So much gratitude to this amazing doula duo!!…read more 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!

Working with Joyful Roots was truly one of the best decisions we made, and I can honestly say that…read moreJoy 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.

Dara is an absolute angel. She's knowledgeable, sweet, helpful, and meets you where you are at. I…read morehad an oversupply and overactive let down AND my baby had a shallow latch. Dara helped with all of these circumstances and made me feel so comfortable. She showed me different feeding positions that specifically would help my baby. My baby is over four months now and he has never had to take any formula Because of her guidance and expertise I am a confident breastfeeding mama ! Thankyou Dara!!

While my pregnancy was wonderful and healthy, it was also frequently wrought with anxiety. I lost…read moremy mother just three months before discovering we were pregnant, and I had always envisioned that she would be there by my side, along with my husband, to deliver my first baby. In addition to desiring the type of nurturing and support only a mother can provide, I also wanted to have an unmedicated labor and delivery. Enter Dara, who instantly made me feel comforted and supported just after a few video calls. When my husband and I met her in person, we felt reassured and excited to have her by our side as we approached our due date. Dara was always available and easily accessible throughout the pregnancy for questions and provided me with an incredible amount of evidence-based childbirth information to help guide my birth plan and help me feel that much more prepared. And while nothing can truly prepare you for such an intense life event, I went in with much more confidence than I would have had without Dara's help. Once we were finally in active labor and called Dara into the hospital, she jumped right in with getting me moving and changing positions to help labor progress and get the baby in a good position. She also helped my husband support me by gently guiding him and educating him throughout the process. While I ended up getting an epidural close to 9cm, she remained active in positioning my body, keeping me hydrated, and helping both my husband and me get some rest before pushing. What I will remember the most from this entire experience is how Dara seemed to embody my own mother's energy with her tenderness. It was as if she knew exactly what I needed, when I needed it the most, without me needing to say a word. We delivered our sweet baby boy with Dara by our side and will never forget what a beautiful experience we had together. -Frances If there is one thing you do to prepare for your child's birth, pick up the phone and schedule a consult with Dara. As a first-time Dad, I had no idea what to expect at the hospital, even with the childbirth classes and e-learning videos. Nothing prepares you. While I initially thought the nurses would be there to support my wife, they're busy working. They don't have the bandwidth to be fully present. Dara was there every step of the way to help her emotionally and physically. Even with our relatively healthy childbirth with no complications, Dara stepped in. To watch her in action was such a relief because I knew my wife was getting the best possible care. Dara also didn't take over the reins. She made sure I was a part of the entire process. You can't put a price on that peace of mind. If I had to sell an organ to pay for Dara's services, I would. She's the most amazing, nurturing doula in north county. -Steven

I had the best experience with Breathe Bitch Doula! Louise and Mahri were incredible. They made me…read morefeel so supported and relaxed throughout my whole journey. They are set up to tag team so one of them is guaranteed to be there for the brith which was so helpful to know that someone would be there no matter what. They helped prep me and we amazing resources throughout my pregnancy, obviously during labor, and even postpartum. I'd text them with all my "my baby is doing this is it normal" questions. I want them there for any future pregnancies and labor!

This doula agency is amazing! We've sent so many of our…read moreclients here and they always have amazing experiences. They also are our go to placenta encapsulation experts! Highly recommend for birth and postpartum doula support!

This review is long overdue, as my baby is already turning 7 months! As a first-time mom, I am so,…read moreso thankful that I had Ezrae as my doula. In the weeks leading up to my delivery, Ezrae checked in with me regularly, which I really appreciated as a first time mom. I ended up being induced at 41 weeks and labored for almost 36 hours. It was a very emotional experience for me. Through it all, Ezrae was such a calming and supportive presence. She applied comfort measures, checked in on me constantly, shared stories to help put me at ease, and stayed by my and my husband's side throughout the entire experience. At one point, she was giving me such a gentle, relaxing massage that I actually dozed off during labor! Ezrae truly went above and beyond to make me feel cared for and comfortable during such a long and exhausting experience. I'm incredibly grateful that she was part of my birth team and would absolutely recommend her to any expecting mom looking for a kind, attentive, and supportive doula. Thank you so much for your genuine kindness and support, Ezrae!!

