Sadly, I cannot speak to Kate's abilities with regard to the birthing process, since she was already booked for my due date. I am, however, able to discuss her nature, her knowledge, and her dedication. I suffer from a rare condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. It's a condition that had me hospitalized on three occasions, and on bed rest for six months. I lost my job, I was unable to connect with friends and family, I was too sick to speak, and I was on anti-nausea meds that kept me asleep or too groggy to think most of the day. To compound matters, I'm fairly new to LA and didn't have the social resources to help me through that incredibly difficult time. When I finally emerged from the fog, a friend recommended I research doulas for additional support, which is how I found Kate. When reaching out and explaining my situation, other doulas were "all business." Most let me know they were already booked, and explained that I should have researched doulas earlier (thank you for your wisdom). Kate was the exception that took note of my difficult situation and all but rushed to my rescue. While she was already booked for my due date, she reached out to her vast doula community to help me find someone who was a good fit. Because of my condition and the after-effects of being in solitary confinement for six months, my needs are high--and specific. So, helping me find another doula was no small feat. Kate also set me up with a slew of other resources to help me manage the mental and physical stress I had been going through. She also welcomed me into her new mom community, which seems to be exclusively made up of kind, cool, welcoming women. Kate has been nothing short of a Godsend to me. It's hard to express in a Yelp review just how desperate I was to feel supported. Somehow, in my six sentence inquiry email that was overlooked by a handful of other doulas, Kate saw through the fog and saw a woman in need. I am eternally grateful to her and anyone would be lucky to have her on their side. read more

Kate was our Doula for the birth of our second child just over a year ago and I could not have asked for more beautiful perfect support. I wasn't sure I was going to have a Doula the second time around. I felt that my husband and I already had a pretty solid birth partnership and because it was going to be a home birth we'd have lots of constant support from our midwife and her assistant. When we decided we wanted the extra love/care, we knew Kate should be that person. Perhaps what stands out most in my memory of Kate on that day is how she seemed to know exactly what was needed in each given moment. As a Doula myself, I'm aware that each birth is unique as is every couple and family. Sometimes a Doula needs to be very hands on, and sometimes not as much - more as a supportive presence in the room from a distance. Kate just totally took our cues and because of my husband and my relationship, because we'd done this before and because it was a shorter and easier labor...we did a lot of it on our own. But in the moments I needed Kate and didn't even know it, I'd look over and there she was - whispering the most perfect motivating and inspirational words in my ear, or massaging my neck and shoulders with lavender oil. I feel honored to have Kate in my life. It is clear that supporting new families is her true calling, and I can say from experience that any couple considering using her services will most definitely have a more peaceful and positive prenatal, birth and/or postpartum experience with Kate by their side. read more

I wish I could give Kate (Doula by Heart) more stars. Picking a doula can feel overwhelming. You are essentially choosing a stranger to join you on your intimate birthing journey. I interviewed at least 6 or 7 doulas before meeting Kate. As soon as we met her, my husband and I instantly knew that we wanted Kate to be our doula. She has such sweet, relaxed, loving energy. She also has a great sense of humor which immediately put us at ease. She drove to us in West LA for all of our appointments (we birthed at UCLA with the midwives). Kate was available for a call or text whenever we had a question or needed support. She is so committed to her families and you can just tell how much she enjoys being a doula. I had a very complicated labor and I just can't imagine getting through that without her. She was with me in the trenches supporting me through every step. I feel like she is my sister now. She was with me when I transformed into a mother and that is a profound experience to share with someone. After the birth of my baby she was there to support me and help me with breastfeeding. She came to visit me twice and she would call and text often to see how my baby, my husband, and I were doing. I just can't possibly say enough good things about my experience with her. I would be happy to talk to anyone considering Kate as their doula. Just ask her for my number or email and feel free to contact me. read more

