So much gratitude to this amazing doula duo!! From the first time we met with April and Joy we felt comfortable and confident in our decision to work together. We are from out of town and I came down to San Diego first as my husband had to finish work and it was very reassuring to have April and Joy as part of our birth team in case I went into labor earlier than expected. Throughout my pregnancy all the resources, check ins, and words of encouragement that April and Joy provided were much appreciated. They were also very quick to respond to any questions/concerns that I had. The morning of my delivery my surges came in very quickly. I contacted Joy and April right away and shortly after had a phone conversation with Joy to confirm it was time to head to the hospital. She met my husband and I there and it was such a relief to see and have her support during the most challenging part of my labor. Her calming presence, hands on comfort measures were invaluable and she worked so harmoniously with the hospital staff. The photos she captured of our first moments with our second born are truly priceless. After delivery I had unexpected bleeding and I'm so thankful to have Joy's knowledge on the different types of medications. She helped slowed things down and explained the benefits of them for my case and I felt confident in my decision making. I am incredibly thankful for April's belly binding offering postpartum. The foot bath and belly massage was such a treat and it was a lovely way to wrap up our time together with her. There isn't a single thing I would have changed with my birth experience. April and Joy are a fantastic team, highly highly recommend them! read more

Working with Joyful Roots was truly one of the best decisions we made, and I can honestly say that Joy and April are the number one thing I credit for helping me have such a beautiful, positive birth experience. Before giving birth, I was someone who felt really nervous and unsure about the whole experience. But after going through it, I genuinely tell everyone that I loved giving birth, which is something I never thought I would say! That is such a testament to the incredible support and care Joy and April provided throughout my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience. My hope going into birth was to labor naturally at home as long as possible and remain open to getting an epidural once I was at the hospital and further along in active labor. They helped me achieve exactly that. While we were laboring at home, April was the one on the phone coaching my husband and me through contractions, helping us feel safe and calm. She offered different suggestions for positions and comfort measures that made such a difference. My husband shared after that he would have been freaking out much more and probably would have pushed going to the hospital earlier if it was not for her guidance. When Joy met us at the hospital, I instantly felt a huge sense of comfort and relief the moment I saw her. She was tremendously helpful supporting me through contractions with her touch through different comfort measures. After I got the epidural, she continued to be so knowledgeable and helped position me in ways that encouraged baby to be in the best possible position for birth. He was more to the side before but she made such a difference in getting him in a great position. What stood out most to me was how deeply seen and understood I felt by her. She was so in tune with my needs, emotions, and what I needed in each moment in a way that felt different from anyone else present in the room at my birth. Her presence was grounding and incredibly reassuring. Even after I gave birth, when I was feeling overwhelmed by all the emotions and hormones, she noticed immediately and supported me so thoughtfully and gently. That care meant so much to me. I know hiring a doula is an investment, but truly, it was one of the greatest gifts I could have given myself, my family, and my birth experience. If you are considering working with Joyful Roots, I cannot recommend Joy and April enough. read more

I am deeply grateful to Joy and April for the support they provided during my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. I came into this pregnancy with a history of a prior C-section, which naturally carried emotional weight, fear, and many unanswered questions. From the very beginning, Joy and April met me exactly where I was -- without judgment, pressure, or agenda. They never tried to "sell" me a birth outcome. Instead, they supported me as a whole person and honored my autonomy at every step. What stood out most was how grounded and steady they were. During moments of doubt, fear, exhaustion, and decision-making, they helped me feel calm, informed, and supported -- not rushed or overridden. Their presence was reassuring, compassionate, and deeply respectful of my instincts as a mother. They also supported my husband beautifully, helping him feel included, confident, and empowered throughout the process. This made a huge difference for us as a family. Postpartum, their care didn't suddenly disappear. They continued to check in, offer reassurance, and remind me that recovery -- physically and emotionally -- is a process, especially after a complex birth history. If you are looking for doulas who are experienced, emotionally intelligent, trauma-informed, and truly on your side, Joy and April are it. Whether you are navigating a VBAC, a prior C-section, or simply want compassionate, steady support -- you will be in incredibly capable hands. I will always be thankful for the way they held space for me and my family during one of the most vulnerable and important seasons of my life. read more

