Reviews of Sierra Childbirth Institute

Maria Chalko
03:21 30 Jan 25
My brain is full and my excitement is high ! The accelerated classes were so worth the time and money. The founder of the school and instructor Janine is so incredibly experienced and knowledgeable I wish I could mind meld with her. Planning on taking more classes!
Chalese Clampitt
21:43 11 Nov 24
This is an amazing doula program. I learned so much. Janine is highly knowledgeable and very caring. She delivered the information flawlessly and always spent time answering any questions. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking to become a birth doula.
Melanie Jeffs
21:07 01 Jul 24
I loved doing the doula training with Janine! She is an excellent teacher!
Anna Durdant-Hollamby
00:23 09 Jun 24
Absolutely loved the birth doula training that I did with SCI and the wonderful Janine. The space itself is so warm, inviting and welcoming and Janine and her co-facilitator brought so much experience, wisdom and insight into the classes. I am a recent Sacramento transplant and SCI was one of the first places that I felt truly at home. The material was engaging and very well paced over the few days. I also really appreciated the inclusivity and intentionality of the language and the connections with the other lovely participants with whom did the training. It was a 10/10 experience and I very much hope/plan to do more training with them in the future. I wholeheartedly recommend SCI to anyone who wants to learn about becoming a doula, parent-educator, parent themselves or general birth practitioner. Also these are amazing classes for anyone who wants to engage with life and its transitions esp around pregnancy and birth more deeply. Thank you Janine, Brooklyn and SCI practitioners/colleagues.
Cassie Ray
11:59 08 Jun 24
Sierra Childbirth was such an impactful part of my beginning journey as a doula. I loved all of the personal experience and hands on learning I received.
Serene DeCamp
23:51 07 Jun 24
SCI delivered a wonderful, comprehensive birth doula workshop for myself and several others a few years back. I highly recommend this institute upon starting your doula journey!
Tonya Bridges
22:13 07 Jun 24
Sierra Childbirth Institute has fantastic teachers and community for aspiring birth workers. They have provided excellent classes, mentorship and programs which have greatly boosted my Doula skills!
Elizabeth Joy
20:23 10 Apr 24
Everything done at Sierra Childbirth Institute is done with excellence. The amount of experience and expertise Janine has is evident in her trainings (I've done three now) and she is great with communication as well. Highly recommend.
AMY W

This class goes beyond the curriculum, really diving into the heart of the work. Janine is a sage! Her experience deepens this training in a way that goes beyond the book & makes for a valuable one of a kind learning environment. I left feeling empowered as an individual, a mother, friend, partner and doula. Janine, you are an expert gardener, taking time to till the soil, & plant within us the seeds to create abundant growth in the garden of birthing support. I am grateful for you showing up to do this work. May I carry the torch & share it with my clients and community.

Leslie R

As a mom of 12 birth children, I have been a practicing doula since 2004. I came to Janine’s classes to get my certification education for DONA. I found Janine to be both inspiring and articulate as an instructor. It does not matter if you are new to child birth or a seasoned birth worker, her expertise shines through her teaching and you will NOT go away wanting. The information gained from this weekend was invaluable. I am so full from my class! Janine Inspired my passion to get back to the work of supporting women in their journey to motherhood! I look forward to future classes through Sierra Childbirth Institute. Thank you, Janine!

Bonnie J

I am feeling so moved and inspired by the Childbirth and Birth Doula classes I just completed with Janine last weekend. I feel so equipped and also genuinely cared for. Janine not only was a font of wisdom and experience but also facilitated some incredible community time of connection and discussion. She is an attuned teacher and facilitator and the breadth and depth of material she covers is truly impressive. Honestly I felt like the luckiest doula trainee on the planet to sit at her feet and hear her stories! Yet she is totally humble and genuine! Spending the weekend with these wonderful women was so good for my soul.

CATALINE V

Janine is a thoughtful and thorough teacher. This training definitely exceeded my expectations and it is because of Janine’s openness, honesty and focus. I am forever grateful.

LISA C

Janine’s wealth of information and kind heart surround you in warmth from the moment you enter this space. Each question and lesson is met with her curious, caring gaze and wrapped in love as she passes on her wisdom. Walking into her classroom was coming home for me. It was a dream realized and embraced by all the beautiful energy of the women that were all on this journey together. I am so thankful for this class, for the opportunity to learn and for the amazing woman that guided our learning. Thank you Janine for sharing your heart with us. I would recommend this program over and over again!!!

LUX V

I got so much more out of my DONA training than I expected to! Already planning my next one. Janine is an expert in the field, still passionate after decades, respectful of student time and input and has an amazing energy about her. I can’t recommend Sierra Childbirth Institute highly enough.

Participant at June 2021 Birth Doula workshop

Janine’s instruction was given in a sensitive, beautiful, but very realistic way that showed care and understanding of us, the participants in the workshop, as well as mothers and partners, birth professionals -medical and non medical- and colleagues she has worked with. I feel like the tone of the workshop made me more equipped to bring that kind of understanding to my work as a doula.

Participant at June 2021 Birth Doula workshop

This was an outstanding workshop. It provided realistic, inspirational, and up-to-date information. Learning in workshop and having access to research based resources has given me confidence that I can offer mothers and their partners education and tools that can allow them to make the best choices. Workshop content was delivered in a way that encouraged thoughtful, in depth questions and discussion – real workshopping happened here!