Oh my gosh, where do I start? Nicole is simply amazing. Amazing human, amazing energy, amazing…read moresupport and amazing educator! My hubby and I learned so much from Nicole and her Bradley method classes. We were so comfortable and at ease in Nicole's presence that we chose (and were fortunate enough that she was available!) to work with her as our Doula for the birth of our first baby in my Hospital delivery just 2 weeks ago. Having Nicole by our side was not only the best decision we made to help ensure we made it through to the end unmedicated, but it also helped both of us stay at ease while navigating different scenarios that played out as my labor progressed. I can't speak enough about having an amazing birth team around during pregnancy, labor and delivery and I will always get to look back on the birth of my daughter as a really beautiful day and event and we have Nicole to thank as a huge part of that. If nothing else, please attend the birth school! My friend and client implored me to and I'll never be able to thank her enough! Now I want to pay that forward to every mama I can! :)

Nicole's passion, empathy, and knowledge are unmatched. My fiancé and I did group classes with our…read morefriends who are also expecting in August. It's safe to say we entered into class feeling anxious and unsure about many different aspects of pregnancy, birth, and labor. After one class with Nicole we felt so heard, seen, and over all more calm. These feelings continued through each class accompanied by well thought-out and communicated curriculum about all things pregnancy/birth/postpartum. My fiancé and I were bummed when our classes were complete because Nicole truly facilitated such a beautiful & safe space for us to be in during a vulnerable time. I cannot recommend her and her services enough.

I thought I had breastfeeding all figured out when my third son arrived. Born just 2 weeks early,…read morehe was sleepy and my supply suffered. Barbara came in like Mary Poppins, with reassuring and practical advice. She helped me and my baby. I will never forget the kindness she showed me at such an important time in my life. Thank you!

I've used Barbara Shapiro for all 3 of my kids and honestly can't say enough good things about her…read more If it wasn't for her, I know I would have given up. I had so many challenges in the beginning and wanted to give up but everytime I would have Barbara come over and she would get me back on track. I had inverted nipples with a tiny baby, I had another baby go on a nursing strike, I've had Iow milk supply in beginning (due to being hospitalized after baby born) and everytime I would call Barbara to come help me sort it out. She would help fix the problem every single time and so I'm so grateful for her. She has a lot of empathy for what I was going through and I didn't have to pretend like I had everything together, she made me feel like I was doing such a good job, which I really needed to hear. She really taught me that breastfeeding can be super enjoyable and beautiful for both mom and baby. Despite having all these challenges , I went to nurse all 3 of my kids for two years each thanks to Barbara. Many many thanks to this wonderful woman!

Emily is a phenomenal doula, better than I could have even imagined!…read more Each of the midwives involved in my L&D later told me that they recognized the value brought to the experience and they insisted on referring Emily to their patients. I interviewed 4 potential doulas before speaking to Emily and I immediately knew she was the one I wanted by myside. She stood out from the crowd. Her enthusiasm, confidence and knowledge secured my decision. I certainly do not think I could have had the birthing experience I did without her help. Emily followed through with everything we discussed and more prior to the L&D. She made me feel at ease and much less anxious about the process because she took the time to get to know me and my husband. She addressed our concerns and questions in a thoughtful and prepared manner. We never felt rushed but on the contrary it was apparent that Emily enjoyed the work that she did, her enthusiasm and sincerity was palpable. On the day of my L&D, she was very prepared she brought an organized travel suitcase and wore a fanny pack for easy access to supplies. She decorated the hospital's birthing room into a serene oasis that I will never forget. On the wall, she included positive birthing affirmations, dimmed the lights, installed led fairy and candle lights, made the room smell of my favorite essential oils and so much more! She was beyond supportive and encouraging. I relied on her for some of the most difficult parts of my labor and she always exceeded expectations. I can go on and on about what a marvelous doula Emily is but I think you get the picture :)

Emily is an absolutely amazing doula for pre-partum, during birth, and postpartum! She has a…read morecalming, loving, nonjudgmental presence and answered our endless questions and concerns throughout the whole process of having our first baby. Her classes before I gave birth prepped my husband and I for birth and baby care, and she was just a text or phone call away during my early labor stage, where I had lots of questions about contractions and when to go to the hospital. Emily's greatest strength was in the delivery room! She made a sterile hospital room feel like a hotel room with lights, tropical scents, gentle massage, and encouraging words. She was so encouraging and helped me achieve my birth plan- vaginal birth with epidural! She explained doctor language, took priceless video and photos of the delivery, and answered many questions along the way! Then she taught me how to push and helped our sweet baby girl enter the world. She was also an incredible support to my husband. Now that our baby is two months old, Emily has come over a few times already to help us with sleep and feeding support. She is worth every penny and we are so thankful for her presence in our family's journey.

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.

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.

The Mommy Center has been such a wonderful experience for both me and my daughter. Michelle and her…read moreteam have created such a fun, welcoming, and judgment-free space where moms and their little ones can connect, play, and feel supported. I've taken two of their mommy-and-baby class series, and I loved both of them. Each series includes special touches like each week is a different topica mini photoshoot, a swim party, and so much more, which makes it absolutely worth every penny. Carmen, who helped lead the group, is amazing. She is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and always makes me feel heard. She gives thoughtful advice and truly cares about the moms and babies she works with. You can tell she genuinely loves what she does. I've also attended several music classes with Michelle, and those have been some of my favorites. My daughter absolutely loves music time, and Michelle does such a great job keeping the kids engaged and entertained. We truly love The Mommy Center and are so grateful for everything they offer!!

