I have only great things to say about Alana and her student midwife Nakia. From my first prenatal appointment to the delivery of my daughter at 39 weeks in the comfort of my home, my experience with Ritual Midwifery was amazing! She has all the qualities you want in a homebirth midwife. I wanted a provider that listened to me and granted me a fair amount or autonomy yet still offered quality advice and expertise. Alana has been in the game for a long time and her knowledge of birth and skills are exceptional. One thing I really appreciated was her ability to guide me even in areas where I was closed off. I have a pretty rocky history with breastfeeding and she was able to help me in this area without triggering too many negative emotions from my past experiences or putting too much pressure on the situation. In the end I was really grateful for her gentle guidance and I'm having the most successful experience yet nursing my third child. She also included my husband in the delivery and I know the experience was really special to him since he's always telling everyone how he helped deliver our daughter. Lastly, I'm a labor and delivery nurse so I know a good midwife when I see one! read more

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I gave birth to my baby girl 9 months ago - Alana was our midwife, and I am so, so thankful to have had her guiding me through everything. I gave birth at home, and when someone asks me about it I always tell them that I was able to do it because of my midwife Alana and doula Lenore. Alana has so much wisdom - I fully believe she was a midwife in past lives - and I felt like I could completely trust her throughout my labor. She was very mindful of what information I needed to know, both beforehand and during, and I felt well-equipped and cared for. I made the decision to try and have a home birth when I was 7 months pregnant. My family didn't have experience with it and they were very nervous. Once they met Alana (at my labor) they right away felt like they could trust her and that I was in good hands. It changed a lot for my family. And for me, I have a healthy baby girl that was brought into this world in a beautiful way. 10 stars out of 5. read more

Ritual Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

It was an immense privilege to work with Alana for the second time, and I can confidently say that this experience was just as extraordinary--if not even more incredible--than the first. From our initial appointment to the delivery, every step was handled with exceptional professionalism, warmth, and care. This time, I felt an even deeper sense of trust and connection, thanks to Alana's unwavering support and the personal touch she brings to her practice. Her ability to listen attentively, provide insightful guidance, and fully respect my birth plan made all the difference. Whether in my home or at her office, the environment she created was always calm, empowering, and reassuring, making me feel truly comfortable, confident, and supported throughout my pregnancy and birth. Alana's attention to detail, patience, and constant encouragement made this birth not only even smoother but also profoundly joyful. Alana is everything you could hope for in a midwife--passionate, incredibly knowledgeable, accomplished, respectful, and dignified in her work. But above all, she truly cares about getting to know you and making your birth experience everything you've dreamed of. Her approach opens you up to a deeper connection, and I've always felt heard and understood. I often say she's almost like a therapist--because birth is more than a physical experience, it's emotional, mental, and spiritual, and Alana addresses all of these aspects with grace. There is something deeply empowering about birth when you have a midwife who truly supports you and your goals, knows you, helps you believe in yourself, and approaches the process holistically with genuine care. Having her at our side, in the comfort and warmth of our own home, made both the birth and postpartum journey beautiful. She becomes more than just a caregiver--she becomes a friend and part of the family. Even my husband, whose whole family works in the medical field, was initially hesitant about a home birth. Now, he can't imagine giving birth any other way. Alana made him feel valued and included in his role as a father, and together, we were a true birth team. Every detail was thoughtfully planned out, leaving me with no fear, only excitement for the birth. The entire experience was so well-supported, and I honestly believe I couldn't have done it without Alana. Looking back on both of my births, I can honestly say they were the best experiences of my life and crazy as it sounds, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. We feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Alana, and you will too if you have the chance. read more

Ritual Midwifery - After the golden hour, Alana thoroughly inspected baby girl with the most tender and gentle hands, love, and care - Midwives Near Me

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Alana is the best medical care provider of any sort that I have ever had. She's passionate, knowledgeable and joyful all at once. On top of that she did an amazing job of connecting with my three year old and including her in the process during visits and throughout the birth. I would give her ten stars if I could. In particular, I appreciated that she always gave me the full range of options when it came to medical choices, but also wasn't afraid to give an honest opinion when I asked for it. I knew she was keeping track of everything and making sure I was healthy and ready for the birth. Her office also has a ton of fun toys in it. I'm a stay at home mom so that really made it easy for me to get care while also keeping my older child happy. She really slowed down and bonded with her, and I loved that she was enthusiastic about having her present for everything. When she showed up at the birth she brought so much joyful relaxed energy. I just had this pervading sense, before, during and after, that things weren't just going okay, they were going wonderfully. Truthfully I chose her because she seemed the most competent, but if I was choosing based on good vibes I would have made the same choice. After the birth I had a billion questions and Alana was always quick and thorough in addressing them when I sent messages. Having that kind of access postpartum really helped relieve stress. She told me not to Google anything, to just ask her instead, and that was such a godsend for my mental health. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Alana! She supported us through our first homebirth of second daughter, and her presence made all the difference. To this day, I still think about how grateful I am that she was part of the journey. From our very first meeting, she was gentle, incredibly knowledgeable, and deeply compassionate. Throughout the prenatal visits, she answered every question with patience and clarity, never rushing us and always making sure we felt informed and supported. During the birth itself, Alana was incredibly calm and reassuring. Her energy was so grounding--steady, patient, and nurturing--which helped me feel safe and connected to my body in one of the most intense and beautiful moments of my life. She knew exactly when to step in and when to simply hold space, which is such a gift. I felt completely held and seen by her throughout the entire process, and my husband did too. Alana always checked in to see how he was doing and made sure he was heard. This is often something that is overlooked and frankly forgotten during the process. We both truly loved working with her. Our youngest daughter attended all of the prenatal visits and ended up being present for the birth. She adored Alana as well and was always excited to see her. If you are considering a homebirth or working with a midwife, I wholeheartedly recommend Alana. She's the kind of person you want by your side in life's biggest moments, and we really miss her pure energy in our lives. We are so grateful for her. read more

