Allegra Hill was truly a God sent. I was blessed to have found her…read more I saw a negative review and was completely floored! Everyone is entitled to their opinion but my experience with Allegra and Kim was so amazing I've struggled putting that experience into words. Not only would I recommend all their professional services, I also develop a connection with them as people. They were more then just my healthcare providers, they became apart of our family. I had a more challenging labor than I was expecting and also had to be transported to a hospital after I delivered due to my blood pressure dropping and fainting. My daughter had to be transported as well because she had to much fluid in her lungs and wasn't breathing on her own. It was the scariest moment of my life but I wholeheartedly knew she was going to be ok because of how quickly Allegra and Kim responded to the situation. I know a doctor would also have responded professionally but I felt like my baby was being cared for by family and they had a deeper emotional investment in her wellbeing. My partner has paramedic training because he's a fire fighter. He knows other fire fighters that had midwifes who weren't as well trained as Allegra & Kim. They also have a support group for new moms that helped keep me from being overwhelmed by postpartum depression. Having only been in LA less then 2 years, with no real family support, Allegra, Kim & the moms that attended the various support groups became my family. Allegra actually started out as my doula. I like my OBGYN and she was supportive of that decision. Late in my pregnancy, my OB wasn't available due to a family emergency and I did NOT like the substitute. I realized there was no guarantee he would deliver my baby. But if Allegra became my midwife, I wouldn't have that uncertainty. As my doula, then midwife, she always let me know my options and that she was there to support my decisions. She checked in with me via phone calls, emails and text. I wish every mom-to-be could have an positive birth experience. I think Allegra can help expecting families achieve that.

A friend referred me to Allegra, who has helped with my two pregnancies and births. Allegra is an…read moreexpert -- she is experienced, calm, funny, and has excellent communication skills. She is very clear, direct and non-judgmental. As a trained midwife, Allegra provided great pre-natal care during those visits, and it was a really needed complement to the quick in-and-out visits with my HMO physician. Please note that hiring a midwife or doula is not about "having the birth of your dreams" or exerting maximum control during childbirth, but it is about providing yourself with support and education. That said, my goal for both births was to have a peaceful, unmedicated vaginal birth at the hospital and Allegra was essential to achieving that. In Allegra, I had a strong advocate and trusted adviser.

Bringing Cindy into our family for the first month as new parents was the best decision we made in…read moresetting ourselves up for a smooth start as a new family. Cindy caters her services to meet the needs of each individual family she cares for depending on what they need most. She is committed to being flexible in all aspects of her services which was critical as new parents - we didn't know what we wanted/needed in advance. Her primary services to our family included 1) education and in the moment assistance on newborn topics (breastfeeding, baby care, fussiness resolution, sleeping, postpartum recovery), 2) grocery shopping and full meal preparation, 3) 1-1 time with mom to discuss postpartum worries/concerns, and 4) helping hand with newborn and furson. At the end of our time together, we felt confident as new parents, well recovered from the first weeks of survival mode, and that we had a lifetime friend of the family nearby. Cindy will be one of our first calls if we are blessed with a second child.

