Marisol is one of the best things to have happened for my pregnancy! Previously having 2 prior C…read moresections I was having drs tell me left and right that I could not have a VBAC even after doing my own research. Marisol helped me achieve my goal of a natural birth and I can't thank her enough. She believed in me, helped me make informed decision, and cared for me throughout the rest of my pregnancy and labor/delivery. She is very thoughtful, knowledgeable, and caring and I'll recommend her to any future mamas I know

It was an amazing experience thanks to Marisol for always being there since moment one to the end…read more I'm so grateful for all the support she gave me to feel comfortable and for all ways advocating for me in the hospital and later with lactation! I was able to successfully breast feed and later pump feed for a year while I went back to school. I could not have done it without her! And her office where she uses to teach is amazing it makes you feel that you are in a safe space it just feels like if you're in your own home.

Adrienne truly cares about the work that she does and wants to serve her community to the best of…read moreher ability. Her office is out of her home, which feels inviting and cozy, and is in a very nice neighborhood of Bakersfield. She is also a certified specialist in orofacial myology, which she has SO much knowledge about - my baby was diagnosed with tongue and lip ties. Adrienne knows not only about how these affect breastfeeding, but one's overall health. I highly recommend Adrienne if looking for a lactation consultant in the area

My experience was not well. I first met Adrienne in July 2023. My baby was just a few weeks old…read more She taught me some positions with breastfeeding and I was breastfeeding for about 4-6 weeks. No issues with latch, gas, was gaining weight. His mouth was closed in his ordinary position. Some issues that Adrienne pointed out to me were his tight latch and, later on, realized that his mouth was sometimes open during sleep. So she suggested a tongue tie and she provided all the research to back her claim, including sleep apnea. Me, first time mom, panicking, immediately reached out to my pediatrician who confirmed he offered that service. After the snip, my baby couldn't latch, was super gassy, mouth always open. I had to sleep with him in a rocking chair, instead of peacefully co-sleeping as I had been. And due to all the stress, depression, exhaustion and anxiety, my breast milk dried up. So the snip ended my breastfeeding journey. When I would call her crying or upset, her responses were "his tongue tie was in the back", "his mouth was open during utero" and "we don't know what happens when you release the frenulum". All lies and bs If baby is breastfeeding well. Do not get the tongue tie.

Karen is the supportive and knowledgeable person you need by your side as you go through pregnancy,…read morebirth and beyond. As a mama pregnant with my third baby who was unhappy with my first two births (first was a traumatic vaginal birth with complications and second was a cesarean) I was looking for someone to help me have a successful vbac. Karen was that someone. Karen is responsive and easy to get ahold of. She also is very open and respectful of your desires and wishes, not trying to push an agenda but also showing all of your options and providing information based on evidence. Karen directed me to several resources which were extremely helpful for me to continue to educate myself further on my own.  She is very positive and encouraging and will help keep you in the right mindset. When I had negative thoughts, she turned them into positive ones. When fear or concern crept in, she gave me the pep talk I needed. When I questioned myself if I could really accomplish what I had set out to do, Karen gently steered me right back to the path of what I really wanted.  Even though I was an experienced mama having my thrid baby, Karen still proved to be invaluable and she was an intergral part of having a postive birth experience. This was my third baby but first time having a doula and it made such a difference! If you are looking for a doula, or even considering the idea of working with one, hire Karen immediately!! You will be so glad you did!

