Working with Tabare was one the best decisions we made for this journey. Tabare is humble, knowledgeable, and has amazing communication.(We are "i" person ).But beyond that, she's like the "mom" you didn't know you needed--caring, supportive, and with a heart of shining gold. For example , she actually called the numbers from the brochures the hospital gave to us and identified some confusing information. When my wife's water broke at midnight, Tabare responded to our cellphone msg and offered advice.we went to Hoag Irvine at 4 AM, and Tabare was already there waiting for us. While we are waiting In the triage room, she massaged, reassured, and tried different techniques to keep my wife comfortable. Honestly, she was the busiest and most calming person in the room. Tabare is positive, responsive, and down-to-earth. Working with her felt like having the world's best wedding planner--but for your baby's birth. We prepared together, learned together, and teamed up with the midwives for an amazing, joyful experience. As a first-time dad, I can't thank her enough. Now I'm telling every expectant parent: if you can, work with a Doula; If you made the decision, I recommend Tabare. You'll laugh, you'll feel supported, and you'll look back with the joyful and wonderful experience and memories. Ok, let's talk about the cons: 1 The telephone operator - The OCWM 24/7 response line that night was disappointing. The operator didn't seem to care, made several basic mistakes, and wasted a lot of my time. I eventually had to hang up and call another number for help. 2 Nurse issue - We probably came in during the night shift change. While Tabare and I were outside in the lobby doing paperwork to gain access, my wife was in pain and left alone in the triage room with one nurse. Later, my wife told me the nurse was pressuring her to make decisions and struggled with something as basic as a blood draw.(I just cannot believe how amateur it is for a blood draw) Husbands, NEVER leave your wife alone in the hospital! read more

Doulable Birth - TABARE - Doulas Near Me

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My experience with Taba was not a planned one. My doula had a personal emergency when I was set for my induction at 41weeks and I had less than an hour to make a connection over the phone with her for one of the most intimate events of your life that you could have - birth. To say that Taba stepped up to the plate is an understatement. As I was sobbing on the phone full of anxiety trying to impart my entire story to her she ended it with clear direction - "it sounds like I need to be there with you when you go in" - I can't tell you the amount of weight that lifted off my chest when she uttered that sentence to me. My first birth was during the pandemic and resulted in a traumatic emergency c section so my anxiety was through the roof. Taba's sense of humor, confidence, relationship management style, incredible experience/knowledge, and her amazing ability to download my information made me feel so comfortable. She never left my side when I needed her. She supported my partner in helping him understand when he could step in and standing in when he couldn't. Without Taba I wouldn't have felt confident pushing for more options, making it clear what I consented to, etc. this birth was my redemption birth and I owe a lot of it to Taba. read more

Doulable Birth - Doulas Near Me

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Taba made a huge difference for us not just for our birth, but throughout all of pregnancy. As first time parents we felt woefully unprepared to make birth plan decisions, but from the moment we hired Taba we knew we were in good hands. She patiently walked through every option and every variable with us, and made it a point to get to know me as well as she possibly could so that for anything we did not explicitly discuss, she would still be able to advocate for me. When birth finally came, Taba got to the hospital and INSTANTLY provided a ton of help, got me through a giant emotional breakdown at some point in labor (where her energy was exactly what I needed), and had thought of tricks she hadn't even used or seen before but knew would work to motivate me given how well she knew me. She is so incredible at her job and we can never ever thank her enough for giving us so much peace throughout a very, very intense time. read more

After interviewing numerous Doulas, I was beginning to feel discouraged in my search for someone who truly understood my needs without pushing an overly crunchy or silky method. I wanted someone who felt invested in me and this journey, and Taba was exactly that. From the very beginning, she made me feel like more than just another client. We connected immediately, and she consistently went above and beyond to ensure we always felt supported. she was always available for a chat and constantly provided us reassurance and comfort whenever we needed it. Even after our birth, she continued to check in both me and my husband, showing a level of care and compassion that truly touched me. Taba has extensive knowledge about birthing. She answered every question with patience and expertise, helping me feel confident in my choices. During our birth, she was incredibly hands-on, ensuring I was hydrated, fed, and comfortable every step of the way. She strongly advocated for my birth plan while maintaining the utmost respect for the medical team. She asked the questions I was too scared or tired to ask every step of the way. Even though our birth didn't go exactly as planned, Taba did everything in her power to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. She truly made all the difference, and I genuinely loved every aspect of working with her. If you're looking for a Doula who is compassionate, funny, knowledgeable, and truly cares about you as a person, I 10000% recommend Taba! read more

Doulable Birth - Doulas Near Me

Taba was an absolute life saver!!! We planned on an unmedicated birth and Taba supported us through and through coaching my husband on counter pressure and other tricks we would have been so lost without her (she even massaged my husband which he SO needed). She knows her stuff!!! Medical lingo and exact processes of how things would play out once I decided I wanted the epidural. After birth, she came in and saved us right as my milk was coming in with her lactation expertise. Can't thank her enough for all the support!!! read more

Taba was an amazing doula, she helped my wife feel comfortable by getting to know us and walking us through the process in the weeks leading up to delivery. Very thoughtful and resourceful. Highly recommend. read more

