After the Long Beach Birthing Center closed unexpectedly, my husband immediately began searching…read moreeverywhere for a midwife who could take over our birth care. From the very beginning, we knew we did not want a hospital birth--both because of the high costs and the increased rate of C-sections. Finding the right midwife felt urgent and incredibly important, especially since this was my first pregnancy. That's when we found Laura. From the first conversation, my husband and Laura connected very well, and after meeting her in person, we knew she was the right choice. Laura made me feel truly welcomed, cared for, heard, and supported--something that meant everything to me as a first-time mom. At every appointment, Laura took the time to explain how our baby was doing, confirmed that she was positioned correctly, and walked us through what to expect at each stage. She guided me on workouts, nutrition, and overall prenatal care, always making sure I felt confident and informed. Anytime I had worries or questions, Laura reassured us that our baby girl was progressing beautifully, which brought us so much peace throughout the pregnancy. When the big day finally arrived, labor began early in the morning but didn't turn active until the following day. At around 3 a.m. in June, our little girl decided it was finally time. Labor was long, but Laura and her team were absolutely incredible. They supported me every step of the way--offering water, snacks, encouragement, and constant reassurance. They regularly checked our baby's heartbeat to ensure she was doing well and never made me feel rushed or pressured. I had planned on a water birth, but my body had other plans--and Laura was so supportive and adaptable, honoring what my body needed in the moment. By morning, our baby girl arrived (quite literally popping out!), and Laura guided me calmly and confidently through delivery. Her presence made me feel relaxed, safe, and completely cared for. Laura and her team handled everything with such professionalism and compassion, allowing me to focus entirely on welcoming my daughter into the world. I also can't say enough great things about her lactation consultant, Chelsea, who was absolutely amazing and so helpful. Laura even recommended our pediatrician and doctor, which made the transition into postpartum care seamless. Because of Laura, I was able to spend extra, uninterrupted time bonding with my baby girl, and that experience is something I will forever cherish. I am beyond grateful that Laura was available when we needed her most. If I am ever pregnant again, there is no question--I would absolutely return to Laura without hesitation. Thank you Laura for all the support you have given us!

I moved to Redondo Beach at 30 weeks pregnant, searching for a midwife for a VBAC after two…read moreC-sections. Despite warnings, I hired Laura because she had experienced a VBA2C herself, which made me feel confident in her abilities. I paid $7,000 before 37 weeks, but from the start, red flags appeared. Laura frequently overshared personal issues- venting about her husband mistreating her and why recent clients were transferred to the hospital. She described one transfer as a mother "refusing to get on her hands and knees despite being in pain." It felt like more of her clients were being transferred than successfully giving birth at her center. Additionally, she and her children were constantly sick, making me worry about exposure as a pregnant mom with toddlers. As my due date approached, she had me sign paperwork with business names from other midwives, clearly copied and pasted, which felt sloppy and unprofessional. When my water broke, she gave me swabs that were supposed to turn bright blue if it was amniotic fluid. Even though I knew my water had broken, the test initially didn't change color, so Laura dismissed it, insisting I had urinated on myself. It took days for a proper swab to confirm it, delaying care and increasing my risk of infection. When I expressed concern, she casually asked if I "wanted to go to the hospital," then told me that legally she'd have to transfer me after three days- completely disregarding the fact that I had been telling her about my water breaking all along. At one of my appointments, she introduced another midwife, Amy, which made me uncomfortable because Laura had previously vented to me about how Amy "wouldn't stop touching her" during her own labor despite being asked not to. She even called Amy the B-word and said Amy walked out on her during labor. Knowing this, it felt extremely unprofessional that she brought her in to assist with my care. Later, Laura accused me of avoiding check-ups, which was untrue and upsetting. I lived three minutes from the birthing center and was always willing to come in. Despite her personal struggles, I had even offered to support her. During labor, Laura's birth assistant, Haika, was the only good part of my experience. She was kind, gentle, and truly passionate about birth work. If you're looking for a midwife, I highly recommend skipping Laura and going straight to Haika. When Haika was present, I was progressing well, reaching 7 cm. But when Laura took over so Haika could rest, everything changed. Her cervical exams were painful, rough, and intrusive. Her energy was intimidating, and I stopped progressing. Eventually, I had to transfer to the hospital, and honestly, I was relieved to leave. At the hospital, I received an epidural, which allowed me to relax enough to fully dilate, but during my stay, I was also sexually harassed by a doctor who is now under investigation at Cedars. After birth, I discovered that Laura had taken several photos of my private areas without my consent. I asked her to delete them, and while she agreed, she never did so in front of me. She also failed to complete my postpartum visits, using her constant illnesses as an excuse, but never reached out to reschedule or check on me or my newborn. Seven months later, she sent me a Mother's Day text, but by then, I had nothing more to say--she never followed through on the care I paid for. It took me a year to write this, but it needs to be shared. My experience was the opposite of the glowing reviews I read before hiring her. Every time she gets a negative review, a friend posts a five-star one, but those of us who've actually worked with her know the truth. I've since connected with other former clients who had similar experiences. If you're searching for a midwife, please reconsider working with Laura. This is a warning from one mother to another- there are far better options. ** and just like i said, immediately after Laura gets a negative review, she asks a friend (or it could be her behind a fake profile) to give a 5 star review. She's extremely toxic and if you work with her- you will 100% see how accurate the negative reviews are. Hire at your own risk!