Choosing Joy and April as our doulas was the single most impactful and important decision of my pregnancy and positive birth experience. We were compelled to get a doula after learning how their support in the birth process has so many positive outcomes that aligned with our hopes: 1/3 decreased chance of c-section, shorter labor time, and overall more satisfying birth experience. Joy and April both bring a deep wealth of knowledge and experience which was evident from the first time we met them. Compared to other doulas we spoke to, Joyful Roots is unique that they offer comprehensive virtual educational and reflective materials, events, and an online portal as a way to obtain information and connect with other moms. The childbirth preparation course is so thoughtfully curated with a mix of concrete information and tips as well as guided practices in coping skills and reflective prompts for the emotional and spiritual side of motherhood. Joyful Roots also hosts in person events like prenatal yoga, and also virtual webinars for on topics like breastfeeding, pelvic floor prep, acupressure in pregnancy and more. I was so impressed by how much Joyful Roots offers in education, let alone the incredible in-person skills of Joy and April. Joyful Roots provides multiple prenatal meetings, postpartum meeting, support in the final weeks of pregnancy and throughout labor, delivery, and the golden hour. They helped us in using evidence-based information and offering their knowledge to curate a birth plan that felt just right for us in the hospital setting. They were non-judgmental in their guidance and supportive of our goals for a minimally medicalized experience with flexible preferences for medications and interventions. They also came to our home for one of the prenatal meetings to provide hands-on teaching for support techniques for labor. What was incredibly impactful was Joy and April helping us in navigating a potential induction, which we did not want if it was safe to avoid. They offered their knowledge and provided information that allow me to have a well-informed discussion with my doctor in order to postpone my induction date. I believe that by having Joy and April's guidance and support, I was able to avoid an induction and have a positive spontaneous Labor & Delivery. April was available by phone during labor for emotional support for myself and for guidance with supportive measures for my husband. Joy was present in our home during part of Labor and joined us in the hospital and helped with hands-on support and was a source of grounding guidance throughout the whole experience. Joy and April bring a calm and confident presence that made me feel so held and empowered. They're such loving, warm and kind people and I would absolutely have them with us again in the future. I cannot recommend Joyful Roots enough and believe my birth experience was a positive one in great credit to this wonderful team. read more

The monumental impact April and Joy had on the birth of our baby girl is something I will never forget. Birth is such a beautiful and unpredictable experience, and with April and Joy by our side, we felt safe, grounded, and informed through all parts of the journey. From the very beginning April and Joy showed a calming and positive presence that instantly drew us to them. Their knowledge, kindness, nurture, professionalism and commitment to their work is truly a superpower. During labor they were our rock. When things around us were happening so fast, I knew I could look to them for reassurance. I truly couldn't imagine my birth experience without them. I feel so lucky we found them to be our doula team because they made all the difference. We learned so much from them and all the resources they provided. I could not recommend them enough. If you are looking for a doula, and you have come across joyful roots, look no further, because you have hit the jackpot. read more

I truly cannot recommend Joy and April as birth doulas enough! I could write an essay about how I feel they positively impacted my pregnancy but I will try to keep it brief. I didn't have a pregnancy or birth without it's issues and Joy and April were there every step of the way helping me navigate whatever came my way. I was originally pregnant with what ended in our daughter being diagnosed with a fatal condition and passing in the second trimester. Joy refunded my original payment but still offered me support and compassion and went out of her way to make me still feel supported. Not that long after, I got pregnant again and hired Joy/April as a team to support me in my December 2024 birth. The help, wisdom and support my husband and I received throughout the pregnancy and birth was unparalleled. I truly cannot think of anything else we could have wanted/asked because they anticipated and proactively did so much to make our experience positive. Both of these doulas are extremely seasoned and qualified - so much so that I found myself turning to them more than my doctor. I ended up delivering my daughter via induction and Joy was there to support me, rub my feet, offer guidance as we navigated the process and took the most beautiful photos of us meeting our sweet girl. She worked incredibly with my doctor and L&D team. I look back at our birth with not just gratitude but pride and the feeling of being fully empowered because we worked with Joy/April. You can tell these are two people who truly love what they do - and are in the right field. Could not recommend them more! My only advice if you do move forward with hiring them is to trust them because if you do, they will educate you, support you, and empower you throughout the process! read more

Having April by my side before and during labor was even more helpful than I anticipated! I don't know how anyone goes through labor without the support of a doula at all! It made a world of difference in keeping me calm, with helping me make decisions about my delivery and encouraging me through every step of the process. She was so comforting, kept the mood calm, guided my husband in supporting me, and provided that extra sense of security I needed to feel empowered. She was actively involved in my delivery and her encouragement and cheers made the experiences truly memorable. Prior to delivery, both Joy and April were so helpful in staying connected through text when I had several early induction "scares." Even afterwards when I had a very difficult and long hospital stay due to some complications, they kept in touch and checked in on me. I could not recommend Joyful Roots enough! read more

I recommend her to all my pregnant friends. Joy is so nice and friendly. I did my placenta with her. I actually have done two and have had a great experience both times. And if we end up having another child, I will be back :) read more

We worked with Joy and April over the last few months and it was an absolute pleasure. They are both extremely caring individuals. They have an incredible amount of compassion as well as passion for their work. They provided us with tons of evidence based resources and references and were totally willing to work with us on whatever our birth plan was. There was no judgment or anything but they helped guide and set up the plan to meet our needs. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

I truly believe I found the best doulas in San Diego with Joyful Roots Doulas. Two seasoned doulas for the price of one! My entire experience with April and Joy was incredible--they were both so supportive and generous with their time leading up to the birth. When it came time for labor, April was my doula, and I can honestly say that my unmedicated homebirth--lasting over 30 hours--would not have been possible without her. April is highly skilled in counter-pressure techniques, and for most of my labor she was the only one I wanted touching me--it helped SO much! Her knowledge of birth was also invaluable; she was able to confidently guide the midwives when decisions about helping my labor progress came up. I am forever grateful that Joyful Roots was recommended to me. If you want the best in the business, this is it. The compassionate, life-changing support I received made all the difference, and I will always cherish the positive memories surrounding the birth of my first baby. I also deeply appreciated how April and Joy visited after the birth to help me process the experience. Truly worth every penny! read more

