I highly recommend Primed for Birth for birthing classes. We scheduled a private class, and could…read morenot have been happier with the ease of scheduling and the information we received. Also, Karli was very fun to chat with and learn from, and I definitely feel ready to experience the miracle of childbirth. She was great at engaging my partner and I, and really made the class fit our needs.

From the owner: Primed for birth offers childbirth prep and VBAC prep classes in Portland and Beavertonread more

I interviewed many midwives, but knew immediately when I met Sharon at Vivante Midwifery that she…read morewas the right fit for our family. During our first meeting, Sharon told me about the birth work that she did in the Philippines and said something like, "I wish I could just be the village midwife and get paid in bread and fish." This was so telling of the kind of person Sharon is: she is really in this because she is passionate about birth work - not just as a job or a way to pay the bills. Throughout our time together, I felt genuinely loved and expertly cared for. Our monthly meetings were slow paced, filled with patient answers to my many questions as a first time mom. Sharon possesses a wealth of knowledge on all things pregnancy and birth, and was mentoring a wonderful student - Max - throughout the process, who we loved having on our birth team. Both my husband and I are mixed race, so it meant a lot to us to have a midwife of color - mixed race herself - who could bring that perspective. So much about pregnancy is calibrated for an average white person. Sharon always had the understanding that there is a lot of variation among human beings, especially across ethnicities, and always made us feel seen and cared for. After our 20 week ultrasound, we had a scare about the baby and my health. Sharon was there by our side every step of the way, even offering to come with me to the gynecological oncologist appointments. At this point, Sharon feels like a member of our family and it's hard to imagine that we soon won't be seeing her regularly. I highly recommend her for anyone seeking a warm, caring, knowledgeable midwife. I couldn't be more grateful to have walked the path to motherhood with Vivante midwifery as my guide.

I'm grateful to have the good fortune of living in Portland, OR where there are many options for…read morechoosing maternity care services with a midwife. As I was choosing, the most important criteria for me were: safety, kindness, respect, experience, and midwives with the ability to navigate both the home and hospital birthing environments. Vivante Midwifery blends the warmth of midwifery with rigorous safety standards and deep knowledge about physiologic birth. Because of my personal medical history, I needed to give birth at the hospital. I was still able to do all of my prenatal and postpartum care with Vivante. One of the midwives also accompanied me to the hospital and stayed to advocate for me throughout the entire birth. It made giving birth at the hospital much less stressful. I'm not sure I would have been able to achieve a vaginal birth without the advocacy of Vivante at the hospital. Vivante is composed of a diverse team of midwives. This is important to me as an African-American woman. It's one of the few midwifery groups in town where I truly felt comfortable. I highly recommend Vivante and Sharon in particular!

Being pregnant with a 1 year old toddler was a challenge. I didn't have the time to attend any…read morebirthing classes to prepare myself mentally and physically. When I expressed this concern to my ob/gyn doctor, she recommended a doula/midwife. She provided me with contact information for four doula's in the South Bay. I contacted all four via email and was pleased with Dana's immediate and informative response. Unlike the others, I didn't feel pressured to pick her. I appreciated her availability, her flexibility and her willingness to help. We initially communicated via email. She answered all my questions thoroughly and put my mind at ease. Then she met with my husband and I three times before the birth of our second child. She had already explained what the meetings were for so I had an idea on what to expect. During our meetings, my toddler interrupted numerous times. I was impressed with Dana's demeanor which was very calm, kind and patient. I also appreciated the fact that she checked in every once in awhile during my pregnancy just to see how I was doing. On to my birth plan. I felt strongly about natural birth. I had to be induced during my first pregnancy due to low amniotic fluid (misoprostal, Foley catheter, breaking of my water and finally pitocin) but I managed to give birth without any pain medications. Dana was open to my feedback as she wanted to make sure my personal needs were met. I felt comfortable talking to her and she didn't make me feel insecure in any way. When my labor first started I was having very mild contractions. I sent Dana a text message to give her a heads up (I was 2 days past my due date at that point). The next day the contractions were a little stronger and more consistent. Finally that night, we went to the hospital. I waited until the doctor checked me before I called Dana. They confirmed I was dilated 6cm and I called Dana at ~2:45am. She answered the phone nicely (I felt bad for waking her) and she was at the hospital within 20 minutes! Let me just say, she was awesome. Although we didn't use any of the toys in her bag (she has a lot of tricks), she helped me tremendously by using pressure techniques and her verbal coaching. She kindly made suggestions and she knew exactly how to "handle" my personality type. She is a real people person with an amazing talent to work with people. :) My baby boy was born at 7:52am and she left the delivery room within minutes to give us privacy and allow us to bond. Thank you Dana for all that you did for us!

