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.

We had our third child at home under the care of Lisa Marie and Richard. All our prenatal visits…read morewere in our home in south Orange County and involved our other children. Each visit was personal, not rushed, and thorough. We got to know them so well in the months leading up to our daughter's birth. The birth was beautiful, peaceful and exactly what we had been hoping for. We are so grateful for their expertise, gentle spirit and tender care throughout this pregnancy, birth and into postpartum.

I cannot talk more highly of Lisa Marie and Richard. Upon meeting them, I knew right away I would…read moreuse them as my birth team. They have assisted me for two pregnancies and births now and have always received excellent care. There is nothing like having them come to the comfort of your own home and support your family in this way. They have become family and will absolutely use them again in the future if that is what is the plans for us.

Having Jessie as a midwife enabled me to have the most beautiful pregnancy and birth experience. I…read morefeel so grateful that I had the ability to have a home birth because it was a life changing and transformative experience, and that was in no small part due to who Jessie is and how she works. Contrasting from OB care where every appointment is hurried and routine, Jessie invests in you as a person. Appointments are up to one hour and explore all aspects of health: physical, emotional, mental, etc. Jessie has a magical way about her in the way she advises you and listens that's non-judgmental but supportive. I felt so empowered and supported through it all. During the birth, I'll never forget when Jessie looked me in the eye as I neared the end and told me the only way out was through and I took a big breath and powered through. We did a home, water birth and it was the most special experience. I hope more and more women are able to navigate pregnancy and birth with Jessie or midwives like her. And overall I left this experience wiser about my own body and health, prepared to care for our baby, more confident and more.

This review is long over due. First and foremost the quality of care you will receive from Jessie…read moreprenatally and postpartum is like nothing you will ever experience from a traditional OB/ Provider. She is genuinely caring, compassionate, nurturing and responsive. We had a few scares during our pregnancy that of course had to happen later at night and she was quick to answer and respond in a calm but urgent way. The same has been true postpartum. She ALWAYS has you & your babies health and best interests in mind when discussing options and care. She is informative and relays the perfect mix of holistic/ evidence based medicine and western medicine if needed. Once you have a conversation with her you'll understand why she is the best. Jessie, We love you so much and we are so grateful that you were with us every step of the way to bring our baby girl into the world happy and healthy.

Melanie helped me deliver my third baby. I had a traumatic hospital birth with my first and knew I…read morewanted to do a natural home birth with my second. I went with a midwifery that operated more like a company rather than a personalized experience. This other midwifery missed my 2nd child's birth. Being pregnant with my 3rd, I still wanted to have a natural home birth but with a midwife who will be there every step of the way and not miss my birth! Melanie immediately sympathize with my experience and assured me that she would never want that to happen to me...especially because it happened to her with the same midwifery! I knew right then and there she was my gal. Her prenatal care was pleasant and enjoyable. She cared about me as a whole. We spent so much of my time talking and I felt more excited and positive about my birthing. She is kind, knowledgeable and confident. I had a couple times when my contractions that were pretty far apart but I still wanted Melanie to know. She didn't blow me off but checked in on me to see if things progressed. I still didn't have the baby. Finally when I had contractions that were 2-10 mins apart, I called her saying I think the baby was going to come. Eventhough the contractions were not consistent, she asked me if I believed it was strong like real labor contractions. I said yes and she was at my front door 45 mins later. An hour later I had the baby! She didn't miss my birth and let me guide my instincts. During my labor, she was helping me relax which help so much. At one point, the baby's head was out but hadn't turn so she strongly urged me to push with all my might. I didn't know at the time the concern but she walked me through it with confidence and didn't cause me to worry. Baby came out healthy! Baby was born at 5am and after the clean up, my other two kids woke up at 7am just in time to greet their baby sis. She was always so kind to let my girls help during all my check ups. They loved her and couldn't wait to see Melanie. Melanie came to visit me at my home at my 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks visit. It was such a blessing because I would have dreaded getting out of the house after having the baby. I still message Melanie with questions even after I have had the baby. She also did my pap smear. Eventhough I don't plan to have anymore babies, I'd definitely recommend Melanie to any moms looking to have a natural home birth.

My care with Melanie started when I was 28 weeks pregnant due to wanting a change in my care. She…read morewas recommended to me by a doula and boy am I so glad I gave her a call!!! (Always wish I had called her sooner) immediately when I met her she had such a friendly comforting vibe to her. She was super happy to help with changing my birth plan so late in the game to do a home birth and was very accommodating. She came to my house once a week and did her routine and what I loved about her was she didn't just care about my physical health but also my mental health. She helped me talk through some things I was going through and always with such positivity and care. I really looked forward to our visits. When it came to my birth she came at just the right time. She and her assistant were amazing. They offered water when I needed it, making sure the water was nice and warm, let me and my husband work through my contractions together when I needed him, all while preparing everything for my postpartum care so quietly. The care and love I received from Melanie was everything I needed during my pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. I couldn't have picked a better midwife. Our family is forever grateful for you!

