It's difficult to sum into words the positive difference this place has made into our lives. This may be a little long but please read on. My husband and I came to TGP just for information on hospital birth and ended up being blessed in so many ways by the employees there. After meeting and becoming informed by Michelle, one of the owners, we decided to hire a doula in order to have assistance during the birth of our first baby. Their doula services come at different prices in order to ensure that everyone from varying financial backgrounds can have access to this vital service. Our doula, Florencia, was a rock for us during the birth. She kept me focused and ensured that I got the birth that I wanted for baby and me. All the doula services come with access to three very informative classes. Take advantage of these and their very knowledgeable team! We learned so much and met other families going through this experience. It was wonderful. I can't say enough and express how grateful I am to these ladies. They made the community real for me when I didn't think it possible. I had arranged to have the two female doctors at the practice I used be available to assist my birth. The day I went into labor, my doctor and her backup became unavailable. Leaving me to their male doctor who had been particularly unkind to me at previous visits. I was a wreck laboring thinking he would be at the delivery. My doula contacted the owners at TGP and they made magic happen. Through their help I was seen and had my baby delivered at the hospital by an amazing midwife. My situation may not be common but their assistance was amazing and made the community of women empowering child birth real to me. It goes without saying my husband and I couldn't be more grateful for their services. Our little baby boy was born healthy, naturally, and drug free this past May. read more

Be very very careful if you use this company to select a doula. Having a doula was incredibly important to me during my labor that I actually booked one from the Gathering Place at only 4 months pregnant. At 34 weeks, my doula contacted me via EMAIL to inform me she was moving out of state and no longer able to attend my birth or provide postpartum support. Frantically I tried to find a new doula but at that point there weren't many options and I did not have anytime to build rapport. They gave me an alternate doula who was listed as a level I (I paid for level IV) and then tried to suggest that their website was not up to date. They were also impossible to get in touch with and only communicated by text and email. I ended up not being able to have any doula support at very complicated early induction due to preeclampsia where I ended up having every intervention under the sun short of a c section to make sure my daughter could be safely delivered. My daughter just came home from nicu and I have no postpartum support - my family does not live near me and with the covid resurgence they are not able to come - another reason why I wanted a doula. The kicker is, the Gathering Place won't even give me a full refund after all of this. If having a doula is an important part of your birth plan or postpartum plan, I would highly recommend going elsewhere to ensure you actually have one when your baby actually arrives. read more

I first came across the gathering place in august of 2013. I was looking for a place to donate some of my extra breastmilk. I walked in on a tuesday afternoon it was quiet and as soon as you walked in you could smell that someone was baking something delicious maybe cookies or pastries, im not sure now. But the smell really reflected how the beautifully quaint it was inside. It felt like i was coming home. Once inside I was greeted by Tamara. (On of the owners) who asked if i needed assistance i explained about my interest in milk donation and she handed me a pamphlet she explained to me how the process works and what i needed to do in order to get in contact with the milk bank to get screened. She could tell i was curious about this place so she proceeded to tell me about the many wonderful classes and services that are offered and invited me to their play group. I was a bit shy so i didn't go. I did how ever get in contact with the milk bank and started preparing my bags to be dropped off. About a month later i came back this time i met grethel and michelle they were very surprised and happy to see the milk i brought and they both saw i was having a hard time carrying my then 18lb 4 month old in the car seat so they took me to their store pea pod essential (which resides inside of the gathering place) and there.... At that very moment i fell in love with Babywearing. Since then i have attended classes, group discussions, events, and even hired michelle as a doula with my second pregnancy. (Very successful VBAC) i couldn't begin to say how happy i am that i have found this place. It has truly been my support system and positive influence in my life. I recommend this place to everyone who is looking for a more natural and sustainable way of life for their growing families. read more