FYI i usually never leave reviews, but this woman made my experience worthwhile so i am sharing. Taba was essential to my birthing experience. She was available for every question, curiosity, and consideration i had. whenever something came up that we weren't sure about, my husband said "that sounds like a Taba question". she was on the phone with us immediately. and that was just the pregnancy. labor and delivery was one of the most intense experiences of my life and i don't think it would have been what it was with out Taba. she has the knowledge of a midwife, the confidence of an OG nurse, and she's grounded and calm like a doctor. she was with me every step of the way as soon as we called her in. plus she's quirky AF and brings all the silly and playfulness that i needed to feel like this doulable. i felt my wishes were heard, and when things needed to shift i was prepared. I am so grateful we met and that i had her by my side step of the way:) read more

Taba was our backup doula who came in on very short notice to fill in for our original doula. Even with such a short notice, she came in without skipping a beat and exceeded all our expectations. She was better in our corner than Micky was in Rocky's corner! If you asked God to design the perfect doula, she would make a Taba! She is proactive and knowledgeable. With only a couple of hours notice, she had already called our hospital for the latest Covid protocols and current issues that could affect our stay. Every question we had was met with the most current and insightful responses, giving us the full confidence to make our decisions. She helped us make countless great dame day decisions that all turned out to be the right calls in the moment. She is stocked and prepared. She has an endless list of suggestions to help the mother get comfortable during labor. If something isn't working, she'll have plan B, C, and D lined up. She is so likable and tactful. While at the hospital, she has a way of putting everyone at ease, especially tired nurses and doctors. She exudes calm and her presence alone puts everyone in a better mood. She knows how to advocate on your behalf while getting the hospital staff to like you by association! She also helps the birth partner. She provided great coaching for me as a birth partner and checked in on me regularly in addition to attending to my wife throughout. She made us all feel like we are part of a team. She has great stamina and was fully present even with a 20+ hour overnight labor! She is observant. She spots potential issues ahead of time and gives us both time and options so we were never surprised by any challenges. She is able to take in and synthesize everything from doctors and nurses to lay out the options and timelines. She stays on top of all the to-dos so you don't have. In the chaos of labor and birth, the last thing we wanted to do was to remember all of the different things we had to do and when to do them. Give everything to Taba beforehand and she'll remind you when it's time so you can just be present to experience the birth of your child. She follows up. Post birth, Taba checks in with you and helps you trouble shoot any issues you might be having with any aspect of newborn care. Hire her because she gets booked up well in advance. For our next pregnancy, we're going to hire her as soon as we get a positive test! Extras: She took photos and videos when able to and kept a great summary of the flow of events. read more

Taba did great! She did a great job communicating with us and was ready at a moments notice for my wife's birth. She was calm and collected as our delivery ended up happening extremely quickly, definitely not according to plan, helped both I (dad) and mom all the while speaking to emergency dispatch, (I was in a shock and was having to collect myself). After the delivery (we ended up delivering in a bathroom rather than at the hospital), she jumped right in and cleaned up the entire thing! (Mom was on the way to the hospital via ambulance while I was been checked out due to the shock). We felt supported and greatly helped considering a two hour delivery! read more

Top five favorite aspects of having a doula: 1. When in the throes of a deep and scary contraction, I did not have to spend mental energy thinking about (i) what I needed in order to be more comfortable or (ii) how to articulate that need. My doula was on her feet and at my side as soon as she saw that tell-tale look on my face. 2. I didn't have to guess what my doctors and nurses were thinking or talking about. My doula was like a pocket translator. 3. Even more, because pregnancy is emotional and sometimes bewildering, the information translation went together with a fair dosing of compassion and sensitivity. My doula understood that a lot of things can feel overwhelming, and she calibrated explanations and challenging conversations to my needs. 4. I don't know how to write a birth plan. I still don't. But with my doula, I didn't need to write out a plan and then manage its implementation. My doula got to know me before my birth experience and learned from the way I generally talk about my pregnancy and my hopes (as well as some explicit questions like "how do you feel about c-sections?" and "what's your view on epidurals?") how to create an experience that would be positive for me. 5. I felt like I had a highly competent person squarely in my corner from the second I entered the hospital to when I left. I was blessed with the good luck of excellent nurses and an ideal doctor, but it was my doula who I really trusted 100%. I felt safe and watched over throughout. Top five favorite aspects of having TABA as my doula: 1. She is one of those rare shiny people who knows a lot about a lot of stuff, but she never ever plays the "know-it-all" card. This made conversations about pregnancy and birth just delightful for me. I learned a lot every time I met with her or talked with her over the phone--I continue to learn from her through my breastfeeding journey--and I never once felt that she was presenting information as a way of establishing herself as the authority or as a way of proving that she's worth her doula fee. She just loves the processes that the human body endures throughout making a baby, and she loves to talk about it and wonder about it. Conversations with a person like that make for the best and safest learning environments. 2. She is exceptionally talented at reading the room and getting a feel for the best way to interact with different personalities. She just gets people. Some people have that gift. She has the gift and she also works purposefully to develop it in a way that helps her clients. And let me tell you, this skill is absolutely invaluable when you are laboring in a hospital over the course of 28 hours and three or four shifts of doctors and nurses oversee your care. My nurses and doctors liked us. It was obvious that they enjoyed checking on us. And this was because Taba cultivated an environment that signaled respect for them and their expertise even while she was firmly my advocate. 3. Speaking of cultivating a particular environment... Taba brought a level of positivity to my labor and delivery suite that just would not quit. She was always actively directing my attention toward what was fun and special about the experience or, in the moments when I was scared or worried, she was helping me reflect on my negative feelings in a way that exposed them to light in order to be corrected. She kept my spirits high, which had a knock-on effect for my nurses and doctors and resulted in a sustained joyful ambience for my entire 28 hour stay in that room. I am so happy that I was able to bring my daughter into the world in a room that was full of joy and love. That is an experience that I would not trade for anything in the world. 4. She gave my husband and I a chance to be our best selves with each other. Because she took on the work of massaging my back and massaging my emotions, my husband did not have to bear an emotional burden during the experience. Instead of looking to him for help, I was able to look to him for love. Taba is intensely attentive to this aspect of the birth experience. It is something she openly talks about valuing and now that I have seen her execute her vision, I am fully convinced that it should be a priority for any doula or birth coach. What it takes to encourage love is probably different for different couples, but given Taba's exceptional skills in understanding people, I expect that she would have every bit the success with other couples that she had with us. 5. She's just cute and excited about the amazing journey that I've been on. As soon as I met her, I could tell that she was deeply and personally happy for me to be having a baby. She enveloped me in love through my whole pregnancy and absolutely showered me with it during my birth experience. Bonus: She's hilarious! 10/10 sense of humor. read more

