When I became pregnant, I knew I wanted a doula to support me through the journey. I went online to…read moresearch for one and ended up finding Kathie. It truly felt like fate brought us together. She was everything I was looking for: Christian, sharing the same moral values, kind, loving, and incredibly supportive. From the moment we connected, I felt I could build not just a professional relationship with her, but a meaningful one. Even though we started working together in the third trimester (I wish I had found her sooner!), Kathie immediately made my husband and me feel comfortable. She brought us so many resources to help educate us and empower us to ask the right questions during my prenatal appointments. She even introduced us to another doula, Haley, who brought additional techniques to help support us. Kathie also recommended birth classes that significantly enhanced my overall experience. From YouTube exercise videos and breathing techniques to vaccine information and reviewing my birth preferences, Kathie prepared my husband and me for the big day in ways I didn't even know we needed. On the day I went into labor, Kathie was just a text away. She checked in periodically, and when my contractions at home became intense, she FaceTimed me to assess how I was progressing. Once I knew it was time to head to the hospital, we notified Kathie, and she immediately said, "I'm on my way!" She brought Haley along as well, and together, they supported me every step of the way. Once I was checked into my room, things got even more intense. Every time I thought, "I can't do this," Kathie reassured me, refocused my energy, and helped me push through. She was my calm in the chaos, guiding the room and ensuring my husband and I had everything we needed. Thanks to her, I was able to stay focused on breathing and working through the contractions. Something I could not have done without her. After the birth, I had a chance to sit with Kathie and reflect on the experience, and even during my postpartum days, she continues to provide support. Kathie is truly one of a kind, and I would go through this entire experience with her by my side again in a heartbeat.

I didn't even know what a doula was when I first found out I was pregnant, but after meeting one on…read morea plane I learned how valuable it would be to have one by my side, especially with my goal of having a natural birth. I wanted someone to advocate for me and help me stick to my birth plan. I also wanted someone to lean on for support throughout the pregnancy as I had lots of questions and no one in my family had done a natural birth. Kathie was everything I wanted in a doula and more. After interviewing lots of doulas, my husband and I chose Kathie to support us along our journey of welcoming our first baby. As a first time mom it was reassuring to have someone by my side every step of the way. Even though we agreed on an expected number of prenatal / postpartum visits, she was very flexible and treated us like family. She was only a text or call away and was even happy to meet in person anytime I wanted. Eventually we decided to go to a birth center instead of a hospital. I figured it would still be nice to have Kathie just in case we get transferred to a hospital. It wasn't until after I gave birth that I realized how big of an impact Kathie made, even though we did not end up having to go to a hospital. The birth was a whirlwind but I noticed the little things she did like coaching me through my breathing, massaging me, having ice cold towels ready for me, putting a peanut ball under me while I was pushing on all fours to make it more comfortable, etc. She also went out of her way to discuss all these comfort measures beforehand to make sure her support was personalized to my wants / needs since not everyone likes physical touch, etc. Anyway I didn't realize that she was the first person to notice that I was ready to deliver. My baby came much quicker than expected and thanks to Kathie I had someone by my side that was attentive and had an intuition for which stage I was at which was really nice because I had no idea what was going on. I thought I was being dramatic when I was experiencing so much pain early into labor, but it turns out my baby was ready to come out soon and she recognized that, so she told me that this was probably the worst of it and that really helped me mentally get through the intense pain I was feeling. I also didn't realize that she would be the main provider of comfort measures, as the midwives were focused mostly on delivery and neither me nor my husband knew exactly what I needed in that moment. Somehow Kathie just knew and was able to read my mind. Even afterwards, she has gone out of her way to reach out and make sure I feel supported postpartum. She still treats us like family and makes herself available because she is truly passionate about helping mamas. I can tell it is very fulfilling to her and it isn't just about checking boxes. We are so grateful for Kathie and highly recommend her if you are looking for a doula.

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.

