I just completed Lisa's Starting Solids + Infant CPR & First Aid session and I cannot recommend her…read moreenough. From the very first message, Lisa was incredibly responsive and when I spontaneously asked if my neighbor could join, she made it happen super easily. Lisa came to our home to do the course, which made the whole experience feel personal and relaxed. The course itself was hands-on, thorough, and genuinely confidence-building. I walked away feeling truly prepared, not just for starting solids with my baby, but for handling emergencies calmly if they ever arise. You can tell Lisa doesn't just teach this material, she really cares about it and she cares about the people she works with. This was actually my second time working with Lisa. I first met her as a lactation consultant and both experiences have been equally wonderful. She brings the same warmth, expertise, and dedication every time. Thank you, Lisa!

After a particularly rough night of breastfeeding with my son, I contacted Lisa at South Bay Baby…read moreCare after finding her glowing reviews here on Yelp. I emailed Lisa regarding her availability and pre-checked with The Lactation Network, the company she contracts with, to make sure everything was good to go with my insurance. I heard back within 24 hours from both TLN and Lisa; we were able to set up a home visit appointment within the week. Lisa was extremely friendly and professional during our sessions. She helped measure me for new pump flanges, made suggestions for positioning comfort, and observed my son feeding to make a diagnosis regarding potential latch issues. She offered a number of oral exercises to help my son's latch and provided an EXTREMELY THOROUGH folder with pictures and descriptions of the exercises so I was not relying solely on memory. The folder also had a ton of other useful info from breastfeeding tips and tricks to local professionals, including pediatric dentists and OTs. Lisa also provided a comprehensive write up for my son's pediatrician with her observations and recommendations. Like the folder she provided, it was extremely thorough and detailed. Her professionalism and attention to detail is next level and she is incredibly nice and easy to talk to. I never felt judged or unheard. We scheduled a follow-up in-home appointment which was just as helpful as the first session. A few weeks later Lisa, followed up by email to check-in to make sure my son and I were doing well. She cares about her patients and I know that I can reach out if we run into any other issues. If you are struggling with breastfeeding or latch trouble contact Lisa! She's wonderful!

Pregnancy and giving birth was one of the most meaningful and empowering experiences of my life,…read moreand Holly played an extraordinary role in making it that way. Working with her from pregnancy through postpartum was nothing short of transformative. From the moment she took us on as clients, I felt deeply seen, cared for, and empowered. Throughout my pregnancy, she provided a wealth of resources -- from dietary guidance and exercise tips to ways to promote the growth of my baby and prepare for labor -- and helped me process and make informed decisions for myself. She anticipated questions before I even had them and ensured I felt knowledgeable and confident every step of the way about all the decisions we faced. Holly made the entire process beautiful, spiritual, informed, and deeply connected. She helped me get in touch with my own needs and empowered both me and my husband to feel confident and capable throughout. During labor and delivery, she was with us every step of the way -- whether on the phone or coming to our home to assist me in labor and guide us on navigating the transition to the hospital. In those moments of extreme intensity, Holly was so in tune with me; she knew exactly what to say and how to help me navigate each wave. It felt like she, my husband, and I were in a shared trance, and I felt completely held and nurtured. I wanted a natural labor, and Holly championed that goal every step of the way; I truly believe I would not have been able to achieve a natural birth in a hospital without her. Immediately postpartum, Holly continued to be an incredible presence during the intense and sometimes overwhelming adjustment to life on the other side of birth. She listened deeply, advocated for my mental and physical health, and again never imposed her opinions. Instead, she helped us think clearly, process our emotions, and understand our own decisions and feelings, giving us confidence in our new roles as parents. What's incredible about Holly is that she ensures you are informed, know your rights, and understand all your choices -- while always advocating for you -- yet she never makes decisions for you. She is non-judgmental, full of positivity, love, and light, and makes the journey feel sacred, grounded, and empowering. Holly is an exceptional doula and guide -- she truly transforms the birth experience. She is absolutely incredible.