Danellia was our natural birth educator thru @LaFuente and I highly recommend her class. For those…read moreof you worried about cost, you get a lot of bang for your buck-- she really is providing you 3 services for the price of 1. Here's the breakdown: +Birth Educator She is super knowledgable and passionate. I watched a ton of videos and read a ton of articles, but she helped synthesize the info so it wasn't overwhelming. Her descriptions of the stages of birth gave me a clear roadmap of what to anticipate. She made abstract and complex concepts easy to understand. (Here's looking at you Effacement Balloon exercise) Compared to 3 free Kaiser classes, this HANDS DOWN was more valuable. Those classes were redundant, with little substantive info. One of her 10 min videos on lactation clearly presented info that took more than 2-hours in the Kaiser lactation course. (Read the KP workbook available online to get the essence of the info.) +Pre-game Doula She gave us an outline for a birth plan. She discussed possible interventions and methods to advocate for yourself. If you don't have a doula this is INCREDIBLY helpful. If you do, it is still valuable. I came into my doula sessions more informed, like I had a second opinion, and I could hone in on the areas of specific concern. Plus, I knew what to expect and ask of my doula Stevie Merino @solandrootsdoula (who I love and also recommend btw). So in essence, Danellia optimizes the value of your doula services. Her real world experience with local hospitals let us get into the nitty gritty and ask real specific questions. I used some of her pain management technique (with my doula and partner), an adaptation of her breathing technique, and her ice exercise in the labor room and for the surges (contractions) before hand. +Counselor She was the counselor that we didn't know we would need. I vacillated between being a ball of anxiety, rage, and ease and my partner was real worked up as well (more so during pregnancy, than postpartum). I'll attribute that to not knowing what to expect, internalized pressure, and hormones I figure. But for me Danellia greatest strength was in holding space where you could share your worries and ask ALL your questions and even frustrations. She held it compassionately, non-judgmentally, and normalized what was happening. And unlike another paid program we did, it was beyond mental/logical support, it was that AND she was a settled and calming energy. In summary, just do it. Sign up for her class. Check out @LaFuente. I hear it is available virtually too now. Birth and postpartum is challenging, especially these days. So get all the support you can get! Regardless, may you have a pregnancy and birth filled with ease.

I was so pleased to have received Danellia's placenta encapsulation service. Danellia is very kind,…read moreprofessional, and knowledgeable. You can hear the passion for her work in the way she speaks about it. She explained everything thoroughly to me as to what her encapsulation service entails and how pick up and drop off would work. When it came to being in labor I didn't have to worry about a thing. Danellia and my birth team were able to communicate with one another to make sure she knew I would be giving birth soon. The day after I gave birth Danellia was able to swiftly pick up my placenta and take it for processing. It was important to me to have a photo of this beautiful organ that my body grew to keep my baby alive all 9 months. Not only did Danellia take a photo, she made sure to make it extra special placing beautiful herbs next to the placenta for the photo. A couple days later my placenta was already encapsulated, made into a tincture, and ready for drop off. So we coordinated a smooth drop off where I received my entire placenta package which included placenta pills, placenta tincture, placenta print, and umbilical cord keepsake. But of course with how caring Danellia is she went a step further and brought along some soup for my husband and I and a traditional Mexican postpartum drink for me called atole. This meant so much to us as we were only 3 days postpartum and had 0 time or energy to cook meals for ourselves. My placenta print came out so beautiful! Im so excited to frame it and hang it in my son's room. The placenta pills have been super helpful in giving me energy, establishing my milk supply, and stabilizing my hormones which in turn stabilizes my mood. In fact my placenta pills gave me so much energy I could only take them earlier in the day. If I waited until the afternoon to take them I would be up late at night! Aside from that I loved the way the package was put together and presented. Danellia gifted me some herbs from her garden and had a card in the bag that explained how to take the placenta pills and tincture. I am 6 weeks postpartum now and can now start taking my tincture which I'm so happy to have! I chose to have a tincture made because it will last forever since it is an alcohol extract. Overall I was so happy I made the decision to have this sacred organ encapsulated by someone who has so much respect for it and for birthing people. The energy that went into my capsules was important which is why I specifically chose Danellia and her grounding, calming, loving energy. Thank you Danellia for supporting me during my postpartum journey.

After a long challenging process of IVF, we knew we needed a doula for our first baby's birth…read more Monique came recommended from a friend and we hit it off the moment we met. She was so real, personable, and professional. She was full of tips and tricks but made it super digestible and easy to understand. Her support leading up to labor was key but having her there for the actual labor process was pivotal. She brought her Mary Poppins bag of items and really just helped us through the entire process. The birth threw us some curve balls and the plan took some twists and turns that alone would have been hard to navigate. We've since moved cross country but wouldn't hesitate to hire her again if we were still in LA.

