I found Labor of Love by doing some of my own research online. And thank God I did! My doula,…read moreKaren, was my rock throughout my labor and was 100,000 percent amazing--I'll definitely be working with her for my second! A little backstory: I was overwhelmed and so nervous about finding "the one" person to be a part of the most important event of my life. After doing my research and reading through all these bios, I honestly was left feeling overwhelmed, especially knowing how indecisive I can be. I knew I just had to trust my intuition and my gut on this one! After looking at Karen's bio on their website, I had such a good feeling. Staci (the owner), who was super friendly and professional, helped me get connected with Karen, and I booked an interview right away! Karen was so sweet and asked me about my pregnancy experience so far. We discussed how I wanted my birth to go and any concerns I had. There wasn't any pressure to hire her, and it just felt like she was already invested in me, like I was already family. I even had her video chat with my husband to make sure we both felt comfortable and vibed well together--and we sure did! Overall, Karen ended up being the perfect balance of knowledge, experience, and professionalism. It was the most perfect amount of care I could have asked for. She was also such an advocate for my birth plan to work out. Before, during, and after my labor and birth, she was always naturally in tune with what I needed. She was never overbearing, worked so well with my husband, and gave him space to be a part of my support team as well. I am so grateful to have come across Labor of Love

The business owner is quite the opposite of the type of person any vulnerable new mom should have…read moreto work with. My experience with Labor of Love was almost two years ago now but continues to upset me when thinking back on my experience. We hired Lauren as our doula, who made it clear she expected us to go far past my due date as a first time mom. While it's possible for that to happen, it didn't in my case. At 39 weeks and at 5am while in active labor and getting ready to head to the hospital, she let us know she had Covid. Her backup was Karen, who I wish we hired to begin with as she is far more caring and professional. Though unfortunately our experience still fell short and we ultimately delivered without Karen present. We were left feeling like we invested a lot of emotion and money into this process with ultimately no help. Staci has been incredibly rude to us since then and even revoked our access to watch her training videos, sending me a link to pay her once again when wanting to rewatch for our now second baby on the way. Karen herself even recommended we ask for a partial refund due to our experience, but Staci lacks the professionalism and courtesy to her clients. Truly mindblowing that she revoked access to the training videos after we had already paid for them. I would stay far away and recommend a more experienced and caring doula group.

Melina is so special to me. We were introduced through a family friend and I was incredibly nervous…read moreto build a trusted team for the birth of my first child. She felt so familiar and friendly when we first met, that my trust issues were not even a factor when it came to choosing her as our doula. She gave me so many helpful tools during pregnancy and asked all the right questions. She was always welcoming and available for communication at any time and even stayed in touch on her own as we waited for the little guy to come. She was present for the entire duration of my planned home birth and took control when it came to communicating my midwife and supporting my partner. She was completely in her element as we chose to transition to the hospital. I felt completely safe in her hands while she advocated for me in the hospital. Melina went above and beyond the entire time we had together and I would trust her to do it again, whether at home or in the hospital. Thank you Melina.

If I can give Melina a million stars I would. She is very thoughtful and goes above and beyond in…read moreher service. I hired Melina for doula service for the birth of my 2nd child. She is nominally priced and is the best person to have by your side at such a vulnerable moment in life!

I had a fantastic experience with my doula, Jaymie! She is very knowledgeable about physiological…read morebirth. If you find yourself to be on the crunchy side, she'll be right up your alley! I felt supported during my pregnancy and labor and my husband appreciated the extra support as well. She helped me to advocate for myself and to feel empowered to have a natural, intervention-free birth. I hired her when I was 36 weeks and wish I would have done so much earlier in my pregnancy. Kaiser covered the doula service if I gave birth at a Kaiser hospital, so that was awesome! She took care of all of the billing with Kaiser, so that also was very convenient. If I have any more babies, I'll make sure Jaymie is by my side!

Working with Jaymie during my pregnancy and delivery was…read moreone of the best decisions I made. She was incredibly supportive when I was diagnosed with cholestasis, helping me feel informed, encouraged, and as ready as a first-time mom can feel. During labor and delivery, she was a calm, reassuring presence every step of the way. Even though my birth plan didn't go how I had hoped and ultimately resulted in a cesarean, I am so grateful she was there to reassure me that whatever decisions I needed to make in the moment were okay. I truly can't imagine my pregnancy and delivery without her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for compassionate, knowledgeable doula support.

