Yana is amazing. My husband and I took a one-on-one breastfeeding class and newborn care class that Yana taught in our home prior to our son's birth, then booked her for a package of postpartum doula services (we didn't use a birth doula). The pre-birth classes were thorough and informative and really made us feel confident about bringing home our first child. Yana was at our house within 24 hours of when we got home from the hospital. We did three more sessions with her over the course of the next month. She did everything from holding the baby while we napped to setting up a postpartum care area for me in the bathroom to laundry to cooking to going to the grocery store to showing us how to give him a bath. She observed me breastfeeding him and gave me tips and strategies that have made our feeding journey really magical instead of stressful. Any time I was worried about what I was doing as a parent in those early days, I knew I could text Yana or ask her at our next session. Just knowing I had someone to reach out to in case I was worried helped me be less worried. Yana also set up a group text with a bunch of local moms who gave birth around the same time and sends us tips and encouragement and discussion starters. I would recommend Yana to any future parents who are looking to build their skills and confidence and have someone to help in those crucial early days! read more

Yana was absolutely amazing during the birth of our child! We opted for two pre-birth and two post birth visits; I would have changed anything about this whole process. Yana is an amazing person who a huge heart. When baby Paige grows old enough to understand, I am going to explain to her that this very special person was also there for her birth. We love you Yana! Paige loves you! Thanks again! read more

Headfirst Lactation & Doula Services - Paige's birth + Yana. - Doulas Near Me - Marina Del Rey, California

TLDR: Yana saved my life and I will never forget her. I had 3 children and it wasn't until after my 2nd that I heard that postpartum doulas were a thing. Before I had my 3rd child, I knew I wouldn't have much family support so I searched for a doula. I met with Yana and she was extremely professional and incredibly fair with rates so we set up her start date for after the baby arrived. Once we got home from the hospital, she jumped in and just knew how to take care of me and my family. One week after having my baby, I had a lot of pain. I called Yana and after a few seconds recognized something was deeply wrong and told me I needed to go to the hospital right away. It turned out I had placenta acreeta and I nearly died after having procedures to fix it. If it wasn't for Yana's help, I would have probably tried to tough it out and something awful would have happened. I am the type of person to NOT feel comfortable asking for help, have a stranger in my home, or be vulnerable about my body but this woman has a gift. None of those things mattered because she was kind, empathetic, and knowledgable. I wish I had found her before I had my first baby and I wish she could kept her in our lives for longer. She really changed the entire postpartum experience. A few other skills I want to mention that she is amazing at - breastfeeding support (I took classes, read books, and successfully breastfed 2 other kids for a year each before we met and she still taught me things), meal prep, shopping, baby care, mom care. She was reliable, trustworthy, communication was thorough and clear, she was always prompt, and my other children who were toddlers also adored her. I would recommend her to everyone. She truly has a gift and goodness radiating from her. Thank you, Yana! read more

Yana has a unique ability to help people navigate through life's major seasons with more confidence and certainty. As our birth doula, Yana educated, guided, and cared for us in ways that exceeded anything we thought was possible with a birth doula. She met with us in person twice in advance of the birth to talk about my birth preferences; was there with us during a whirlwind labor, during which she advocated for me the entire time; and followed up with texts and visits postpartum to make sure everything was OK with us during a very challenging time. She even moved her schedule around to meet with us the day after I texted her in a panic about breastfeeding, instilling confidence in my ability to do so and sharing resources and references that led me to successfully breastfeed my baby. Yana goes above and beyond. If Yana charged twice as much for her services, I'd happily pay it all over again because every minute she spends with you is worth it, especially if you're a first-time parent. Yana is worth her weight in gold. I am so grateful that Yana witnessed and was a crucial role in the formation of our family, and she'll be part of our extended family for the rest of our lives! read more

Yana hands down is one of a kind. She goes WAYYY over and beyond what she charges. She really wants to help and get you to where your realistic goals are. She is very knowledgeable and organized and most of all she truly cares for your and your baby. Very grateful for her and would highly recommend. read more

