Melanie was our doula for our first baby and we were very glad to have someone knowledgeable and extremely confident in her abilities and expertise. We chose her because we wanted someone who was calm, used methods based in research-backed science, and had the right balance of logic/practicality to fit with our style and some emotional/breathwork to push us to embrace that part of the experience. We ended up needing to switch OB-GYNs in my 39th week and Melanie was supportive and helped talk us through that decision, which ended up being the best decision we could have made. We had Melanie stay on postpartum for a couple of weeks to help with baby's sleep and care and although we have been lucky to have a good sleeper, that extra set of hands at night was super helpful for us to get some recovery and a great start to parenthood. read more

Melanie was our doula for our 2nd pregnancy. She offered great advice during our prenatal and postpartum visits. At the hospital, she worked collaboratively with our nursing team, created a calm environment for labor, and helped me stay comfortable and kept me moving. Melanie is knowledgeable and calm, and I'm so glad she was our doula. read more

Melanie was our doula for my first birth. I was incredibly anxious about giving birth and Melanie was able to quell some of those fears with resources and evidence-based articles and podcasts. My birth ended going extremely well and I think that was due to Melanie's care and knowledge of getting everything ready. She stayed with us for a long labor and kept my birth plan at the top of mind so all of the hospital staff respected it. Highly recommend her! read more

Mel was an essential part of the births of both our daughters. I can't imagine doing it without a doula especially one as skilled and loving as Mel. The hospital systems are set up to rush you through the process and sometimes at the expense of the mother and or child. Mel advises on the human process and teaches you to look for the natural birth process cues to know when you are ready. In addition she was their pre birth, for the birth and post birth for mom which was essential. I wouldn't recommend anybody have a child without this assistance if you have a choice. read more

We had Melanie as our birth and postpartum doula with our second child. She is incredibly kind and supportive, not just with me but with my husband as well who was having back problems at the time. One of the best decisions we made was choosing her as our doula, it helped so much to have someone experienced and comfortable with the entire process as well as with our OB (Dr. Nishio @ St John's). Both my husband and I never experienced the newborn exhaustion phase because of her and we are so thankful she set us off on a good path for our postpartum journey. Although we didn't have to resort to a back-up doula for the birth (we had always known my due date overlapped with travel plans she had made long in advance), her two backups that were in contact with me leading up to the birth and one that came when I was laboring at home were both amazing and we were very reassured. Ultimately having her with us during and after the birth was so healing for me especially after the traumatic postpartum experience we had the first time round. read more

I can't recommend my doula Mellie enough! She was an absolute game-changer from start to finish. Before the birth, Mellie prepped me thoroughly on what I'd need afterward and shared so many little hacks I never would have known. During the birth itself, having someone as reliable and confident as Mellie to guide me was a huge relief. She took the guesswork out of everything with her calm, experienced advice and even had amazing insights into my baby's positioning, basically predicting how my birth would go. After the birth, Mellie continued to be an incredible resource, helping me with all the newborn care tips I needed. I felt truly at ease and grateful for Mellie's confident, reassuring presence every step of the way. read more

I can't say enough good things about working with Melanie! We brought her back around our daughters 4 month regression as we had started to wake up every hour and were too reliant on the pacifier. Prior to arrival we had a call to catch up on what our current sleep struggle and goals were and Melanie created a plan for us to implement. She came back over for a night to show us how to teach our daughter to self soothe without the pacifier and help trouble shoot issues that arose in the middle of the night. The following days Melanie provided assistance virtually by hoping on a call each morning to discuss the prior nights sleep events and would help give us points to work on. After 4 nights our daughter now completely self soothes! She only wakes us up once to feed in the middle of the night, takes longer naps and no longer requires the pacifier to fall asleep! We are so happy working with Melanie and couldn't recommend her more. read more

Doula Mellie - Lactation Services Near Me

Melanie helped me through the birth of my first child, from a prenatal visit where she took me through positioning, gear, and exercises, a breastfeeding class, and of course the big day. Nothing went according to plan but Melanie handled everything with grace and went above and beyond for us. She came to the hospital as soon as she could (in the middle of the night, no less). As soon as she arrived the atmosphere of my labor room went from panic to calm with her grounded demeanor and command of the situation, which included a diffuser, calming music, the right sustenance, guidance through the process, and so much more. She saw me through my entire labor until my baby arrived and was safely on my chest, beginning to breastfeed, and followed up with us at home a few days later. We are now a few weeks in and Melanie has remained in touch for any questions which is such a blessing. Hiring Melanie was a great decision!!! read more