Having Kate be part of our birth experience was the single best decision my husband and I made in bringing our baby boy into the world! From the moment we met with Kate, we knew she was the right doula for us. We met with a few other doulas in the process, and while everyone else were pleasant, we were immediately drawn to Kate's calm and loving spirit. Throughout our pregnancy, Kate visited with us, carefully helped to create and revise our birth plan, showed us massage techniques, and assured us everything would be ok and that we have prepared well for an all-natural childbirth! Additionally, she was ever ready to answer any random questions a new Mommy-to-be had over email, text, or phone call. Even before the birth, she also helped to prepare us for what we need for post-partum recovery. The day of our birth, she was with us from the moment we stepped inside the hospital until an hour after our son's birth - a period of over 20 hours total!! She was loving throughout the labor, helping me through all the difficult contractions, and supporting my husband through it. She was a soldier - and she did it with an ever ready smile, a hug, and a squeeze of the hand to let me know everything would be OK and that we would deliver our baby safely. Once our baby was born, Kate was there checking up on us - even bringing us soup to nourish the tired new parents! But she stepped up to the plate even more to help us work through the challenges of breastfeeding our little one. That went above and beyond the call of duty but she happily made time for us because she's amazing. She is forever part of our family now and our baby is lucky to have her in his life! Thank you, Kate! You are such a blessing to us. Being a doula is your true calling in life and we were fortunate to see your loving kindness in action. Love, the Villarin-Lavins read more

I was referred to Kate by our amazing insurance agent Tally Briggs, who is a personal friend of Kate's. (As an aside, Tally is a super rock star as well.) I've been hugely resistant to a hospital birth and unfortunately due to insurance and budgetary concerns have finally decided against the birth centers I've been wanting to work with throughout my pregnancy, and go with a hospital birth (covered by my insurance) instead. So bummed! Gut feeling: I've been so hesitant to go with a local OB who delivers at St. Joe's, since their reputation has been so notoriously intervention and c-section happy, but I figured I'd reach out to Kate, and see if she could be our doula and advocate for us wherever we decided to go. Unfortunately, Kate was already booked for my due date/month, BUT, even then, she has been so incredibly sweet and helpful!!!! Amazing. She's helped me look for another doula, and has talked me through a few questions and decisions that have been driving me nuts and have had my brain going around in circles for months. Kate has also helped me find some doctors that take my insurance whom she knows firsthand are also natural birth and doula friendly, AND has recommended the hospitals where she's had the most positive experience as a doula. AND she's offered to answer any other questions that come up. I hope I get to come back to Kate for Baby #2!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH KATE!!!!! read more

All the stars. It feels somehow trite to write a review for the service that Kate provides because pregnancy and childbirth is so transformational - she is such that no review could do her justice. But if I had to try :) Kate is such a lovely person, so kind, so caring, so calm, so non - judgmental, so supportive. Exactly the type of person that you would want with you along your journey and also when things get tough. But besides being a wonderful human, she is also excellent at the service she provides. Kate was with me for my second pregnancy and childbirth after my first kiddo was born via csection at 35 weeks gestation. I had a super medical and scary pregnancy and birth experience the first time around and Kate was so good at helping me through some of the lingering stuff that I was feeling during this second pregnancy. Kate was always there for me, through all stages of the pregnancy and anytime I felt like I needed her. She played such a huge role in helping me get a wonderful birth experience AND my pain med free VBAC! She was superb in pregnancy, during the birth, and also after with breastfeeding and through my recovery. I am positive my pregnancy and delivery were so much better because of Kate's support. read more

Kate is amazing. She was supportive throughout my pregnancy - she talked to me after each doctor's appointment and always responded quickly when I called or emailed with whatever new anxiety I had developed that day. Her responses were calm, reassuring, and down-to-earth - exactly what a new mom needs. Kate's support extended beyond our birth as well. She not only visited us in the hospital but also took care of some needed tasks at our house and visited us in the early days and brought us food! Hiring Kate felt like hiring a great friend. I highly recommend her. read more