I simply cannot stress enough how invaluable Alana's care is. From the minute I first interviewed her, I knew she was the right choice. She immediately made me feel comfortable like I was chatting with an old friend. And from the very beginning made me feel like every single choice I wanted to make was completely respected and supported. Her prenatal care was so helpful to both my husband and I. She helped me dial into the best nutrition and supplements and every step of the way we felt informed and given such great advice throughout. You can tell that Alana is not only passionate about her work but also about informed consent. There was never a moment where we felt pressured into making any choices for our baby. Even when I decided against any and all ultrasounds after previously agreeing to at least an anatomy scan, she never tried to change our minds. Just always gave us all the information and offered her perspective for our individual case along the way. What we wanted for our pregnancy and birth was a a stress free experience from start to finish and to feel comfortable with the process and decisions without any pressure or fear tactics so often women are met with in prenatal care. Alana gave us that and so much more. When I went past my due date and started getting nervous about the State Medical Board requirements for a home birth. Alana helped us strategize encouraging labor and, again, was so understanding about our wishes of how much or little we wanted to intervene. She even recommended an acupuncturist and helped us get an appointment last minute which really was so helpful in getting labor started! During the birth her support, encouragement, and presence gave me such peace of mind. She mostly let me do my own thing and just encouraged me so that I knew I was on the right track and she checked baby's heart every once in a while through the process without me even realizing only to just be encouraged to know baby was doing well. We always looked forward to every prenatal visit and postpartum visit and we miss them now that they are over! Her postpartum visits especially were SO helpful especially for me. I was a mess of emotions and having trouble with feeding and she was not only there to help us create a plan with a brilliant lactation consultant but she met me with such heartfelt compassion often telling me exactly what I needed to hear and helped me feel so much better about how I was was handling it all. Long story short.. Everything we hoped for through pregnancy and birth and even beyond was incredible and we truly feel forever indebted to Alana for taking such exceptional care of our family and helping us have the homebirth of our dreams! I cannot recommend Alana enough to anyone looking for exceptional care for their pregnancy and birth. It is hands down one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Thank you so much Alana! You are an absolute treasure. read more

I echo all of the beautiful things written by my partner Racheli about our experience working with Alana...I will add that as the non-birthing parent it was the most special care I've ever witnessed for the most important person in my life. As for me, I felt affirmed in my decisions. I felt supported when I felt worried. Alana provided a wealth of resources. Communication was clear and kind. I felt so cared for in my role. I am eternally grateful for how Alana helped bring our family together and was there every step of the way. read more

It was such a deep, rich, healing experience to be cared for by Alana. Working with her was beyond amazing and was better than I could even have imagined. She did an incredible job listening to what my partner and I wanted for our care and brought it to each appointment with so much attention, joy, intentionality, presence, and depth of knowledge. I felt like I was getting more value out of the experience than I ever thought I could, which was all so incredible to experience as a midwife myself. She got to know me deeply and assembled a wonderful birth team for my home birth--shout out to the assist midwife Michelle Welborn who she had join and doula Verana Faye who she recommended. Alana new exactly what I wanted and needed for my birth and supported it unfolding with so much trust and love; it was so powerful. Shortly after the birth I had to transfer to the hospital for the placenta and I could tell as a midwife that she and Michelle handled the emergency perfectly. I trusted her completely. I would recommend her 200% to anyone I know. Alana is solid gold. read more

TLDR: work with Alana and you will be so glad you did!!! The care we received from Alana was by far the best care we've ever received in a healthcare context. She is the most loving, knowledgeable, attuned and present provider we've ever had. As queer and trans non-binary folks navigating the birth world, we felt so affirmed by and safe with Alana! We came to Alana after a first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and we were hopeful about this second pregnancy. Shortly after our first prenatal visit, I woke up in middle of the night to heavy bleeding and we were distraught- at 2AM not sure what to do next, we texted Alana and within 30 seconds she called us and was directing us where to go. She called UCSF for us to let them know we were on our way and thankfully we got the care we needed and the bleeding turned out to be benign! After that experience, we felt so affirmed in our choice to work with Alana. The journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum proved to be so vulnerable with so many twists and turns- having Alana as a warm, loving, compassionate, wise, funny, and informative guide and caregiver made it so that we never felt scared or alone. It was such a sharp contrast to the parallel experience we had with the Kaiser system which felt mostly impersonal and cold and often left us feeling anxious and overwhelmed. With alana, we had spacious 75 minute appointments throughout the prenatal period (compare to 15 minutes at Kaiser) that were filled with helpful information, emotional check ins, belly laughs, and tea! Alana was always available by phone or text in between appointments. At the birth, Alana's presence was so reassuring and skillful, and our beautiful baby was delivered with joy and love. I can't imagine going through it all without her there, I felt so incredibly taken care of, especially in the golden hour and right after, when she, the assistant midwife, and doula were flitting around the house like fairies as they tucked us in with our baby, ensured our skin to skin and latch looked good, picked up around the house, tended to us and baby with so much tenderness and love--it was a core memory I will never forget. I am not sure I can pick which aspect of care I loved most between prenatal, birth, or postpartum, all I will say is Alana feels like family after the postpartum period, when she made home visits, sat with us in our bedroom as we cradled our new babe, brought us coffee and pastries, performed well-baby and well-mama checks, chatted and laughed with us, and listened attentively to all of our experiences as new parents. She was totally accessible in that vulnerable early postpartum period and texted often which was so incredibly valuable as we were needing help with feeding and sleeping and caring for our new little one. At one of our postpartum visits, Alana correctly identified that what we initially thought was a benign blocked tear duct in our baby was actually a more serious cyst that needed urgent attention and she was so on it- she helped get us a same day appointment with our pediatrician and we were able to get our baby the care she needed. We were so relieved to have such attuned medical attention, again, we were grateful for Alana at every turn. Now that we are about 9 weeks postpartum we miss seeing Alana and already can't wait to work with her again if/when we have baby number 2!! read more