We hired Melanie as our birth doula for my hospital birth in Feb. I'm an older first time mom and felt that I went above and beyond to prepare for birth during my pregnancy. And even being as well read and knowledgeable on the birth process, nothing can truly prepare you for the real deal when it's game time. Hiring her was one of the most important decisions we made for our birth. So grateful that Melanie was with us during our journey. Particularly since my birth journey got more and more complicated as it progressed. She was calm and directed when we have to make tough game time decisions every step of the way. She was the reassuring presence we needed when things felt scary and uncertain. She also has the experience to help us make the best decisions to move us forward. After birth, she always checked in with us to make sure we are doing ok and continued to be our guide during transition in postpartum. If you're looking for an experienced guide who can tell it to straight while offering an anchoring presence during birth, I highly recommend hiring Melanie as your doula. read more

I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it was to have Melanie as our doula. She is knowledgeable, caring, responsive, and is a delight to get to know as well. I really could not have asked for a better person to help guide my husband and I through our birth experience. I can also say with certainty that she goes above and beyond in the provision of services compared to other doula's. Melanie provided an extensive in-home assessment a month prior to our delivery date and gave me stretches and advice for preparing for labor. She then met with us a second time to go over our birth plan and to discuss our preferences and to walk us through things we may not have thought of which was extremely helpful and gave peace of mind. Having her to call and get advice and insight pre and post delivery, along with her support day of delivery were invaluable. Day of delivery she provided much needed guidance, support and advocacy (along with some much needed laughs!). Post delivery she came for an at-home visit to help us with lactation questions and other first time parent concerns, and much to my surprise she followed up with phone calls thereafter checking in. She made me feel supported throughout my entire pregnancy-pre and post-and I truly cannot recommend her enough for being a part of your intimate and life changing time, we are forever grateful that she was with us on this journey! read more

Melanie was the doula for the birth of my second child. This experience was so much more positive than the birth of my first child and having Melanie on our team was a major part of why. She was very helpful with birth preparation including exercises, discussing the birth plan, and providing reassurance. She was super responsive and showed up quickly at the hospital when we needed her. Melanie was exceptionally helpful throughout the labor and birth and in communicating with the hospital staff and ensuring that my preferences were honored. She came for a follow up visit the day after we got home from the hospital to debrief, answer any questions I had, and make sure we were feeling well, and then she called again to check in the next week. I cannot emphasize enough how glad I am to have had Melanie's support. Highly recommend! read more

Melanie was our postpartum night doula for our first child. She was great and such a big part of us having a smooth (all things considered!) transition into parenthood. Melanie both provided relief / rest to us as new parents, but also provided support and guidance for making us self sufficient - actually a big part of her philosophy, and why we chose to work with Melanie, was her commitment to helping us be independent (too bad we can't rely on doulas forever!!). In addition, Melanie was great with helping us understand what gear / set ups we really did and did not need (her recommendations were really helpful and help cut through the big, expensive world of what baby gear could cost). Finally, we really liked that Melanie was really also an advocate for the baby herself - how babies function, what they need, and how to really understand and meet their needs / help them feel safe in this big new scary world, which was very heartwarming. Would happily have Melanie again, and recommend her to others! read more

My wife had an absolutely miserable pregnancy. Because of my work, I was forced to be away from her for virtually her entire third trimester and there was a chance I might miss the birth of our baby as well. Reluctantly, we interviewed a few doulas virtually and took a chance on Mellie. Taking that chance was easily one of the best things we've ever done. She met with my wife a few times prior to the day to show some exercises and recommend some remedies to ease her pregnancy. But where Mellie really shined bright was the labor and delivery. Baby decided to come a few days early and thankfully I was in town. Mellie came down to the hospital shortly after we were admitted and did not leave our side for essentially the entire 14 hours she was there. I had to practically beg her to go take a lunch. We consider ourselves pretty well-read, but nothing prepares you for the day; the questions you get asked and the decisions you need to make. Mellie was the best intermediary between us and the hospital staff and ensured that my wife never took an intervention she didn't need, and encouraged proper steps when it seemed like she need them. Often times you hear the term "a master of their craft", but in Mellie's case, those words ring 100% true. She will forever be a part of our birth experience and continues to provide advice and support even now that our bundle is here and healthy. Hire her. Now! read more

