I am so grateful to YELP for pointing me in the direction of Melissa's birthing classes! We had…read moreconflicts with several other birth class dates in the area and she offers private classes that can be scheduled at your time. These are a little bit more expensive, but not a huge inconvenience and well worth it. I started communication with Melissa by completing the interest form on her website, and just a little bit later I got a text message from her saying that we can schedule at my convenience and asking if I have any questions. We were able to hold a date and time with a deposit and we got everything set up over text and through PayPal. We even had a time conflict about a week prior and she was willing to work with us and host the class in the evening from 6pm-9:30pm. The classes are held at her home, and she has a whiteboard, tv and a comfy sitting area. She let me recline in the chair too, which was nice and relaxing. She made sure we were comfortable and offered us snacks, coffee and water. There is a book and videos that goes along with the class, and while we didn't get through the whole book, she does a nice job of pointing out the big stuff and will gladly go over or review what your preferences are. Melissa used to work at Clovis Community and so if you are planning to deliver there, she has the unique experience of knowing the process/protocols. My husband and I left feeling very informed and supported. We did not feel overwhelmed because everything was explained so nicely and at a pace that worked for our understanding. I highly recommend you using Melissa for a birth class! She also let us know about offering lactation classes with her too. This is something we are highly considering! We even have an Infant CPR set up with her in the next week and we are looking forward to it.

I've read all the baby books and figured the class would be more helpful for my husband. Boy was I…read moresurprised! I definitely learned a few things and Melissa was wonderful at answering all my questions. My husband definitely feels more confident being the support person I'll need during L&D. I recommend taking her class, it's educational and helpful. Sign up early enough, I waited until the last minute and I'm lucky I made it right before my due date.

I'm really surprised how few people take advantage Of Doula Services. This service was amazing for…read moremy wife and I. I had no idea what was going on and literally didn't know how to support my wife during her pregnancy other then rushing to get her food and paying bills. Breyonna was very informative and sweet I felt so much better as a man supporting my wife through all of this. So confident I might have another! Lol not really I really miss getting sleep. Reasonably priced, Worth the money, and the time.

From the owner: Maya Bee's is a Birth and Postpartum Doula business supporting mothers and families. Maya Bee's…read moreaims to create safe spaces for mothers to share their concerns and wishes about their pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. Maya Bee's was founded to take a holistic approach toward pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period within Fresno’s diverse population to promote healthy outcomes for mom and baby through informational, emotional, and physical support.

Could not recommend more!…read more I had been co-sleeping with my 2yo daughter, experiencing choppy naps, and dealing with a very late bedtime (10pm ish) for many months before asking for Joan's help. I just wasn't sure where to start, and how to push through the challenges I knew were inevitable. Joan made a plan and guided me through every step. It wasn't easy but Joan had prepared me for that. I didn't feel uncertain about what we were doing. Along with her experience and wisdom in all things sleep, Joan has such a calm and reassuring demeanor, so you feel incredibly supported through the whole experience. We caught up twice a week on zoom to check in Joan uses a gentle approach which I loved. It took about 4 weeks for my daughter to get to the point where I can put her in the crib 100% awake and she takes herself off to sleep without assistance. The first 5 days/nights were pretty intense, but it's amazing how quickly my little one was able to learn how to sleep by herself, and now at a reasonable hour! Thank you for everything, Joan! Couldn't have done it without you :)

Joan is amazing to work with! So thorough and empathetic. Her strategies are amazing and they work!…read moreShe helped me with my third child, which I thought I had sleep figured out by baby number 3 but he was always so crabby and come to find out I had his sleep schedule all off. Joan held my hand throughout the whole transitioning process and made it all possible. I highly recommend Joan and her services.

I've gone back and forth about writing this review, as a bad review for a small company is not…read moreinsignificant. But after many many months I am still disappointed and angry with my experience. I also learned from my midwife that my experience is not unique and happens to many women who hire Dutchess of Doula. 1. I hired Joytonia under the impression that she was my doula and that she would attend my birth unless some extenuating circumstance came up. This is what she told me. She decided to book a vacation hundreds of miles away on my due date. She told me, "don't worry, your baby won't come on time anyway, I'll be back in time." Well, she wasn't. She sent a doula I had never met to attend my birth. This doula was kind and attentive, but a complete stranger. According to my very experienced midwife, "Joytonia never attends births". My experience, apparently, is not unique. 2. As another reviewer mentioned, the birth class is not worth your time. You read from a packet the whole time and receive outdated, inaccurate nutritional advice. You could get the same quality education from your hospital. 3. Other than my first meeting with her, Joytonia was never on time or, usually, rescheduled the meeting day of. So my husband would take time off work to be at our meetings, only to be told Joytonia couldn't make it and we would have to reschedule. I know birth workers have unpredictable schedules (with babies coming at unpredictable times), but missing our meetings because of attending a birth was never her reason. Her excuse was usually that she double-booked or was too far away to make it to the meeting. 4. I don't care about this one really, but the package included a gift for baby and we never received anything. 5. For a pro in favor of Dutchess of Doula, the price (at the time I paid) was lower than any other local doula. So if you don't mind having a stranger attend your birth, maybe this could work for you. But I would never pay $1000 again for this service. Pay slightly more for someone who cares enough to not go on vacation during your birth. Take a hint from the misspelled name (it's "duchess", no "t"), this is an unprofessional operation.

First off let me start by saying these ladies are so PHENOMENAL! I was referred to by a friend and…read morethe ladies did it disappoint. I was a gestational surrogate in my last trimester, and after some research I decided that having a doula was going to be in my best interest. That way my husband could stay home with our children and I would still have someone for support. Unfortunately, I gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the bright side I had Joytonia there through it all physically and Brandy via video call (and she stayed on the call from beginning to end; a total of 8 hours). These ladies make you feel more like family than a client. After having two of my very own children I figured I knew all about child birth. BUT after taking one of the child birth classes I realized I had knew what society showed. I was always a pro-epidural person. Before meeting Joytonia I had it dead set that I was going to have an epidural just like I did with my own kids. After taking the child birth class and meeting/hearing previous clients' birthing stories I came to realization that going natural is something that our bodies are built for. I also learned that I did not need to get an IV, which is something that I thought was necessary. Needless to say, I learned so much from; meditation, breathing techniques, birthing positions, and oh those God given massages! Overall, I would recommend the ladies 10 fold. I swear I'm so ready to get pregnant again just to "work" with the ladies again! Nothing better than people that are passionate about what they do. Side note: I gave birth all natural, and Joytonia handled my mouthy stubbornness with a grain of salt.

I got to know Marie through a breastfeeding support group I attended as she was the facilitator…read more She was so welcoming and answered my questions about plugged milk ducts, dietary considerations for nursing, and many others. I would recommend her to anyone needing a consultation!

From the owner: IBCLC - Lactation Consultant based in San Diego I'm offering friendly, individualized, unbiased and…read morepractical support to new or expectant families