Breezy Doula made finding a doula with insurance easy. They connected me with Valerie Godbout. If…read moreyou're thinking about hiring Valerie as your doula, do it. She was one of the best decisions we made for our birth. From our very first prenatal appointment, she was so easy to talk to. She really took the time to listen to what I wanted for my birth and even typed it up for me. My biggest goals were to avoid an epidural and Pitocin if they weren't medically necessary, and she completely respected and supported those wishes. Our prenatal visits were incredibly thorough. We talked through my birth plan in detail, went over labor positions, and discussed different scenarios so I felt prepared going into labor. When she arrived at the hospital, she completely transformed the room. She turned off the harsh hospital lights, brought a light projector, and even set up an essential oil diffuser that made the room feel peaceful. It immediately created a calming environment that helped me relax. Throughout labor, she was an incredible advocate. At one point, Pitocin was started even though I had already declined it. Valerie caught it right away, spoke up, and voiced her concerns on my behalf. Having someone who was paying such close attention and advocating for my birth preferences gave me so much confidence. She also had so many helpful techniques to keep labor moving naturally. Whether it was changing positions, offering encouragement, or giving me tools like a spiky massage ball and a labor comb to squeeze through contractions, she always seemed to know exactly what I needed. Between contractions, she kept me distracted with conversation and helped me stay calm and focused. I truly believe her guidance and support played a huge role in helping me achieve the birth plan I had hoped for. What impressed me even more was that her care didn't end after delivery. She came to our home about a week postpartum to check on both me and the baby, answer questions, and make sure we were adjusting well. Valerie is kind, knowledgeable, calming, and an incredible advocate. She made me feel heard, respected, and supported every step of the way. I cannot recommend her highly enough to anyone looking for a doula who genuinely cares and will be by your side through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

We had a wonderful experience with Doula Jenn and highly recommend her!…read moreJenn has a lot of experience as a doula. During pregnancy she was a great source of information and peace of mind. Then I had a long, hard labor (including laboring on pitocin only- no epirural- for about 5 hours). We appreciated that she was so positive and always had ideas to try. She was a huge support to my husband and I during labor. In the end, I got a c-section. Jenn came back after the surgery and helped with my immediate recovery, and helped my husband get settled with baby. I did a lot of research and interviewed about 5 doulas before booking Jenn. Jenn was the best communicator out of all. We were always so thankful and felt like she was really there for us. Thank you Jenn!

Doula Jenn is the absolute best. This was my second birth with a doula, and Jenn is without a doubt…read morethe calming, positive and hands on presence that you and your partner will want in a birth. I had a vision for my birth, and it wasn't going to plan, but Jenn has a beautiful way of validating your feelings while also bringing it back to a positive and productive space. My husband and I looked back at many moments in my labor where Jenn was invaluable from helping with better positions, to remaining stable and calm through the twists, turns and moments you need it the most. Our nurse at Scripps I could tell really respected her. She truly cares, is always within reach, and I feel so grateful that she was part of the journey to get my daughter here safe and sound!

Within minutes of meeting Kylie, my husband and I knew that we wanted her to be part of our birth…read moreexperience! As a first time Mom I was nervous about the process and had my doubts of whether or not I would be able to deliver naturally. Kylie taught my husband and I "hypnobirthing" techniques, checked in frequently, and was there every step of the way to reassure me that everything I was thinking and feeling was normal and OK. She has a very calm, non-alarmist demeanor which allowed me to remain fearless throughout the process (from pregnancy to delivery). My goal was to delivery naturally, which not only did achieve, but more importantly I had FUN doing it! Thanks Kylie, we love you and will see you for kid #2.

Kylie is so skilled in her line of work as a doula and hiring her was one of the best decisions my…read morehusband and I made. I recently gave birth to my first baby, a beautiful son, at Scripps Encinitas with Dr. Cap. With Kylie's help, we had a smooth, stress free, intimate and beautiful birthing experience. She provided valuable pre and postnatal information as well as helpful tools to prepare for labor & birth. Being a hypnobirthing instructor, she is an expert in comfort measures and creating an environment of trust & deep relaxation. We immediately felt a connection with Kylie from the moment we met her. She is outgoing, funny, open minded and excellent at reading emotions and anticipating needs. She cracked a joke when one was needed. She took over when my husband needed to rest. She provided us with comfort, reassurance and confidence during the labor process, which allowed us to stay home much longer than we would have had it just been my husband and I. She helped my husband be the best birth partner possible. Her communication was excellent- from answering questions during pregnancy, checking in with my husband via text during early labor, providing words of comfort and reassurance while laboring with us at home, and during the birth process to make sure we were fully present and did not miss any of the magic. She advocated for our birth preferences and spoke up to the nursing staff to make sure I was laboring in the best positions possible. She even handled everything with the placenta encapsulation. Because of Kylie I was able to have the unmedicated birth that I had dreamed of. We highly recommend Kylie and hope to work with her again in the future. If you are considering hiring her as your doula, do yourself a favor and say YES!a

