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Altadena, CA

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Crowning Joy Birth Services

5.0 (5 reviews)

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New North - Our cozy office.

New North

5.0(47 reviews)
2.5 mi

If I could give Auntie Evonne more than five stars, I would. She has been such an incredibly…read morespecial part of our family's journey, supporting me through breastfeeding both of my babies, and I truly cannot put into words how grateful we are for her. With my first baby, I was stepping into motherhood and breastfeeding for the very first time, and Evonne walked alongside me through that entire journey. She didn't simply tell me what to do. She taught me, encouraged me, reassured me, and made what could have been an overwhelming experience into something genuinely beautiful. She came to our home, made herself readily available when we needed her, and cared for me with so much warmth and love that she quickly became "Auntie Evonne" to our family. What makes her even more extraordinary is that her support extends far beyond lactation. She understood that breastfeeding isn't just about mom and baby. It involves the whole family. She took the time to teach my husband how he could support me and be an active part of our breastfeeding journey, which meant so much to both of us. She also has an incredible understanding of babies' bodies. Both of my children experienced body tension, and Evonne was able to identify areas that needed attention and work with them so gently. With my baby girl, we noticed that she strongly favored one side and was beginning to show signs of torticollis. Evonne knew exactly which areas and muscles needed some extra love and tenderly worked with her. Every single time Auntie Evonne left our home, I could see and feel a difference in my baby's body. She was more relaxed, more comfortable, and simply seemed to feel better. And somehow, that's still only a fraction of what she has done for us. For each baby, Evonne took the time to help me figure out which breast pump worked best for my body, properly size my flanges, and adjust our approach based on what that particular baby and that particular breastfeeding journey needed. She has helped us with babywearing and carriers, teething, bodywork, chiropractic resources, and so many of the little questions that inevitably come with having a baby. Her knowledge is incredible, and her network of trusted baby and postpartum professionals is extensive. If she doesn't personally provide something, chances are she knows exactly who to call. But what I love most about Evonne isn't something you can learn from a textbook or certification. She genuinely loves and cares for the families she works with. You feel it when she's in your home. You feel it in the way she handles your baby, the way she listens to a worried mom, the way she includes your partner, and the way she celebrates the little victories with you. Breastfeeding can be emotional, vulnerable, exhausting, beautiful, and sometimes incredibly hard. Having someone like Evonne beside me changed my experience of it. She didn't just help me solve lactation problems. She helped me feel confident and supported as a mother. There is a reason we call her Auntie Evonne. She came into our lives as our lactation consultant and became someone our family absolutely adores. We recommend her to practically every expecting and new parent we meet, and we will continue to do so. If you have the opportunity to have Evonne support your family, take it. She is truly one of a kind. Auntie Evonne, you ROCK. We love you, and thank you for loving and caring for our babies and their mama so incredibly well.

I did both virtual and home visit consultations with Evonne and she was incredibly helpful to me. I…read morewas desperate for help from engorgement, latching, and concerns about whether or not my baby was receiving enough food so was able to snag a virtual appointment first. Evonne was so helpful online and was able to troubleshoot and help me remotely! It was really impressive and surprising to me just from seeing things through video, she was able to guide me through some things. That's how expert she is! When I met her in person, she was able to evaluate any issues physically and helped me be able to latch better through in-person instruction. I was so in awe of how she was able to maneuver my newborn and she has such a calming presence for both new moms and babies. I highly recommend Evonne and her services. She is extremely professional, helpful, experienced, and has such a warm demeanor -- which is so welcome during this potentially fraught time for a new mom. I will say that breastfeeding is no longer daunting to me after working with her.

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New North

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Julia Underwood Midwifery - Postpartum and infant feeding support

Julia Underwood Midwifery

5.0(36 reviews)
4.9 mi

Julia was our midwife for both of our children - our daughter's birth at SCV Birth Center and our…read moreson's home birth and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. She is so calm, kind, and supportive, and she made both my husband and me feel completely comfortable and cared for every step of the way. Julia's gentle presence and expertise brought such peace and confidence to both of our births. We would choose her again and again - she's truly a blessing to the families she supports! We miss her dearly!