Review #1017 -…read more Kudos to Holly...seriously we really enjoyed having her on our birthing team. My wife had called and wanted to interview a variety of people and within a spectrum of birthing paths. We chose Holly and it was a very good experience. First off, my wife had a wonderful phone call with her...and she was available and willing to answer all things. We then met her locally and had a face to face interview. Holly was respectful of the birth path my wife wanted, she offer advice and her experience. While we were interviewing her at a local coffee shop she was approached by another client with her recently born baby. We got to see the level of interaction between that new mom and Holly. Very impressive to see the happiness of another parent with the person she chose. So as a Dad to be, there was also the need to convince me...i wanted to make sure my wife had every person and resource. So the expense of a doula was justified pretty easily. But i wanted an active role in the birth plan and birth experience. Holly was great to me. Attentive. Gentle. She was okay with me being there in the delivery stuff and an active part of it. She did not shrug me off or anything, I was able to feel very close to my wife and newborn in the moment. My wife really loved all Holly did for her when the time came to start the birthing process. Once we knew it was go time...we planned to stay home a while and Holly came to our place and worked the first 12-15 hours with her. Then she perfectly timed the "when to go to the hospital" and as that progressed she was very preset and active with us. She was awesome and seeing how well she'd coached my wife was incredible. We got a healthy baby and my wife came through it amazingly. Holly was a very good resource and served us well as the "Offensive Coordinator" calling the plays and helping us through the game plan. Holly is super. Follow up and coaching didn't end with the hospital. She's been so good at checking in and keeping us in the learning and adjustment. Easy 5 stars!!

Lara was our hypnobabies teacher and our doula. We thought it would be important to have our…read moreteacher and doula be one in the same; It also provided us with more opportunities to get to know her and vice versa. The class was very beneficial and my husband and midwife even commented on how calm the Hypnobabies kept me during the birth. My husband and I questioned hiring a doula and are so glad that we found Lara! Not only are her rates very competitive, but she also brings with her experience, guidance, and expertise. We were planning for a home birth and her visit to our house was super helpful!! She was extremely thorough about what we would need at the house, but she also addressed many topics regarding our family and each other that we had not even thought about. She is the main reason I felt so calm and prepared for our baby's birth. When I started the birthing process, she was available by phone the entire day and came to our home at 11pm?! She has a gift for reading a room and creating the right mood/energy that is needed. She has such a calm, reassuring presence and I knew I was in good hands. Lara worked seamlessly with our midwife and showed my husband how to support me. We had to transfer to a hospital and having Lara (and our midwife) at my side made such a difference. I trusted her and was so grateful she was with us during the entire birth. After the birth of our son, Lara came over for yet another visit and still keeps in touch with me now (three months later). We are so glad she is in our lives!

Investing in Lara's services as our birth doula was one of the best decisions we've ever made! I…read moredid the Hypnobabies Home Study course and knew that I wanted a doula familiar with the Hypnobabies techniques...so who better than the person who teaches the classes?! We met Lara and liked her calm energy, her experience of having attended many births, and her ability to help us prepare for the birth. She met with us multiple times leading up to my due date and was instrumental in getting the house prepared for a home birth. During labor, Lara was my rock! I felt like she was there for me 100%, coaching me through each pressure wave. She gave my husband great instructions so that he could participate in a helpful way (like massaging my back, etc.) I believe Lara's presence helped me to relax and helped my labor to progress quickly. Even though I felt like she was with me the entire time, others at the birth later commented on how impressed they were with Lara's ability to know everything that was happening in the birth environment and to direct others when needed. It's hard to imagine my birthing time without Lara. She was so valuable to me, my husband, and to the team of midwives. I highly recommend her!