My wife and I are so lucky and so grateful that we got to work with Monique for the birth of our…read moresecond child. We cannot recommend Monique highly enough! What we loved most about working with Monique: She's like a magician: "Hey you look like you could use a INSERT ANYTHING YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEED BUT ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AT THAT VERY MOMENT?" That's how it felt working with Monique--she seemed to know what you needed to hear, eat, read, watch, etc., at all the right moments, yet somehow she maintained an unobtrusive presence throughout. She's always there, responsive, whenever you need her, and she pops up with impeccable timing, yet she's never in the way. You never feel like you don't have your own space to fully experience this rare and precious experience in life.  She's nurturing without being overbearing: Monique's so nurturing and caring. She's like your emotional teddy bear throughout the entire process. You can't help but feel better all around whenever you meet with and talk to her. She knows just the right words at the right moment to help you feel more energized, calm, or optimistic. Yet she does all that without ever appearing overbearing or "mothering" you. She can switch between being a calming or encouraging ball of energy, and she always seems to do so just when you need it, without ever having to ask. While always supportive, she always finds the perfect moments to challenge you. Monique is always soft, but firm. She never fails to check in on me, the birthing partner, and often brings up ideas and issues I haven't yet considered but should consider. She laid out specific scenarios that helped me think through and prepare for how I could best support my wife.  She has incredibly high social IQ: She is incredibly adaptable and can change her tact and approach with different (and sometimes very difficult) people that we run into. She can instantly pick up the emotional energy and communication style of every person she interacts with, making everyone feel at ease. If you're looking for a doula who can tailor her approach to your birthing partner's personality and particular wants and needs (and be able to know which is which at the moment), who can instantly connect with and endear herself with the medical staff, and who knows how to push back against an overbearing and rude on-call OB without antagonizing them, then hire Monique.  Toddlers love her: We were concerned about how disruptive our 2-year-old might become during our meetings, but Monique knew just how to engage and disarm our toddler. At the end of our meetings, we got a lot done, and our toddler always wants Ms. Monique to stay.  She gives you time & attention: We met with Monique four times in person and really felt that we could build a strong sense of rapport with her well before game day. TIP: Monique purposely limits the number of clients she takes on to practically ensure no overlaps, which is not as commonly practiced by others. So her calendar fills up quickly! She is a walking, breathing encyclopedia: Monique is so knowledgeable about every aspect of the process. There was never a moment where she wasn't able to give us an answer or point us in the right direction when we had questions. And while at the hospital, she could always tell us what the nurses or doctors are doing or will do next, what they're looking at, and likely upcoming decisions we'll have to consider or make next. She's a hawk: She is always paying attention to what everyone is saying or doing, particularly with the nurses or doctors, and spots potential conflicts ahead of time. It's so reassuring knowing you have her on your team. She stays on top of all the to-dos, so you don't have to. In the chaos of labor and birth, the last thing we wanted to do was remember all the different things we had to do and when to do them. She took care of us and everything that needed to be done.  She follows up: Throughout the entire process, even after the birth, it's so clear that Monique cares about you and your family. Most importantly, working with Monique gave us the space to truly be present at the birth of our child, without having to worry about coordinating or interfacing with others, unless absolutely necessary. Monique gave us our little bubble to welcome our baby into the world.

I simply cannot rave enough about my experience with Mommy's Best encapsulation. Claudia and Jesus…read moreare extremely professional, kind, and very knowledgeable which made me feel very much at ease. They truly care for there clients, I highly recommend them to everyone. There service is exceptional. Im glad I choose them. My whole encapsulation experience has been great, compare to my first child I can definitely tell a huge difference between my two births. No postpartum depression, my milk supply came in quickly and my baby quickly reached her healthy weight, there is nothing more satisfying than knowing your baby is receiving the best. I have lots of energy, and to top it off my skin has been looking AMAZING!! I highly recommend Claudia and Jesus for your placenta encapsulation.

Mommy's Best Encapsulation is absolutely the best placenta encapsulation service offered in LA!! I…read morerecently delivered my first baby, it was such a magical experience for both my husband and I, and  MBE made the experience that much more special. I met with Jesus and Claudia after doing some research on different companies offering encapsulation and was absolutely intrigued. They made me feel so much better and being a first time mommy they answered all my questions". I felt comfortable after knowing Claudia has the experience she does, she is labor and delivery nurse and is very knowlegable in the subject.  After delivery, the products I purchased were made in a timely manner and after seeing the final product i was absolutely satisfied.  I will be definitely be acquiring their services for my next pregnancy!