Working with Julia has been a God-sent gift. After having my first home birth 2.5 years ago, I…read moreplanned to do it again, although I was not expecting all the challenges that life would present right before the birth. In an extremely unfortunate event, my brother and sister-in-law, who were supposed to have their first baby right around my due date, suddenly lost their child during birth. I was in absolute shock and deep grief, and I was contemplating whether a home birth was the safest option for me. I found Julia, and she held my hand through every moment of fear and self-doubt throughout my prenatal care. She showed me what heartfelt understanding can look like while still not losing sight of what she knew I was capable of. I knew in my bones that a home birth was what I desired, but having this happen so close to me shook my confidence and sparked so much fear in me. During my birth, Julia held my hand every step of the way. She was proactive in her approach, giving me positions to hold that resulted in direct progression of labor, all while being very attuned to me and the baby throughout the process. I went from having a 38-hour labor with my first child to a 14-hour labor with my second, with only 4 hours of active labor. I honestly can't recommend her enough!!! Julia carries a deep understanding and love of midwifery care and her expertise are showcased in her level of care and knowledge. I had the most beautiful birth and felt so supported thanks to her guidance and heartfelt diligent care.

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Julia Underwood Midwifery - Teaching clients about stages of labor and ways to coop.

Teaching clients about stages of labor and ways to coop.

Julia Underwood Midwifery - Newborn exams are done right on the bed with the parents. Babies get to stay with the parents.

Newborn exams are done right on the bed with the parents. Babies get to stay with the parents.

Julia Underwood Midwifery - It's so special to have the whole family present while you get to weigh and measure the baby for the first time.

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It's so special to have the whole family present while you get to weigh and measure the baby for the first time.

Village Birth - Support Group and Circle Room

Village Birth

4.9(34 reviews)
3.8 mi•Downtown

I can't recommend Village Birth enough. So many amazing practitioners, so much helpful information…read moreall in one place, and a great community to boot. My husband and I took several classes at Village Birth leading up the birth of our baby, and I found my amazing lactation consultant, Hideko, after taking a very informative breastfeeding class with Yvonne. Hideko was an invaluable resource to me after the baby was born and continued to be for many months afterward. There was no way I would be able to breastfeed as long as I have if it weren't for her. Separately, I worked with prenatal chiropractor Dr. Jenny Stofer as well, who is also part of the Village Birth group now. I had experienced quite a bit of discomfort in my back during my pregnancy and she always made me feel at ease, listened to my concerns, and took care of any issues I had quickly and gently. I always left my sessions with her feeling energized, supported and like my baby had more room in there! It was incredible. Village Birth is made up of such a thoughtful, supportive and kind group of individuals who are talented and passionate about their work. If you're nearby and having a baby, it is the best place for top notch care and information!

I went to village birth in their bundle it was well worth the money. My husband and I did our birth…read moreeducation classes, newborn essentials, feeding and getting ready for the fourth trimester. Thru their doula match we found an amazing postpartum doula. I also did some of their prenatal circles and will be doing their post partum circle soon. Always a fun mix of women who go there, and I know the business can't control who signs up for classes but I wish more POC women and couples went. My first circle it was very intimidating being the only POC there.

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Village Birth - Lactation Consultant, Evonne Smith, IBCLC, sees clients 1:1 for breastfeeding support.

Lactation Consultant, Evonne Smith, IBCLC, sees clients 1:1 for breastfeeding support.

Village Birth - Postpartum Support Group. We have a 3-week and a 6-week option. Bring your baby or come alone.

Postpartum Support Group. We have a 3-week and a 6-week option. Bring your baby or come alone.

Village Birth - Prenatal Massage with Alissa. She offers massage in a reclined or side lying position for a pregnant clients. Postpartum massage with baby.