This review is very much overdue! I am so glad I found Taba and had her support us with our first child! Where do I start!? The first phone call with Taba made me laugh hard because she was just hilarious! She say's what is on her mind and she is authentic/real! I loved her humor and knowledge and that she answered all questions we had in the way she did. She basically gives you the facts and options and you make up your mind about what you prefer. She doesn't judge or gives you the feeling that your choice is wrong or silly. When I was in labor we called her to come to the hospital after a few hours of laboring because things progressed so quickly. She was there in 20 min with her suitcase of goodies. She told my husband what to do to support me and she helped to easy me through contractions by pushing in the right places! Essential oils, heat packs and all. She jokes around with the nurses and took pictures and notes of what was going on. I am so so grateful that she was there!!! Especially because I have no family in this country (expect for my husband). She was like my mom energy during this life changing experience. Let me lean on her. Literally! I had my beautiful boy and then another challenge (bigger than birth) started at home. Nursing turned out hard and pumping etc. she came over and really helped me big time!!! I don't know what I would have done without her... makes me sentimental to think back. Taba, THANK YOU so much!!! You rock! read more

Doulable Birth - Doulas Near Me

Taba was the best gift my husband and I gave ourselves during my pregnancy! She was with us for all 25 hours of labor, which couldn't have been easy. In our pre-baby visits she taught us all that we needed to know about pregnancy, childbirth, and hospital procedure. Going into labor, I felt prepared for all the choices I could make. Learning about labor and being in labor are totally different things. My husband, supportive as he was, had no experience and couldn't help in the ways Taba could. Beautiful, beautiful counter pressure during contractions, funny conversation, and general emotional support - I couldn't have asked for more. She brought a sense of confidence, and her arsenal of evidence-based information to a chaotic day. I got to make the decisions about my son's birth, which was the most important thing to me. I didn't want to be told what should happen to me. After all the business went down, Taba provided us with hundreds of photos of the day, videos, and a written birth story. It was so wonderful to have someone capture all the forgotten moments of such a huge day. If you are a first time parent in particular, I cannot recommend Taba enough. She will give you the tools and support to have a wonderful birthing experience. read more

Doulable Birth - Taba demonstrating counter pressure for my husband! This is my favorite picture from the day. - Doulas Near Me

Having Taba as my doula seriously changed my life. I suffered through a pretty terrible birthing experience with my first child, and needed someone knowledgeable in my corner for the birth of my second child to help me through what I had only known as a traumatic experience. Taba changed everything! From the very first interview phone call, I knew she was perfect for me. She is a GREAT listener. She is KNOWLEDGABLE. She is HILARIOUS. She sent me articles and papers helping to explain the facts and some of the reasons the first birth didn't go so well. She set up separate meetings with my husband to give him hands-on, step-by-step things to do to help me through every step of the process so he knew what to do to help. She kept in touch, met me for brunch to talk, and checked in periodically as we waited for the "big day". The week or so leading up to labor she was available to text at any hour, and sent me the perfect combination of funny pregnancy memes and info to help me understand what was happening to my body at that particular moment. When the time came, Taba literally dropped everything to be at my side. She came with a suitcase like Mary Poppins and had everything from essential oils to massagers to help me feel better. She helped pass the time during labor and was there to support me every step of the way. She negotiated with the nurses, made sure I was comfortable and happy, and jotted down notes about everything that happened for me to remember later. The birth story she wrote from her notes really helped me see the birth as a wonderful experience, and I really cannot recommend Taba highly enough! Thank you so much for making baby G's birth a positive, healthy part of my life! read more