Ana is very professional and knowledgeable, yet deeply caring and respectful of your opinions and…read morevalues. Even though this was my third pregnancy, I learned so much about how to care for myself and my baby. I loved that she wasn't pushy, but gave us the facts and let us make our own decisions. We often covered the importance of exercise and nutrition, and I made changes from that, which I believe contributed to a smoother and easier pregnancy than my first two. She also was so calm and professional throughout my labor and delivery. My husband noted how much he appreciated her composure during the most intense moments of my labor. She's the kind of person you'd want by your side when you're not in the right frame of mind. She also collaborated very well with her assistant, respecting her skills and experience during my postpartum assessment. We loved having her as our first midwife and home birth experience and will definitely be reaching out to her again in the future!

Ana is a godsend. When I was planning to have my 5th baby, the one thing I knew for sure is that I…read morewanted to have him at home. I interviewed so many great midwives, but as soon as I met Ana, I knew she was the right fit. She took me on late in my pregnancy (27ish weeks), and onboarding with her was so easy. The care that I received from her was supportive, kind, compassionate and steady. I appreciate how calm and nurturing she is while staying firm in her knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and of a woman's body overall. Her care is holistic and evidence-based, and she makes her clients actual partners in their care. We never did anything that I was uncomfortable with (which is almost unheard of in a hospital birth). When I started to go overdue, she was there to reassure me, and because she genuinely trusts the process of birth, she helped me trust my body as well. I had an absolutely amazing birth experience that my husband and I wouldn't trade for anything. My baby is two now (sorry this is so late!), but I still think of Ana often and so fondly. She became part of our family for the time she was with us and I will always love her for helping me have the birth experience of my dreams (even at 43 years old). Thank you Ana!

I took Lia's childbirth class during my first pregnancy in 2023. I live in South Orange County, so…read morethe drive was a bit of a commitment, but it was absolutely worth it. Being in class with other expectant couples created such a supportive environment, and the course was incredibly comprehensive. It gave me the knowledge and confidence to navigate a hospital birth and make informed decisions about the many interventions that are commonly offered. At 38 weeks, my water broke unexpectedly while I was riding a stationary bike. I immediately reached out to Lia for guidance. Since I wasn't experiencing a fever or any signs of infection, she explained that I had options: I could either go to the hospital right away or stay home and wait for labor to begin naturally. She also educated me about the fact that the body continues producing amniotic fluid and that, in some cases, a small rupture in the membranes may even reseal. Knowing that going to the hospital before labor started would likely lead to an induction (which wasn't aligned with my goal of having an unmedicated birth) I chose to stay home and monitor myself. The night before my 39-week OB appointment, I was feeling anxious. I knew that if my provider confirmed my water had broken before labor had started, induction would almost certainly be recommended. I reached out to Lia again, and she suggested trying the Miles Circuit. I followed the stretches that evening, and to my surprise, I went into early labor around 1:00 a.m. Whether it was the Miles Circuit, my body simply being ready, or a combination of both, it gave me the confidence to keep trusting the process. In January 2024, I welcomed a healthy baby girl through the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. While my hospital experience was unfortunately traumatic, the education Lia provided made all the difference. There were many moments when my husband, my doula, and I had to advocate for my birth preferences, and it wasn't always met with respect. Without the knowledge and confidence I gained from Lia's class, I truly believe my birth could have unfolded very differently. I'm now pregnant with my second baby, and one of the first things I did was sign up to retake Lia's class. One of the biggest perks is that once you've taken her course, you can retake it as many times as you'd like for free. Childbirth education isn't something you only benefit from once, and I love having the opportunity to refresh everything I've learned before welcoming another baby. I'm incredibly grateful for everything Lia taught us. Her class empowered me to make informed decisions, advocate for myself, and approach birth with confidence. I wholeheartedly recommend her course to any expecting parents, especially those hoping for an evidence-based, physiologic birth. Even if you have to drive a little farther to attend like I did, it's worth every mile.

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've had two home births with Sue and I recommend her to anyone who wants a home birth. Her…read moreexperience and knowledge are unmatched, and she always gave me the confidence I needed. After a not so stellar experience with the local birth center for my first baby, I was so thankful to have Sue. I never felt rushed, and she always made me feel like my concerns were valid. When I had my first baby with Sue, I did start bleeding a lot after the baby was born, but Sue handled it without panicking or making me panic. The second home birth went really smooth and no issues. My two boys born at home have been so healthy and I honestly can't say enough good things about Sue!

Words won't be able to express my appreciation or gratitude towards our midwife Sue Gill. When my…read morehusband and I decided on a home birth we were recommend Sue as a midwife from a well trusted friend who had gone through the process with her. There was an instant connection and we knew she would be the best fit for our growing family. Not only is Sue warm hearted, trustworthy and reliable, she is extremely good at what she does. Here are some numbers if you are more of a factual person. Sue has attended over 700 home births and out of those her hospital transport for c-section rate is about 3%. Hospital rates are about 35% or greater. Holy smokes isn't that incredible. That is a ton of healthy babies that she has successfully brought into this world providing not only the mamas but also the families with a tremendous amount of love and support. An added bonus is Sue is always accessible via text or calls for any questions or concerns that may come up. Also, I highly recommend the documentary( the business of being born). Extremely informative and was another added bonus on why a home birth was best for our family. I can't forget to mention I had the most caring and supportive doula Tessa alongside with Sue. I know I forever have a friend and am over the moon thankful for everything she has done not only for me personally but also for our family.