We had such a wonderful experience working with Nakomi! She supported us both during birth and…read morethrough the first 8 weeks postpartum, and we can't imagine having gone through it without her. Before and during labor, she brought such a calming presence and shared great soothing techniques -- from breathing guidance to gentle stretch exercises that helped my wife stay comfortable and confident through contractions. Her energy in the delivery room was reassuring and grounding, exactly what we needed. After birth, she was incredible with our baby during the night shifts. Those first weeks can be overwhelming, but she made sure both mom and baby had everything they needed to be happy and rested. We woke up to a fed, peaceful baby and a bit of sanity restored -- truly priceless. She's experienced, intuitive, and genuinely caring -- the kind of person who makes you feel supported at every step. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for birth or postpartum support.

We interviewed several providers for a postpartum doula and Nakomi stood out immediately for her…read morecalming presence and approach. Working with her in the first few weeks after our baby was born was effortless and a major source of support. Highly recommended.

I knew I wanted a home birth if I had kids since someone told me years ago that they had a home…read morebirth and they didn't even give me any details. When I got pregnant and did research on it, it just confirmed that I wanted it. I wanted someone who would spend more time and get to know me so that they could feel confident and I could feel confident to safely give birth at home. I just didn't think a doctor at a hospital was going to get to know me or make me trust in them to be safe. My husband was scared of the thought of a home birth and I was scared of the thought of a hospital birth. He has turned around and would do the home birth again. So many of my friends were telling me horror stories of their births and the interventions they went through at hospitals. I knew I wouldn't be able to stand up or question why if a doctor wanted to do an intervention and that I may regret it after so I chose to do a home birth where an intervention was not an option. My sessions with Shelia were an hour long and I completely trusted her to take care of me and if she had told me to go to the hospital or have an intervention I would have because we built that type of relationship. At each session she did my vitals, asked about diet, exercise, sleep and emotions I may be feeling before measuring my abdomen and listening for the fetal heart. She always gave me information about each test that was standard care and let me decide if I wanted to do it. I always felt like I was in control of my health. Our appts got closer together as I got further along and honestly I loved going to them and listening to the baby. It never felt like a doctors office and I never waited in a lobby. She has a beautiful office and welcomes anyone that wants to join which my 6 year old niece did a couple of times and it was great. When I was ready to give birth everything went well and although it was really long, I never once felt scared or regret in my choice. Shelia was monitoring the baby and giving me advice on positioning to get moving along. When my baby was born she put him on me right away and made sure we were both doing well before cleaning up, making me a large batch of concentrated sitz bath tea she saw I had purchased, adding it to some of the pads and froze them to help with the pain (she really didn't have to do) and then clamped the baby's umbilical cord and did all the exams. I would have Shelia again if I were to give birth again in the future. She really took care of me and made me feel safe and I was really happy through it all.

We made a late switch to Lotus Moon Birth and decided upon a home birth for our second child after…read moreour health insurers told us they were unable to make any guarantees about supporting natural childbirth, or permitting anyone else aside from the mother at the hospital. We interviewed several midwives and immediately felt relaxed when talking to Shelia and decided to work with her and her team. This was undoubtedly the best decision we made during the pregnancy. Shelia and Donna were an amazing team, knowledgable, calm, reassuring and above all quietly competent. We had a fantastic birth and were able to greet our daughter in the comfort of our own home. Pre and postnatal care was also brilliant, despite some complications with our daughter's tongue tie making breastfeeding complicated, and Shelia always made herself available to answer questions or provide support.

Birthing Rhythm is truly the gold standard when it comes to midwifery. We were so impressed with…read morethe level of care we received from start to finish. Beth Cannon has a wealth of knowledge & treats your entire family with such compassionate and excellence. She and everyone in her circle are incredibly skilled, trustworthy & a joy to work with. Prenatal appts are so comprehensive and never rushed. You have access to loads of information and resources to help you navigate the different stages of pregnancy and beyond. Options & recommendations are offered and your decisions are always respected. ***If you have concerns about the possibility of an emergency during labor/birth, please know you are in the BEST hands with Beth and her team.*** They are educated, equipped and prepared to manage urgent situations while maintaining clear communication, respect, and gentleness every step of the way. In my case, I had a retained placenta and a postpartum hemorrhage, but Beth, Jen & Mikki went above and beyond to care for me and my family through it all. They calmly communicated my options, took swift action, and gave tons of extra support and check-ins until I was fully recovered. I truly don't think any other midwife would have gone to the lengths that they did so seemingly effortlessly. Couldn't imagine having anyone else They say it takes a village, and in hiring Birthing Rhythm, you get a village. Beth has a vast and thoughtfully built community of experts, specialists and sincere care-givers to come alongside you in whatever your journey brings!