Joy and April are truly a dream birth team. After experiencing a traumatic first birth, I wanted to prioritize a healing birth experience and set myself up for success postpartum the second time around. Joy was so helpful in ultimately helping me make the decision to opt in for the epidural (my first birth was natural) as a way to stay in full control of my birth. Joy and April also helped me tremendously during my last few weeks of pregnancy as my labor anxiety crept up and helped me and my husband gauge the appropriate time to head into the hospital. Simply put, my birth was my own redemption -- a wonderful and healing experience. Birth is beautiful and I only was able to experience its true beauty with Joy and April's guidance. I also had the pleasure of working with April PP. She was a wonderful, calming presence and so supportive for me, my family and baby by cooking, providing belly massages, holding baby, etc. Cannot recommend enough!! read more

My husband and I can't say enough good things about Joy and April -- they were absolutely amazing from start to finish. From our very first prenatal meetings, they made us feel so supported, informed, and confident going into birth. They took the time to really listen to our preferences, answer every question, and help feel prepared both mentally and physically for labor and postpartum. During labor, their support was essential. Before heading to the hospital, they were both so attentive and responsive to us while laboring at home. At the hospital, April's calm, grounding presence and hands-on support helped me stay grounded and comfortable through every stage. April worked seamlessly with my husband and the hospital staff, advocating for me when I needed it and offering just the right mix of encouragement and reassurance. Even after birth, they continued to show up for us with many thoughtful check-ins via text and a postpartum home visit as well -- checking in on how I was feeling, offering breastfeeding tips, and helping us adjust to life with a newborn. That follow-up care made such a difference in my recovery and confidence as a new parent. If you're considering hiring a doula, do it -- and if you can, work with these two lovely ladies. They are professional, compassionate, and truly so knowledgeable and dedicated to helping families have a positive birth experience. I'll forever be grateful for their care and support! read more

I can't thank April and Joy enough for their incredible support during my second birth. My first birth I felt so defeated & never wanted to have that same experience again where my baby's health and mine were put at risk for the convenience of the hospital. Going into this birth with my doulas, I knew I wanted an unmedicated experience with no interventions, and they helped me achieve just that. Their presence was truly invaluable. With their guidance, I felt empowered to make every decision confidently and in tune with my body. The day of delivery, April was the one to come and support us. She didn't just support me--she supported my husband, too, helping him to be fully involved and hands-on, which was so important to us. She coached him to be right by my side, making this birth as much his story as it is mine. It was amazing to feel that we were going through this together, with April helping us every step of the way. Thanks to April and Joy, our birth experience was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. I feel absolute joy whenever I talk about my birth story. My doulas held space for us in a way that felt calm, respectful, and loving. I couldn't have asked for a better support team. If you're looking for doulas who will help you feel strong, confident, and deeply supported, these two are an absolute gift! I should also mention that we had a one week postpartum chat that really tied any loose ends. I told them I had a lot of self blame about my pushing phase, but they reassured me about my process, the nature of birth & just the overall beautiful experience in a way that left me with no bad feelings about my birth whatsoever. Thank you April & Joy!! We couldn't have done it without you!!!! read more

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Joy and Jackie were wonderful leading up to the birth. I felt relaxed, followed their advice to induce labor. I really wanted to have a natural birth and felt like hiring a doula was going to help. I ate a disgusting amount of dates and drank more raspberry tea than anyone should drink. I walked, I saw a chiropractor twice a week, I did acupuncture, I did spinning babies daily, and everything else recommended. But, I ended up going 13 days past my due date and was faced with a medical induction. I had no idea what to expect. I did 3 membrane sweeps and a foley balloon. Basically everything natural to induce labor, short of drinking the castor oil. Once at the hospital there were even more choices about what kind of medical induction to do. I felt completely lost. Joy was unable to join and Jackie only came after my third day in the hospital when I was 8 cms, and almost two days after the medical induction started. (It was a horribly long labor.) My bradley method birth class never once talked about medical inductions and all the choices that come with it, which added to the lost feeling. I also told Joy and Jackie how important it was to have help from them before active labor. I was promised they would be available. I didn't realize they meant only by the phone. I spent so much time preparing for natural childbirth, that the medical induction and c section that resulted left me feeling lost and unprepared. I wish someone had offered me some guidance for that scenario. I actually told Jackie that there was no need to come since I was already well into the labor process (like days in) and felt like they weren't offering much help at all. She did end up coming, but I was feeling annoyed at the late presence. The follow up calls from Joy and Jackie to go over the traumatic experience and talk about the negative feelings from the birth just felt like more of a negative experience. I wish I had not hired a doula and had simply used the free hospital doula through UCSD. If anyone is considering a doula, try to ensure you get some help in the case of an induction or emergency c section. Childbirth is so unpredictable and having someone there in the beginning to guide you through the beginning of labor is so helpful. Not someone to show up in the final hours and take a picture. Also, I get that the time commitment for a doula can be intense, but then just charge more money. I really wanted to have someone there the whole time. Wish I knew what I was signing up for. read more