Words cannot express how grateful I am for Karen. She is the BEES KNEES! :) Seriously, this is one…read morecompassionate, caring, insightful, fierce, get it DONE kind of lady. Karen was with me for the birth of my first baby in November 2019 (and will be with me for all future babies if I have anything to say about it). I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone having a baby (hospital or elsewhere). I didn't know too much about doulas before I got pregnant. After reading about them, I thought "that sounds like a good idea"- I had NO IDEA how detrimental she would be to helping me have the amazing birth experience that I had. Throughout the pregnancy, Karen was available to answer questions and give support. When she gave information, it was based on evidence. If I had a question that she didn't know the answer to, she would help me find it. She was (and still is) and amazing resource. When it was time to have the baby, she was the first call I made. I called her when I woke up dripping fluid at 4AM and she picked up the phone. When Karen knew I was close to my due date, she never missed one of my calls. I truly knew I could depend on her to be available. Karen has an amazing, sweet attitude. She was calm and collected- which helped me to stay calm. She was extremely attentive and present to help me through each contraction. Karen helped me breath through contractions and position my body in ways that would ease the intensity. She would offer suggestions, but always encouraged me to trust my instincts and listen to my body. I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible, and I was able to do that without fear - because I knew that Karen was watching and monitoring me, that she has done this before many times, and that she would get me to the birth center in time if it was at all possible. When it came time to push, she gave me helpful feedback to teach me how to get the baby down. She helped me get the baby latched to the breast as soon as possible. Then she held my hands as I got my stitches. I'm telling you... This woman was on her hands and knees with me in the delivery room. She goes above and BEYOND for her mamas. It's not just a job to her, She really is passionate about what she does and she is IN IT with you. I can't fully explain the confidence that gave me though out the birth. Even though my mom and my husband were there- they had no idea what the heck was going on. It was a huge relief not just for me, but for them too, to have Karen there. Since I had never had a baby before, having an experienced professional (she is DONA certified. I'm not gonna have just anyone with me in the delivery room) able to say "this is what might happen next" and "you're doing great" and "this is totally normal" made me feel like I could really have this baby, and do it well. I could trust Karen's wisdom, knowledge, and experience. I could also trust that she was dead set on doing what was best for me and helping me have the birth experience I wanted. She did just that and more. Karen also did postpartum work with us. She taught us ways to help the baby when he got gassy. She helped facilitate breast feeding after my milk came in. She helped my husband and I transition into parenthood by gIving suggestions based on her experience, but also through practical things like helping us do the laundry or watching the baby so we could take a nap. I still call her and ask for her advice when something comes up that I'm unsure about. She has seen a baby come out of me- if that's not a bonding experience I don't know what is. If you have any doubts about hiring Karen- DO IT! You will be setting yourself up for success! There is no one better to have by your side in the delivery room.

My husband and I recently attended Stacie's childbirth education class. As a birth doula myself, I…read moreknow the importance of being educated and informed going into labor. Her class was so helpful for my husband and I to attend together! Especially for him not knowing a lot about birth, he learned so much from Stacie's hands on activities! And he was an even better supporter and birth partner during my labor because of it. Stacie is kind, sincere and very knowledgeable about all things labor and birth! I would highly recommend any expecting parents take her classes!

Stacie's class was hands down the most helpful, all-inclusive resource I had in preparing for the…read morebirth of my daughter. I took the class with my mom and best friend, who were attending the birth as well. It was the best decision I made, since it not only prepared me more for the experience of labor and delivery, it prepared my mom and best friend in such a way that they felt confident and comfortable stepping in to help during labor. Stacie's class gave my mom confidence to be a huge source of physical and emotional support for me, knowing how to encourage me and when to stay quiet. Because of this class, my best friend also now knew what to expect and was able to document the birth and to run and get things as we needed them. The most helpful part of the class for me as a laboring mom was the visuals of dilation and the stages and phases of labor. Visualizing where I was and how far I had left to go kept me encouraged along the way, realizing the longest and perhaps hardest part of labor was "getting that cervix out of the way" and knowing that once that was done, my daughter was not far away. Partly because of Stacie's class, I can say the birth of my daughter was done naturally, and is a beautiful memory I will look back on my entire life. I am incredibly grateful for having taken Stacie's class, and would recommend it to anyone (considering natural birth or not) in a heartbeat. We learned so much, and were ready and prepared for the biggest, most difficult, most rewarding day of my life.