Karla is an incredible doula and person. She was the only postpartum doula we interviewed, because…read moreafter meeting her we knew she was The One! When Karla first came over after my baby was born, we were still resting in bed most of the time and I still felt like I was on another planet. She was so gentle and understanding, giving me the space to process my birth with her. Then she helped me figure out side-lying nursing (the BEST position, still my favorite a year later, and so useful for someone recovering from childbirth) and while my baby and I dozed, she whipped up several delicious and nourishing snacks using things that were already in my pantry! Over the next few weeks, Karla worked with us about once a week as we grew into new parenthood. She showed me how to bathe my newborn and give her a massage, how to use our baby wrap (she's an expert in babywearing!), and even just held the baby for a little while so I could take a shower or a nap by myself. As I continued to recover and feel stronger, we went on walks. It was really wonderful to learn from someone so knowledgable, who is a seasoned mother herself and has also held literally hundreds of babies. She shared stories about her own experiences when I asked, but never gave the impression that there was a "right" way to do anything when it comes to parenting. Overall the message I got from her was that I already know how to be a mother and can trust my own instincts. It's hard to put into words how much this affected me during those first tender weeks of motherhood, but it's stuck with me ever since. Karla is an absolute gem, and I can't recommend her highly enough!

Karla is the most amazing doula I have ever encountered. She wasn't sitting and observing her…read moreclient while in labor, full hands on deck changing positions and collaborating with the nurses to have an amazing vaginal birth. She encouraged, guided and praised both mom and dad. She never once discouraged her client or went against what the nurses and midwives suggested. We all worked as a team to have a safe and equitable birth. Thank you Karla!

I have known Debbie Benton way before she became our doula. In fact, I've known her my whole life…read more Since I was a little girl, she was always this light of all things holistic and healing. I used to come to her house and she would teach me about healing with essential oils, gardening, delicious recipes that weren't entrenched in sugar, and all things BIRTH. I always told her that one day, when I was going to have a baby that she was going to be my doula. And oh boy was she. First of all, she is certified in so many birthing preparation courses, it makes her the most well rounded educator. She is a certified hypnobabies educator and we took the 6 week course with her in preparation for our birthing time. We learned more with Debbie than I did with my OB. Debbie provided us an entire educational viewpoint with the added hyonobabies platform. It was incredible! I went into labor at home and labored until I was about 4.5 centimeters, using hypnobabies. When I got to the hospital, I was wearing my headphones staying in hypnosis and the nurses who triaged me complimented me on how calm how I was choosing to move through my birthing waves. It was an incredible experience. Also, having the education of what the hospital would try to coerce me into doing or saying, and knowing what my rights were or how to push back gently was very empowering. I had no anxiety about sticking up for myself, because I had practiced ahead of time, using Hypnobabies. We even went though a mock birthing and delivery simulation at home, within hypnobabies, and my husband was prepared on the different birthing positions he could support me in, different ways to help me stay in hypnosis, how to advocate for me with hospital staff while I was under hypnosis, physical pressure points to help and so much more. She's also trained in the Body Ready Method and she used this technique to support us in so many ways. When I was having lower back pain, she taught me the poses to do to help stretch and alleviate that pain. She taught us what poses we could do on my birthing ball. She taught us poses to do to help the baby engage deeper into the pelvis. Our whole experience was a complete holistic, well rounded education and preparation for birth and I could not be more thankful. I can't say enough how much more I got from Debbie than I did from my OB. Working with Debbie outside of the hospital system helped me to feel like a real person. At the hospital, while I had a positive experience, I definitely felt like a number. Speaking of hospital, it was our plan to labor at home and then go to the hospital when I was further dilated and we did that. It also just so happened that Debbie knew some of the hospital staff on the floor at the time, being that she had worked with them out in the birthing field. It only made my experience better. When Debbie arrived, she set up candles (fire proof) all around my room, tea lights, affirmations to encourage being calm and peaceful. It was so incredible and it contributed to the whole experience being that much more peaceful. When I was pushing, she helped me to breathe down into my pushed. Before I would make a decision with the nurses, I would look to Debbie for opinion first. My entire birthing experience was supported and Debbie was such a huge part of it. When I was laboring at home the week before I delivered, she stocked my fridge with soups for postpartum, a pregnancy drink to help with labor, sitz bath herbs for postpartum, lactation cookies. She did our placenta and turned them into capsules, she made us a tincture with the placenta too. I used her blend of pregnant tea throughout pregnancy. She is so knowledgeable and it exceeds birth. Her whole life is this beautifully holistic, homeopathic, healing example of a life lived with intention. Any birthing family is blessed to work with her. Thank You, Debbie! - Naikea Ward Ubaga