I don't even know where to begin. We first connected with Joy virtually in 2020 when we were expecting our first, and from that first interaction, it felt like we'd known her forever. She was warm, patient, and incredibly supportive--especially during my 30+ hour labor, staying in constant contact with my husband despite not being able to join us due to COVID. When I found out I was pregnant again last year, Joy was the first person I thought of--and this time, I also had the joy of being supported by April. I didn't think I'd need much help with a second pregnancy, but I was so wrong. They were my rock when I went five days past due, helping me navigate recommendations and reassuring me every step of the way. Having Joy in the room during labor was life-changing. Her calming presence and encouragement got me through every contraction--and helped me have the birth experience I had always hoped for. I'm forever grateful to have had Joy and April by my side for the two most special moments of my life. read more

We had a really wonderful experience working with Joy and April! I didn't work with a doula during my first pregnancy, and I knew I wanted to during my second. The initial consultation we had with Joy and April was great and we felt very comfortable with them and could tell that they would be able to provide the support we were looking for. The prenatal meetings were very helpful. They helped us think through what we wanted for our birth preferences and they gave us some great ideas for how to advocate for ourselves during labor and for comfort measures. It was always very easy to get in touch with them. When labor started, Joy helped us decide on the best time to go into the hospital, and the timing ended up being perfect. I had been using the tools they had taught me to help me stay calm and relaxed, and Joy continued to help me with that when we were at the hospital. She gave me the confidence to tell the nurses and doctors what my preferences were. I was able to remain more calm and comfortable than I was during my previous labor (both unmedicated). When that started to slip when it was time to push, Joy kept me grounded and gave me the encouragement I needed to keep going. She stayed with us in the immediate postpartum, and helped me make decisions when everything felt overwhelming. They also checked in on us in the following days, and their support is so kind and genuine. I highly recommend Joyful Roots, 10/10!! read more

I used Joyful Roots for placenta encapsulation and I could not recommend it more! The process was so easy and the product is such great quality. I was nervous about the logistics but Joy made everything so smooth. I texted her when we were at the hospital and she responded right away. She was even under the weather and coordinated someone else to pick up. Once I gave birth we let them know, the placenta was picked up within the hour, and I had my capsules delivered to our home a few days later. This is such a personal service and I felt very taken care of and like my placenta was in the best hands with Joy and her team. read more

Having Joy & April as part of our birth team was probably the best decision we made in this whole process. Not only are they incredibly kind, compassionate, and immediately felt like longtime friends, but they also have incredible resources and recommendations that helped so much along the way! My husband credits them with how empowered he felt to support me in labor and that was absolutely priceless. We also are so grateful to have been introduced to an amazing lactation consultant through them, too! We are so grateful for Joyful Roots -- would recommend them to anyone considering doula support. 11/10! read more

Joyful Roots - Doulas Near Me

Joy and Jackie are an extremely experienced, educated, professional, efficient and organized duo. After our initial interview, my spouse described them as "elite doulas." Importantly, they are also warm, caring, responsive and nonjudgmental. We're grateful for their support before and during our home birth with our second baby and impressed by how quickly they developed a positive rapport with our midwives. The birth comfort measures workshop they lead for clients was a wonderful opportunity for us to connect and focus on labor as a couple. Jackie and Joy also host zoom calls with a range of local experts and quarterly in-person gatherings for their clients. I would recommend a doula to every birthing person. With the right doula, you'll leave every interaction feeling more uplifted and confident! Bonus: I also opted to add on their placenta encapsulation/art and belly binding services. I likely wouldn't have sought these out separately but it was super convenient to book directly with my doulas. read more

Joyful Roots - Mother with newborn and doula - Doulas Near Me

These two ladies deserve all of the stars in the sky, 5 does not begin to cut it! I signed up with them at 6 weeks pregnant and had support through every twist and turn in my pregnancy. They always got right back to me through text or call and checked in with such open hearts and brilliant minds. Their network is huge and their portal was simple, well thought out, and helpful. I had Joy with me during my ferocious birth experience and I did not know people like her could possibly exist. She knew what to do to support me and my boyfriend at every single step. She got me through the entire experience, I can't imagine what I would have done without her there. She was strong, knowledgable, caring, and to be honest just a badass. Also - her placenta encapsulation has been so helpful and was beautifully packaged which feels like such a treat to support myself and my family. read more

