Best Start Birth Center - San Diego Birth Center
Care is provided by Licensed, Board Certified Nurse-Midwives.

Come in today and see why
Best Start Birth Center is San Diego's Best.


Our Mission
Best Start Birth Center exists in order to improve the health and well being of mothers, babies, and their families. The birth center is organized to give women high quality choices, satisfying experiences, and healthy outcomes.

Best Start Birth Center

Support Services


Patricia Deignan, M.S.W. 
I started out teaching English as a second language to people from all over the world in private and public schools. Getting to know my students inspired me to travel around the world to places like Mexico, Vietnam, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Switzerland etc… Eventually, I decided to return to school to pursue a career in counseling. With a Masters in Social Work and an emphasis on child, youth and families, I continued my profession counseling varied populations ranging from probationers, ethnically diverse families, and at risk youth to children who were developmentally delayed. I have worked in multiple settings such as hospitals, clinics, school sites, and private practices. Currently, I work part-time in a private practice as well as my own practice and host a monthly group for Family Matters called "Considering Parenting." As well, I have a foster care license and work with foster care children at a group home.
Please contact me at (619) 723-9244 or by email at: counseling4you@netzero.com
2496 E Street # 2F San Diego, CA 92102


Peggy Reynolds-Olsen, Holistic Health Practitioner and Registered Polarity Therapist 
Peggy Reynolds-Olsen has been practicing in the healing arts with in the San Diego area for the past 13 years working with infants, children and adults. She specializes in early developmental trauma, attachment and bonding issues. She integrates Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and Pre-and Perinatal Psychology to facilitate the process of trauma resolution for individuals as well as family dynamics. She is a licensed Holistic Health Practitioner and Registered Craniosacral Therapist RCST® and is an Approved teacher with the Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America. Peggy offers a two year foundation training in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. She is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner SEP with the Foundation for Human Enrichment. Peggy has completed Ray Castellino's prenatal and birth therapy training. Peggy is a certified Lactation Educator and Counselor. She is the founder and Director of the Hridaya Family Healing Center where she supports families in healing birth trauma and educates parents on this subject as well. Peggy is a certified parent educator with the International Network for Children and Families and offer classes locally. Peggy has offices in Hillcrest and Encinitas. She can be reached at 760-809-7081 www.peggyolsen.com 


Carrie Grange Isaacson, LCSW
Founder of Baby Maven
I have been working with families since 1994. I received a BA with Honors and Distinction from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I went on to receive an MSW from the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York. I currently hold a social work license to practice in New York and California. My work is informed not only by years of training and clinical experience but most importantly by being a mother myself.
I have worked with children and families in numerous settings providing individual, group and family therapy as well as teaching parenting skills for biological, foster and adoptive parents. I have also conducted trainings for other mental health and legal professionals on attachment, trauma and child development. In 2002 I was appointed as an Adjunct Lecturer at Columbia University. I currently offer “Bringing Baby Home” workshops, which is a research based program for new parents, around the country. I enjoy working with diverse populations and am passionate about helping new families. I focus my practice on counseling couples to become a resilient parenting team. “With so much emphasis on being the best mothers and fathers we can be, we lose track of the importance of being good partners. In twelve hours, the Bringing Baby Home Program helps couples build and maintain a secure parenting team that lasts a lifetime.” More information can be found by visiting www.babymaven.org


Danielle DeLuca-Mendoza, M.A. in Counseling
Labor Doula, Birthing from Within Childbirth Education Mentor
Individual & Group Counseling, Labor Doula Care, “Birthing from Within” Childbirth Preparation Mentor, and “Soothing Mama” After-birth Bundles for Mom

