Pretty annoyed that I requested an appt through their website twice. The first one cancelled the…read moreday before & the second request I put in, no one showed up, called to confirm/deny. Waste of time scheduling through their website & awful communication. Don't recommend especially if you are in quick need of help!

Everyone wants what is best for their baby and nursing is something that most parents desire for…read morehealth and emotional bonding reasons. Sadly, it doesn't always come naturally and learning how to do it can cause a lot of feelings of inadequacy and frustration for a first time mom. After being removed to the hospital from our birthing center and a 37 hour labor, I was exhausted and shaken up to say the least. My experience with the lactation consultant at Hoag did not make this any better, as she told me my baby didn't latch and that I would likely need to use formula. This both scared me and broke my heart. So, my husband started seeking out a lactation consultant on Google and fate led us to Reka - thank God!!!!! Reka was at our home the same day. When we welcomed her in, I felt completely comfortable with her. She was so professional and warm and seemed to be confident that we would be able to get on track with nursing. She was right! Unfortunately, my milk didn't come in fast enough to keep my baby satisfied right away and we had some rough days and nights for the first three days. Reka was by our side every singe step of the way making sure that my baby was fine and that we were doing everything we could to ensure that my milk would come in shortly. Reka went above and beyond for us. When my pump seemed to be spilling milk from the bottom of the flange, Reka sought out new flanges and even borrowed a pump from her friends collection to see if that would help. She got us a bag of lactation tea from an herbalist friend of hers and dropped these things off to our home! She was available by text and was always super responsive when we ran into nursing issues. On day 4, my milk came in. Because Reka had already showed me and my baby how to master positioning and latch, my baby nursed like a pro right away! It honestly felt like we had never had a problem with nursing at all. If you are having any nursing issues at all, Reka is the answer!!! I highly recommend her. She is a true professional who has so much wisdom, love and compassion. Thank you Reka!! I am so grateful that we can have a healthy, breast fed baby!!!

Tiffany is amazing! She helped me and my baby with our feeding/nursing journey when I felt like no…read moreone was providing any answers and I was so stressed out as a first time mom. As an OT, I sought out Tiffany after learning that she is a lactation consultant and a speech therapist because I wasn't sure if my son was having issues latching and if his mild tongue tie was limiting him from using a bottle when I was preparing to go back to work. She went above and beyond in answering all my questions and concerns, and even took time outside of working hours in sharing her thoughts and suggestions. It was the first time that I felt seen regarding my son's feeling problems and drop in weight. There truly isn't anyone else that can provide a comprehensive service during the first year of a child's feeding/nursing life like Tiffany can. And even though I had to pay out of pocket since my insurance didn't cover her services (which was worth every penny btw), she was able to walk me through the steps to help us transition my son's feeding service to miller's outpatient so I would be in network. I honestly can not rave enough about Tiffany because she truly is great at what she does.

I had a wonderful experience with Tiffany! I highly recommend to anyone starting out for the first…read moretime or having any issues with nursing. Her office was immaculate, so warm and clean. She greeted us promptly and immediately I felt at ease. I shared concerning had with clogged ducts with my son and some fears that Hanna my baby wasn't getting enough milk. She validated all of my feelings and offered valuable information that claimed my concerns. I appreciate how she gave practical information and strategies without being strict. She made me feel like I could succeed at this! My husband was invited to the appointment which also helped and he was blown away by how helpful an in-office appointment was as well. It was hands down the best thing I could have done for me and my family. We talked and brainstormed for a great amount of time, I never felt rushed. Then she measured me for flanges and I was much smaller than I had been using- who would have thought! That was huge because with my son I was using the wrong size flange the entire time I Pumped with him. Then we did a weighed feed and talked about next steps. And I leaned Hanna took in 2 oz from the one side which was so helpful! Then Tiffany followed up with a care plan and was available for messaging the following two weeks. Thank you so much!

