I just took the breastfeeding 101 course and it was truly amazing. I'm pretty type A and going into…read moremy first baby feeling blinded by not knowing much is a scary thing. I feel so much more prepared about even just one thing and it's so comforting. My husband was able to come as well and they even dedicated a part of the class to the dads and how important their role is. Sarah was the instructor for the course and she was so friendly and welcoming. She was really thorough, didn't make us feel rushed, and literally answered everyone's question with such thoroughness and care. I'm so happy we did this and will be back for sure! It's nice to know there's support even during/after.

Frida is amazing! As first time parents we felt lost when we started experiencing difficulties in…read moreour feeding journey. We were told about the Breastfeeding Center and lactation consultant, Frida, who gave us so much confidence and really helped us so much. Frida is extremely knowledgeable, patient and really cared about our success. I would recommend her to anyone experiencing difficulties or looking for help in their feeding journey. We are so glad we found her.

Dawnita is truly one of a kind. I saw Dawnita when my daughter was 2-3 months old when I noticed…read moreshe would cry so much while nursing I didn't know what it was and Dawnita helped diagnose her reflux. Soon after she went on medication for reflux our nursing journey really began to improve. Dawnita always had great advice, she dove into the numbers with me and as a type A mom I really appreciated it. She always equipped me with what to say to our pediatrician and together we really helped my baby thrive. I saw Dawnita both at my home and her clinic a few times and both experiences were great her scheduler Shawna was also extremely responsive and helpful. I didn't have great experiences with the LC at the hospital and clinic, I was so nervous meeting Dawnita but she instantly put me at ease and offered great advice. I can't recommend Dawnita enough!

Dawnita is phenomenal. Both my partner and I absolutely adore her. On top of it, Shawn is…read moreincredible!! She works with Dawnita and has so much experience and expertise that I have relied on her for questions anytime. And Shawn is so on top of her game that she will work you in to Dawnita's schedule if needed, even though Dawnita is so sought after. I found out we could do a prenatal lactation appointment, which I was excited about because everyone tells you to get a million different things and spend a ton of money on breastfeeding products and you don't know what to actually get. On top of it, you go to the hospital preparing for labor but no one really prepares you for once the baby comes! So I wanted to get some guidance on how to breastfeed in the hospital as well. We read reviews for a bunch of different lactation specialists and I honestly thought that the reviews for Dawnita and Shawn were almost too good to be true. I even asked her if these were incentivized and she said absolutely not. They are just a testament to who she truly is, which is clear once you get to work with her. My experience at the hospital with breastfeeding was not good, which I understand is many Women's experience. I got conflicting messages and no real help. Then i was tossed out on my butt to figure it out alone at home (the nurse legit said she wouldnt answer my question and said I have to figure it out myself because i had signed the discharge paperwork). I left in a complete panic that I would not be able to take care of my baby. I have hyper sensitive nipples so I was in a ton of pain (felt like super fun razorblades). Everyone kept saying it was the baby's latch, etc. No one gave validation to what I was feeling with my sensitivity. I sent a panicked email to Shawn and Dawnita before we even left the hospital (so glad I has established that relationship so I had a lifeline), and they got me in for a virtual appointment that very day we got back from the hospital - on top of it, they even scheduled me for an at home appointment the very next day too so I wouldn't panic. Our virtual appointment got me through that fear day one - my partner was holding an iPad up to my boobs while I tried to nurse my baby (looking back, i can only laugh). Dawnita never made me feel rushed or crazy. Dawnita and Shawn walked us through the next number of weeks and made me feel empowered during every dark moment and brought confidence. When Dawnita walks into your house, she glows. And somehow she always finds a way to make you feel better about yourself - even when you're barefoot in a nightgown with milk stains, unshowered, no makeup, and your hair a mess. But more importantly, I'm now six weeks in and my baby is completely thriving. In fact, she gains more than the expected weight. Dawnita does baby weigh ins (so fun), weighted feeds, answers crazy questions (even if not directly to breastfeeding - like helping with baby's first bath), and guides you through YOUR problems meeting you where you are at! She helped evaluate my sensitive nipples, checked the baby's latch, took away my fears about ties (because everyone raises this), and gave me tools for what I needed - including nipple shields and ways to increase my milk supply without going overboard. She also reassured me and provided solace every time someone else made me fearful. I also love that she's minimal so you don't have to buy a bunch of stuff! While other people are taking supplements and doing lots of things, she doesn't sell you things if you don't need them!! She also doesn't judge if you decide not to breastfeed, which I find to be so important. No more shaming mamas!! Speaking of which, everyone always wanted to tell me that my diet and other things were the cause for any discomfort my baby was going through and Dawnita always made me see that it wasn't the case!! I could go on about Dawnita and Shawn forever, but they changed our journey and I'm so grateful that they helped us through the tough road of breastfeeding. One sidenote. Do not let cost and money stand in your way. Dawnita works through the Lactation Network and they work with your insurance so that you have no co-pay. Plus, she travels anywhere in Orange County to meet you at your house (because who wants to travel after having a baby?!)!! I think people like Dawnita and Shawn who work through the Lactation Network to help moms are angels on this earth.