I worked with Alana throughout my second pregnancy and had such an incredible experience during our prenatal visits and homebirth that if the tide turns and I decide to try for a third I would hire her again in a heartbeat. I'm a single parent by choice and it was important to me to work with someone welcoming and knowledgeable about alternative family structures. I switched to Alana after starting with an OBGYN because I knew I wanted to try for a home birth after successfully delivering my first at a birth center. Even more so, Alana's community care focus is rooted in evidence-based practices, plus her knowledge of midwifery and extensive experience with birthing people was nicely complimented by her intuitive senses and connections with other Bay Area birth and bodyworkers. There was never a question left unanswered or a resource left untapped. Our hour-long appointments felt like deep dives into my body's brilliance that left me feeling seen and heard. I have a preschool-aged child that Alana welcomed to appointments and did an amazing job helping her feel comfortable with, and as a part of my pregnancy. One of my happily child-free best friends told me she would have a baby just to hire Alana- she was that impressed with her knowledge, impeccable bedside manner, and all-around je ne sais quoi! Ultimately, Alana helped me feel empowered to tune into my body and my baby during our visits in a way I needed, especially as a solo parent. She was even able to work with my budget, making a homebirth accessible to me. Thank you, Alana!! read more

Truly could not have asked for a better Midwife. Alana is authentic, nonjudgmental, knowledgeable, grounding, loving, professional, trustworthy.... I could go on! Even if you don't have a home birth, having Alana by your side is absolutely invaluable. My pregnancy was considered high risk and I transferred care to Alana around 32 weeks - I wish I had found her sooner. She encouraged me to trust my body and took all my concerns seriously. She always took the time to talk through all the scenarios running through my mind. I really underestimated the importance of postpartum care and I felt so held and nurtured by Alana. She also connected me with so many different and amazing providers for cranio, acupuncture, massage, pelvic floor therapy, lactation consultants, spiritual support and psychotherapy. She really wanted to ensure that I was receiving care on multiple levels. Alana's work is extremely trauma informed and compassionate. Giving birth is such a life changing experience and Alana provides life-changing care. Now that my care with her is complete, I genuinely miss her and look forward to having her by my side through my next pregnancy, birth and postpartum. read more

I did not know I needed... did not know I WANTED... a homebirth midwife. I had had a hospital birth with my first and a midwife/homebirth with my second. I was pregnant with my third and, since both my previous birthing experiences had been... ahem... rough, I didn't feel motivated to invest in another homebirth. I am so, so grateful that my doula kept urging me toward Alana and that she so gently invited me to reconsider a home birth. It is one thing for someone to say they support someone no matter what their decisions are. It is another to really feel that's true, that the whole of that other will support you, and believes in you. I felt that with Alana. As I made the many decisions on the path to birth, through birth, and in postpartum, I never worried that I would be judged about anything. There was a dicey mid-birthing decision to be made and Alana was with me fully. I had no idea all a midwife could and would do for me and my family to make birth and postpartum so much more sane, and kind. Alana's visits to our home put us all in a sort of womb space--a sacred space of really deep presence to how precious life is. These were once or twice in a lifetime moments that I will always treasure, and could easily have missed if I'd had hospital-only prenatal care. Alana will gently help you prepare for birth and postpartum so that you don't have to grapple with the things that can become major stressors when unprepared. (In my experiences, it was easy to slip through the cracks at the hospital, despite so many great people there.) Alana will also make sure that your preparation is paced such that you are ready to move on from preparation to savoring for a sweet space of time before your baby is due. Even as we prepare, so much can happen in the birthing journey, and we had some curves during ours. Alana was present, affirming, and Calm. After our baby was born, he needed some support. Alana was fully with us, masterful, and deeply attuned. Her support continued postpartum. I was repeatedly shocked at how loving and enthusiastically Alana responded to my every text, call or question. Postpartum care matters, and Alana was genuinely there. This was not "just" a profound birthing experience, it was a profound life experience. Alana is there for your baby, and she is there for you and your wellbeing. (If you have other family involved, she is there for them, too-she sees you in your wholeness.) She is also more broadly ethical, looking at midwifery within the context of our culture in addition to how midwifery can serve individuals and families, and she is, frankly, a badass, but not in the way that makes you feel like you can't be naked in front of her--literally and metaphorically! She is gentle, humble, and brings a deep joy... and sometimes pastries. :) ANY way that a woman births is "right", and, I would strongly encourage anyone I loved to consider what a homebirth has to offer and allow, that a hospital birth does not. I hope you have YOUR birth. I am so grateful that Alana helped us have ours. read more

