Sacramento area pregnancy and birth resources
The greater Sacramento area is large and filled with wonderful resources for pregnant women, but it can be hard to find all of them in one place. When I was pregnant I found it incredibly stressful to search for the best midwives, chiropractors, fitness classes, and doulas- so I put it all in one place for you! I hope this list helps you find professionals that help you have a better pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Each title has a link for your convenience!
Homebirth midwives
A simple Google search will reveal a myriad of home birth midwives in the greater Sacramento area. Below are two I highly recommend you start looking into when you begin your search. If neither seems like a good fit for you- keep looking! I strongly believe a midwife you connect with will help you have a better birth. If I were to get pregnant again, I would interview the first two because of their amazing reputation.
Run by Shelton Livington, rising tide midwifery is a boon to the Sacramento area. I have only heard great things about Shelton and the work she is doing. In my personal experience, she has been incredibly kind and easy to communicate with. If you’re looking to find a homebirth midwife I would certainly connect with her first!
Birthsteam is a collective of midwives in the Sacramento Area providing homebirth services. They offer a unique payment plan that extends beyond birth. They would be a great resource for anyone considering a homebirth who has a financial barrier. In my personal experience with them, they have been incredibly kind and responsive.
Birth centers
There are a few birth centers in the Sacramento area but I wanted to highlight two that I think are worth looking into. I know that researching care providers can be stressful so I want to make your search easier by highlighting what I consider to be the best two in the area.
The birth center is run by a certified nurse midwife who has been running the practice for over 20 years. She is highly knowledgeable and provides a doula and nurse during your birth. This birth center is a great option for women who want an unmedicated water birth. The birth center accepts certain medi-cal plans.
Located in Rocklin, The California birth center has an amazing reputation that proceeds them. They started accepting Kaiser insurance recently and are a great resource for Kaiser insurance holders who want an out-of-hospital birth!
Best hospitals
Sacramento is not known for a lack of hospitals. There are most likely up to three within 20 minutes from where you live. If you’ve been here for a while you’ll know I talk a lot about how not all hospitals or midwives are created equal. If you’re looking for the best hospitals to give birth, here is where I would start.
If you’re considering a hospital birth but desire a more holistic experience Sutter Davis is a wonderful resource in our area. They offer water birth, and certified nurse midwife support, and boast a record-low 11% c-section rate! Many people travel to Davis to experience the wonderful care at Sutter Davis. I highly recommend touring their hospital if you are planning a hospital birth.
UC Davis, while more medically minded than Sutter Davis, may be for you. UC Davis is very VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) friendly. They also offer nitrous oxide for women who want a less invasive form of pain management. UC Davis also has a level 4 NICU, the highest level of medical support you could ask for your little one! If you know you have a high-risk pregnancy or baby who will need extra help this would be a great place to give birth. While this hospital is wonderful compared to others in the area, last that I checked they had a higher-than-average C-section rate. If avoiding a first-time cesarean is important to you, I’d head to Sutter Davis.
Doulas
There are a plethora of Doulas in the Sacramento area to choose from. As with midwives, I highly recommend you find one that you connect with that speaks to you. Below are the two I would start with.
Fit To Birth
We offer birth doula support here at Fit To Birth and would love to connect with you about your birth! We would be a great fit for Christian women who are looking for a faith-based doula.
So Zen is a highly recommended birth doula in the Sacramento area! She has been serving for several years, she even offers mentor support to other doulas.
Birth Photographer
When you’re capturing an experience as intimate as birth-it’s worth vetting your photographer! Here are two I’d connect with in a future pregnancy.
Alicia is an incredibly kind individual who would be wonderful birth support for you! She offers doula services as well as birth, newborn, and family photography. Her artistic vision is unique and warm. Whether you are looking for a birth photographer or a doula, Alicia would be a great resource for you.
Rebeca offers beautifully intimate maternity, birth, and newborn photography in the greater Sacramento area. I haven’t spoken with Rebeca personally but her portfolio speaks for itself!
Chiropractors
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can create space for baby and help them get into a better position. The Webster technique is a pregnancy-safe form of care that has been proven to decrease labor time and decrease the use of pain medication during birth.
Elevation Health Chiropractors
Located in Elk Grove, Elevation Health is a great option for chiropractic care. I used them during my pregnancy and highly recommend them!
Was this Sacramento pregnancy guide helpful? I’d love to create more guides for pregnant women to include more categories like lactation consultants, fitness classes, and support groups. If you are interested in more of this content let me know! You can connect with me via Instagram @fittobirth or shoot me an email fit2birth@gmail.com.