I can't say enough great things about our experience with Melanie. We recently had TRIPLETS, and knew part of our strategy was going to be working with a nighttime doula to help us get some sleep. Hurdles were abound as we got the kiddos here, they were born very prematurely, and came home at different times. During their NICU stay, Melanie was amazing support via text and calls to ensure we got off on the right foot with breast feeding, and walking me through best steps when I got mastitis. She checked in on us regularly for emotional and mental support during a crazy tough phase of having 3 babies in the hospital for several months. She went well above and beyond before we even had our first night with her. Once the babies came home, Melanie was a vital support piece for us. She not only ensured we got some rest, she brought the most calming energy, thoughtful experience, fantastic ideas, and powerful strategies into our home every night she was here. After working together for 6 weeks, Melanie had us and the babies trained to have peaceful nights and mornings, and a rock solid routine for caring for multiples. I can't begin to imagine how exhausted we would be right now if not for her support and care. Her expertise and energy have been one of the best investments we could have ever made for our family. Thank you, Melanie!! read more

I would like to say huge thank you to Melanie. It was my second pregnancy and I decided to have natural ( no medical interventions, no medical induction and no epidural) birth at the hospital. Unfortunately with pandemic situation they allowed only one person in birthing room so I decided to have doula with me to help cope with pain and advocate with medical staff. I had a couple of phone/zoom interviews with doulas and chose Melanie because I felt we have similar characters and will cooperate really well. I was right. The whole experience to have doula by your side during pregnancy is life changing: I always had support, answer to every question and second opinion besides my doctor's. We had to prenatal meetings and non stop messaging and phone conversations. Melanie showed physical exercises for me personally and also tips to help with pain during early labor for me and my husband. She also helped a lot with nutrition and supplements advice. My due date was October 1st 2020 but the baby did not want to get out so we decided to get acupuncture session to jump start things. It was successful and I had prodromal labor for a couple of days. Finally I gave birth on October 5th 12.07 am. It happened very fast (1 hour) and I never made it to the hospital. In fact it happened at home with the help of my husband. Emergency and Melanie came literally 1 second after the baby girl was born. Thank God she was on the phone with my husband all the time and instructed us. Well, it was all natural as I wanted I just wish I did recognize that I was so close and had called Melanie just a few minutes earlier. To cut a long story short, having Melanie by my Side was the best thing I could do for me and my baby. Great person, amazing doula, unforgettable experience. read more

We hired Melanie as a birth doula for the birth of our second child. I wanted an unmedicated birth and was looking for someone who can help me move and change positions to best support the current stage of labor, as well as help me through contractions with massages and counter pressure. During the prenatal visits we went over exercises and positions that help the baby position herself correctly before labor starts, as well as positions and massages that i can take during labor. Her support during the actual birth in the hospital was the most valuable part. She knew her way around the labor and delivery room and made sure the atmosphere was as relaxing as possible. She moved the bed into positions i didn't even know it could take and really utilized the birth ball for position changes and helped me get into a comfortable and good position for the final pushing stage. She also helped me understand the signs of my body as labor progressed and let me know that we are moving in a good direction. During pushing there were a lot of people in the room saying and asking lots of things. Melanie helped me stay focused on my body and she helped tremendously in communicating with the hospital team. She made it easy for me to advocate for my needs (e.g. the position I want to give birth in). The hospital staff was also very respectful and didn't push back. So that worked well together. So thanks to her i had an amazing, empowering unmedicated hospital birth! read more

As first time parents without any local family/support system, my husband and I both knew that we would benefit greatly from the advice of a birth doula to help us navigate the final weeks of our pregnancy. We couldn't have asked for a better partner on this journey than Melanie. She's a wealth of knowledge and her ability to 'shoot it straight' helped us both become more comfortable and confident to advocate for the birth we were hoping to experience. More importantly, when our plan could not be realized, Melanie was right there with us helping us assess the situation & ultimately make the decision that was right for our new family. Melanie is the best at what she does & we both felt so supported every step of the way - we are so grateful to share such a special moment of our lives with her. read more