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I am so grateful to Alana for her amazingly compassionate and thoughtful care. I worked with her during my third pregnancy and birth. From the very beginning Alana was so open to hearing my experience and needs and rather than trying to fit my experience into a preconceived notion, she seemed totally dedicated to listening to and responding to what was happening for me without any judgement. I felt totally supported in both talking through the emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth and medical/scientific ones. I have worked with home birth midwives before and when things got complicated I felt a slight undertone of judgement like if I had just believed more in the beautiful possibilities of birth I wouldn't be facing the more complicated medical choices that I was. With Alana I felt that all aspects of my experience and thinking was respected. She really helped me feel good about a pregnancy that I had some challenges trusting in, given my age and previous experiences. I had planned from the beginning to have a hospital birth and was working with Alana for additional support. This arrangement turned out to be invaluable. Although I had a good experience at the hospital, there was nothing like having someone I trusted deeply and had more knowledge of me as a person and my pregnancy history. I felt like Alana was really there for me even when I was at the hospital and especially when I was facing some confusing and scary medical situations. I also had a strong sense from Alana through so many little things - from the structure of her forms to the way she talked about midwifery care and issues in society that she is deeply committed to justice and sees her midwifery practice as part of it. That perspective also meant a lot to me. I deeply recommend Alana as a midwife to anyone - especially anyone who may be dealing with a more complicated pregnancy or who may be combining midwifery care with hospital care. read more

Ritual Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

When we were shopping for a midwife.. I said I wanted someone magical. Alana was magical. She was so genuinely caring, knowledgeable and able to connect with who we are and how we envision our pregnancy and birth journey. Having her after the birth was most helpful as we then navigated so many new parts of life in caring for a newborn. I love Alana and will forever be grateful for her support. read more

Ritual Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

It's hard to even put into words what it is that Alana provides. Knowledge can be taught, but how to intuitively hold safe and sacred space is a gift. I was seeking a specific kind of midwife for my third pregnancy. Alana honored my past and held my vision for this birth. She has the holistic and herbal knowledge I was craving and she helped guide me through symptom relief, referred me to aligned practitioners, and provided the warmest, most heartfelt care I could've ever asked for. In the end, I had the most beautiful, perfect birth and hold so much gratitude for her guidance. read more

I just want to say that every pregnant mama needs Alana in their pregnancy journey to becoming a mother I just have no words to express my gratitude ... All I can say is that she has been such a blessing in my life I met her through one of my best friends back in 2021 when I found out I was pregnant for the first time Alana is one of a kind; she is one of the best human beings you will ever meet in your life. She is very wise, she holds space for you and your family in one of the most important days of your life. She is so knowledgeable, strong, bright, thoughtful, caring, nurturing, and knows how to advocate for you, baby's and pretty much for the whole family's wellbeing. She is one step ahead of the game and has great resources if something is not within her scope of practice. Back in 2021 I saw her for prenatal care for my first pregnancy because I wanted to have my husband be a part of the process since he was not able to go with me to the Dr appt due to COVID guidelines. Her appointment was so different from the Dr appt. A Plus is that she also speaks Spanish which is our preferred language and she was able to explain the prenatal care, delivery and postpartum process to my husband in Spanish in a very clear way. We were very excited to come for the prenatal appointment I was able to have my husband her appointment was very thorough and we were able to hear baby's heartbeat a moment that I will cherish forever. Sadly, I lost my baby boy at 4 months pregnant due to cervical insufficiency something I was not aware of and didn't have symptoms. The day I found out I was at the anatomy ultrasound appointment and found I was already 4 cm dilated and there was no way to save my pregnancy. Alana came to the hospital that day to be with me and my husband; I delivered my baby boy it was the worst day of my life filled with shock and trauma but Alana helped me and my husband to get through it she was the best support person we could have during that moment; she was light during that moment of darkness. She was so caring and advocated for the whole family that day. She came to the funeral ceremony we did for our son. It was needed for us so we could have closure and she checked on me constantly during the postpartum period; she did a beautiful ceremony which was healing to me emotionally and spiritually and she filled me with hope. I won't forget all they ways she cared for me as a first time mama who lost her first baby my baby angel boy. She was nurturing in so many ways and I can say she helped me overcome those dark days. I believe that the care I received from Alana after I lost my first baby helped me to not lose hope on becoming a mother in the future. Fast forward a year later I found out I was pregnant for a second time. Knowing my previous history of cervical insufficiency and having a high risk pregnancy I did not doubt for one second we needed Alana to be part of our journey again Her prenatal care, support during delivery and postpartum was top notch and amazing. I was seeing a perinatologist every two weeks after my cerclage procedure and Alana was always available and wanted to be updated of any changes. Any questions I had she was available to answer. Every time I asked her opinion she gave me all the information and if I needed to make a decision. I had to be induced at 37 weeks due to having IUGR (Intrauterine Growth restriction ) Alana was there for me during the induction process and really advocated for me when I encountered a Dr and RN who wanted to push procedures on their own time. Alana gave me the strength to advocate for myself. I ended up having emergency C- section due to baby not tolerating induction. But having Alana there right after delivery being attentive to do skin to skin, start breastfeeding right away and helping managing symptoms made a whole difference. After a high risk and stressful pregnancy we were able to deliver a healthy baby girl Post partum care was so important for me Alana was there again checking on me and my family. She made another beautiful ceremony after following my "cuarentena" she respected our culture and traditions. I can honestly say I was able to breastfeed thanks to her help at the beginning where I felt lost she was there for me and baby the first few days she also has great resources and recommendations she recommended a lactation consultant who found out baby had a tongue tie, she has made so many great recommendations along the way Alana has been such an important person in my life and my journey to becoming a mother She is a wonderful mom herself and she is an inspiration. Thank you Alana for everything you have done I already told my husband if we have another baby we have to have her by our side again. Alana May God Bless you and continue to give you wisdom, strength and love to keep caring for all the mamas out there the way you know to care for them We love you and appreciate you read more

