When I got pregnant with my second baby, my doula recommended Justine. She had seen how Justine…read morehandled several tricky birth situations and felt confident that I would be in good hands. It didn't take me long to realize that she was 100% right. Not only is Justine kind and warm, but she continually educates herself with the newest research so that she can best serve the mothers and babies she works with. It was easy to go to appointments and bring my 5 year old son. The care, before and after baby, is next level:) Baby was sunny side up and I got very uncomfortable because her head was on my spine. So at 39 weeks, I asked Justine about natural induction techniques. We did a membrane sweep, then later that same day, I had Accupuncture and acupressure massage. My contractions started almost immediately when I left the appointment. Labor came on hard and fast, very differently than my first baby. At the birth center, Justine gave me the space to listen to my body. However, after a few very intense hours, nothing seemed to be moving the needle. I could feel myself running out of steam. I told her I needed to try something else, so she got me on the peanut ball. That did the trick - baby came out finally. Birth is just intense, in the hospital or out. In my situation, I surely would have had been made to have a c-section at the hospital. Justine's expertise allowed me to have the birth I wanted- and then go home and get in my own bed! I trust her completely and would definitely recommend her to anyone wanting to have an out of hospital birth.

I just had a baby at Bakersfield Birth Center with Justine (and her assistant Bri) and had the most…read morewonderful experience! I want to start by saying that Justine is highly gifted at what she does and puts her heart and soul into her work. It's very obvious that it's much more than work to her, midwifery is her calling and passion. Justine came highly recommended to me by many friends and acquaintances in my community who had wonderful experiences with her also. My first baby was born in a hospital and I had a less-than-ideal experience. When I got pregnant with my second baby, I knew I wanted to go a more natural route. From the moment I met Justine at my first prenatal care appointment, she was kind, professional and knowledgeable. She always answered all my questions with patience and care. Unlike my OB in my first pregnancy, Justine cared deeply about my nutrition, supplement intake, blood sugar levels, etc. My prenatal care was specialized to me. I (and my baby) wasn't just a number to her, she cared for us and our well-being throughout my pregnancy. My prenatal appointments were done in the comfort of my home and my toddler was always welcome to be there when I didn't have a babysitter. When I went into labor, I called Justine at 5am and she answered immediately. She was calm but attentive. We met at the birth center a few hours later. Her birth center is AMAZING! It is beautiful and has the most inviting atmosphere. Laboring at the birth center was such a more pleasant experience than laboring in the hospital. At the hospital with my first birth I was hooked up to an IV, fetal monitoring system, blood pressure cuff, etc. the entire time. I was restricted from moving around, eating and drinking, even without an epidural. At the birth center, I was free to move around, eat, drink, listen to music, get in and out of the shower/ tub. Justine monitored the baby intermittently as needed. My husband was comfortable and free to support me without judgement of what that looked like for us. This freedom made my contractions so much more manageable. Justine and her assistant/ student Bri were kind, helpful and patient the entire time. They are so selfless. They cleaned up after me, got me whatever I wanted/ needed, supported me through contractions, and encouraged me to listen to my body and do what my instincts led me to do. When it was time to deliver, Justine allowed me to do what felt right instead of telling me to push in a certain position at a certain time like the hospital did. My daughter had shoulder dystocia and got stuck at the shoulders (which also happened at the hospital with my first son). The doctor who delivered my son took extreme, invasive measures to get him out, which caused me extreme trauma and pain postpartum. Unlike that doctor, when Justine saw that I needed assistance getting my daughter out, she simply had me change positions and she used her experience and skill to help me deliver my baby, leaving me without even a tear. After my daughter was born, she spent 2 hours breastfeeding and doing skin to skin with me. My husband and I marveled at the gift of our new baby girl, and Justine and Bri joined in in giving their compliments of her cuteness! Then Bri performed her newborn exam while my husband and I ate some lunch. We went over postpartum care for me and the baby. Then I took a shower and we were on our way home a few hours after our daughter was born. We didn't even have to be away from our son overnight, whereas we were forced to stay in the hospital 3 days when he was born (even though he had no complications). Justine came to our house the day after the birth for my first postpartum appointment to check on me and the baby. Justine is highly skilled in what she does, but also passionate and caring about her patients. If you are considering a midwife for your birth, I highly recommend Justine and the Bakersfield Birth Center! P.S. Justine and Bri took the most beautiful, special pictures for us throughout my labor and birth.