Hiring Melanie as my birth doula was the best decision I could have made for me and my husband. She made the process so much more comfortable and my husband and I don't know what we would have done without her. She was always responsive and checked on me frequently with such kindness and I could tell she really cared about me and what I was going through. I was induced over a week past my due date and she was a huge source of encouragement and helped me to stay strong during weeks of intense pre labor. She made me feel empowered like a strong warrior and helped me to trust my body and instincts. I also had severe complications during my delivery and Melanie was extremely supportive and gave me awesome strategies to cope with the stress and pain of my induction, helping me stay calm. Not only was she there during the labor and delivery, but she stayed with us while I was undergoing an emergency operation after hemorrhaging and came over the next day to help us with breastfeeding and any questions we had. When she wasn't physically with us she was a text, call, or Facetime away. She was filled with knowledge and helped me make important decisions about my birth, including creating a birth plan. She even went over my registry with me and offered suggestions based on her experience. Everything she recommended has worked out great. We also took her breastfeeding class, which was really helpful in preparing us to feed our newborn. Thank you Melanie for making me feel supported throughout the process and for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us! read more

I'm so glad that we found Melanie for my pregnancy, day of the birth and postpartum care! We needed her for all stages but especially for nights after our son was born! She gave us more sleep by watching him and taking care of him in between my night breastfeedings. She also taught us a lot about breastfeeding and baby care. I also appreciated a few prenatal and postpartum yoga sessions to get my body feeling better. I miss her already but feel equipped to implement what she taught us. read more

We chose to have Melanie as our doula for our first child. When we began our search for a doula, we had no idea how important it would be, and we were very fortunate to have found someone as experienced and skilled as Melanie. Prior to my wife giving birth we had two in person visits and one online session with Melanie that really helped us prepare for the birth, and ensure we were doing everything possible to have a happy and healthy birth. As expected, nothing was as expected on the day my wife went into labor. Despite this, we were grateful to have Melanie at our side helping with every possible situation that arose. Melanie helped us stick to our birth plan and was an amazing motivator and coach when things got tough. Additionally, her presence and techniques helped to reassure my wife that she was making her way towards her goal. During pushing (which was the hardest part for my wife), Melanie not only helped her to try various positions to find the best one, but she also helped navigate the nurses and ensure we had the most experience and helpful one in the room. Despite the difficulty, we ended up with the vaginal birth we had hoped for, and a beautiful and healthy baby girl! Melanie additionally was incredibly helpful with her postpartum visit and helped get us on the right track so that my wife's breastfeeding progressed and was successful. We owe Melanie so much and cannot recommend her enough! read more

We chose Melanie to be our birth doula for our firstborn this summer. She is amazing to work with - knowledgeable, supportive, communicative, and has such a calming presence. During the pregnancy, Melanie worked with us to prepare for birth and a newborn, from prenatal stretches/exercises to building the baby registry and partner support during labor. When it was time to go to the hospital, Melanie was there to advocate for us, help clarify questions, and provide reassurance for us first-time parents navigating the unexpected. After we brought our baby home, Melanie promptly followed through to help us with breastfeeding and caring for baby AND ourselves. I feel I can ask her about anything. She has been such a blessing on our journey to parenthood and I highly recommend her. read more

Not enough space to communicate how much we appreciated working with Melanie. As first time parents, having access to someone as educated and warm as Melanie helped so much from pre-labor through our first few weeks. Melanie is your newborn cheat sheet - she helped us identify cues from our daughter, get out of our own heads when we started to overthink something, and find that little bit of extra sleep - which we credit so much with a faster physical recovery after labor. We miss her already, and plan to bring her back for sessions over the next few months to kick start sleep training. We feel fortunate our daughter was brought into this world with Melanie as a guide! We're all more calm and empowered for it! read more

With Melanie's outstanding support I was able to have the unmedicated birth I wanted. Taking her prenatal yoga classes each week helped me prepare mentally and physically too. She's an incredible human and a true expert in her craft. read more

