I am so glad that my husband and I were referred to Jessica for her midwifery services. It wasn't…read moreuntil halfway through our Bradley class that we decided we wanted to do a homebirth. At that point we were already 28 weeks pregnant and now had to find a midwife. Jessica was always so compassionate and helpful in answering all of our homebirth questions and concerns. She also invited family members to come to prenatal visits to feel more comfortable about our homebirth decision as well. That was a huge win for us! She took great care of me During pregnancy and each time we got to listen to our little girls heartbeat. I loved that she focused a lot on making sure I was getting great nutrition via food and supplementation to help make sure my body was as healthy it needed to be for delivery. When it came to Labor Day, Jessica's experience definitely prevailed! As I was slow to progress, she knew exactly what I needed to do in order to help Baby along. Her guidance and experience made our homebirth a reality. Her and her assistant were fabulous during our golden hour that we got to spend with our baby girl in our home. They took amazing care for me and the baby. Postpartum visits were so helpful and informative especially as a first time mom. Jessica took care / monitored both me and baby for six weeks. We put our full trust in her for caring for myself, our new baby girl and all our future babies.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted to go the natural route and find a more…read moreholistic care provider. I had several midwife interviews lined up and Jessica was my first call. After talking to her, I instantly knew she was THE one and didn't even bother interviewing anyone else. I'm so glad I trusted my gut. Jessica provided the best holistic prenatal care and still continues to do so postpartum. I always looked forward to every appointment with her knowing that no matter what I was feeling I would walk out feeling comfortable, supported, and heard. She made my fiancé feel included throughout the process and always made sure all of his questions were answered too! During early labor she was in constant contact with my fiancé to check up on me. Unfortunately I didn't end up having the home birth that I had planned for, but Jessica was by my side every step of the way. When we ended up transferring to the hospital, she made sure to advocate for me, and thankfully, she was still able to be by my side throughout the rest of my labor and delivery. Mine and my son's health and safety was always her #1 priority through our entire journey. I am so grateful for her holistic approach throughout pregnancy, her informed consent for every single decision, and most importantly, her friendship. Jessica's passion for guiding mothers and bringing babies earthside shines through everything she does. Thank you, Jessica!

I found Labor of Love by doing some of my own research online. And thank God I did! My doula,…read moreKaren, was my rock throughout my labor and was 100,000 percent amazing--I'll definitely be working with her for my second! A little backstory: I was overwhelmed and so nervous about finding "the one" person to be a part of the most important event of my life. After doing my research and reading through all these bios, I honestly was left feeling overwhelmed, especially knowing how indecisive I can be. I knew I just had to trust my intuition and my gut on this one! After looking at Karen's bio on their website, I had such a good feeling. Staci (the owner), who was super friendly and professional, helped me get connected with Karen, and I booked an interview right away! Karen was so sweet and asked me about my pregnancy experience so far. We discussed how I wanted my birth to go and any concerns I had. There wasn't any pressure to hire her, and it just felt like she was already invested in me, like I was already family. I even had her video chat with my husband to make sure we both felt comfortable and vibed well together--and we sure did! Overall, Karen ended up being the perfect balance of knowledge, experience, and professionalism. It was the most perfect amount of care I could have asked for. She was also such an advocate for my birth plan to work out. Before, during, and after my labor and birth, she was always naturally in tune with what I needed. She was never overbearing, worked so well with my husband, and gave him space to be a part of my support team as well. I am so grateful to have come across Labor of Love

The business owner is quite the opposite of the type of person any vulnerable new mom should have…read moreto work with. My experience with Labor of Love was almost two years ago now but continues to upset me when thinking back on my experience. We hired Lauren as our doula, who made it clear she expected us to go far past my due date as a first time mom. While it's possible for that to happen, it didn't in my case. At 39 weeks and at 5am while in active labor and getting ready to head to the hospital, she let us know she had Covid. Her backup was Karen, who I wish we hired to begin with as she is far more caring and professional. Though unfortunately our experience still fell short and we ultimately delivered without Karen present. We were left feeling like we invested a lot of emotion and money into this process with ultimately no help. Staci has been incredibly rude to us since then and even revoked our access to watch her training videos, sending me a link to pay her once again when wanting to rewatch for our now second baby on the way. Karen herself even recommended we ask for a partial refund due to our experience, but Staci lacks the professionalism and courtesy to her clients. Truly mindblowing that she revoked access to the training videos after we had already paid for them. I would stay far away and recommend a more experienced and caring doula group.