Counseling Services: As a Counselor, I provide Individual and Group Support. I enjoy working with women, teens, and families; and specialize in working with women and teens through their pregnancy and postpartum. I work in collaboration with the client to provide emotional support by addressing stresses; lifestyle issues such as drug abuse or violence; as well as previous traumas that my affect birth and parenting. I offer Individual Counseling Sessions, Teen Support, Belly2Belly Pregnancy Support Group, Mothering Circle Postpartum Support Group, and Postpartum Counseling Home Visits. 
Labor Doula Care: Studies have shown that the benefits of having a labor doula include shorter labor, reduction in medical interventions, and higher satisfaction with the birth experience. As a doula, I will meet with you several times before your birth, be available for questions/concerns, be with you throughout the birth, and visit your new family at your home.
Birthing from Within Childbirth Preparation Classes: BFW classes are unlike any other childbirth education class because the essence of childbirth preparation is self-discovery, not assimilating obstetric information. BFW mentors believe that childbirth is a profound rite of passage, and the purpose is to prepare mothers to birth in awareness. Class includes creating your birth space, building a pain-coping mindset through practice, how to “lose it” in labor, knowing your options & informed consent, special time for Birth Partners, welcoming your new baby, as well as other creative approaches for your preparation.  5-Week Series classes are offered on-going at Premium Birth Services, 2801 Fourth Ave, San Diego. 
www.birthingfromwithin.com
& www.premiumbirthservices.com

“Soothing Mama” Bundles:  A woman returns from her birth journey as a Mother, and a Soothing Mama Bundle is a great way to welcome her with honor.  Soothing Mama Bundles are filled with natural, organic, and handcrafted items that will aid in mom’s healing; as well as other necessary items designed for mom for after the hard work of childbirth.  Some Soothing Mama items include organic sitz bath herbal bags, organic nursing tea, Wishgarden nipple & perineal salve, squeeze bottle, witch hazel wipes, relief recipes for mama, and much much more.  Soothing Mama Bundles come in three sizes: the Bundle, the Mini Bundle, and the Tiny Bundle.  Bundles can always be customized and designed to meet Mom’s need and desire.  Soothing Mama is here to make life a little bit easier for mom & her family and so orders can either be picked up or delivered. 
Blessings on your birth journey.

www.soothingmama.com

619.886.9910, wombwisdom@hotmail.com 


Caralyn Henry, M.A, Certified Reiki Practitioner and Private Wellness Practitioner
I am the mother of two beautiful children. My life’s work has been dedicated to the growth of all children and their families. I started out working with children and teens with severe emotional needs. This was powerful work that taught me the importance of listening closely and being present for children. It demonstrated the truth that all of us are trying to figure out the best way to be there for our children and that we are truly human in the process. I spent the next 18 years teaching children and young adults seeking to work with children. I learned the power of experience and the critical need for connection between children and adults. Relationship is the cornerstone in classrooms, families and well, life. I came across a book during this time called Evolution’s End by Joseph Chilton Pearce. This book explored the connections between mother and child and the ways in which our children map the world and learn. I was inspired and headed off to my master’s program to learn more. I focused exclusively on relationship with parents in schools and how to collaborate for the well-being of children. I learned so much more. I developed skills in facilitating groups for parents and teachers designed to co-create powerful environments for learning in which children, parents and teachers were honored. This learning led to me to mentoring and coaching young adults seeking to grow as teachers of children and to facilitating attachment parenting groups. Ultimately, I returned to school to pursue licensure as an MFT but something quite amazing happened…I began my training in Reiki, an energy healing modality. This quite literally changed my life! Now, I offer energy healing and support to the terminally ill at San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care, provide private treatment for any who seek it and would love to support pregnant moms in going through their pregnancy experiencing the relaxing and comforting effects of this healing energy.
I also offer individual coaching sessions and Writing for Wellness groups. To learn more about these services, please visit www.caralynhelpingothers.com


Alecia Routt, Registered Dietitian
As a Registered Dietitian, Alecia knows the importance of eating well prenatally, while pregnant and after your little one has arrived. 
She stays current by attending nutrition conferences including programs for Gestational Diabetes, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and the Scripps Integrative Medicine’s symposium. She belongs to the professional practice groups for Weight Management and Nutrition in Complementary Care, which contribute to up to date reading of excellent peer reviewed publications. Alecia meets patients at her office in La Jolla, by phone and also in patient’s medical practitioner’s office if more convenient.
Nutrition Concerns May Include:
• Healthy Nutrition and Pregnancy
• Healthy Weight 
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Gestational Diabetes and Diabetes

Address: 737 Pearl Street, Suite 201
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (619) 980-2117 
Email: aleciard@hotmail.com 
Website Link: www.sandiego-dietitian.com 

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Best Start Birth Center | 3343 4th Avenue  San Diego, CA 92103 MAP  National City Clinic
Phone: 619-299-0840 or 1-800-479-BABY   Fax: 619-299-0892
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