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 placenta pills delivered so promptly. She basically did all the hard work, and now I can just sit back and enjoy my baby. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to all mamas to be. Debbie also has such a cool calming energy .... Def has those good vibes! Thanks for everything Debbie!

I signed up for Yelp 7 months ago to add another stellar review for Darla and I have been working…read moreon it ever since. It was getting so long and wordy that I decided to completely start over and just give my bottom line...so here it is! Hire Darla as your Doula! Her passion and dedication really shine through from the moment she hugs you and says hello. Even if this is your 10th baby, every birth is different. She will help you, protect you, fight for you, and do whatever it possibly takes to keep you SAFE. If money is an issue, Darla will definitely work with you to figure something out. This truly shows how much she really cares about all of her families. I cannot agree more with all the other reviews here on Yelp, they are spot on. Darla will not let you down!

I was in search of a doula for my 2nd birth because I felt I was pushed into a cesarean with my…read morefirst child and really wanted to have a VBAC. After meeting Darla, I was impressed with her experience as a labor and delivery nurse. I wanted to be able to labor at home for as long as possible and felt with her knowledge and experience, I could do this safely. Darla was great about checking in with me during the days leading up to my due date. I went a week past my due date and although my doctor was pushing to schedule the csection, Darla provided me with valuable information of why that may not be necessary. She gave me courage to keep with my intention of going into labor naturally and even provided useful tips on how to make it happen! I went into labor 41+3 days and contacted Darla at 3am. She was responsive even at that hour and arrived at my house when I felt I needed her. She went above and beyond, helping me labor for 48 hours! I definitely would not have been able to do this without her. She got less sleep than I did in those days. When we went to the hospital, she advocated for me every step of the way. I did end up having a csection because the position of the baby wasn't allowing me to dialate, but I truly felt every avenue was exhausted. I am forever grateful for Darla and would highly recommend her! I wish I had met her before my first child was born.

We hired Ms. Veronica as a night doula and newborn care specialist for our two daughters. We first…read morereached out to Ms. Veronica before the birth of our first daughter and worked with her during those early months, then again when she traveled with us for the birth of our second daughter, when we hired her as our Traveling Doula. We highly recommend her as a doula in any capacity. As we were getting ready and preparing for the arrival of our first baby, we learned about the classes Ms. Veronica offers as a New Parent Educator. We decided to take three private one-on-one classes with her, including her One-on-One Newborn Care Class and New Daddy Doula Class. These sessions gave both of us the opportunity to learn together and prepare for what to expect before bringing our baby home. As first-time parents, having that education and preparation before our daughter's birth was incredibly valuable and helped us feel much more knowledgeable and confident going into parenthood. Her expertise in newborn care was obvious from our very first weeks with her. She shared countless tips we never would have found in a book or online, drawn from her many years of experience. Neither of us had much prior experience raising babies, but we already felt confident after just two meetings with her. We specifically wanted a doula who wouldn't simply take over, but who would guide us so we could continue providing the best care for our children after she was gone. Ms. Veronica was thorough in communicating and explaining her reasoning behind everything she did. She was meticulous about tracking feedings and wet diapers, and always had a plan to keep our babies happy and thriving in their earliest months. We were also impressed by how flexible she was with our dates, since it's notoriously hard to predict when a baby will arrive. This was put to the test when she traveled with us for our second daughter as our Traveling Doula. A situation that normally would have been stressful and exhausting, but she made it far easier to manage. She was also accommodating about adjusting our daily schedule, since we were both still working and not yet on parental leave. The moment we remember most is how she sleep-trained our first daughter. She built a plan and continually adapted it as needed, quickly getting our daughter to 12 hours of sleep through scheduled feedings - a change that gave us both much-needed rest. Even today, our daughter still sleeps 12 hours every night. We honestly believe every parent should have someone like her whether they are first-time parents or need a helping hand. It can feel a little intimidating to have someone new caring for your newborn, but we never once hesitated to trust her. She cares for your baby as if it were her own, while setting you up for success as first-time parents.