Kate is a blessing. We decided to hire a doula for a few reasons and found Kate through a network of newly minted parents who sung her praises. Our first meeting was kismet. The connection was immediate. My husband and I hail from the Midwest, as does Kate, and our family is far away. We needed a warm spirit to support us through the pregnancy as well as labor/delivery. Throughout the pregnancy, and since having our daughter, I would meet up for the monthly walks Kate hosts for her current and former clients. She cultivates an amazing support system for all of her clients. During the months leading up to delivery she would suggest audio files to consider for labor and make them available via Drop Box. Kate also helped us find a birthing class, suggested reading materials and dietary considerations. Her approach and involvement didn't feel temporary. Kate makes your relationship a lifelong journey. She wants all her clients to feel her enthusiasm for this remarkable experience. Kate is a blessing. We had a long and arduous labor...30+ hours. Kate was present via text and phone during the early stages and reminded us to rest, eat and allow this time its role. Once labor kicked into gear she was there quickly. Our babe was OP, Osterior Positioned...i.e. sunny-side up, which meant I had some mean back labor. She did the hip-squeeze for hours at a time and was so positive. Kate's involvement saved me. Our birth did not go as planned. They rarely do as I've learned. I later questioned what I may have done differently to change the outcome; we ended up with a cesarean. Kate has helped me heal. She has reminded me of all we did and tried. She has empowered me as a mother and a woman. She has reassured us that our birth was special and sacred. I can only imagine how scary this might have been for my husband without the constant reassurance Kate gave us. Jeff has said on countless occasions how important it was to have her there. Kate is a blessing. Facts about Kate Zachary, Doula by Heart... 1. She calls her clients "Mama". 'Cause we are Mamas, even before we give birth. 2. She is fiercely committed to your birth preferences and is the most amazing advocate. 3. She writes a beautiful birth story that you and your family will cherish. 4. Her touch, hugs, words and support are warm and enduring. If you are looking for a Doula, look no further. read more

Kate was our doula, and we adored her. Still do! It was the birth of our first child and an experience my husband and I will cherish forever. We are both very far from our family and Kate was the guiding protective nurturing wise and wonderful support system we needed... in so many more ways than we can count. She thought of things we didn't, and helped us choose our direction so many times when we felt like deers in the headlights. Anyway, I echo everything that has been said on here from all her past clients, except one. I am literally floored that there would be a negative review and was sad to read that one. It just sounded like it wasn't in the cards for that pairing to work out. We honestly had the most amazing beautiful birth and we could not be more grateful for her presence and her guidance. So so so so grateful!!! read more

Kate was the perfect doula for me. I had her help me with my second pregnancy/delivery. I was able to give birth naturally/drug free! She kept me focused and positive during the entire labor. She was caring, calm, warm and made my husband feel good and useful too! We seriously could not have done it without her. She is worth every penny!!! Love her! read more

I interviewed several doulas when my husband and I decided wanted someone to support our birth journey. Kate was simply the right choice for us. She embodies the energy and soul of a dear friend. She's the kind of person who I felt I had known my entire life, though I had only just met her. She kept in amazing communication with me during my entire pregnancy... She had all of my important dates in her calendar, i.e. doctor's appointments, important tests, due date, and checked in with me at each milestone. it was like having a birth professional, nutritionist specialist, creative collaborator, cheerleader, confident coach, and best friend, in my pocket at my finger tips at all times! If I was feeling nervous or frustrated with some aspect of my pregnancy experience, Kate was there. She answered my phone calls even while she was on vacation, and kept in very close contact with both me and my husband not only through my pregnancy, but also after our amazing daughter arrived. When I look back at my baby's beautiful birth day, I smile thinking about Kate at each step of the way, reassuring us when we needed it, letting us do our thing when we needed to, and always ALWAYS empowering me to be the strong woman and mother that I am. If you're looking for a doula, I would say the same thing to you that someone said to me. Interview as many doulas as you need to. It is an incredibly personal decision. You're looking for someone with whom you are comfortable, and with whom you can be vulnerable. For us, Kate was an immediate match. She brought exactly the right mix of joy, love, humor, reverence, gentleness, and strength to our birth journey. I honestly cannot imagine having gone through all of this without her. read more

Working with Kate was the absolute best experience. She was generous with her time, knowledge and love for me and my husband as we went through an amazing process. I was so grateful for her before, during and especially after the birth of my daughter. She empowered me with love and knowledge, and I am forever grateful. She is a true gem and anyone lucky enough to work with her is blessed. read more