My husband and I had the most incredible experience with South Coast Midwifery! All through my…read morepregnancy they gave us the most intentional and specific care. They never seemed rushed with us, but took the time to answer all our questions and concerns. The midwives are so knowledgeable and full of wisdom regarding pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I felt so at ease, knowing they were taking care of me. It felt like they truly cared about me! I highly recommend SCM to anyone looking to do a natural birth - they made my experience everything I could've hoped for. I'm so thankful for this team and my experience with SCM! We will be back again :)

There truly aren't words to describe what this experience meant to me…read more All I can say is that I had my dream birth~ the birth I had hoped and prayed for. More than anything, I wanted bringing my daughter into the world to feel sacred, and that's exactly what it was. From the moment I arrived, I felt deeply heard, respected, trusted, loved, and cared for. My amazing midwives, Dorian and Lorri, along with my incredible doula Kennedy, the wonderful Amy, and the entire team, held such a beautiful space throughout my labor. Even during the hardest, most intense moments of my life, I never felt alone. I trusted them completely, and that trust allowed me to stay present, listen to my body, and surrender to the natural birth I had envisioned. There were so many moments I'll never forget~ from Lorri playing her sound bowls to Dorian's calming presence, touch and steady reassurance. Every interaction was filled with such reverence, compassion, and genuine care. They didn't just support my birth plan- they honored it. They encouraged me to create the environment that felt meaningful to me while adding their own wisdom, intuition, and calming feminine presence. It was beyond anything I thought to even hope for. Giving birth naturally to my baby girl was the most challenging and most magical experience of my life. Looking back, I truly can't imagine welcoming her into the world any other way. I'm forever grateful that this was my first birth experience. It was healing, empowering, and something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Thank you to every single person at the birth center for helping bring my daughter into the world with so much love, respect, and heart. You gave our family a gift we'll cherish forever. And especially for me, as a woman and now a mother, I am soul grateful.

Christy is seriously amazing. Finding the right midwife was really important to me because birth is…read moresuch a personal experience, and I knew I needed someone I felt 100% comfortable with. From the moment we met her, we just knew she was the perfect fit for us. This was our first baby, and she guided us through everything. She answered all of our questions, made us feel so supported, and honestly exceeded every expectation we had. I also really loved that she's the perfect balance of holistic, but will absolutely speak up if something medical is needed. You can tell her top priority is always keeping both mom and baby safe. We also took her Bradley Method class, which was so helpful and made me feel way more prepared and confident going into birth. We learned so much, and I've already been recommending it to everyone. I fully trusted her the entire time, which made such a difference for me going into labor and birth. Throughout my labor, she was there at any time of day to answer my calls and questions, and she always helped me feel calm and educated about what was happening. On the day of the birth, she was calm, confident, and completely in her element. She made the whole experience feel so smooth and magical. I recommend Christy to anyone, and I already know I'll want her as my midwife for all of my future babies

Safe, warmth and validation. Three words that I experienced with Honey Midwifery during my second…read morepregnancy and birth that I didn't experience with my first. The team at Honey Midwifery has been cultivated with love and education. Every step of the way we talked through my concerns and we talked about the vision of how I wanted my birth to look. My partner was included at every appointment and together we celebrated each new milestone in my pregnancy with love and guidance from Christy and her team. When it was time for my son to make his earthside debut, Christy and her team created a safe space for me and my partner. It's hard to describe but they knew exactly when to check in and when to respect my space. Christy was right there when I needed her wisdom the most. Her words provided the warmth and safety I needed in my most vulnerable time. Honey Midwifery is committed to not only caring for mothers and their families during pregnancy (and postpartum), but also in providing education so families can make informed decisions. I am so glad we chose Honey Midwifery for our health team!