With wealth of experience, Melanie was the best birth + post partum doula we could have asked for my second pregnancy. I had experienced a birth trauma with my first so was extra nervous going into this second pregnancy. Melanie relieved my anxiety by preparing me both mentally and physically reassuring me that every pregnancy is different. During labor, she was so knowledgeable about everything that I would always consult with her for any procedures and medication. I really appreciated her guidance on slowing down inductions. On top of that, she was prepared with everything (I had forgotten to pack) including constellation night lights, music and some snack post delivery. My delivery was as smooth as could be to the point I was stunned. Post delivery, Melanie made sure that I was getting the rest I needed. This pregnancy was such a different experience thanks to Melanie! I highly recommend her both as a birth and post partum doula. read more

Melanie was our post partum doula and has been a wonderful source of support and guidance as we were trying to figure it all out- beginning with the first night after returning home from the hospital with our newborn twins. She gave us the information and encouragement we needed and also made sure we get some sleep, which is super important and helpful at this stage! Thank you Melanie!! read more

Doula Mellie was instrumental in my pregnancy and the birth of our first daughter in October 2018. We went over birthing positions and stretches to help me as my body grew. It was also important to learn the actions to take while in labor and how my husband could help. She taught me about the proper vitamins and nutrients to consume during pregnancy especially in preparation for all the tests you have to take during pregnancy. It was also nice to have Doula Melanie with us throughout 20 hours of labor and delivery. In addition to this, her postpartum visit was appreciated as navigated parenthood for the first time. Her calm demeanor and knowledge makes her an excellent Doula! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Melanie as our doula. I first met Melanie through the virtual prenatal yoga classes she leads at Ma Yoga (which I also HIGHLY recommend). After appreciating her knowledge around birth and approach to preparing the mind and body for labor and delivery, I reached out to her regarding her birth doula services. During the introductory meeting (via Zoom), Melanie's calm and straightforward demeanor and extensive experience with local hospitals made my husband I confident she would provide the support we need as soon-to-be-first-time parents. Melanie came to our home twice before labor to educate us about birth, provide me with different positions to keep my body comfortable and in optimal positions during pregnancy. For example, she advised me on how to sit at dinner, on the couch, at my desk while working, and even different sleeping positions. She also went through our birth preferences in detail, helped with our baby registry, taught us about breastfeeding, and provided support throughout the pregnancy. As much as she supported me in pregnancy, her presence in labor and delivery was even more valuable. My husband and I don't think we could have had such a positive birth experience without her. Melanie was supportive, calm, reassuring, and knew exactly what to do from labor to pushing and to the baby's first latch. She also guided us without judgment or pressure as we worked through the various decisions that needed to be made during the 12+ hours she was with physically us for labor and delivery (she was also available even longer by phone when contractions first began). We had our final in-person meeting after we brought our baby home. During the visit she gave us advice and tips for taking care of the baby. In the following weeks, Melanie checked in on my recovery and nursing, and remained available to answer questions (even during late hours). Melanie's support throughout the process was just what we needed to have feel confident and empowered in pregnancy, during labor, and beyond. Thank you, Melanie! A note from a Dad to the Dads: First, get a doula. Then, get Melanie. This was our first birth and it comes at you fast from all directions. It definitely wasn't Melanie's first time. There's so much to do and think about and having the guidance of Melanie made it so much easier to stay with my wife, maintain focus on her and the baby, and know that the details would be taken care of. If you're considering whether or not it's worth the additional cost - it ABSOLUTELY is. read more

Melanie was our post partum doula and I highly recommend her. She helped me learn the tips and tricks of breastfeeding, helped us build a routine around our daughter, and really focused on helping me heal physically and mentally after birth. She's fantastic especially for first time parents. Her holistic, caring, and uplifting approach are fantastic. read more

We were expecting our first child earlier this year, and after taking our hospital-provided birth classes we realized we wanted guidance from a more natural and holistic perspective. We were referred to Melanie, and it was instantly clear that she was exactly what we needed. She's incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and was able to give us insightful advice about literally every part of the process -- from preparing for labor to choosing the best baby clothes and supplies. And besides the advice, she instilled us with a sense of confidence that we would have a great delivery and be excellent parents. She was there with us for our entire labor and delivery at the hospital, followed up right after we got home for some much-needed breastfeeding advice, and has checked in repeatedly since then to make sure we're okay. We really couldn't ask for more! We recommend Melanie wholeheartedly. Aleksandra and Abiel read more

