Meet Our Team of Educators, Experts, Care Providers, Cheerleaders, and Baby Enthusiasts!
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![Molly Brannigan]()
Molly Brannigan
Childbirth Educator, Lactation Consultant
What I love about my work: I love to see parents and babies learn to love each other
Fun fact: I totally dig picture books featuring alligators wearing human clothes
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![Anna Mahony]()
Anna Mahony
Childbirth Educator, Doula
What I love about my work: It is a total joy to cheer folks on during the beautiful and vulnerable transition to parenthood
Fun fact: Gardening is great, but weeding is the best!
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Mirai Hutheesing
Childbirth Educator, Doula
What I love about my work: I’ve always been passionate about birth stories, and I love witnessing how people surprise themselves with their own strength and creativity as they navigate this tender chapter of life
Fun fact: I love crafting and needlework of all kinds, and often unwind by knitting up a berry or veggie-shaped baby hat!
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![Abby Herzberg]()
Abby Herzberg
Childbirth Educator, Doula
What I love about my work: Being trusted to accompany someone during the transformative experience of birth is a gift. I love witnessing how each birth unfolds and helping people feel power, connection, and joy on their journey
Fun fact: Jumping in cold mountain lakes is where I feel most free!
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![Selene Wung Kaye]()
Selene Wung Kaye
Postpartum Doula, Newborn Care Educator
What I love about my work: I love showering new mamas and birthing parents with tenderness
Fun fact: I sort M&Ms by color before eating them
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![Nicky Pariser]()
Nicky Pariser
Postpartum Doula, Newborn Care Educator
What I love about my work: I have the privilege of meeting and caring for people at their most honest, real, and vulnerable. I’m passionate about helping families imagine a more expansive vision of the perinatal period and supporting parents in finding approaches that feel grounded, authentic, and right for their unique family
Fun Fact: Born and raised in Canada, I bring my own maple syrup to brunch
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![Emma Reyes]()
Emma Reyes
Childbirth Educator, Doula
What I love about my work: Seeing the birthing people I work with find their power, and the looks on their faces when they realize they’ve done it - there’s nothing like that face
Fun fact: I used to work as a costume maker and made Johnny Depp’s hat in pirates of the Caribbean
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![Katie Seifert]()
Katie Seifert
Childbirth Educator, Doula
What I love about my work: I believe that the way we enter this world and carry life into this world directly informs our capacity for change and progress later in life. I am committed to supporting the transformative power of reproductive experiences
Fun fact: I like miniature things! Tiny cups, little spoons, funny figurines - all brings me joy!
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![Randi Johnson]()
Randi Johnson
Child Development Specialist, Lactation, Sleep, and Parenting Consultant
What I love about my work: I love helping parents understand the what and why so that they can find the how, that works best for their family. I am deeply passionate about teaching babies and children how to regulate and empowering parents to parent with Intention
Fun Fact: I could swim before I could walk, and I have hiked to over 150 waterfalls
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Rose Phelan
Infant Massage Therapist, Lactation Consultant
What I love about my work: I love fostering the deep connection between parents and babies: being present when babies are communicating (feeding, body movement, facial expressions, crying, etc!) is an opportunity to support this amazing relationship. Babies are incredible beings!
Fun fact: I love swimming in rivers, playing pinball, and root beer floats
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![Sucheeta Merchant]()
Sucheeta Merchant
Pediatric Physical Therapist, Educator
What I love about my work: I get to play with cute babies all day!
Fun Fact: I have an identical twin sister 👯
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![Andrew Gordon-Kirsch]()
Andrew Gordon-Kirsch
Organizational Psychologist & Group Facilitator
What I love about my work: I love to hold space for dads to navigate challenges, celebrate triumphs, and learn from one another's experiences
Fun fact: My go-to dinner is "Nana noodles": pasta shells with cottage cheese and peanuts, a concoction my grandma often made for me
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![Jennifer Subasic-Marks]()
Jennifer Subasic-Marks
Educator and Group Facilitator
What I love about my work: I deeply value being able to help create this opportunity for other moms and families. It's so wonderful that these connections last for such a long time
Fun Fact: I LOVE swimming at The Plunge in Point Richmond
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![Meg Elliott]()
Meg Elliott
Group Facilitator
What I love about my work: I love hearing about continued connections well past the last session of our groups, as babies get older
Fun fact: I like snaggletooth cats!
