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.

I didn't know where to start in searching for a doula, and I'm so glad I came across this marching…read moreservice. It was an easy and quick process that helped me find a doula with some pretty specific preferences I had in mind. They gave me several great options and matched me with my doula who I absolutely love!

The Doulas of Orange County is a wonderful service that helped my wife and me out tremendously in…read moreour search for a birth doula. With so many doulas available, it was overwhelming knowing where to start our search. Doulas of Orange County simplified everything by first gathering a list of what we wanted and matching us with the perfect doulas who aligned with our vision and our budget. The process was easy to understand, and they consistently informed us every step along the way to keep us in the loop. Thank you, Doulas of Orange County!

Melina is so special to me. We were introduced through a family friend and I was incredibly nervous…read moreto build a trusted team for the birth of my first child. She felt so familiar and friendly when we first met, that my trust issues were not even a factor when it came to choosing her as our doula. She gave me so many helpful tools during pregnancy and asked all the right questions. She was always welcoming and available for communication at any time and even stayed in touch on her own as we waited for the little guy to come. She was present for the entire duration of my planned home birth and took control when it came to communicating my midwife and supporting my partner. She was completely in her element as we chose to transition to the hospital. I felt completely safe in her hands while she advocated for me in the hospital. Melina went above and beyond the entire time we had together and I would trust her to do it again, whether at home or in the hospital. Thank you Melina.

If I can give Melina a million stars I would. She is very thoughtful and goes above and beyond in…read moreher service. I hired Melina for doula service for the birth of my 2nd child. She is nominally priced and is the best person to have by your side at such a vulnerable moment in life!

This review is long overdue but that's happens when you've got kids because time flies!…read more With this being our second birth, we felt comfortable hiring Florencia for day of doula support and we are so happy we did! Doulas are truly invaluable people and if you're thinking about whether you really need one, you absolutely do!! From the start, she provided excellent guidance and was a steady, reassuring presence throughout the entire process. During labor, her constant affirmations helped me stay calm and focused, reminding me to breathe most of all! Her words of encouragement were exactly what I needed to stay centered and trust my body. With the birth of my first child being slightly traumatic, Florencia was there to guide me through a truly healing and unmedicated vbac second delivery! We truly felt supported every step of the way, and I can't recommend her enough!

Florencia is ABSOLUTELY awesome !!!! Highly highly recommend her to anyone and everyone. From the…read morecommunication, patients, desire to teach, just be there for me and my wife with whatever we needed for our first child, was an absolutely great experience with her.

Choosing Valerie to be my doula was without a doubt the best decision I made for my pregnancy and…read morebirth journey. Going through pregnancy and labor for the very first time was incredibly scary, but having Valerie by my side made all the difference. She was a truly essential support system for me--from the early stages straight through every single contraction. When the pain felt overwhelming, she stayed grounded with me, helped me find my inner strength, and refused to let me feel alone. Beyond her incredible physical and emotional support during labor, Valerie showed an extraordinary level of professionalism and dedication. She calmly handled challenging and unusual circumstances--including mediating sensitive marital communications with my husband--with complete grace, tact, and composure. She never shyed away from difficult moments or complex dynamics; instead, she stepped up as a reassuring, balanced mediator when I needed it most. Valerie was truly always there when I needed her. Her strength, unwavering presence, and deep compassion made a profound impact on my birth experience, and I am so deeply grateful to have had her support. If you are looking for a doula who is compassionate, fearless, and reliable through every step of the process, I cannot recommend Valerie highly enough!

Going with Breezy Doula was my favorite decision during pregnancy! Wanted to update my previous…read morereview, post delivery. Long story short, I labored at home starting at 6am, got to triage at 1pm (5cm dilated 80% effaced), got to our room at 2pm, and our baby was here by 4:08pm! Because I was SO SO terrified of the epidural needle, catheter, and the whole epidural process, my birth preference from the first trimester was to not get it. Truly believe this was not possible without all the skills and tips I learned from Bree's Hypnobirthing course, Spinning Babies course, partner support or support from my doula, Carla. For months, my husband and I religiously listened to the Hypnobirthing tracks at bedtime and did the readings provided randomly throughout the day. We really learned it is not about pain tolerance but mostly mental prep. During early labor, the poses we learned during our Spinning Babies class really helped! -- Carla (birth doula): Exactly the energy, support and vibe we were going for! We really loved how we were able to communicate with her as soon as we booked. She would regularly check in on us and send us links to free events / classes and other resources. Carla was always SO warm, responsive, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend including her in your doula interview process :) Kalista (placenta encapsulation): We had so many questions about the whole process, Kalista was very patient and great at explaining everything in a way that was easy to understand! We received our kit prior to birth without any issues. Post birth, we loved the care, info, and packaging! Definitely worth a call with Kalista if you're interested in learning more or encapsulating. -- If you're on the fence about any of this, definitely check out one of the free events hosted by Breezy Doula! You'll definitely see and feel the community and passion Bree and her team pour into their work.