Yana was truly a godsend. The degree of care and concern she offered from the moment we first spoke was reliable and strong. I found her less than a month before my due date, and while she joked with me that I waited till the last minute to find someone, I'm glad that my search and my wait ultimately led me to her. I was concerned about several things going into labor. Firstly, I am a single mother by choice and Yana was deeply sensitive and attuned to the different needs I may have as opposed to someone who is partnered/has continuous help. We drew out my birth "preferences" not "plan," because plans go out the window, but preferences--as Yana explained--were just that, preferences--nothing totally rigid and laid in stone, but adaptive and flexible. There were certain issues surrounding things like consent and how to articulate to the medical personnel my specific needs and wants. For example, when I finally went into labor, I told Yana in advance that I liked things to be quiet--no rah rah "you got this!" cheering--as I found talking of any sort to be distracting and an impediment to my progress. So when I was surrounded by the midwife and several nurses and then an entire nicu unit who were talking their heads off about an upcoming birth, Yana told everyone to be quiet. And suddenly, everyone was. Even the nicu team who were a little tone deaf as they were scrambling to set up their corner of the room, everyone quieted down. Yana is an advocate. She cares. Deeply. She wants to make sure you're well fed, rested, taken care of. She visited me several times (per our contract) both pre and post birth. She sent me links she felt might be helpful to me even when she was "off duty." I had concerns re mental health stuff and Yana went to a conference for birth workers where she sent me article after article, shared speaker after speaker--relaying info she gathered that calmed me down significantly when I was in the midst of some intense anxieties regarding my own self care measures and how they might impact my baby. She is a dedicated and dutiful birth worker. When I finally went into active labor, she showed up--even after literally finishing a birth with a different client only hours before. And she showed up big time. Massaging my feet and flipping me side to side which--unbelievably so--really contributed to the positioning of my baby and a labor that crescendoed with me pushing for five minutes before my baby came out. She's been doing this for twenty years and she's not jaded--she and my best childhood friend were both crying when my little one arrived. I'm lucky to have found Yana. She is dedicated, fierce, loyal, committed, resourceful, and really shows up. Thank you, Yana. read more

Our second child was born with Yana by our side. Words cannot express how grateful we are to have had her with us. From our first meeting to the delivery itself Yana has been a tremendous source of knowledge and support. She is extremely attentive to your needs and very caring. There is no one we'd rather have by our side but Yana ! read more

We had the pleasure having Yana as our doula. It was a joy to work with her and we have such a fondness for her. Her kindness, warmth, and experience was the perfect fit for our family. She was thorough in explaining the process and as a FTM I felt at ease knowing I was in good hands. She answered all my questions and provided additional resources to read during my pregnancy and postpartum. My labor and delivery was long with some complications but Yana proved to be calm and professional in communicating with the nurses and doctors. I don't recall ever feeling anxious or scared. I will never forget how in tune she was to my needs during laboring and knew exactly what to provide for comfort. I believe these qualities make for a great doula. She went above and beyond and I will always be grateful for that. She will forever be a part of our family. read more

I have nothing but great things to say about Yana. I took her postpartum doula training (prior to Covid 19) as well as her breastfeeding class and I loved both. Not only is she so sweet and welcoming but i learned so much and felt so supported. I'm so grateful to have crossed paths with her. It was awesome to be inspired by her on both a personal and business level. Whether you are seeking doula or lactation support OR training, I highly recommend her. read more

Yana is a wonderful doula and a wonderful human. She is knowledgeable, thoughtful, experienced and compassionate, all crucial characteristics for this time in a family's life. She took amazing care of me while in labor and made the birthing process so much more manageable for our family. I would highly recommend her. read more

