I read so often, "Birth doesn't go as planned so you don't need to take a class" and it just…read moretotally blows my mind. Birth doesn't go as planned and that's exactly why you DO need to take a class. An in depth class. Britta's class. I approached my pregnancy as a 9 month grad school class. I took it upon myself to read books, journal articles, blogs, engage on online discussion groups, listen to podcast... really everything I could to learn the ins and outs of this journey I was on. My husband read a book. Kind of. He definitely skimmed it. I knew that our vocabularies were so different that we needed to find a class that would allow us to have a shared lexicon to properly communicate. I researched (like everything else) just about every class type offered in the greater Los Angeles Metro Area and I was just called to Embodica. My husband likes to refer to a lot of what I'm into as "hippie s**t." From that statement, it's clear he is not. I spoke to Britta on the phone before the class began, worried that her class would be too "wooey" for him, but after our conversation I knew she was grounded and funny enough that he would be won over. Because man did he have to be won over when I showed him the website. Our first class was an eyeopener for both of us. We were one of 6 couples, all due within two months of each other. My husband saw the focal point in the middle of the circle and arched an eyebrow--he just knew we paid a lot of money for woo-woo crap. Then Britta began to talk and I saw him perk up and really began to listen. When Britta demoed what a real contraction could look like, he was all in. Later that evening when we practiced comforting our partners while holding ice, I learned that he thought singing "Henry the VIII I Am" and some Queen son were appropriate comforting strategies, and so the revelation I they were not before labor probably saved our marriage and/or his life. Over the six weeks of class, we learned so much. Despite my exhaustive research, actually learning from someone as knowledgable and grounded as Britta allowed me to put all the information I was learning in context. My husband was able to learn the ins of out of the technical side of all things pregnancy/labor. Together, we developed a coping strategy that worked well for both of us. So yes, you cannot prepare for birth. I was pretty sure when push came to shove, I would lock myself in a room by myself and push everyone away (the perks of a homebirth is that I really could do this!). Yet, when things actually started, I needed my husband to be there for me. We used everything we learned in Britta's class over the course of my 55 hour unmedicated labor. My husband was able to truly comfort me and meet my needs in a way I know for a fact he wouldn't have been able to do before our class. We now talk to a lot of the other couples through a private little FB group one of the mom's created and are planning on meeting up soon so all the babies can meet. My husband and I also reflect on our time in that class often as we navigate the "4th trimester." As a parting gift, Britta gave each member of the class a labyrinth necklace. I haven't taken mine off since I put it on shortly before I went into labor and my husband's cord just broke as he would thumb the pendant so often. It's a reminder that our journey is continuing and to give ourselves patience and grace as we navigate this new world of parenthood. My husband and I will both be forever grateful for our experience in Britta's class and wholeheartedly recommend it to every couple preparing to welcome their child into the world. Oh, and as an aside, I really love how Britta used non-gendered terms even though we were all heterosexual, cis couples. "Birthing partner," "supporting partner," etc. Speaking to trans and lesbian couples, I know finding a safe and supportive birthing class can be difficult, so I think it's important to point this out.

My husband and I felt so lucky to have attended this workshop. We had not taken any other…read morechildbirth classes but we both felt more than sure that we ended up at the best one in the world. Britta's skill as a mentor, storyteller, listener, and communication guide are unmatched and I cannot possibly imagine anyone better suited to exactly the work she does with parents-to-be. I learned so much, yet never felt overwhelmed with information since she made the day so interactive. There is so much that I took with me not only into labor and childbirth but in parenting, life, and my relationships with my partner, my self, and my environment - without a specific to-do list or set of stock instructions. I loved how all the learning was connected to deep reflection into the senses for I believe that this is how real learning takes place - in the whole self.... After we had our baby my husband and I went to Britta for couples counseling and we had another great experience. The three of us sat in her lovely studio and she helped mediate difficulties we were having. Things have been so much better ever since that one session!!

After searching far and wide, I chose to work with Debbie @AuthenticBirth through Los Angeles birth…read morepartners. Her warm energy and thoughtful expertise helped me feel confident. She personally picks up your placenta and drops off and even includes a cord keepsake. The price is fair and well worth it, she even takes the time to call and answer any questions you may have beforehand. Wonderful overall- I have referred her to some of my friends and family.