Dana was the doula for our first born in Dec 2012. I was hoping for a natural birth mainly because…read moreI didnt like the effects of medication and wanted to try for what could be the safest possible for my daughter. At the same time, I was flexible given things always change. We had met with two other doulas prior to meeting her. They all have different styles and I would say that we were the most comfortable with Dana. She was down to earth, flexible, not judgmental yet armed with a wealth of knowledge. It helped to know she was on my side and not necessarily pushing any specific agenda rather than to support us. My husband was initially uneasy about having "someone else" at the birth but once she educated us about what her role would be, he felt immediately comfortable. She met with us for two pre-natal visits. She talked us through various things, helped me think through many things and they were mostly relaxing and informative. It was fun to have these hour plus long sessions with her preparing for our birth, which is very different from the 10 minute appointments you get with your OB. When labor began, I timed everything and was certain it was time to go to the hospital. I called Dana and informed her of my plans. She listened to my breathing and expressed that I was not in active labor yet. I was pretty stubborn, still wanted to go, but she told me there was a chance I would be too early and they would ask me to go home. She convinced me that she should come over and access things. She showed up 30 minutes later and one look at me and she knew I wasn't there yet. I guess timing isn't everything. She stayed with me through the evening as things progressed and the pain started to get more and more intense. She did some serious hip massage (and taught my husband!) that gave me amazing relief. Everything a contraction came, she worked her magic. That alone, was worth it. Once I felt like this was getting way serious, I wanted to head over to the hospital. She didn't think I would be beyond 5cm but I insisted I was and made our way over there. She was right, I was only at 5cm. I was devastated! We spent the next few hours laboring together. It was soooo intense but she was there to guide us and remind me of all the pain-relief tactics along the way. So so so key especially when you don't get a good nurse (I didn't). I don't know how I can ever express this but it really doesn't matter which OB you have and what nurse (luck of the draw), and which hospital you deliver it, but what matters most is you have your partner with you and a good doula behind you. We were successful in delivering our baby naturally, and we have Dana to thank for a big part of that. She's awesome. I will not hesitate to hire her again in the future. Please feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.

Emily was such a gem to work with! I found her during my early pregnancy for prenatal massage but…read moreshe was the best masseuse I've had before and I've had A LOT of massages in my life. I would see Emily every 2 - 3 weeks throughout my pregnancy which was so needed. I ended up hiring her as our birth doula and she was amazing. She was thoughtful in her approach, meeting with us multiple ties to discuss the birth plan and making sure we felt comfortable. During my labor, it was so helpful to have her over at our home before the hospital, supporting me but also my husband. She was a calm, soothing voice throughout my labor that REALLY helped me get through the intense natural labor that I had. She also had various massage and pressure techniques that was helpful. I was happy to return to Emily's massages postpartum! I highly recommend Emily to anyone who is looking for a doula or masseuse during your pregnancy!

I went to Emily for prenatal massages and I couldn't be happier. I originally thought I would just…read moreget one massage to treat myself, but after the first one I knew that I wanted (and needed) more to get me through my whole pregnancy - I had really bad hip and lower back pain throughout and the massages were very helpful to relieve that discomfort. Emily is very calm and thorough. She asks questions about everything (not just what part of your back or shoulders you want worked on) - she asks about your pregnancy, concerns, how work is going, etc. I think she could sense how stressed out I was sometimes and she always made sure the massage room was comfortable and quiet and relaxing. She is great at reading people that way and figuring out what they need for each appointment. I looked forward to this hour with Emily every few weeks soooo much. She was also very flexible with me - which I definitely appreciated. There were a couple times I needed to reschedule my appointments (baby brain sometimes made me double book myself - opps!). It was never an issue with Emily - she always accommodated my requests to change appointments and she always responded right away so I wasn't left worrying about the answer to my request. You definitely should get massages for yourself throughout your pregnancy (you deserve it!) and you absolutely should have Emily for those massages. I can't recommend her enough!

She is super kind and supportive! She is one of my favorite people I have ever met. She has made…read moreworking out fun and not something I dread every day!

I am incredibly impressed with Resolute Body and its owner, Juliet. She is truly a miracle worker…read moreand has significantly helped me, not just physically but holistically. Juliet created personalized home fitness routines that have been instrumental in healing my degenerative back injury. Juliet is far more than a personal trainer; her knowledge of anatomy and physiology surpasses that of many physical therapists I have worked with who hold PhDs. She is compassionate, a true healer, and a dedicated advocate for women at every stage of life, from pre-pregnancy and postpartum to menopause. What Juliet has created at Resolute Body is revolutionary for the personal training and wellness industry. Her expertise, compassion, and innovative approach are unmatched. I highly recommend her services to anyone seeking a profound and transformative wellness experience.

Working with Kim was a wonderful experience. We initially met in person, and adapted to virtual…read moresupport with the stay in place order due to Covid-19. She led us through comfort measures via FaceTime prior to the delivery. Kim offered to FaceTime during the labor/delivery and was flexible when we chose to have my husband stay in touch via text instead (as Doulas were not allowed in the delivery room at that time). She helped us after the birth as well, checking in for updates, answering questions, and (so thankful for this) helping us pickup our second car from the hospital, as my husband and I drove separately. Kim is knowledgeable, kind, flexible, and good humored. I highly recommend her services!