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Prenatal Massage with Alissa. She offers massage in a reclined or side lying position for a pregnant clients. Postpartum massage with baby.

The Cradle Company - New space in Pasadena!

The Cradle Company

4.6(42 reviews)
2.8 mi

The Cradle Company saved my sanity. Seriously. Last year, I gave birth to my treasured little…read morebaby, who was quite frustrated with breastfeeding. Hannah and the breastfeeding support group provided me with an environment that helped me to persist through that tough transition period... my frustrated baby eventually became a champion at the breast (so much so that she weaned herself off of the bottle)! If you are looking for or even considering lactation support, this is the place to be. In addition to breastfeeding support, I've also been through the childbirth education class. It was well done and not prescriptive... it was truly informative, the way I would expect a childbirth education class to be, and supportive of the diverse birth plans people may have.

Would I recommend Brandi Jordan as a sleep consultant? Not unless you're a celebrity or have…read morethousands of dollars to waste. For the average parent, you'll likely spend thousands of dollars only to end up back where you started--with vague, generic advice you could easily find online and some added reassurance. Brandi's approach offers little to no long-term guidance. She works on a day-by-day basis without providing written materials or a structured plan to follow, which makes it nearly impossible to build consistency once the sessions end. It feels like being handed a toolkit for a toy bike when you're trying to fix a kitchen sink, completely mismatched and ultimately unhelpful. Throughout our experience, she asked for detailed information about our child's sleep schedule, feeding patterns, and behaviors, which was time-consuming to document. Yet, those details seemed disregarded, as the feedback almost always boiled down to a generic "you'll have to let the baby cry," delivered in a reassuring but repetitive way. Months later, we're still struggling to get our child to sleep independently. We received no follow-up documents, no lasting framework, and no practical tools to help us move forward. After spending over $1,000, we were left feeling misled, frustrated, and uncertain about what to do next. If you're considering hiring Brandi, I urge you to think carefully. Save your time, energy, and resources. Look for a consultant who offers structured support, written guidance, and consistent follow-through; not someone whose attention is divided elsewhere. Parents deserve more than being treated like another number in the queue. Updated response to Brandi... I actually worked with you in April 2025, and communication stopped soon after the contract period ended. We followed your instructions exactly as outlined. Not every child responds the same way, and sometimes a more individualized approach is necessary, but it became clear you didn't have the time or availability to provide that level of support.

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The Cradle Company - Playtime at the Cradle Company

Playtime at the Cradle Company

The Cradle Company
The Cradle Company

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Andrey Lemon, Doula

Andrey Lemon, Doula

4.8(85 reviews)
14.2 mi•Mid-Wilshire

I don't even know where to start. I am so grateful that…read moreAndrey is in my life, and that I met her when I did. I would not have been able to have a successful VBAC if Andrey was not there by my side. I'm in somewhat of a unique position because I had Andrey as my doula for my second pregnancy and birth, and had a different doula for the first. With Andrey by my side, giving birth felt like a transformative and empowering experience. I met with her many times before actually giving birth, so I felt like she knew me, understood me, and I came to trust her. It was so different from my first birth experience, where I had only met my doula three times before going into labor. I felt so much fear during the labor and made a lot of fear based decisions and therefore felt depleted, defeated and depressed because a cascade of interventions led to an emergency c-section. I know in my heart that if I had had Andrey as my doula the first time around, I would never have ended up feeling so afraid and traumatized by the birth experience. I know this because the script was the same, but Andrey filled the gaps in information. She gave me the knowledge to be able to make the best decisions for my health and the health of my baby. As soon as I met her, I knew immediately that she had a lot of experience because she was so much more knowledgable than my first doula. Not only did she know so much about pregnancy/birth/labor itself, but she also knew so much about Cedars-Sinai and she knew my OB. And she knew my previous OB. I was really impressed, but even more so when Andrey showed up to the hospital, the midwives and nurses knew her, and were soooo happy to see her. I was in good hands for the 36+ hours I was in labor. She was my advocate, but she is also very intuitive and spiritual, and she brought a calming and serene energy to the delivery room. Giving birth is such a significant and life changing moment, and I can say that having Andrey as my doula was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself and for my baby. She really helped me move past the trauma of my previous birth and helped me prepare and be informed and be okay with any scenario that would unfold. She is magic, but she is also experience, knowledge, and connection.