My opinion is mutual I would double check on reviews n…read moredecide to move forward cause as soon as I said I will give some thought her voice tone changes... A huge chuck of cash up front as retainer is a little iffy you have to think about it Because there is no garentee in anything at all if she be a good fit .... Or her partner is... once you pay half the money upfront weather you like her or not This is it . You won't get your money back So you take your risk .... I think anything more than 2000$ as retainer fee especially not with agency is scammy to me unless you been introduce n recommended by family friends n you know them etc .... Not saying they scam you just that if it turnout not being a great fit there is no refund So need to double think before anything ....

We had the absolute best birthing experience possible with support from Giuditta. She provided a…read morevery clear overview of what to expect at labor and delivery prior to the birth of our daughter. She gave us two house visits in advance of the birth that allowed us to practice different partner positions at home for early labor that we successfully used for the real thing! When it came time for the actual birth, she was a fierce advocate for us at Cedars Sinai Hospital. She ensured we had the best and most experienced team, she also coached me (the mom) through the process with a loud and clear voice which I could follow until the baby arrived. For postpartum care, she provided a sense of ease when we arrived home and everything felt unknown and scary. She gave me (mom) tips on breastfeeding in person, she showed us how to bathe our daughter and made us feel comfortable holding her in different positions. Finally, she is incredibly responsive and always provides a sense of calm in her communications. From both a practical and emotional standpoint and as first time parents, we could not have asked for a more positive experience with a Doula. She is worth every penny! -Hannah

We just absolutely loved working with Giuditta. She's so knowledgable, empathetic and kind. From…read moreour first meet and greet over zoom, I knew I wanted to work with her. She has an INCREDIBLE amount of resources to share, videos, her book, her website with recommendations, and her own incredible expertise after nearly 1200 births. She also just has a wonderful personality and vibe. Definitely the person you want on your team. She advocated for me in the best way, gave my husband a break at the right time (just before I went into active labor...she knew!), made sure we had a delayed cord clamping, helped with our birth plan! She also filmed my birth, which is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. She is a lactation consultant, so she had my baby latching within 30 minutes of birth on both sides! I feel very lucky, my baby has been exclusively breastfeeding ever since. She made 4 house visits, two before the birth and two after. The visits were also invaluable! She was able to help my husband and I practice laboring positions and prepare for baby on one visit, the next visit she took a look at our nursery and our set up. The final two visits postpartum, she helped us learn to play with our baby so she will have more productive feedings and sleep, and the final visit she showed us how to do our first bath. She's a genius. I honestly wish that every pregnant person could work with her. If you're on the fence, I'm here to tell you, Giuditta was one of the most important and instrumental people in my pregnancy, birth, labor and postpartum.

Thank you Sara! Such a positive birth experience, and Sara was a big part of it. Getting everything…read moreorganized for our plan and being incredibly supportive and reassuring all the way through. She got me through some key moments in the process, and I really believe I got to have the birth I wanted because she was there.