I happily drive from LA County to Orange County for all my prenatal visits because Lindsey and her…read moreteam are absolutely worth it. She delivered both my second and third daughters, and I truly wouldn't trust anyone else to guide me through a home birth. Every single visit felt so warm, loving, and filled with genuine care -- Lindsey makes you feel like family. One moment I'll never forget is when my second daughter was breech. In just one visit, Lindsey was able to gently turn her from a sideways position to facedown. That kind of skill and confidence gave me so much peace as a mom. My husband and I felt completely safe in her hands, knowing she was fully prepared for any situation. We're beyond grateful to have had Lindsey as our midwife. She and her team supported us every step of the way, and thanks to them, I had beautiful, empowering home birth experiences. If you're looking for a midwife who truly cares and knows her craft, Lindsey is the one.

I don't even know where to begin. I was recommended to Lindsey by a dear friend and I always knew I…read morewanted to do a home birth but the fear that something bad would happen always stood in the way. I researched the heck out of home births and once I decided I wanted to go that route I never looked back. First meeting with Lindsey was magical because she is so charismatic and she really made me feel comfortable around her environment and in my own skin. I have never felt so much love and support during my pregnancy as I did with her! She is an array of information. Any questions I had she answered. Leading up to my birth I made sure I stayed present in the moment and took it one step at a time. As soon as I knew something was happening my husband called Lindsey and she showed up right away letting me go through what I needed to. I can't express how grateful I was for all the love and support that was in that room that early morning. She lifted me up and made me feel so powerful and capable to bring my son into the world naturally. Lindsey is the kind of person you want by your side. Not just for your birth as a loving and caring midwife, but as a friend. She is a rockstar and I was so blessed to have had that experience with her. I would 100 percent do it over again and again.

I never imagined I could have such an amazing birth. It was smooth, relaxing, and filled with…read moreharmony, even within the natural chaos of birth. It truly felt as if an angel was present that day. I'm so grateful to Jennifer for giving me the confidence and courage to try another home birth. My first home birth experience with a different group left me feeling in the dark during labor, so this time it was very important to me to build a close relationship with my midwife. I wanted to feel secure in that momma-midwife relationship. Quickly, I came to trust her deeply and she truly showed up for me and my family. I wanted to know that if anything went wrong, she would be there to guide me. Thankfully, everything went so smoothly, and we were blessed to have her there simply to support me. But I also know that if things hadn't gone well, she would have been right there beside us, leaving no stone unturned until we figured things out together. I've said this many times, and I truly believe it, a midwife is there to guide you if things go wrong. But when everything goes right, you simply give birth naturally and quietly. Thank you so much for all you do, Jennifer! I'm so grateful for you and cannot wait for my next birth with you by my side!

Jennifer and her team have been right next to me during the births of both of my daughters. To have…read morean amazing team in the comfort of your own home is a blessing. Jennifer is so kind, so caring and I looked forward to every prenatal appointment with her. She is professional but also personable. Not to mention that she also offers in office chiropractic care and prenatal massages. Going to see her was a spa day to me! Both of my births with Jen were absolutely perfect and I would not have been able to do it without her.

I decided to hire a birth doula because I knew I was going to need the emotional and physical…read moresupport for an unmedicated labor/birth (I can imagine having a doula even medicated is just as important with first baby). I labored for 18 hours and Francesca was a huge support from the moment I started to feel my contractions. She really listened to my needs, was hands on, and so helpful the entire time. Looking back I wish I even hired her for the postpartum care. I love Francesca. Thank you for doing what you do to support us mamas. You are amazing!

My very first prenatal yoga class I was 4 months and I got lucky! I met Francesca and immediately…read morefelt I'd met a genuine spirit. Not only were her prenatal classes amazing but I find out she's a doula I attended a few of Francesca's classes but sadly my schedule changed and there was a conflict of time. So I stoped attending and wouldn't you know Francesca reached out to me. Asked me how I was doing and that she missed seeing me in class. I can't tell you how special that made me feel. So I tried my best to make it to her classes .... But then in walks Covid with all its stay at home quarantine SAS! At this point I'm 7 months. And I now feel my pregnancy plan to stay active is going down the drain. But wait... there's a rainbow at the end of this freak show. Francesca to the rescue ... she starts offering online prenatal classes and I'm so happy I cry. *all those hormones* talk about hot mess. I now attend her classes just about every day AND I ask her to be my Doula She and her classes helped me get through a lot of anxiety. Being pregnant and so close to giving birth during a pandemic..... it got pretty dark there for a min. But Francesca is very informative and has this calmness about her.... She's all the good things you need/ want from a prenatal yoga teacher/ doula While she could not be with me in the delivery room she was with me through phone and text guiding me through. My husband and I couldn't have been more grateful. So in conclusion Francesca is a Unicorn! And I love her... but you'll find that out once you take her classes or have her as your doula

