April & Joy were a huge part of my pregnancy and our birth story. They quickly became one the…read morehighlights of everything we did to prepare and celebrate baby. My husband and I were so anxious about this new experience and really had no idea what to expect and how to best prepare in this age of social media. We felt so overwhelmed with the over-saturation of information and since neither of us had done this before we wanted to have a trusted source and know we could prepare mentally as much as physically and financially. From the first consultation we felt comfortable and confident in Joyful Roots. My husband is a yogi and told me he instantly felt that same sense of calm with April & Joy. We joined this process a bit late so we were worried we would have to rush to learn and get through everything, but with the ease of the portal, videos and their flexibility and dedication, we were able to fit everything in and not feel pressured or rushed. They came to our home twice before birth and we met each of them separately. We also had zoom calls and a group chat up until 2+ weeks after birth. My labor and birth story was very unique and unexpected, however with the constant support and easy communication, we felt taken care of through it all. I ended up in early prodromal labor for 72+ hours and April and Joy were there for us through all of it! When I was finally admitted to the hospital, April was there to walk us through labor positions and help me feel safe. She knew what positions to help get baby in the right position as well as ease my nerves. She also made sure I was fed and hydrated. She helped my husband interpret what options we had each step of the way and how to speak to the staff, while making sure we were asking the right questions and able to advocate for what we wanted. Due to unexpected circumstances, I was not able to have a natural birth and this was not because we didn't try everything. She could tell I was exhausted and did all she could to give me a pleasant birth experience; one without trauma. She stayed until after my cesarean and I felt so cared for when I saw she was still there waiting for baby and I to return. We cannot thank April and Joy enough for all they did. I don't know how we would have navigated ourselves through this arduous journey without them. It was a hard week and we made it through with their warmth, positivity and encouragement. In our final follow up zoom, they told us "they would always be our Doulas" and we will definitely keep in touch and look forward to having them in our lives later on down the road. Thank you for everything! Love, Chelsea, Lafras and baby Atlas

I am deeply grateful to Joy and April for the support they provided during my pregnancy, birth, and…read morepostpartum journey. I came into this pregnancy with a history of a prior C-section, which naturally carried emotional weight, fear, and many unanswered questions. From the very beginning, Joy and April met me exactly where I was -- without judgment, pressure, or agenda. They never tried to "sell" me a birth outcome. Instead, they supported me as a whole person and honored my autonomy at every step. What stood out most was how grounded and steady they were. During moments of doubt, fear, exhaustion, and decision-making, they helped me feel calm, informed, and supported -- not rushed or overridden. Their presence was reassuring, compassionate, and deeply respectful of my instincts as a mother. They also supported my husband beautifully, helping him feel included, confident, and empowered throughout the process. This made a huge difference for us as a family. Postpartum, their care didn't suddenly disappear. They continued to check in, offer reassurance, and remind me that recovery -- physically and emotionally -- is a process, especially after a complex birth history. If you are looking for doulas who are experienced, emotionally intelligent, trauma-informed, and truly on your side, Joy and April are it. Whether you are navigating a VBAC, a prior C-section, or simply want compassionate, steady support -- you will be in incredibly capable hands. I will always be thankful for the way they held space for me and my family during one of the most vulnerable and important seasons of my life.

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!

