I'm not sure I have the words to fully describe how incredible Mary is. After our daughter was…read moreborn, my husband said that the three birth essentials are diapers, wipes, and Mary--and I couldn't agree more. Mary's prenatal yoga classes are incredibly calming and create such a beautiful sense of community. You meet wonderful moms and moms-to-be, and Mary has a gift for transporting you into a place of peace and relaxation during a time that can feel overwhelming and uncertain. Her prenatal doula appointments are never rushed and provide invaluable education, guidance, and preparation for birth. Throughout my pregnancy, I was able to text Mary with questions, concerns, and fears, and her insight and support were always incredibly valuable. When it came time to give birth, Mary was truly indispensable. She started as a calming presence during contractions, helping distract me from the intensity, keeping me focused, and providing constant encouragement. During pushing, she guided me through different positions and became my biggest cheerleader. After 4 1/2 hours of pushing, I had reached a point where I felt completely defeated and ready to give up. Mary never let me lose faith in myself and helped me find the strength to keep going. I truly believe that without her support, my birth experience would have looked very different and likely involved more interventions. Her care didn't stop after delivery. During postpartum visits, she arrived with delicious homemade goodies, checked in on my recovery, and continued to provide reassurance and guidance when I needed it most. Mary is a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and support during one of the most transformative, vulnerable, and sometimes scary experiences of your life. Having her by my side was one of the best decisions we made, and I genuinely cannot imagine going through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum without her.

I cannot recommend Mary Skinner enough. She is not just a doula--she is an angel sent from heaven…read moreto make your labor and delivery experience as smooth, supported, and empowering as possible. From the moment we connected, Mary's depth of knowledge, warmth, and intuition put me at ease. She met with my partner and me before delivery, spending hours walking us through what to expect, how to prepare my body, and how my partner could actively support my experience. No question was too small, and she answered my endless stream of inquiries with patience, wisdom, and zero judgment. When it came time to labor, Mary was by my side every step of the way. Even though my birth was not what we planned, Mary advocated for me and created a calm and sacred space with soothing massages, body oils, and sound bowls. When I think back to my labor and birth story, I literally see her face... she practically labored WITH me through her hands on support, coaching, encouragement, guidance, and unwavering empowerment. It carried me through. And her care didn't stop there. Postpartum, Mary showed up at my home with a bundle of thoughtful recovery goodies. She not only provided a healing full-body massage and prepared a soothing sitz bath, but she also cleaned my (very messy) postpartum bathroom--without hesitation or judgment. Her level of care, both physically and emotionally, is unparalleled. Mary was truly a godsend during my first pregnancy, and I will undoubtedly hire her again for every one of my future births! If you're considering working with her, don't walk--RUN to book her. She is simply the best of the best.

Simply put, Lauren is amazing. Our family is so fortunate to have had her as our postpartum doula…read moreand I cannot express enough gratitude for what she did for our family. Our daughter was born 7 week premature, and once we got her home after her NICU stay, we definitely needed an extra set of hands to help. Lauren offered that help and more. She is supportive, caring, intuitive, well versed in family dynamics, easy to talk to, and an excellent lullaby singer. If you are even just considering hiring a postpartum doula, call Lauren and see how wonderful she is for yourself. When it comes to bringing home a new baby, help from family is amazing, but help from a doula (especially one who does overnights) is truly invaluable.

From the owner: AMARU LIFE provides individuals and families with the tools they need to live a fulfilled and happy…read morelife! Through a variety of health and wellness tools, clients will learn to listen to their own bodies and create a solid foundation for living a balanced life. Owner of Amaru Life, Lauren Costine, challenges her clients to develop inner wisdom, identify values and transform goals into action to create sustainable changes that will allow clients to thrive in all aspects of life.​ As a Doula, Lauren also uses non-medical techniques to provide emotional, physical as well as educational support to women and their families during pregnancy, labor, postpartum and beyond. This time in a woman's life can be accomplished with ease if clients have the proper support and knowledge to do what is right for both mother and baby. Understanding options, asking the right questions, and utilizing pain management methods can help make the birthing and parenting experience safe, memorable and empowering!