Choosing Tasha was one of the easiest and best decisions we made during my pregnancy. She was the…read morefirst midwife I interviewed, and I immediately felt that no one else would compare. She is incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate. From the very beginning, I felt genuinely cared for-- something I hadn't experienced prior to transferring my care. Prenatal visits with Tasha were never rushed. We would often spend over an hour together because I always had questions, and she always had thoughtful, thorough answers. She approached everything holistically and helped me navigate a few bumps in my pregnancy naturally and confidently. I always trusted that she would help me figure anything out. My labor started slowly, with contractions coming and going for a couple of days before things intensified. By Thursday, I had gone an entire night without sleep, dealing with painful and unpredictable contractions. Tasha came early that morning to check on me and guided me through next steps. When things progressed, she returned and calmly began preparing for the birth. At around 10am, I was half way dilated and 80% effaced. She helped guide positioning changes when baby needed to shift, and throughout everything, she remained calm, grounded, and reassuring. Labor was the most intense, overwhelming experience I've ever gone through--I was exhausted, in extreme pain, and at times felt completely consumed by it. But Tasha's presence never wavered. Even when I felt like I couldn't handle it, she reminded me that my body was doing exactly what it needed to do. I had planned for a natural home water birth, and while I was extremely determined, I also trusted that if anything truly required medical intervention, Tasha would guide me to make the right call. Throughout labor, she continued to monitor the baby and reassured me that everything was progressing safely. When it came time to push, I followed my body's lead through the contractions. With one final, deep push, my son's head was born, followed shortly by the rest of his body. My husband was able to catch him and place him directly onto my chest--an unforgettable moment. After the birth, Tasha stayed for hours, helping me recover, supporting breastfeeding, and making sure both baby and I were doing well. She also supported me through postpartum anxiety at our visits, talking me through my fears and reminding me to take care of myself, too. I am so grateful I had Tasha guiding me through my pregnancy and birth. I felt safe, supported, and deeply cared for every step of the way. I would not change a single part of my care with her, and I cannot recommend Tasha enough to anyone looking for a midwife who is both deeply skilled and genuinely compassionate.

Tasha, we are endlessly grateful that we met you. With you, the entire home birth process felt…read moreincredibly easy, calm, and clear -- every detail was explained in such an accessible and caring way. Your continual support, regular visits, punctuality, patience, and constant communication gave us a deep sense of safety. You comfortably answered all of our questions and cultivated a beautiful relationship with us as things progressed. Our home birth in water -- in an inflatable pool -- was as comfortable as it could possibly be, and that is largely thanks to your professionalism and the love with which you do your work. It truly inspires admiration. Thank you for enabling us with the knowledge and tools to help create our space for the portal between worlds. A special thank you for your team -- having a second professional midwife there doubled our sense of confidence and peace. My wife and I received exactly the experience we had dreamed of. With Tasha and her team's help, we brought a new soul into this world in such caring and trustworthy hands. We highly recommend Tasha for anyone that is interested in safe home birth and who wants to create their dream birth experience. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

I cannot say enough about my midwifery team. Their care was truly full-service from prenatal…read moresupport, to chiropractic care with Dr. Sarah, to compassionate postpartum care. I felt supported every step of the way. I chose a home birth and felt fully prepared, informed, and confident because of them. I also have a pelvic pain condition and had real doubts about whether I could do this. With my first child, I wasn't able to have the birth of my choice because I couldn't tolerate cervical checks. That experience stayed with me. This time was completely different. My midwife--Faith did not check me one single time. And for the FIRST time in my entire reproductive health experience, I felt completely seen, heard, and believed. My wishes were 100% respected. Our family is forever grateful to the whole MBB family. We love you Tam, Faith, Tchalla, Ellen, Tahira and Dr. Sarah! TK,

I switched to working with Faith about halfway through my pregnancy when I realized I wanted to…read morebirth at a birth center and not the hospital. Faith and her team were so helpful during my appointments, helping me make sure my body and pregnancy stayed healthy. She guided me in improving my nutrition and keeping my blood sugar managed, and she connected me to a maternal fetal medicine provider for extra monitoring since I had an IVF pregnancy. Faith took my birth plan seriously and knew how important it was to me to have a water birth, so when she let me know my labor wasn't progressing enough and told me I needed to transfer to a hospital, I was able to trust her judgement. She remained available over text message for questions as well. Then in our postpartum visits Faith was so kind in hearing me as I processed the birth experience I had in the hospital and how it really wasn't what I had wanted/envisioned. She offered me a rebonding session in the birth room where I could basically redo my golden hour. It was such a healing experience. Faith and her team also helped me with filling for disability and completing that paperwork, which was super important to support me on my maternity leave. I'm grateful for the support and treatment I received at Mind Body Birth.