I really want to thank Debbie for being so wonderful. She is such a professional in her field, and…read moreso knowledgeable. In the crazy tumultuous times of labor and welcoming a newborn into your life, the last thing you wanna do is an extra task. But Debbie was ON IT. she was so well informed, kind and a great communicator. She worked with us, navigated all the Hospital paperwork, had the dried placenta pills delivered it so promptly!!!! I would wholeheartedly recommend this to all mamas to be. Excellent experience all around! Thank you Debbie and LA Birth Partners!

I found Happy Baby when my husband and I were moving to the South Bay from the East coast and I was…read morelooking for prenatal yoga! Fast forward to me now having a 7 month old and Happy Baby is my second home. Prenatal/postnatal classes are great. I did both prenatal boot camp and prenatal yoga but I was a little limited since I had to stop working out. Once I was cleared to work out, I was at some kind of class 4-6 times a week. Being able to bring your baby to class and get to meet other moms is fantastic! The majority of the fitness classes are taught by Lauren, who is an AMAZING teacher. She kicks your butt all while being the most encouraging, empowering teacher ever! Mama classes- I have done the mindful mama class with Khefri and it was such a great resource as a new mom! I also made new mama friends who I have kept in contact with even after our class ended.

TLDR: If you and…read moreyour spouse are lost in the sauce on this whole having a baby business, or if you're like me and just want to be prepared for anything, I highly recommend taking the Prepared Childbirth Series with Patricia. You'll be glad you did. Long version: Having a baby for the first time was definitely daunting for us. There were too many what-ifs and unknowns that made us nervous about the whole birthing process. I'm so glad we decided to take Happy Baby's Prepared Childbirth series with Patricia. It was an informative, fun, and confidence-boosting experience. I actually had to convince my husband to go with me: He walked into the first class saying he's there cause I told him to be there (gotta admire the honesty). After the last class, however, he left saying that he was glad I forced him into taking it. (yay me!) The moment my water broke, I was able to apply things that I learned in class that kept me calm and collected(we even went grocery shopping the next day). We were able to check into the hospital mentally and emotionally prepared, even though labor did not pan out as we had planned. We were well educated so we were able to ask about our options (most of which aren't discussed) and feel confident and comfortable with our decisions. By the time I started active labor, my husband was able to use the skills he learned from class to help me through my contractions, so much so that I was able to deliver without an epidural. The support and encouragement that he displayed throughout the whole process just made me fall even more in love with him (cheesy, I know). I can't thank Happy Baby enough for offering the series and everything we learned. I've been recommending this series to all my family and friends who are pregnant or planning to be since I gave birth. So my fellow Yelper, do not hesitate any longer. Take the class and feel empowered like we did.

I'm so ready after this! Jana is incredibly knowledgeable and was such a great guide through this…read morenerve-inducing process, full of many twists and turns! The class is fun, engaging and informative. I looked forward to class each week. I've read a handful of books and none of them gave me as much clarity and confidence on how to navigate the birth process as Jana's class did. Can't recommend highly enough!

Jana is the most amazing woman I have ever met. Her classes are so informative and amazing. She…read moreknows her information and she teaches her classes with such passion and love. I would like to address the review that said Jana used a false testimonial. She is the most trustworthy, open, honest, person I know and under no circumstances would she ever do or make anyone feel or write a false testimonial. She has educated and loved hundreds of woman and I have never heard not one complain about her. She has one of the most kind hearts you can imagine. Just trust in your heart and take her class and you will see how kind she is. You will not be disappointed. I have taken her classes. I have done the birthing class and doula training. Jana only has love to give. She's a beautiful soul. Im sure the hundreds of woman will agree. Regarding the dogs she is very aware and asks everyone about the dogs. If it bothers or annoys anyone she handles it. She is not insensitive. Throughout the whole class she is on top of the dogs behavior. The bottom line is if you want to be really informed go to Jana's class because you won't be disappointed. Your birthing experience will be much better in my eyes because you will be so much more informed because of the knowledge that Jana teaches you. Trust your heart not one bad review. Love you Jana. Your the best.