Words cannot express what a skilled doula Taba is. I went into labor on a Saturday morning, didn't have my 8 lb 14 oz baby boy until Monday night, and Taba was there for me every step of the way. Taba helped me have as natural of a birth as I could have with a big baby in occipult posterior (head down but "sunny-side up") position. She helped me experience the best birth I could have. I originally found Taba through Hypnobabies, as she is a certified hypno-doula, in addition to other qualifications. During the interview, I liked her immediately, and could easily envision this strong, interesting, funny, and experienced woman guiding me through my birthing time. It was easy to choose her from the five I met with. Between our initial interview and the time I went into labor, Taba was patient and easy to talk to, and well-prepared with charts and diagrams to help explain what I could expect to experience. I *almost* didn't need a birthing class! I went into labor a few days late, and almost couldn't believe that it was starting. I called Taba when the contractions started and were still VERY mild, and she told me to keep her updated with how they changed. She ended up at my house the next morning at 6:00am. For the next 24+ hours, Taba accompanied me to the birth center three times, comforted me, encouraged me to try different positions, got me in and out of the hot tub, tried rebozo, convinced my mom to participate by icing my back, kept my husband, mom and myself in harmony, kept me sane through 4-minute-long contractions, got me through 24+ hours of un-medicated back labor, all with a positive attitude and just the right amount of empathy. On my third visit to the birthing center, after 30 hours of labor, Taba support my decision to go to the hospital for some interventions. I ended up with an epidural and Pitocin, but nothing else. My baby boy finally emerged into the world at 9:28pm on Monday, and Taba helped to make the entire experience perfect. After my beautiful baby boy was born, Taba sent us all of the pictures, videos, and notes she had taken during my entire birthing process, and it was all just perfect. She also came to visit a few days after the birth to help with breastfeeding and to deliver the placenta pills that she had made, and helped a lot with my recovery. My midwife was so impressed with Taba that she added her name and contact information to her exclusive list of recommended doulas. I am now pregnant with #2, and sincerely hope that Taba is available for the month I'm due. Surprise! read more

I really wanted a vaginal birth after an emergency c-section (VBAC), so one of my friends recommended hiring a doula. After looking at different doulas near me on Yelp and meeting up with a few doulas, I decided to go with Taba. She is great and I'm so glad to have found her. Taba provided me with many resources to read based on what I told her about my first birth experience. She answered all my questions during our meetings and via text messaging. She was very helpful while I was pregnant, during labor, and postpartum when I was trying to establish breastfeeding. I had a successful VBAC and no problems breastfeeding so far (my baby is now 6 weeks old). Taba was everything I wanted in a doula and I highly recommend her services for anyone who is looking for one. read more

Hiring Taba and taking Bradley classes was the best money spent in our entire pregnancy. Despite having been up for countless hours with a previous woman's labor, Taba came to our house early in my labor. She hadn't slept, hadn't eaten, hadn't showered - but still managed to help my husband and I labor at home for 12 hours. She knew all the techniques to help manage my pain, she made sure I ate, and perhaps most importantly, she made me and my husband completely confident in our labor. After my son's birth, she came over to help me with breastfeeding issues, and continued to check up on me. She was amazingly helpful! I also need to echo the other posters - she (and her partner doula, who also ended up at my birth) took amazing, irreplacable photos of my son's birth. Overall, I would definitely hire her again, no questions asked. She is amazing!! OHMYGOODNESS! I just realized that there's a picture of ME on this page! Now, I feel kind of famous... read more

As a first time Mama without family in the US, I knew that my husband and I needed support to navigate the system when I gave birth. We interviewed 4 Doulas and knew the instant we met Taba that she was the one for us!! Taba is a wonderful person and an amazing Doula and we are so grateful that we found her. Before the birth, she was always on hand to provide information, statistics (my husband likes facts!!) and a different opinion, never judging but always supporting what WE wanted. During the birth, she kept us focused and took the most amazing and unexpected photos which we will treasure and got our breastfeeding off to the best possible start. Like other reviewers, I really can't say enough good things about her.. We will be using her next time! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! read more

Where do I even begin? Our daughter is 14 months now and we still can't get over our birth experience with Taba. Taba is just an all-around, amazing individual with such an incredible energy and spirit. And a first-rate doula. She's extremely passionate about what she does and has so much fun with it. Taba was a critical factor in helping my husband and I achieve the natural and "smooth" birth we hoped to have. Of course, you can't control what happens in any birth and we were very fortunate to have had a complication free labor and delivery. But I truly think that a number of possible unwanted scenarios were avoided because of Taba's knowledge, advice and support. We had interviewed several doulas, but - in addition to her obvious knowledge and professionalism - Taba's sassy, fun and REAL personality was exactly what sealed the deal. Since it was our first child, meeting with her before the birth helped us get a grip on what to anticipate, as well as discuss the various ways we could work effectively together as a "birth team." I know for my husband, it was invaluable for him to have someone who not only supported me in what I needed, but who also guided him in ways that allowed him to be more involved and supportive way beyond verbal encouragement (including holding the puke tub...hehe). I could go on and on about how much of a blessing and source of great strength Taba was for us...but I'll keep it easy and brief...from cheerfully showing up at our house at 3:30am when I was in quickly intensifying labor, loaded with her "bag of tricks" (ooooh, that magical heating pad...); laughing with us until I couldn't physically laugh anymore (damn those contractions); her CONTINUED calm and sunny disposition that keep me going as I was losing my head in the thick of it all; her surprise slideshow that captured the moments we never knew she captured, which had us in tears all over again; being the breastfeeding support champ of the world, showing up the same day I called (more than once) and spending hours with me in order to physically help me work through the initial issues I had with breastfeeding; to her continual, happy-to-help support and advice whenever I called in need. We are so thankful to her for everything she's done for us. And, honestly, it's the best money we ever spent. However, knowing we would want her a part of our next birth, we're SOOOOO SAD to see her leave Los Angeles!! I don't know how we'll ever replace her. Maryland moms, dads and babies - you're a lucky, lucky crew. read more