I don't even know where to start with Beth, Jenn and team because "amazing" doesn't feel like a big…read moreenough word. I went into this birth after a previous C-section, really hoping for a HBAC but honestly not fully trusting that my body would get me there. After a few days of what felt like never-ending contractions (turns out it was prodromal labor), I was completely exhausted and starting to spiral a bit mentally. Beth helped us figure out what was actually going on--baby had flipped posterior--and gave us really clear direction on what to do next. No pressure, no fear, just calm, grounded guidance. By the time active labor hit, I was in a pretty raw place. Tired, emotional, unsure. When Beth and team arrived, everything shifted. She was so calm and steady, and I could feel that she trusted my body even when I didn't. Things moved fast after her arrival . At one point baby's shoulder got a little stuck and I remember hearing timing being called out, but Beth handled it so calmly and confidently that there was never panic in the room. Within moments, he was in my arms. It was intense, messy, beautiful, and honestly one of the most empowering experiences of my life. Every birthing person deserves the kind of experience Beth and her team provide. Coming from a previous C-section, the difference between my two births couldn't have been more opposite. This time I felt seen, respected, and truly taken care of in a way I didn't even realize I was missing before. Forever grateful for her. Would choose her again a thousand times.

My husband and I chose Sharon from Doula Diligence after scheduling interviews with Doulas from…read morethree different companies. Before the interview we read her DoulaMatch profile and were automatically drawn to her science background. As a black woman, it was most important to me that our doula have extensive knowledge about the intricacies of the pregnancy and birth process. From our first meeting with Sharon, it was clear that she possessed that knowledge. At our first meeting, Sharon was very warm but professional. She answered all of our questions in depth and with follow ups we had not considered. Her company Doula Diligence provides very structured educational programs along with birth support. We walked into the delivery room feeling confident that we had the information to advocate for ourselves if needed. The birth plan we created with Sharon during our meetings was very clear and multiple nurses told us that it was the best birth plan they had seen. During the birth itself, Sharon provided invaluable guidance and support. From the first text messages we sent to her to inform her I was being induced, she kept in touch and followed up with us until she was able to make it to the hospital. When she arrived, I was in active labor with a epidural that failed. Sharon instantly got to work making the room a more inviting place and providing me with massages and counter pressure to take my mind off the excruciating pain I was experiencing. At a point the anesthesiologist suggested removing and replacing my epidural. But after talking to Sharon, I decided to tough it out as our baby was already crowing. With Sharon's help with breathing techniques, I pushed her out within 20 minutes with minimal tearing. I've recommended Sharon and Doula Diligence to multiple people in my personal life because I could not imagine going through this experience without her. I do not intend to give birth again, but if that were to change, I will be using her services again. I highly highly recommend you choose Doula Diligence as a birth doula. They even have other services such as night nursing and sleep training guidance (which will be using when the time comes). TLDR: 10/10 experience, would hire these doulas again.

Best money I ever spent in my life. Life changing to have the help getting my baby to sleep better…read more Without the pressure of figuring it all out on my own. Cannot recommend Sharon and her team enough. My baby went from 5 wakes a night at 5 months to sleeping 7pm-7am. It was not cry it out. She's so helpful and knowledgeable. And above all she is responsive. You aren't waiting two business days for an answer you are desperate for. I am so happy we move forward working with her and cannot recommend it enough.