If you are looking for relatable, zero judgement, super informed and extremely supportive and…read morehelpful midwives, Maggie and Andrea are it! We were in their care for our first pregnancy and they made us feel so much care and love throughout. I loved having a personal connection with them. We really enjoyed every appointment and I'm really sad we have "graduated" out of care and moving on to our pediatrician/family doctor. A few things that stood out and I particularly appreciated about their practice: 1. Their office is small and cozy and a few minutes from our home. 2. Labs were ran through an in network provider, so I didn't have to pay out of pocket. Even though they are not in-network with anyone. Also results always came back super fast. 3. They have referrals for just about everything related to pregnancy and postpartum and some in-network providers. 4. Most appts are an hour long and they are extremely responsive/communication is always top tear. 5. They are also lactation specialist, so no need to hire someone else if you need help or have questions once baby is born. 6. They are a great balance of holistic/western medicine and have a great relationship with Ventura County Medical if you need to go to the hospital for any reason at any time during your pregnancy, delivery or postpartum. 7. They are super down to earth, funny and relatable! We will def. be reaching out again for future pregnancies! Love them!

My husband and I couldn't have chosen a better care team for our family. Andrea and Maggie…read moresupported us through our entire first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We left each prenatal visit excited and without worry. They are both so knowledgeable and have great energy. My birth experience was so special. They came to my house early morning and by early afternoon my son was in my arms. Maggie coached me through contractions on the phone allowing me to relax until they arrived. Once they arrived at my home, they set up quietly and quickly making sure not to disturb me. Throughout my labor, they massaged my back with essential oils and made sure I stayed hydrated and energized with water, juice, and snacks. They encouraged me as I pushed and helped move me into different positions when things got tough for me. When my boy was born, they handed him directly to me for skin-to-skin. Within the first two weeks after the birth of my son, Maggie and Andrea helped educate us on tongue ties(while still recommending we do our additional research). They referred us to a specialist who successfully cut our son's ties(tongue and lip). We saw Andrea and Maggie shortly after and they were able to demonstrate how to properly stretch the wounds. At about 5 weeks postpartum, I went to the emergency room for pain and ended up getting surgery to remove my gallbladder. While I was in the hospital my son ran out of breast milk. My husband reached out to our midwives and they were able to help us get donor milk. Once I was released, I noticed a dip in my milk supply and they saw us for two additional visits to help me increase my supply and then to confirm our baby was transferring enough milk. Andrea and Maggie are wonderful midwives with so much knowledge. They truly care about the families in their care, not just the moms and babies but the dads too. I am so lucky I found them and would never do a birth with anyone else. If you or someone you know needs quality people on their care team, Andrea and Maggie are the best.

CarolAnn is the best doula we could have imagined. She is knowledgeable, caring, and very…read morenurturing. We will definitely use her again.

My husband and I were fortunate enough to have CarolAnn's guidance for the birth of our two sons…read more CarolAnn has an amazing kind and calming energy from the moment you meet her. She is also incredibly knowledgable regarding the entire process from preparation, for the birth, and postpartum care. I was impressed with how carefully CarolAnn listened to me when I opened up about all my questions, concerns, and fears -- she was always honest, compassionate and had an open heart and mind. She was also very responsive and available whenever I reached out (including during both my labors that started at sunset!) During the births she was incredibly nurturing, calm, present, and professional. I would highly highly (highly!) recommend CarolAnn, she is an amazing resource for your sacred journey of childbirth.

When I found out I was pregnant, many people told me to take labor and breastfeeding classes. After…read moresome research, I found that there weren't any classes locally offered to new moms, other than at Henry Mayo Hospital. And of course, their classes were only offered once a month. Unfortunately, they didn't work with my schedule. My main concern being a new mom was breastfeeding. I went online and tried finding a doula who would offer me a private class. Alas, I found Cali. What immediately impressed me was how quick she responded to my intro email. She was open to come over to my house, teach me the basics about breastfeeding and offer her advice postpartum. Cali was helpful, professional, and caring. Having my first baby with Cali's support made the experience that much better. So glad I found Cali!

