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

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. :)

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!

We took Rachel's class as second time parents after a difficult birth of our first child. She took…read moreextra time to talk with me about my previous birth and helped me understand what happened. I cannot thank her enough for her expertise and kindness and I left her class feeling so empowered. I was able to achieve the VBAC I so badly desired and I credit so much to Rachel's class. Cannot recommend her and her hypnobirthing class enough!!

Rachel's hypnobirthing class is amazing! Even as second time parents we learned sooo much (we wish…read morewe took the class before our first birth) and feel so much more confident and knowledgeable going into this second birth. The classes gave us such great tools to have in our toolbox and helped us understand so much about the birth process so that we feel more empowered. We would recommend this class to all expecting parents!

Jola is exceptional and takes her job very seriously. She truly cares about the babies in her…read morecharge and its her goal to make sure they are content and safe so the parents can rest with ease. We were very blessed to have her three nights a week for ten weeks. She helped us troubleshoot all kinds of issues as first time parents and provided loving care to our baby boy. It was so nice to hear her humming him to sleep and I was sad on her last night when I realized it was coming to an end! We knew that when she was in our home, he was in wonderful hands and we could rest, worry free. I am very detail oriented myself and could tell that Jola is as well and is the consummate professional. Her services were worth every penny and we would hire her again in a heartbeat.

My wife and I have a 2 year old son and a 3 month old baby girl. We didn't get a night nurse the…read morefirst time around, but we hired Jola to help with our baby girl. It was an amazing experience. Jola is incredible and she will be our first call if we have any more children :) Her communication is excellent. She is extremely punctual and reliable (on time 100% of the time, never called in sick or cancelled for any reason). Her baby knowledge is second to none - our daughter has had a few health issues that Jola diligently helped us troubleshoot. She got us on a great schedule, and heading into month 4 we are confident that our household will be sleeping reasonably well. We also have 2 dogs that can be a handful... She was very patient with them. I really can't say enough good things about Jola. It feels like she's a member of our family now. Our son loved running up to her yelling "me hug miss Jola!!" every morning. We are very grateful to have had her help over the past few months.

My mother used to always talk about people whom she thought were old souls. It wasn't until…read moremeeting Brooke that I truly understood what she meant. My husband and I knew the moment we met her that she was exactly who we wanted to guide us through the birth of our daughter. Brooke is kind and warm, and has a sense of calm about her that is unlike anyone we met. She knew the answers to our numerous questions. She was my rock when I was almost two weeks late and was so worried that my baby was never going to arrive! I look back now on the video that Brooke created for our family of my daughter's arrival and seriously tear up every time. My delivery was exactly how I hoped it would be. I have Brooke to thank for that... Even now, four months since my delivery, Brooke continues to be supportive and a huge resource for me. I can't say this with enough emphasis, but she's freaking awesome.

I cannot put it into words the support I got from Brooke during my pregnancy all the way until my…read morebaby was born! She is extremely knowledgeable, professional and caring. Brooke is one of those people who enjoys what they do and because of that she is awesome at it. I had so many doubts, fears and emotions running through my head. She was able to get me to a state of peace and confidence. I had the birth experience of my dreams! My husband keeps telling me that it was the best money spent during my pregnancy. The reason he says that is because during birth he was able to relax and not have to worry about dealing with unanswered questions and things he wasn't sure what to do. I would recommend her to all my good friends and can't wait for my second birth to have her care and support again!

Short answer: Hire a doula, if you can afford it, it is so worth it!…read more Long review: I worked with birth doulas from BBD for both of my births (2024 and 2026). I was extremely nervous about giving birth, and my main goal the first time was just to not have trauma. Thanks to amazing support from our doulas, I discovered not only did I not have trauma, but I also find giving birth such a transformative and positive experience, something I never even considered a possibility for me. I worked with Tamara and Sage for my first birth, a late-term induction and vaginal delivery (both attended), and Tamara and Kim for my second, spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery (Kim attended). A goal in both my births was to wait until transition to get an epidural, and thanks to Sage helping me ride contractions and helping my spouse keep me comfortable I was able to wait as I had hoped. In my second birth, I used techniques I had learned from Sage as well as new ones from Kim to stay so comfortable laboring that I got to the hospital pretty late without realizing how far labor had progressed! I never considered an unmedicated birth a possibility for me, but due to doula support allowing me to stay comfortable I think I would give it a try if I have another baby. Doula support was key to keeping me out of my "fear brain", as in both births, things happened that I didn't understand and they were able to explain them, both on the phone and in person at the hospital. This allowed me to keep calm. We didn't do the birth class due to our schedules, so did 2 prenatal visits instead both times. These were helpful in getting to know the doulas, but also they gave a wealth of recommendations for birth and for postpartum - for instance, Tamara suggested identifying a lactation consultant before birth, which was an amazing suggestion given that I needed lactation support immediately with my first and I would have not lined this up without her suggestion. We really like the 2 doula model, also, which seems pretty unique. We highly recommend BBD!

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!

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.

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

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!

From our very first phone call, I knew Lindzee and I would get along and work well together…read more When I went into labor, Lindzee came to our home and stayed through the night, helping me progress and supporting me through every stage. Once we went to the hospital, her guidance, encouragement, and gentle push helped me keep going, especially when we worked together to help get my daughter into the right position. Although my labor ultimately did not go the way I had hoped or expected, Lindzee was there every step of the way with love, support, reassurance, and comfort. She helped me feel heard and cared for during some of the hardest moments of my birth experience. One of my favorite memories that I still think about is when I needed a distraction during my long labor, and Lindzee and I ended up playing Tapple while my mom watched us. It was such a simple moment, but it perfectly captures the kind of support she gave me, helping me through the difficult moments while also making me laugh and feel like myself. We bonded throughout my long labor, and I feel incredibly lucky that I gained not only an amazing doula but also a friend through this experience. I will always be grateful for Lindzee and the role she played in bringing my daughter into the world. I truly cannot recommend her enough.