Taba is in your corner. While we ultimately couldn't use her as a doula, because my insurance administrators are dorks... PS make sure your insurance knows the difference between a doula and midwife. Anyhoo...I can't tell you how heartbroken I was. In our initial consultation Taba was everything I was looking for. She was funny, generous, open, and most importantly SUPER knowledgeable. She'll definitely make you feel like you are in the most secure hands. My husband and I loved her. read more

As a nurse it makes the biggest difference when a patient's doula works alongside you and the patient as a team to give the patient the best experience possible. Taba was just as much a help to me as she was to our patient. She was so attentive to the patients' needs. She gave great suggestions and tips during the labor and helped it go as smoothly as possible! I would recommend her to anyone who is in need of a doula! And as nurses, we are picky about doulas, just saying! I would gladly take her as my patient's doula any day!! Thank you Taba! read more

We were fortunate enough to have Taba as our pinch-hit doula when our original doula had a family emergency. I can't recommend her highly enough. She is a great comfort to have around--friendly, knowledgeable, and prepared for every eventuality. She kept meticulous notes on the day of delivery, including the names of all the nurses and doctors who helped us, and a lot of footage of the birth. Two thumbs way up! read more

Taba was our doula for the birth of our son last year. We had taken Bradley method classes and were on the fence about whether or not we would need a doula for the birth (because Bradley emphasizes the partner/husband as the coach/labor support). Towards the end of my pregnancy I just had this feeling that we both needed extra support, so I went looking for a doula. Taba was the first person we interviewed and we knew right away that she would be great for us. We believe that hiring her helped us to have the natural birth experience we wanted. When I went into labor a week before my due date, none of us believed it was the real thing. Just in case, Taba came over to hang out and check on me while my husband went to work. I feel so fortunate that she did because it WAS the real thing and she stayed with me through what turned out to be the roughest part of the labor at home! She also helped us to determine the best time to transition to the hospital so that we would spend the least amount of time there. When we got to the hospital and I was nearly complete it was such a great feeling to know that I was almost at the finish line. I hear stories all the time from women who arrive at the hospital barely dilated. I am truly thankful to Taba for supporting me throughout my 20 hour labor and for giving me the confidence to get through it without drugs. She was also diligent about enforcing our birth plan, which is something that is easy to disregard once the nurses and doctors start doing their thing. Nothing was done to me without my explicit consent. Perhaps most importantly, after the birth Taba was a huge support to me during a very tumultuous road breastfeeding my baby. I spent all of my pregnancy focusing on my birth experience and just assumed that breastfeeding would happen naturally. I was sorely mistaken----but Taba has been consistently supportive to me over the past 9 months. She is always available to answer my questions, respond to my long emails, and she also made home visits early on when I was engorged and having difficulty getting my son to latch. Taba is such a great source of knowledge on all things birth, breastfeeding, and parenting related and I feel grateful to still have her in my life. read more

Despite our original doula being out of town the morning I went into labor (baby came at 37 weeks), my husband rushing home on the next available flight, and being home freaking out by myself while writhing in pain with two barking/worried dogs, our birthing journey could not have been more perfect...All thanks to Taba!! There needs to be twenty some odd yelp stars for Taba coming to our rescue! It has to have been faith that brought Taba and our family together as she was right in our neighborhood when our original doula contacted her for emergency coverage. She and I met with my pants down around my ankles, bent over and unable to move due to pain while embarrasingly saying, "wait, wait, hang on... I'm not ready...my pants..."... And there was Taba, jumping right in, getting me situated and immediately applying counterpressure to my knees. Never in my life did I ever imagine meeting a stranger in that very vulnerable way! Sorry for painting such a picture, but that's just a small testament to how natural, supportive, easy-going and quick-to-act Taba was as our doula! Because she was not our original doula, we did not do any prenatal meetings with her. Whatever information she had about us she had gotten in the quick phone call with our original doula, yet Taba stepped right in effortlessly and made us feel as though she had been with us all along during our pregnancy. My husband was out of town and I wanted to stall as much as I safely could to wait for him before heading to the hospital. Taba was instrumental in this effort -- calming my fears, managing my pain in the most natural ways and using so many tricks to get me to pass the time while keeping as comfy as possible (essential oils, heat pads, coconut water, jello, massages, hot shower, different body positions). We hopped in the car to head for the hospital as soon as the taxicab dropped my husband off. (It's worth mentioning that my husband was supportive of hiring a doula, but did not fully think we need one -- now he raves to all of our pregnant friends about Taba!!) Taba was even more amazing once we got to the hospital. She treated everyone with respect, never stepping on our healthcare team's toes but always willing to speak up for our wants and needs. I really think her background as a litigator helps her navigate, communicate and negotiate with all levels of people without making them feel inferior. Several times during the slow process of labor she got the entire room laughing, I am pretty sure she and my nurse rapped at one point. Small things like this matter a lot to me, it helped take my mind off the pain and process and before we knew it we welcomed our healthy baby boy! Taba continued to check on us postpartum. While in my mind her work ended when she left the hospital that day after delivery, when she heard that I was having a lot of pain in my lady parts and that I was having a hard time getting my doctor to call me back, she instructed my husband to open our freezer where we found a frozen diaper with witchhazel and my goodness that was a serious God send!! We looked at each other and said, who is this lady...when did she even do this?? A couple of days later, Taba came by our house and completely changed our breatfeeding experience for the better! I can go on and on about Taba, but suffice it to say we could not have done it without her! I wholeheartedly recommend Taba and will definitely need her should we decide on a sibling for our baby boy in the future! read more