I was skeptical when my wife first said she wanted to hire a doula for the birth process. I had no idea what a doula did or why you needed one (none of my other guy friends had one with their kids). But Yana and Head First proved me wrong--she was an absolute pleasure to work with. We did one of our post-birth meetings with Yanna and came up with the term "emotional sherpa"--she is a calming and guiding presence that helps you prepare for and perform on the big day. I can attest that I could not have done the birth process without her, and my wife was helped tremendously by her lactation services. She helped me provide support for my wife and came soon after we called her at 3 am at the hospital. The research shows doulas help with birth outcomes. That was surely the case with us. Between the 2 pre-birth visits, the extended hospital birth, and the 3 post-birth visits with expert lactation consulting, the Head First doula package was a must have (not to mention a tremendous value). read more

There is so much that can be said about Yana--she is warm, supportive, a wealth of knowledge, and just an all-around gem. I am writing this review as we approach my son's first birthday, nearly a year after Yana was with us and she is still a daily name in our household ("well as Yana taught us..."). Yana served as our postpartum doula for our first child and I am so grateful we found her. Before the birth, she came over and went over many of the basics--diaper changing, feeding, etc. We were pregnant during covid and all of the baby classes were online, so having Yana teach us hands-on how to put on a diaper was huge! After coming home from the hospital we had Yana for several visits in the first few weeks and then again a few months later. Her help was invaluable--Yana did everything from teaching us how to give a bath, to teaching us how to put on the baby carrier, to setting up a routine/schedule, to taking care of me (mom) and making sure I napped/ate/rested. Yana is truly such a wonderful spirit and I am so grateful we found her. If you considering a doula, I would highly recommend Yana time and time again. read more

My husband and I were both so grateful to have Yana at the birth of our baby girl. Deciding to get a doula- We were on the fence about whether or not to hire a doula for her birth. As first timers, we weren't sure what labor and delivery would be like in reality. We did plenty of reading on natural birth, techniques for managing pain, interventions we could be presented, etc. We decided that trying to reference a book or remember what we read in the heat of the moment would be too difficult. We proceeded with hiring a doula so that we could focus on our more important roles- birthing the baby (me) and providing support (my husband). Our friends recommended Yana, who'd provided them post-partum support and we arranged to meet her. Why Yana was amazing- From the first meeting, my husband and I both felt at ease with Yana. As an experienced doula, she proactively answered all our questions before we asked them. She brought warmth, humor, and confidence to each meeting and during the birth. She has great intuitiveness that really made us feel at ease. She understood our goal of a natural birth, but we never felt pressure or that there would be any judgment if I chose medical intervention in the moment. All of our wishes came through with the actual birth and we believe hiring Yana was one of the best decisions we've made! read more

Yana was great !! She answered all our questions She was very patient with us With a big smile and very kind I totally recommend her service Thank you Yana :) read more

Yana helped us for 3 months after our little baby girl was born. She was there the first day we came home from the hospital and I just remember that my baby would only sleep on me and Yana not only watched us while we slept she also rubbed my feet and back so really making the transition home comfortable :) She helped us with a feeding /sleeping/diapering schedule and really set us up for success for our first 3 months. She helped me with the baby wearing and going to teh grocery store. Made sure that I ate and gave me time to nap and shower. She was so comfortable with the baby, and the baby with her so that I always trusted that our little one was in good hands while I took care of me :) Highly recommend Yana to any new Mama ;p read more

We hired Yana for her lactation consultant specialty and what a big difference she made. I was faced with the pressure of trying to breastfeed a newborn who had lost a lot of weight. My baby and I were frustrated and I was sad seeing my baby cry because I couldn't feed her well. Within a week the change was tremendous. Now my baby is up to birth weight and breastfeeding is no longer a stressor, but a great bonding experience. She offered great techniques that were personalized to me and worked in my environment. She is a very supportive, understanding and kind person. Thank you so much. read more

Yana was our birth doula and we can't imagine our delivery without her help. She is kind, caring and feels like a family member. She was helpful in managing labor but very respectful of my husband and "our time" and moments. Yana helped me get through labor completely unmedicated with her doula "toolkit", support and help. She was there for me when I was confused, frustrated or just couldn't bear the pain anymore. I remember our delivery as a bright, full of positive vibes event and I know we could not have had it this way without Yana. We interviewed total of 6 doulas and hired Yana on the spot since we felt she was the one and we are happy we went with our gut. I highly recommend hiring Yana as your birth doula if you are looking for one! read more

