I found Labor of Love by doing some of my own research online. And thank God I did! My doula,…read moreKaren, was my rock throughout my labor and was 100,000 percent amazing--I'll definitely be working with her for my second! A little backstory: I was overwhelmed and so nervous about finding "the one" person to be a part of the most important event of my life. After doing my research and reading through all these bios, I honestly was left feeling overwhelmed, especially knowing how indecisive I can be. I knew I just had to trust my intuition and my gut on this one! After looking at Karen's bio on their website, I had such a good feeling. Staci (the owner), who was super friendly and professional, helped me get connected with Karen, and I booked an interview right away! Karen was so sweet and asked me about my pregnancy experience so far. We discussed how I wanted my birth to go and any concerns I had. There wasn't any pressure to hire her, and it just felt like she was already invested in me, like I was already family. I even had her video chat with my husband to make sure we both felt comfortable and vibed well together--and we sure did! Overall, Karen ended up being the perfect balance of knowledge, experience, and professionalism. It was the most perfect amount of care I could have asked for. She was also such an advocate for my birth plan to work out. Before, during, and after my labor and birth, she was always naturally in tune with what I needed. She was never overbearing, worked so well with my husband, and gave him space to be a part of my support team as well. I am so grateful to have come across Labor of Love

The business owner is quite the opposite of the type of person any vulnerable new mom should have…read moreto work with. My experience with Labor of Love was almost two years ago now but continues to upset me when thinking back on my experience. We hired Lauren as our doula, who made it clear she expected us to go far past my due date as a first time mom. While it's possible for that to happen, it didn't in my case. At 39 weeks and at 5am while in active labor and getting ready to head to the hospital, she let us know she had Covid. Her backup was Karen, who I wish we hired to begin with as she is far more caring and professional. Though unfortunately our experience still fell short and we ultimately delivered without Karen present. We were left feeling like we invested a lot of emotion and money into this process with ultimately no help. Staci has been incredibly rude to us since then and even revoked our access to watch her training videos, sending me a link to pay her once again when wanting to rewatch for our now second baby on the way. Karen herself even recommended we ask for a partial refund due to our experience, but Staci lacks the professionalism and courtesy to her clients. Truly mindblowing that she revoked access to the training videos after we had already paid for them. I would stay far away and recommend a more experienced and caring doula group.

So grateful that I found this amazing doula team and mama community!…read more Krista Jawin worked closely with my husband and I to prepare us for the birth of our first child. She has truly been the guiding light through our journey into parenthood. We had the amazing, magical, beautiful, empowering home birth that we visualized during our birth education sessions with Krista. We know we would not have had this experience if it were not for her guidance before, during and after the birth of our baby. Thank you Krista for the amazing selfless work you do for mamas, babies, and families!!!!