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Alana is the kindest human who instantly makes you calm. She allowed the journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum to be such a joy. My husband and I were so sad when we had our last postpartum meeting with her. She's the kind of person you'd love to have around you for a lifetime. As someone who has worked as a doula at many hospital births and seen far too many inductions, I decided I wanted to try for a home birth. Being in my 40's and having my first child I felt the odds were already stacked against me, but Alana provided great support and information from our very first conversation. Every meeting made me trust my instincts and feel even more confident in my body. And she was amazing with my husband, making him feel empowered and part of the journey as well. She always took time to answer any questions while making sure we had information and tools to make each step of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum seamless. I was so lucky to have a smooth pregnancy and birth, but there is no doubt that Alana's support and care allowed this to happen. I never felt stressed with her and I felt attuned to my body. She also made sure my husband felt the same way and allowed him to feel confident in supporting me when I felt the emotional difficulties of transition. Alana got to know me and my support team so well that it was easy for me to trust her suggestions throughout labor. I felt held and cared in such a beautiful way. Lastly Alana caught feeding issues with our daughter when she was only six days old. I cannot imagine how things would have gone if she didn't spot this when she did! Our daughter is healthy and thriving because Alana took time in her meetings and genuine care in our family. And if you work with Alana she will become like family. She's an incredible person that we are grateful for... thanks Alana for all you do! read more

We just had our six week postpartum visit with Alana, and we're so sad that our time with her has come to an end! I'm a midwife myself, and I loved how Alana seamlessly merges evidence based practice with years of experience and a kind, compassionate, caring approach that meets families where they're at. We felt cared for and supported throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period, and even my 3 year old is attached to her. I felt well supported and safe during my labor and birth, and my husband also felt like we were in good hands, which allowed him to focus fully on supporting me. We got to have the beautiful home birth we had wanted, and we are so glad Alana was there to support us. You'll be in safe, supportive, compassionate and experienced hands with Alana, and I can't recommend her enough. read more

Ritual Midwifery - Alana weighing our baby, with our 3 year old "helping" - Midwives Near Me

I would rate my experience of working with Alana as beyond one of the best experiences I've had in health care - it's been one of the best experiences I've had, period. She embodies caring and respect in a way that is profoundly supportive during a tumultuous and transformative time. And she is delightful and funny. I recommend her wholeheartedly and with real pleasure. During my pregnancy I appreciated her attention to the specific questions and concerns that were most important to me and my wife. Each visit felt encouraging, affirming and resourcing. She saw us, both. We really looked forward to them. As the birth approached she met our increasing anxieties with ease, slowness and information. Alana has a lot of information - she is joyously nerdy about all things birth and babies - but she is always thoughtful about offering the right amount. Our son's birth was complicated and we did not end up having the home birth that we had hoped for. After 36 hours of labor at home, a spectacularly uncomfortable drive to the hospital and an urgent C-section, we met our baby. It was a wild, dense and brutal time. It had the potential to send both my wife and I spiraling into a dark place. I believe Alana's consistent, supportive, tender presence at each step of the way was crucial in holding us back from the brink; allowing us to process, to stay present and to integrate what happened. You can feel the wisdom from her years of supporting people through birth. It is so supportive of healing. Postpartum care was a whole other amazing level of support. What stands out for me now, aside from the sheer extensiveness of her support, was the way that she connected us with her abundant community of birth-adjacent people as different needs arose. Tapping into that network of collaboration and support was really special at a time of so much isolation and need. This is the kind of care that defies summary. It is the kind of gift we are meant to give each other as humans, and that is what it feels like when you receive it. May we be able to pass it on. Thank you, Alana! read more

