Madalyn has a pretty incredible birthing class. She teaches you all the skills you need to handle…read moreall aspects of labor. She gave us a ton of confidence before going to the hospital. She was also available via email for extra questions. The classes were in person and over zoom. Madalyn is super knowledgeable and funny as well! Highly recommend her class.

All around an amazing birthing class! I am so thankful we found Madalyn. My husband and I feel so…read moremuch more prepared because of Madalyn's class. I also absolutely loved how passionate Madalyn was with teaching. She is so caring, kind and funny. Consider yourself lucky to have found her class!

My experience with Atoosa as my midwife was honestly perfect. She took such amazing care of me…read morewhile and my baby while pregnant and we had the most beautiful home birth together. I will forever remember Atoosa and her beautiful soul. You will not regret your decision to birth with her, she's truly a gift.

My experience with Atoosa was better than words can describe. From our first meeting to postpartum…read moreshe made bringing a child into the world so special. She is knowledgeable about everything from pregnancy to labor, to breastfeeding and everything in between. She is empathetic (your whole family will fall in love with her). She is organized. And she will be your lifeline and hands during delivery. On my first postpartum visit my baby smiled for the first time when hearing her voice because he remembered her talking to him in the womb. I think my husband loves her more than I do! But really, I love Atoosa and could not have imagined pregnancy, labor, and postpartum without her.

Giuditta was a game changer and you absolutely should work with her if you get the opportunity!…read more Before baby arrived, Giuditta was able to provide such comfort in terms of preparedness and things we didn't know we could prepare ahead of time. And especially given my first birth was via induction, Giuditta gave both my husband and myself so much comfort throughout the process, even when chaos ensued I wasn't worried and she was ultimately the reason I had such a great experience! She even woke to my husbands call at 2am. And the best part was my OBGYN asking me for her info at my 6-week follow up appointment, he said she's the best Doula he's ever worked with! I couldn't agree more!!

Giuditta is the epitome of calm in the chaos that is pregnancy, birthing, and infant care. As…read morefirst-time parents, I can't imagine a more supportive and loving birth partner than Giuditta. When I was unexpectedly diagnosed with preeclampsia at 36 weeks, Giuditta helped us seamlessly pivot from a natural childbirth plan to an induction plan. Her steady reassurance kept me calm when I was induced at 37 weeks, and my son was the healthiest baby in the labor and delivery ward that night--no stress! Giuditta is deeply compassionate, and has a seemingly unending bag of tricks to help you and your family out. When I was struggling to breastfeed postpartum and spent a sleepless first night home from the hospital, Giuditta came right over the next morning to assure me and show me different techniques to make it more comfortable for both of us. She is exactly where you need her, takes charge when you need a guide, and I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a doula. I tell all my friends about her!

I want to share my experience to be able to help future mothers and especially first time mothers…read moreto have the best experience possible wether its for birth or postpartum as mine wasn't what I wish It would have been. I wanted to feel supported and try for a VBAC for my second birth so I decided to work with Andrey for the birth of our daughter. Everything went good at the beginning, we had our in person interview, shortly after that meeting we decided we would be a fit for each other. After that she came over one more time and afterwards she told me she had a family oversees she was working with and would be available via phone/zoom and if needed to she would introduce me to a back up doula incase she wasn't back in time for my birth. The way she introduced us was thru text (no phone call or even an effort to do a zoom call so me and that back up doula could meet each other) no professionalism. My prenatal care was very limited nothing close to what Andrey promotes. Then I asked for a list of what to bring in my birth bag, she said she would send, I had to ask about 4 times until she sent and the reason I didn't get it was because she had sent it to a 'Victoria' how do you forget your clients name especially when you are a part of one of the most vulnerable times in their life. Fast forward to my birth Andrey ended up not being there. I ended up working with the back up doula & my first time meeting her and talking to her was her walking in my room while I laid in my bed clothe-less in pain as I was going thru my contractions (not the most ideal setting to meet someone for the first time who is going to be a part of a raw and emotional intimate time) a few days later Andrey lets me know shes back in LA and is coming to see me & baby to help with postpartum care. Then texts me cancelling because her car is in the shop (She could've taken an Uber) and cannot make it and she can come another day. She comes over a couple days after that for a few hours and tells me she will be back @10am the next day to help us some more. The next morning @9:35am she txts me she cannot make it and isn't available until the following week. I had cancelled help from my sitter to help with my newborn and toddler and my husband had left to work because we had relied on having help from Andrey that morning. At that point I was feeling extremely upset. The care and support I was expecting which Andrey advocates heavily on was nowhere close to what I was given. What was supposed to be a time in my life where I should've been given unwavering love and support turned into a time of grief and sadness for me. I decided to have a conversation with Andrey and let her know how I was feeling and I no longer felt comfortable working together. She apologized and told me I was a client that 'fell thru the cracks.' Simply she overcommitted and I was put in the back burner or was her last option sadly. She offered to bring some postpartum stuff to help with grief and overall just to help me emotionally and would drop it off in the next couple days, she never did. Unfortunately Andrey constantly overpromised and underdelivered.