Wise, supportive, calming, and attentive are some of the words that come to mind when I think about…read moreSara. In our multiple meet-ups before our daughter's arrival, Sara helped us articulate and write a birth plan that reflected what we wanted and made sure our midwives were on board with our plan too. She was a wealth of information and even pulled together a list of recommended pediatricians in our area. All throughout the lead up to our daughter's birth Sara made us feel prepared and cared for as soon to be parents. When I unexpectedly went into labor, Sara was right there by my side and worked with my husband to make sure I had everything I needed. She especially helped me stay relaxed and motivated. Her presence was just so reassuring and I am forever grateful for all that Sara did to help welcome our daughter. An additional gift that I almost declined was Sara's kind offer to take photos on our camera. We can't recommend Sara enough to other parents and still seek out her advice and wisdom today.

What a blessing it is for you to find Briana during your pregnancy. My only regret is that I didn't…read morehave her for my first pregnancy/birth - I realized after my first birth that I needed a doula with me for my second pregnancy. Briana couldn't have been a better fit for what I needed. She supported me with education that felt informative and supportive, encouraged and engaged my husband perfectly to be the best partner, and was always just a text away. She instantly felt like someone I wanted to have over and have a girl chat with all day, she's truly magic in making you feel comfortable. When it comes to the hospital, she is respectful of the policies, but holds your wishes and supports you in the room to create an easy and calming atmosphere. I was able to truly relax and focus on my breathing knowing that Briana was there helping to orchestrate what I wanted for my dream redemption birth. Do yourself a favor and book Briana for your next birth. You'll be so grateful you did.

I can't express how grateful I was to have Briana helping me through my birth journey. She took the…read moretime and really listened to me and saw me as a person and not just a another patient. Her calmness, knowledge base and intuition are unrivaled and made the birth process enjoyable and empowering. I did not have a Doula during my first birth and I wish I had because Briana was a game changer. She was pivotal in supporting me having a successful VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), since the hospital only had a 10 to 20% success rate with VBACs. With Briana's guidance I was able to experience and empowering and elevated postpartum state that I never knew was possible. Birth does not have to be scary or traumatic, it can be beautiful and Briana showed me that and I will be forever grateful. If you are on the fence of hiring a Briana as a doula, do not hesitate it was one of the best investments I have made with my health and I just wish I did it for my first.

Nancy Beyda of "A Beautiful Birth" is just simply amazing. I feel so grateful that I met her and…read morewas able to have her as my midwife. I first heard about her while taking childbirth education classes at Bini Birth - my teacher Shelly had recommended her. Then I enrolled in mommy and me yoga teacher training at Golden Bridge Yoga in Hollywood (only the Santa Monica location is open now) and Nancy was giving a lesson on anatomy of the pregnant mama. So I spoke with her and just felt like she was perfect. I had a backup OB through Cedar Sinais- but I didn't feel like she was the one to deliver my baby. I wanted a home water birth, and Nancy specialized in these. She had backup midwives if she wasn't able to make an appointment (so nice having a midwife come to your home for appointments instead of always having to go to the OB!). I always felt super comfortable with Nancy and she is super knowledgeable and has great intuition. You can reach her at nancybeyda@earthlink.net. I'll contact her and see if she has a website. Nancy was by my side my entire birth along with my doula Cindi Cnop of Mother's Milky Way. They worked so great together and were an amazing support system. Not only is Nancy a midwife, she also hosts mommy and me information sessions at her home in Hollywood and makes a vegan lunch for all the new mamas. It's so great to meet other mamas and talk about what you are going through. She goes over topics such as baby sleep, introducing solids, relationship after baby etc. Her meals are always delicious, too! It's so nice to have a place to go after having a baby and have such a strong support system. My baby is almost a year and I still go. Davi Khalsa is the other popular midwife in the area. I heard she was somewhat strict and wanted mamas to walk 5 miles a day (which I know is great, but wasn't for me). I liked that Nancy was very relaxed and allows you to birth as you please. I can't recommend Nancy enough. And her with Cindi was just amazing. PM me if you want any more information :)