It is our pleasure to recommend Edilia, who cared for our son, Liam, as his night nurse. From the…read morevery first day, Edilia gave us a tremendous sense of confidence and reassurance during such an important and demanding time for our family. Edilia was consistently professional, knowledgeable, punctual, dependable, communicative, and supportive. Her experience caring for newborns was evident in the way she handled Liam and responded to his needs. She was attentive, patient, and calm, and we always felt completely comfortable knowing that he was in capable hands overnight. What stood out to us most, however, was how genuinely caring Edilia was. Her care never felt like she was simply performing a job because we had hired her. From day one, she formed a real connection with Liam and treated him with warmth, tenderness, and affection. As parents, it meant a great deal to see that the person caring for our little one was truly invested in his comfort, safety, and well-being. Edilia's support also made a very real difference in our family's day-to-day life. We already have an 8-year-old son, and while welcoming a newborn was incredibly special, we were also navigating the newborn stage all over again while continuing to be present for our older son. School, baseball, work, and the normal responsibilities of family life did not stop simply because we had a newborn at home. We were fortunate to have Edilia care for Liam five nights a week. She was always prompt and communicative about scheduling, which gave us consistency we could truly depend on. Being able to get meaningful rest overnight allowed us to wake up with the energy to care for Liam while also being present for our older son--getting him ready for school, keeping up with baseball, and maintaining the routines that were important to him. Her overnight care was especially important for mom's postpartum recovery. Sleep is so critical during those first days and weeks after giving birth, and having Edilia there allowed Mom to get the uninterrupted rest her body needed to heal and regain her strength. Because we could trust that Liam was being lovingly and attentively cared for throughout the night, Mom was able to focus on recovery rather than operating on very little sleep. The difference was remarkable--by the third week postpartum, she had recovered well enough to attend a baby shower, something we believe would have been much more difficult without the rest and support Edilia helped make possible. Her help was also especially meaningful during tax season, which is an exceptionally demanding time of year for our family professionally. Knowing that Liam was receiving attentive and loving care overnight gave us peace of mind and allowed us to balance a very busy work schedule with the needs of both of our children. It is difficult to overstate how much of a difference that support made for our entire household. Edilia was also generous with her knowledge and supportive of us as parents. She answered our questions patiently, shared her experience when appropriate, and helped us navigate those early weeks with greater confidence. She understood that caring for a newborn also means supporting the parents and the family around that child, and she did that exceptionally well. We are extremely grateful that Edilia was part of Liam's earliest days. She earned our complete trust, and we would recommend her without hesitation to any family looking for a knowledgeable, dependable, professional, and genuinely caring night nurse. Any family would be fortunate to have her caring for their little one. The Apodaca Family June 2026

As a newborn parent, if I had to do it over again, I would have hired Newborn Nurtury from the…read morebeginning to set us up with a strong start. We came to them after sleepless desperation and they improved things just over text, followed by coaching in person and giving us some much needed sleep. Can't thank them enough

This review is long overdue but that's happens when you've got kids because time flies!…read more With this being our second birth, we felt comfortable hiring Florencia for day of doula support and we are so happy we did! Doulas are truly invaluable people and if you're thinking about whether you really need one, you absolutely do!! From the start, she provided excellent guidance and was a steady, reassuring presence throughout the entire process. During labor, her constant affirmations helped me stay calm and focused, reminding me to breathe most of all! Her words of encouragement were exactly what I needed to stay centered and trust my body. With the birth of my first child being slightly traumatic, Florencia was there to guide me through a truly healing and unmedicated vbac second delivery! We truly felt supported every step of the way, and I can't recommend her enough!

Florencia is ABSOLUTELY awesome !!!! Highly highly recommend her to anyone and everyone. From the…read morecommunication, patients, desire to teach, just be there for me and my wife with whatever we needed for our first child, was an absolutely great experience with her.

I didn't know where to start in searching for a doula, and I'm so glad I came across this marching…read moreservice. It was an easy and quick process that helped me find a doula with some pretty specific preferences I had in mind. They gave me several great options and matched me with my doula who I absolutely love!

The Doulas of Orange County is a wonderful service that helped my wife and me out tremendously in…read moreour search for a birth doula. With so many doulas available, it was overwhelming knowing where to start our search. Doulas of Orange County simplified everything by first gathering a list of what we wanted and matching us with the perfect doulas who aligned with our vision and our budget. The process was easy to understand, and they consistently informed us every step along the way to keep us in the loop. Thank you, Doulas of Orange County!

Choosing Valerie to be my doula was without a doubt the best decision I made for my pregnancy and…read morebirth journey. Going through pregnancy and labor for the very first time was incredibly scary, but having Valerie by my side made all the difference. She was a truly essential support system for me--from the early stages straight through every single contraction. When the pain felt overwhelming, she stayed grounded with me, helped me find my inner strength, and refused to let me feel alone. Beyond her incredible physical and emotional support during labor, Valerie showed an extraordinary level of professionalism and dedication. She calmly handled challenging and unusual circumstances--including mediating sensitive marital communications with my husband--with complete grace, tact, and composure. She never shyed away from difficult moments or complex dynamics; instead, she stepped up as a reassuring, balanced mediator when I needed it most. Valerie was truly always there when I needed her. Her strength, unwavering presence, and deep compassion made a profound impact on my birth experience, and I am so deeply grateful to have had her support. If you are looking for a doula who is compassionate, fearless, and reliable through every step of the process, I cannot recommend Valerie highly enough!