Let me start by saying Jen is absolutely amazing! She is kindhearted, genuine and compassionate!…read moreShe truly loves what she does and it shows in her work. We interviewed a lot of doulas before deciding to hire Jen. I had honestly already selected a doula I wanted and almost cancelled the consultation appointment with Jen but something told me to keep it and I am so glad I did. After chatting with her I knew she was the one. Her energy and calming voice was exactly what I knew I needed! Jen has been there for me EVERY step of the way on this wild rollercoaster to motherhood! She is always just a text or call away and the amount of time I've called her and spent an hour or more on the phone with her just crying, venting, laughing or bouncing thoughts with her. She's quickly become one of my dear friends! At my birth she was pivotal, and kept me calm by helping with breathing tactics and pain management tools. She even helped me push my baby out. I am so grateful to have walked this journey and to keep walking this journey with you Jen! Thankfully we also added on her postpartum package and she has been spoiling me with yummy meals, foot and back massages, sitz baths and loving on my son. Jen is an absolute gem and I highly recommend her! Oh and I almost forgot she captured my birth beautifully too with photos and videos. And the education she gives during her prenatal visits are like nothing else any other doula does. Most doulas start there visits in late 3rd trimester and show up at the birth. Jen walked along this ENTIRE journey with me. I am so grateful to her for everything!

Jen was my postpartum doula for 6 weeks after giving birth & it was a great investment! She was…read moreflexible & able to accommodate changing schedules, great with communication not only about tasks I needed help with but also helping me navigate communication with family members helping out, and provided a complimentary at home massage from a professional for my last visit. Jen did a variety of tasks for me and was willing to do whatever was helpful for that week's visit - laundry, trash, changing bedsheets, cooking, caring for the baby, and multiple self care activities for me as a recovering mama! It was so nice and I highly recommend her

If you have been considering a natural home waterbirth as a possibility for your next birth…read more Seriously... you can look no further. Pick up the phone and call Birthwell... RIGHT NOW! Words can not begin to describe the appreciation I have for Mari and her team. The care I received from Birthwell exceeded all of my expectations and I felt like I was in this big bubble of love during every visit. I know that sounds a bit sappy, but when you have been working so hard being pregnant and preparing for that perfect birth, feeling supported with love and acceptance really makes a difference. And that is exactly what I was blessed with- an absolute perfect birth. I had been receiving prenatal care through my insurance provider at a local hospital, not very happy with the rushed, impersonal experience of being there. After my first ultrasound, doctor after doctor told me that my placenta was too low for a home waterbirth- it wasn't quite a previa, but "too close for comfort" in their eyes. At 36 weeks they were adamant about scheduling me a c-section (the last thing you want to hear when you had been committed to a natural birth), so I demanded one last look. I had been praying so much that my placenta move just the 2 millimeters out of the way. My OB really didn't think it was going to in only two weeks since the last ultrasound, but low and behold, it had! I took this as a sign to get a Midwife and do it the way I wanted from the beginning - at home and in the water. Mariposa of Birthwell was recommended to me by two difference sources - coincidentally the first two people I had asked. I knew that choosing a midwife was a very personal and important decision, so I did my research and looked at all the different midwifery service providers around LA. Before I gave Mari a call, I went on to her website to check her bio. The second I saw her amazing eyes, I was overflowing with tears. I knew right away she was the one. It was a great bonus that she ended up having so much Labor & Delivery experience and that she was super-sweet an empowering. I don't think I've even told her this, but she had me at the online photo :-) After an in-person meeting with her and my partner, we "tied the knot" and she put me to work. There was so much preparation my body needed for the birth that I had no idea about. I was shocked my OB hadn't told me even a fraction of tricks Mari filled me in on. From the yoga moves, to the borage oil, to the squats- I was on a daily regime that got me ready for the big day. One night at around 10:00pm, just after finishing Mari's prenatal yoga video and downing some fresh coconut juice, it started. The contractions were happening every 6 or 7 minutes, but they were pretty manageable. I called Mari up and she told me to call her every hour to tell her how far a part they were at each hour increment. I was pretty surprised, considering it was already so late at night and worried I was going to keep her up all night with phone calls until it was time for her to come (I have a family history of 30-40 hour labor "marathons", so I knew it was going to be a while). After a few hours, I ended up falling asleep somehow. At 5:30am I woke up to my water breaking in bed (luckily Mari had given me a checklist for preparing my home for the birth- including a full waterproof bed pad we had on the bed ready to go!) I called up Mari and she said she was on her way over. She lived pretty close and was at the house within 20 minutes. The contractions weren't that bad, but they were happening every 2 minutes or so. She checked me and we both couldn't believe that I was already dilated 8 centimeters! I got in the water (we had a hot tub prepared on the deck) and she called her assistant to come. Less than 3 hours later, our precious little girl was born. It went so perfect in every way and Mari & Beth were a true blessing. Mari taught me how to breath, low and slow, and she made me feel fearless and so powerful. I was able to birth my daughter in the water and Mari talked me through how to birth most of her by myself- something I really wanted to do. It was the happiest moment of my life. It's been 3 months and, safe to say, Mari is definitely a part of the family.