I can't say enough great things about Taba! After speaking to many Doulas over the phone, I liked Taba the most and had a good feeling about her. I scheduled multiple interviews with others, but when I first met Taba I knew she was the ONE for me. Taba is very well informed, sweet but direct, and most of all I just really liked her as a person. Taba didn't seem like a complete stranger even though we were. Taba has a disposition of someone you have known your whole life. Taba educated me on the whole birthing process, breastfeeding and prepared me for my birth so I didn't even need to take classes. Taba asked me what my ideal birth was. I described it to her and I GOT IT! When I started to feel my contractions, she came over to go through it with me at home as long as possible. She kept me calm and also delayed going to the hospital without directly telling me since my ideal birth was staying at home as long as possible. Taba's gentle but knowledgeable approach comforted me while I was going through the worst pain I have ever felt. We got to the hospital at 2pm and I gave birth 4 hours later. Taba helped all the nurses and they loved her!!! My family commented that Taba was worth every penny and more! There are few people that help you through the most magical, but physically painful moments of your life and Taba will forever be imprinted in my experience. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to another baby and I would definitely hire Taba again and I would recommend her to anyone that's looking for a Doula. read more

Taba has been a close family friend of ours for almost 10 years, and the moment I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted her to be my Doula. She made herself available for all of my concerns and struggles throughout my pregnancy, was my source of peace and sanity throughout my labor, and was my emotional rock postpartum during my breast-feeding struggles and hormonal ups and downs. Initially I had mistakenly only thought that a Doula helps during your labor, but Taba has pretty much spent the last year (from early pregnancy to weeks postpartum) helping me adjust to mommyhood! My husband has even said that "Taba is worth her weight in gold," as he was a very anxious new daddy! I can't recommend Taba's services enough, and I definitely plan on using her to help with future babies to come!!! read more

You won't be disappointed hiring Taba as your doula! Just meet her, and you will fall in love with her. She is a wealth of information, caring & loving, incredibly funny and an inspiring and generous person. She helped me to give birth to my son naturally - I wouldn't have been able to go through the 16 hours of labor without her by my side. She taught my husband how to support me and squeeze my hips to help relieve the pain during contractions - that was key! She was instrumental in helping me with breastfeeding, which was a very difficult experience for me. I am so happy to say that I made my goal of nursing for one year, and now that my son is 16 months old, I still nurse a few times a day. It is the most amazing bonding experience. Taba taught my husband and I everything we need to know about pregnancy, birthing and nursing. My husband being a doctor, wanted to see all the medical articles and evidence on every issue, and she was able to provide all of these to us so we could make an educated decision on every issue (circumcision, epidurals, episiotomy, medication, etc). Taba is one of the most beautiful woman I know - I really look up to her as a guardian angel during my pregnancy and birth. I highly recommend her as a doula! read more

Wow Taba is the best doula EVER!!!!!!!! She was there for every step of the way, supported me, answered all my questions and made me feel confident and safe. I couldnt do it without her and she is still there for me and my son is almost two! Words cannot expressed how thankful I am to her. I was in labor for almost two days and she was with me the WHOLE time. I will never forget her and will need her for my next birth. read more

I'm so thankful to have had Taba as our birth doula for our 2nd babe. We sought out the aid of a doula our 2nd time around after a less than great experience pursuing unmedicated labor/birth in the hospital. We were returning to the same hospital and trusted that Taba would help protect the birth environment we desired and help us achieve the birth experience we desired. While I was in my birthing zone she worked to keep the atmosphere positive and honored the staff with treats and affirmations. She was a great support to my husband, keeping him informed of what was going on so he didn't become unnecessarily stressed or anxious. I'm the type of person who prefers to be given a lot of space to labor(no touching, minimal talking) and Taba was very mindful of me and my way of birthing and held space for me. I am so happy and blessed that I got to have a successful unmedicated vbac and I know Taba played a huge part in it! Thank you Taba! read more