I want to share my experience to be able to help future mothers and especially first time mothers…read moreto have the best experience possible wether its for birth or postpartum as mine wasn't what I wish It would have been. I wanted to feel supported and try for a VBAC for my second birth so I decided to work with Andrey for the birth of our daughter. Everything went good at the beginning, we had our in person interview, shortly after that meeting we decided we would be a fit for each other. After that she came over one more time and afterwards she told me she had a family oversees she was working with and would be available via phone/zoom and if needed to she would introduce me to a back up doula incase she wasn't back in time for my birth. The way she introduced us was thru text (no phone call or even an effort to do a zoom call so me and that back up doula could meet each other) no professionalism. My prenatal care was very limited nothing close to what Andrey promotes. Then I asked for a list of what to bring in my birth bag, she said she would send, I had to ask about 4 times until she sent and the reason I didn't get it was because she had sent it to a 'Victoria' how do you forget your clients name especially when you are a part of one of the most vulnerable times in their life. Fast forward to my birth Andrey ended up not being there. I ended up working with the back up doula & my first time meeting her and talking to her was her walking in my room while I laid in my bed clothe-less in pain as I was going thru my contractions (not the most ideal setting to meet someone for the first time who is going to be a part of a raw and emotional intimate time) a few days later Andrey lets me know shes back in LA and is coming to see me & baby to help with postpartum care. Then texts me cancelling because her car is in the shop (She could've taken an Uber) and cannot make it and she can come another day. She comes over a couple days after that for a few hours and tells me she will be back @10am the next day to help us some more. The next morning @9:35am she txts me she cannot make it and isn't available until the following week. I had cancelled help from my sitter to help with my newborn and toddler and my husband had left to work because we had relied on having help from Andrey that morning. At that point I was feeling extremely upset. The care and support I was expecting which Andrey advocates heavily on was nowhere close to what I was given. What was supposed to be a time in my life where I should've been given unwavering love and support turned into a time of grief and sadness for me. I decided to have a conversation with Andrey and let her know how I was feeling and I no longer felt comfortable working together. She apologized and told me I was a client that 'fell thru the cracks.' Simply she overcommitted and I was put in the back burner or was her last option sadly. She offered to bring some postpartum stuff to help with grief and overall just to help me emotionally and would drop it off in the next couple days, she never did. Unfortunately Andrey constantly overpromised and underdelivered.

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Andrey Lemon, Doula
Andrey Lemon, Doula
Andrey Lemon, Doula

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Nancy's Doula Services

Nancy's Doula Services

5.0(27 reviews)
11.2 mi

Nancy is simply the BEST doula. I got her name through my OB, because clients of hers hire Nancy…read moreindependently so often. When my husband and I met her, we knew we didn't need to interview anyone else. Her professionalism, years of expertise, and warm demeanor won us over. Being pregnant with my first, I wasn't sure if I wanted a medicated birth or to go natural. Nancy was able to answer all my questions and steer me towards resources that would help me make that decision. She was informative and neutral. It saved me so much time researching through conflicting information on the internet. Most importantly, once we made a plan (no epidural)- Nancy was a huge help on the big day to encourage us to stick to our goals. Although I had an extremely fast labor and didn't need extended pain relieving techniques, Nancy is ready for mamas having a natural birth that do need it. She knows how to apply counter pressure massage for back labor pain, and she has essential oils as well. You never know exactly how a labor is going to turn out, no matter how much you prepare for it. However, it definitely reduced my anxiety to know I had someone in my corner who was calm and had attended so many births before. On the day of my baby's birthday, Nancy was able to tell over the phone, by how I sounded, that we should head into the hospital. That advice turned out to be invaluable because if I had waited any longer, I might have given birth in the car. After the birth, Nancy was super sweet and followed up on how we were doing. She even made a house call to give me advice on how to hold the baby. Months later, she checked in via text message to see how we were getting along. She's just an incredibly genuine and lovely person. If you are looking for a Doula, you can't go wrong with Nancy.