Yana is amazing and I would highly recommend her. She is experienced with newborns and it shows! She came over the day we got home from the hospital and I would have been lost without her help. read more

9 months ago I gave birth to my first baby... I can't imagine the delivery without Yana. Leading up to the due date Yana came to our house and we did a personalized lactation class. I can not emphasize the importance of this experience. As a first timer, with a desire to breastfeed, this was so informative and helpful. The baby was a few days late... Yana was available 24/7 to answer all my anxiety ridden questions and concerns and she helped me relax and stay focused. Then the big day arrived.... Like many pregnant women, the baby had different plans and my birth plan went out the window. Yana was calm and assertive, helping me breath, focus and be present through the insanely fast delivery. Her coaching techniques in the delivery room made my natural birth a wonderful experience. After the baby was born Yana helped the baby and I figure out our latch. A huge plus... again being a lactation consult was a wonderful bonus! Yana came to our house twice once we were all home. She helped my husband and I with bathing, sleep issues, feeding and most importantly gave us both a confidence boost. Both visits were like having a family member over. Our lil baby has an Auntie Yana for life! read more

We hired Yana as our postpartum Doula. She was highly recommended by a good friend of mine and when we interviewed her we immediately knew she was a great fit. We didn't have any family in town so we were a little nervous how to handle the new chapter with a newborn in our lives and she was there when got home from the hospital. Yana is very warm, kind, patient, caring and just a lovely person. She cooked delicious food for us, helped with baby laundry or with the first baby bath. She shared so many valuable tips and tricks which I'm so grateful for. She treated me, my husband and my baby with great respect the whole time. It was such a joy spending time with her. I would highly recommend Yana as a postpartum doula if you need some extra support with your newborn. read more

Yana is amazing she made me feel so at ease and helped my baby latch right away. After just one visit I feel so much more confident breastfeeding. If you are considering a lactation consultant bc you're struggling to breastfeed, know you're not alone and Yana is the greatest source of help. Don't hesitate to reach out to her! read more

We hired Yana for postpartum doula help. My husband had only two weeks to be with me after our baby was born and we don't have any family here so we hired her for two weeks to help me get on my feet, literally and figuratively. My friends asked me what a postpartum doula does and my explanation...a very well trained, professional Mom. I really didn't want someone to take care of my baby, I just wanted someone to help me and that's exactly what she did. From bottle care, to cooking for me, showing me how to use the carrier(s), getting groceries, lactation supplements, education, baby laundry :-), organization, and answered a million questions I didn't know I had until I had my baby. She is also a lactation consultant and we were having trouble there too so she was awesome with that too. She helped me get started being a mom. Thank you Yana! read more

Yana is amazing. My acupuncturist recommended her doula services and after meeting her we knew right away we wanted to have her at my daughter's birth. Yana gave me the knowledge and encouragement to go through with natural labor like I wanted to do, and in turn I got to have an incredible birth experience. We also took her breastfeeding class which was not only extremely helpful, but she made me feel really comfortable and also helped me get the hang of it after my baby arrived. She is so special and we hope that she'll be there for us when we decide to expand the family even more! read more

