New Birth Experiences

Reviews

• JG

  Julianne Gutierrez

  Jul 23, 2026
  5.0
  I had a wonderful experience this past winter with Dina. It was a noticeably personable experience throughout my prenatal care, with visits in her cozy office by the beach. I never felt rushed during appointments and always had ample time to ask questions. I also loved how she made herself accessible 24/7 by text and calls. Whenever I was unsure about something as a FTM, I could quickly text her. I appreciated her confidence and directness while also supporting me with the decisions I made. I had a beautiful pregnancy and homebirth experience, and so thankful for Dina! P.S. from chiropractors to lactation specialists, etc. when they asked who my midwife was they all said “Oh Dina! We love her, she’s the best!” :)
• ES

  Elyse Striker

  May 3, 2026
  1.0
  I hired this midwife Dina for my second homebirth in February 2026, and my experience was deeply distressing and ultimately traumatic. Dina scheduled me alongside two other clients who were all due within the same week. As those due dates approached, it became very clear that she was overwhelmed and unable to properly support all of us. During my labor, I felt rushed, like she was trying to move things along so she could get to someone else. That pressure completely changed the tone of what should have been a calm, supported, and safe experience. Throughout my labor, she spoke to me in a cold, dismissive, and at times demeaning way. This was especially painful given how vulnerable birth is. I had clearly communicated during prenatal visits that I did not want unnecessary interventions, including cervical checks, and that I planned to use water as a primary coping mechanism. Despite this, she strongly pushed for a cervical check. I explicitly consented only to confirming whether I was fully dilated (10 cm), nothing more. During that exam, she broke my water without my consent, quickly and aggressively, before I had a chance to stop her. I felt completely violated. She then entered my body again during a contraction without permission, which disrupted my labor and left me feeling unsafe in my own body. She also refused to allow me to use my birth pool, claiming it would slow my labor, something that directly contradicted what we had discussed beforehand and what I had chosen for my birth plan. As my labor progressed, the stress she brought into my space was palpable. She was clearly preoccupied with her other clients and brought that anxiety into my birth. At one point, my baby passed meconium, and instead of feeling supported, I felt even more pressure and fear. The moment that defined everything for me was when I looked at myself in the mirror between contractions and asked, “Do you feel safe with this midwife?” My answer was no. That realization led me to transfer to the hospital. At the hospital, she abruptly left me, holding up her phone and saying she had another birth to get to. I never saw her again. Also she did not offer to help clean up our home of the biohazard that was left for us to return to after three days in the hospital. I felt completely abandoned in one of the most critical moments of my life. My first homebirth was peaceful, empowering, and free of trauma. This experience was the opposite. I felt disrespected, violated, and unsafe. The emotional impact has been lasting, and I am still working through what happened. I strongly urge anyone considering working with this midwife to carefully reconsider. Every birthing person deserves to feel safe, respected, and fully in control of what happens to their body during labor. This experience fell far short of that standard. She did issue a refund but that will never make up for how she treated me, destroyed my experience with the birth of my son and the intense struggles and suffering I endured postpartum.
• AS

  Ashley Seymour

  Oct 28, 2020
  5.0
  Dina is loving, grounded, honest and a warrior woman! She held myself and my husband so wonderfully through our first pregnancy!! I felt in my power and in control of ALL decisions. She truly honors YOU and your decisions. You will be in the best if care with Dina. I had the home birth of my dreams and am so grateful we were led into each other's lives. She is a blessing and a true friend.
• SB

  Sonya Barlas

  Oct 27, 2020
  5.0
  Dina is absolutely amazing. I have 3 daughters and Dina was my homebirth midwife for my middle and youngest child. My entire prenatal, birth and post care Dina listened to, advised and encouraged me in all the best ways. She provided support, knowledge and expert medical care. She treated me not just as a patient but as a whole person who wasn’t just pregnant. She cared to know how all aspects of my life were going and how that contributed to my overall well being and the well being of my babies. She treated my daughters with compassion and included them in all the visits so that they felt safe, loved and protected. And when it came time to birth my babies, Dina was calm, confident and supported me exactly as I personally and medically needed. At all times we were in the best hands. Literally when I had my post natal appointments for my two births, I was so sad to not be able to see Dina on a regular basis. Dina was there during the most important moments of my life, and she will always be important part of my family’s story.