I should have written this review two years ago, but I'm so grateful for Simi Valley Birth Center. Even though my pregnancy went past 42 weeks and I ultimately delivered at the hospital, I still had the best experience. The hospital Rachel recommended was wonderful, and Brenna came to support me when I checked in, then returned hours later right before I gave birth and stayed by my side the entire time. The team of midwives was incredibly communicative in the week leading up to delivery, answering all my questions and never pressuring me to make a certain decision. They also continued to support me afterward with lactation help and guidance toward helpful resources. Even though I didn't give birth at the center itself, I truly can't imagine having a better team by my side. read more

My experience with Simi Valley Birth Center has been nothing short of amazing. Each midwife is extremely knowledgeable and attentive, which made my water birth go smoothly. They literally prepare you for EVERYTHING and walk you through the process so that you're not left in the dark questioning what to expect. There aren't enough words to express my gratitude, we LOVE Simi Valley Birth Center! read more

Simi Valley Birth Center - Reproductive Health Services Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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We had such an incredible experience here! Rachel and Brenna took such good care of us the whole way through our pregnancy and birth. They were consistently supportive, gracious, and professional as we navigated the process for our first time. Their wisdom and guidance was invaluable. Can't wait to do it again!!! read more

his review is long overdue! When I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted to go the midwife route it was just a matter of finding the right one. When I first met with Rachel I knew this was the place for my family. My husband was skeptical of midwifery but he is now the number one spokes person for anyone who will listen. Rachel, Augustina and Brenda are truly the best. They took time and listened to any and all of my concerns. Which is reassuring as a first time mom. I felt like I was catching up with friends during all my visits. I cannot recommend them enough. They made my birthing experience amazing and truly can't wait to see them again with my next baby. read more

I can't say enough amazing things about Rachel and Brenna and the facility. For the first 2/3rds of my (first) pregnancy I was receiving care from an OBGYN (mainly because my husband was most comfortable going the standard hospital route thinking that was the "safest"), but I knew I wanted to avoid it after hearing horror stories from mom friends and my own family. I'm so grateful that at week 33, I searched and found SVBC and when I spoke to Rachel over the phone I had so much relief and peace. My husband and I met with Rachel and toured the facility, and she was so professional and knowledgeable that even my husband was convinced it was the way to go (also knowing that the nearest hospital was only 5 minutes away in case of an emergency). As for the labor experience itself, I didn't know what to expect as this was my first, but I always felt I was in the best possible hands and confident that I would be able to give birth naturally. The only intervention we ended up consenting to was breaking the water a few hours in (after what seemed like a stalling period), which in hindsight I probably would've preferred to wait and try other tactics but I was running on fumes at that point and was concerned about not having the energy to make it through to the end). Anyway, after that, Brenna probably spent 2+ hours "sifting" the baby as she wasn't in perfect alignment. After her magic touch, I felt the urge to push! Thanks to Rachel's amazing coaching (and Brenna's and my husband's haha), I was able to push Baby Rio out in a little over an hour. Honestly, I don't know why anyone would give birth at a hospital unless they absolutely had to. Most women can give birth naturally and if you have a team like Rachel and Brenna the odds are in your favor ! (Augustina, the other assistant who was preparing to take her exams, also seems awesome, but I only met her for one of the visits.) What a blessing this place is!! read more

Simi Valley Birth Center - In the birth tub! Thanks Brenna for capturing this moment. - Reproductive Health Services Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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I can't say enough good things about my birth experience at the Simi Valley Birth Center. I would absolutely recommend to those looking for a non-hospital birth, who want support from a knowledgeable team dedicated to helping you have a positive unmedicated birth. I received all of my prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care here. From the start, I appreciated the length of time dedicated to me for appointments, how thorough the education was, and yet, how they didn't dwell on unnecessary tests/interventions. I felt extremely well educated on everything related to birth, so that I was prepared for any decisions I might need to make. At all times, I felt like the team respected my decisions and I was never pressured into anything I didn't want to do. I do want to acknowledge that I did a hypnobirthing course on my own as well to prepare for birth. This was my first baby, and the delivery was very smooth. I labored mostly at home, but by the time my contractions were 3 min apart for 2 hours, I decided to go in. Dilated 4.5cm when we got there but quickly got to 10cm in 2.5 hours by walking (pacing). Baby was in a posterior position and Brenna tried some maneuvers to help the baby flip, but it was no luck. I had pretty bad back labor, but it all worked out. I was determined to give birth in the pool, so once I was 10cm and already pushing, they filled it and I made it in for the last 2 pushes and out came baby! I had 4 first degree tears that required a little bit of stitching. Rachel did a great job with that all while baby was resting on my chest. I can't wait to deliver here again! Thank you thank you thank you!!! Also, we got reimbursed almost the full amount from our insurance! We weren't expecting it, but Rachel did a great job following up with them for us and it was a very pleasant surprise. read more