The level of pre and postnatal care I received from Mari was beyond my expectations. I began my…read morecare with Birthwell at 10 weeks pregnant and just delivered my healthy, beautiful boy on 7/21. He was born at home, in the water, drug free-Just how I imagined. If you want a beautiful, empowered, natural birth with a practitioner who brings the energy of a professional nurse as well as a supportive best friend-She is your girl.

We are SO grateful to have had Lauren's help with caring for our newborn during the early…read morepostpartum weeks. As first-time parents, we were anxious and sleep-deprived upon coming home from the hospital with our baby, and having Lauren there during that first night at home was absolutely life-saving -- I felt so grateful and relieved to see her walk through the door. She was so warm and reassuring, and I knew that our baby would be in good hands. Each night that she came, she would answer all our random questions that we had written down, teach us how to soothe and care for our new baby, and give us the opportunity to catch up on much-needed sleep while she looked after the baby overnight. Then before leaving each morning, she would always give us a summary of how the night went, including anything notable about the baby's health or behavior and any relevant advice. It's clear that Lauren is an expert at what she does, and it was amazing to have her as our trusted advisor on all things baby-related. She is a patient and professional teacher, and her guidance has helped build our confidence as new parents. Anyone would be lucky to work with her! Thank you, Lauren!

We kept calling Lauren "Mary Poppins." Not only was she practically perfect in every way - she is -…read morebut she was just what we needed when we needed it. Coming home from the hospital as first time parents and knowing Lauren was there to support us helped relieve our "newborn" stress. Lauren adapted her style to our needs. She is extremely experienced and anticipated what we would need before issues arose. She is attentive, attuned and communicates well. She helped us grow in confidence for caring for our child so that by the time she left, although we missed her company, we felt equipped for parenthood. Before I met Lauren, I was hesitant to accept that a night doula could fit into our family. Those first few months are so intimate, and I didn't want to have anyone around that would dampen the experience. Well, that worry was unfounded with Lauren. Lauren helped me be able to focus on my son better than I could have without her help. If you are thinking of hiring Lauren, don't take my word for it - see for yourself.

Robyn was amazing to work with and I'm so glad I hired her as my doula! I love that's she's so…read moredetailed and gives lots of information prior. It gave me peace of mind and comfort knowing I had her there to support me during the labor and delivery, especially in dealing with unforeseen circumstances and talking with the hospital staff. she also helped me out postpartum which was absolutely amazing. Her calming presence in our home helped me to truly relax and begin my journey recovering and being a new mother. She was so helpful answering our endless questions about the baby, breastfeeding, etc. Hire her it's so worth it!

Hiring Robyn to support and guide me as my doula was the best decision and brought me (and my…read morehusband) so much reassurance, sense of security, and confidence heading into my first pregnancy. The two at-home sessions leading up to my hospital birth were so informative and really made my husband and I feel as prepared as possible to think through lots of different scenarios (and much more informative than any labor course we took!). Robyn is clearly incredibly experienced, professional, and so deeply cares about the mamas and partners she supports. Robyn was always available and on the night I went into labor, she was in constant contact guiding us during the time leading up to our hospital arrival. She was there waiting for us at 1am ready to go - she was so prepared and immediately made me feel at ease for this unknown experience. All of the techniques she offered me, the constant emotional and physical support during labor (she is a talented masseuse!!), and her encouragement and backing of all my birth preferences (including ensuring our gender reveal stayed a surprise until the very end!) made the day such a positive experience. Not to mention, had Robyn not been there, I felt there was a very high likelihood I would have had to have had a cesarean birth due to my extended labor process. Instead, the techniques and positions Robyn worked with the doctors and nurses to offer meant that I got to have the safe and healthy delivery I had hoped for. Robyn also set an incredible vibe (music, candlelight, relaxing aromatherapy, honey sticks for energy!) that made the room feel special instead of cold and sterile. My husband and I both agreed that having Robyn as our doula was one of the best decisions and we have a beautiful, healthy baby girl and only positive memories of the labor experience because she was such an important part of our birthing team. We love you Robyn!!