After the Long Beach Birthing Center closed unexpectedly, my husband immediately began searching…read moreeverywhere for a midwife who could take over our birth care. From the very beginning, we knew we did not want a hospital birth--both because of the high costs and the increased rate of C-sections. Finding the right midwife felt urgent and incredibly important, especially since this was my first pregnancy. That's when we found Laura. From the first conversation, my husband and Laura connected very well, and after meeting her in person, we knew she was the right choice. Laura made me feel truly welcomed, cared for, heard, and supported--something that meant everything to me as a first-time mom. At every appointment, Laura took the time to explain how our baby was doing, confirmed that she was positioned correctly, and walked us through what to expect at each stage. She guided me on workouts, nutrition, and overall prenatal care, always making sure I felt confident and informed. Anytime I had worries or questions, Laura reassured us that our baby girl was progressing beautifully, which brought us so much peace throughout the pregnancy. When the big day finally arrived, labor began early in the morning but didn't turn active until the following day. At around 3 a.m. in June, our little girl decided it was finally time. Labor was long, but Laura and her team were absolutely incredible. They supported me every step of the way--offering water, snacks, encouragement, and constant reassurance. They regularly checked our baby's heartbeat to ensure she was doing well and never made me feel rushed or pressured. I had planned on a water birth, but my body had other plans--and Laura was so supportive and adaptable, honoring what my body needed in the moment. By morning, our baby girl arrived (quite literally popping out!), and Laura guided me calmly and confidently through delivery. Her presence made me feel relaxed, safe, and completely cared for. Laura and her team handled everything with such professionalism and compassion, allowing me to focus entirely on welcoming my daughter into the world. I also can't say enough great things about her lactation consultant, Chelsea, who was absolutely amazing and so helpful. Laura even recommended our pediatrician and doctor, which made the transition into postpartum care seamless. Because of Laura, I was able to spend extra, uninterrupted time bonding with my baby girl, and that experience is something I will forever cherish. I am beyond grateful that Laura was available when we needed her most. If I am ever pregnant again, there is no question--I would absolutely return to Laura without hesitation. Thank you Laura for all the support you have given us!

I moved to Redondo Beach at 30 weeks pregnant, searching for a midwife for a VBAC after two…read moreC-sections. Despite warnings, I hired Laura because she had experienced a VBA2C herself, which made me feel confident in her abilities. I paid $7,000 before 37 weeks, but from the start, red flags appeared. Laura frequently overshared personal issues- venting about her husband mistreating her and why recent clients were transferred to the hospital. She described one transfer as a mother "refusing to get on her hands and knees despite being in pain." It felt like more of her clients were being transferred than successfully giving birth at her center. Additionally, she and her children were constantly sick, making me worry about exposure as a pregnant mom with toddlers. As my due date approached, she had me sign paperwork with business names from other midwives, clearly copied and pasted, which felt sloppy and unprofessional. When my water broke, she gave me swabs that were supposed to turn bright blue if it was amniotic fluid. Even though I knew my water had broken, the test initially didn't change color, so Laura dismissed it, insisting I had urinated on myself. It took days for a proper swab to confirm it, delaying care and increasing my risk of infection. When I expressed concern, she casually asked if I "wanted to go to the hospital," then told me that legally she'd have to transfer me after three days- completely disregarding the fact that I had been telling her about my water breaking all along. At one of my appointments, she introduced another midwife, Amy, which made me uncomfortable because Laura had previously vented to me about how Amy "wouldn't stop touching her" during her own labor despite being asked not to. She even called Amy the B-word and said Amy walked out on her during labor. Knowing this, it felt extremely unprofessional that she brought her in to assist with my care. Later, Laura accused me of avoiding check-ups, which was untrue and upsetting. I lived three minutes from the birthing center and was always willing to come in. Despite her personal struggles, I had even offered to support her. During labor, Laura's birth assistant, Haika, was the only good part of my experience. She was kind, gentle, and truly passionate about birth work. If you're looking for a midwife, I highly recommend skipping Laura and going straight to Haika. When Haika was present, I was progressing well, reaching 7 cm. But when Laura took over so Haika could rest, everything changed. Her cervical exams were painful, rough, and intrusive. Her energy was intimidating, and I stopped progressing. Eventually, I had to transfer to the hospital, and honestly, I was relieved to leave. At the hospital, I received an epidural, which allowed me to relax enough to fully dilate, but during my stay, I was also sexually harassed by a doctor who is now under investigation at Cedars. After birth, I discovered that Laura had taken several photos of my private areas without my consent. I asked her to delete them, and while she agreed, she never did so in front of me. She also failed to complete my postpartum visits, using her constant illnesses as an excuse, but never reached out to reschedule or check on me or my newborn. Seven months later, she sent me a Mother's Day text, but by then, I had nothing more to say--she never followed through on the care I paid for. It took me a year to write this, but it needs to be shared. My experience was the opposite of the glowing reviews I read before hiring her. Every time she gets a negative review, a friend posts a five-star one, but those of us who've actually worked with her know the truth. I've since connected with other former clients who had similar experiences. If you're searching for a midwife, please reconsider working with Laura. This is a warning from one mother to another- there are far better options. ** and just like i said, immediately after Laura gets a negative review, she asks a friend (or it could be her behind a fake profile) to give a 5 star review. She's extremely toxic and if you work with her- you will 100% see how accurate the negative reviews are. Hire at your own risk!