Taba is awesome! We should end there, because that is all you need to know. We just had our first child and did not know what to expect, much less what to expect from a doula. Now, we wonder why you would go through a pregnancy without her. Taba's combination of experience, formal legal training, connections with local health care providers, and personal touch make her a critical team member. She wants to have a connection with the parents, patiently presents all your options, and has the "hospital smarts" to help make it happen. Most importantly, and probably understated in these reviews, is that she is a warm-hearted, positive person who wants nothing but success for parents and baby! She also is open to mama's desires regarding the birth plan, and does not attempt to persuade one method or another, yet will give you all the resources you need to make those important decisions, and talking you through the various perspectives/implications of each. It has been mentioned before, but Taba definitely demonstrated her commitment by taking numerous phone calls, texts, and emails throughout our pregnancy; her knowledge and calm personality helped us through some anxious moments of pre-labor. When we needed her, she was at our door at 3 am when labor ramped up, was super attentive to mom, baby, and dad, and helped us successfully complete our birth plan and help manage the unexpected. She has wonderful intuition to know when to interject with options and also when to fade away in the background so our family could have its first moments together. Not only is she there for you throughout the pregnancy, but takes care of the little things: paying attention to and recording your doctors' and nurses' names, what happened when, and takes pictures/videos for you. read more

I am so grateful to Taba for her experience and knowledge of the birthing process. I was having my third child and was attempting to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) I knew if I was gong to do this I was going to need all the support I could get! Taba gave me so much great information so that I could enter the process confident and informed. I wish I knew her for my fist two!!! I am happy to say as a direct result of her we had Vivienne with no c-section!!! It was such an amazing experience she brought so much calm and peace to the delivery room. We will forever be grateful to her! She is an amazing asset during pregnancy and after! read more

I am a first time dad, and I was unsure about the necessity of a doula. But boy was I convinced after the hypnobirth of my son. Taba did a great job accommodating our needs and wishes during the birthing process. She was always available for pre-birth questions, consultations, and emails. My wife and I were truly blessed to have Taba by our side during the birth and we recommend her highly. read more

Seven months after the birth of our son, I am still so overwhelmed by our Taba experience that I am finding it difficult to write a review that can easily turn the indescribable asset she was to our birth into a mere synopsis. We could have done it without her, but it wouldn't have been nearly as stress-free, supported, magical, and loving as it was with her by our side. It was our first baby, and it was not an easy labor, but Taba was a constant calming balm, a highly knowledgeable and educated support team member, a physical therapist (and contortionist!) in all her hands-on pain management techniques, a pinch-hitter for my husband when he needed a breather (but also a completely unobtrusive cheerleader when he wanted to be #1 right-hand-man to me), a skilled mediator between us and our hospital staff (the entire staff commented afterwards that she was the best, most respectful doula they'd ever worked with and they wished all of them worked so seamlessly with hospital staff), and a bonus photojournalist when we didn't even realize she was snapping (the fact that she captured--on video--the moment my son was born--and the moment my husband realized it was a boy (!) rather than the girl we all expected, was such a wonderful surprise, and will be a cherished memento for all our lives). She was accessible at all times leading up to the birth...generous in her face to face time during our pre-birth interviews/meetings...and truly flexible and non-judgemental in supporting us in whatever we wanted for our birth plan (even when it changed mid-labor). She is clearly truly passionate about her job and about keeping herself educated and informed on all up-to-date research and literature. We found Taba through the well-respected Chapman Center after our first doula had to back out for family reasons, and we knew instantly upon meeting her that everything had happened for the best reasons to bring us together. She was exactly what we needed, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. If we have a second baby, it'll be with Taba, for sure. She's worth every penny. If you're pregnant and thinking of using a doula, call her. NOW. Ed read more

Taba was actually a "relief" Doula who came to our rescue when the Doula we hired came down with the flu when I went into labor. Before we met Taba, I wasn't quite convinced that having a Doula was worth the extra expense. My view changed completely after I met Taba. I honestly don't know if I could have endured my epidural-free birth without her help. During my contractions she worked on pressure points in my legs and hips that completely took the edge off the pain. She's a miracle worker! After the birth she sent us a bunch of pictures and our "birth story" (all her notes about the various stages of labor and delivery including timeline, apgar score, doctor's comments, etc). A few days later she came over to our house to assess and help me with proper latch for breastfeeding. She also taught me how to nurse lying down, which has made it possible for me to actually get a good night's sleep. Since then she's been very helpful answering any questions we might have about the baby and her development. Taba is super smart and has a great personality. I can't recommend her highly enough. read more

When my husband and I found out that we were expecting we were SO excited, and SO surprised- we had only been married a couple of months and were not trying to get pregnant. So, we jumped on the "expecting roller coaster" practically blind to what we were in for- but determined to have the best time, and make the best decisions possible. And, honestly, Taba was by far one of the best decisions we made during our whirlwind pregnancy. My husband and I were looking for a doula that had a balance of professionalism and comfort. Someone with a backbone, but also someone that could cater to me in my most raw, overemotional state ( I admit it, my husband is ALL business- and I cry at, well, everything). We contacted several doulas, but as soon as we met Taba we knew we had found "the one". She was so knowledgeable and organized, yet so personable at the same time. We walked away from our first meeting with a glittery folder full of more information than we had received from anyone (including my doctors). I remember leaving that meeting, and we were both excited. Like, really excited! I think it was the first time we felt as though this whole "labor thing" was something we could do, something we didn't have to be fearful of, and something that we had a say in. I felt so empowered by the amount of information we had thanks to Taba, it made a huge difference in our demeanor and confidence when it was "go time". And Taba was right there, making sure we were taken care of at the hospital, making sure my parents were in the loop, teaching us to read monitors and somehow being the best "there but not there" cheerleader and coach I've ever seen. It honestly still amazes me how involved she was during my labor (which, by the way totaled 36 hours) but once my son was born she made sure we were okay and then quietly made her exit as my family took in our little miracle. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect doula. Taba also helped me through some serious breast feeding issues post pregnancy. I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it, but Taba was there to coach me through. I have now been exclusively breastfeeding my son for nine months. I couldn't have had this amazing birth story without Taba, and I plan to have her with us for all of our future kiddos stories as well! read more