We don't have enough words to thank Debbe for being our guiding light through one of the most…read moreintense and beautiful experiences of our lives. She supported us through a long and grueling 30 hour labor. Thanks to her calm presence, incredible knowledge, and unwavering encouragement, we were able to have the home birth we had hoped for. Debbe went above and beyond, she visited our home several times before the birth, bringing thoughtful items and suggestions to make labor more comfortable and empowering. Her wealth of experience and certifications (including as a Spinning Babies instructor and Hypnobirthing expert) really showed in how seamlessly she adapted to every moment and need. Not to mention her gentle touch and massage techniques are so relaxing! I feel like she could add pre-natal massage to her wide repertoire of skills! We met Debbe at a live birth class at the Tourmaline Birth Center, where she was not only the expert but also kept everyone at ease with her warmth and sense of humor. She has a wicked sense of humor and make us laugh, we really enjoy her company and can spend hours just talking to her about anything and everything. Before meeting Debbe we weren't sure that we needed a doula, we thought that our midwife team were enough. We were wrong because Debbe was the star and hero of our birth because she provided that TLC that the medicalized experts do not. When they are more cold and sterile, she was the warmth and compassion that we truly needed. We are so grateful that we had our Divine Doula Debbe! We learned so much from her and we couldn't have done this without her. She's not just a doula, she's an angel in human form My wife and I are an LGBT couple and she has always made us felt safe and cared for, like her family members. We don't have any family members nearby so having her there for an important and scary life milestone was a blessing. If we have any other births or know of anyone looking to get pregnant, Debbe has our recommendation!

Debbe was an amazing doula. I am a FTM and she knew everything from pregnancy to birth to…read morepostpartum. She guided me through my late second trimester all the way to the birth of my baby. On the day of my induction, she was flexible and available to help me through each step of the way. The birth went better than I expected thanks to the lessons provided during pregnancy as well as her support at the main event. 2 months postpartum, she visited to check in on how my family and I were doing. I highly recommend hiring Debbe as your doula if you are in the SD county region.

Interactions with Dara feel like a warm hug. She provided my husband and I with emotional support…read morethroughout my pregnancy, from my first trimester through our first weeks at home with our newborn daughter. Dara is not only thoroughly informed on the most up-to-date medical evidence for pregnancy through postpartum (including lactation support), she is also deeply committed to helping mamas and their partners feel respected and cared for. Dara, during her initial visit to our home, taught my husband and I three simple pregnancy exercises we could do daily to help position baby and open up my pelvis. She also connected us with many amazing resources; thanks to her extensive list of local classes and contacts, I was able to take some helpful infant-safety courses through a local organization and visit a wonderful pelvic-floor therapist to help me prepare for labor and postpartum recovery. Throughout my pregnancy, I had a lot of questions about different tests and procedures, such as the gestational diabetes test. Dara helped me mentally and physically prepare for every test and procedure that came up during my pregnancy. She also gave me a really thorough understanding of what to expect during my postpartum experience, which my obstetrician and nurses didn't even touch on at all until we were already recovering in the hospital with our newborn. Additionally, Dara's advice and support was really invaluable as I was first coming up with my birth plan and deciding what was important to my husband and I when it came to decisions surrounding labor and delivery. She took my suggestions and drafted a simple and clear birth plan I could take with me to the hospital. She works closely with the doctors, nurses and midwives at the local hospitals and birth centers and was able to help me express my desires for a low-intervention birth in a way that was respectful and to the point. When my birth plan needed to change partway through my labor at the hospital, Dara supported me through those changes and helped me feel positive about my birth experience even though it wasn't how I initially envisioned. Dara really came to feel like family, and my husband and I feel honored to know her and so grateful that she is a part of our daughter's birth story.

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!!

Jen was our postpartum doula from the time my son was a newborn, until he was 3 months old. She…read moretook care of him 5 nights per week, giving us some much-needed sleep in those difficult newborn days. Jen was absolutely amazing. She was so gentle and caring with my baby, and every time she arrived I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew he was in such capable hands. He was really not the best sleeper, so by the time she came in I was usually on my 3rd or 4th attempt to put him down to sleep for the night, and desperate to get some food or a shower for myself. I would hand him off to her, and she would cuddle him for as long as necessary to get him into a deep sleep before putting him down. I'm a third-time mom, and it's hard for me to let go of my babies and accept help. But with Jen, I always felt safe and comfortable having her care for my baby each night. I was still waking up to breastfeed in the beginning, and she was extremely supportive of my breastfeeding journey. Then when I decided to switch to exclusive pumping, she helped me figure out the best way to maximize my sleep while still providing my baby with the correctly-timed nighttime milk. She supported all my goals for my baby and was so kind through it all. I also had a lot of requests and instructions for her, and she handled it all with so much patience and understanding. Every evening she came 5-10 minutes early and we chatted about all the usual newborn and postpartum stuff that was worrying me. She was always so caring, giving empathy and helpful advice. She also did baby related chores and made our lives a million times easier. We truly wouldn't have survived the newborn phase without her. Anyone would be lucky to have Jen as their postpartum doula!