I love Maureen and the team at In One Breath Center! I'm so thankful that I was referred to…read moreMaureen: I was halfway through my first pregnancy and my yoga instructor encouraged me to become educated about labor, birth, and postpartum life. I am SO glad I received that encouragement and Maureen's name from her. I had interviewed a couple doulas who I found on Yelp, but my 3rd call was Maureen and I knew by the end of our first phone conversation that she was the one who would be my teammate and would be there to witness the birth of my first baby! We opted to do a hospital birth (although I loved the idea of a midwifery center or a home birth, my husband's desire was to have our son born in a hospital setting) and I knew that I wanted the wisdom and support of a birth doula to assist my husband and I in making the best decisions possible during the labor & delivery process. My goal was to have a natural birth and I knew that might be challenging in the hospital setting. As a side-note, I had previously thought birth doulas were mainly for people who had extra money laying around - but now I don't know why I had that idea because it's not true in the least bit! We made a point to save where we could so that we could spend some on a doula. Before "The Day" arrived, we met with Maureen in person. She asked great questions about our wishes, fears, uncertainties and she helped us to write a very simple birth plan (or 'birth preferences'- since most of the time things DON'T go exactly as you plan for with birth!). She was in contact with us often in the weeks leading up the my due date, especially because at 34 weeks I needed to go to the hospital Triage due to intense/frequent Braxton Hicks and we also found out that baby was breech and would need to turn - and soon! She and Krista gave me excellent advice that I wouldn't have otherwise received - little suggestions and tricks for taking care of myself at home leading up to my due date. We wanted to keep the baby in the womb until he was closer to (or at) 40 weeks and we were hopeful he would flip around, too! So, Maureen advised me to rest, calm my mind, listen to hypnobirthing mp3s, etc. We kept in touch regularly for the 3-4 weeks before my water broke at 37 weeks + 1 day - baby boy waited until he was considered full-term and then wouldn't wait a day longer! He was placed in my arms 37 hours later! For the actual labor & delivery she met us at Hoag while we were still trying to get labor going (unsuccessfully) and then she supported us as the nurses suggested Pitocin to get things going. PItocin wasn't in our "Plan", but with Maureen's support, my husband and I asked that we start the process very slow & steady... LONG story short, I was able to deliver the baby vaginally without any drugs or intervention with exception of the Pitocin. Thank God we had Maureen - she helped with massaging, bathroom trips, various labor positions, pep talks, and she really supported my husband. I think that's the biggest takeaway- my husband had the confidence to tell the hospital staff our desires (when needed) because Maureen was his teammate when I was out of my usual mind during the labor process. Maureen is sincere, hard-working, loving, and just an all-around JOY to be around. God knew what he was doing when he set us up together. It's been nearly 6 months since my son was born (another pregnancy isn't in our imminent future) and when the time is right I know I will be dialing Maureen as soon as we make plans to have Baby #2. I encourage anyone who read this long-winded review to connect with Maureen before making your final decision if a birth doula is right for you! As my husband has told several other of our expecting couple-friends: "Talk to Maureen (or any doula you're considering), it's the best money we chose to spend during this season!"

I didn't know where to start in searching for a doula, and I'm so glad I came across this marching…read moreservice. It was an easy and quick process that helped me find a doula with some pretty specific preferences I had in mind. They gave me several great options and matched me with my doula who I absolutely love!

The Doulas of Orange County is a wonderful service that helped my wife and me out tremendously in…read moreour search for a birth doula. With so many doulas available, it was overwhelming knowing where to start our search. Doulas of Orange County simplified everything by first gathering a list of what we wanted and matching us with the perfect doulas who aligned with our vision and our budget. The process was easy to understand, and they consistently informed us every step along the way to keep us in the loop. Thank you, Doulas of Orange County!

