I just had a baby at the Bakersfield Birth Center with Justine (and her assistant Bri) and had the most wonderful 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. Its very obvious that its 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) wasnt 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 didnt 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 didnt 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.

Choosing Justine as our birth provider was the best decision we made. She sees you as a whole person instead of just a number. I loved that she lent me multiple books so I could educate myself! When it came down to it, I had unavoidable complications and ended up with a c section. The doctors and staff in the hospital left me feeling scared and hopeless. I really dont know what I wouldve done without Justine on my side. She helped healing from a traumatizing experience a little easier

I had a great experience using Justine as a midwife. I always felt supported and fully informed of what to expect during the pregnancy, and knew what to expect getting concurrent care with Kaiser. I went into labor a bit early and Justine was there as soon as she could be informing me of what my options were and what to expect, leaving decisions up to me, which I really appreciated. I have felt with hospitals that they dont give you much choice, they just do their routine and you might not get a run down of options or whats actually necessary. She will tell you if there is ever a time when you need to go to the hospital. This was my first birth without any medication, out of a hospital, and I felt confident the entire time that I was in good
hands. Justine is experienced, so knowledgeable, encouraging, and trustworthy. I dont plan on having any more babies, but if I did I would absolutely go with her again!

Justine is amazing. I was 40 when we found out I was pregnant. I knew how I would be treated by an OBGYN and decided that I wanted a different experience. I wanted to be happy, excited and supported, not treated like I was a walking emergency (high risk). Never have I felt so supported and cared for than with her. She allowed me to go past 40 weeks without alarm. My baby was 10lbs 8oz and got stuck. She was very calm and confident in getting our baby out and everyone was safe and sound in the end. Every woman should be able to experience such dignity in her pregnancy and birth.

Im so thankful we chose to go with Justine! She made my pregnancy experience so much more peaceful and special. At every appointment I felt so heard, understood, and loved. She truly made me feel like family, and took care of me and my little one so well. I did end up having to go to the hospital due to my babys positioning in the womb and a very long exhausting labor, but Justine was my rock throughout the whole process. She stayed up with me all night long laboring, and stayed with me the whole next day at the hospital until my son was born coaching me and encouraging me all throughout active labor. As sad as I was to have to go to the hospital, Id choose midwife care and Justine specifically a million times over. The intimate feeling you gain throughout every appointment during pregnancy gives so much more peace especially for first time mamas. She was always a text or phone call away for my million questions and my worrisome heart even after I gave birth as well. Love you Justine and THANK YOU for all youve done for me and my family.

I had both my a beautiful babies with Justine . She is the best physician I have ever had! She is caring and knowledgeable and always available for any questions about your pregnancy . She is an amazing coach during labor and just an all around wonderful woman! If you choose to go with her as your midwife it will absolutely bring going good things to your pregnancy!

I absolutely loved having Justine assist in my home birth. She allowed me to have great honest conversations while still respecting my thoughts and concerns. The more I got to know Justine the more our patient and midwife relationship grew stronger and having that was very important to me to having a successful birth. It was such a great change of pace having a midwife for my second pregnancy unlike having a OBGYN like my first. Justines office is also so comfortable and makes you feel at home. My husband and I couldnt say enough about Justine and we cant wait to have her along side our birth team for more home births.

My wife and I are absolutely over joyed with our experience with Justine and the Bakersfield Birth Center.

Initially, we started our prenatal care with a doctor in Bakersfield. During the pregnancy we started researching more and more about what to expect, and became concerned that the doctor we were seeing would not provide us the birth experience we truly wanted. We wanted to have a natural birth, and some Google research showed that statistically hospitals promote the use of interventions when they may not necessarily be indicated. Our original doctor gave us our due date, and then set it back one whole week to help us out. Our baby didnt end up delivering until 20 whole days after his newly modified due date. He was born naturally, with no c-section, and no complications. Had we stayed with the original doctor, we would have surely induced my wife. Just because he wanted to help us out.

Through our research, we found Justine, and set up an appointment to meet her at the Birth Center.

The Birth Center is the coziest medical practice I have ever been in. The building is full of cozy couches, candles, and beautiful art. It wasnt until 30 minutes into our consult with Justine that I started to recognize the medical equipment disguised by decorations. My wife and I both have anxiety when it comes to doctors offices and visits, but never felt that way at the center.