Absolutely incredible experience with Andrey! From the moment we met her, her calming presence put…read moreus at ease. She brought not only warmth and reassurance but also deep experience and medical knowledge that made us feel completely confident in our birth plan and, most importantly, safe--both for mom and baby. Andrey was the advocate we didn't even realize we needed, always prioritizing our best interests over the hospital's. We genuinely cannot imagine going through the experience without her. If you're considering a doula, stop searching--Andrey is the one. Cannot recommend her highly enough!!!! Thank you Andrey!!!

I'm so ready after this! Jana is incredibly knowledgeable and was such a great guide through this…read morenerve-inducing process, full of many twists and turns! The class is fun, engaging and informative. I looked forward to class each week. I've read a handful of books and none of them gave me as much clarity and confidence on how to navigate the birth process as Jana's class did. Can't recommend highly enough!

Jana is the most amazing woman I have ever met. Her classes are so informative and amazing. She…read moreknows her information and she teaches her classes with such passion and love. I would like to address the review that said Jana used a false testimonial. She is the most trustworthy, open, honest, person I know and under no circumstances would she ever do or make anyone feel or write a false testimonial. She has educated and loved hundreds of woman and I have never heard not one complain about her. She has one of the most kind hearts you can imagine. Just trust in your heart and take her class and you will see how kind she is. You will not be disappointed. I have taken her classes. I have done the birthing class and doula training. Jana only has love to give. She's a beautiful soul. Im sure the hundreds of woman will agree. Regarding the dogs she is very aware and asks everyone about the dogs. If it bothers or annoys anyone she handles it. She is not insensitive. Throughout the whole class she is on top of the dogs behavior. The bottom line is if you want to be really informed go to Jana's class because you won't be disappointed. Your birthing experience will be much better in my eyes because you will be so much more informed because of the knowledge that Jana teaches you. Trust your heart not one bad review. Love you Jana. Your the best.

If you are considering working with Laura, take my word for it that it will be the best decision…read moreyou could have made for yourself during your precious postpartum. She has within her such a delicate balance of having all the knowledge and expertise but making it digestible with no judgement. We did massage, muxabustion, caster oil packs, postpartum herb baths, yoni steams, she brought me protein balls and teas, tonics, the lists of things we did goes on. She is a true rare bird and I miss our sessions immensely.

This review is coming from a husband's perspective just fyi…read more Pre-birth my wife's task list was huge and she needed to find a PP doula asap. After several phone calls and in-person interview's we decided to go with Laura. and she was AMAZING!!! She was very calm and extremely caring towards my wife and newborn. She showed my wife different newborn techniques that we didn't learn with our first one. She is very attentive and constantly making sure the feedings were going great, making my wife healthy food, and even giving me some healthy snacks to keep my energy up. I don't write reviews often, but she deserve 5 stars all the way.

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.

I cannot say enough good things about Lia and her natural birth classes. I did the 12 week in…read moreperson classes with my husband. I really wanted to know everything I possibly could and I was also looking for a little community as I was feeling very alone in those first weeks of pregnancy (and overwhelmed with what I didn't know). AND THESE CLASSES DELIVERED! My husband is also a knowledge seeker so when I told him these were the classes I wanted he was all in. We learned so much. We joke that he didn't just learn about the natural birth process he learned how to be my "daddy doula". We still enjoy talking to people about everything we learned and how to support each other and how to speak to your doctors or the hospital nurses. Even if you aren't considering a natural birth these classes should be taken by everyone expecting a baby. You learn about the body, you learn about the different stages of labor, how to prep your body and your mind. There is even a class on breastfeeding which was invaluable those first 3 days postpartum. Lia is also an amazing teacher. If I have another I would definitely also hire her as my doula. She is a person you want in your corner during birth.