Like so many others I find it hard to think of where to begin. When I think about my birth experience I know that I look back on it fondly because of Yana. She was our birth doula and postpartum doula and it was worth every single penny. Her service started out with coming to our home and talking to my husband and I about all kinds of things that we would have never known that we should discuss prior to the birth. It was so valuable to us to have these conversations ahead of time, something as simple as talking about what we like and, maybe more importantly, don't like while we are stressed was really enlightening for us. When it came time for the big day Yana was an absolute dream. She was there at the hospital with us for over 24 hours, taking care of us and making sure we understood everything that was happening and our options. The only way I can even come close to describing it to someone is to imagine that there is someone by your side whose only job is to make sure you are taken care of. Any single thing I needed she took care of me. Then it came time to bring our little boy home and Yana was there for the first 4 nights home from the hospital. I don't know what we would have done without her. It was so special seeing as she was there for my sons birth it felt like she already knew him. While we slept she looked after the baby, washed baby clothes and bottles, cooked etc etc etc. It was so lovely to have someone to wake me when he was hungry, help me nurse and then help him back to sleep so that I could rest as much as possible. She even reminded me to take my meds and made sure I had snacks and had a hot breakfast ready for me in the morning. Yana was the expert mom that we needed to help us learn how to thrive with our son as a family. He is doing so well, he is a happy boy and a great sleeper and I truly believe I owe that to Yana and the great start we got off to with her help. I will always have a special place for her in my heart and I wouldn't hesitate to hire her again. We miss you Yana! read more

Yana was our doula for our second baby and it was the best decision we could have made. Her calm and touches during labor helped me and my husband to cope with the challenges of the delivery and the staff at the hospital. Her experience made our experience so much better since we had someone professional and knowledgeable there the whole time to guide us and help us have a beautiful delivery. After the delivery we also used her as a lactation consultant and she proved again how knowledgeable she is it in what she does. She showed me how to latch the baby and a few different comfortable positions for breastfeeding. Without her I wouldn't have made it this far with breastfeeding! I was very lucky to have such a wonderful doula on my team :) read more

As a husband/father blessed with the opportunity to bear witness to Yana's talens, I can say with zero reservation that she truly gifted. Observing and supporting of my wife and son's journey through labor, and delivery, it was clear that Yana was fully present and attuned to my wife's needs from start to finish. I don't mean catering to her needs on a superficial level. She attended to my wife's needs on a mind-body-spiritual level that far surpassed any preconceived expectations I may have had. Yana was able to help my wife honor her birth plan, troubleshoot difficult situations, reaffirm and nurture her strength throughout the evolving process, and inform and educate us both with her vast fund of knowledge (side note: my wife and I are both physicians and learned a lot from her). After the labor and birth of our son, she honored our family and our journey together by conducting a post-delivery session, which was transformative and magical. She additionally helped and supported my wife with her lactation services. It is clear she was called, and chosen, to practice this vocation. I feel fortunate to have experienced this journey with Yana. As a husband, I felt seen and honored by her. She has my highest recommendation for any considering using a Doula, and would strongly encourage those who are not to reconsider. Thank you, Yana! read more

Yelp doesn't have enough stars to reflect how I feel about Yana and the care she gave our family. Yana was our postpartum doula, but her involvement in our lives began months before the birth of our son. She conducted helpful home visits that were always pandemic-conscious and talked through newborn parenting, what to expect, and even ideas about how to introduce our fur-baby (dog) to our son when he came home. Yana was also an expert at finding answers - if she didn't know, she would do the research or contact a practioner to provide solid, evidence-based answers to our questions. She always checked in, and was available by text and phone to answer my pregnancy questions, even though she wasn't my birth doula. After an unexpected late pre-term induction, Yana seemlessly supported our transition to parenthood. I say "our" because Yana was there for both my husband and I and was always inclusive of both of our needs. When I didn't know what to ask for (I'm not great at asking for help), Yana would give me options and help me learn to articulate what I needed, as skill that will serve my partner and I well in the years to come. She is responsive, dedicated, and truly has given her life to this work. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with Yana, she will change your life for the better. She listens. She cares. There is no shame or judgement, as is sometimes the case when family become involved in post-partum care. I have learned so much about listening to my child's cues and gentle parenting from Yana; she suggested strategies that laid the foundation for us to forge a strong bond between us and our baby. read more