We took Lia's virtual Bradley method class, and would highly recommend it for any expecting…read moreparents. First off, it can be hard to find time to take a birth class, and Lia chooses convenient times, with multiple options to choose from. It's a very comfortable classroom atmosphere where I felt good to ask any question, or add any comment. Lia keeps it fun and interesting, and is a great teacher. Lia is also available outside of class for questions, and she is super responsive. It shouldn't really matter if a doula has been pregnant herself.... But it was really helpful to hear about her first hand experiences and to know that she has gone through it all before. I just wish we in lived in LA so that we could have Lia as our Doula.

I cannot say enough good things about Lia and her natural birth classes. I did the 12 week in…read moreperson classes with my husband. I really wanted to know everything I possibly could and I was also looking for a little community as I was feeling very alone in those first weeks of pregnancy (and overwhelmed with what I didn't know). AND THESE CLASSES DELIVERED! My husband is also a knowledge seeker so when I told him these were the classes I wanted he was all in. We learned so much. We joke that he didn't just learn about the natural birth process he learned how to be my "daddy doula". We still enjoy talking to people about everything we learned and how to support each other and how to speak to your doctors or the hospital nurses. Even if you aren't considering a natural birth these classes should be taken by everyone expecting a baby. You learn about the body, you learn about the different stages of labor, how to prep your body and your mind. There is even a class on breastfeeding which was invaluable those first 3 days postpartum. Lia is also an amazing teacher. If I have another I would definitely also hire her as my doula. She is a person you want in your corner during birth.

I took yoga classes with Chelsea and was thrilled to learn that she is also a life coach. I had…read morealready felt such trust and peace around her that I knew she was the perfect person to help me work through some past trauma and help equip me for a happier, healthier and more positive future. It was a life changing decision to work with her. Her guidance has made a significant positive impact on my life. She cares so much and has been an amazing listener, guide and teacher. She has helped me navigate some very difficult life situations both old and new. Her personally tailored coaching has helped me feel more peace, control over anxious situations and has given me tools to work though life's ups and downs. I would not have had the courage to push forward and make life changes without her support, love and encouragement! I am so grateful for her and cannot recommend working with Chelsea more!

Chelsea is the best! I wish I could have her as my prenatal yoga teacher and doula for every…read morepregnancy. She went above in beyond in classes to give us the best information for natural birth and delivery. When she wasn't actually available for my birth, she had many great recommendations. Overall, everything she told me through class and training truly prepared me for a beautiful birth experience. I wish I still lived close by to have her around my next birth. I highly recommend her services!