Justine herself is an incredible person. She is kind, reassuring, and went the extra mile to ensure that my wife could have the birth she truly wanted. From the beginning she made it very clear that as long as the baby was healthy, she would support my wife in the birth plan she had.

During our prenatal visits, Justine took extra care with my wifes doctor induced anxiety. She would even come to the appointments in scrubs specifically picked out for my wife. She was always calm, kind, and caring. Justines assistant, Bri, happens to be her daughter. She also is very kind and helpful.

During labor, Justines first priority was the health of mom and baby, with a close second being my wifes comfort. Justine coached her through probably 10 different positions including bathtub, shower, toilet, standing, laying down, and more.

My wifes labor was long, and it seemed we came to a point where we were not progressing as fast as we hoped. Justine made a recommendation to my wife that she try something that was very uncomfortable to her. Like all of Justines recommendations, she would explain the benefits, if there were any negatives (usually pain), and ultimately let my wife choose the route she wanted to go. My wife ultimately chose differently from that one recommendation, and Justine supported her choice. From the husband POV, it was very reassuring to me that my wife was in the best care with how Justine would interact with my wife. My wife ultimately ended up delivering our beautiful boy in the tub.

I had mentioned to Justine that I really wanted to be a part of the delivery. When it came time, Justine carefully coached me and verbally walked me through catching my son. Such a blessing and a beautiful memory that I get to take with me.

Throughout labor, Justine and Bri also made sure to check up on me. As we got later into the night, Bri brought me an iced coffee. Life saver! After delivery, Justine had everything ready for ME to take a hot shower. Justine and Bri took such great care of my wife, baby, and me.

Our post natal visits have been just as incredible. Justine really will go the extra mile to make sure her moms and babies are taken good care of.

The fee to go through the Birth Center is 110% worth what you pay for. After our experience, Im convinced there is no other way for my wife to receive such professional, kind, and loving care. You will not regret going with Justine.

My experience with Justine and Bri was everything I hoped for with my second birth. After a traumatic hospital birth with my first (shocker) I knew I wanted to go a different route. Justine was knowledgeable and supportive, and I never felt pressured into anything. I was able to have a beautiful home birth, and Justine was so helpful coaching me through the super fast and intense arrival of my beautiful daughter. Her words kept me calm and assured me that everything was going as it should. I will forever be grateful for her support in this redemptive experience!

Justine is experienced, calm, and extremely compassionate. I delivered my fifth baby with her at the birth center and felt that my baby and I were cared for well throughout my prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care. Even with a preexisting health issue, the treatment of which is outside of her scope, Justine took time to understand my condition and offer support. She consistently listened, remembered my concerns or questions between appointments, and answered questions via text or phone so quickly! I had a great delivery experience at the birth center and working with Justine.

Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers - strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength. ~Barbara Katz Rothman, PhD

I have had the honor of birthing four babies. The first was a scheduled c-section, the second and third were natural hospital births, and the fourth was with Justine and her team at the Bakersfield Birth Center.
My natural hospital births were fine, but I felt like something was missing. So many of the things I wanted to do in the hospital were challenged or I was told no without any consideration (for example, not wanting to birth the baby from my back), and I kept wondering if the natural birth I always wanted would ever be realized.

I believe natural birth is a gift and an opportunity to experience how strong you are right before youre thrust into the adventure of life with a newborn. Labor is hard work with a light at the end of the tunnel, but life with a newborn is a never ending marathon. When you do the work to birth your baby, and experience the sweet success of holding your baby in your arms, you know you worked hard and succeeded, and THAT knowledge will carry you through those sleepless nights and endless feedings.

When I moved to Bakersfield I was ecstatic to go to the Bakersfield Birth Center! Justine had assisted my sister in a home birth seven years ago, and I saw the beauty that came from her experience! When I walked through the doors of the birth center, I was greeted by a beautiful, peaceful atmosphere and Justines warmth and kindness. I looked forward to each visit, and was so thankful for Justines wisdom and counsel as we went through different decisions during our fourth pregnancy than we had with the others. My birth was an amazing, peaceful experience, and Justine and her team helped me enjoy my birth in a way I never had before! Birthing a baby with Justine and her team brought out the reality of the miracle of birthing children and how I was made to do this. I was equipped, empowered and emboldened as a mother by my experience at Bakersfield Birthing Center and I highly recommend any new and seasoned mothers to embark on this wonderful adventure with Justine her staff.