I had two c-sections & was pregnant again! Two different hospitals left a bad taste in my mouth! the doctors and nurses didn't have my best interest in mind so I knew for this pregnancy I wanted a different result, Taba was the first doula I interviewed, my husband & I just fell in love with her! she was able to answer all my questions & concerns, she sent me info based on my pregnancy (v-bac) most of all she was on my side! on the day I went into labor another mom went into labor the same time!!! I was sooo worried she wasn't going to be there as I was concerned bout the other mom also! but TABA put the S on her chest and went back & forth to the hospitals! She helped me understand what the Dr was saying, she also worked her magic for the Dr. & nurses to let me make my own decision, in the end my body would not go with a v-bac so I got a c-section. Even though I had to get a c-section I'm so grateful for her! I told her even if I have to always get c-sections I want her right by my side!!!! oh she was there for the me & the other mom when we delivered! Taba also helped my when I had problems breastfeeding & when I needed more help she helped me get into an appointment when they were not even seeing patients that day! again the S on her chest! lol :) read more

I don't even know where to start to describe how awesome Taba is, both as a doula and a person. I wanted a doula because my husband works out of town and this is a first pregnancy for us. I am a person who believes in being prepared and Taba was instrumental in preparing us for our little girls arrival. The meetings prior to birth were so informative, she is a wealth of knowledge about birthing, labor, breastfeeding.....she helped us come up with a birthing plan and during labor, it was so reassuring to have someone there who could explain to us what was going on, our choices and support us. After taking the parenting/lamaze classes, we felt a little overwhelmed by all the things to remember. Having Taba was a relief and took a lot of stress off, allowing my husband and I to truly feel relaxed and comfortable during labor, knowing that she would guide us. She was the first and only doula we interviewed; I knew right away that she was the right one for us. Having your first child can feel like entering a whole new world, but having Taba as our guide was the best decision my husband and I made, both for us and our baby. On the day my baby was born, my father had to have brain surgery done to drain blood out of his brain. He and I were thankfully in the same hospital, so updates came quickly. Taba could see the stress this was causing in me and offered many times to go and get updates for me, especially when a code blue was called on the floor he was on. (It was not for him, he pulled through the operation and is recovering well). Taba was a blessed support for not only my husband and I, but my family as well. She does take wonderful pictures and the diary she kept of my labor was incredible. It was so nice to be able to focus on what I had to do and not worry about taking pictures, or getting nurses names for my thank you notes. After birth, she is still there for you in the weeks and months ahead when you are trying to navigate all that comes with the joys and questions of new parents. An interview with Taba is a must and hiring her will be a decision you will come to be thankful for over and over again. read more

It is thanks to Taba that I was successful in breastfeeding my son. It wasn't going well and I was worried about his weight, as parents with newborns do. I called her and she came to help me in the comfort of my home. She really knows numerous strategies to make breast feeding successful and comfortable! She rocks!!! I am so grateful that I was able to have this bonding experience with my son and I don't think it would have been possible without Taba! She is so passionate and dedicated to her clients. Being a doula is definitely a labour of love for her! read more

Taba is FABULOUS! Having her a part of our birth experience was one of the best decisions we made. From the moment we hired her she made us feel like family. She always had the answers to our questions and took our phone calls no matter the time of day. On the day of our birth she stayed with us until our little girl was able to get her breast-milk. Then made numerous house calls to make sure all was going well. Not to mention all the wonderful photos and birth story that she put together for us. We are looking forward to having her be our Doula again when we have our 2nd child. You will be forever grateful to Taba when you hire her as your Doula. read more

Taba was my wife's doula and this space is too small to say how completely awesome she is at her job. In a nutshell, I found Taba to be: always friendly and positive, calm and assuring, smart and pragmatic, patient and helpful. Also, a total bonus, she is one hell of a photographer and we'll always have many wonderful pictures from the labor and birth. If you're seriously considering using a doula, a visit with Taba is a must. read more

Taba was an incredible doula for the birth of our daughter last February. Taba helped to better educate us on working towards a natural childbirth. She met with us several times to prepare for our birth and learn more about what we wanted for our birth. She also took time to meet with both my husband and I individually to ease our fears and concerns. She always responded super quickly and has such expertise in childbirth and breastfeeding. After 3 days of laboring at home, we ended up with a c-section, but Taba was there for all of it, calming our fears and educating us along the way. Moreover, she documented the entire labor with photographs and notes of memorable moments during the experience. After the labor, and to this day, she is always available for questions about breastfeeding, sleeping, etc. I would highly recommend Taba. It really is the best money spent to prepare for your birth! read more