Nikki is a force to be reckoned with... educated, kind, loving. She will advocate for you, your…read morebirth, your family. Because of her, I can say that I was given the dignity to labor/birth the way I wanted/needed, I can say that I was surrounded with love and LAUGHTER, and I am changed forever by the energy exchange. It is an honor to know Nikki, we love her so much!

When I first met Nikki, I just knew that I had met the doula for me. There were many reasons such…read moreas she changed up the language of labor and birth. She told me that instead of calling it a contraction, that she calls it a wave and instead of transition, transformation. I had never heard some of these terms used in the birth world. I never experienced it with my first birth so it made a huge difference for me. It was like she knew what I wanted and needed before I could put into words. Nikki was all about changing your mindset about how you viewed birth. I also talked to her about my previous birth and that I wanted to try for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean). It was important that I had a supportive birth team. Once I told her my desire, she was on board and started to encourage me. I remember her telling me that "you're going to get it!". It was moments like this that made the difference and I knew in my heart that she was the doula for me. Guess what? She was right. I got my VBAC! I couldn't have done it without her love and support. She made me feel safe and I had just met her. She just has a calming presence about her that was infectious. It was important for me that my husband and her had a connection. They did. She read him and made a joke with him. She made us both feel comfortable. I have no family here in Bakersfield so hiring a doula was necessary because my husband wanted me to have support in case my mom couldn't make it down in time to watch our son. We shared this at our consultation with Nikki and she said that she would stay with me at the hospital if I was transferred if it ended in a cesarean. Thankfully, none of that happened but it meant the world to me that she offered to be by my side regardless. She even offered some really cool ideas if I did have to have a cesarean. She outdid herself. She exceeded every expectation I had of her. She was there for me when fears started to creep in. She always knew the right thing to say. She truly has a heart and passion for what she does. She does everything in EXCELLENCE!! She became more than just my doula, she became family. So, what are you waiting for? Book your consultation. Hire her as your doula! You will not be disappointed! She will be more than what you thought you needed. She was truly a God send and I am truly thankful for you. I had a redemptive birth and I know that it was because I had THE BEST BIRTH TEAM. Thank you, Nikki! May God continue to Bless you in all you do!

Blyss is by far the most understanding medical person I've ever encountered. She compassion for her…read moreclients, her understanding of hard times, while still being a place of positivity is unmatched. She advocates for what her clients want and helps them advocate for themselves as well. The specialist she recommends really know their stuff (chiropractic care, breech specialists, and ultrasounds to name a few). I could not have chosen a better practitioner/midwife to be under the care of. So grateful she's part of my birth team. Her weekly prenatal group zoom calls have been supremely helpful during this difficult time. They've brought a sense of community I felt like I was missing during this pandemic. Knowing that others are going through the same things is so so helpful during this time. I love cheering on fellow members as they get closer to meeting their babies and cheering on the newly pregnant people as well! And her Innate Journey class with Haize Hawke was the cherry on top! So informative, so realistic and caring. Precautions were taken to keep everyone safe during class, while bringing us together as a small group of couples getting ready to meet our babies. We touched on the spiritual and the practical. I've never felt closer to my spouse than after we finished the last class. Haize and Blyss are an absolute dream team!

I interviewed a handful of midwives but no one stood out like Blyss. My husband and I connected…read morewith her right away and knew she would be someone we could go on this birth journey with. Every prenatal appointment I felt seen, heard, and cared for in such a deep way. Blyss went above and beyond to check in with me during the ongoing pandemic/covid-19 and during the black lives matter movement. Blyss even created a weekly zoom group for her clients to hold space for us to breath and also connect and ask questions. I was bless to have a homebirth at 41 Weeks with Blyss and she was so professional and caring. Her calming presence and years of experience illuminated during my labor. I trusted her and she constantly reminded me that I can do it. Blyss is passionate about being a midwife, its not a job for her, you can see it's her spiritual calling.