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

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

The best investment!…read more I can't express how grateful I am for Eileen! I booked her to help us with our first child when I was still in my first trimester of pregnancy because I knew I would probably feel a bit overwhelmed (and tired). She came over to the house when I was at the end of my pregnancy and looked at everything we had set up in preparation, suggested a few additional helpful items, and gave us peace of mind going into the birth. After we gave birth (and were exhausted after 3 nights of no sleep at the hospital) she was at our house the night we brought our son home and it was SO nice to have her support after such an intense experience. I originally planned on having her help us for 6 weeks but found her support to be so valuable we extended to 12 weeks. She started her doula training in 2012 so I was confident in her advice after working with so many babies over the last 14 years. She is also a mom herself. She helped us successfully drop night feeds (as developmentally appropriate) and now we have a great little sleeper. I always looked forward to the nights she was coming over because I knew I would get some rest and I could ask her any questions I had (should we try swaddling him with arms out, what should we do about his dry skin, etc). Waking up to clean baby clothes and sterilized bottles and pump parts was lovely too :) I can't imagine starting our parenthood journey without her and would 1000% recommend her to any expecting parents! We will miss Eileen and can't wait to work with her again with our next child.

We could not speak more highly of Charlyne and only wish we had more time with her! As anxious new…read moreparents, both her support and expertise truly saved us during the first few weeks and months of caring for a newborn. She provided a wealth of knowledge and compassionate care throughout our time working together. She asked what our goals were and helped us make a plan to accomplish them (round the clock feeding, breastfeeding upfront, introducing bottles, etc). She helped me heal throughout postpartum period, and she taught us things to look out for - optimal sleep environment, diaper rash signs - and no detail went unnoticed. Not to mention she was incredibly organized, reliable and communicative both before and after the baby was born. Truly the whole package. She is the best in the business (not surprising at all, she books up very far in advance!) and we absolutely would love to work with her again. THANK YOU!!

We had the absolute best birthing experience possible with support from Giuditta. She provided a…read morevery clear overview of what to expect at labor and delivery prior to the birth of our daughter. She gave us two house visits in advance of the birth that allowed us to practice different partner positions at home for early labor that we successfully used for the real thing! When it came time for the actual birth, she was a fierce advocate for us at Cedars Sinai Hospital. She ensured we had the best and most experienced team, she also coached me (the mom) through the process with a loud and clear voice which I could follow until the baby arrived. For postpartum care, she provided a sense of ease when we arrived home and everything felt unknown and scary. She gave me (mom) tips on breastfeeding in person, she showed us how to bathe our daughter and made us feel comfortable holding her in different positions. Finally, she is incredibly responsive and always provides a sense of calm in her communications. From both a practical and emotional standpoint and as first time parents, we could not have asked for a more positive experience with a Doula. She is worth every penny! -Hannah

We just absolutely loved working with Giuditta. She's so knowledgable, empathetic and kind. From…read moreour first meet and greet over zoom, I knew I wanted to work with her. She has an INCREDIBLE amount of resources to share, videos, her book, her website with recommendations, and her own incredible expertise after nearly 1200 births. She also just has a wonderful personality and vibe. Definitely the person you want on your team. She advocated for me in the best way, gave my husband a break at the right time (just before I went into active labor...she knew!), made sure we had a delayed cord clamping, helped with our birth plan! She also filmed my birth, which is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. She is a lactation consultant, so she had my baby latching within 30 minutes of birth on both sides! I feel very lucky, my baby has been exclusively breastfeeding ever since. She made 4 house visits, two before the birth and two after. The visits were also invaluable! She was able to help my husband and I practice laboring positions and prepare for baby on one visit, the next visit she took a look at our nursery and our set up. The final two visits postpartum, she helped us learn to play with our baby so she will have more productive feedings and sleep, and the final visit she showed us how to do our first bath. She's a genius. I honestly wish that every pregnant person could work with her. If you're on the fence, I'm here to tell you, Giuditta was one of the most important and instrumental people in my pregnancy, birth, labor and postpartum.