If I could give a thousand stars, I would. Joy and Jackie supported me throughout my pregnancy answering questions and inspiring confidence. I was scared because of a long and scary labor with my first. During my the birth Joy was a constant comfort, she coached my husband in how to best support me, and reminded me repeatedly how strong I was. I also love that she support my choices and changing choices. She advocated for what I wanted or needed. In past births, the emotions and pain of transition were very hard for me to overcome. I had a lot of fear going into this third birth. But with their support, I was able to bring my third baby into this world peacefully and beautifully. She wiped away my tears when I wasn't progressing and then gave me guidance on how to get things moving (which worked!), when things got intense she was holding my hand and stroking my back telling me I could do it. Once I was calm and baby heart rate was good, she coached me on breathing, positions, and a few calm pushes later I met my beautiful baby boy. She is an absolutely beautiful and compassionate person - exactly the type of person you want by your side at your birth. Several of the L&D nurses mentioned to me that she was one of the best doulas they've ever worked with. I agree 1000%. She's amazing! read more

If you're seeking an amazing, supportive, loving, and knowledgeable doula, look no further. Joy and Jackie were absolutely wonderful to work with, offering unwavering support throughout our pregnancy journey. They provided scheduled one-on-one calls with both Joy and Jackie, granted access to numerous exceptional prenatal/postpartum resources, and even arranged optional Zoom calls with local lactation coaches, pelvic floor therapists, and more. Joyful Roots exceeds expectations as your doulas! This marked our first pregnancy, and I had countless questions and fears about childbirth. Their consistent love and support throughout our journey prepared me both mentally and physically for labor and the birth of my precious baby. Joy served as our doula on the day of birth, and words can hardly express how grateful my husband and I are to have had her by our side from the beginning of labor to our postpartum visit. She maintained constant communication as soon as my labor began, offering comfort measures, tips, and tricks to keep things progressing smoothly. At the hospital, she never left my side, providing unwavering support and motivation as I gave birth to my sweet baby. Her empowerment and loving presence made it possible for me to truly have the birth I had envisioned: intimate, peaceful, beautiful, and filled with an overwhelming sense of support and love. We are eternally grateful for Joy and our miraculous experience. read more

From my wife: We found Joy and Dara thru friends who recommended them. We were super hesitant, as two nurses - do we really need "birth support"? We decided to give it a shot and met Dara to hear out what she and Joy had to offer. We fell in love, she immediately made us feel comfortable. We opened up to her like she was a long lost friend and she accepted us and made us feel safe. We facetimed with Joy, since the two work as a team - you've got to love them both - and trust us, you will. We booked them and waited until our first at home prenatal meeting. The first meeting, Dara came to our house and went over our birth preferences and got to know us a little better. She went over some spinning babies techniques and general birth education. Again, we loved her and felt safe and like she knew what she was talking about. We had planned and hoped for a vaginal birth - and were so excited to have either of them as part of our team. However, at 36w+ we found out our little one was breech. Joy came to our house and worked thru some spinning babies exercises with us, coached us on vaginal birth prep and pain control methods (since that was the goal), and talked through how to make us ready and comfortable for a belly birth - just in case. I was emotional and scared, and she reassured me and my husband that we could still have a beautiful birth. Just two weeks later, we were told our rainbow babe needed to be evicted at 38w. Both Joy and Dara were just a text or a phone call away, offering near constant emotional support and education. Joy was able to come to our belly birth, and stayed with us from the moment we asked until we were in recovery from our cesarian. She helped to initiate skin to skin, even helped my baby latch in the OR. She comforted me and made me feel safe, reminded me to "listen to my baby cry" which reminded me he was okay, she reminded me to breath, to trust my body and the process. She comforted my husband and encouraged him to be with our baby. I trusted her 100% and felt so much safer that she was there. In recovery, she taught us how to breastfeed, ensured we had a good latch, and even taught my husband to "babywear" with our wrap. The next couple of days were a blur, we texted frequently and again, still, they both offered constant support. We were discharged home, and then readmitted with postpartum pre eclampsia. Again - both Joy and Dara came to the rescue. Dara facetimed for lactation support through a scary medication process and encouraged us that the three of us were strong and capable and could get through anything. Hands down, Joy and Dara are worth every penny. They will forever be a blessing and a wonderful memory and part of our son's birth story. We can't wait to have either of them at our next birth. Thank you both for everything you've done for our family!! read more