I've had an overall disappointing experience with this practice, and unfortunately I can't…read morerecommend them. The midwives themselves have been great. They are kind, knowledgeable, and supportive, but the front office and administrative side has been consistently frustrating. The administrative staff is disorganized and unprofessional. They frequently mix up appointment times, give conflicting information, and make even simple tasks feel unnecessarily difficult. They don't use email or an online portal to send updates, test results, or appointment confirmations, which makes it almost impossible to keep track of anything. Everything has to be done by phone, and the communication is often curt or dismissive. Another major frustration is that any time I need bloodwork, I have to schedule a completely separate appointment with a third-party lab instead of being able to do it in-office. This makes routine prenatal care far more inconvenient than it needs to be. I really wanted to have a good experience here, especially since the clinical care from the midwives has been positive, but the front-office management has caused so much stress and confusion that I'm choosing to switch practices. I hope they improve their administrative processes and communication in the future.

The doctor is amazing! I had a great experience. He was very knowledgeable, caring and made me…read morefeel extremely comfortable. His staff is very professional. I plan on coming here annually for as long as I live in the area.

Marisol is one of the best things to have happened for my pregnancy! Previously having 2 prior C…read moresections I was having drs tell me left and right that I could not have a VBAC even after doing my own research. Marisol helped me achieve my goal of a natural birth and I can't thank her enough. She believed in me, helped me make informed decision, and cared for me throughout the rest of my pregnancy and labor/delivery. She is very thoughtful, knowledgeable, and caring and I'll recommend her to any future mamas I know

It was an amazing experience thanks to Marisol for always being there since moment one to the end…read more I'm so grateful for all the support she gave me to feel comfortable and for all ways advocating for me in the hospital and later with lactation! I was able to successfully breast feed and later pump feed for a year while I went back to school. I could not have done it without her! And her office where she uses to teach is amazing it makes you feel that you are in a safe space it just feels like if you're in your own home.

When my husband and I became pregnant with our first child, I was still carrying a deep grief. My…read moremother had passed away just one year earlier, and as a 38-year-old first-time mom, I felt lost without her guidance. I remember sharing that with Chavah early in my pregnancy, and from that moment on, she cared for me with a level of compassion and sensitivity that I will never forget. Before I even chose a midwife, I prayed for guidance. Then I opened Yelp, and Chavah was the very first midwife I called. After speaking with her on the phone, I didn't search any further. Looking back now, five months postpartum, I truly know she was an answer to my prayer. Chavah cared for us from the very beginning of my pregnancy--around three months along--through birth and into those precious first weeks postpartum. Throughout every appointment, she was wise, kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to educate us, answer our endless first-time-parent questions, and guide us through each stage with confidence and reassurance. One thing that especially touched us was her willingness to go above and beyond when life threw us an unexpected curveball. Midway through my pregnancy, my husband and I had to relocate, moving about 70 miles away. Most people would have understandably referred us elsewhere, but Chavah generously agreed to keep us on as clients. We were so grateful. Those extra miles meant more to us than she probably realizes. Our pregnancy was healthy and uncomplicated. The only bump in the road was that I needed an iron boost, and Chavah quickly connected us with excellent care for a couple of iron transfusions. Her experience and attentiveness gave us complete confidence that we were in good hands every step of the way. When it came time to give birth, Chavah was absolutely amazing. She created an environment where I felt informed, supported, and in control. Well... as much control as a woman can feel while temporarily visiting another dimension during contractions. Thankfully, our son had places to be and arrived after just five hours of active labor, making his debut before lunchtime. Today, we are five months postpartum and have a healthy, thriving baby boy. I've intentionally taken my time writing this review because I wanted to reflect carefully on our experience and express just how grateful we are. Chavah brought wisdom when I needed guidance, encouragement when I felt uncertain, and compassion when I was grieving. She cared for not only my physical health, but my emotional well-being too. I honestly cannot imagine a better midwife experience. If we are blessed with more children in the future, I would choose Chavah again without hesitation. Knowing she would be part of our care would bring immediate peace of mind. Thank you, Chavah, for everything you did for our family--and for so much more than was ever required. We will always be grateful.