I hired Yana to help me with the birth of my second son. I did not think I would need a birth doula since this is my second time around. I had an unpleasant delivery with my first child. I had 14 hours of labor with no epidural for the first 10 hours because I wanted a natural birth which just ended as an emergency C section. A few days after going home, my stitches opened and I had a nurse coming to my house packing my stitch for a whole month. It was so difficult to care for myself so I can fully heal since I have a newborn to care for and I was exclusively breastfeeding. Don't get me wrong, I would do it all over again for my son; he is worth it. But I thought this time around, just maybe, it doesn't have to be stressful. It was really important for me that I have a VBAC delivery because once we get home, I will have a newborn and a toddler to care. I need a coach, a mother, a friend, a strong woman to guide me through along the way. I was open that things may go sideways but I must try and so I decided after interviewing a few doulas to hire Yana. Yana was professional from the start. She checks on you months before your due date and meets with you a few times before the scheduled delivery date. These meetings have put me at ease that she is the right person for "the day". I am one of those people who care too much for anybody and everybody, even the people I hire. I remember at labor and delivery I kept asking Yana if she wants to eat, have water, etc and she goes "I am a big girl. Can you please promise me to stop worrying about me?" Since she said that, I finally felt comfortable to ask for a massage, assistance to go to the bathroom and whatever else I felt like at that moment. Yana helped me realize the inner strength I have and helped me make decisions along the way without judgment. I withheld the epidural as much as I can and utilized the laughing gas at the hospital. Yana served as the person who would laugh at my stupid jokes and was the unjudgmental friend when I asked for the epidural to come. A few hours later, we discovered the baby is in posterior position and the nurse had me turned in an awkward position to help the baby move. Yana kept looking at me like she knew something need to be adjusted. She researched quickly and suggested I move my leg a certain way and put a pillow here and voila.... Much more comfortable and then in a few minutes, the baby turned correctly! Then my OB came, it was time to push. I held on Yana's hand very tightly while my husband was next to me filming. It was a very emotional moment and you can tell that Yana really has the passion for this work. She genuinely showed excitement and emotions as my son was born in this world. Yana is also a lactation consultant. She educated me with the different stages of the baby and when the baby is ready to nurse. Yana was with us in the hospital from 4am to almost 10pm! She made sure that we were settled comfortably in our post-partum room before leaving. After a few days, Yana visited to check on breastfeeding and overall well being of the whole family. Although I thought I knew everything about breastfeeding since I exclusively nursed my first child for 1.5 years, I still learned a lot from Yana. Yana is the best birth doula and I am very grateful for sharing the birth of my second son with her. read more

Yana was our doula for our first baby - we heard and read about Doulas but didn't really know what to expect. We were lucky enough that Yana was available during our due date. Yana exceeded our expectations - her expertise and knowledge were invaluable, before, during and after the birth! Most importantly, she was incredibly kind, caring and supportive. It is very clear that she loves what she does and is deeply committed to the families she works with. We could not have survived without her!! Yana is the best- we have already recommended her to one of our pregnant friends and we plan to continue recommending her (and recommend booking her early)! read more

We absolutely love Yana! She was our doula and lactation consultant and we took a breast feeding class and baby care class with her. We had an initial meeting to go over her services and right away I knew I wanted her to help us with my daughter's birth. She is incredibly kind, wise and empowering. She taught us so much and helped eased my fears. I really appreciated that I never felt judgment about the decisions we made regarding our birth preferences. She has such a calming energy and I was so grateful to have her by my side. Also, I don't know that I would be able to breastfeed my daughter had it not been for Yana. I was having a very rough time and was about to give up more than once and her guidance and patience in those first weeks meant so much and made me feel like it was possible. I am so grateful to you Yana. read more

I don't like to leave bad reviews about anyone but I had the worst experience with Yana. She charged me $200 for one visit and didn't even help me. Everything she told me was stuff I already knew from researching online. For charging $200 I would expect quality service and a good attitude, niether of which I got from her. I was able to find a better lactation consultant after her and she helped me immensely. read more

Yana is something special! She is knowledgeable in birth, postpartum, newborn care & breastfeeding. I was lucky enough to have attended her newborn care class as a doula myself & it was very informative! I plan to take her breastfeeding class in a few weeks too! Thanks Yana! read more

Yana is a caring, thoughtful and hard working doula whose knowledge, experience and passion for the birthing experience is truly a blessing to her clientele. I highly recommend Head First Doula for all expectant families. read more

After sharing a mixed review on yelp YANA reached out. I am glad we were able to reconnect about my experience with one of her doulas.