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Let's just say that I was disappointed to be disappointed. I have heard so many wonderful things about this place and unfortunately that was not my experience. It was a week day after the gym, probably around 5:00pm. I read online that walk-ins are welcome so I decided to head in and get some information because I was looking for a doula. As I am approaching the building there was a lady out front and the first thing that comes out of her mouth is "Do you have an appointment?" No hello, no welcome, nothing. So I explain why I am there and I am finally invited in. When I enter there was another young lady. She was nice but you could tell she must be new because she was not prepared to answer any of my questions and when I asked for brochures she didn't know where they were. Finally the original woman who "greeted" me stepped in and handed me some brochures, a class schedule and a questionnaire. I kept trying to have a conversation with both of these ladies but you could tell they had no interest. It was as if I was wasting their time or disrupting them. I start to fill out the questionnaire and it's all these ridiculous questions like "why are you here?" How much do you want to spend?" I don't know! And why can't we have a conversation about this?! This is my first time! I just want to connect with a doula! We can discuss how much I want to spend after I've met her! I was so turned off at how impersonal these people were. As I finish my questionnaire the owner/doula walks out of an appointment and has a look on her face like "what is this person doing here?" No hello, my name is so and so, welcome...Nada! The only reason I know who she is, is because when she walked out one of the previous ladies said "oh! That's (name) she's the owner!" I handed in my oh so personal questionnaire and all the owner/doula said was "write your number on the bottom of the sheet and I'll text you tomorrow." You'll text me?! What?! Talk about impersonal!!! Oh did I mention that one of the previous ladies started to tell me that my hospital has a 50% c-section rate and I should deliver at Jackson?! I didn't ask for your opinion! And aren't you supposed to be positive?! I was so turned off! It's really a shame. I never got a text or a phone call until 1 1/2 weeks later. Guess what?! I found another doula. Sorry! The place is adorable but as far as first impressions, they get a big fat F from me. I've told so many of my friends what my experience was and they were also not impressed. Reputation and customer service is everything. Best of luck to them. It was a very "corporate" experience. Quantity over quality. read more

I grew up in the North Miami Beach community and was excited about Magnolia Birth Center's position to support the community. However, I would not recommend any person of color in the community work with this Birth Center because of my experience of medical negligence. I attended all prenatal visits and actively discussed my feelings and goals, attended prenatal classes, and was even familiar with individuals working at the center. This did not mean that my health was taken with care and that my concerns were listened to and appropriately addressed. I was healthy my entire pregnancy and had an emergency transfer due to a condition they failed to diagnose/properly discuss with me. At this time they take no accountability for their part. Black Maternal Mortality is an issue that Magnolia Birth Center is contributing to via minimizing black voices and not working with a true model of love and care. read more

The Gathering Place is exactly what I needed 27 years ago when I was pregnant with my second child and desperately wanting to have a vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean). Unfortunately, there was nothing like this in existence back then. Heck, I'm pretty sure there is nothing ELSE like this in Miami right now!! It is a cozy, comfy, womb-y place for mamas and their babies while not excluding the papas. Both of my grown daughters received their training to be post-partum doulas here and continue being mentored through the process of certification. I received my training to be a birth doula a few weeks ago here and I am so impressed with this community center and it's two founders Tamara and Michelle. I had met Michelle when she was a birth doula for my daughter and found her to be delightful and nurturing. She was an amazing help right after my granddaughter's homebirth while we were all just walking around like zombies after a sleepless night and an extremely quick labor and delivery. I kept up with her via facebook for the next couple of years and was able to see, through many pictures, comments and status updates how this center was started, how the building was renovated and how it has grown to be this incredible resource center, not to mention the many services it has to offer! I attended an open house event a few months ago and, if I was impressed before, I was amazed afterward! That is when I decided to get trained to be a birth doula and hopefully be able to contribute to this exciting outreach! They were on the news this week for opening the first breast milk bank in Miami to add to the many great services that they offer. I am so excited that they are here and plan on recommending anyone and everyone that is planning or already has a baby! Oh, and have I mentioned the yummy food? Pretty sure these foodies offer some of the best yummies in town! read more