You give birth once and unfortunately I had a very bad experience with Lorraine. I would not…read morerecommend it to anyone. She definitely a good marketing person of herself and she did not keep that up during the birth for me. Please think twice before you hire her. I did hire her because she has experience but sometimes it's about the excitement. She is done. She is doing it just for money and she is not even doing it right.

I always thought I would try a natural birth but I really started to do alot of research once I…read morefound out I was pregnant. So many times my friends were going to go "natural" but in the end they would give into the almighty needle. So I did a ton of research and I came to the conclusion that I was going to educate myself as much as I could and that I would hire a doula. My husband was very skeptical... His entire family laughed when I said I was going to try a natural birth. Their exact words "Why would you ever choose that?!!" So I dragged my reluctant husband to our 6 week Hypnobabies course. By the 3rd week he was fully on the natural train! He told me "I really think you can do this!" The class was great and I really loved how we bonded with the other couples!! Lorraine was our doula also and it was a great experience. From our interview to when our sweet baby girl came Lorraine was at our disposal. She kept me calm and focused during my birthing time/labor and at the end I faced some complications... Lorraine gave me the lowdown on what was going on and let me know that it was crunch time! Looking back it really was the perfect pep talk... I pushed the baby out in 3 contractions!! And believe it or not I was up and walking around 30 mins later! My husband looked more jacked up than I did, lol. I had such a positive experience with Lorraine on top of a great birthing experience. I would do everything all over again in a heartbeat!

Having been a newport NMS alumni for the newborn, infant and rising toddler classes, I was hesitant…read moreto sign up at the new los Al studio for the second time moms class. Since the studio is so close and this was an opportunity to extend my new mom network, I pre-registered for the second time mom class while I was pregnant. I was assigned to a class with Julie as the instructor whom I just adored from the moment I met her. She was such a warm smiling presence to come to for 8 consecutive weeks. The topics spanned different things like pelvic floor, infant PT, 2 different mental health therapists, a parent coach to help with the transition from 1 to 2. We had a small group of 7 moms and were able to meet up a couple times during our class series. I enjoyed my experience at the los Al location and the parking was certainly much less stressful than in newport. Iykyk.

This review is specific to Bumps amd Bagels event. While the seminar offered useful information, it…read moreseemed to be geared primarily toward first-time moms. After the sessions, participants were grouped by due date, and every mom in my group was a first-time parent. Rather than feeling welcomed, I found myself standing outside the circle while the others talked and shared their experiences. I felt excluded and never truly included in the group discussion, so I left early. During the Q&A, I attempted to ask a question, but the speaker talked over me before I could finish, which made me feel dismissed. Overall, I left feeling that the experience was not very welcoming or inclusive for moms whose experiences differed from the majority of the group. I would recommend that second-time moms interested in New Mom School services skip the Bumps & Bagels event and book directly, keeping in mind you won't receive the $50 discount, or consider seeking group support elsewhere. Alternatively, I encourage New Mom School to consider offering a Bumps & Bagels event specifically for second-time (or experienced) moms. Having a space where parents with similar experiences can connect and share would make an introduction to the program feel much more inclusive and valuable for families beyond their first pregnancy.

Sandra is amazing, she really has helped me with learning how to breastfeed my newborn when we got…read morehome from the hospital. She's very responsive and follows up, which I greatly appreciate as a first time mom

Prifessional soooo educated really cares for bith oarent and child. A true value dont waste time…read morewith anyonecekse. Shes so infirmative and take oersonal care for all your needs. A great resource and she works with all level of needs. Dont get dicouraged moms and dads...GET SANDRA TODAY DONT WAIT.