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It's nearly impossible to put into words how grateful we are that Joy was there to support us through the birth of our son, Reece. I was drawn to Joy's calm, grounded energy from the very beginning. Her background and skillset was impressive but it was Joy herself that really sold me. She just has an ineffable presence about her that gave me deep comfort as I prepared to head into the wild unknown. I also loved joining Joyful Roots' community Zooms and in person events from pregnancy through postpartum! I've met great friends and always felt like I had a place to go for support, especially at the end of pregnancy and directly after birth when everything is so delicate and intense and new. Having Joy as a resource was really helpful during pregnancy. She asked thoughtful questions to get to know us and showed us so many practical things we could do at home to prepare for birth. During those last few weeks and days she was a sounding board not just for new symptoms but for the deeper emotions associated with being on the brink of becoming a mother. She understands the depth and is so skillful in how and when she shows support. It really helped me just surrender and know I was being cared for by someone who has walked this path so many times. Of course, regardless of any preparation you do, books you read, classes you take and more ... birth doesn't give a WHAT. My labor was intense and several "unexpected" things happened over the course of 22 hours. I can't even describe exactly what Joy did, because I was truly in labor land, but I can tell you that she made a massive difference in our experience and she is one of the reasons I was able to have a vaginal birth despite several complications. There is just something about having someone in the room who holds the kind of wisdom, experience, knowledge and presence that Joy has that really makes a difference. For me, it gave me a sense of safety, confidence and consistency when the world was swirling around (and within) me. My birth was the single most intense, incredible, painful, transformational experience of my life and Joy was the one who held the container for me, my husband and our sweet son. (Not to mention that she sat in the base of my infant carseat with my 41.5 week pregnant self literally on her LAP grunt/screaming from labor pains every 60 seconds as my husband drove us to UCSD!) My husband was skeptical of the idea of a doula at first, but after our birth he said hiring Joy was the best possible thing we could have done. Looking back, reading Transformed by Birth/taking Britta Bushnell's birth class and hiring Joy from Joyful Roots was absolutely essential in my ability not just to ride the waves and have a vaginal birth but also to prepare for and be able to process my birth experience. Auntie Joy, we are all so grateful to have found you and am so glad to share our experience so that other families can get the support you showed us. We love you!!! read more

Joyful Roots - Placenta caps via Joyful Roots in their beautiful packaging! - Doulas Near Me

I hired Joy to be my doula and facilitate placenta encapsulation for my second born. I was on a mission to have a better birth experience than I did with my first, and couldn't have done it without Joy as my doula! I felt so at ease nearing my due date as we had a solid plan and many check-ins towards the end. Joy offered so much value with what questions to ask my OB, procedures at the hospital to be aware of, optimal positioning for birth, labor prep etc. I truly believe it all made a huge difference as I was able to have a redemptive and natural birth with her support. Joy was such a calming and reassuring resource during labor and I'm so thankful that she was part of my team. Joy is an incredible doula and I'm so fortunate to have found her. read more

Joy is so very sweet and easy to work with! She made the placenta encapsulation process completely seamless at a time when things are quite chaotic. She was always responsive and thoroughly my answered questions. Not to mention that the end product was absolutely beautiful- the portrait of the placenta, the umbilical cord keepsake, as well as her packaging are all so thoughtful and honor how meaningful this is to you. read more

When I got pregnant with our third child, we decided straightaway that we would need a doula. We had a doula during my first two deliveries, and I knew how essential a good doula is to the birth experience. Our two older kids were born in another state, so we were looking for a doula in the San Diego area. My husband and I interviewed a few doulas. We were looking for someone with good experience, excellent reviews, and somebody I felt comfortable with. After a video call with Joy, both my husband and I agreed that she was exactly who we were looking for. Joy was extremely helpful and reassuring, guiding us through some unexpected complications in the late pregnancy. Her vast knowledge and experience of the process were very helpful. Even though my labor didn't go exactly as I planned, it was a very empowering experience, and I was very pleased with how it went. We are very happy and grateful that Joy was part of this process. She is an amazing doula, and anyone would be lucky to work with her. We highly recommend Joy. read more

Working with these ladies was one of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy! I felt so supported by their compassion and wisdom. It made a huge difference during my pregnancy, labor and postpartum journey to have them to turn to. I feel like I was able to make more grounded and empowered decisions due to their support. read more

After reading different reviews on plencenta encapsulation and doing extensive research on who to go to in order to make sure our pills are clean. We decided to go with joy. As a first time mom it was pretty difficult the first couple days after I gave birth. I feel like the pill's definitely helped. No baby blues or negative emotions at all. My milk supply have also doubled since. Joy was so informative and communicative through this whole process. My husband was the one who personally handled my plencenta to joy and she was so helpful and sweet. She was on time for everything and the whole process was overall over pleasant. I will def come back to her for my future births. read more

Highly recommend! I was not sure about hiring a birth doula but the prenatal appointments with Joy and April gave me a lot more confidence going into my birthing experience. April's support during labor and afterwards as a postpartum doula was amazing. Really helped us during those first days/weeks! read more

We were able to have Joy as our doula for a second time as we recently welcomed our little baby girl. Again, she went above and beyond and was such an amazing birth partner! My labor was doing a lot of "start-stopping" in the last couple of weeks which really kept all of us on our toes but I never felt pressured or deprioritized from joy. This time I was able to be in the birth center and there were no emergencies so I was able to fully experience Joy's comfort measures and support (the massage during surges was actually delightful!). I attribute a big part of the quick delivery to her recommending the side lying pose, which opened things up and really got things moving in the right direction! She was so perceptive, knowledgeable and comforting. I recommend her 1,000%. read more

I cannot recommend Joy enough, both because of her vast experience in the field and the beautiful energy she brings to all levels of care throughout the pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum experience. Before I connected with her, I was very anxious about my twin pregnancy. Every time I reached out to her to describe my symptoms, she instantly eased my concerns by providing me with insight and resources. She was incredibly proactive and emailed helpful reminders leading up to my birth that aligned with my pregnancy and birthing goals. I was also grateful for all of the care she connected me to for lactation consultants, postpartum doulas, and other therapeutic professionals. During labor and birthing, she provided me with exceptional care, whether it was helping position my body after my water broke, providing gentle massages during and between contractions, collaborating in decision-making when I needed reassurance, or providing affirmations when I needed strength. I truly cannot imagine what my experience birthing twins would have been like without her wisdom and nurturing encouragement. read more