You know that friend of yours who gives the best recommendations about everything from restaurants to therapists? I'm lucky enough to have a friend like that in my life, and she recommended Alana to me when I got pregnant with my second baby. My friend said to me "you can tell midwifery is her calling. It's not just a job, she embodies it" Amen to that. The woman is incredible. My experience with Alana was a whole unfolding journey. I'll try to be concise but man, it was just a whole world of experiences that I want to do justice to. I went in with some difficult imprints from my first birth- I had had a planned homebirth turned heavy intervention hospital birth. My daughter was not thriving when she was born, and that experience weighed on me heavily in thinking about how I wanted my second birth to go. I knew I loved the midwifery model for prenatal care but I wasn't sure if I felt safe trying for a homebirth again after my first experience. We talked extensively about my apprehensions and together we were able to cultivate safety and a new story for the birth of my second daughter. Alana is listens deeply and has a seemingly bottomless bag of tricks for everything under the sun. She is incredibly responsive and respectful, answering every question I had. I admire her so much, particularly how she embodies her integrity. I think it's also important to note that I'm a woman of size, and I never once felt pathologized by Alana. She has clearly done work around anti-fat bias and is sincerely engaged in the larger conversation of systematic oppression and how to liberate the birth space from it. By the time I was at the end of my pregnancy, I felt safe and comfortable enough to have a home birth with the support of Alana and her incredible midwife in training Ilka by my side. I had a very fast birth, free of complications, at home. And while I would never suggest that choosing a particular midwife guarantees you an easeful birth, I very much credit Alana for setting me up for success. She's a gem, she's a witch, she's a friend. Give yourself the gift of an incredible midwife like Alana, you deserve it. read more

I had the BEST homebirth experience not only once but twice with Alana! I was pregnant with my 3rd during covid when I first sought a midwife for a natural birth at home because there was just no way I would birth at a hospital (if I could help it). So I searched and prayed that I would find a midwife that could provide care for me and would respect my beliefs and lo and behold I found Alana! Prior to meeting Alana, I did my research and came up with a birth plan. Initially, I was nervous about sharing my birth plan because I was not interested in most of the protocols that are forced upon us by the medical world. After sharing my thoughts with her, she actually welcomed me and respected my approach to birth. Under Alana's care (w/both pregnancies), I felt supported and empowered to make my own decisions. During our sessions, she always held space to discuss what was important to me and I never felt rushed. During labor, she was that comforting voice that helped me through contractions and her presence alone was very calming and reassuring. And once baby arrived (both times), she followed through with my birth plan and I felt baby and I were in good hands. Alana was also a huge part of my post-partum recovery because she would look into things for me and provide resources that would come in handy for even 4th time mom's. What I love about Alana the most is how comfortable and confident I felt around her and the level of support she gave. I appreciated the whole process and would pick her all over again because you just can't get this type of pre and post-natal care from a doctor. So if you're looking to birth your baby into a calm, caring, and peaceful environment look no further because Alana is amazing! read more

My kid is now 13 months and I miss seeing Alana for my midwife visits! I recommend 100%, no reservations. Alana provided me with the best healthcare I have ever received in my life: dignified and respectful, knowledgeable and humble, caring and nerdy. As someone with hypermobility Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I was nervous both about the ways that hEDS would affect my body, as well as how my care providers would treat me and manage that information and the challenges that may arise along the way of my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Alana took all of my concerns seriously. She listened deeply, did more research when needed, supported me to pull in additional pelvic floor and PT support when she thought it was needed, and never once left me feeling minimized, brushed aside, or that anything I brought up was anything but of the highest importance to consider; it was truly a healing experience for me. I remember feeling bewildered in the birth class we took when they had a whole section (aimed mostly at people having hospital births) about how to stall if you wanted more time to assess if you felt comfortable with a particular intervention. We spent so much time together with Alana in prenatal appointments before the birth that I had total trust in her-- I knew she knew what my preferences and desires were for the birth, and my reasons why. I didn't have to worry about any of the things covered in that section of the class. This was such a gift for me-- I got to be in my body, focus on labor, and relax into the web of support around me. I felt safe, supported, and able to let go with no fears. The kind of care you get with Alana is whole: attending to the physical, but also the social and emotional aspects of the perinatal experience. And it's also caring: She went above and beyond to support us in the postpartum recovery period. I felt so supported in a time when I had so many questions and struggles, both with my body and with our baby, who took a good long while to figure out their latch. I wish we could get this kind of care for all of life, and I'm looking forward to working with Alana again if/when we have our second kid. read more

Ritual Midwifery - Midwives Near Me

We were guided to Alana by our doula fairly late in my pregnancy (36 weeks!), after finally realizing that our previous midwife was not a match to the level of support we needed. After our first conversation over zoom, I could already feel that she was the right person to support us. Signing on with Alana meant that we also received support from Ilka, her extraordinary apprentice. In a short amount of time, both Alana and Ilka helped us feel very prepared for our home birth. They caught us up on everything that we had been missing and wrapped us in a warm cocoon of support for the journey we were taking together. The prenatal visits were deep and generous, and we always left feeling supported, uplifted, and increasingly ready for what was coming. In addition to the prenatal visits, Ilka gave us an in-depth childbirth class and got us up and running with spinning babies practices. This helped us ensure that our baby was optimally positioned for birth, and helped increase my comfort in pregnancy. My experience of the birth, itself, was everything that I wanted, even though nothing went the way I expected! I was able to meet the experience as it showed up, thanks to Alana and Ilka's presence and encouragement, as well as all the preparation they had walked us through in the weeks prior. I felt safe with them in the space, so I could surrender completely and let birth have its way with me. The care that my baby and I received the night that I gave birth was like nothing I've ever experienced before. I gave birth a little after midnight and they both stayed with us until morning, delaying cord clamping for many hours. I had a tear, and Alana stitched me up with such care and precision. They ensured that baby and I were both healthy and stable and that all of our needs were met. They ensured that breastfeeding was happening as needed, and that we felt ready to have our first day alone as our new, expanded family. I feel so much gratitude that our daughter was born into such a beautiful imprint of sisterhood, nurturing and love. For the next 6 weeks, Alana and Ilka came regularly and stayed for spacious visits. And, in between, they made themselves available for a call or text whenever anything came up. They offered loads of physical and emotional support and helped me be aware of the impact of shifting hormones as I made my way through a very tearful and disorienting early postpartum period. They monitored baby and ensured that she was continuing to develop as expected. They monitored my physical healing. They offered continued support and coaching for breastfeeding and helped us through all the issues that came up on that learning curve. They connected us with very helpful resources and support as it was needed. They made teas for sitz baths. They offered bodywork and a powerful and beautiful womb closing ceremony. I had never had the experience of being that profoundly HELD through such an important and vulnerable time in my life. Alana is one of the most physically, emotionally, and spiritually attuned people that I've ever met. She helped ensure the safe passage of our baby into this world, and in the process, she walked with me through my own rebirth as a mother. Alana was born to do this work and I feel incredibly blessed to have had her as one of my guides through this portal. It's been more than 6 months since our baby was born. We often think about how grateful we are to have had such an amazing team of support. I wish for everyone who gives birth the kind of nurturing, love, and support that we received on our journey. read more