If I can give more stars I would! Here's the updated review with the correct name: I cannot speak highly enough of the incredible care I received from the team of midwives at Simi Valley Birth Center. Rachael, Brenna, and Augustina each brought their unique strengths and compassion to my birthing experiences, making them truly unforgettable. Rachael and Brenna were by my side for both of my births, and their consistent presence, expertise, and kindness made all the difference. Rachael's calm demeanor and reassuring guidance created an atmosphere of confidence and trust, while Brenna's warmth and attentiveness ensured I always felt supported, heard, and cared for. They work seamlessly as a team, and their ability to provide both professional and deeply personal care is remarkable. Augustina supported me during only my 1st birth, and her presence, though brief, was equally impactful. She has a grounding, gentle energy that brought an extra layer of comfort during a very special moment. This team truly exemplifies the gold standard of midwifery care. They are not only knowledgeable and skilled but also deeply invested in making every family's experience as positive and empowering as possible. Whether it's your first birth or your fourth, you can trust that you'll be in the very best hands with Rachael, Brenna, and Augustina. If you're looking for a birth center where you'll be treated like family and supported with expertise and compassion, I wholeheartedly recommend Simi Valley Birth Center. These women are simply amazing! read more

I gave birth to my second baby here. This Birth Center is a comfortable environment that really makes you feel like home. I almost didn't want to leave after giving birth.. (lol). Rachel and Brenna were a great support system throughout my pregnancy. They were supportive of my birth choices. Rachel is so knowledgeable. She seems to always have an answer to anything you ask, seriously ! She knows what she is doing. This is why I chose her as a Midwife to begin with along with her welcoming personality. Brenna is such a sweet person. She really made me feel held during my labor and birth. Her encouraging words while I was moving through my contractions and pushing out my baby were very empowering. She was also gentle and informative throughout my visits. Giving birth here allowed me to see my natural potential to listen to my body and birth with ease. I knew I could depend on Brenna and Rachel if I needed them even if they were up all night with me. Thank you Rachel and Brenna for being a part of such a memorable and fulfilling experience in mine and my family's lives ! : ) read more

Simi Valley Birth Center - Reproductive Health Services Near Me - Simi Valley, California

I could not be more pleased with the care I received from Rachel and her team at simi valley birth center. As a former labor and delivery nurse, I felt very safe under their care. While I was not able to deliver there due to complications arising, I am very thankful for the care I received there. In each of the pregnancies, they were quick to recognize what required a higher level of care. It was a great peace of mind knowing that they were 100% with me on my goal of an out of hospital birth, but they weren't going to allow something that would be unsafe. I highly recommend simi valley birthing center. read more

I cannot say enough about these beautiful (inside and out) ladies that assisted me in the birth of my third child, to give them the credit they deserve. My previous two were induced hospital births. I wanted something different with my third and possible final child. They took exceptional care of me and my baby throughout my pregnancy and especially in labor, which is when I needed it the most. I felt so cared for and supported and so thankful to have them helping me bring my baby into this world. I am telling anyone and everyone I know who is pregnant or plans to have babies in the future to look into natural birthing but especially with Rachel and her team. Augustina and Brenna are the perfect team to assist Rachel. Brenna assisted my baby's birth alongside Rachel and I felt like I had family helping me. I bonded with them both in a very special way that I will never forget. The experience made me want to have more babies! I wish I had my other two naturally and with these ladies by my side. Thank you ladies so much for the beautiful birth experience!! read more

Simi Valley Birth Center - The best team to bring my baby into this world - Reproductive Health Services Near Me - Simi Valley, California