When my husband and I found out we were expecting, we immediately started planning the type of…read morebirth we wanted. It wasn't long until we felt very overwhelmed by all the decisions and challenges that faced us. One of our friends recommended that we hire a doula to help us with the process... and so the search began. We met with a few different doulas, however as soon as we met Cali, we knew she was the perfect fit for our growing family. We felt very comfortable with her, she was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions, and her beliefs aligned with ours about the ideal birth. In addition, she offered us private parenting classes since our schedules were always conflicting with the hospital's classes we were interested in taking. In all of our meetings before the birth, Cali came prepared and ready to work. However, I always felt like I was meeting with a good friend. When my water broke 1 month early, Cali dropped everything to be at my side (even though it was her birthday!!) She even came to our house first to help pack for the hospital, keep me calm until my husband got home from work, and even installed our car seat (since we were so unprepared for such an early arrival!) I was a little unsure that I was going to be able to follow the birth plan we had put together, to keep things all natural, with no medical intervention, but with Cali's help, I was! She was calm and encouraging through my entire labor, and provided support for my husband as he coached me through a successful, all natural birth. We could not be more grateful. After the birth, Cali constantly checked in on us, and offered advice and help when we were having some difficulties with breast-feeding during her postpartum visit. We are so thankful that we can look back on our labor in a positive light, and we have Cali to thank for that. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a Doula.

I'm SO thankful I found this birthing center! Being able to have the water birth I had always…read moredreamed of AND have it covered by my insurance, was truly such a blessing. From the beginning, I loved that they focused on natural options, education, and helping me feel confident and informed throughout my pregnancy. They're very upfront that they don't offer epidurals, but honestly, the way they empowered and prepared me made such a difference. When it was finally time to give birth, I KNEW I could do it without one...and I did! ‍ The entire staff was amazing, supportive, and genuinely cared about me and my baby. They do have stricter requirements than a hospital, but I came to understand that it's because they want to make sure every mom is in the safest position possible to receive the best care. I'm so grateful for the experience, the education, the support, and especially for getting the birth experience I always prayed for. Thank you for helping bring my baby into the world in such a beautiful and empowering way!

Choosing a birth center for my first baby was one of the biggest decisions I've ever made, and I…read moretruly couldn't have asked for a better experience. From my very first prenatal appointment through postpartum care, every midwife made me feel heard, respected, and genuinely cared for. As a first time mom, I had countless questions, and this team always answered them with patience, kindness, and without judgment. A special thank you to Midwife Angela, who delivered our son. Throughout my labor, she demonstrated an incredible balance of clinical skill, calm confidence, and compassion. When I became dehydrated and experienced cervical swelling that was actually working against dilation, she carefully monitored both me and my baby and allowed us the time and space we needed at the birth center rather than rushing interventions. She diligently checked our baby's heart rate throughout labor and remained calm and reassuring every step of the way. When it came time to push, there was a moment when our baby's heart rate dropped significantly. Angela calmly encouraged me to give one strong push, and with that push, our son entered the world safely. It's a moment I'll never forget, and I'm incredibly grateful for her guidance and expertise. After delivery, I needed stitches for a tear, and Angela repaired them with such care and gentleness. Even during one of the most physically demanding experiences of my life, she managed to keep the atmosphere light with her wonderful sense of humor, which helped me more than she probably realizes. I'm also so thankful for Midwife Tiffany, who came during the hardest part of my labor to offer encouragement and then to welcome our baby into the world. Her support meant so much during those moments. This entire midwife team provided so much more than medical care - they offered reassurance, tender hands, respect for my choices, and unwavering support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They helped make my first birth experience one that I will always look back on with gratitude. Thank you for helping us safely welcome our beautiful baby boy into the world. We will always be grateful.

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!!

When my husband and I became pregnant with our first child, I was still carrying a deep grief. My…read moremother had passed away just one year earlier, and as a 38-year-old first-time mom, I felt lost without her guidance. I remember sharing that with Chavah early in my pregnancy, and from that moment on, she cared for me with a level of compassion and sensitivity that I will never forget. Before I even chose a midwife, I prayed for guidance. Then I opened Yelp, and Chavah was the very first midwife I called. After speaking with her on the phone, I didn't search any further. Looking back now, five months postpartum, I truly know she was an answer to my prayer. Chavah cared for us from the very beginning of my pregnancy--around three months along--through birth and into those precious first weeks postpartum. Throughout every appointment, she was wise, kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to educate us, answer our endless first-time-parent questions, and guide us through each stage with confidence and reassurance. One thing that especially touched us was her willingness to go above and beyond when life threw us an unexpected curveball. Midway through my pregnancy, my husband and I had to relocate, moving about 70 miles away. Most people would have understandably referred us elsewhere, but Chavah generously agreed to keep us on as clients. We were so grateful. Those extra miles meant more to us than she probably realizes. Our pregnancy was healthy and uncomplicated. The only bump in the road was that I needed an iron boost, and Chavah quickly connected us with excellent care for a couple of iron transfusions. Her experience and attentiveness gave us complete confidence that we were in good hands every step of the way. When it came time to give birth, Chavah was absolutely amazing. She created an environment where I felt informed, supported, and in control. Well... as much control as a woman can feel while temporarily visiting another dimension during contractions. Thankfully, our son had places to be and arrived after just five hours of active labor, making his debut before lunchtime. Today, we are five months postpartum and have a healthy, thriving baby boy. I've intentionally taken my time writing this review because I wanted to reflect carefully on our experience and express just how grateful we are. Chavah brought wisdom when I needed guidance, encouragement when I felt uncertain, and compassion when I was grieving. She cared for not only my physical health, but my emotional well-being too. I honestly cannot imagine a better midwife experience. If we are blessed with more children in the future, I would choose Chavah again without hesitation. Knowing she would be part of our care would bring immediate peace of mind. Thank you, Chavah, for everything you did for our family--and for so much more than was ever required. We will always be grateful.