Working with Tabare was one the best decisions we made for this journey…read more Tabare is humble, knowledgeable, and has amazing communication.(We are "i" person ).But beyond that, she's like the "mom" you didn't know you needed--caring, supportive, and with a heart of shining gold. For example , she actually called the numbers from the brochures the hospital gave to us and identified some confusing information. When my wife's water broke at midnight, Tabare responded to our cellphone msg and offered advice.we went to Hoag Irvine at 4 AM, and Tabare was already there waiting for us. While we are waiting In the triage room, she massaged, reassured, and tried different techniques to keep my wife comfortable. Honestly, she was the busiest and most calming person in the room. Tabare is positive, responsive, and down-to-earth. Working with her felt like having the world's best wedding planner--but for your baby's birth. We prepared together, learned together, and teamed up with the midwives for an amazing, joyful experience. As a first-time dad, I can't thank her enough. Now I'm telling every expectant parent: if you can, work with a Doula; If you made the decision, I recommend Tabare. You'll laugh, you'll feel supported, and you'll look back with the joyful and wonderful experience and memories. Ok, let's talk about the cons: 1 The telephone operator - The OCWM 24/7 response line that night was disappointing. The operator didn't seem to care, made several basic mistakes, and wasted a lot of my time. I eventually had to hang up and call another number for help. 2 Nurse issue - We probably came in during the night shift change. While Tabare and I were outside in the lobby doing paperwork to gain access, my wife was in pain and left alone in the triage room with one nurse. Later, my wife told me the nurse was pressuring her to make decisions and struggled with something as basic as a blood draw.(I just cannot believe how amateur it is for a blood draw) Husbands, NEVER leave your wife alone in the hospital!

My experience with Taba was not a planned one. My doula had a personal emergency when I was set for…read moremy induction at 41weeks and I had less than an hour to make a connection over the phone with her for one of the most intimate events of your life that you could have - birth. To say that Taba stepped up to the plate is an understatement. As I was sobbing on the phone full of anxiety trying to impart my entire story to her she ended it with clear direction - "it sounds like I need to be there with you when you go in" - I can't tell you the amount of weight that lifted off my chest when she uttered that sentence to me. My first birth was during the pandemic and resulted in a traumatic emergency c section so my anxiety was through the roof. Taba's sense of humor, confidence, relationship management style, incredible experience/knowledge, and her amazing ability to download my information made me feel so comfortable. She never left my side when I needed her. She supported my partner in helping him understand when he could step in and standing in when he couldn't. Without Taba I wouldn't have felt confident pushing for more options, making it clear what I consented to, etc. this birth was my redemption birth and I owe a lot of it to Taba.

Our experience partnering with Ashley as our postpartum doula was outstanding. I firmly believe she…read moreis the reason I am successfully breastfeeding, and why our baby daughter established good sleep habits. Through Ashley's expertise, she gave us newbie parents confidence and skills needed in this new chapter :)

We hired Ashley 3 weeks into our postpartum journey, right when the torture from the sleep…read moredeprivation had me ready to confess to a murder I hadn't committed. To say she was a lifesaver is a complete understatement. She swooped in when we were questioning everything and helped us survive. She was great doing some laundry, washing dishes, making breakfast, and tidying -- where she anticipated and did a task before I even had to ask. But in helping us get in some sleep, teaching us how to care for our daughter, and giving us a confidence boost whenever we needed it is where she really came through for us. She was so easy to talk to and felt like a vital family member we desperately needed. I didn't know much about a postpartum doula prior to hiring Ashley, so I didn't know just how much I needed her help. I don't plan to have another baby, but if I do, no way I'd do it without her waiting for me the second I got home. Hire this woman, and let her help ease you into parenthood.

We had Katie as our Doula. We had previously given birth without a doula before but wanted more…read moresupport and care. I interviewed another doula and ultimately decided that we had a connection to Katie. She was always in communication and very much involved. She provided us with the knowledge and support we needed to make informed decisions. Our goal was to have an unmedicated birth and Katie played a significant role in that. She gave me the confidence I needed to make that happen. If you're deciding whether or not to work with Katie, here's your sign to reach out to her for a consultation. She has been so amazing and we are forever grateful she was a part of our birth story!

Katie is absolutely amazing! She not only supported us during pregnancy by helping us prepare for…read morebirth, but continues to walk alongside of us now that our son is here. She has alleviated so many of our concerns and has really helped to guide us into the journey of parenthood. She is warm, encouraging, and knowledgeable. We would highly recommend her to any expectant parents or to anyone who has a baby.