I found Labor of Love by doing some of my own research online. And thank God I did! My doula,…read moreKaren, was my rock throughout my labor and was 100,000 percent amazing--I'll definitely be working with her for my second! A little backstory: I was overwhelmed and so nervous about finding "the one" person to be a part of the most important event of my life. After doing my research and reading through all these bios, I honestly was left feeling overwhelmed, especially knowing how indecisive I can be. I knew I just had to trust my intuition and my gut on this one! After looking at Karen's bio on their website, I had such a good feeling. Staci (the owner), who was super friendly and professional, helped me get connected with Karen, and I booked an interview right away! Karen was so sweet and asked me about my pregnancy experience so far. We discussed how I wanted my birth to go and any concerns I had. There wasn't any pressure to hire her, and it just felt like she was already invested in me, like I was already family. I even had her video chat with my husband to make sure we both felt comfortable and vibed well together--and we sure did! Overall, Karen ended up being the perfect balance of knowledge, experience, and professionalism. It was the most perfect amount of care I could have asked for. She was also such an advocate for my birth plan to work out. Before, during, and after my labor and birth, she was always naturally in tune with what I needed. She was never overbearing, worked so well with my husband, and gave him space to be a part of my support team as well. I am so grateful to have come across Labor of Love

The business owner is quite the opposite of the type of person any vulnerable new mom should have…read moreto work with. My experience with Labor of Love was almost two years ago now but continues to upset me when thinking back on my experience. We hired Lauren as our doula, who made it clear she expected us to go far past my due date as a first time mom. While it's possible for that to happen, it didn't in my case. At 39 weeks and at 5am while in active labor and getting ready to head to the hospital, she let us know she had Covid. Her backup was Karen, who I wish we hired to begin with as she is far more caring and professional. Though unfortunately our experience still fell short and we ultimately delivered without Karen present. We were left feeling like we invested a lot of emotion and money into this process with ultimately no help. Staci has been incredibly rude to us since then and even revoked our access to watch her training videos, sending me a link to pay her once again when wanting to rewatch for our now second baby on the way. Karen herself even recommended we ask for a partial refund due to our experience, but Staci lacks the professionalism and courtesy to her clients. Truly mindblowing that she revoked access to the training videos after we had already paid for them. I would stay far away and recommend a more experienced and caring doula group.

I wasn't having any "issues" with breastfeeding per se, but as with learning any new skill there…read moreare so many little things to know so I wanted to meet with an expert. I had just a few questions to make sure I was on the right track and Shelly answered them all. We did a feed at her office so she could observe my technique and offer guidance. She has a comfortable office to meet in (located inside the new moms school) and I left feeling more secure in my ability to feed my baby. She also sent a lot of resources after our meeting for me to refer back to. Sometimes having even the smallest questions answered can boost your confidence and meeting with Shelly did just that for me.

Shelly is the best. I went to see her once before baby arrived. She set me up for success and I've…read morehad a beautiful BF experience with my son! She is now supporting us through our journey-- helping with everything from baby wearing to pumping. She has the warmest, most laid back energy and we are so grateful to have her guidance. If you're an expecting mama, book with her asap!

My sister recommended I go see Ashley before I gave birth, and I'm so glad I went. She was…read moreincredibly informative and even helped me harvest colostrum to bring to the hospital. After my son was born, I saw her regularly because I was experiencing a lot of pain from breastfeeding due to his tongue and lip tie. She guided me through the entire process with so much support and expertise. Now my son is almost 3 months old and inhabe no pain while breastfeeding. I can't recommend Ashley enough. Whether you're breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle feeding, she has a way of making you feel informed, supported, and confident every step of the way.

I met Ashley at a moms' event inside the Mommy & Me Center, in the same building where she's…read morelocated, and from the very beginning, I could tell she was special. Her warmth and confidence in her passion shine through instantly. I had heard her name mentioned so many times during my pregnancy, so I was thrilled to finally meet her and book an appointment. Ashley provided me and my husband with thorough care--not only preparing us before our baby arrived but also supporting both my husband and I plus our little one afterward. As a first-time mom, I'm incredibly grateful for her guidance. Breastfeeding felt overwhelming at first, but Ashley made the process clear, supportive, and manageable. I truly can't recommend her enough.

The Mommy Center has been such a wonderful experience for both me and my daughter. Michelle and her…read moreteam have created such a fun, welcoming, and judgment-free space where moms and their little ones can connect, play, and feel supported. I've taken two of their mommy-and-baby class series, and I loved both of them. Each series includes special touches like each week is a different topica mini photoshoot, a swim party, and so much more, which makes it absolutely worth every penny. Carmen, who helped lead the group, is amazing. She is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and always makes me feel heard. She gives thoughtful advice and truly cares about the moms and babies she works with. You can tell she genuinely loves what she does. I've also attended several music classes with Michelle, and those have been some of my favorites. My daughter absolutely loves music time, and Michelle does such a great job keeping the kids engaged and entertained. We truly love The Mommy Center and are so grateful for everything they offer!!