From the owner: Every family deserves to have open minded support during this life-changing journey of welcoming a…read morenew baby into their family. As a Doula, I will provide emotional, physical, and educational support throughout this journey. I will help you make this a safe, memorable, and empowering experience. I will help nurture and strengthen your family as you transition into life with your new little one. Services I provide: Birth Doula Postpartum Doula Lactation Support Bereavement Support Babywearing

Buffy was the first PT I went to see about this problem. Unfortunately, the work she did wasn't…read morehelpful at all. I saw her several times and diligently did the exercises she prescribed but didn't see any change. The last time I saw her, she seemed perplexed, and her only advice was that I needed to breathe more deeply (??) After that, I gave up on her and tried a different therapist who was able to resolve the problem I was having, with just a few sessions. Other reviewers describe how nice Buffy is, which is true. But she talks, soooo much about herself and her family. She's such an over-sharer that I ended up knowing more about her family members than I do about some of my friends. I also found it really disconcerting when she would stop in the middle of working on me to tell a story. She would just be standing there, talking about her vacation, or whatever, with her fingers resting inside me. It made me incredibly uncomfortable.

Buffy is AMAZING! She is not only an amazing and caring person but also is an amazing pelvic floor…read moretherapist and physical therapist. I have been seeing her for awhile and she has helped me tackle not only my pelvic pain but as well as my feet and back problems. She has taught me so much about my body and my health. We get along so well that every appointment I have I'm excited to go and chat with her while working on my body. She is very patient and understands that I have a lot of other stuff going on in my life. Every other physical therapist I have gone to they try to rush my recovery and "cure" me in a few appointments. Guess what those problems I had that they "cured", ya still have those problems. This isn't the case for Buffy. She understands and has taught me that recovery takes time and consistency and it's not a straight line. I recommend anyone and everyone to her because of how amazing she is. My pelvic pain is a lot better from when I started. Is it gone? No, but that takes a lot of time and effort because of what my pelvic floor has been through.

I initially came to Blossom Clinic for help with hot flashes, which have already reduced…read moresignificantly after only a few visits. There aren't enough words to describe what an amazing person Dr. Renee is. I feel like I could tell her anything (and I usually do, lol). She's extremely knowledgeable about body structure and systems, and her approach to acupuncture is unique and very cool! She explains her thought process and approach to care, particularly from a Chinese medicine perspective, in such a way that I truly feel like we're partners in my health and wellness journey. I've learned so much about how my body works, and each visit is followed up with customized recommendations (example: foods that are particularly nourishing in areas I might be deficient, based on her observations of my pulse, etc.) The office at Blossom Clinic is small but cozy and inviting, with soft lighting, air filters, aromatherapy, etc. They use high-quality products (for example, I had cupping done today with organic Jojoba oil). They're located next to Whole Foods (on the left, and up the stairs, kind of hard to find--for me anyway), but very convenient for picking up some groceries before or after my visits. They do not accept insurance but do provide detailed bills that I can submit for reimbursement from my health plan. I have not met with any of the other practitioners, so I can't comment on them. Overall, an extremely pleasant and personalized experience that I highly recommend! Their practice seems to be mostly focused on fertility-related care, but they are also here for women at all stages of life.

Blossom Clinic has done wonders for me and my sister (who referred me). Both Liz and Renee are…read moreextremely talented and were there through every stage of my pregnancy. Customized my treatment to what I individually had going on and I feel eternally grateful that I found this place and these healing hands for me and my baby. I still remember Renee helping me move my baby out of breech and the treatment was so gentle and calming, I had my doubts, but I could feel my baby move and adjust during the appointment. It was WILD, beautiful and amazing.

If I can give this place zero stars I would. I went in January for surgery and it's July and still…read morehaven't had surgery. I have called up their and left messages and don't receive a call back. Today I finally gotten a hold of someone and was put on hold and they didn't come back. Back in March and April I was told the doctor has to write a letter to the insurance. Well that never happened. The people answers the phone sound clueless on everything.

This clinic is located among other business buildings. There are a couple of spots in the front for…read moreexpectant mothers, which is a nice touch. However, even if these spots are taken, there is still ample parking because it's in a business center. I came here to see my midwife, Lindsey Geunes. She's wonderful. I usually go to the WHA at South Peterkort, but Lindsey was at this location on a day when I was in the neighborhood. The receptionist was kind and friendly. The lobby was orderly and clean. They had a water cooler, which is great because this preggo mommy gets thirsty a lot. The wait time was reasonable. The medical assistant who took me back was sweet. Lindsey provided excellent care per usual. She asked if I had my birth plan. I thought most nurses don't take a birth plan seriously, but Lindsey actually cares. She was able to detect baby's heartbeat right away. She answers all of my questions and makes me feel like she actually is concerned with my well-being rather than making me feel like just another in-and-out patient. I'm very grateful for the team of midwives I've been working with and the prenatal care I've received at WHA at both this location and South Peterkort/St. Vincent.