In such an overwhelming time, Yana was so patient and kind. She set us up for success, and taught us how to adjust to life with a baby. She taught us how to run errands with a baby, organize our nursery, and took care of practical things like cooking dinner and baby laundry. I can't imagine trying to figure out everything without Yana's knowledge and support. read more

Yana is a passionate and dedicate consummate professional. She supports women and their partners and families wholeheartedly with their birth, lactation, and post-partum support needs. I recommend Yana wholeheartedly to any new mom who wants to an amazing birth or post-partum doula or lactation consultant. read more

Yana was recommended by a friend who had used her doula services for all three of her children. We had met with a few other potential doulas, but didn't really feel like we clicked with any of them, and were thinking we probably wouldn't use one. But when we finally met Yana, she was so lovely, calm, and present that we both felt at ease. The more we talked to her, the more apparent her expertise became. Unlike some of the other doulas we had met, Yana really listened to what we wanted for the birth of our first child, and that's exactly the experience we got. Yana was "on call" for us starting well before the due date. She answered our many questions and met with us again after we had retained her services. When I went into labor, she came to our house to help for several hours, then came with us to the hospital for another 20+ hours until our baby was born. Yana was a wonderful source of support, she knew our birth plan as well as we did, and we never felt judged about any of our choices regarding pain relief, what to do with the placenta, etc. As if that wasn't wonderful enough, Yana worked seamlessly with the doctors and hospital staff -- our OB was so impressed that he asked for her card after the delivery! We cannot recommend her services highly enough. read more

Yana is an amazing birth and postpartum doula, and lactation consultant. We have been incredibly fortunate to have her with all three of our children. She has been a great support for me, my husband, and, most recently, our little boy and his big sisters as we transition to a family of five. read more

Yana was an incredible support to me in the weeks following my second child's birth. I recommend her unconditionally as a lactation consultant. I had a breast reduction which makes it difficult to provide breastmilk. My first child lost a significant amount of weight and had difficulty regaining her birth weight. I was only able to provide her with about 20% breastmilk and supplemented the rest. Because of the experience with my first child, I was very anxious about my new son's eating and weight. With some planning before his birth and afterwards, Yana helped me with providing 100% breastmilk for my son. My midwife and pediatrician can't believe he is receiving ALL breastmilk after I had a breast reduction and they are so pleased. His weight is in the 90% and he is thriving. Not only did Yana provide the tangible support around breastfeeding and pumping, but she acknowledged how traumatizing it was for me given that my first child had trouble eating and gaining weight. Yana helped me formulate a plan that took my history into consideration and provided the best nutrition for my son. What sets Yana apart is that she was there for me every step of the way, encouraging me, especially on days when I was struggling. Yana was there for the big and small successes. I highly recommend Yana for everyone but especially those with a history of breast reduction or those with a history of difficulty breastfeeding. read more

It was truly a gift to have Yana as our birth doula and postpartum doula. I am forever grateful for the strength, guidance and comfort that she provided from beginning to end. It is clear that yana is so passionate about being a doula and her knowledge is evident in all that she does. There were some challenges and hurtles to overcome with my labor and yana never left my side for almost 48 hours. She helped us with every decision and brought me so much peace during the entire process. When my baby boy took his first breath yana was right by my side, holding my hand and crying tears of joy with me. We then had yana at our house our first night home (and a few nights thereafter) which was another great decision. Breast feeding has been such a wonderful experience for me and I know without question that it's all because of Yana. Yana is truly meant to be a doula! I owe my confidence as a mom to her. She will always hold a very dear place in our hearts. read more