From our very first phone call, I knew Lindzee and I would get along and work well together…read more When I went into labor, Lindzee came to our home and stayed through the night, helping me progress and supporting me through every stage. Once we went to the hospital, her guidance, encouragement, and gentle push helped me keep going, especially when we worked together to help get my daughter into the right position. Although my labor ultimately did not go the way I had hoped or expected, Lindzee was there every step of the way with love, support, reassurance, and comfort. She helped me feel heard and cared for during some of the hardest moments of my birth experience. One of my favorite memories that I still think about is when I needed a distraction during my long labor, and Lindzee and I ended up playing Tapple while my mom watched us. It was such a simple moment, but it perfectly captures the kind of support she gave me, helping me through the difficult moments while also making me laugh and feel like myself. We bonded throughout my long labor, and I feel incredibly lucky that I gained not only an amazing doula but also a friend through this experience. I will always be grateful for Lindzee and the role she played in bringing my daughter into the world. I truly cannot recommend her enough.

So many things to say , for starter I want to say that I am forever grateful for Jenny she went…read moreabove and beyond before and after especially during my delivery . She helped me In so many ways , absolutely love her and recommend her services to anyone that asks . PS she was also an amazing photographer lol

I hired Jenni as a Birth Doula for the birth of my first child. She was warm and offered a calming…read moreenvironment. She had knowledge and advice throughout my pregnancy, lots of referrals for specialized areas I needed support (like acupuncture, chiropractic, etc) and helped get me into positions throughout labor that offered me comfort and pain relief. She stayed a bit after the birth to help clean up and settle us in. Not only did she make sure I was cared for but she also offered vital support to my husband and helped guide him on the best ways to support me. She worked seamlessly with my birth team and was a joy to have around. I can't imagine my birth without her there! I highly recommend Sisterhood Doula OC if you're a birthing person!

So grateful that I found this amazing doula team and mama community!…read more Krista Jawin worked closely with my husband and I to prepare us for the birth of our first child. She has truly been the guiding light through our journey into parenthood. We had the amazing, magical, beautiful, empowering home birth that we visualized during our birth education sessions with Krista. We know we would not have had this experience if it were not for her guidance before, during and after the birth of our baby. Thank you Krista for the amazing selfless work you do for mamas, babies, and families!!!!

I love Maureen and the team at In One Breath Center! I'm so thankful that I was referred to…read moreMaureen: I was halfway through my first pregnancy and my yoga instructor encouraged me to become educated about labor, birth, and postpartum life. I am SO glad I received that encouragement and Maureen's name from her. I had interviewed a couple doulas who I found on Yelp, but my 3rd call was Maureen and I knew by the end of our first phone conversation that she was the one who would be my teammate and would be there to witness the birth of my first baby! We opted to do a hospital birth (although I loved the idea of a midwifery center or a home birth, my husband's desire was to have our son born in a hospital setting) and I knew that I wanted the wisdom and support of a birth doula to assist my husband and I in making the best decisions possible during the labor & delivery process. My goal was to have a natural birth and I knew that might be challenging in the hospital setting. As a side-note, I had previously thought birth doulas were mainly for people who had extra money laying around - but now I don't know why I had that idea because it's not true in the least bit! We made a point to save where we could so that we could spend some on a doula. Before "The Day" arrived, we met with Maureen in person. She asked great questions about our wishes, fears, uncertainties and she helped us to write a very simple birth plan (or 'birth preferences'- since most of the time things DON'T go exactly as you plan for with birth!). She was in contact with us often in the weeks leading up the my due date, especially because at 34 weeks I needed to go to the hospital Triage due to intense/frequent Braxton Hicks and we also found out that baby was breech and would need to turn - and soon! She and Krista gave me excellent advice that I wouldn't have otherwise received - little suggestions and tricks for taking care of myself at home leading up to my due date. We wanted to keep the baby in the womb until he was closer to (or at) 40 weeks and we were hopeful he would flip around, too! So, Maureen advised me to rest, calm my mind, listen to hypnobirthing mp3s, etc. We kept in touch regularly for the 3-4 weeks before my water broke at 37 weeks + 1 day - baby boy waited until he was considered full-term and then wouldn't wait a day longer! He was placed in my arms 37 hours later! For the actual labor & delivery she met us at Hoag while we were still trying to get labor going (unsuccessfully) and then she supported us as the nurses suggested Pitocin to get things going. PItocin wasn't in our "Plan", but with Maureen's support, my husband and I asked that we start the process very slow & steady... LONG story short, I was able to deliver the baby vaginally without any drugs or intervention with exception of the Pitocin. Thank God we had Maureen - she helped with massaging, bathroom trips, various labor positions, pep talks, and she really supported my husband. I think that's the biggest takeaway- my husband had the confidence to tell the hospital staff our desires (when needed) because Maureen was his teammate when I was out of my usual mind during the labor process. Maureen is sincere, hard-working, loving, and just an all-around JOY to be around. God knew what he was doing when he set us up together. It's been nearly 6 months since my son was born (another pregnancy isn't in our imminent future) and when the time is right I know I will be dialing Maureen as soon as we make plans to have Baby #2. I encourage anyone who read this long-winded review to connect with Maureen before making your final decision if a birth doula is right for you! As my husband has told several other of our expecting couple-friends: "Talk to Maureen (or any doula you're considering), it's the best money we chose to spend during this season!"