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Midwifery care with Alana and her student midwife Ilka was beyond my expectations! I had prenatal care through a hospital and birth center for my first child and wanted to plan for a home birth for my second. From our first conversation I was so impressed by both Alana's genuine care and her clinical skills. Whenever I or my husband had questions she addressed them honestly and directly which made us feel safe. Having prenatal care at home was so convenient and we loved that my toddler got to be involved and get to know Alana and Ilka. It was amazing to see Alana in action when it was time for birth. She provided emotional and physical support that was really needed in some critical moments. Thankfully the birth went smooth, and I couldn't have done it without Alana and Ilka! Afterwards my husband and I were amazed that the house looked like nothing had even happened since Alana and Ilka cleaned and packed everything up. Postpartum care at home was incredible and something I wish all mothers had access to. It involved physical checkups and breastfeeding support but also time to process the birth. Alana does an extra visit to lead a closing ritual that was really powerful for me. I couldn't recommend Alana enough to anyone looking for home-based midwifery care. She is an expert at her craft and makes you feel truly cared for. read more

It is one of the greatest fortunes of my life that Alana was our homebirth midwife. The fact that we wound up birthing in the hospital perhaps only makes this statement more true. Alana has an exceptional capacity to meet each moment with a palpable and soothing presence - one composed of profound intellectual, emotional, and spiritual capacities. In the midst of the high highs and low lows of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, my body, heart, and mind instinctively found respite in this presence. Ultimately, my partner and I each made a profound and lasting connection with Alana. I wish for all birthing people, and those that love them, that they can be held through the process in this way. read more

My partner and I knew we wanted to work with a midwife when we got pregnant with our first baby. However, we didn't know whether we wanted to give birth at home or at a hospital. We interviewed a number of midwives and right away felt a spark with Alana. From our very first conversation with her, we knew we would be in excellent hands. We felt safe, supported, and loved from the very beginning. I could not have asked for better care during my pregnancy or after our baby boy was born. Alana has a way of making you feel heard, respected, and so very loved no matter what is going on in your life. Our pre-natal appointments were full of laughter and joy and we were blown away with how intentional, thoughtful, and thorough Alana was. She took the time to answer all of our questions and sent us resources when we wanted to learn more about specific topics. We loved how Alana's practice was deeply rooted in evidence-based care, physiological birth, and Spinning Babies. She really allows her patients to take the lead on making the decisions they know are best for themselves while being open to providing advice and resources as needed and when asked. Alana was available to us 24/7. When I had a blood pressure scare in Santa Barbara, she went above and beyond to find a good hospital for me to get checked out at, calling ahead so I didn't have to go through the ER. During my birth, Alana provided my partner and I with tremendous emotional and physical support reminding us that what I was experiencing was normal and helping me breath, release, and soften into an early urge to push. I can't stress enough how helpful Alana's postpartum support was. She was available to us via text and phone call and even added in an additional visit to check in on our son when we were concerned about how little he was sleeping. Her breastfeeding support and ability to sit with us and hear what we were struggling with was exactly what we needed. I'm not sure it's fully hit me that we won't be seeing Alana regularly anymore. We will miss her so very much and highly recommend her to anyone who is interested in loving and thoughtful care. read more

We interviewed a number of midwives and midwife groups, and none of them gave me the warm and fuzzy feeling that I immediately got with Alana. When she referred to our future child as a "pipsqueak" I was immediately sold. It may sound stupid, but that's actually how it happened for me. She was so obviously a kind and compasionate and bubbly and positive person that we knew right away she was who we wanted. The level of care and compassion and thoughtful guidance we received was above and beyond what either my wife or I expected. All of our visits were calm and not rushed, and Alana's patience with fielding endless questions, day or night, was incredible. As for the labor itself, we labored at home for 24 hours. Alana came immediately when we called on her in the middle of the night, early in labor. We were experiencing weird symptoms and she didn't hesitate to come right over and asses the situation. She made the right call to have the baby checked at the hospital to make sure everything was okay and the symtoms we were experiencing weren't in fact a breach baby (thankfully they weren't), then we went back home with Alana to continue laboring there. We did end up having to deliver in a hospital after 24 hours of laboring at home because our progress was very obviously stalled, my wife and I were totally burnt out, and my wife was ready to go in. Alana was patient and proactive the whole way though, giving us all of our options every step of the way and supporting us fully in whatever decision we wanted to make. She made it clear that there were certain symptoms that would *require* us to transfer to the hospital (blood pressure, etc), in which case we wouldn't have a say in the matter, but this is her top notch professionalism and concern for safety above all shining through. Even after transfering to the hospital, Alana was there to support us until baby finally came, 12 hours later. There isn't much more to say, we couldn't be happerier with the service we received, and we feel like we made a genuine friend along the way. Stop looking, book with Alana. Alana, we love you and we thank you :) - A Very Happy New Dad read more