It is our pleasure to recommend Edilia, who cared for our son, Liam, as his night nurse. From the…read morevery first day, Edilia gave us a tremendous sense of confidence and reassurance during such an important and demanding time for our family. Edilia was consistently professional, knowledgeable, punctual, dependable, communicative, and supportive. Her experience caring for newborns was evident in the way she handled Liam and responded to his needs. She was attentive, patient, and calm, and we always felt completely comfortable knowing that he was in capable hands overnight. What stood out to us most, however, was how genuinely caring Edilia was. Her care never felt like she was simply performing a job because we had hired her. From day one, she formed a real connection with Liam and treated him with warmth, tenderness, and affection. As parents, it meant a great deal to see that the person caring for our little one was truly invested in his comfort, safety, and well-being. Edilia's support also made a very real difference in our family's day-to-day life. We already have an 8-year-old son, and while welcoming a newborn was incredibly special, we were also navigating the newborn stage all over again while continuing to be present for our older son. School, baseball, work, and the normal responsibilities of family life did not stop simply because we had a newborn at home. We were fortunate to have Edilia care for Liam five nights a week. She was always prompt and communicative about scheduling, which gave us consistency we could truly depend on. Being able to get meaningful rest overnight allowed us to wake up with the energy to care for Liam while also being present for our older son--getting him ready for school, keeping up with baseball, and maintaining the routines that were important to him. Her overnight care was especially important for mom's postpartum recovery. Sleep is so critical during those first days and weeks after giving birth, and having Edilia there allowed Mom to get the uninterrupted rest her body needed to heal and regain her strength. Because we could trust that Liam was being lovingly and attentively cared for throughout the night, Mom was able to focus on recovery rather than operating on very little sleep. The difference was remarkable--by the third week postpartum, she had recovered well enough to attend a baby shower, something we believe would have been much more difficult without the rest and support Edilia helped make possible. Her help was also especially meaningful during tax season, which is an exceptionally demanding time of year for our family professionally. Knowing that Liam was receiving attentive and loving care overnight gave us peace of mind and allowed us to balance a very busy work schedule with the needs of both of our children. It is difficult to overstate how much of a difference that support made for our entire household. Edilia was also generous with her knowledge and supportive of us as parents. She answered our questions patiently, shared her experience when appropriate, and helped us navigate those early weeks with greater confidence. She understood that caring for a newborn also means supporting the parents and the family around that child, and she did that exceptionally well. We are extremely grateful that Edilia was part of Liam's earliest days. She earned our complete trust, and we would recommend her without hesitation to any family looking for a knowledgeable, dependable, professional, and genuinely caring night nurse. Any family would be fortunate to have her caring for their little one. The Apodaca Family June 2026

As a newborn parent, if I had to do it over again, I would have hired Newborn Nurtury from the…read morebeginning to set us up with a strong start. We came to them after sleepless desperation and they improved things just over text, followed by coaching in person and giving us some much needed sleep. Can't thank them enough

Choosing Valerie to be my doula was without a doubt the best decision I made for my pregnancy and…read morebirth journey. Going through pregnancy and labor for the very first time was incredibly scary, but having Valerie by my side made all the difference. She was a truly essential support system for me--from the early stages straight through every single contraction. When the pain felt overwhelming, she stayed grounded with me, helped me find my inner strength, and refused to let me feel alone. Beyond her incredible physical and emotional support during labor, Valerie showed an extraordinary level of professionalism and dedication. She calmly handled challenging and unusual circumstances--including mediating sensitive marital communications with my husband--with complete grace, tact, and composure. She never shyed away from difficult moments or complex dynamics; instead, she stepped up as a reassuring, balanced mediator when I needed it most. Valerie was truly always there when I needed her. Her strength, unwavering presence, and deep compassion made a profound impact on my birth experience, and I am so deeply grateful to have had her support. If you are looking for a doula who is compassionate, fearless, and reliable through every step of the process, I cannot recommend Valerie highly enough!

From our very first phone call, I knew Lindzee and I would get along and work well together…read more When I went into labor, Lindzee came to our home and stayed through the night, helping me progress and supporting me through every stage. Once we went to the hospital, her guidance, encouragement, and gentle push helped me keep going, especially when we worked together to help get my daughter into the right position. Although my labor ultimately did not go the way I had hoped or expected, Lindzee was there every step of the way with love, support, reassurance, and comfort. She helped me feel heard and cared for during some of the hardest moments of my birth experience. One of my favorite memories that I still think about is when I needed a distraction during my long labor, and Lindzee and I ended up playing Tapple while my mom watched us. It was such a simple moment, but it perfectly captures the kind of support she gave me, helping me through the difficult moments while also making me laugh and feel like myself. We bonded throughout my long labor, and I feel incredibly lucky that I gained not only an amazing doula but also a friend through this experience. I will always be grateful for Lindzee and the role she played in bringing my daughter into the world. I truly cannot recommend her enough.