Horrible experience and service by Kate Zachary! DOULA BUYER BEWARE!!! Disclaimer: This will be a very long review I am so sad to have to write this review, but don't want anyone to experience the terrible service and heartache that me and my husband endured for a little less than 1 month. I am currently pregnant and wee are expecting our first child in December. We decided to utilize a doula because we felt that we needed some additional support and guidance during our pregnancy and birthing. I emailed Kate Zachary and we agreed on a date and time for her to come by for our complimentary consultation. We had issues from the very beginning because she cancelled twice (1ST RED FLAG), but did apologize and we decided to try again for a third time. When we met in person, she seemed nice and explained that her packages included 2 in person meetings and unlimited phone and email support from day 1 leading up until our birth. We told her our expectant due date was Dec 6th and she said that she MAY be here, but she doesn't know because she could be traveling for the holidays and she has other births in Dec, but assured us that if she isn't here, she would have a backup doula available. Before she left, I explained to her that I was interested in taking a hypnobabies class and utilizing the technique during our birth. She said that she would ask around to see if she could recommend a class for us to take, and also, she said that she would reach out to the instructor to get some insight on the technique, so she could help us even more during our birth. Shortly after, my husband and I decided that we wanted to move forward with hiring Kate. Our biggest mistake ever! We mailed in the contract along with a 50% deposit on Sept. 5th. We waited a little over a week, and didn't hear anything from Kate, so my husband checked his bank account and it showed that she cashed the check 2 days after we mailed it without any notice to us! I was shocked that she cashed the check and didn't even tell us that she received the contract or deposit, and no word to confirm if we were indeed birthing with her. I emailed her and she replied back stating that she had 3 births that week and didn't have time to be in front of the computer (but I actually found out later on down the road, when i called to cancel with her, that she changed her story and said that she had been out of town, and she didn't cash the check...her husband did without her knowing)...wth??? I felt a bit uneasy, but nonetheless, we let it go and decided to move forward. (2nd RED FLAG) Over the next couple of weeks, I emailed her to tell her that we found a hypnobabies instructor on our own (because she never provided a referral, as she said she would - 3RD RED FLAG), and we provided her with our instructors name and phone number for Kate to call and follow up. Our hynobabies instructor also told us to extend an invitation for her to sit in on a class, so they could meet in person, and she can thoroughly explain the concept of hypnobabies to Kate. To prevent making a long story even longer, of course, Kate NEVER followed up with our instructor. (4th RED FLAG) After going a few weeks of having very limited COMMUNICATION with Kate, I sent her an email on Oct 1st (a little less than a month from signing the contract with her) letting her know that I was not satisfied with how things were going. I truly expected a doula to get to know their clients, develop a relationship/friendship with their clients, and do simple things like ASK, "HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING?" "HOW ARE YOU FEELING" "HOW WAS YOUR DOCTORS APPOINTMENT" "ARE YOU FEELING ANXIOUS OR DO YOU HAVE ANY ANXIETY, OR FEARS ABOUT YOUR BIRTH"? Nothing...nada...not a phone call....not an email. NOTHING! After I gave her our money, we barely heard a peep out of her. The reason I hired a doula was for SUPPORT (which includes emotional and physical) not just for my birthing date, but for this entire pregnancy process. I sent her an email explaining how I felt and she followed up with OUR FIRST PHONE CALL EVER (since signing the contract). Over the phone, I explained how I did not feel like we were establishing a "relationship" and how I did not want to feel like my doula, was just another Doctor or nurse in the hospital. I need to be able to TRUST you and feel COMFORTABLE with you, and the problem is....I DON"T KNOW YOU & YOU DON"T KNOW ME! I felt like she made NO EFFORT to develop this type of supportive relationship that we were seeking, so I decided that after all of the red flags, this was it. I'm not happy, and I want to cancel. I offered to allow her to keep $50 for the initial complimentary consultation, but to please refund the remaining deposit. She refused to refund me ANYTHING! She said because her contract says non-refundable, but let's be fair! She knows for this short time that we had her, she did absolutely NOTHING FOR US!! This was a $525 learning lesson for me. read more

If you are looking for a grounded, calm, nurturing and reliable doula who is truly there to support both husband and wife through the birth process, the Kate is your gal. She is a very likeable person with a loving heart who is very well trained and lives for what she does. We hired Kate to help us with our first child and knew the moment we met her that we could trust her implicitly. She supported my wife and I in totally different ways that helped us feel safe and secure while also playing a key role in empowering my wife to have a natural birth. Since then we have referred her to all of our pregnant friends and they all had the same positive experience we did. Kate was born to be a doula, and I highly recommend interviewing her before making your decision. read more