Alex is amazing to work with! She did my maternity and newborn photos and I am in love with how…read morethey came out. She has such a gift of making you feel comfortable and capturing the moment perfectly. I would highly recommend Alex. She loves people and she loves what she does and that shines through in her work. :)

Alexandria did my maternity and newborn pictures. She also filmed my birth! Before even meeting…read moreAlex, she was incredibly professional and prompt with getting back with any questions I had. When I actually had the pleasure of meeting her, she walked in and we instantly clicked! She is so sweet and beautiful and you can tell she just loves what she's does. During every session, she made me feel incredibly comfortable. The vision that she had for my maternity shoot was so beautiful, bed of flowers, milk bath, etc. On the day of the shoot, she showed up super excited and man, did she deliver! Being 9 months pregnant, you wouldn't think that anyone or anything could make you feel beautiful... However, I felt like a goddess during the shoot! The pictures of course turned out amazing!!! Alex just has such a presence about her that instantly makes everyone feel at ease. Things were no different on the evening I went into labor. Alex showed up when I was laboring in the bathtub, with contractions 4-5min apart. When she arrived, she was just calm, quiet and so there, that she wasn't! She was able to keep up with how quickly things got real! She was able to drive 90mph on the freeway to capture our little girl almost being born in the car! After I delivered, she was able to capture all the little details and moments for us to cherish forever! A few short days later, she came over to our home and took the most adorable pictures of our daughter and we looked back on how exciting our delivery was! I knew from the first day I met Alex, that she was talented, but she blew us away with every shoot and encounter. We just love Alex! She is such a light :)

To say that investing in a doula was a good idea would be the understatement of a lifetime. My wife…read moreand I heard about this magical concept as if it were a fairytale idea out of our reach, a luxury item in no way meant for us. That was until we met Kathryn and One Moon Doula. They showed us how we could achieve the dream goals we had for those first precious weeks while also honoring our modest budget. Not knowing what to expect, as this was our first child, we did understand that having someone with us would change everything. We were quickly linked with a few doula interviews and fell in love with one of them. Our schedules aligned and boy did it ever change our lives. I can't imagine not having our doula there for those critical nights of transitioning into parenthood, while making space for healing and recovery. We both slept more than we ever thought possible, while our son was cared for better than we could have imagined, AND we learned so much to build a foundation of comfort and confidence moving forward. No family member or friend would have been able to step in the same way. If you have nothing else on your registry other than a fund for this...do just that. It will change your whole early parenting experience for the better. Thank you to One Moon Doula and their network of Angels.

Lindsey was a blessing. She was more than I could have asked for. I don't have family nearby to…read morehelp so I looked into doula services. She made me so comfortable with her caring for my newborn, which is very hard to let someone else do. She was very easy to get along with and offered tips and advice that were so helpful to me, even as a second time mom. She made it so I could get good sleep and be ready for the next day with the baby and my oldest, refreshed. Thank you!! I am forever grateful. :)

When I found out about the Sacred Pregnancy program, Linda offered classes at Pregnancy Sanctuary…read more I called her and loved her right away. She has a very soft, kind and loving personality and she can make you laugh. She has such a beautiful way of communicating to women in such a vunerable time in their lives. I loved her classes so much that I took them twice during my pregnancy! It was my third pregnancy and needed extra TLC. Linda is sent from Angels! I drove from San Clemente to Leucadia just to take her classes once a week! She also guided 16 women at my Blessingway! She was so great! Her way with words brought the whole group of women together. After my third baby was born, I continued to be a part of Pregnancy Santuary by meeting at the (free) Nursing Circles once a week! I cannot say enough good things about Linda and her welcoming space, Pregnancy Sanctuary.

Linda is an angel and I'm so grateful I stumbled across the pregnancy sanctuary early in my…read morepregnancy. The first time I walked into the pregnancy sanctuary I felt a sense of ease and an immediate comfort with Linda, she's the kind of person you immediately know you can trust. She was an amazing resource throughout my pregnancy and invaluable in dealing with the surprises birth can bring. I truly wish every pregnant woman could experience a pregnancy circle! It is so special to be able to celebrate, cry, laugh and relate with other pregnant women. It helped me go beyond the aches and pains of pregnancy and really appreciate the sacred time this was in my life and focus on bonding with my sweet baby. Linda and the pregnancy sanctuary will always have a special place in my heart!