Now that I am on my 3rd child, I keep coming back to The Pump Station. Each time I've gone there,…read moreI've had a great experience. The staff is friendly and attentive. Not only does the staff help with my indecisions, but they are also knowledgeable about all-things car seats, pumping, breastfeeding and more! It feels like a full-service experience and I am so glad they offer so many services and support in my city; I don't ever have to go elsewhere. Easy parking in the street or in their lot in the back. Convenient hours. Location cannot be beat!

Really disappointed in my experience today. I drove two hours to this location to support a local…read morebusiness. For one, I was not greeted or asked if I needed help when entering the store. More importantly, their website said the stroller I wanted was in stock and available in 4 hours for pickup, but when I got there it wasn't available for purchase and it had to be ordered. When I brought it up to the cashier, he said it was because they have it in store their inventory but not at the store? Huh?? After doing more digging I saw there was a "Terms and conditions" asterisk in fine print you have to click on to find out this information. All I saw was the green check mark that says "In stock and ready for pick up in 4 hours." Any other place I have ever been to- this would mean it would be in stock at the store. When I brought up, calmly, that this was confusing and they should fix it because I drove two hours to get to the store. The cashier said nothing. Not a "Aw geez, I'm sorry. I can understand your frustration and why that's confusing." I'm a reasonable person. I've worked in customer service all my life. The demeanor of the cashier alone has put me off from ever visiting this store again or recommending it. We went to Uppababy a few blocks down and they were SOOO kind that it completely made my day. All I needed was some kindness. To the owners of the Pump Station- the people using your website are most likely VERY tired moms. I personally am getting 3-4 hours of sleep a day. Tired moms need clear signage if something is in stock or not. Time is precious in this season of life. We also need KINDNESS. My body is broken and recovering from giving birth. I am exhausted! I would expect a place who sells baby items to understand this. Overall, would never recommend this place and will tell everyone I know that it was an awful experience.

My experience with Atoosa was better than words can describe. From our first meeting to postpartum…read moreshe made bringing a child into the world so special. She is knowledgeable about everything from pregnancy to labor, to breastfeeding and everything in between. She is empathetic (your whole family will fall in love with her). She is organized. And she will be your lifeline and hands during delivery. On my first postpartum visit my baby smiled for the first time when hearing her voice because he remembered her talking to him in the womb. I think my husband loves her more than I do! But really, I love Atoosa and could not have imagined pregnancy, labor, and postpartum without her.

My experience with Atoosa as my midwife was honestly perfect. She took such amazing care of me…read morewhile and my baby while pregnant and we had the most beautiful home birth together. I will forever remember Atoosa and her beautiful soul. You will not regret your decision to birth with her, she's truly a gift.

I just completed Lisa's Starting Solids + Infant CPR & First Aid session and I cannot recommend her…read moreenough. From the very first message, Lisa was incredibly responsive and when I spontaneously asked if my neighbor could join, she made it happen super easily. Lisa came to our home to do the course, which made the whole experience feel personal and relaxed. The course itself was hands-on, thorough, and genuinely confidence-building. I walked away feeling truly prepared, not just for starting solids with my baby, but for handling emergencies calmly if they ever arise. You can tell Lisa doesn't just teach this material, she really cares about it and she cares about the people she works with. This was actually my second time working with Lisa. I first met her as a lactation consultant and both experiences have been equally wonderful. She brings the same warmth, expertise, and dedication every time. Thank you, Lisa!