The Gathering Place offers a wide variety of services, and it is set up like a cozy old home so you always feel welcome (a nice change from the doctor's offices and hospitals). I can't say enough about this place! I took hypnobirthing classes here (and they worked! my labor lasted 3 hours from start to finish!) and now go to their mom group "Footsteps" which is FREE and VERY yummy food is provided, not to mention the opportunity to meet other moms and talk with their family therapist. Their staff is warm and welcoming. I highly recommend checking it out. read more

If you are looking for a doula do not use the Gathering Place. I made the mistake of using them to find my doula and it was the worst experience! Not only were they the most expensive coming in at $900 when all others I contacted were around $750, the doula they recommended Febe did nothing to support or help me during my labor. I threw away $900. Before I chose a doula they suggested two based on what was important to me. The first lady I Skyped with had her two young children screaming and climbing all over her during our interview. In hindsight that should have been the first red flag and hint that the Gathering Place does not do extensive vetting of the doulas they recommend as we could not believe how unprofessional this was during a scheduled interview. Our next interview was with Febe and she sounded wonderful and experienced and said all the right things so we went with her. We made the financial sacrifice because I really wanted at home labor support and the continued support at the hospital. I expressed how important home labor support was from my very first conversation with Tamara the owner of Gathering place, mentioned it as one of my expectations of a doula on a form I filled out for them, and told Febe as well several times. When I went into labor I called Febe after several hours of me coping on my own and notified her that my contractions had consistently been at 2-3 minutes apart and asked her to come over knowing that she lived 45 minutes away. It was the middle of the night and it was clear that she did not want to come so she blew off my request because she said "I did not sound like I was in active labor and to call her later". I call her back later as I can no longer take the pain and she finally says she will come over. We wait and wait and I am now frantic as I am alone at home which is exactly what I did not want. We could no longer wait and leave to the hospital. It took her close to 2.5 hours to get from her house to the hospital! The most important thing I wanted which was home labor support and help determining when to go to the hospital I did not get. At the hospital the extent of Febe's "support" was holding a small electric fan I had brought for a few minutes. The rest of the time she sat in a chair and simply stared at me or was on her phone texting. Thank God my mother in law seeing that my doula was offering no support stepped in and gave me neck and back massage to ease my pain and even did breathing exercises with me. Febe never once offered to step in or help in any way during the entire labor. When I was closing my eyes trying to get into deep relaxation she was sitting next to me dictating text messages on her phone instead of helping me. How can you relax when someone is dictating text messages in your ear?! On several occasions she would make excuses to leave the room and say she would be right back and disappeared for over an hour. At the worst part of my labor when I was in excruciating pain she excused herself and left my husband who was so stressed and disappeared for an hour. Every family member who was present that day commented on how my doula did nothing and was no help. To add insult to injury, Febe had agreed to collect my placenta and encapsulate it for me for an additional fee. I had to have a c-section and could not see anyone in recovery so I assumed she had taken the placenta. I text her 2 days later to ask when I will get my pills. She tells me she didn't take my placenta and only reveals this after I ask about it! First she blames my husband, then my mother in law, and then the hospital. Turns out I needed to sign another paper. While that was out of her control, she should have notified me immediately so I could fix the issue. Instead she said nothing and by the time I found out it was too late for me to get my placenta. The placenta pills were another important thing for me and I did not get them. A few weeks after my birth I reached out to Tamara and gave her a very detailed account of everything that went wrong with Febe and asked for half the money refunded. More than fair considering I did not get a single part of the service I paid for. Surely a place that claims to be all about good energy & helping moms will fix this.WRONG! The response I got back from the other owner who I have never dealt with was condescending and passive aggressive to say the least. She dismissed everything I said as a lie and treated Febe's version of events as fact. She then proceeds to psychoanalyze me and my birth experience and refused to refund me anything. They could care less! They took my money and ran. This place does not practice what they preach and does not stand by the services they offer. The worst mistake I made for my birth was hiring a doula through the Gathering Place. Do not make the same mistake I did, stay far away from The Gathering Place! read more