I cannot recommend Nancy enough! From the very beginning, she brought such a calming and supportive…read morepresence to my pregnancy journey. She was incredibly knowledgeable, answered all our questions with patience, and made me feel confident, supported and prepared. During labor, she kept me grounded by encouraging me, helping with comfort techniques, and making sure my wishes were respected. Her calm voice and gentle guidance kept me focused when things felt overwhelming. Even after birth, she checked in and offered resources that made those first few weeks so much easier. I truly felt cared for every step of the way. She felt like family. If you are looking for someone who is compassionate, professional, and deeply dedicated to her clients, Nancy is the perfect choice. As new parents, we look back at the experience & She made such a difference for me and my husband. We are blessed and grateful to have her guide us through this beautiful journey

Your Natural Birth - Pregnant? Be sure to take a Bradley Method birth class. Your partner will learn how best to support you thru an empowered labor and birth.

Your Natural Birth

5.0(177 reviews)
30.2 mi
Women-owned & operated
Certified professionals

Lia was an amazing resource for my husband and me as we prepared for the birth of our son. If…read moreyou're in Long Beach and interested in a natural birth experience or simply want to feel informed and prepared for labor and childbirth, I highly recommend her. She empowers her clients with information and helps them feel confident making the best decisions for themselves. Her kindness and support extended beyond class hours. When I went into labor, she promptly responded to texts from my husband, answered his questions, and offered guidance and reassurance. She helped him better understand how to support me during labor, and that made all the difference in our experience. Birth is beautiful, wild, and unpredictable. Lia helped us feel confident in our birth plan while preparing us to navigate the process as it unfolded. We're so grateful for her knowledge, warmth, and support. Highly recommend!

I took Lia's childbirth class during my first pregnancy in 2023. I live in South Orange County, so…read morethe drive was a bit of a commitment, but it was absolutely worth it. Being in class with other expectant couples created such a supportive environment, and the course was incredibly comprehensive. It gave me the knowledge and confidence to navigate a hospital birth and make informed decisions about the many interventions that are commonly offered. At 38 weeks, my water broke unexpectedly while I was riding a stationary bike. I immediately reached out to Lia for guidance. Since I wasn't experiencing a fever or any signs of infection, she explained that I had options: I could either go to the hospital right away or stay home and wait for labor to begin naturally. She also educated me about the fact that the body continues producing amniotic fluid and that, in some cases, a small rupture in the membranes may even reseal. Knowing that going to the hospital before labor started would likely lead to an induction (which wasn't aligned with my goal of having an unmedicated birth) I chose to stay home and monitor myself. The night before my 39-week OB appointment, I was feeling anxious. I knew that if my provider confirmed my water had broken before labor had started, induction would almost certainly be recommended. I reached out to Lia again, and she suggested trying the Miles Circuit. I followed the stretches that evening, and to my surprise, I went into early labor around 1:00 a.m. Whether it was the Miles Circuit, my body simply being ready, or a combination of both, it gave me the confidence to keep trusting the process. In January 2024, I welcomed a healthy baby girl through the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. While my hospital experience was unfortunately traumatic, the education Lia provided made all the difference. There were many moments when my husband, my doula, and I had to advocate for my birth preferences, and it wasn't always met with respect. Without the knowledge and confidence I gained from Lia's class, I truly believe my birth could have unfolded very differently. I'm now pregnant with my second baby, and one of the first things I did was sign up to retake Lia's class. One of the biggest perks is that once you've taken her course, you can retake it as many times as you'd like for free. Childbirth education isn't something you only benefit from once, and I love having the opportunity to refresh everything I've learned before welcoming another baby. I'm incredibly grateful for everything Lia taught us. Her class empowered me to make informed decisions, advocate for myself, and approach birth with confidence. I wholeheartedly recommend her course to any expecting parents, especially those hoping for an evidence-based, physiologic birth. Even if you have to drive a little farther to attend like I did, it's worth every mile.