I had such a great experience with my newborn here for the mommy and me session. It felt a lot more…read morepersonable compared to other centers that offered these kinds of classes. Prior to class, we had a group WhatsApp which made it so easy to communicate and get introduced to each other. I love that the center organized mommy outings for us, planned family picnics, as well as provided professional photography. I was never stressed out when I was at the center, knowing that there's a diaper station with plenty of diapers in many sizes, formula in case mamas forget to bring sustenance for baby, bottle warmers, and everything we need to feel comfortable. It felt above and beyond. I highly recommend trying one of several classes they offer! I'm excited to continue onto their 4-6 month old sessions and try out the baby music class.

Is there a difference between home birth and a birthing center? Well, kinda yes and kinda no…read more A Birthing Center is a place where families go to birth their babies unmedicated in water (or on the bed, on a birthing stool...). And like a home birth - you are getting "midwifery care", which includes prenatal and postpartum visits where you feel seen and heard. Unlike a home birth practice, you may not be able to choose your midwife BUT you do have the option of Nitrous Oxide. The key to a good birth experience is understanding the birthing center protocols BEFORE you commit financially, which is way before you go into labor. What most people fail to understand is that you are paying for "midwifery care" not an "outcome" - and that is the difference between midwifery and hospital care. And that care takes time. Time to get someone into labor, time to manage big feelings, time to make sure your nutrition is top notch, time to make sure you understand how to stay low risk... For example, you need understand the protocol difference between low and high risk pregnancy and show up to do your part to stay low risk (for context low risk can birth outside of the hospital and high risk has to birth in a hospital). You need to understand the birth center protocols for both when you arrive to the center (you must be in active labor) and how long you can stay (this is NOT a hospital - you don't stay overnight). So, if you are clear with your expectations you will have an AMAZING experience! If you don't understand how a birthing center works you may find yourself disappointed. Midwifery care IS a financial investment no matter where you birth - home or a center, but a birthing center might be less of a financial burden because the location (otherwise known as a "facility") may reduce cost. But again, you need to understand HOW your insurance works both for a successful birthing center birth or a successful transport where you birth at the hospital. (Either way you still get post partum care where you are seen and heard). Lorri is the OG of birthing center owners in SoCal, which means her experience level is undeniable. When you have this much experience as a midwife and navigating insurance it's a win/win for families that want a safe place to birth and (hopefully) get their insurance to pay something.

I trust these midwives wholeheartedly. Their…read moreprofessionalism and attention to detail goes above and beyond. It is an absolute beautiful facility. The staff is very polite they take great care of you.

My wife had problems getting our son to latch, and Yolanda was a lifesaver! I'm not exactly sure…read morehow she did it, but the change in my family is night and day.

Left a message on her voicemail on Friday, it's now Wednesday. No call back. :( That sucks even…read moreworse when you are in need of some help. Would not recommend.

Seriously look no further. You found the specialist who will help you and your child immensely…read more Lizzie was incredibly helpful throughout my nursing journey with my second daughter. Through the lip/tongue tie procedure and beyond, she provided our family with hands on support and so much knowledge. She provided the most thorough evaluation I have ever seen and I work as a school psychologist who is exposed to several different domains of evaluations on the regular. Lizzie is amazing with kids and they respond so well to her. She provided information regarding my daughters motor skills and sensory development which helped us understand her needs so much better. I really enjoyed my visits with her and she truly was an invaluable resource throughout the first year. I was able to breastfeed for 14 months despite a crazy difficult start and I know that without Lizzie's help this would not have been possible. Thank you Lizzie, you are the best of the best!!

We worked with Lizzie at Thrive Beginnings, who helped us through weeks of breast aversion and…read morescreaming at the breast when I was exclusively pumping. I never thought we would be able to get back to the breast, but with her help we transitioned to exclusive nursing, and now I don't see myself quitting anytime soon. She guided us through a tongue-tie revision and aftercare, and our baby became much less tense and overall happier. Lizzie was always available to answer my texts and questions and was amazing with our baby, always making him smile. If you are struggling with feeding, I absolutely recommend seeing her, and I will definitely see her earlier with our next child.

This is your sign to just sign up! This class has truly been one of the highlights of my motherhood…read morejourney. I've met the most amazing women (first in the newborn class and then again in the infant class) and the friendships I've made are priceless. You'll learn so much that's specific to each week/stage, and trust me, there's nothing like having a group of moms whose babies are the exact same age as yours. If you're on the fence...just take a chance and get out of the house and do it!!! There's nothing else like this out there. Do it for the community, the learning, and most of all - for you!!!

This review is looong overdue but New Mom School completely changed my life. I did both the newborn…read moreclass and the rising toddler class with my daughter. My only regret is not taking the infant series! This class connected me with the most amazing support system when I needed it most and I still talk to those moms every day. The classes taught me so much and I left feeling a lot more confident as a mom. I experienced a lot of postpartum anxiety with my daughter and this class was what helped me most out of anything. I loved my experience so much I ended up bringing this to Las Vegas. Becca the owner, is such a lovely teacher and makes you feel so safe and comfortable. She is incredibly knowledgeable and down to earth, I felt very lucky to have her as my instructor. Definitely make this a part of your postpartum experience!