We are so blessed to have had Melanie as our postpartum night doula for our twins. As first time parents, especially of twins, Melanie's support and mentorship was invaluable. I initially felt a bit self conscious having someone in our home given it felt like a total mess with two newborns. However, Melanie's approach is one of total non judgement. Every night when she came in, my husband and I felt a sense of calm and so at ease. She was incredibly attuned to my emotional and mental well being, and at the start of a shift would check in and ask what she could do to support me personally, which really meant everything to me. She provided incredible guidance on so many aspects of caring for our babies and for ourselves, including maximizing their sleep, syncing their feeding schedules, stretches for me to do after nursing and pumping, and so many more. Thank you Melanie!!! We are forever grateful for you! read more

My wife and I worked with Melanie as a birth doula for our first child in November 2017. We sought her expertise in order to help achieve our goal of a natural, un-medicated birth with limited interventions. To that end, and in so many unexpected ways, it was a great success. Melanie's experience and steady confidence were a continually calming and reassuring presence before, during, and after birth. Before birth, she met with us for two prenatal visits to review laboring positions, pain management, preparatory stretches, and other recommendations for optimal health and readiness. After birth, she met with us at a critical juncture to help ensure breastfeeding success and settle us into the habits of successful new parents. Again, it was her experience and calm that made her valuable during these times that are so chaotic and difficult - especially in LA where so many of us are transplants without experienced family nearby to help. But it was during the birth that Melanie truly shined. Those most-unnerving and potentially scary hours after my wife's water broke were transformed into empowering moments that gave my wife a sense of ownership and effectiveness throughout her birth. What Melanie enabled in my wife was awe-inspiring and a testament to what is possible when a woman is given the confidence to follow her body's cues. Obviously every birth story has its perceived successes and failures, but we were incredibly grateful that Melanie helped us achieve ours. If she had not been there, the entire process would have been more difficult on many levels. I would have been lost without Melanie there as my wife was in the zone and unavailable throughout labor. She's incredibly easy to talk to, contact when you have questions, and consult in the heat of the moment. We both highly recommend her. read more

Melanie was my night nurse for 2 weeks, when I got home from the hospital after having my first baby. Handing over your newborn to a stranger is incredibly scary - but I felt right at home with Melanie... she is warm, kind, knowledgable and patient. Plus she came highly recommended, having worked with 3 friends and my sister-in-law (twice) before me. My husband and I had no idea what we were doing as new parents and Melanie taught us so much - from establishing my milk supply and troubleshooting with breastfeeding to swaddling, diapers, bath time and other basics. The crash course in parenting/baby is well worth it. The extra help in the middle of the night when you're delirious is the cherry on top. Every new parent should have a Melanie :) read more

Melanie was absolutely pivotal to my partner and me to have the best birth experience possible. It was truly magical. When we first Melanie, we knew that she was our first choice given her focus on person centered birth experiences and vast experience as a doula and breast/chest feeding. Our visits with Melanie pre and post partum were invaluable, including visits to review our birth plan, yoga practices to prepare for birth, and breastfeeding. We also took a breast/chest feeding class with Melanie that truly set us up for success - the post partum visit reinforced many of these breastfeeding in the context of our home with our new baby. Melanie checked in with us almost daily in this first week to answer questions and send love/support. The highlight of working with Melanie came during our hospital birth. I was/we were admitted for a non-elective induction, the opposite of our birth plan. Melanie was a constant advocate and support, reviewing our options with us after each OB exam. Our induction took 50 hours with many twists and turns, but Melanie helped us to pivot each step of the way, so that we felt empowered to participate in each decision and to personalize the labor process. Melanie coached us through laboring positions and my husband felt empowered to support me throughout the labor process, holding my legs, applying counter pressure, and ultimately cutting our baby's umbilical cord. Melanie is a master. We recommend her without reservation! read more