It's hard to put into words how much Miss Ofelia helped me as a first time mom. She was an…read moreincredibly beneficial presence in my home, and I never had to worry about anything when she was here. I had a very difficult postpartum period (as everyone does) and Miss Ofelia was there to help every step of the way. She taught me how to breastfeed, helped us establish a routine with our newborn, and most importantly was very loving with our daughter. I can't stress enough how important Miss Ofelia has been for our family. We miss her everyday!

As a first time mother, Ofelia was my postpartum fairy godmother. Our baby decided to arrive a few…read moreweeks earlier than expected and Ofelia was still able to make her schedule work to come see us right away once we got home from the hospital. She helped us: 1) establish milk supply, breastfeeding techniques and helped us understand how to create a flexible feeding strategy based on our needs 2) she prioritized me as the mother as a reminder that a happy & healthy mom & dad = happy & healthy baby. She took care of me in all the ways I didn't know I needed (perineal support via sitz bath, observed & helped my baby nurse while I slept after a difficult night of little rest, always made sure I have a nutrient forward breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks and constantly ensured I was properly hydrated to support breastfeeding) 3) taught us baby-caring techniques / options that best fit our baby's needs (feeding, sleeping, changing, bathing, soothing, playing, hygiene, etc) 4) gave us recommendations for products that were user friendly for first time parents (bottles, nursing pillows, swaddle wraps, etc) 5) light housekeeping and baby education during the times the baby was asleep 6) made herself available via text or call during times she wasn't here with us Things I appreciated about Ofelia: 1) you can tell she LOVES babies and has a passion for childcare. She reminded our son every day that he was safe and loved and he was easily comforted by her love 2) she NEVER lets the baby cry -- her methods include tending to the baby's needs/internal clock -- not just what the parents want 3) she spent hours/days/weeks observing our baby to understand his sleep/feed/wake schedule; hunger/distress cues and taught us how to understand his verbal and body language 4) if the baby had a bad night or day, we would talk together to analyze what happened during the day to cause this disruption to our baby and course correct the following days. 5) No assumptions or guess what the baby needs based on "standard/general" guidances, she made recommendations based on data collected on observing our baby and his specific needs As first time parents, not only did we learn so much from Ofelia, had the best care from her, but our family also grew to love her. We will miss her as we attempt to take our training wheels off but we are comforted to know we've established a foundational schedule and understanding of our baby that as he continues through these developmental months we can reach out to Ofelia to come back and help us understand our baby's needs at this new age and she'll be easily able to pick up on what he needs based on her previous observations.

I am beyond thankful for my doula, Glyol. She began working with me when I was 6 months pregnant…read moreand guided both my husband and me through childbirth education: what to expect, how to prepare, and how to feel empowered in the process. At every visit, she included hypnotherapy sessions that I truly enjoyed and found deeply helpful in preparing for birth. She even created a personalized hypnotherapy playlist for me to listen to at night, which brought me comfort and relaxation throughout my pregnancy. Because of her guidance, I was able to connect with my son in utero in such a meaningful way. Glyol was by my side during labor and birth, and continued to support me after, especially with breastfeeding and postpartum needs. She also encapsulated my placenta, which has helped me tremendously during my postpartum recovery and healing. She has been attentive, kind, and so loving toward both me and my son. Her care, prayers, and presence have meant the world to me. I am beyond grateful for all that Glyol has done for my family. She is truly God-sent!

From a grateful husband -- Glyol's wisdom and guidance were such a gift for my wife and me. As…read morefirst time expecting parents, she made the months leading up to the birth feel calm, focused, optimistic....and did so with advice that we could actually put into practice. I'm so humbled by the positive impact she made on our experience from our first meeting through the safe delivery of our son. I think important to point out (as someone who was initially wary of anyone who felt too woo woo!) that Glyol's calm presence isn't some hand wavy thing...She's one of those rare people who have such detailed mastery of their craft that you feel safe, informed, and ready. As the partner this was super helpful to feel. She really listens, soaks up where the mother is at, where the partner is at, and then out of left field will say something that is just so so helpful and specific to that context. During the birth, she balanced supporting my wife, helping me support my wife, looking out for me too (making sure I hydrated and ate!), all of that also with trusting us and letting us drive our experience. I just can't recommend Glyol enough. I want everyone's birth experience to be as informed and supported by someone like her. And i can't wait for our little guy to know her as he grows. We love you Glyol! Thank you!