Kate was our doula for the birth of our daughter, our first kid. She was great. (Well, they both were.) She worked with us in the months leading up to the birth to make sure we knew what to expect, and on the day of, her presence brought warmth and comfort to the hospital room. As doctors (frustratingly) cycled on and off shift and new faces appeared throughout the labor, Kate was the constant. She did a great job helping me, the father, support my wife through labor. I never felt like she was usurping me, but when I didn't know what to do Kate was always there with a suggestion. And then when our daughter came, Kate knew just when to slip out quietly to let us enjoy our first moments of family time together. Overall my experience was very much in line with the positive reviews from other Yelpers. read more

I interviewed a good handful of doulas. Kate was hands-down the best choice out of them all. She is SOO AUTHENTIC, caring and just a genuinely good person. From her emails to phone calls and her visits to my house, she made me feel comfortable and cared for. I had a home birth and she was awesome during the whole labor and delivery process - I felt assured just having her there. The midwives said she was really helpful and she was! She made sure I was hydrated and fed, she took videos and pictures, she cleaned up the miscellaneous things that you just can't do because you're in labor or recovering from delivery. She even made me homemade soup and bread when she came for a postpartum visit. I don't think I'm having anymore kids, but if I were, I would call her again to be my doula. read more

Kate is kind, soothing, nurturing and knowledgeable. We couldn't have made a better Doula choice. She was comforting and informative throughout a difficult labor. She helped both my husband and I keep calm and focused. You can tell she loves being a part of the experience and helped keep us joyful and upbeat and well as easing my discomfort. She is the best there is! read more

My wife and I recently had a baby girl, and we hired Kate as our doula through the process. Kate is amazing. Even though we delivered at Cedars we decided to have a doula guide us through the process since it is our first child. And looking back, I don't know how we could have done it without her. Kate visited us twice prior to the delivery to answer any questions and to let us know what we could expect. We were hoping to labor as much as possible at home but unfortunately weren't able to that when my wife was induced. Kate was with us throughout at the hospital guiding my wife and keeping me calm throughout the process. Following the delivery Kate visited us at home to make sure we were comfortable and constantly checked in with us. We are a long way from thinking about another child but if we do we will definitely ask Kate to help us through the process again. She is amazing. read more

Kate was my post-partum doula. She helped me through the early weeks with my son which were so shocking for me! I had no idea what I was getting into and Kate saved me. She helped me figure out how my life could work with this new little person in it and she also taught me a ton about caring for my baby. She is kind and encouraging and just makes everything feel better! read more

I can't say enough good things about Kate. She came highly recommended to me by my midwife and I'm so glad I had Kate there for my birth. I had a home birth and I couldn't have done it without Kate. I talked with quite a few doulas before choosing one but had an instant connection with Kate. I went into labor late at night and immediately called Kate to come over. She was so supportive and came over so quickly even though we live quite a distance apart from each other - she was with me throughout my labor and a huge help after the delivery as well. Everyone has a calling and Kate has definitely found hers- she is amazing at what she does! read more

We love Kate so much. A friend of a friend recommended her and she was the first doula we met. She walked through the door and we immediately knew she was the right person to help get us through this crazy journey- her energy is just beautiful and calming (our high energy dogs even got super relaxed around her) and she has the most non judgmental, thoughtful way of talking you through every stage of pregnancy. She's also constantly available via text and checks in the perfect amount without being pushy. Once I hit 41 weeks of being pregnant, I started to get anxious about inducing- I was getting some contractions but they were irregular and Kate was an amazing coach throughout the frustrating process. She also came over and showed me some exercises that eventually got my labor really started and counseled me when to go the the hospital at the perfect time. Once we got there she knew all the right questions to ask of the nurses (she got me the midwife instead of the resident doctor who was fabulous and put me at complete ease). She was then by our side throughout labor- helping my husband assist me, offering new positions to try, giving me food and water but mostly just telling me I could do this and would meet my son very soon. It was honestly a magical experience - without her I wouldn't have been able to deliver our son the way I wanted to. After leaving the hospital she has been an incredible resource for breastfeeding and has come over several times. In the first couple of weeks at home, when we were exhausted and overwhelmed, Kate was able to give us confidence and support. Two and a half weeks in, we are still benefiting from her nearly daily texts and visits. Kate is just special. We are so happy to have her in our life and couldn't recommend her more highly. read more