This review is way over due!!! Joy was our doula this past January for birth of our daughter at a birth center! She was the most supportive, kindhearted, positive, caring, and loving soul who I was so fortunate to have as part of my birth team. From day one I felt her support and guidance. I trusted her knowledge of physiological birth and knew she'd be an amazing resource. She not only supported me during pregnancy and labor, but she also was an incredible support system for my husband. She made space for us to labor how we liked while also stepping in when we needed her most. My birth was beautiful and I know she is a huge reason why. I am forever grateful for Joy and the amazing work that she does. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for empowering me to have the birthing experience I always dreamed of! read more

Joy and Dara are the best! Dara supported us in the delivery of our first son in 2018. It was a looong night and day and she stayed grounded and present the entire time, giving us incredible support and love. I couldn't imagine not having her there. Even though we had to go to emergency cesarean in the end, I know we gave it the best shot with her in our corner. For the birth of our second son via repeat cesarean this past week, we didn't use a doula but I used Joy for placenta encapsulation. She was easy to coordinate with, was a wealth of knowledge, and quickly delivered beautifully packaged high-quality products. These are incredible women who truly care about supporting mamas. I highly recommend working with them! read more

These women are amazing and the birth support you need mamma! Together they are truly a powerhouse team, a wealth of knowledge and a warm hug. Jackie saved the day when I was pushing out my giant 9 1/2 lb son with a rebozo trick that helped me get the leverage I needed to get him out after two hours of pushing! She also encouraged me with snacks, healing touches, cheers and wiped my forehead with a cool washcloth and offered me sips of water. I can't recommend her highly enough! read more

This review is long overdue! I had my first child in Orange County and knew going into my delivery of my 2nd that I wanted the additional support that a doula could offer. I found Joy from a Google search and immediately she was quick and kind in her responses to my questions. My son was born in April 22' and there was a time that my hospital wasn't allowing a 2nd support system. Joy was really patient in waiting for things to open up again before we made the investment. We had an amazing first zoom call with her and immediately felt good vibes and knew she would be a good fit for our birth team. She was available to answer questions along the way and was very responsive and kind offering tools along the way. We had a great in person meeting towards the end of my pregnancy and she offered insight and advice so that we would know what to expect and what to advocate for during our L&D experience. When the day came, she met us at the hospital dropoff with a wheelchair. I was in active labor and there was no way I would've managed on my own. She took me to L&D and helped me check in while my husband parked the car. I don't know what I would have done without her in those moments! She was a great liaison between myself and the nurses and encouraged me to listen to my body, try new positions, and calm my breath when I needed to. My son came quick! She helped keep me comfortable, massaged my feet, and truly was a gift. We chose to encapsulate and she took care of that for me as well. I appreciated her postpartum visit a couple weeks later and loved reliving the moment with her. With Joy, I was able to have the delivery experience that I wanted! She was a familiar, kind face in what can sometimes be a scary situation. Highly recommend Joy! read more

Joyful Roots - Doulas Near Me

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I recently had the pleasure of working with Dara for my son's home birth; she is a wonderfully supportive and kind woman, and a talented birth worker. I felt cared for, but not overpowered. Dara held the space for me to follow my intuition and birth my baby, leaving me feeling empowered and exhilarated after my birth. She offered me gentle encouragement and tips leading up to the birth, and offered the same during birthing time. Her kind words and gentle hands were so appreciated, and I highly recommend her services. We especially found hiring a doula important for this birth, my second, so that my husband could be with my 3 year old daughter if needed (we wanted her to be present for the birth, though she slept for most of it) and I would still have support as well. We also utilized the second half of Dara's team, Joy, who did our placenta encapsulation. This was wonderful and convenient also, because Dara took everything with her after the birth and returned it to us in a couple days. The placenta was handled and packaged beautifully; as well as the bath herbs I received were lovely also. I highly recommend Joy as well. Overall, I couldn't be happier with these ladies and I will definitely be a return client if the need arises again! read more

Joy's encapsulation of my placenta was beautiful and seamless! She provided us with clean instruction on how to prepare the placenta for her to pick up and then picked it up at the hospital the day of my baby's birth (he was born in the middle of the day on a Monday). She then returned the next day with the encapsulated placenta, a beautiful print of the placenta, by baby's umbilical chord, and some lovely oil (along with instructions for my husband to give me massages which he has been doing). Joy was recommended to me by my doula and when we were at the hospital the midwife asked what our plan was for the placenta. When I told her Joy would be encapsulating it she responded with "Joy is the best!" Having the recommendation from my doula and high praise from my midwife was extremely reassuring that we chose the right person to complete this process. Every step of this process was wonderful and I highly recommend Joy for placenta encapsulation! read more