I had a wonderful experience taking the Baby Care class! The instructor was knowledgeable, patient,…read moreand made everything easy to understand, which gave me so much more confidence as a first-time mom. The class was practical, engaging, and covered so many helpful topics. The center also offers a variety of amazing classes for both moms and babies, making it an incredible resource throughout pregnancy and beyond. I highly recommend it to any expecting or new parent looking for support, education, and a welcoming community!

Lauren is an exceptional doula and we feel incredibly grateful to have had her as part of our birth…read moreexperience. She is extremely knowledgeable about all things labor and delivery, works seamlessly with the staff at Hoag Newport, and is fantastic at collaborating with the husband (me) both leading up to and during labor and delivery. Lauren even came to our home ahead of time to see our space and provide education, which was such a thoughtful and comforting touch. She truly has a gift for bringing calm, clarity, and confidence to the birth process. She was texting us consistently leading up to going to the hospital, which made us feel deeply supported, cared for, and never alone. We would absolutely recommend Lauren to anyone looking for a doula who is skilled, compassionate, and genuinely invested in your experience.

Lauren was my doula for the birth of both of my children. Like many first time parents, we had…read moreabsolutely no idea what to expect for birth or the post partum period. She had very helpful info on the birth process, options for birth plans etc. we were so thankful for her guidance with our first. I had to be induced both times and labored with pitocin. For my first birth Lauren really stepped up to help me meditate through the contractions when I started to panic. During my recent second birth, she helped me stretch and move around to reposition my baby and help him move down. She also can take photos/videos of the birth if you want and took the most beautiful photos for both of my children! Overall she's super knowledgeable, wants to advocate for you at whatever level you're comfortable with, and just generally helps everything go more smoothly. Highly recommended Lauren as a birth doula!

TLDR: Alix is 10/10; everything you'd want in a doula…read more We started our search skeptical whether we even needed a doula. We interviewed many and without question felt most comfortable with Alix. She was professional, organized, kind, warm. It was clear she took her work and her clients' care seriously. I couldn't name what I was looking for exactly - but with Alix, I felt like we could be friends / she was someone we could enjoy spending time with (which turned out to be an important measure given we spent an intense 17hrs together in the hospital!). Thank the universe we chose her. Alix was mission critical. When I try to imagine my labor without her....I simply can't. I don't know how anyone does it without her. From the second she arrived at the hospital, she brought in wisdom and knowledge that supported me to move through the different phases of my labor - positions, massages, pain management techniques, mindset strategies, tools, etc.. She and my husband shared the load of supporting me physically - no matter how much he would have liked to, with 17hrs of laboring in the hospital, my husband could not have sustained the amount of constant massaging and movement I needed without her. On top of that, she even found time and patience to go to the waiting room to update and calm my worried parents. We shared with her that it was also important to us that, if we needed it, we could have privacy and space as a couple during the intimate experience of childbirth. Alix was completely respectful of our space and was able to find the perfect balance of being a present guide: available when we needed her, and fading into the background when we were in our own rhythm. She is assertive and gentle. When I was lost in my discomfort and feeling nervous to try anything new, she'd be firm and clear in her recommendations, encouraging me to try techniques that might relieve symptoms - she was right every time. She advocated for me to hospital staff and midwives in a collaborative way that they seemed to welcome, presenting ideas, options, and tools that they hadn't thought of to ensure I had the birth I wanted - things that ended up being central to my successful labor. She provided me reassurance whenever I needed it. There were moments where unexpected decisions had to be made and I knew that in Alix I had an expert in the room who was on my side; someone that I could consult with whom I absolutely trusted had my best interest and goals in mind. In moments of doubt, I'd just turn to Alix and she provided the explanation, confidence, or guidance I needed to make informed choices and helped me flex my birth plan to the reality of my labor. She was there with us from start to finish. She was our partner and even though it was a very long day and night, she stuck with us until my baby was with us and we were ready. She kindly took pictures and videos of labor that are now so precious to us. My husband was most skeptical of needing a doula and having someone else in the labor room - here are his own words sent to Alix after our baby was born: "Alix, it was so important to have you there. I always felt so comfortable and safe with you in the room. We couldn't choose a better doula! Thanks for all your support and tips/suggestions you provided throughout the labor process. I love the photos you took of us . So special for us." Thank you so much Alix! Keep doing what you're doing - we all need you!

I am so grateful to have had Alix as my doula. She was an incredible support throughout my entire…read morebirth experience and truly helped guide me every step of the way! During active labor, my blood pressure suddenly spiked and I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which was scary and overwhelming - but Alix remained calm and reassuring. Her presence made such a difference in helping me stay focused and supported, and she also made sure to communicate everything to our family during pre-labor, which was greatly appreciated. It was truly a blessing to have her by our side during one of the most special and vulnerable times of our lives. I can't recommend her enough to any expecting mama looking for compassionate, knowledgeable, and steady support. Thank you Alix! - The Morales Family