids and treat them with love!. Our kid have developed so much from this place. It was the best decision that we have made for our kid! We are really thankful to all the teachers that helped our kid grow and we are going to miss this place alot! Highly recommend this place!

Our daughter is thriving at The Treehouse! She adores going to school where she plays with her…read morefriends, engages in dance and gymnastics, and gets to express herself through a wide variety of arts and crafts activities. It's been really wonderful seeing her express herself more clearly and forge lasting friendships with her classmates. The teaching staff is warm, friendly and genuinely has the best interests of the kids as their top priority. Their interest in getting to know our entire family and the kindness they show our younger son (who will soon enroll at The Treehouse himself) is truly heartwarming. I cannot recommend The Treehouse enough to families who are looking for a welcoming community and play-based learning environment.

Pre-K Dramatic Play Area

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Solomike Early Childhood Center

4.6

(11 reviews)

1.4 mi

High quality safe environment with exceptional teachers and staff who actively engage with kids and…read morefamilies. Lots of indoor and outdoor activities including a large robust vegetable garden.

Very high turnover of staff, lack of consistency of care for children, stressful work environment,…read morepoor leadership, definitely not Reggio Emilia in practice although they claim to be on their website.

Our classrooms bring nature indoors and focus on play-based curriculum

An engaging world where toddlers learn and explore

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The Center benefits from access to shared communal spaces--including a children's library, indoor and outdoor play spaces, and a kitchen

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

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2 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Desiree S.

0

2

0

11 years ago

My husband and I attended the Labor and Delivery class from Prepare the Nest this past weekend and it was fantastic. Nicole Shanks was the instructor and not only was she knowledgable, but also very enthusiastic. The class was Friday from 6-9pm and then Saturday from 9-noon and I often get bored, however this was not the case during this 2 day class. The class was very informational, hands on, and allowed for class participation. I would highly recommend all first time parents take this class. read more

Maureene O.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Incredibly friendly RN's that make learning the material not only easy but fun. This is a place where you go for a few classes but leave with connections and information that are available always. read more

Prepare the Nest - parentingclasses - Updated August 2026

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Expecting Joy

3.2

(6 reviews)

I interviewed a doula who claimed she was fully vaccinated in our initial call. Later, in an email…read moreshe decided she needed to "come clean" and let me know that she was not vaccinated and didn't plan on becoming vaccinated. To each their own, but to LIE? This relationship must be built on trust and to be lied to like that breaks all the trust. The second doula wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise and rushed me off the phone. No Thank you.

I used their placenta encapsulation service which by the way is one of the most affordable in the…read moreSeattle area, and I would definitely recommend it. Simple to get it set up, very communicative, and when you deliver they simply pick it up from your birthing place. From there it was ready within about a day, and my encapsulator Leigh was very gracious when I accidentally wrote my address wrong... she still found my house (in the dark) even though I wasn't answering my phone in the midst of the newborn fog. And on top of it all it has been a game changer for my postpartum- I've seen wonderful benefits from it. Would definitely do it again, and use expecting joy in the future.

Sunayna Thakur, OTD, OTR/L

Sunayna is amazing! I brought my son to see her during the summer and part of fall. When he…read moregraduated from her services, he was very bummed because he really enjoyed her company! On day 1, Sunayna really built trust with my son which is hard to do. It does take him a while to become comfortable with new people. She is such a natural with kids. My son really enjoyed coming to see her for his sessions! She makes insightful observations and helpful suggestions. Her at home set up is really impressive. She did obstacle courses, games, helped my son immensely with his writing, and his social skills. I noticed a big change in his confidence after he worked with Sunayna. I highly recommend her!

Sunayna is an absolutely wonderful person and therapist. My kiddo absolutely adores her, and she…read morereally has an amazing set of skills and resources which helped addressed issues around SPD. She has a genuine empathetic connection to kids, which makes them feel comfortable. You can tell she really cares about the kids and their outcomes. 5 stars all the way for Sunayna. I highly recommend her.