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![Azuka Nwigwe]()
Azuka Nwigwe PT, DPT
Orthopedic Physical Therapist
What I love about my work: I love helping people unlock their body’s full potential by providing movement solutions that support healing, strength, and long-term wellness
Fun Fact: It makes me happy to think that the sun is always shining, even when we can't see it—it’s so symbolic!
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![Kathy Woo, L.Ac.]()
Kathy Woo, L.Ac.
Acupuncturist, Herbalist, Hypnotherapist
What I love about my work: I love helping the people I work with to trust & feel good in their bodies
Fun fact: I love it when I find a tiny baby-sized segment in my tangerine
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![Gabby Theobald-Anderson]()
Gabby Theobald-Anderson
Therapist (Perinatal Mental Health Certified)
What I love about my work: Seeing families reflect back on how far they've come, find more ease in parenting and their everyday lives, and discover joy around the new person they've become in parenthood!
Fun fact: I'm my happiest in a hammock under the redwoods with a book and a glass of wine.
Our Vision
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We Believe:
You know how to give birth, and your baby knows how to be born
Birth can be a source of pride and power
Every parent deserves to experience a safe and empowered birth
Every parent deserves trusted, kind, knowledgeable support
Being in community makes parenting more satisfying and joyful
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We Aim:
To give you the tools to birth your baby safely, with joy and confidence
To provide evidence-based, non-biased information
To be inclusive and respectful of all people and families
To build community between families
To prepare families for the ups and downs of new parenthood
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We Offer:
Respect for your vision
Evidence-based education with experienced educators
Information on local birthing practices & protocols
Heart-centered, compassionate support
Connections to community resources
Collaboration with you and your family
Our Space
Welcome to our bright, spacious, and warm office! Loving Arms has hosted classes and baby/parent meetups in many locations over the years, and this one is our favorite yet. We’re so grateful to be able to offer our families a clean, quiet neighborhood with plentiful free parking, cozy indoor seating for parents and babes, and a comfortable, private deck for when the weather is nice.
Our space is also available to rent for your workshop, class, meeting, or community event: Take a look at the details, and email info@lovingarmschildbirthservices.com.
Commonly Asked Questions
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We often hear this question, and Loving Arms alumni have answered with a resounding YES! Our independent perspective combines evidence-based info, knowledge of hospital protocols, and tips from experienced local birth workers & educators. Our goal is always to give you the information you need to advocate for yourself, and make choices that feel right for you, your baby, and your experience.
Our classes are different from hospital classes in very important ways:
We do a deep dive into preparing for the mental, emotional, and physical work of birth; most hospital classes focus on just the stages of labor.
You’ll get lots of hands-on practice in comfort measures, labor positions, breathing techniques, birth advocacy, and more.
We include tips from experienced local birth workers & educators, whose insight can help you smoothly navigate both laboring at home and hospital protocols.
And it’s not just about the education! Our classes create opportunities for parents to form meaningful, lasting connections with each other. Loving Arms alumni have gone on to meet weekly after their babies are born, text each other for midnight feeding camaraderie, meet up for holidays, do nanny shares together, etc! We believe in The Village!
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Many insurance plans cover our classes. We can provide a superbill if needed - just let us know. Depending on your plan, many people are eligible for reimbursement in part or in full for the following classes through their insurance plans:
Childbirth Preparation
CPR/Child Safety
Breast/Chestfeeding
Baby care
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Compare our different classes - including fees and hours - with this handy overview.
If you still have questions, please send us a note: we’re happy to provide recommendations based on your specific needs and goals.
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Choose a class that ends close to your due date, but ideally finishing by the time you are 37-38 weeks pregnant. The six week series has a rolling start of once every month. If you don’t see a class that works for your due date, our classes are full. Send an email with your due date to be placed on the waiting list.
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If you cancel with at least two weeks advance notice, we will issue a refund, minus a non-refundable deposit of 25%. If we can fill your spot, we will issue a refund less credit card fees. If you cancel with less than two weeks advance notice and we are unable to fill your spot, we are unable to issue a full refund.
Once the class has started, no refunds will be issued.
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All our classes are held in person at our cozy office in Emeryville. Our classroom has great ventilation and air purifiers. We follow the guidelines of local Alameda County Health authorities with regards to masking and distancing. Masks are welcome, but no longer requIred.
If you feel ill, please stay home and contact your instructor to get caught up on what you missed that day!
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It is cozy, and yes, you sure can! For info, photos, fees, and scheduling, visit our classroom rental page.