Update 2024: three years later, I had the privilege of birthing my fifth baby at the Bakersfield Birth Center! Justine brought the same amazing care, and her daughter Bree, who is training to be a midwife, was part of my birth team as well!
My two favorite things about Justine are that she takes time to get to know you, and she addresses challenges only if they come up. I have four other kids who sometimes came to my appointments, and Justine knew each of them by name. She took the time to listen to them and she always had kindness toward them (even when they were a little crazy). As for challenges, I had a c-section with my first birth, and Im now 43, so most providers would look at me and see a TOLAC, a geriatric pregnancy, and assume all the things that can go wrong because of these two facts. Justine saw me as a mama having a baby. When something came up during my regular appointments, we addressed it and moved forward. She gave me all the information I needed to make wise decisions for the birth of my baby based on my history, and I really appreciate her wisdom and experience. She never forced her choices on me, but gave me educated wisdom right when I needed it. I knew she would help me do what is best for me and my baby, and she never did any unnecessary interventions.
My birth went so quickly this time, being my fifth birth, and it was such a beautiful experience being able to push when I felt my contractions, not waiting on a machine or having a bunch of people telling me to push. This birth was by far the most beautiful and peaceful experience, and Im so thankful that Justine and Bree were there cheering me on!
If you desire to have a healthy birth where medical interventions are only used when absolutely necessary, I highly recommend choosing Justine and the Bakersfield Birth Center!

Justine is an amazing & caring individual. She has helped me with both of my pregnancies. During my first pregnancy I developed something called Cholestasis & had to be transferred to the hospital, but Justine was there to help along the way & even continued to support me throughout my postpartum journey. Despite birthing at a hospital, our whole pregnancy journey was spent with Justine & it went so smooth & so well we went to her for our second pregnancy.

The second time around, I was able to deliver a healthy happy boy at the birthing center. Justine & Bri are a great team & the whole process was smooth. She communicated well & answered all & every question we had. Anytime I had a concern, she was always a text/call away.

During birth, my son got stuck, something called shoulder dystocia. Justine was very knowledgeable in this & was able to get my baby out in under 2mins!

Needless to say, I will continue to birth any of my future babies under the care of Justine. She has shown countless times how much she truly cares and is there to support & empower mothers along the way.

I HIGHLY recommend Justine & Bri at the birthing center. Youll be in great care.

As a first time mom, there were so many things that I was nervous about and Justine really took the time to answer all of my questions even before I fully committed to being under her care.

I was anxious about the risks that could lead to a hospital transfer but everything went smoothly and the OB care itself was invaluable because Justine takes the time to listen, gets to have a personal relationship and understanding of you, and has a more holistic approach.

The birth center itself was calming and comfortable - so unlike a hospital, and I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you Justine!

Justine is so great about respecting your wants for welcoming your baby into the world. Such a different experience than the hospital where you feel out of control and people are telling you what to do. Its such a quiet and calm experience. There are a few hoops to jump through to get birth certificates and Social Security cards after the baby has arrived, but worth it for a beautiful birth experience.

Justine and Bri at Bakersfield Birth Center ..AMAZING
PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCE!
Justine is so knowledgeable and very passionate about midwifery and it really shines through, just by talking to her you can feel it. When I first called her I felt at ease knowing she was going to be guiding me through my first birth. Open to questions when I felt uncertain about what to do. Would hands down do it all over again if I knew I had this team by my side.
Sarah Amaral

What an absolutely amazing experience I had with Justine. She helped me to have a safe and special home birth experience. I am truly, from the bottom of my heart thankful for everything she did for my family and I throughout the entire process leading up to and after the birth. I cant express in words how much I appreciated having her with me on my journey. She genuinely loves her clients and the beautiful babies she helps bring into this world. I am Greatful for the bond and TRUST we formed. Thank you for helping me have the experience I've always really wanted after 4 other kids. #5 was definitely a special birth thanks to her.

I cant say enough about the BBC, midwife Justine, and her assistant Bri.
I had a VERY successful VBAC under their care. They were so incredibly supportive and kind during my whole journey with them. Not only is the center beautiful but so welcoming, equipped with toys to entertain your other children. During the birth, Justine and Bri remained incredibly calm and communicative which in turn made me feel so safe and relaxed, which I believe is one of the main reasons my birth was so successful. I highly recommend them to anyone trying to achieve and positive and empowering birth!!!