The Gathering Place is wonderful, loving, accepting, wholesome, and magical. It's a place where the people, atmosphere, love, joy, and the passion is all there to empower women to take ownership in their pregnancy, birth process, and postpartum journey. We moved to Miami at 8 months pregnant with twins and we knew we had to get some help. Michelle + team helped us understand hospital protocols, how to get the most from our birth plan, and most importantly, how to have a beautiful pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. If you're debating whether or not to get a doula, we cannot stress enough how having someone by our side changed everything. Birth was not scary. It was actually fun! A true welcoming for our new family. And all of this was thanks to the empowering classes, incredible community, and having Michelle by our side. The Gathering Place is the absolute best. 5 stars is hardly enough. read more

I have now taken two classes here as I prepare for the arrival of my first baby. Everyone I have met is so knowledgeable and supportive, I would highly recommend this place to any new or expectant momma. Look no further for a doula, lactation consultant, midwife and even a store on site with tons of products for your little one. They have a huge variety of cloth diapers and baby carriers on site along with so much more. You feel right at home when you walk in the door to the Gathering Place and they are supportive of whatever choices you make for yourself, your birth and your baby. I look forward to many more days spent here making new friends and utilizing the long list of classes and support groups offered. read more

This is the Best Place to be as a Mommy to Be in Miami. Before during and after having a baby. The Gathering Place is full of strong women who support and care about this special time in a woman's life. The Women running this place are such dolls! Kindness & open arms is what greets you here. The establishment itself has such a welcoming energy. The mentality of birth, nurturing & growth is clearly abundant within the walls of this Beautiful Gathering Place! Thank you guys for all your Care & support! your the best! read more

Impersonal, I felt rushed out. Corporate is the perfect word to describe this place. I'm sure they won't even remember my face. Don't go here read more

I paid their bill as my gift to mom/dad to be. Specifically my daughter wanted the Doula hired to come to the house at the onset of labor so that she could work thru as much as the labor as possible at home. When the Doula was called in her "opinion" my daughter wasn't in need of her yet, although that is basically what we had paid for. She showed up at the hospital. There she was of little or no help at all. I know this because I have 5 other grandchildren one of them a set of twins and was there at their births as well. We reached out to The Gathering Place to discuss the whole experience and came away feeling that once they have your money, they have no interest in the client having had a good experience and being able to recommend and use them in the future, their sole intent is to keep the money they got from you. If you are thinking of using a Doula- take it from me - do yourself a favor and look at another place. I am writing this review as I feel for any other expectant mother that could possible walk away with such a negative experience. Too bad that the Gathering Place doesn't seem to know or care what customer service is and how to provide their client's with a good experience after a bad one. Their loss. read more

The Gathering Place is great! I wish it had been around when I was pregnant with my now toddler. I stop in every now and then to check out a class or attend a community meeting. Everyone I meet there is super nice, and I look forward to doing more there as they have some great stuff upcoming on their calendar that applies to me and my family. (Toddler art classes, parenting information, etc.) Michelle Fonte is amazing. She is very welcoming, easy-going and knowledgable. As the mother of six and a birth doula she certainly has gained some stripes on her jacket! Oh yeah, I think Michelle likes to cook and bake too. There seems to always be some sort of yummy food going around... read more

The Gathering place is awesome!!! All mommies in Miami need to go here , i love everything parenting classes, playgroup, lactation... they even helped me cloth diaper my baby, i have learned a lot from the owners who are soo nice. Everyone that works here are amazing! Peapod store is unique! I have everything they bring jejej. read more