Alana is the best! We worked with her and her student Ilka Fanni for the birth of our second child this year and had a wonderful experience all around. Alana's knowledge, attentive care, and joyful presence meant that we felt hopeful, grounded, and reassured through all the uncertainties, ups, and downs of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As the birth parter, Alana made me feel like I was a key part of the birth team, while also checking in on my needs and wellbeing throughout the process. By the time the birth came around I had complete trust in our team, allowing me to be fully present for the birth of our daughter at our home. I couldn't recommend Alana and Ilka more highly read more

Alana is an absolute joy and an incredible midwife. I trust her wholeheartedly (and so does my family who were initially uncomfortable with the idea of home birth). Reading the review below I had to laugh because I too joke with my partner about having another baby so we can work with Alana again. If my daughters decide to have children, I hope they find a midwife like Alana. read more

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I feel so blessed to have had Alana for my midwife, and I can't recommend her enough to anyone embarking on their birthing journey! She created a safe, loving container for me and my family from the get-go, and was incredibly supportive of my vision to have an ecstatic pregnancy and birth while also keeping me grounded and informed. She's an excellent listener and space-holder, and I found it really easy to trust her with anything that came up for me throughout my journey. Nothing was too weird. I always looked forward to our prenatal and postpartum visits. And for the labor and birth itself, she was SUCH a rock and a rockstar, able to hold and guide me in all the ways I needed and wanted, respecting my desires and making me feel so empowered while being an incredible leader herself. I can't imagine having been in better, more competent hands for any of it! read more

Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine that medical care could be as comprehensive, wholistic, evidence based, and personal as my pregnancy/delivery/postpartum care with Alana. As first time parents, we were looking for a midwife with: - many years of experience - background/ fluency/ comfort in a hospital setting (I was planning to birth at home but it was important to me that my midwife "spoke hospital" and was comfortable and knowledgable about the hospital) - training as an RN or CNM - the ability to meet both myself (the pregnant person) AND MY PARTNER where we were with patience, love, grace, and a sense of humor To say Alana met these requirements is a woeful understatement. By the time we were saying goodbye at the end of care (weeks and weeks after the birth of our daughter, during which time we were receiving loving in home care and constant support over text/ phone) my husband and I were joking (or not joking?) about planning our next pregnancy according to Alana's availability to be our midwife. She is a gift to our family and to the birth world. read more

Ritual Midwifery - Listening to baby - Midwives Near Me

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My partner and I are so grateful for the care we received from Alana. Alana's steady hand made a huge difference during our journey into parenthood. She offered practical and thoughtful guidance throughout all stages of pregnancy and into postpartum. We always knew we had someone in our corner: she helped us navigate difficult questions regarding the medical system, including our birthing and care options, she provided us with resources so that we could make informed decisions, and she advocated for us and offered counsel and comfort during the tough times. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Our visits with her gave us confidence and were a wonderful way for my partner to receive care. As the father, I was particularly grateful for how Alana incorporated and included me in my partner's care. She helped me to be a better partner -- more informed and attuned -- and a more confident and capable father. If it were an option, we'd give Alana 10 stars. read more

I tear up thinking about how much I adore, and feel blessed to have worked with, Alana and Ritual Midwifery. I went into pregnancy and childbirth rather terrified, and with strong aversions to the hospital environment (yet with a lot of fear about having a birth at home, too!) She and Ilka, her apprentice, offered such deep, consistent, wise, holistic and loving care over the course of my pregnancy. During prenatal visits, in addition to checking vitals and doing belly checks, we talked about everything from how the baby was doing, how I was feeling in and about my body, how to prepare for birth in body, mind and spirit, how pregnancy, birth and parenthood could impact our marital relationship, how to support a newborn, and even what potential difficult outcomes could look like and how they would be addressed. I felt so held during each of those sessions; Alana is so loving, a sharp and intuitive listener--always sensing the deeper source at play in a concern or anxiety that we'd surface. She is warm, funny, bright, and also a badass -- this woman has seen everything, and one feels in the care of an expert and a wise woman. (She's also worked in like every birth context possible -- from rural Mexico to the Texas borderlands to hospitals to a birth center in San Francisco and now, home births in the bay). when it came to the birth itself, it truly felt as though Alana was our guardian angel. I was very late, and had to be induced at the hospital (after Alana supported efforts of inducing at home.) Alana was with us every steup of the way, helping us checkin to the hospital, prepping us for what to bring so that we'd feel as at home as possible, and serving as a birth attendant during the birth itself -- which was long and really difficult for me. And then, in the difficult few weeks after my birth, she was always a text or a call away, helping us navigate ER visits for my daughter and myself, a mastitis diagnosis, and even all the emotional processing of a difficult birth. I cannot recommend Alana enough -- if everyone received the kind of healthcare that Alana offered, this would be a wildly different and more just world. read more