So thankful for the care I received at TCBC during my first pregnancy and birth. The team is so…read morecaring and easy to get ahold of when scheduling an appointment or reaching out about a non-urgent question. I felt supported and empowered throughout my birth experience! Highly recommend a water birth!

Disappointing bedside manner. Can't handle or recognize anything going possibly wrong. Do not use…read moretcbc.

Roots was critical in my pregnancy journey last year. We confirmed we were pregnant early 2019 and…read moremy research began. I'd initially been interested in a home/water birth but my husband wasn't on board since this would be our first baby. I knew i didn't want a hospital birth, it all just seemed so sterile and mechanized plus i've never been a fan of actual hospital facilities, they always invoked feelings of despair in me. So i started looking to see if there was a happy medium. Initially i'd learned about birth centers from Instagram but since i'd recently moved to MN i wasn't sure there were any around me. A few more months into my pregnancy, i decided to look up birth centers on Yelp (as a new resident, Yelp was my lifeline to finding anything in Minneapolis). Roots Birth Center came up but it said "unclaimed" so i figured it probably didn't exist or used to exist but had been closed down. By then i was having hip issues (around 36 week) so i went to a chiropractor and while getting adjusted she asked where i'd be delivering. I told her we were currently registered at Mercy Mother and Child but i'd have preferred a birthing center since i really wanted a water birth. She then mentioned Roots and told me she'd heard really good things about it and i just knew that was my confirmation!!! I googled Roots, found the address and Hubby and i scheduled an appointment. Luckily they were able to take me on as i think the cutoff for admission was 37 weeks (the universe works in amazing ways). We were thrilled to find out Roots was covered by our insurance too; we registered for classes - childbirthing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding/lactation, classes for partners/support people etc (which were tremendously cheaper than Amma). We got a tour, so i got to check out where i'd be delivering, all hubby's questions were answered and he felt reassured that we had nothing to worry about (plus Roots collaborates with North Memorial Hospital which was like 10mins away should there be a need to transfer to a hospital - which ended up being our case). My widwives got to know me personally, we felt so comfy and at home during check ups, met other couples and bonded during classes. My delivery story is one for the books lol. Water broke, we came into Roots and i started laboring in the water (100% recommend for anyone on the fence about water births, contractions are a lot more tolerable in the water); unfortunately my lil guy was quite comfy in the belly and i wasn't dilating much. My midwife and doula were tremendous in keeping me comfy and trying different approaches, i walked, did stairs, bounced on the medicine ball, tried different positions etc. Eventually labor started to progress but still not dilating much but then baby's heart rate started to drop and after about 10mins my midwife thought it best to call for an ambulance. Ambulance came, we got in and headed to the hospital; My midwife and doula met us as the hospital, informed the doctor of my birth plans and were with me throughout till my little guy arrived. My widwife was actually the one who came up with using the towel tug o war method to help me deliver after everything else had failed and the doctors were pushing for an epidural (which i didn't want). After 40+ hours of labor, i was overjoyed to be holding our baby and blessed to have been able to do it as i'd planned in my birth plan, with a few tweaks here and there lol; all thanks to my midwives and doula who were my advocates and backed up everything my husband and i asked for. Second baby is on the way and you already know which birthing center we'll be going back to!

Aly is the absolute best Midwife I've had the pleasure of working with! As a birthing person she…read moremade the experience beyond what I ever thought it could be. I truly wish I would have hired her for all of my other kids. A very memorable part of the birth was Aly giving me the space and autonomy while birthing. Very soon before meeting our little one I felt I was pushing against something. I had asked for no cervical exams. So Aly talked me through what I might be feeling while talking me through how I can work through it myself. The coolest, hardest and most empowering moment. From the many births I've attended as a birth worker I have never heard of this. Truly incredible. Thank you!!!

I used Aly for my second unmedicated, first home birth, and she was absolutely incredible. I…read moreactually called her a little prematurely--when I wasn't quite in active labor but right on the cusp--and she handled everything with such calm professionalism, knowledge, and skill. She knew exactly what to do at every moment and truly gave me the birth experience I wanted at home. She came highly recommended to me, and I can't recommend her enough to others. I could go on and on but I'll save you the hassle - if you're looking for a home birth midwife, look no further!

We hired Justine and her team again for our second pregnancy/birth. My husband and I knew we were…read morein great, thoughtful care based on our positive birth experience with our first baby. They give hands on and personal touches throughout pregnancy and weeks leading up to birth/due date they check in consistently to make sure we knew they were part of our care team and to prepare for birth right along side us. During birth, Justine helped us through beneficial/changing positions, offered insight into when an epidural should be considered (part of my pain management plan), helped communicate to the nurses my preferences, provided me helpful notes to support labor and pushing, supported my husband, and stayed with me at my side through a longer recovery time post birth. Our birth experience would have been much different without Justine - I'm so grateful for her and her team!