The Gathering Place is so fantastic and helpful. After my daughter's birth I desperately needed to see a lactation consultant and The Gathering Place got back to me so much faster than the contact the hospital gave me. On top of that, the lactation consultant they set me up with, Ericka, was so patient and completely changed my breastfeeding experience. Tamara, one of the co-founders, was extremely understanding and helpful over the phone when setting up my appointment. The space is also beautiful. They also host the Green Baby Fair twice a year with tons of great vendors and numerous workshops for different stages you might be at (prenatal, new baby, toddler). I wish I'd known about The Gathering Place sooner! read more

The Gathering Place has been an instrumental place in my life since my third month of pregnancy when i finally discovered them at the recommendation of another friend. I have used them to find my doula, Michelle, who was amazing and supported me through a difficult pregnancy and birth of my twins. I also took several childbirth and pregnancy education classes there. I have bought items at the Peapod childrens' store and gotten to know many of the wonderful women who work there. I use them for referrals to doctors and lactation consultants, as well as for suggestions on natural solutions to health issues as well as for help with parenting concepts and referrals. I highly recommend TGP as a wonderful resource for all pregnant women and parents! read more

This is a very special place to me and our little (growing) family! A great place to be educated, to find support and meet other families! I love that there is always something happening! You must stop by if you are in the area for, awesome baby products like; carriers/slings, bottles, toys, cloth diapers (they also have disposable eco friendly ones!), products as well for, nursing mothers and so much more!!! read more

The Gathering Place became my go-to resource as soon as I got pregnant. I took prenatal yoga classes every Saturday right up until the end, and I took many of the classes offered, to learn as much as I could before giving birth, and actually taking home a baby. I decided early on that I wanted to hire a doula to help me with the birth. Hiring a doula through TGP includes 3 free core classes (Your amazing newborn, Giving Birth with Confidence, Preparing for Hospital Birth), which is a great benefit and value. I knew I had to give birth in a hospital because of my high blood pressure. Taking the class "preparing for hospital birth" was a fantastic way to learn that you have choices, even when hospital staff tries to tell you otherwise. The "Giving Birth with Confidence" class was really educating, even though I had already read a lot. "Your amazing newborn" class was also fantastic, much better than reading about it in a book. In addition to that I took a Vaccines class and a breastfeeding class (highly recommended!). My doula was extremely helpful, especially in the weeks prior to the day I gave birth, helping me switch care providers late in my pregnancy, and helping me to prepare as best as I could for the dreaded induction (due to high blood pressure). I credit it to her that my birth went fairly quick and smooth, despite the sterile and cold hospital environment, and interventions that I would not have chosen if I could have avoided them. Knowing she was there with her calm presence, reminding me to breathe and relax, I felt taken care off and that everything I went through was normal. My hope is that for baby #2 I can give birth in a birth center instead, and experience a natural onset and progression of labor instead of an induction. Thanks to TGP for helping me to be as informed as possible and enabling me to make many decisions that I didn't know I could make. I was very fortunate to bond with my baby immediately and to be able to breastfeed right away. That surge of love and the birth high is what carried me through the first 2 weeks and I am forever thankful for that. read more

I took two classes here in preparation for our first baby and the experience was very meh. I felt like the instructors weren't actually providing useful information such as recommendations from studies etc. and instead just anecdotally telling us what worked for them with their kids (which is great but I can get that advice from any number of friends). Also they are very liberal in what they teach, as in very pro-doula, anti epidural/c section, pro cloth diapers, anti hospital in general and the kicker for me was the anti vaccination banter. Our instructor pretty much lost all credibility with me when she started talking about that as someone who plans to give birth at a hospital, get an epidural and get my child vaccinated. Also they did things like passed around 10 samples of different types of cloth diapers but didn't demonstrate how to actually change diapers, give a bath, etc. which I think would have been useful (especially to my mostly clueless husband). Overall it was okay, we learned a few things but I would not return here for more classes-- seems like some instructors might be better than others but it's luck of the draw. read more