I was hesitant initially but wanted to go unmedicated at a birthing center this time around..I delivered here with Justine and had the most amazing experience she was very knowledgeable and made me feel so comfortable! Im so glad I decided to give birth here, now baby is almost 2 months happy and healthy! Definitely recommend to anyone considering a natural beautiful birthing experience.. she is the best in Bakersfield

I labored and delivered at the Bakersfield Birth Center and I felt safe, supported, well cared for, and empowered in birthing my baby. I was able to achieve a redemptive birth all thanks to Justine and I am so grateful for that life changing experience. Justines compassion, attentiveness, and care she provided me with during my entire pregnancy, labor and postpartum is truly something Ill never forget. If you want to be listened too and respected during your healthy pregnancy and labor, the hospital is the last place youll want to be. You won't regret choosing Midwife Justine!

Justine is doing what she is meant to do, midwifery is truly her calling. Knowledgeable and compassionate, she took her time to know me and my family. She empowered me to have an incredible birth. I had baby number 3 with her after two born at the hospital. She gave me far more nutritional guidance than my previous two OBs, not to mention the postnatal care and breast feeding support.
I had an irregular ultrasound and she took precautions and had me see a specialist.
I had planned to use her birth center and when i stayed home to long she made me feel comfortable and confident. There was nothing better than welcoming our third child into the world at home with the rest of the family there. I will always be so grateful to Justine and her girls. Thank you for taking all the care of all the mommas and babies.

Justine is a stellar midwife! Im so glad I went with her for my first birth. I had some fears going in to childbirth and knew I wanted to do it all natural and out of the hospital, as scary as it sounded. But Justine always made me feel so well taken care of and supported. She gives off the good mommy vibes and really cares about her patients. She is so passionate about the whole pregnancy and childbirth journey and really takes her time out to make sure youre on the same page as part of a team. I truly couldnt have had the birth I wanted without her, she is superwoman and made it all possible. I just loved working with her and look forward to doing so again with our next baby! Im so grateful to have had her in my pregnancy and birthing experience.

Justine is an awesome midwife! She was everything I could have hoped for throughout my first pregnancy and postpartum.

I am SO incredibly thankful for Justine and the Bakersfield Birth Center. I had 2 previous cesarean births and wanted to have a VBA2C. She was open, honest, communicative, supportive, informing, passionate and personable. She cared for me with the upmost respect and was a great support every step of the way. My husband and I both felt seen, heard and loved in this space.

The actual location and space is beautiful, comfortable and well equip. We felt safe and prepared for multiple scenarios. Laboring in the birth room and the tub was an amazing experience.

Knowing I have her support postpartum and with lactation is a huge bonus. I know I can talk to her whenever about anything.

She is truly a gifted midwife, a very special soul working in the most miraculous space, BIRTH!

Forever indebted to you!

Im so thankful for my experience at Bakersfield Birth Center. My baby and I were so loved! I felt safe and confident. Justine was there for me whenever I needed, and always communicated well! 100% recommend.

I love Justine and how she does her work! I had an amazing birth experience and I felt I was always getting taken care of the whole time. Shes always there when you need her anytime. She means a lot to me and my family! Not to mention this was my first pregnancy and I went natural all the way with so much support around me!

I have had the pleasure and honor of doula-ing for clients out of the Bakersfield birth center. I have watched Justine in action! And she is absolutely AMAZING!! She genuinely cares about each of her clients. She listens to their needs, respects them, supports them and guides them! I normally dont serve the Bakersfield area BUT when I hear a client say Justine is their midwife I literally JUMP ON BOARD because it is truly an honor to work in such a beautiful birth environment. Attending births out of the Birth center is exactly the balance my doula heart and soul I needs, especially after serving numerous hospital births where things dont go as natural and supportive as they should!

Thank you Justine, and Staff for all that you do!!

Justine was the best midwife I could ask for. I felt heard and understood from the very first prenatal appointment and she helped me all the way through to breastfeeding and healing. The birth center itself is beautiful and peaceful and the perfect place to have your dream labor.