If you're on the fence about hiring a doula like we were, don't be--especially if you're…read moreconsidering Justine and her team. We hired Justine for our second pregnancy because I was high-risk, on Lovenox, and managing gestational diabetes, and an unmedicated birth felt right for us. With my first pregnancy, I had no complications and chose an epidural, so my husband was very skeptical about needing a doula this time, especially since our first delivery went so smoothly. What ultimately made us move forward was knowing that my husband, being a very logical person, wouldn't be able to give me the emotional support I'd need during labor. After meeting Justine on a video call, everything instantly felt right. She was warm, supportive, and confident from the start, and she was the only doula who genuinely believed I could have an unmedicated birth--especially considering how quickly my first labor progressed with an epidural. She also reassured my husband that her support was just as much for him as it was for me. Throughout the pregnancy, Justine and her team answered every question and helped me navigate every curveball. No matter what came up, she was there with guidance, resources, and a listening ear. On delivery day, I delivered our baby girl in under an hour--completely unmedicated, just as we hoped. Even though there were moments when I wanted to give up, Justine's calm presence and steady, encouraging voice helped me push through. It ended up being the most magical birth experience I've ever had, and I still can't believe I did it. Hiring her was truly one of the best decisions we made. TL;DR: We were unsure about hiring a doula, but Justine completely changed our minds. Despite a high-risk pregnancy, she supported us from day one, reassured my skeptical husband, and helped me have a fast, completely unmedicated birth. Her calm, steady presence made it the most magical delivery experience--we're so glad we chose her.

I thought it over, and despite everything that made me unhappy, my overall experience was worth…read moreevery penny I paid for. And this Doula is very kind and patient.

Brieana was my doula for my first and only (so far) baby girl! I had originally hired another…read moredoula, due to it being the holiday season I was introduced to Brieana as my "back up doula". My experience was wonderful. Due to severe pre-eclampsia I found out at my 37w apt that I need to be induced asap. Brieana was called and she dropped everything and I mean everything to drive to the naval hospital at Camp Pendleton. My husband was deployed during this entire time and I was in desperate need of a guiding light. Brieana knew my wishes to have an unmedicated/natural birth and helped me overcome the pain so I had the birth I wanted. brieana stayed the during the entire process, even notifying me when a new nurse had uped my pitocin by several levels without telling me !!! She was by my side to give me a massage, breathe me past pitocin surges and she made every person that came into my room read my birth plan! This woman even was calm when my waters broke on her ! Brieana is amazing. She helped me to have my baby latch immediately, also one thing I'll never forget.... she said to me " im not leaving here until you tell me you feel safe " That is a big deal, something I needed to hear. She also checked in on my baby before she left ( my girl was in a SIU for an evening). Following birth, Brieana checked on me almost daily ! She took my placenta home to encapsulate and she delivered them to me the very day I was home from the hospital. She typed out a beautiful birth memoir for my daughter and shaped a part of her cord into a heart for her baby book I feel Incredibly blessed to have had Brieana as my doula. She is very caring,knowledgeable and dependable. I mean, she even had me laughing during some of my most painful surges ! Should I ever be pregnant again, I would want Brieana by my side.

When I found out my husband and I were expecting again just after our second turned six months old…read moreI immediately told him I wanted to hire a post partum doula. I interviewed three companies, and chose Better Beginnings because I had heard such glowing reviews from a friend. Joy went above and beyond: providing our family with much needed support and care as well as delicious meals that I still (over one year later!) think about. We felt so well cared for and held during a vulnerable and overwhelming time.

After the birth of our second child, we used night doula support through Better Beginnings. Saideh…read moreand Eileen were our doulas and they were fantastic-- proactive in finding ways to support our family and offering gentle encouraging support as we transitioned to being parents of two. All of the communications, from the first introductory call with the owner to our pre-natal consultation to our first meetings in person with the doulas were all so professional. We don't plan on having more children, but if we did we would absolutely use Better Beginnings again!!

Where do I begin? As a first time mom, I am soooo grateful we hired Amy as our doula. She educated…read moreus so much about the birth process and how to advocate for ourselves to achieve the best possible outcomes for our family. During labor, we would have been absolutely lost without her guidance. I was pretty terrified by the quick onset of my contractions and their intensity. When she arrived at the birth center, we were relieved by her calming presence. And finally, maybe most importantly for me, she helped me process our birth. It was not how I expected it to be and was pretty bewildered. I wasn't sure I could give birth ever again given the intensity of it all. But 2 days postpartum, Amy came over, crawled into bed with me and just let me talk it out. She reassured mr I did amazing and she was proud of me and my birth. We went through all 160 photos she took and pointed out my strength and how my husband was at my side comforting me every second. That time with Amy was incredibly healing for me and I don't know where I'd be today emotionally (now 5 weeks post part I'm) without her support.

I was ecstatic to have an extra set of hands and a fresh face to emotionally support me through my…read moresecond labor. I only wish Amy was a doula earlier so she could have been there when I had my first son. I love that she cares for the many facets of the mothers well being during this momentous event in their lives. She is well educated, wonderfully joyful and optimistic, and just a doula with a compassionate heart who wants to give these babies the most harmonious entrance into the world that she can.

Having JoLynda as our doula was by far the hidden miracle of our birth experience. JoLynda is…read moreextremely accepting of every woman, no matter their birth plan. She believes every woman should have access to an empowering birth experience. This was my husband and my first birth experience and there is no other person we would want by our side for our labor journey in the future. With her guidance and support, both my husband and I felt at ease and empowered to make the right decisions for our birth. JoLynda is able to use her knowledge to work with each couple to provide a unique value to their experience. Her knowledge, expertise, and amazing attitude helped us have a wonderful birth experience!

Choosing Ellee as our doula was one of the best decisions we made during the whole pregnancy. She…read moreput us at ease right away. We asked her tons of questions and she was knowledgeable, respectful, funny and very personable right from the very beginning to the end. During my labor she gave me tips and positions to try and when she joined us at our home, her encouragement is what kept me there longer - resting and waiting before going to the birth center. When I was exhausted she was kind and complimenting - it was exactly what I needed to hear. She helped me center and relax, and gently pushed me to try things I would not have done on my own. I was sad when our last visit was over. She's the kind of gal that you wish was your friend or an auntie. Thanks Ellee!!