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Your Natural Birth - Childbirth class is a time for centering. It's a moment to focus on the two of you amid what can feel like a hectic prenatal to do list.

Childbirth class is a time for centering. It's a moment to focus on the two of you amid what can feel like a hectic prenatal to do list.

Your Natural Birth - Bradley Method prenatal classes build confidence and empower dads. If you're pregnant, sign up at least 12 weeks before the due date.

Bradley Method prenatal classes build confidence and empower dads. If you're pregnant, sign up at least 12 weeks before the due date.

Your Natural Birth - Newborn born via the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth. This is a 8 or 12 week prenatal class.

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Newborn born via the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth. This is a 8 or 12 week prenatal class.

Breathe & Blossom Doula

Breathe & Blossom Doula

5.0(12 reviews)
13.7 mi•Valley Village

Robyn was amazing to work with and I'm so glad I hired her as my doula! I love that's she's so…read moredetailed and gives lots of information prior. It gave me peace of mind and comfort knowing I had her there to support me during the labor and delivery, especially in dealing with unforeseen circumstances and talking with the hospital staff. she also helped me out postpartum which was absolutely amazing. Her calming presence in our home helped me to truly relax and begin my journey recovering and being a new mother. She was so helpful answering our endless questions about the baby, breastfeeding, etc. Hire her it's so worth it!

Hiring Robyn to support and guide me as my doula was the best decision and brought me (and my…read morehusband) so much reassurance, sense of security, and confidence heading into my first pregnancy. The two at-home sessions leading up to my hospital birth were so informative and really made my husband and I feel as prepared as possible to think through lots of different scenarios (and much more informative than any labor course we took!). Robyn is clearly incredibly experienced, professional, and so deeply cares about the mamas and partners she supports. Robyn was always available and on the night I went into labor, she was in constant contact guiding us during the time leading up to our hospital arrival. She was there waiting for us at 1am ready to go - she was so prepared and immediately made me feel at ease for this unknown experience. All of the techniques she offered me, the constant emotional and physical support during labor (she is a talented masseuse!!), and her encouragement and backing of all my birth preferences (including ensuring our gender reveal stayed a surprise until the very end!) made the day such a positive experience. Not to mention, had Robyn not been there, I felt there was a very high likelihood I would have had to have had a cesarean birth due to my extended labor process. Instead, the techniques and positions Robyn worked with the doctors and nurses to offer meant that I got to have the safe and healthy delivery I had hoped for. Robyn also set an incredible vibe (music, candlelight, relaxing aromatherapy, honey sticks for energy!) that made the room feel special instead of cold and sterile. My husband and I both agreed that having Robyn as our doula was one of the best decisions and we have a beautiful, healthy baby girl and only positive memories of the labor experience because she was such an important part of our birthing team. We love you Robyn!!

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Breathe & Blossom Doula - This is Robyn keeping me calm and helping my relax and breath through one of the many crazy positions I had to be in!

This is Robyn keeping me calm and helping my relax and breath through one of the many crazy positions I had to be in!

Breathe & Blossom Doula - Robyn had me get on the exercise ball to help try to get baby engaged in my birth canal!

Robyn had me get on the exercise ball to help try to get baby engaged in my birth canal!

Breathe & Blossom Doula - Robyn helping me do exercises on the medicine ball. And also she would massage my hips/back during a contraction.

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Robyn helping me do exercises on the medicine ball. And also she would massage my hips/back during a contraction.