5 stars isn't enough! The amount of QUALITY information you get from a midwife compared to your OB…read moreis insane. Chavah has eased us into parenthood with our first baby. She was there anytime we needed her and because such a rock in our journey. We started really early in our pregnancy with Chavah and I haven't stopped recommending midwifery to my expecting friends. Our in home visits were super informative and lasted -1.5-2 hours! It's seriously night and day and she will give you an explanation as well as expectations so you can make your own informed decisions about every process. Thank you Chavah! You will be part of every baby we bring into this world!

My husband and I had our son last October, through The Art of Birthing center in Marina del Rey…read more Laura was our main midwife through our last 2 trimesters (which is when we chose to join the birth center). There are so many things i can say in praise of Laura! She proved to be both deeply knowledgeable on any and every topic that came up during our pregnancy-- yet she also possesses a deeply intuitive character-- this at times was more helpful to our expecting family. And further, if she ever felt she needed more time to investigate something, she did not put us on or hesitate to acknowledge she needed to look further into something-- such a trait, for my family, goes and went a long way. During our labor, Laura was a perfect blend of hands on and off. Birth can be nerve wrecking, and there were times that i appreciated her just being with us. Yet birth, at least for me, was/is also very private, and it was meaningful that she could give my husband and i space to just go through what we were going through together. Laura is a sweet and wise soul. She has a wonderful sense of humor and a kind and patient energy. She worked with us, rather than above us, as some doctors or other midwives, and professionals can make you feel disassociated from your own experience.. She gave us the confidence that all humans are posesssed with to birth, yet the extended strength of her own heart and story, which made us feel immensely supported. I know to this day, i can count on her getting back to me when i have a question about parenting, etc. She is the real deal

I cannot fully express what an amazing midwife Laura is in one Yelp review, but I will do my best…read more Laura was on my birth team for both my pregnancies/births. She shares her vast knowledge with her clients with a gentle confidence. I needed to feel confident in my care providers as a new mom and I needed her to be kind and patient as I asked my many questions. She was able to make me feel so cared for and confident in my decision to have a home birth. Not only is Laura informed in the areas or pregnancy, labor and delivery, she possesses a vast knowledge of nutrition, natural medicine and preventative health care. She went above and beyond her duties to make sure my family and I had the best health my pregnancies. I use what she has taught me in our everyday lives today and we are healthier for it! During labor her presence is nurturing and calming and she makes you feel like you can do it! Her confidence in you makes you confident in yourself. She also has a great sense of humor which comes in handy when in such an intense situation as birth! She possesses the art of the ninja-midwife...there when you need her but in stealth mode when you need your space. You feel completely cared for and taken care of through the whole process of your pregnancy and birth as well as postpartum...which can be a difficult time of adjustment for a new mom. She was always available to answer any question and would visit me more than what was the standard amount of visits because that's what I needed. With midwifery, and with Laura specifically, your care will be leaps and bounds above what it wold be in a hospital. Laura is like family and will forever be intertwined with the memories I have bringing my children into the world. My birth experiences were the two best things to have happened to me. They were magical, transformative, and made me feel like a badass. Laura was an integral part of helping to make those experiences so positive for me. I cannot recommend her highly enough. xoxo

Amy has been incredible our entire experience with her through prenatal care, our home birth, and…read morenow that she has her Nurse Practitioner's license, her primary care. I chose Amy because I felt so comfortable and safe with her. She has so much experience, I knew right away I was in good hands. She also provided me with doula references and I was able to hire one of her recommendations. They worked together so beautifully and created the calm and purposeful atmosphere that I was hoping for. Our home birth experience with her was everything and more that we could have wished for! Amy let me do my own thing while also guiding me when I needed direction. I felt so comfortable and completely trusted her. I knew I was safe, so I could focus on what I needed to do--bring my baby girl into this world. We've loved that Amy can keep seeing our little girl as she's growing up now. We're so thankful to have her in our lives and can't recommend her enough!

20 Stars. Amy and Atoosa were so amazing with me, my Wife and new Baby. Extremely knowledgeable,…read morewarm, communicative, attentive, and reliable. Cannot recommend them enough. Highly recommend!!!

I should have written this review two years ago, but I'm so grateful for Simi Valley Birth Center…read more 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.

My experience with Simi Valley Birth Center has been nothing short of amazing. Each midwife is…read moreextremely 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!