We cannot say enough amazing things about our experience with Sandra from…read moreOC Newborn Quality Care! As first-time parents, we were completely overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice on the internet about sleep training. Our 4-month-old daughter was struggling with sleep, and we felt lost--until Sandra came into the picture. Sandra guided us for four consecutive nights and transformed the way we approached sleep training. From the very beginning, she impressed us with her professionalism, deep knowledge, and endless patience. She explained each step in a way that made us feel comfortable and confident, and she was so easy to communicate with--always calm, reassuring, and supportive. To our surprise, we began to see real results by the second night. By the end of the fourth night, our daughter was not only sleeping so much better at night but also learning to self-soothe. This has been life-changing for us as parents--finally getting solid rest ourselves has made such a difference, especially since we both have demanding jobs and long workdays. Sandra gave us the tools and guidance we truly needed, and we feel so grateful for her expertise. If you are a new parent in need of support, especially with sleep training, we wholeheartedly recommend Sandra. She was exactly what our family needed, and we couldn't be happier with the results!

I can't say enough wonderful things about Sandra and Helen! As a second-time mom, I knew how…read morechallenging those early days could be--especially the sleep deprivation and postpartum anxiety I experienced the first time around. I was very hesitant and anxious about having someone come into our home when our baby was just three days old, but choosing to work with Sandra and Helen was truly the best decision we could have made. They were not only professional and reliable but also incredibly kind, nurturing, and respectful of our space and parenting style. From the first night, they brought a sense of calm and reassurance that allowed me to rest and heal, knowing our baby was in the most capable and loving hands. Thanks to them, I was able to be more present for both my newborn and older child during the day. I also attribute the fact that I did not struggle with postpartum anxiety the second time around to this team. If you're a parent considering night support and feeling unsure, I completely understand--but I can wholeheartedly recommend Sandra and Helen. They made a world of difference for our family during a time when we needed it most.

Suzi has been an absolute blessing to our family over the past four months. As two busy working…read moreparents, getting consistent, quality sleep was incredibly important to us, and having Suzi in our home gave us complete peace of mind. She has been reliable in every sense of the word--always on time, dependable, and incredibly professional. Beyond caring for our daughter overnight, Suzi has been a wealth of knowledge. Her calm, confident presence made those early months so much less stressful, and she was always happy to answer questions and share her experience. One of the greatest gifts Suzi gave our family was helping to establish healthy sleep habits for our daughter. She played a huge role in sleep conditioning her from the very beginning, and thanks to her consistency and expertise, our baby became a wonderful sleeper. That foundation has made such a difference for our entire family. What really sets Suzi apart is how much she genuinely cares about the families she works with. She initially worked with us five nights a week while another nanny covered the weekends. When our weekend nanny became sick, Suzi personally arranged for coverage so we were never left without overnight care. That level of dedication and commitment is rare and meant so much to us. We are incredibly grateful for everything Suzi has done for our family. She gave us the gift of rest during one of the busiest seasons of our lives, and we always knew our daughter was in loving, capable hands. If you're looking for an experienced, dependable, knowledgeable, and compassionate night nanny, we cannot recommend Suzi highly enough.

Suzie offered fantastic advice and care for our daughter's potty training issues and we would…read morehighly recommend her to others. She is very knowledgeable and experienced and my wife and I could really feel that. Highly recommend.

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!"

We had Holly for our night doula and she exceeded all of our expectations! She is very nurturing,…read moreprompt, trustworthy and has taken great care of our newborn boy while are able to get some good sleep. She has also helped with other household tasks during the night. As a mother herself has great knowledge about babies as well as with older kids, schooling etc to think about for the future. I highly recommend Holly to anyone looking to make those early newborn weeks more manageable and knowing your baby is in great hands.

Dearest Ariana, We…read moreare sitting here trying to find the words to express our gratitude, and honestly, "thank you" feels far too small. You were the most incredible doula we could have ever asked for, and you have become so much more to our family. From the moment you arrived, you brought a sense of calm and confidence that we desperately needed. You did a tremendous job every single time, but it's the countless extra things you did that truly stole our hearts. Thank you for not thinking twice about helping with the dishes or folding a load of laundry. Those small acts of kindness meant the world to us when we were running on empty. But more than that, thank you for being such an incredible human. Thank you for the conversations, for listening, and for being so thoughtful. Your caring nature didn't just extend to us, but to our children, who adore you. We will never forget how you helped Wyatt in the morning with his breakfast, his bath time, and how you always made time to play with him before your shift ended -- and not only taking care of Wyatt in the morning after taking care of Zoey, all night, but just making sure that I was always good and checked in with me and my mental health, especially after just giving birth and having a lot of different hormones go through my body. Knowing Zoey and Wyatt were in such loving, capable hands gave us a peace of mind that is truly priceless. You cared for them like they were your own, and that is a gift we can never repay. You are a light, Ariana. Thank you for sharing your heart and your talents with us. We will never forget you. With all our love and deepest gratitude, The Doyle family