I could not be happier with my placenta encapsulation. I reached out to Trisha from Zoe Bella after…read moremy birthing doula recommended her placenta encapsulation services. Trisha explained the whole process to me and answered all of my questions. She even offered a print of my placenta before she encapsulated it. We unexpectedly had to stay a few days longer in the hospital while my son received care in the NICU and Trisha graciously offered to get me the capsules to me within 48 hours AND personally delivered them to the hospital herself. I could not have been more thankful because I was experiencing a lot of stress at the time and the capsules helped regulate me. I've been taking the capsules as Trisha described for 6 weeks now and I have not experienced any postpartum blues, no dips in my mood or emotional rollercoasters. I've even experienced a surge of energy similar to having a cup of coffee about an hour after taking them (without the caffeine crash) which has been so helpful in the postpartum days caring for a little one. I would HIGHLY recommend any expecting mama to get her placenta encapsulated and would HIGHLY recommend Trisha at Zoe Bella for this service. You won't regret it!

Trisha is the best! I reached out just two weeks before my baby arrived, and she still managed to…read moreencapsulate my placenta for me. She was incredibly communicative, answered every question I had, and made the whole process feel so easy. I was honestly shocked by how fast she worked--she encapsulated everything and hand-delivered the pills so quickly. When she dropped them off, she even helped me with some breastfeeding questions I had, which meant so much to me as a first-time mom. And the cord artwork that comes with the pills is absolutely beautiful--something I'll treasure forever. This was my first baby, so I don't have another postpartum to compare it to, but I truly believe these pills made a positive difference. I had zero PPD or PPA, my milk supply was super healthy, and overall I had such a smooth postpartum experience. I'll definitely do this again for my next baby. Amazing experience! I recommend Trisha to all mamas--because honestly, when else do you get the chance to eat your own placenta?!

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!

I had my second son last year, May 2020, at the beginning of a lot of unknowns during COVID. I had…read morebeen seeing an OB, with plans to have a nature delivery at Pomerado Hospital. In the last 8 weeks of my pregnancy, I contacted San Diego Midwives to see if they'd add me to their care, in order to deliver at a birth center. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate me so late in my pregnancy, and they offered a Covid cash discount because my insurance didn't cover midwifery , and the birthing center wasn't in network with my insurance. They also partnered with a billing service to help me confirm my benefits. Had my insurance covered, they would have worked with me to submit all the required billing information to my insurance for a small fee. They offered majority of my prenatal visits on telehealth , and the appointment I had in office, they clearly took careful precautions to follow Covid safety protocols. I felt like they went to great lengths to make sure I was comfortable with everything (to the extent I could be at 34-40 weeks wearing a mask!). Gerri, Heather and Andrea are a wonderful team. During my delivery at the birth center, they all ended up being there, and they were all so calm , I didn't even realize Gerri had shown up until I was almost pushing. They honored all my birth plans, and made any pre anxiety I had about not delivering at a hospital disappear. The follow up appts at my house were also very attentive and caring. I feel like the post partum care was definitely above and beyond what I received during my first birth, and I really appreciated that , especially since Covid made my post partum experience very different in terms of support. The birth center, A Family Affair, was extremely comfortable, including the bath tub , and the bed where I delivered. We were in and out in 6 hours ! I highly recommend this group of amazing midwives, and the birth center they partner with (or home birth if you choose!).

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.

Beth was a godsend…read more We started having her when our daughter was two month. I had this feeling that I could rely on her immediately. She is such a loving and caring person who cares for your baby as her own child. I can ask her anything about babies. She told us we can contact her anytime and knowing that there's somebody there for you with no judgments is HUGE for a first time mama. After a month, our baby started to sleep better and no longer needed her help. Even so she'll check in with us and we are still in touch. I highly recommend Beth to all the moms out there who need help!!