When I found out about the Sacred Pregnancy program, Linda offered classes at Pregnancy Sanctuary…read more I called her and loved her right away. She has a very soft, kind and loving personality and she can make you laugh. She has such a beautiful way of communicating to women in such a vunerable time in their lives. I loved her classes so much that I took them twice during my pregnancy! It was my third pregnancy and needed extra TLC. Linda is sent from Angels! I drove from San Clemente to Leucadia just to take her classes once a week! She also guided 16 women at my Blessingway! She was so great! Her way with words brought the whole group of women together. After my third baby was born, I continued to be a part of Pregnancy Santuary by meeting at the (free) Nursing Circles once a week! I cannot say enough good things about Linda and her welcoming space, Pregnancy Sanctuary.

Linda is an angel and I'm so grateful I stumbled across the pregnancy sanctuary early in my…read morepregnancy. The first time I walked into the pregnancy sanctuary I felt a sense of ease and an immediate comfort with Linda, she's the kind of person you immediately know you can trust. She was an amazing resource throughout my pregnancy and invaluable in dealing with the surprises birth can bring. I truly wish every pregnant woman could experience a pregnancy circle! It is so special to be able to celebrate, cry, laugh and relate with other pregnant women. It helped me go beyond the aches and pains of pregnancy and really appreciate the sacred time this was in my life and focus on bonding with my sweet baby. Linda and the pregnancy sanctuary will always have a special place in my heart!

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.

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

Please think twice before choosing Heather LeMaster as your provider…read more I wish I had listened to my intuition sooner and not ignored the many red flags I encountered throughout my care. I'm writing this review for anyone considering her as their midwife -- I encourage you to truly, deeply reconsider whether she is the right fit for you. From early on, I felt invalidated and dismissed. I had chronically low blood sugar throughout my entire pregnancy, and rather than receiving the support and care I needed, Heather denied my symptoms and was dismissive of my concerns. Instead of offering evidence-based guidance, I was shamed -- for eating fruit, for eating carbs -- at a time (first trimester) when I was sick and just trying to get through each day. Her constant warnings about delivering a "sugar baby" felt more like threats than medical advice, adding to my stress and confusion. I consulted the rest of my care team, including my PCP, and Heather heavily criticized that decision, routinely telling me that they did not know what they were talking about. She also claims to practice spinning babies, but none of what we did during my pregnancy aligned with the true Spinning Babies exercises and practices that my Doula had me practicing. It was frustrating, as I initially sought out a Spinning Babies provider. In addition to that, the one time I used the 24-hour help line, no one responded to me for over 16 hours. In her practice, she relied far too heavily on forms and checklists in an online portal, and rarely showed the kind of human care and emotional support that is absolutely essential in midwifery. When things got scary and I truly needed her -- emotionally and physically -- she simply was not there in the ways that mattered most. We ended up having to transfer to a hospital instead of our planned home birth, and despite it being in the contract, Heather did not transfer with us and was not involved in the birth at all. She sent a pathetic text message after hearing from her assistant encapsulating the placenta that the birth had happened. Looking back, I realize that, despite Heather always making me feel as if it was my direct fault when something went wrong, what actually went wrong with my birth wasn't about my body or my baby -- it was about my decision to stay with a provider who made me feel unheard, unsupported, and often blamed. That choice is something I now deeply regret. One of the most hurtful moments came in early postpartum (2 weeks), when she tried to go behind my back and privately consult my husband in an attempt to pressure me into medication -- after I had explicitly told her that I was not interested. She also pressured me to start it ASAP, as it can take a month to "kick in" and I "obviously needed it." Since my experience, I've met several others in the industry who shared similar concerns about her care. Many of them were just as confused as I was by the glowing reviews she has received, given the inconsistency in her approach and lack of real support. This further confirms my decision to speak out, as I hope others will be more cautious when choosing their provider. This review isn't written lightly -- my birth was over 8 months ago. It's written from a place of hoping that someone else who feels any of those early twinges of doubt listens to themselves and chooses a care provider who will honor them, respect them, and hold space for the incredibly vulnerable journey of birth.

Heather is an amazing midwife! This was my first VBAC birth and she helped settle all my fears,…read moremade me and my boyfriend feel cared for and took the time to answer all questions I had and wake me through my pregnancy step by step! She was the voice of reason I needed during my birth and with her support as well as the support of my family my beautiful baby boy was born with no need of a hospital or repeat c-section!