Jen is AMAZING! She cared for our baby with love, attention to detail, and consideration for our…read morewishes. She provided the perfect blend of advice/assist and listening to/incorporating our goals. She is a fun, kind, passionate, organized doula who truly made our evenings restful. Bringing home our first baby was the most beautiful, meaningful experience; we largely have Jen to thank in allowing us to rest and show up as the best versions of ourselves for him each day.

Amanda is truly amazing. We hired her for postpartum overnight work. We were so desperate for sleep…read moreas the 4 month sleep regression was really tough. She jumped right in and truly cared about our well being. I wished I had hired her as my birth doula too. Her wealth of knowledge and smart mind is incredible.

This review is a long time coming because I gave birth in 2019, with Amanda right by my side from…read morestart to finish. My husband and I sought out a doula after experiencing a very rough first trimester mentally and emotionally. I knew after going through a rough pregnancy and PP with my first child that it would be a good idea to bring on additional support. I researched multiple doulas, and after interviewing another person who in my opinion was tied for first-- something told me to go with Amanda... And I'm so glad I did. The thing that I gravitated toward the most with her was her empowering, yet calm energy as well as the fact that she herself is a mother and has experienced birth. She connected with me on so many levels during my pregnancy and labor/delivery. Even having such an involved and supportive husband, Amanda provided support and assistance in ways we never could have done on our own. I felt so comfortable and grateful to have her in my pregnancy journey/labor & delivery experience. It wouldn't have been the same without her. Her doula service is well worth the money and I would absolutely use her again! Thank you so much Amanda

Courtney is the most amazing midwife! I truly couldn't have asked for a more perfect match for my…read morehome birth. She has a kind, patient, and calming soul that brought peace to my heart and mind each and every time that I saw her. From the hour long prenatal appointments, to the calming presence at my birth, she really blew us away with her care. During my delivery, our baby was found to have shoulder dystocia. Although a scary event, Courtney remained calm and used her knowledge, expertise, and care to manipulate the situation and deliver my little girl safe and sound. She made my entire postpartum experience so enjoyable and special for my family and I. She even took the time to teach my older daughter all about the placenta. I highly recommend her to anyone considering a home birth. We will definitely be using her again if we have another little angel in the future. Thank you so much, Courtney!!

Courtney changed my life and opened my eyes to what birth can really be! A powerful and life…read morechanging/transformative experience and I will forever be grateful to her. Her wisdom, patience, and love for what she does shines through and is inspiring. My care under Courtney was exceptional. She was my midwife, doula, managed my placenta and even became a friend I couldn't be happier with my birth experience

I am so grateful to One Moon Doula for their services. I don't have family in the area and my…read morehusband works a high-demand job. I was in dire need of support during the newborn period, particularly as I was struggling with sleep deprivation. Kathryn was amazing to work with - she took the time to understand my needs and was super communicative and responsive in helping me find the right postpartum doula. Having a postpartum doula was a true gift - it made such a difference to know that I could rely on someone to take care of my son for a few hours out of the day a few times a week, and I could take care of myself (getting caught up on sleep, taking a long hot shower, and eating a healthy meal).

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.