Natalia Dvorak, MD

4.1

(42 reviews)

Very disappointed. We waited over 30 minutes, and when Dr. Natalia arrived, she seemed in no mood…read moreto answer our questions respectfully. Her tone was harsh, and she didn't guide us properly just rushed through the appointment. We didn't feel supported at all

I wish I could say I had a great experience like the others on here have, but I can't. I moved here…read morelast year from California and needed a new obgyn. I had a hysterectomy in 2021 that left me with a bunch of medical ptsd and many side effects post op that I still experience to this day. I was excited to see so many positive reviews for an obgyn. Thinking to myself maybe I will finally find a doctor who isn't dismissive and actually wants to help me. I was losing my hair, having mood swings, in a span of 1 year I had 5 UTIs and never had a history of having them ever before my hysterectomy. I had joint pain amongst a few other things. So she saw me and claimed that birth control was to be the best option. Took it, didn't work. Contacted her again months later with now ongoing bloating and cramping more often than usual. Did an ultrasound and found my ovaries are the size of someone who is postmenopausal. I'm 37 and was told my hormones shouldn't change much after my hysterectomy. She did a "hormone check" of only my fsh, estrogen, cortisol. All according to her "came back normal". She was "sorry" and passed me on to a naturopath. I know when something is off in my body and I have not felt the same since my hysterectomy. I know she didn't perform the surgery, but I came to this doctor out of complete despair because I have 2 children at home and a husband like many do. I have people who depend on me. I deal with these things that bother me on a daily basis. I am active, I eat right, I have tried supplements. Nothing helped me. To be dismissed in the way that she did knowing what I had been through was not only hurtful, but made me feel despair all over again. Doctors are meant to help patients figure out the problem and treat them.. to investigate. Not be dismissive if they don't find an answer right away after one single blood test. Naturopath doctors aren't cheap, and I really was relying on Dr.Dvorak to help me because of her reputation. I feel absolutely dismissed/neglected and stuck exactly where I was to begin with. If you are having issues that don't have a simple answer and want a doctor who is willing to keep helping and looking until you feel better... You know, what doctors are SUPPOSED to do... don't come here. I hope she reads this and knows how much it hurts living like this every day. Left to figure it out myself. I guess this is the new normal here in American medical care.

Seattle Hypnobirthing

4.9

(34 reviews)

All the five star reviews speak for themselves! My husband and I attended a HypnoBirthing class…read morewith Tracy and had an amazing experience. We learned so much and we really developed a strong practice and relationship as we prepared for our birth. On the day of our son's birth my husband and I walked into the hospital on the same page and as a great team. All thanks to Tracy and her work with us. We were able to have a natural birth and all of the techniques we learned in class helped immensely. Tracy is a great educator, incredibly kind, and very supportive of each couple's decisions and preferences. I appreciated how optimistic she was and how she helped us understand that Hypno birth techniques can be flexible and be used in a variety of birth settings. I would highly recommend this class if you have any anxiety around birth and/or if your birth partner wants to play an active role on the day of your baby's birth.

We took the class in the winter of 2018 and found it so helpful to prepare for the birth of our…read morebaby girl. In addition to the hypnobirthing philosophy and techniques, you learn how to be your own advocate in the birthing process and how to prepare for the inevitability of medical intervention (that will arise in some form). We felt truly supported and educated when facing an induction that I did not want, nor need. Tracy gave us the tools and knowledge to push back when we were feeling pressure from our medical caregivers. Once labor started things progressed fast and although I felt as though I was not utilizing the techniques given the intensity and speed of the labor, the midwife that delivered our baby said she could really tell how focused and relaxed I was given the intensity of my contractions. Our baby was born healthy according to the birth preferences that we had hoped for. We HIGHLY recommend this class to anyone preparing for your labor and parenthood.

Y-CPR Academy

4.3

(11 reviews)

I had her class today and it was great, then I read her 1 bad review from Ted A. and had to…read morerespond: Information sticks in people's heads when the information is embedded in example stories. Stories from the instructor and from the experiences of the students. It's up to the student's if they want to share their experiences, it's not forced. Many students have worked a childcare profession for years and need to renew every 2 years. Which means they have stories of emergencies that happen to them and they can relate to the serious lessons being taught. I am sorry Ted A. with the one star review doesn't normally learn through conversation and other's experiences. It sounds like Ted wanted a straight forward list and then to leave. That's my guess. But, for me it was a 2.5 hour class and it was all encompassing. She covered all the material and she had added advice and stories to back up her lessons. For example, I needed my CPR cert because I am applying to be a Nanny. Since she asked me what job I needed the CPR cert for, she was able to give me advice about knowing for sure what addresses I am at in case I need to call 911, because she knows as a Nanny, I won't always be stationary. I am grateful she brought that to my attention and would recommend her class to anyone needing their CPR cert. She has a great attitude and is highly knowledgeable. Will probably go back in 2 years.