I cannot say enough good things about Justine and the Birth Center. Justine is very knowledgeable and experienced. I originally started with an OB and knew that I wanted a natural birth out of hospital so I got some recommendations and decided to go to the Bakersfield Birth Center and I am so glad I did. Justine was there any time day or night when we had any questions or concerns (and being a first time mom, there were tons) and she was very informative and quick to respond. The center itself is beautiful, very clean, and a relaxing environment for appointments and for labor. I am so thankful for her support during my pregnancy and labor. Although she couldn't catch my sweet boy, she was still there for the birth of my son and it meant the world to have her there at the hospital even when we couldn't deliver at the center as planned. She was amazing from the very first appointment to the final PP visit. Highly recommend & if we are in Bakersfield for our 2nd baby she will be the only midwife we call!

If you take the time to research, you will discover that a natural birth is the safest way for the mother and child. Complications happen in a small percentage of births but, those statistics are not readily shared by your OBGYN. A great resource is The Business of Being Born. After a review of this film and other literature I told my wife that we would be having a natural birth for her safety and our sons. I reviewed the research with her and also had her watch the film. When she became aware of the truth it was an easy decision for her.

I ran a search on local birth centers and found the Bakersfield Birth Center. We met with Justine and after a positive meeting chose her facility. The day that labor began we were in constant communication with Justine and went through the stages in the comfort of our home. When the symptoms arose to leave, we went to the Bakersfield Birth Center. We were able to have our family and friends in the next room. We also had Justina from Loving Touch Photography in the room discreetly taking photos of the experience. We were in and out in less than six hours. The hours and days that you see and hear about are brought on by traditional medical intervention that is completely unnecessary for the majority of mothers. Overall it was a great experience and we plan on using the Birth Center for our next child.

If you take control of your situation and dont hand your decisions over to someone that is basing their actions on bad information your experience will be entirely positive. Justine was prepared to handle any situations that arose and if needed her facility was close enough to the local hospitals. She has the knowledge to identify any issues prior to them becoming emergencies. Trust your instincts if you feel red flags are waving with your doctor and speak with Justine.

I recommend her services to any friends that are pregnant and promote researching your options. You can read the same information available to doctors and come up with an educated decision. That is how the doctors get their experience. They read the material and use practical application while asking questions. All you need to do is read the material and ask your doctor questions. If your concerns go unanswered or are dismissed you might want to take that as a sign to find another doctor or just call Justine. On a side note, if you are having a boy I highly recommend watching An Elephant in the Hospital which can be found through a simple Google search and is free to watch. Again, simple research will open your eyes and help you make the best decision for you and your child. You only have one shot to get it right.

I am beyond amazed at the level of care that I received from Justine. I just delivered my third baby with her and her outstanding assistants, a successful VBAC. They provided me with a level of care that I never experienced during my previous (traumatic) hospital birthing experiences. Justine was there every step of the way making me feel comfortable, starting with my first prenatal appointment at just 5 weeks pregnant where she found my undetected thyroid issues - she recommended me the best endocrinologists in town to get my levels under control ASAP! I always looked forward to each prenatal visit because she truly listened to my concerns, validated my fears, and reassured me in my bodys ability of birthing my baby. At 41 weeks pregnant I was leaking amniotic fluid for over 24 hours with no sign of labor at the time, Justines provided me with several different next step options - on a whim, I made the decision to check myself into the hospital. The on call doctor took one look at me and immediately told me he would not allow me a trial of labor and would be preforming a c-section on me. I knew thats not what I wanted and at that exact time my body went into active labor, my husband called Justine and she arrived at the hospital in no time to advocate for us. With her by my side I had the confidence to make the decision to leave the hospital. I labored and delivered at the Bakersfield Birth Center and I felt safe, supported, well cared for, and empowered in birthing my baby. I was able to achieve a redemptive birth all thanks to Justine and I am so grateful for that life changing experience. Justines compassion, attentiveness, and care she provided me with during my entire pregnancy, labor and postpartum is truly something Ill never forget. If you want to be listened too and respected during your healthy pregnancy and labor, the hospital is the last place youll want to be. You won't regret choosing Midwife Justine!

Justine is one of the kindest, bubbliest, and most helpful people I know! I'm a young mother and was afraid of being judged but I NEVER got a hint of that from her. She made me feel empowered of my body, my baby, and my birth. She always replied to my messages when I had questions, recommended me amazing books, and even took pictures for me during the birth, which I didn't expect but am definitely thankful for. If you want to have a pregnancy and birth that's in your control, then I definitely recommend Justine as a midwife! God bless her!