There are simply no words that will ever begin to fully express the gratitude, love, and respect for the wonderful women behind Joyful Roots Doulas. Our sweet girl was delivered on June 27th and we could not have done it without their virtual support. My husband and I honestly didn't know much about doulas before embarking on our pregnancy journey and after some searching, we landed on Joy & Dara. From the moment we did our first zoom, I instantly knew they were the perfect fit for our family. As a first-time mom, I felt nervous and unsure about how to best navigate pregnancy, labor & delivery, and the postpartum period. Shortly after teaming up with Joyful Roots, COVID 19 really ramped up which added an extra layer of stress and uncertainty. We originally had envisioned all our services being provided in person and the thought of changing course was overwhelming. Joy & Dara didn't even skip a beat and seamlessly transitioned all of their services to virtual with so much grace. Their client portal shared an abundance of materials, professional recommendations, and knowledge which helped put us at ease in what otherwise was a frightening path ahead. Their noon zooms helped connect us during what otherwise has been a very isolating time. Meeting and sharing with women both pre and postpartum has been such a tremendous resource and gave me a sense of community that would have otherwise been lacking. We had planned, prepped, and felt more ready than ever for labor, delivery, and postpartum. We opted for in home labor support but, unfortunately, nothing went as planned when the time came. The comfort and reassurance I got from knowing that I had Joy & Dara walking with us as we headed into induction was the only thing keeping me sane and feeling safe. These amazing ladies were available for any questions, recommendations, reminders, and most importantly emotional support and encouragement throughout the entire 30+ hour labor and delivery. We made it out the other side and after a long stay in the hospital due to jaundice, they were the first people I wanted to be surrounded by upon returning home. Their services and support did not end after delivery and we opted to take advantage of their postpartum services as well. Dara's support was critical in helping us work through our breastfeeding challenges and her continued support beyond our in person sessions has helped us continue to work towards our breastfeeding goals. I can't thank Joy & Dara enough and will always have a special place in our hearts for them. If you're at all thinking about adding a doula to your pregnancy journey, don't think twice, do it! This was by far the best investment I have made in myself and for our family. The level of care and support these wonderful women provide is genuine and unmatched. read more

Joyful Roots - Doulas Near Me

We were really on the fence about hiring a doula. We wanted the birth of our first child to be a very private experience for us and the thought of a stranger in the room beyond medical staff seemed contradictory to that wish. That being said, as my wife started to research birth and learn more about the process, she realized that we knew nothing about it. We talked at length about how a doula might help us through, what otherwise, might be a terrifying experience. When we started researching doulas in the area we came across Joy and Dara's site and Yelp page. As we were reading the reviews, we saw one from someone that we thought was a friend of mine. We knew she'd recently had a baby, but knew nothing about her birth experience. When we reached out to her to ask if she'd hired them, she said yes and sung their praises! We met Joy and Dara for coffee to feel things out. My wife was instantly at ease. She asked every question she could think of. She talked about how she hoped her birth would go, what she knew about herself, and therefore, what she thought she would need in labor. She quickly realized that they wouldn't just be there to support her, but also me. This whole thing was new to me too, and while she'd be doing most of the hard work, I would need some help supporting me. We left the coffee shop conversation telling them that we'd talk about it and get back to them soon. We decided to hire them by the time we walked to our car and by the time we were on the on ramp to go home, we'd emailed them! Joy and Dara were vital to my wife's labor and delivery preparation during pregnancy. They provided a ton of material to read through and digest before our first meetings with each of them. Dara helped us put together our birth plan and Joy met with us to go over labor preparation. They also recommended Liza Janda's Bradley Method birth class, which was instrumental for us in learning about and understanding everything we could about birth. My wife also experienced pre term labor at 29 weeks and ended up in the hospital overnight in an attempt to stop contractions. They were successfully able to stop them, but she experienced contractions off and on for the rest of her pregnancy. Each time we had questions about her contractions and what to do, we of course, called my doctor, but also Joy and Dara to get their feedback. They were quick to respond via text and always incredibly supportive. Having Dara there was such a relief. During labor my wife felt like things were progressing so fast, so when she arrived we breathed a sigh of relief that she would recognize the mile markers more than we might and she'd tell us when it was time to go. She's also so incredibly present and calm that having her there was almost pain relief in and of itself. She grounded us. At the hospital Dara ran the show, she helped my wife and I during the sprint that was our check in and answered questions about our birth plan when the nurses were rapid firing questions at us. She dimmed the lights in the room and kept my wife calm and focused on the work to be done while still handling allllll the things going on around her. It was so amazing. She cheered my wife on through pushing and held one of her legs the entire time, still whispering words of encouragement and strength. And after our beautiful baby girl was born she sat with us and rubbed my wife's legs with essential oils while the nurses finished up their procedural things. She even helped me with my first latch as my daughter started breastfeeding. When Dara said she was leaving and would let us have some time alone together as a new family of three we was sad to see her go. She was so much apart of the experience and a source of strength and comfort for us. We cannot recommend Joy and Dara enough to any Mamas (and Papas) out there in need of the same. read more

Joyful Roots - Doulas Near Me