Christy is seriously amazing. Finding the right midwife was really important to me because birth is…read moresuch a personal experience, and I knew I needed someone I felt 100% comfortable with. From the moment we met her, we just knew she was the perfect fit for us. This was our first baby, and she guided us through everything. She answered all of our questions, made us feel so supported, and honestly exceeded every expectation we had. I also really loved that she's the perfect balance of holistic, but will absolutely speak up if something medical is needed. You can tell her top priority is always keeping both mom and baby safe. We also took her Bradley Method class, which was so helpful and made me feel way more prepared and confident going into birth. We learned so much, and I've already been recommending it to everyone. I fully trusted her the entire time, which made such a difference for me going into labor and birth. Throughout my labor, she was there at any time of day to answer my calls and questions, and she always helped me feel calm and educated about what was happening. On the day of the birth, she was calm, confident, and completely in her element. She made the whole experience feel so smooth and magical. I recommend Christy to anyone, and I already know I'll want her as my midwife for all of my future babies

Safe, warmth and validation. Three words that I experienced with Honey Midwifery during my second…read morepregnancy and birth that I didn't experience with my first. The team at Honey Midwifery has been cultivated with love and education. Every step of the way we talked through my concerns and we talked about the vision of how I wanted my birth to look. My partner was included at every appointment and together we celebrated each new milestone in my pregnancy with love and guidance from Christy and her team. When it was time for my son to make his earthside debut, Christy and her team created a safe space for me and my partner. It's hard to describe but they knew exactly when to check in and when to respect my space. Christy was right there when I needed her wisdom the most. Her words provided the warmth and safety I needed in my most vulnerable time. Honey Midwifery is committed to not only caring for mothers and their families during pregnancy (and postpartum), but also in providing education so families can make informed decisions. I am so glad we chose Honey Midwifery for our health team!

I took Lia's childbirth class during my first pregnancy in 2023. I live in South Orange County, so…read morethe drive was a bit of a commitment, but it was absolutely worth it. Being in class with other expectant couples created such a supportive environment, and the course was incredibly comprehensive. It gave me the knowledge and confidence to navigate a hospital birth and make informed decisions about the many interventions that are commonly offered. At 38 weeks, my water broke unexpectedly while I was riding a stationary bike. I immediately reached out to Lia for guidance. Since I wasn't experiencing a fever or any signs of infection, she explained that I had options: I could either go to the hospital right away or stay home and wait for labor to begin naturally. She also educated me about the fact that the body continues producing amniotic fluid and that, in some cases, a small rupture in the membranes may even reseal. Knowing that going to the hospital before labor started would likely lead to an induction (which wasn't aligned with my goal of having an unmedicated birth) I chose to stay home and monitor myself. The night before my 39-week OB appointment, I was feeling anxious. I knew that if my provider confirmed my water had broken before labor had started, induction would almost certainly be recommended. I reached out to Lia again, and she suggested trying the Miles Circuit. I followed the stretches that evening, and to my surprise, I went into early labor around 1:00 a.m. Whether it was the Miles Circuit, my body simply being ready, or a combination of both, it gave me the confidence to keep trusting the process. In January 2024, I welcomed a healthy baby girl through the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. While my hospital experience was unfortunately traumatic, the education Lia provided made all the difference. There were many moments when my husband, my doula, and I had to advocate for my birth preferences, and it wasn't always met with respect. Without the knowledge and confidence I gained from Lia's class, I truly believe my birth could have unfolded very differently. I'm now pregnant with my second baby, and one of the first things I did was sign up to retake Lia's class. One of the biggest perks is that once you've taken her course, you can retake it as many times as you'd like for free. Childbirth education isn't something you only benefit from once, and I love having the opportunity to refresh everything I've learned before welcoming another baby. I'm incredibly grateful for everything Lia taught us. Her class empowered me to make informed decisions, advocate for myself, and approach birth with confidence. I wholeheartedly recommend her course to any expecting parents, especially those hoping for an evidence-based, physiologic birth. Even if you have to drive a little farther to attend like I did, it's worth every mile.