I hired Beth to support my husband and I with our first child. She stayed with us overnight when we…read morearrived home from the hospital. Due to the pandemic, many newborn and breastfeeding classes were not available and being new parents without family near, we knew we needed help. She was incredibly knowledgable and taught me the basics of breastfeeding and our sons cues. Breastfeeding was more complicated than I realized, and the knowledge she shared may not have been available in a classroom setting as every baby and momma is different. In addition she worked with us a during the day and helped me while in those critical first few weeks of the 4th trimester. She shared knowledge on baby basics (which nipple to use for bottles and how to clean them properly, tools my husband could use for soothing a baby, best lighting for night time feedings, etc.). She stayed very busy while with us and helped with baby-related chores, such as laundry, and encouraged us to relax while she watched over our son. Beth gave us the confidence we needed to care for our son and is a master at swaddling and soothing babies! She even sang him lullabies in Portuegese - which was incredibly adorable!

I apologize this review is late but please know that Christal was just so amazing it is really hard…read moreto put it in words. I wanted to make sure to return to leave a review for her because she is just the most wonderful and supportive person. I want others to know just how amazing she is and how much she really does make all the difference in the preparation and birth process. Becoming a mom was a huge transition for me but having Christal really made a huge difference in my birth experience. As someone who was afraid of childbirth as a young adult prior to pregnancy, I can now look back at my labor fondly and proud of how smooth and well it went and I attribute that to my preparation with Christal and having her warm and gentle support the day of. I began working with Christal in the summer of 2021 and delivered my baby in October 2021. We met with Christal twice prior to delivery and each time she was on time and prepared for the session. She was so great about covering a lot of information but also holding space for my anxious questions as a first time mom. Every time she left I felt so reassured and calmer about delivering my baby. It was also helpful to be able to reach out to her if I had any questions between sessions. She was also helpful with reviewing my birth preferences with me. I felt very prepared going into the birth process which made all the difference. The labor gown she recommended was amazing! When I went into labor I stayed in touch with Christal from home until we met at the hospital. She was aware of the current hospital guidelines and came prepared with her credentials mask and doula magic bag of supplies. Christal was great about setting up the space to feel most relaxing. I really appreciated how she would talk me through the current stage and next stages of labor which helped me to remain calm. Her and my husband worked so well together and she helped with things like offering recommendations on how the pillows might be adjusted to provide some relief or model some soothing massage techniques for my husband to try. I distinctly remember how she indulged my talking to distract myself and held my hand when I was a little scared at one point. I also really appreciated her post birth visit to check on us. It was nice to talk through the birth experience with someone who was there and she answered any questions we had about life with a newborn. I would recommend Christal to any friend or family member. If we do have another child I would 1000% want Christal there with us for the journey!

We reached out to Christal with seemingly very short notice, roughly a month before our due date. I…read morethink the whole thing was very serendipitous. From our very first phone conversation we knew Christal was the doula for us. She was so caring and understanding of our short time frame (we were working with someone else but decided to switch) and she had so much knowledge, something a first time parent does not have! She was able to schedule two home visits with us and, like the phone conversation, from the first one she showed us how caring, considerate, knowledgeable and just how down to earth she is. We had ideas of how we wanted our labor and delivery to go and her background in spinning babies, hypnobirthing, and Rebozo were an instant match. She spent time with us to make sure we were calm and collected in our heads and made sure we had some techniques to take with us to the hospital. Well...nothing ever goes to plan does it?! Our L&D was so short and everything happened so fast we didn't have time to even think about what we learned during our two visits with Christal. Thankfully, she was there. I can't even begin to explain how calm she made us feel and how much her pressence in the delivery room meant to us. She held hands right when we felt we needed it the most, she helped guide pushes, and she even took photos and videos (had no idea she was even doing that!!). She was everything we could have hoped for in a doula! Our postpartum visit was no different. She came to our home again and talked to us about the L&D process and gave us some tips and tricks that are indispencable as new parents! We can honestly say that through the whole process Christal felt like a friend that we have know for years and we could not have asked for anyone better!

Our "sleep angel" that is what we call our Doula Audrey - we met her through a friend that used…read moreAudrey right after she brought her twins home and she helped us sleep train our 7 month old (since we were too 'soft' to do it ourselves=) She not only had him sleeping 10-12 hours through the night by her 3rd night with us, but she helped me establish a day time AND night time routine which helped him eat better and NAP better during the day. Audrey TRULY changed our lives - she allowed us to start really enjoying being new parents because we were finally starting to get some sleep. But fast forward to now, my son is 18 months old and Audrey is still a part of our lives - she takes my calls and answers my texts 24/7 - she is a wealth of knowledge and is a caring shoulder to cry on when those times come too. Any family would be blessed and better off for knowing and working with Audrey - so I am sure any organization she is a part of must hold the same work ethic and values as she does.