My husband and I sought out a doula to help us prepare for the birth of our son. Unfortunately the…read moremore pregnant I got, the sicker my Mother became, and we were not able to prepare for his birth the way we wanted. At 34 weeks pregnant we met with Robin and I knew immediately that she would be able to help calm my husband and I during our first delivery. There is something about her, she makes you feel like your meeting with a long lost friend from high school. She supplied us with great resources to prepare for Travis's arrival in a few weeks. She came to visit us at our home and helped me learn stretches, pelvic exercises, comfortable sleep positions, and even soothed our fears that we were missing crucial baby equipment. The night I went into labor I waited till about 10 pm to finally call her, she met us at Escondido and even return with us at 6 am when they sent me home! She was basically awake driving around all night! Once I was finally admitted she was an amazing support person through my 36 hours of labor! I was so nervous I wouldn't be prepared for labor, but after trusting all the advice and labor education Robin had passed on I look back now and think, it really wasn't bad. TV and movies make it seems so horrible, and as I walked around and around the birthing floor I just breathed through every contraction knowing my little guy was one step closer to being in my arms. I was so confident and clam as the process continued, I found out the nursing staff had been watching in awe of how long I was able to continue au natural. Weeks later Robin came to our new home (!) and took our family photos with out new little mancub. I highly suggest that any first time parents, or parents to be in general, seek the support of a doula. It made our birth experience something to embrace and I will always have fond memories.

I have worked with Robin in several different ways. I first met her as a photographer when I was…read morelucky enough to be included in a breastfeeding shoot. I had an emotional and rough start to breastfeeding with that particular child and capturing it on film was truly one of the greatest gifts I have received as a mom. I have also worked FOR her, painting a business belly for her to use in promotions for Birth Blessings. I can tell you that her level of professionalism is unmatched, and she is an awesome "boss". She also trained me in placenta encapsulation, and her mentorship is invaluable. The standards that she sets are incredible, as is the one-on-one teaching. If you are seeking out training in encapsulation, you will find no better program. You certainly will not get to HANDS ON train through the entire process in a group setting. Not only does she thoroughly verse you in the actual process, but she also touches on branding and how to provide a solid service to new mommas. Working with Robin has really helped grow my own postpartum services business.

As a dad-to-be, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going into a hypnobirthing class. If I'm being…read morehonest, I was a little skeptical at first--"hypno" anything sounded a bit out there to me. But I signed up to support my wife, and I'm really glad I did. This class completely changed how I see birth and my role in it. Instead of feeling like a bystander, I walked away feeling informed, useful, and actually confident in how I can support my wife during labor. The techniques we learned--breathing, relaxation, visualization--aren't just for moms. I found myself using them too, and they've already helped us both stay calmer leading up to the big day. What stood out most was how much emphasis was placed on teamwork. I learned specific, practical ways to advocate for my wife, help her stay relaxed, and create a positive environment no matter how the birth unfolds. It made me feel like an active participant instead of just "the guy in the room." The instructor, Care, was very knowledgeable, approachable, and never made any question feel silly. She made the classes very comfortable and even pretty funny at times. The class also struck a great balance between education and hands-on practice, so it didn't feel like we were just sitting through lectures. If you're a partner on the fence about taking a hypnobirthing class--do it. Even if you're skeptical like I was, you'll come away with tools, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of what your partner is going through. Honestly, it's one of the best things we've done together to prepare for becoming parents.

I gave birth a couple months ago, and decided to go through Care's Hypnobirthing class, and also…read moreuse her for my placenta encapsulation, and I can't recommend her highly enough! From the very first class, it was clear that Care is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about empowering expectant parents. Her approach to hypnobirthing and breathing techniques was not only informative but also calming and reassuring for both me and my partner. We completed it feeling much more prepared and confident for the birth experience ahead. Care provided a wealth of resources, ensuring we had everything we needed to make informed decisions about our birthing plan. She was always responsive to our questions, both during the classes and even after the birth, which made a world of difference in our journey. It's rare to find someone who continues to support you even after the classes are over. Overall, the entire experience with Care was amazing. Her warmth, expertise, and dedication to her clients truly set her apart. If you're looking for guidance and support in your birth preparation, look no further than Care Messer at the Birth Education Center!