Emilee Benner

Emilee Benner

4.8(24 reviews)
5.1 mi•Eagle Rock

I cannot say enough about Emilee Benner. Nine months ago, I had never even heard the word "doula"…read moremuch less knew what it meant. Today, as my wife and I are proud parents of a beautiful three-week-old girl, I couldn't imagine either of us getting through it without her. She was enthusiastic, supportive, nurturing, responsive, and 100 percent committed to shepherding us through the final, difficult months of pregnancy, and beyond. She guided us through a 26-hour labor and was by our side and actively assisting for the last 10 hours. She advised us when to go to the hospital, and was our advocate the entire time we were at the hospital. We wanted a natural birth, and if it wasn't for Emilee we wouldn't have known how to navigate around the hospital's standard operating procedure (IVs, Pitocin, pain medications, epidurals) in order to have the birth that we wanted. For guys who are reading this, the biggest question you will have is "is my wife in labor." Unless you've been through it, you have no idea what a "real" contraction is versus a Braxton-Hicks contraction, especially toward the end when the Braxton-Hicks start coming more often and more intensely. Also, there are other things that can happen toward the end that are a bit scary and even if you've taken all the classes (which we did) you will not know what is normal and what is not. I ended up texting and calling Emilee way more than my wife did, and to her great credit she always responded within minutes. The other big question is "when should we go to the hospital." There is no way that we would have been comfortable doing most of the labor at home if Emilee was not there with us. We would have gone immediately after labor started and our experience would have been much different. But a good doula will "know" when it's time. Emilee also didn't stop helping us after my wife gave birth. She has helped immensely with putting us in touch with milk donors and has checked in on us multiple times. She shows her passion with everything she does. We were lucky to have her.

We interviewed more than 10 doulas before meeting Emilee. The moment she walked into our apartment,…read morewe knew she was the one. She has a great down-to-earth energy, but is also very frank. She was the only doula who actually asked us more questions than we asked her. She seemed genuinely interested in our birth and we were as excited to work with her as she with us. Emilee is very knowledgeable. I consider myself a bit of a research junky, but I always learn something new after a meeting with Emilee. Her meetings with us before and after the birth were very informative and helpful. During the birth, she followed our lead beautifully and added bits of her own that really made our day run smoothly. From aromatherapy to massage to different positions and breathing, I always felt like Emilee would have 5 more ideas if something wasn't working. In the end I had a very short (10 hour) first labor and I know Emilee was a big part of that. She helped give me the confidence to let my body and my baby do what they needed to do. Thank you Emilee. You're amazing!

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Emilee Benner
Emilee Benner

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Keely birth + postpartum doula - Our magical doula !

Keely birth + postpartum doula

4.8(16 reviews)
5.7 mi•Highland Park

Asking Keely to be our Doula was the best decision we could have made for ourselves as new parents…read more Not only is Keely well versed and educated in what she does, she has a very calming and kind presence too. Even our anti-social cat loved being around her! She helped us to feel confident in our decisions and prepared for labor in a way no birth class could. During labor she helped me to stay focused and calmed me down when I thought I couldn't handle it anymore. I definitely underestimated how much reassurance and help I would need postpartum, but Keely's visit was much needed. Plus, she makes a mean vegetarian chili! Should we have another baby, we'll be enlisting Keely's support again.

I have taken over a year and a half to write this review to make absolutely sure what I say is fair…read moreand level headed. I DO NOT recommend Keely as a doula. She's is a wonderful speaker and extremely eloquent but her involvement and skill set unfortunately ends there. Keely abandoned me and my husband during an emergency c section. One I think would have been completely avoided with a more experienced, empathetic and advocacy minded doula. I have a long list of reasons I regret hiring Keely but all I think that really matters is that I'm certain my birth experience was made considerably worse as a direct result of her involvement. I highly recommend a doula, just not this one. Good luck mamas!!!

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Keely birth + postpartum doula
Keely birth + postpartum doula
Keely birth + postpartum doula

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Crowning Joy Birth Services - doulas - Updated October 2026

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