If you are looking for a place to have options, feel free, open to personal discussions about anything without being judged; then this is the place! Justine has been there for our family since day one when I contacted her. Any question I ever had was answered and the support I desperately needed was given with expertise and non judgment. Up to the day I gave birth, I looked to her for answers on everything and she still gave me options to opt out or in on everything I had doubts about. She helped me when I felt the world was against me. I would highly recommend the birthing center!

Everyone who has went through her knows shes super respectful and she is never rude. Justine we all appreciate your work
Well deserved 5star I would have put 10 but thats not in this category -Keith

I just want to say thank you for everything Justine! I appreciate you so much! We had two of our babies with this wonderful women! :) -Alyssa

I've never met anyone as passionate about childbirth as Justine! She made me feel heard, cared for and deeply respected. My husband and I felt like my health and the health of our baby was Justine's top priority from our first appointment all the way through post-partum care. She is incredibly knowledgeable, confident and a loving human being. The birth center is the perfect balance between relaxing and professional. So grateful my sweet son was born here and guided into life in such caring company.

Justine is an excellent choice when choosing a midwife for delivery. She is a great choice whether youre a first-time parent or not. Our experience with the Bakersfield Birthing Center was par excellent. If you are looking for a relaxed and comfortable environment with highly trained and experienced midwife, consider Justine at the Bakersfield Birthing Center. Support your local midwife!

Justine is a warm and experienced midwife. She makes you and your baby feel supported and well cared for. She guided us to experience a beautiful and successful at home VBAC.

Our experience with Justine was nothing short of amazing! From the very beginning Justine made my husband and I feel like the priority and answered any questions we had at anytime. She was always available to us when we needed her. As a first time mom I was a little nervous and anxious of what the birth would hold but when the time came Justine made me feel safe, loved and empowered! Our son was born safe and sound at the birth center with Justine and her lovely assistants. Her knowledge and passion for midwifery is so apparent every time you see justine. What a blessing she is to anyone in this area who wants a calm and intimate birthing alternative experience to a hospital birth. Can't wait for justine to bring our future babies earthside! We love bakersfield birth center and we love Jusitne!

Our experience with Justine was nothing short of amazing! From the very beginning Justine made my husband and I feel like the priority and answered any questions we had at anytime. She was always available to us when we needed her. As a first time mom I was a little nervous and anxious of what the birth would hold but when the time came Justine made me feel safe, loved and empowered! Our son was born safe and sound at the birth center with Justine and her lovely assistants. Her knowledge and passion for midwifery is so apparent every time you see justine. What a blessing she is to anyone in this area who wants a calm and intimate birthing alternative experience to a hospital birth. Can't wait for justine to bring our future babies earthside! We love bakersfield birth center and we love Jusitne!

Justine is an excellent choice when choosing a midwife for delivery. She is a great choice whether youre a first-time parent or not. Our experience with the Bakersfield Birthing Center was par excellent. If you are looking for a relaxed and comfortable environment with highly trained and experienced midwife, consider Justine at the Bakersfield Birthing Center. Support your local midwife!

Justine is a warm and experienced midwife. She makes you and your baby feel supported and well cared for. She guided us to experience a beautiful and successful at home VBAC.

I've never met anyone as passionate about childbirth as Justine! She made me feel heard, cared for and deeply respected. My husband and I felt like my health and the health of our baby was Justine's top priority from our first appointment all the way through post-partum care. She is incredibly knowledgeable, confident and a loving human being. The birth center is the perfect balance between relaxing and professional. So grateful my sweet son was born here and guided into life in such caring company.

Everyone who has went through her knows shes super respectful and she is never rude. Justine we all appreciate your work
Well deserved 5star I would have put 10 but thats not in this category -Keith

I just want to say thank you for everything Justine! I appreciate you so much! We had two of our babies with this wonderful women! :) -Alyssa

If you are looking for a place to have options, feel free, open to personal discussions about anything without being judged; then this is the place! Justine has been there for our family since day one when I contacted her. Any question I ever had was answered and the support I desperately needed was given with expertise and non judgment. Up to the day I gave birth, I looked to her for answers on everything and she still gave me options to opt out or in on everything I had doubts about. She helped me when I felt the world was against me. I would highly recommend the birthing center!