Melanie was amazing! I was a 3 part client of hers. She was my prenatal yoga instructor first, my doula during birth and my night nurse after my baby girl was born. What I loved about her was her patience during the whole process and her calm. She was a very strong advocate for what I wanted for my birth plan she helped me create. Her positive presence and encouraging words made me feel more confident that I could get through even when I hit some challenges along the way. I wish everybody could have someone like her by their side during such a vulnerable time. I hope she will be available for my 2nd ba read more

I started taking Melanie's prenatal yoga class at around 20 weeks pregnant and continued until 39 weeks. I truly believe that taking her classes at Ma Yoga made all the difference in my ability to achieve my natural birth plan as well as prepare me for how labor can go, how to advocate for myself, how to exercise in a way that will make space for baby and get him in the best position for birth as well as recommend resources throughout the entire pregnancy journey. I can't recommend her prenatal and doula services enough! Melanie is an angel who will push you physically, emotionally and mentally all while carefully holding space for well-being and for the well-being of your baby. read more

I had no idea what to expect out of a labor/postpartum doula and who I would come across on my search for one. As it turns out, it was one hundred percent worth the while and where the search led me was a blessing, especially for a first pregnancy and soon to be mom. I heard through multiple sources that the value of a labor and postpartum doula was priceless and that if I had the opportunity to hire one, l wouldn't regret it. I found Melanie through a prenatal yoga website that my girlfriend had suggested. With a first pregnancy and the reality of becoming a parent you have so many questions and concerns. Who is going to guide you through this unknown territory and assure you that the decisions you're making are the right ones for you? Who can support you in a way that only someone with experience can? This is how I experienced Melanie. She provided me with incredible knowledge and comfort that allowed me to feel confident and at ease while navigating the most magical life event. Having Melanie's support before, during and after labor was a game changer. I'd like to say I couldn't have done it without her but I know she'd say otherwise. She's a gem. If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity of a doulas support, I highly recommend her, she will not disappoint. read more

Melanie came recommended to me by midwife for nighttime help and care. We had our baby just last week and she came into our house supporting any needs that surfaced. Melanie was absolutely amazing! Soothing our baby in between nighttime feedings allowed me to get much needed rest after a 40-hour labor. She helped also with lactation questions, surgery aftercare, laundry and dishes. I'd recommend her to anyone! read more

My wife and I worked with Melanie as a birth doula for the birth of our first son. Melanie went absolutely above and beyond and became a confidant, a mentor, and a trusted friend. We would definitely work with Melanie again and hope to do so! She is trustworthy! She is reliable! She is friendly! When the moment of truth came in the hospital our baby was facing the wrong way. Melanie worked with my wife and did some different massage techniques and BAM, the baby flipped over! She helped us in many ways in the months leading up to the birth, was a tremendous support to my wife and I during the process of labor and delivery (we honestly cant imagine going through the process without her) and even checked in several times after the birth and came to our home to personally visit and give us some parenting tips, as well as help my wife with recovery tips too. Use Melanie as your doula!!! read more

I can't be grateful enough for all the help Melanie provided us during the birth of our first baby. As first-time parents, it was challenging and overwhelming for us to navigate the process. However, we were able to find Mellie through my prenatal yoga classes as we were looking to hire a birth Doula. I would say that it was one of the best decisions we made during this journey, as she provided us immense support throughout until the birth of our daughter. Melanie is very knowledgeable and experienced and brings compassion and comfort for new mommy's to be. She was always available to connect for any help and went above and beyond to provide the right support to us in the final hours of labor. I had my contractions started in the middle of night and Mellie was available to connect throughout and help me overcome the pain with breathing techniques. We had an extremely fast labor and we arrived little late to the hospital, during this entire time I was able to utilize exercises and techniques taught to me by Mellie for managing contractions throughout the car ride and even in the hospital. At hospital, she was a very strong advocate for me during the labor process. I would highly recommend Mellie to anyone looking for doula support read more

I cannot rave about Melanie enough. My husband and I were lucky enough to take her breastfeeding class in LA last week, and were blown away by her professionalism, incredible demeanor, and how much she taught us in our three hours together. She is so knowledgeable, kind, and makes you feel comfortable right away. I am so happy I found her, learned from her, and am now so so inspired by her. Thank you Melanie! I will recommend you to everyone I know! read more