I booked her to come out tomorrow. I am completely sleep deprived and have barely gotten any sleep…read morefor the last week. She tells me 24 hours in advance that I need to pay and have the check cleared before she'll show up. Which she never mentioned at all in the months before. Or when I booked her. So 24 hours before she's supposed to come over she lets me know that she would have to get the check and wait for it to cash before she would come out. ​ so you're supposed to trust her with your baby's life. But she can't trust you that your check will cash. Nor will she bother to tell you that she needs you to pay her in advance and have it clear the account before she'll even come over. She lets me know this 24 hours before she's supposed to come when I just had a baby Thursday. Absolutely unprofessional and completely unreliable. I booked her days ago, so I didn't book anyone else because she told me she would be here. I have counted down every second only to have her leaving me hanging because she needs to have all money clear her account by check or zelle before she'll even come out. But didn't tell me that months ago or even when I booked. Absolutely unbelievable. So you could trust her with your child's life. But she can't trust you that your check will clear. And yet won't tell you in advance. She'll tell you this when it's too late to pay her and have the ​ or sell cleared in time. Imagine doing that to someone that just had a baby and sleep deprived

Birthwaves Had…read moreCVD-19 not hit I never would have considered a home birth. In a weird way I'm happy it did because it forced me to rethink what I wanted my birth to look like and what would fit best for me and my family. I did the standard prenatal office visits, but it wasn't the experience I was looking for. I figured since it was my first time being pregnant and was there alone that my OB would be more nurturing and informative, however that was not the case. I felt like nothing more than a number so I began to do a lot of research on home births and everything it would entail. My research eventually led me here to Birth Waves Midwifery and it quickly became the best decision I ever made. It's expected of a medical professional, but Tatiana is very knowledgeable and proud of the work she does, but what stands out is how extremely caring she is. Seeing her throughout my pregnancy and doing so in the comfort of my home made me feel safe and confident during times of uncertainty. Having someone who is just a text away answering questions/educating me along the way was great. Having my husband by my side to experience it all with me was a nice bonus as office visits are patient only and I wanted him to be included and ask any questions he would have. During my birth Tatiana took very good care of me. She made sure I ate, remained hydrated, etc. Not having to wait 6 weeks to see a doctor was great too. She saw me regularly and would check in often to make sure I was recovering well and in good spirits. I am few months postpartum now and she is just as attentive as when I was pregnant. Tatiana still checks in and remains a constant in our lives. Logistically everything has gone smoothly, I appreciate how easy she made things for us. Getting my daughter's documentation has been a breeze with Tatiana's instructions. It's just my husband and me, having her around made things that much more enjoyable. I am lucky to have had Tatiana help me welcome our baby into this world and grateful to have her be part our journey. I could not have asked for better midwife.

Tatiana Koontz was the light we didn't know we needed…read more After a traumatic birth experience that shifted from a planned home birth to an unexpected hospital delivery, I was left feeling emotionally shattered and overwhelmed. Enter Tatiana-- the person who truly brought us back to life in postpartum. She met us exactly where we were -- exhausted, confused, and struggling -- and guided us with compassion, wisdom, and patience. We were facing major breastfeeding challenges, sleep deprivation, and navigating a tongue tie diagnosis, but she never made us feel like we were failing. Instead, she reminded us of our strength, and gently, consistently helped us find our way. She taught us so much -- not just about newborn care, but about trusting ourselves, creating calm in chaos, and moving through trauma with grace. She stayed for hours beyond what was required, cooked nourishing meals for us, held space for me emotionally, and made sure both my baby and I were cared for in ways that felt truly holistic and human. It's hard to put into words how much her presence meant to us. We were a first time family navigating deep postpartum pain, and she helped us and me feel safe again -- seen, supported, and empowered. If you are lucky enough to have Tatiana walk with you in postpartum, or pregnancy/birth know that you are in the most caring and capable hands. She is everything I needed in a time when I felt like everything was falling apart -- and she helped me piece it back together.

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.