We took Lia's virtual Bradley method class, and would highly recommend it for any expecting…read moreparents. First off, it can be hard to find time to take a birth class, and Lia chooses convenient times, with multiple options to choose from. It's a very comfortable classroom atmosphere where I felt good to ask any question, or add any comment. Lia keeps it fun and interesting, and is a great teacher. Lia is also available outside of class for questions, and she is super responsive. It shouldn't really matter if a doula has been pregnant herself.... But it was really helpful to hear about her first hand experiences and to know that she has gone through it all before. I just wish we in lived in LA so that we could have Lia as our Doula.

We were planning a cross country road trip with our toddler and for peace of mind I wanted to make…read moresure our car seat was installed correctly and there were no changes we had to make to it. We hired Amanda to come to our home and help us out. It was so convenient and she was amazing! She recommended some changes to make safety wise and showed us how to install them and let my husband and I each do it in our own cars so we felt comfortable, especially since I will be getting a new car soon and will have to learn to. She gave us some great tips and sent us a follow up email with a ton of resources and information. Overall I would highly recommend this service to make sure everything is correct with your car seats, car seat safety is so important and I feel so much better knowing my son is as safe as he can be.

AMAZING experience with Amanda. She helped us installed two different car seats in two different…read morecars. She is very knowledgeable, I learned a lot from installing the car seats to how to keep our baby safe in them, because it is not only about strapping the harness around your little one, it's about doing it right. Thank you Amanda.

Angela is a gift and an incredible Doula. We did her Hypnobabies course which was amazing. I felt…read morelike a first time mama, even though this was my 5th baby. My husband and I learned so much in Hypnobabies with Angela. My husband loved it as well. Angela makes the class what it is though. As for Angela, my Doula, wow. We did so much work together in my monthly chats with her. It was like my own therapy session that I didn't know I needed. I did so much healing in the months I worked with her. She prepared my husband and I for birth so well. She has so much to offer! She doesn't leave anything unchecked. She will be your best advocate! She had a big hand in helping redeem all of my past birth experiences. I'll forever be grateful for Angela!

Angela is an amazing doula and educator. She was present in our transition into parenthood. She…read moreprovided tough love in moments when we needed it but also showered us with love and compassion in difficult moments through our birthing journey. She supported me to overcome my fears about giving birth and trusting the medical staff. She provided a lot of information and resources. Although we had a c-section and Angela was not allowed to be physically in the OR, she prepared us well enough to go in with confidence that all would go well. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy this past January. It was a beautiful experience. If you cannot afford her doula services, I highly recommend her hypno birthing class. It prepared my fiance and I on the birthing process. Classes were via zoom which was great for us since we got to learn from the comfort of our home. I am grateful for this beautiful soul. She truly is living her life's purpose. Thank you Angela. If you are looking for a doula, she is it!

Lauren was my doula for the birth of both of my children. Like many first time parents, we had…read moreabsolutely no idea what to expect for birth or the post partum period. She had very helpful info on the birth process, options for birth plans etc. we were so thankful for her guidance with our first. I had to be induced both times and labored with pitocin. For my first birth Lauren really stepped up to help me meditate through the contractions when I started to panic. During my recent second birth, she helped me stretch and move around to reposition my baby and help him move down. She also can take photos/videos of the birth if you want and took the most beautiful photos for both of my children! Overall she's super knowledgeable, wants to advocate for you at whatever level you're comfortable with, and just generally helps everything go more smoothly. Highly recommended Lauren as a birth doula!

Lauren is an exceptional doula and we feel incredibly grateful to have had her as part of our birth…read moreexperience. She is extremely knowledgeable about all things labor and delivery, works seamlessly with the staff at Hoag Newport, and is fantastic at collaborating with the husband (me) both leading up to and during labor and delivery. Lauren even came to our home ahead of time to see our space and provide education, which was such a thoughtful and comforting touch. She truly has a gift for bringing calm, clarity, and confidence to the birth process. She was texting us consistently leading up to going to the hospital, which made us feel deeply supported, cared for, and never alone. We would absolutely recommend Lauren to anyone looking for a doula who is skilled, compassionate, and genuinely invested in your experience.