I read so often, "Birth doesn't go as planned so you don't need to take a class" and it just…read moretotally blows my mind. Birth doesn't go as planned and that's exactly why you DO need to take a class. An in depth class. Britta's class. I approached my pregnancy as a 9 month grad school class. I took it upon myself to read books, journal articles, blogs, engage on online discussion groups, listen to podcast... really everything I could to learn the ins and outs of this journey I was on. My husband read a book. Kind of. He definitely skimmed it. I knew that our vocabularies were so different that we needed to find a class that would allow us to have a shared lexicon to properly communicate. I researched (like everything else) just about every class type offered in the greater Los Angeles Metro Area and I was just called to Embodica. My husband likes to refer to a lot of what I'm into as "hippie s**t." From that statement, it's clear he is not. I spoke to Britta on the phone before the class began, worried that her class would be too "wooey" for him, but after our conversation I knew she was grounded and funny enough that he would be won over. Because man did he have to be won over when I showed him the website. Our first class was an eyeopener for both of us. We were one of 6 couples, all due within two months of each other. My husband saw the focal point in the middle of the circle and arched an eyebrow--he just knew we paid a lot of money for woo-woo crap. Then Britta began to talk and I saw him perk up and really began to listen. When Britta demoed what a real contraction could look like, he was all in. Later that evening when we practiced comforting our partners while holding ice, I learned that he thought singing "Henry the VIII I Am" and some Queen son were appropriate comforting strategies, and so the revelation I they were not before labor probably saved our marriage and/or his life. Over the six weeks of class, we learned so much. Despite my exhaustive research, actually learning from someone as knowledgable and grounded as Britta allowed me to put all the information I was learning in context. My husband was able to learn the ins of out of the technical side of all things pregnancy/labor. Together, we developed a coping strategy that worked well for both of us. So yes, you cannot prepare for birth. I was pretty sure when push came to shove, I would lock myself in a room by myself and push everyone away (the perks of a homebirth is that I really could do this!). Yet, when things actually started, I needed my husband to be there for me. We used everything we learned in Britta's class over the course of my 55 hour unmedicated labor. My husband was able to truly comfort me and meet my needs in a way I know for a fact he wouldn't have been able to do before our class. We now talk to a lot of the other couples through a private little FB group one of the mom's created and are planning on meeting up soon so all the babies can meet. My husband and I also reflect on our time in that class often as we navigate the "4th trimester." As a parting gift, Britta gave each member of the class a labyrinth necklace. I haven't taken mine off since I put it on shortly before I went into labor and my husband's cord just broke as he would thumb the pendant so often. It's a reminder that our journey is continuing and to give ourselves patience and grace as we navigate this new world of parenthood. My husband and I will both be forever grateful for our experience in Britta's class and wholeheartedly recommend it to every couple preparing to welcome their child into the world. Oh, and as an aside, I really love how Britta used non-gendered terms even though we were all heterosexual, cis couples. "Birthing partner," "supporting partner," etc. Speaking to trans and lesbian couples, I know finding a safe and supportive birthing class can be difficult, so I think it's important to point this out.

My husband and I felt so lucky to have attended this workshop. We had not taken any other…read morechildbirth classes but we both felt more than sure that we ended up at the best one in the world. Britta's skill as a mentor, storyteller, listener, and communication guide are unmatched and I cannot possibly imagine anyone better suited to exactly the work she does with parents-to-be. I learned so much, yet never felt overwhelmed with information since she made the day so interactive. There is so much that I took with me not only into labor and childbirth but in parenting, life, and my relationships with my partner, my self, and my environment - without a specific to-do list or set of stock instructions. I loved how all the learning was connected to deep reflection into the senses for I believe that this is how real learning takes place - in the whole self.... After we had our baby my husband and I went to Britta for couples counseling and we had another great experience. The three of us sat in her lovely studio and she helped mediate difficulties we were having. Things have been so much better ever since that one session!!