5 stars isn't enough! The amount of QUALITY information you get from a midwife compared to your OB…read moreis insane. Chavah has eased us into parenthood with our first baby. She was there anytime we needed her and because such a rock in our journey. We started really early in our pregnancy with Chavah and I haven't stopped recommending midwifery to my expecting friends. Our in home visits were super informative and lasted -1.5-2 hours! It's seriously night and day and she will give you an explanation as well as expectations so you can make your own informed decisions about every process. Thank you Chavah! You will be part of every baby we bring into this world!

Words can't describe the vibes & energys that was on our birth room ..my wife was having her birth…read moreexperience to the fullest and exactly like her birth plan and all of that couldn't happened without Cynthia's services Cynthia is well educated in all of birth world and know everything about woman's needs in this precious time of newborn coming to the world she made our birth room look like a yoga class in a spa and our minds clear of fear allso as a husband i felt much more confident and secure to have a professional educated and highly sensitive doola that listen to my wife's needs ( and allso giving me my sleep time :) .. me and my wife moved into California not long time ago and our families are over seas it was so important to us to have a natural birth experience she was giving birth in a hospital and we were afraid to deal with medical intervention i really believe and know that we couldn't do that without Cynthia's help Thank you Cynthia for giving us the opportunity to have an amazing experience of life

From the owner: The Birth Whisperer, Cynthia Marie, PhD, has a passion for the birth process and wants to support…read moreevery woman in having the birth they choose with as few interventions as possible. She encourages each client's partner to be involved as little or as much as they are comfortable with. She offers doula and lactation support during conception, prenatal, birth, and postpartum She supports all births including Natural/Non-Medicated/Minimal Interventions, VBAC, C-Section, Home Birth, Water Birth, HypnoBirth, and Birth Center. She offers special sessions in Couple’s Birth Preparation, Childbirth Eduaction, Child Development, Reiki Energy Healing, The Fourth Trimester, The First Forty Days, Attachment Parenting, Safe Bedsharing, and Effective Child Discipline. Clients may attend sessions with a partner or solo. Birth the way you choose... Get attached to your birth plan... Happy mama, happy baby, happy family.

Where do I start, Kristen is hands down one of the best hypnotherapist I've worked with. I came to…read moreher a little over a year ago and I was able to work through so many fears and anxieties that I suffered with. Whether from personal issues to even figuring out my fertility issues. Kristen really gave great advice, was so understanding and supportive through this process. I can happily share that I am currently 6 months pregnant again with a baby girl due in the fall. It's a miracle and I can't begin to express how amazing this work we did together really made a dream come true for me and my family. It takes time and patience, but having someone as special as Kristen on your team can really help you through any challenges or situations you maybe facing in any part of life. I would highly recommend her to anyone that wants to unlock the doors that could lead you on your path to success,purpose, and ultimately bring you the healing you could ever hope for. I am forever grateful, Thank you!

I first crossed paths with Kristen during my 200 hour yoga teacher training at InnerPowerYoga. She…read morewas the class meditation teacher and I remember being completely in awe of her grace, compassion, wisdom, awareness, and experience! She just gets "it". She is a true healer, and a teacher. Fast forward 5 years later, I started having a really tough time in my young adult life and looked to her again for some support and realignment. Kristen has been an absolute gift in helping me back to my true, authentic, light being self. I truly believe some teachers come into your life for a reason - whether that is to share, grow or learn. We are all in this journey together. Thank YOU, Kristen for the beautiful work that you do! You have helped me realign and transcend my awareness and the way I live life on a daily basis.