Justine is one of the kindest, bubbliest, and most helpful people I know! I'm a young mother and was afraid of being judged but I NEVER got a hint of that from her. She made me feel empowered of my body, my baby, and my birth. She always replied to my messages when I had questions, recommended me amazing books, and even took pictures for me during the birth, which I didn't expect but am definitely thankful for. If you want to have a pregnancy and birth that's in your control, then I definitely recommend Justine as a midwife! God bless her!

I am beyond amazed at the level of care that I received from Justine. I just delivered my third baby with her and her outstanding assistants, a successful VBAC. They provided me with a level of care that I never experienced during my previous (traumatic) hospital birthing experiences. Justine was there every step of the way making me feel comfortable, starting with my first prenatal appointment at just 5 weeks pregnant where she found my undetected thyroid issues - she recommended me the best endocrinologists in town to get my levels under control ASAP! I always looked forward to each prenatal visit because she truly listened to my concerns, validated my fears, and reassured me in my bodys ability of birthing my baby. At 41 weeks pregnant I was leaking amniotic fluid for over 24 hours with no sign of labor at the time, Justines provided me with several different next step options - on a whim, I made the decision to check myself into the hospital. The on call doctor took one look at me and immediately told me he would not allow me a trial of labor and would be preforming a c-section on me. I knew thats not what I wanted and at that exact time my body went into active labor, my husband called Justine and she arrived at the hospital in no time to advocate for us. With her by my side I had the confidence to make the decision to leave the hospital. I labored and delivered at the Bakersfield Birth Center and I felt safe, supported, well cared for, and empowered in birthing my baby. I was able to achieve a redemptive birth all thanks to Justine and I am so grateful for that life changing experience. Justines compassion, attentiveness, and care she provided me with during my entire pregnancy, labor and postpartum is truly something Ill never forget. If you want to be listened too and respected during your healthy pregnancy and labor, the hospital is the last place youll want to be. You won't regret choosing Midwife Justine!

The level of care that Justine offers is absolutely outstanding and surpassed my previous experiences under the care of OBs with my other pregnancies.

Justine is extremely informed on evidence based practices and always encouraged shared decision making. My prenatal visits with her were on average an hour long...a vast difference from the 5 minute rushed OB appointments I was used to. My husband was very at ease with her, and trusted her knowledge. He wasn't on board with an out of hospital birth with baby 1 and 2. So the fact that he was 100% supportive and confident in Justine was huge.

During my home birth, Justine was hands off for the most part, but offered suggestions and performed medical tasks when needed. It was the happy medium of just letting me do my own thing, but knowing when assistance was needed. I am forever grateful for the extensive and thorough midwifery care that Justine provided. I WISH I Wallis have chosen this route with my first two deliveries!

I cannot say enough good things about Justine and the Birth Center. Justine is very knowledgeable and experienced. I originally started with an OB and knew that I wanted a natural birth out of hospital so I got some recommendations and decided to go to the Bakersfield Birth Center and I am so glad I did. Justine was there any time day or night when we had any questions or concerns (and being a first time mom, there were tons) and she was very informative and quick to respond. The center itself is beautiful, very clean, and a relaxing environment for appointments and for labor. I am so thankful for her support during my pregnancy and labor. Although she couldn't catch my sweet boy, she was still there for the birth of my son and it meant the world to have her there at the hospital even when we couldn't deliver at the center as planned. She was amazing from the very first appointment to the final PP visit. Highly recommend & if we are in Bakersfield for our 2nd baby she will be the only midwife we call!

If you take the time to research, you will discover that a natural birth is the safest way for the mother and child. Complications happen in a small percentage of births but, those statistics are not readily shared by your OBGYN. A great resource is The Business of Being Born. After a review of this film and other literature I told my wife that we would be having a natural birth for her safety and our sons. I reviewed the research with her and also had her watch the film. When she became aware of the truth it was an easy decision for her.

I ran a search on local birth centers and found the Bakersfield Birth Center. We met with Justine and after a positive meeting chose her facility. The day that labor began we were in constant communication with Justine and went through the stages in the comfort of our home. When the symptoms arose to leave, we went to the Bakersfield Birth Center. We were able to have our family and friends in the next room. We also had Justina from Loving Touch Photography in the room discreetly taking photos of the experience. We were in and out in less than six hours. The hours and days that you see and hear about are brought on by traditional medical intervention that is completely unnecessary for the majority of mothers. Overall it was a great experience and we plan on using the Birth Center for our next child.