So grateful that I found this amazing doula team and mama community!…read more Krista Jawin worked closely with my husband and I to prepare us for the birth of our first child. She has truly been the guiding light through our journey into parenthood. We had the amazing, magical, beautiful, empowering home birth that we visualized during our birth education sessions with Krista. We know we would not have had this experience if it were not for her guidance before, during and after the birth of our baby. Thank you Krista for the amazing selfless work you do for mamas, babies, and families!!!!

I love Maureen and the team at In One Breath Center! I'm so thankful that I was referred to…read moreMaureen: I was halfway through my first pregnancy and my yoga instructor encouraged me to become educated about labor, birth, and postpartum life. I am SO glad I received that encouragement and Maureen's name from her. I had interviewed a couple doulas who I found on Yelp, but my 3rd call was Maureen and I knew by the end of our first phone conversation that she was the one who would be my teammate and would be there to witness the birth of my first baby! We opted to do a hospital birth (although I loved the idea of a midwifery center or a home birth, my husband's desire was to have our son born in a hospital setting) and I knew that I wanted the wisdom and support of a birth doula to assist my husband and I in making the best decisions possible during the labor & delivery process. My goal was to have a natural birth and I knew that might be challenging in the hospital setting. As a side-note, I had previously thought birth doulas were mainly for people who had extra money laying around - but now I don't know why I had that idea because it's not true in the least bit! We made a point to save where we could so that we could spend some on a doula. Before "The Day" arrived, we met with Maureen in person. She asked great questions about our wishes, fears, uncertainties and she helped us to write a very simple birth plan (or 'birth preferences'- since most of the time things DON'T go exactly as you plan for with birth!). She was in contact with us often in the weeks leading up the my due date, especially because at 34 weeks I needed to go to the hospital Triage due to intense/frequent Braxton Hicks and we also found out that baby was breech and would need to turn - and soon! She and Krista gave me excellent advice that I wouldn't have otherwise received - little suggestions and tricks for taking care of myself at home leading up to my due date. We wanted to keep the baby in the womb until he was closer to (or at) 40 weeks and we were hopeful he would flip around, too! So, Maureen advised me to rest, calm my mind, listen to hypnobirthing mp3s, etc. We kept in touch regularly for the 3-4 weeks before my water broke at 37 weeks + 1 day - baby boy waited until he was considered full-term and then wouldn't wait a day longer! He was placed in my arms 37 hours later! For the actual labor & delivery she met us at Hoag while we were still trying to get labor going (unsuccessfully) and then she supported us as the nurses suggested Pitocin to get things going. PItocin wasn't in our "Plan", but with Maureen's support, my husband and I asked that we start the process very slow & steady... LONG story short, I was able to deliver the baby vaginally without any drugs or intervention with exception of the Pitocin. Thank God we had Maureen - she helped with massaging, bathroom trips, various labor positions, pep talks, and she really supported my husband. I think that's the biggest takeaway- my husband had the confidence to tell the hospital staff our desires (when needed) because Maureen was his teammate when I was out of my usual mind during the labor process. Maureen is sincere, hard-working, loving, and just an all-around JOY to be around. God knew what he was doing when he set us up together. It's been nearly 6 months since my son was born (another pregnancy isn't in our imminent future) and when the time is right I know I will be dialing Maureen as soon as we make plans to have Baby #2. I encourage anyone who read this long-winded review to connect with Maureen before making your final decision if a birth doula is right for you! As my husband has told several other of our expecting couple-friends: "Talk to Maureen (or any doula you're considering), it's the best money we chose to spend during this season!"