I am so excited to have found this gem and look forward to using the center as a resource for parenting my 1-year-old as well as for my next pregnancy. The offer great classes and workshops, bedtime story hour with cookies and milk for the kids, and an overall supportive atmosphere for moms and moms-to-be seeking a positive birth experience and beyond. I got to meet Michelle Fonte, the amazing woman who spearheaded this center, and can't say enough positive things about her and her vision. For any pregnant woman in South Florida, a visit to this center is an absolute must, no matter what type of birth you are planning. :) read more

This place and the whole staff is just amazing!!! I am learning so much and any time I have a question this has become my go-to place for answers. My pre-natal yoga instructor is the most caring and best practitioner there is. I've met with doulas and a mid-wife and felt the same way about them. They are caring and compassionate and they truly are about the overall wellness of mom and baby. The Gathering Place offers me the contention I need, and it became a great source of much needed support. The classes are just awesome and extreme helpful and the place just has the best energy. I look forward to taking more classes and bringing along my hubby and baby, once she is born! I recommend The Gathering Place to all moms and mommies to be!!! Love this place! read more

My husband and I are first time parents and wanted to hire a doula to help us navigate the pregnancy and birthing process. Tamara at the Gathering Place put us in touch with several different doulas and we were able to meet with them all to find a doula that was a good fit for us and our birth plan. We chose Na'imah because of her high level of experience, her positive energy and strong spirit. She made us feel both at ease and empowered, she patiently answered our questions, and she offered her guidance every step of the way. I was very much committed to having a natural birth and I can 100% say that had it not been for Na'imah's presence in our delivery room I would not have had the wonderful birth experience that I had. After 8+ hours of labor, our little one was positioned in such a way that would have required a c-section. Na'imah helped me change his position through a series of exercises and when the dr. came back in to check, our little one was ready to go. She was everything we could have hoped for in a labor assistant and more. I highly recommend that any first-time-mamas-to-be out there consider hiring one of the doulas at the Gathering Place to help you through this amazing time in your life. I don't have a single regret and would do it all over again. We also took several child preparation classes at the Gathering Place and we found their educators to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They offer a variety of different workshops and classes to help guide you through pregnancy and parenting. The sense of community support that this place fosters is incredible and inspiring. I cannot say enough good things about this place. Whether you are pregnant or already a mama you should check this place out as a great family resource. Keep up the good work ladies!!! read more

this place is pretty freaking cool. my husband and i are expecting our first child in december and are not from miami (moved here recently from LA) - we wanted to be well-informed about childbirth and our options related to it, were looking for a network of expectant parents/new(ish) parents, and wanted to know how to find resources for all the things we'd need and questions we'd have as the pregnancy continued. this place is warm and cozy - it is designed to look and feel like a house, but there are no "bedrooms," per se, just lots of different living rooms (and the kitchen - these people love food, seriously). so far we've been to pre-natal massage (well, that was a me rather than a we thing), a barbecue, a meeting with our doula and have missed other stuff like birthing classes, pre-natal partner yoga, a baby-wearing workshop, lactation seminars, etc. lots of stuff under one roof. we dig. read more

this review is ONLY for the mommy and me yoga class I just took. Maybe it was because of all the great reviews on here or because the class was $20 but I expected more from this class and left feeling very disappointed. The best part was watching the cute 2 infants next to me with their moms who seemed to know what they were doing. The instructor got there late with her 2 children and spent the remaining limited class time verbalizing the names of yoga poses while she babysat them. I guess if you know the poses ahead of time and like doing them with other moms with infants then its worth the $20? They had a support group going on at the same time so there were women and children coming and going throughout the class. It was not calming at all and I didn't get any physical benefit out of the class either. I would give my baby to my husband when she would start crying so I could participate in the class but there was no aerobic or stretch benefit to it like I would have had in a normal yoga class where the instructor explains/demonstrates the poses in a progressive manner with whats being worked on/why its good for you. There were a couple moves where you could incorporate the baby but that was it. I wish they would offer a free class so that you know if it is right for you and your child or not. read more