My wife already posted about our experience with Natasha, but I wanted to add my two cents from the…read moreperspective of a husband/support person. We hired Natasha as our doula for the birth of our first child. I was initially skeptical of hiring a doula, because it seemed like an unnecessary expense/fad. However, I could not have been more wrong! My wife and I watched YouTube videos, read about, and talked to others about childbirth and what to expect. Natasha gave us more thorough information than any of those sources, and she walked us through a birth plan. She was very helpful talking about the advantages/disadvantages of all the choices we had to make for the birth. It made our lives so much easier. No amount of talking to people can prepare you for the chaos of childbirth! Having Natasha there with us and knowing our wishes was very reassuring. She was our advocate with the doctors and nurses, and she made sure we got what we planned. Natasha also helped my wife tremendously. Natasha helped mitigate my wife's pain prior to the epidural by using various body positions and breathing techniques. I thought I would be able to help my wife more, but using the one technique we learned prior to delivery was not cutting it. Natasha provided real-time support and adapted her approach based on my wife's needs. In between admittance to the hospital and the actual birth, Natasha was with us the whole time. She was a constant support. That means that I also had time to breath! Having Natasha with us throughout the birth made my wife's life easier, and Natasha made my life easier! I cannot imagine ever going through childbirth without a trustworthy, supportive doula. I am converted! If you are considering a doula, I wholeheartedly recommend Natasha. If you are wondering whether you should hire a doula, you should! (and it should be Natasha)

My husband and I hired Natasha after she was referred to us by a coworker. This was my first…read morepregnancy/labor/delivery and I was initially unsure about whether I even wanted to hire a doula. I questioned whether it was excessive or an unnecessary expense. I also wasn't sure how it would feel to have someone I barely knew be present during some of the most intimate and vulnerable hours of my life. I am now almost 1 month postpartum and looking back I can say without hesitation that hiring Natasha was one of the best decisions I made related to my pregnancy and childbirth. Throughout my pregnancy I felt routinely unsupported by my OBGYN and was often made to feel rushed or that I was asking stupid questions during my OB appointments. Our first meeting with Natasha was such a breath of fresh air! She provided a free consultation so we could get to know her and patiently answered all of our many questions. One of the things that truly separates Natasha from other doulas is her background as both a labor and delivery nurse, a midwife, and a pre/postnatal yoga instructor. This woman has some serious experience with the birthing process! She is chock-full of useful information and was able to explain medical aspects of my pregnancy that my OB never took the time to do. She was incredibly thorough and gave us a useful packet in our first appointment that included information about what to expect during labor/delivery and how to prepare (e.g., what to pack for the big day, how to save time checking in at the hospital, what kind of decisions we may need to make during delivery, etc). She also had such a lovely, laid-back presence that was neither overbearing or too passive. I was sold! My daughter ended up arriving 3.5 weeks early and I was so glad to have Natasha to text that day and ask if the contractions I was experiencing were the real deal. She was able give me some pointers on how to differentiate between early signs of labor and the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been getting fairly frequently at that point. I was so relieved when she arrived at our apartment and helped me find positions and utilize breathing techniques that made my contractions significantly more manageable. I thought I would be able to use my knowledge of paced breathing to successfully manage the pain on my own, but I definitely needed her there! I was in so much pain that I was having trouble thinking straight and when Natasha arrived she just took over and immediately made both my husband and me feel like we had someone there who knew exactly what to do. She also helped us to know when to go to the hospital so that we would be admitted (4cm dilated) rather than told to go back home and was a huge advocate for me once I was checked into labor and delivery. She explained everything that was going on to me (something the doctors/nurses just don't seem to have time to do), was key in getting the anesthesiologist to arrive as quickly as possible for the epidural, and continued to help me with breathing/positions until the meds kicked in and my daughter arrived! She worked seamlessly with the hospital providers and seemed to know when to speak up/ask questions vs. when to just let them do their thing. She was also lovely to have around my family and again seemed to know how to interact with everyone and put people at ease. I did not end up feeling awkward or uncomfortable at all having her present during the delivery process- just grateful for her support, knowledge, and encouragement! After the delivery, Natasha followed up with us to help us give my daughter her first bath, answer many, many breastfeeding questions, and just generally continue to provide wisdom and support. Hiring Natasha was worth every penny and I would hire her again in a heartbeat for future labor/deliveries. If you want a doula who is the whole package (e.g., reliable, a calming presence, insanely knowledgeable on ALL aspects of labor/delivery), then don't hesitate to contact Natasha!