If you are in search of a doula, there is no one I could recommend more than Jess! She is such an…read moreamazing and supportive doula, and my husband and I could not have imagined my pregnancy and delivery without her. From the day we met her, Jess has been such a ray of sunshine and so full of knowledge during a period of unknown and anxiety as this was my first pregnancy. Jess went above and beyond at each visit and even during the day of delivery. She was by my side the whole time during labor and delivery and really helped us prepare by giving us information about all the options we had so that we were not caught off guard when a nurse or provider asked questions. Even after delivering my daughter, Jess still followed up with us multiple times and made sure that my breastfeeding journey has been going smoothly. I could not have imagined my pregnancy and delivery without Jess!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Jessica and the care she provided as my doula. From the…read morevery beginning, she was calm, knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly supportive. Jessica has a rare ability to make you feel both empowered and deeply cared for at the same time. During labor, her presence was grounding and comforting--she knew exactly when to step in, when to advocate, and when to simply offer quiet support. Her confidence and warmth made a world of difference during such a vulnerable and transformative moment. Jessica truly goes above and beyond. She is attentive, intuitive, and genuinely invested in the well-being of both the birthing parent and family. I felt heard, respected, and supported every step of the way, and I am so grateful to have had her by my side during this experience. If you are considering a doula, I wholeheartedly recommend Jessica. She is exceptional at what she does, and any family would be incredibly lucky to work with her.

Amanda was such a standout presence for me during my pregnancy. We hired her 6 months before we…read morewere due with our first (which was Aug 2021) and she checked in on me every single week just to say hi, see how I was feeling, and make me chuckle with a funny meme. As we got closer, she came to our house a couple times to prep and review our birth plan, go over helpful positions and techniques to ease labor, etc. I had a good feeling about her from the start, but once you meet her in-person - she's just so warm and open with no ego about her. She will never push you into something you're not sure about and she's amazing at providing resources and an ear to bounce things off of in order to find YOUR path. She was very intuitive and could sense when I felt a little off about something but wouldn't say out loud. She's a pro at helping navigate pregnancy moods lol. I ended up deciding on a c-section at the last minute for various reasons (like days before my due date) and Amanda never skipped a beat. She followed our lead in what support we wanted and was there at the hospital to check in on us after we were out of the OR. She also paid us a house visit a few weeks after birth to check in on how we're doing with baby, how breastfeeding was going, but more importantly how my mental health was and to review the birth - which was such a nice thing to take a moment and actually process it. I honestly was sad that we would be bidding Amanda adieu when it was all over. If I had it my way, she'd be a permanent support person in my life. If I have another child, she will be one of the first to know about it :)

Amanda was an absolute blessing during my pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I sensed right away that…read moreher calm presence would help me through my birth. I hired her at 25 weeks and she provided text support until our first prenatal visit, where she got to know my husband and I and went over our birth plan with us and provided insight and advice. She provided so many resources for positioning the baby and creating a birth plan. We were due to have another prenatal visit but my son came before that could happen. She trusted her intuition and came over to our apartment even though my contractions were irregular, and active labor started soon after she arrived. She helped me breathe through each contraction and pushed my hips together, which really helped the pain, and encouraged my husband to do so as well. My labor progressed quickly and she recommended we head to the birth center. She rode in the car with us and helped me by continuing to push my hips together and reminding me to breathe through the entire ride. She even prevented me from pushing on the freeway by changing my breathing exercises. When we got to the birthing center, the midwife's assistant hadn't arrived so Amanda voluntarily acted in that role and recorded everything about the birth while continuing to support me. The midwife was so impressed with her that she tried to recruit her! She stayed with us after the birth until we went home and has continued to provide postpartum support through a visit and through text, and has sent me resources to help me write my birth story. I would not have made it through my birth without her, she was an absolute rock for my husband and I and treated us like family, which means so much to us since we did not have any family present at our birth since they all live far away. I cannot recommend Amanda enough;she truly has a gift, loves what she does and cares deeply about her clients.