We moved to Miami in spring of 2011 expecting our second baby. We didn't know a soul and went about searching for a doula to help us plan and have a natural birth. That's when we met Michelle. She and Tamara are so passionate about what they do and such a joy to be around. The Gathering Place is an amazing resource and it's inclusive to everyone. I always feel welcome. I can stop by and nurse my new baby. i can stop by with my toddler for story time. I can come with my husband for a lecture on whatever. It feels like a second home. I hope others will join us. Seriously, this place is a little piece of heaven. read more

I don't think it's possible to explain how awesome this place is. The Gathering Place is everything from classes and support groups to doulas and midwives. We took many classes here pre baby and will be signing up for more post baby. Every class opened our eyes and helped us feel more confident about our pending parenthoods. We also hired our doula through here, Michelle. Michelle is a co-owner and the most fantastic person! We didn't know where we wanted to have our baby (hospital, home, birthing center) and Michelle guided us through every decision without ever pushing us in any direction. During birth she was amazing! My husband and I are convinced she is the most well connected and informed person in the baby birthing/raising community down here. We hired our midwife Colleen through here as well. Again, I cannot describe how awesome she has been either! Her office is in The Gathering Place and sometimes we would spend an hour or more after my appointment just chatting and getting more comfortable with each other. I never felt rushed or like "just another client" I felt like a friend (and a week after my baby delivered still do). The Gathering Place saved me. I was terrified to have a baby in south Florida. Sounds crazy, but we have some scary statistics down here. Today I feel supported, like I have a community I can trust and so thrilled to be able to share my enthusiasm for The Gathering Place with anyone who is curious. read more

The Gathering Place was instrumental in the natural birth of my first son this past year. Michelle Fonte is a no-nonsense doula with a knack for bringing together like-minded professionals to create health and wellness in families from the get go, thereby strengthening the local community for years to come. They have amazing classes pre to postpartum. I'm looking forward to attending the biannual Green Baby Fair and seeing their upcoming birthing center manifest! Talk about doing the damn thing! Get here. It's not too late...or early. read more

To say I love The gathering place is an understatement ! On May 13th I responded to a post of theres explaining how stressed I was not being able to afford a doula and that its very expensive to have a natural birth etc. I felt like my dream of a natural birth would never happen after reaching out to many birth centers in Miami and hearing the prices and then just getting an okay if i mentioned that I couldn't afford their price . Well, to my surprise they responded back WITHOUT a no or a too bad they actually wanted to help me !! May 14th they responded back to me in the morning and I said I think I'm in labor right now once again I expected a No and once again I got more than a yes!! They called their doulas to see who could help me and they knew I couldnt afford it they said dont worry about it right now and let me know about the program they have that I can donate whatever I can afford to them they just wanted me to concentrate on my baby coming into the world. A few hours later I met Chrystal my amazing doula who I absolutely love she is an awesome person and super sweet she just rocks! !! I instantly felt comfortable with her and she helped me do some techniques at home to get baby in position and try to get my labor going after it stalled a little from the fear of not knowing who was going to deliver (I didn't know my doctor works with another office with whom I never met that doctor ) later on that night my baby girl was born natural just how I wanted and I truly belive it wouldnt have been possible without the Gathering place and Chrystal im forever thankful read more

WOW! I cannot say enough great things about this amazing place and the people who run it. Having just relocated to Miami from northern California I was at a loss for like minded people. A friend of a friend referred me to Michelle and Tamara at The Gathering Place and instantly I felt like i was home again. These are super cool women who are on a mission to improve the quality of not only birth, but family life in general. They really care, and you can't help but feel it. They've put together an incredibly comfortable atmosphere that makes everyone immediately feel supported in just the right way. So many cool classes and programs going on, there really is something for the whole family! Through The Gathering Place, I have a network of moms to back me up with new mommy stuff and being a new mom in a strange city is a bit less freaky! I wish wish wish I had a place like this when I was pregnant but feel so fortunate to have found it now! read more