For context, I had a post partum nanny/ newborn specialist through the inner workings of asking…read morearound since it's like some secret society connecting with a good one (they are booked out months in advance). I had one for 8 weeks and about a week before my last week I had depression/anxiety with the thought of having to take care of a baby all night! I found this agency through a Google search--- my insurance covered about a week and I used FSA/DCFSA to cover 2 more weeks --- total of 3 weeks of service . This is also a pleasant surprise since usually when you do hire one on your own, they don't take insurance! My experience from start to finish: Yuri, messaged me the next day from my inquiry. Understood my situation to find someone to start in the next 10 days and my budget of 5k FSA/DCFSA with insurance --- this got me 3 weeks of weekdays! She told me last minute requests unlikely to get an English speaker which I was ok with because my previous one barely spoke English (also didn't use the translation app but we made it work-- but she was very experienced and jsut led the way). Yuri gave me a profile and we set up a virtual interview. The thing about using an "agency" they should vet these people so you don't really need to do intense interviewing so my interview was really about my expectations. I was already 8 weeks postpartum so I told my live in doula I want focus on infant care so I can relax/recover. I got one profile and honestly she seemed very nice. It said she had 3 years experience, had some Asain doula certificate (you can verify online too at some website), and during the interview she said she worked with over 30 families in the last year (Yuri translates the interview but like the 30 families in a year doesn't really add up but I got the gist she has experience). After you accept and sign the contract, contact is pretty easy through text with the agency. When Yangfang Li arrived she showed ID so you know it's her and lets you check her luggage. Then you basically go to the market together so she can buy groceries to cook you food. Chinese food is stir fry and I didn't know what she could cook and I didn't want to think about what I wanted to eat (trying to minimize mental load for recovery). She sort of finessed something the first week and afterwards I gave feedback what I like/don't like -- so if you don't have a Doula for long you might not get to that phase as some starts aren't perfect. I told her I want simple quick dishes so she can mainly focus on the baby. She was efficient -- cooked and cleaned usually within 90 minutes. She made 3 dishes at my request (see photos)- soup, veggie, meat - you can request noodles more or rice more (I found this out later, as I was like I want to eat mainly noodles). She made beef buns and a lot right before she left so I could have some in the fridge/freezer for later. My previous one also did laundry, baby bottles, more house chores but I didn't need that as much since I wanted more focus on infant care - it's like pick what you want them to do so I was ok with this. yanfang Li did fold the clothes and could do the laundry but I was ok doing part of it. Infant care though- she was great. All babies are different so I told her I want pace feeding (trying to get this baby on the breast instead of bottle). At first she did the upright pace feeding but then receptive to changing to horizontal. He wasn't a sleepy newborn so he was going through some nipple aversion and she was receptive toward undistracted drowsy feedings. She also put him to sleep pretty well with the rocking chair but she could also walk with him--- some of the older ladies don't that much. She gave the CUTEST baby massage when putting on his lotion after showers and I took a video for memories but it was a baby spa experience. Overall she took care of him very well which was my priority. My previous newborn specialist took care of me more since I was freshly post partum which I'm sure if that's the experience I wanted I could find -- ie, focus on breast feeding (breast massage, lactating foods/meals, etc), personal massages, helping with hair wash, sitz bath for post partum hemorrhoids , etc -- so if that's what you're looking for would jsut be specific during your interview and set expectations. Overall I've been recommending to people to def use their doula insurance here! If I could do it again, I would still hire my other newborn specialist but also this one for infant care later.

I loved working with Cooings Doula Care. I live in the SF Bay Area and have Kaiser insurance…read more Cooings made it super easy to use my doula benefits. They were warm and professional. I happen to not be Asian and they tailored me and my baby's care to what worked for us. The doula they matched us with, Lya, was incredible. She was on-time every day, warm, sweet and super helpful. Wonderful language skills and as an added bonus she tolerates our very needy and anxious dog really well. I would highly recommend them!