If you take control of your situation and dont hand your decisions over to someone that is basing their actions on bad information your experience will be entirely positive. Justine was prepared to handle any situations that arose and if needed her facility was close enough to the local hospitals. She has the knowledge to identify any issues prior to them becoming emergencies. Trust your instincts if you feel red flags are waving with your doctor and speak with Justine.

I recommend her services to any friends that are pregnant and promote researching your options. You can read the same information available to doctors and come up with an educated decision. That is how the doctors get their experience. They read the material and use practical application while asking questions. All you need to do is read the material and ask your doctor questions. If your concerns go unanswered or are dismissed you might want to take that as a sign to find another doctor or just call Justine. On a side note, if you are having a boy I highly recommend watching An Elephant in the Hospital which can be found through a simple Google search and is free to watch. Again, simple research will open your eyes and help you make the best decision for you and your child. You only have one shot to get it right.

There are truly no words to express how completely amazing Justine at Bakersfield Birth Center is! She is an absolute gift. Justine was my midwife for prenatal care and my home birth in Oct. 2016. Her knowledge, nurturing nature, gentle confidence, and experience as both mother and midwife makes for a blessing of support during one of the most vulnerable times in a woman's life. I trust her judgement completely and was so comforted by her presence during my very quick labor and birth. Her support and expertise continued when my baby girl was a few months old in the form of lactation consulting services. My heart truly smiles when I think of her! I am immensely grateful for you, Justine!!

After my second pregnancy and birth being a home birth, I knew I wanted another natural calm birth for my third. However, as a surrogate, I compromised with the parents and we all agreed to a birth center. Little did I know, we cannot control what happens to our bodies as we go through pregnancy.

I ended up with marginal placenta previa at 19 weeks. Month after month I was reassured that this condition would resolve and I could have the vaginale birth I so desired. Every appointment Justine stood by my steadfast belief that a natural birth is what I wanted, even when the perinatologist told me I should just schedule a c-section at 37 weeks. Justine didn't just pass me off onto an OB- she looked at my history, my symptoms, and then stayed with me and supported me all the way up until 40+1 weeks when a final ultrasound and even a second opinion revealed that a c-section was indeed the only safe option.

My second SurroBaby came into the world via surgical birth at Mercy SW (with Justine's support the entire time)- completely different from my first SurroBaby. Though it was not the beautiful birth center birth I so desperately hoped for, I am thankful for Justine's steadfast help and no-nonsense approach.

After living in LA for 12 years and being exposed to different options for birthing practices, I returned home to start a family of my own. I knew I wanted a natural and holistic birth and searched for a midwife that would be able to give me that option. I found Justine and she had just opened the Bakersfield Birth Center. As this was my first child, I didn't know what to expect but Justine opened my eyes to a new world and held my hand through this beautiful journey. I spoke with other girlfriends who were also pregnant at the same time and I found that I was more informed about what was happening and going to happen during pregnancy. I felt so well cared for throughout my pregnancy and like Justine actually listened to my concerns. My birth didn't go exactly as I planned but Justine was still there and provided lactation support and postpartum care. She helped me through the new trials of being a mother and gave me reassuring advice as needed. If you want a personal birth experience with love, support, guidance and that is holistic, THIS is where you want to be. Justine Backhaus is so knowledgeable, loving and kind and you can tell she wholeheartedly LOVES what she does. I would highly recommend Justine Backhaus and the Bakersfield Birth Center for an amazing birth experience.

There are truly no words to express how completely amazing Justine at Bakersfield Birth Center is! She is an absolute gift. Justine was my midwife for prenatal care and my home birth in Oct. 2016. Her knowledge, nurturing nature, gentle confidence, and experience as both mother and midwife makes for a blessing of support during one of the most vulnerable times in a woman's life. I trust her judgement completely and was so comforted by her presence during my very quick labor and birth. Her support and expertise continued when my baby girl was a few months old in the form of lactation consulting services. My heart truly smiles when I think of her! I am immensely grateful for you, Justine!!

I wasn’t able to birth my baby here but I would 100% recommend Justine as a midwife and her Birth Center. She is sweet knowledgeable and cares about what mom wants.