After a particularly rough night of breastfeeding with my son, I contacted Lisa at South Bay Baby…read moreCare after finding her glowing reviews here on Yelp. I emailed Lisa regarding her availability and pre-checked with The Lactation Network, the company she contracts with, to make sure everything was good to go with my insurance. I heard back within 24 hours from both TLN and Lisa; we were able to set up a home visit appointment within the week. Lisa was extremely friendly and professional during our sessions. She helped measure me for new pump flanges, made suggestions for positioning comfort, and observed my son feeding to make a diagnosis regarding potential latch issues. She offered a number of oral exercises to help my son's latch and provided an EXTREMELY THOROUGH folder with pictures and descriptions of the exercises so I was not relying solely on memory. The folder also had a ton of other useful info from breastfeeding tips and tricks to local professionals, including pediatric dentists and OTs. Lisa also provided a comprehensive write up for my son's pediatrician with her observations and recommendations. Like the folder she provided, it was extremely thorough and detailed. Her professionalism and attention to detail is next level and she is incredibly nice and easy to talk to. I never felt judged or unheard. We scheduled a follow-up in-home appointment which was just as helpful as the first session. A few weeks later Lisa, followed up by email to check-in to make sure my son and I were doing well. She cares about her patients and I know that I can reach out if we run into any other issues. If you are struggling with breastfeeding or latch trouble contact Lisa! She's wonderful!

Wanted to provide an update now that we've worked with Madalyn for baby #2! She made sure we felt…read moreprepared and knew exactly what to expect with my induction. Because of that, I felt confident advocating for myself and going at my own pace when the hospital was trying to rush things along. I highly recommend Madalyn for both her doula services and birthing classes. So grateful Madalyn was there for both of my birth experiences!

Madalyn was fantastic to work with. Her positive energy, excellent communication, and upbeat…read moreattitude made the experience enjoyable. She explained everything clearly, answered every question with patience, and made the process feel easy and stress free. I highly recommend working with her! She kept it real!

I worked with Dr Lindsey Mathews throughout my pregnancy to make sure I was aligned…read more(chiropractic-wise) and in shape for a successful birth, and then worked with her postpartum as well throughout my recovery. Part of that was attending the Birthfit Postpartum series in Venice, which was taught by Emily from the Birthfit team (she is so wonderful too!). This series was instrumental in getting me moving again (safely), and teaching me not just the "how", but the "why" of certain movements. They also coach you in nutrition to make sure that as a new mom you're eating appropriately to not only live a healthy lifestyle, but also to make sure you are eating to provide nourishment for baby. This is the best program out there, and not only that, but the people behind Birthfit are the best there is! I would recommend any/every aspect of Birthfit to every expecting and postpartum momma out there!

From the owner: Fitness, nutrition, chiropractic and mindset training for women in prenatal and postpartum stages…read more The unique services that we offer are The BirthFIT Basics Consultation, The BirthFIT Postpartum Series, and BirthFIT the Series as well as The Fourth Trimester Body Recovery Package. Other services include birth doula packages, personal fitness training, HypnoBirthing classes, and chiropractic. Our focus is you, mom, so that you may be the best you for your baby! Pregnancy is not a time to eat for two or turn couch potato. It is a time to train you mind, body, and soul for the biggest athletic event of your life. BirthFIT is a lifestyle. It is the daily decisions, the yummy food, the blood pumping exercise, and the nourishment we give ourselves. Join the movement. Choose to be BirthFIT!

Yana is amazing. My husband and I took a one-on-one breastfeeding class and newborn care class that…read moreYana taught in our home prior to our son's birth, then booked her for a package of postpartum doula services (we didn't use a birth doula). The pre-birth classes were thorough and informative and really made us feel confident about bringing home our first child. Yana was at our house within 24 hours of when we got home from the hospital. We did three more sessions with her over the course of the next month. She did everything from holding the baby while we napped to setting up a postpartum care area for me in the bathroom to laundry to cooking to going to the grocery store to showing us how to give him a bath. She observed me breastfeeding him and gave me tips and strategies that have made our feeding journey really magical instead of stressful. Any time I was worried about what I was doing as a parent in those early days, I knew I could text Yana or ask her at our next session. Just knowing I had someone to reach out to in case I was worried helped me be less worried. Yana also set up a group text with a bunch of local moms who gave birth around the same time and sends us tips and encouragement and discussion starters. I would recommend Yana to any future parents who are looking to build their skills and confidence and have someone to help in those crucial early days!

Yana was absolutely amazing during the birth of our child! We opted for two pre-birth and two post…read morebirth visits; I would have changed anything about this whole process. Yana is an amazing person who a huge heart. When baby Paige grows old enough to understand, I am going to explain to her that this very special person was also there for her birth. We love you Yana! Paige loves you! Thanks again!