The main issue with the training was that while the instructor is friendly, the training consisted…read moreof too many intrusive personal questions, random unrelated stories and unsolicited advice. I found this distracting and did not feel comfortable being interviewed about my life as part of the training. A very small portion of the time was the actual training. I would not recommend this company.

Bonnie Gong, MD

3.0

(4 reviews)

Dr Gong was on call while my wife went into labor. Candace our nurse and doctor gong was incredible…read morecoaching my wife and I. We can't thank them enough for delivering our beautiful baby into this world!!

Gong is the most unprofessional, unknowledgeable and cruel doctor I have ever met. She missed my…read moregestational diabetes, ignored my symptoms during my entire pregnancy, put me on complete bed rest without having any medical reasons for it and - most importantly - put me through HELL while delivering my baby!!!! I am now a disabled SATM, using a wheelchair and unable to take care of my baby. She admitted she made a series of mistakes while consulting the nurse over the phone, letting me bleed almost to death, deliver a breech baby naturally and nearly killing my newborn. I stand behind every single word I wrote. Moms, please, STAY AWAY!!! Go ELSEWHERE!!! PLEASE!

NW Neuropsychology Learning Behavior Services PS

3.8

Our daughter was born with several heart defects and went through surgeries at 1 week and 1 year of…read moreage back in 1989-1990. Her physical defects were not discovered until her body started giving out at one week of age. Subsequently, we were unsure of any and all damage done neurologically and what that could entail. Dr. Gayle Faye and her staff not only are truly wonderful and caring people, but are extremely proficient at their jobs. Dr. Faye followed our daughter into her high school years and was spot-on with her diagnoses and her guidance in helping her achieve her full potential. We were (and continue to be) very fortunate and blessed to have had Dr. Faye's expertise in our lives. We can never thank her enough!

Dr Fay is direct which we appreciated. She does not appear to do the evaluation work though her…read moreassociates who range from 24-early 30s work with the subjects at least for us. So far 3 sessions 3 different people working with my son. No notice of this. The paperwork is not organized. They misplaced one form I signed and one they forgot the refused to let me scan and email it to my kids mom. Its weird. Also you are not allowed to use the wifi while waiting in the lobby. Session two my child came out and started crying. His associate had no clue that he was under stress. Not sure how the eval will turn out but its a bit rough around the edges so be forewarned. Ill change my review if the rest of it goes better.

Mary Wittman, MD

(3 reviews)

Dr. Wittman delivered my 2nd child. She Is the BEST Dr. I have ever had. She really takes her time…read moreto make sure all your questions are answered and that you understand. She personally called two Dr's today to see if I could get in and to clarify some details with another. She is so personable and kind. She really cares about her patients and her staff has been there forever. This says a lot to me. I have recommended her to anyone who needs an ob gyn including my mom who travels from Puyallup to see her.

Dr. Wittman is the BEST! She has been caring for me for years, as well as my daughters, mom and…read morefriends. She is knowledgeable, kind, funny and just amazing. She treated me for endometriosis years ago and did such a great job that I stayed relatively pain free for years and was able to have a 3rd baby just 21 months ago at age 41. We recently decided that a hysterectomy was the right choice for me because of some new issues and a high family risk of ovarian cancer. She did a great job during my surgery and I had a quick recovery and feel better then ever. She is also one of the kindest, most compassionate doctor I've ever been to. She connects with her patients and has the best bedside manner.

Luba Foltz, MD

4.8

(43 reviews)

I only have good things to say about Dr. Luba Foltz. I can't begin to sing the praises of Dr. Luba…read moreFoltz. When I met her and immediately she made me feel comfortable. Her calm nature makes it easier for me to talk to her. We talked about my problem and opted for surgery before my wedding. She said next year she will deliver my baby. That sounded great since I like consistency. I met her after the post op. She said I was recovering beautifully. I told her we plan to have a wedding. She told me I will be a beautiful bride. Great vote of confidence from a doctor! Needless to say, I highly recommend her.

Edit: it's 2017 (how have 5yrs gone by so quickly?!) and I"m still not yet having kids and I still…read morelove her. It can take a bit of time to get on her calendar, but once you see her she remembers you and spends time answering all of your questions. I love clinicians who seem like friends you'd have coffee wtih and I love hearing about her kids when I visit the office. 2012 review: I'm not having babies yet but when I do Dr. Foltz will be a great member of my team. I see her once a year for my routine pap and gyno exam and she's always great. She asks me how life has been and makes it a point to talk to her patients (even when she's on call and delivering babies!).

Kind Birth Services