I want to start by saying I do not normally write Yelp reviews. I am not the type of person to jump at the first chance to negatively critique a business and tend to always give people the benefit of the doubt knowing how damaging negative reviews can be to a business. I was so incredibly offput by my experience with this birth center and blatantly ripped off financially, that I felt compelled to share my experience. Because I am a first time poster, this will likely not get posted in the main review section or factored into the rating of this business which is unfortunate, but hoping it will have some visibility for those doing their research. I went to Rachel at the beginning of my 3rd trimester, desiring a natural home birth. Throughout the course of my limited interactions with her and the center, the only care anyone actually provided to me in those ten weeks, were the following: urine strips and hormone testing fetal heart rate monitoring blood pressure testing Because I had insurance and was actively being seen at Kaiser, the NST's, ultrasounds, blood work, etc was all done through them. She did not offer to take that on given the costs she would incur, and because I was still covered elsewhere. A few weeks into my relationship with the center, I started to have high blood pressure. I chalked this up to the white coat syndrome I often experience and she was ok with that explanation. However, after multiple in-home visits, my BP was still high and it was clear that I was at risk of having sustained high BP that would prevent the possibility of a home birth entirely. AT THIS POINT, there is NO reason why I should not have been advised out of midwifery care and to plan for a hospital delivery. Conveniently this recommendation didn't happen because the second installment of the $6K was due right around this time. They took the money knowing it was very unlikely that she would actually have to deliver my child. Fast forward to a week before my due date and my water started leaking. I came in 24 hours later to the center for a membrane sweep which did not work and did not result in any dilation. The next day, Rachel told me I could no longer go through the midwifery experience or attempt a home birth under care and that I would need to seek a hospital. For anyone that is considering a home birth especially as a first time mom, I strongly recommend you re-consider. There are COUNTLESS things that can go wrong at the last minute - from BP, to a poor baby position, to water breaking and labor not progressing within 24 hours, to the need for magnesium or any sort of IV drip, to mecaonium in the fluid, nuchal cord wraps, hip labor that causes pain beyond comprehension (which I also had) that will prevent you from being able to deliver at home. Additionally, first time births are often lengthy, excruciating and stressful and many end up in a hospital transfer. Despite knowing all these risks, the midwifes collect the hefty financial investment in FULL far before you would know if any of these nuanced situations will apply to you. They make money on patients who never actually deliver with them. I understand this may not be unique to Simi Valley Birth center but it is a fundamental flaw in the business model and it needs to be addressed. DO NOT invest in this unless you are 100% ok losing $5-$7K of your own money as it is likely what will happen. Birth is totally unpredictable and its difficult to predict what will happen in each person's unique situation, I totally understand that. The issue is that they charge a massive amount for their services and require half of payment by week 27-30 and payment in FULL By week 38. I paid a whopping $6 thousand dollars BEFORE any actual work was done by anyone and BEFORE I even went into labor. As I said before, the only things anyone at this center did was to check my urine, my baby's heart rate and my blood pressure. That alone cost me $6K. they did nothing else and I in turn, gave birth at a hospital where I incurred more costs. Given I transferred into Rachel's care at 27 weeks and such limited "work" was done on their end, I kindly requested some sort of reimbursement, some reprieve from the financial burden given how expensive of a sunk cost this was for absolutely nothing in return. To which the request was met with a cold flat out 'NO' and a lengthy legal-esque response that sounded like a lawyer wrote it. Please reconsider if you are thinking of going this route. There are doctors out there who will listen to your desired birth plans and have a willingness to not force c-sections, induce too early, etc. whi read more

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child I knew I wanted a natural birth and sought out birth centers/midwives. I was relieved when I found Rachel and the Simi Valley Birth Center as it was close by and had the option to have a water birth. Rachel and Brenna are an amazing team! They made me feel confident, informed, and supported throughout my pregnancy and during my birth. The facility feels homey and is clean and well cared for. I welcomed my beautiful baby girl at the end of April and had such a positive birth experience and am so glad I stuck to my gut with not giving birth in a hospital. If you are wanting an out of hospital birth I would recommend Rachel and her team in a heartbeat. read more

When I found out that SVBC was in Simi Valley a few months after I got pregnant I was thrilled because of the proximity. That then turned to gratitude for the amazing care my midwives administered. I was blessed to give birth at home and they made sure baby and I were well taken care of. If you are thinking about entrusting SVBC with your pregnancy and birth journey, do not hesitate! read more

If I could give this center more stars I would. I honestly don't know where to begin... Rachel from day one made me feel so empowered, so capable and so supported to have the delivery that redeemed my previous experience. Prior to coming to Simi Valley Birth Center I had a traumatic experience 5 years prior with the energency birrh of my son. Having my first experience with the top of the line medical team left me with SEVERE white coat syndrome and vowing to NEVER have another bany in the hospital if i could humanly prevent it. Fast forward 5 years later, to my surprise I came across SVBC and I FELL IN LOVE! Literally I felt like a human, I felt like I had a say in how my birth was gonna go. Rachel gave me all the resources I needed to have the redemptive birth I so desperately needed. Her team, Brenna and Augastina are truly a blessing and provide the same thorough, consederate, compassionate care... I was seen more by Brenna of the two and I had a positively life changing experience with her care. Going to SVBC, I truly believe with all my heart, is the reason my birth experience was redeemed and I was able to have the healing I have learned every momma deserves If you are looking for a Midwife, co-care, or just a second opinion/options on a natural approach to your birth... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Simi Valley Birth Center! They are literally the best! read more

Rachel and her student midwives brought my dream birth to reality! Ideally, I wanted find a place that I could have a natural water birth, that also took Medi-Cal. I looked for months and didn't discover Simi Valley Birth Center until more than half-way through my pregnancy. The relief I felt when I met Rachel was immense. She is professional, supportive, and very knowledgeable and truly wants the best for her mothers. Forever thankful for this facility and would recommend it to anyone local wanting a positive birth experience. read more