We looked into care at Pure Births after an unpleasant hospital experience with our first-born…read more Before making any definitive decision, I asked my partner to just accompany me to the first introduction class so we could both learn more about their care & birth center. Midwife Tiffany educated us on the safety of the birth center, the benefits to mom & baby, the financial aspect, shared success stories, answered all of our questions & concerns, and finished with a complete tour of the birth center. We were both blown away by the education we received & decided we would like to try for a VBAC under their midwifery care. From October, when we took the class, to May, when our baby girl was born, we felt so seen and supported by the entire midwife team. Our girl was brought into the world by a redemptive VBAC experience & it was the best decision of our lives! Thank you to the entire Pure Births team for the constant clear communication. You all helped us achieve our what we sought to experience as a family and for that, we will forever be indebted to you! We are walking away so in awe of midwifery care, but more importantly, huge advocates for Pure Births & their lovely team.

I chose Pure Births Birthing Center because I deeply valued the philosophy of midwife-centered,…read moreholistic, and family-focused care. The environment and overall mission of the center truly resonated with me, and I appreciated the calm, natural approach they strive to provide. One of the most positive aspects of my experience was working with student midwife Alysia. I intentionally chose to have her present during my labor because she made me feel safe, supported, and emotionally grounded. Her presence was comforting, encouraging, and compassionate throughout a very vulnerable time, and I am genuinely grateful for the care she provided. I also loved the courses being offered for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum. Everyone i've met was so sweet and kindhearted. I labored at home for most of the early process and arrived at the birth center around 4:35 AM at 6 cm dilated, ready to continue laboring. Nurse midwife Angela was the on-call midwife overseeing Alysia. Early on, Angela mentioned that she had attended a birth the night before and was exhausted. While I understand that birth work is demanding, hearing this during my own labor created underlying anxiety and made me feel as though my experience might be influenced by fatigue -- something that, as a laboring mother, felt outside of my control and not something I should have had to carry emotionally in that moment. As labor progressed, I began to feel that my experience was becoming rushed despite there being no emergent medical concerns. This was my first pregnancy, and I was already navigating the physical intensity, emotional vulnerability, and uncertainty that come with first-time labor. Some comments made during labor felt discouraging rather than empowering, and I noticed that as Angela became more involved, my confidence declined and my labor felt less supported and more pressured. There was a particularly difficult moment when Angela attempted to assist with pushing using manual support internally with my consent. During this, I had an involuntary knee-jerk reaction and accidentally kicked. Instead of reassurance or redirection, the response focused heavily on her personal safety, and I was told that if the movement continued, I could be transferred. This occurred while I was actively laboring, in pain, and emotionally vulnerable. I found myself repeatedly apologizing for something that was clearly accidental and reflexive, which left me feeling ashamed, distressed, and unsupported during a moment when compassion was especially needed. Additionally, being asked questions about past sexual assault during active labor felt unexpected and emotionally jarring given the timing and intensity of the situation. As a nurse myself, I tried to remain understanding and rationalize the intent behind the questions and responses, but emotionally it contributed to my discomfort and sense of vulnerability. Another significant source of stress was feeling as though there was a time pressure placed on my labor, including comments suggesting that if birth did not occur by a certain timeframe approaching midnight, transfer would be necessary. This created a sense of failure and defeat, making me feel as though my body was not performing adequately rather than feeling supported through a normal first-time labor process. I truly believe that with more patience, reassurance, and time, my birth experience may have unfolded differently. I want to emphasize that this review is not meant to discredit anyone's clinical skills. I believe Angela is likely very knowledgeable and experienced in her field. However, bedside manner, emotional safety, and communication profoundly shape a birth experience, and in my case, I felt rushed, discouraged, and emotionally unsupported at times. In contrast, Alysia remained incredibly compassionate and reassuring. She comforted me, encouraged me to trust my body, and reminded me that if I felt the urge to push or return, I would not be turned away. Her support helped me feel seen and cared for during a moment when I was questioning myself. It took me over a year to write this review because I struggled with denial, self-blame, and not wanting to place fault on anyone. Birth is deeply personal, and processing a difficult emotional experience takes time. Ultimately, I am sharing this in hopes that future patients feel emotionally safe, unrushed, and fully supported regardless of staffing fatigue or scheduling challenges. A laboring mother should never feel like a burden or that time is working against her during a normal birth process. Pure Births offers a beautiful philosophy and environment, and I still value the concept of midwifery care. My hope is simply that emotional presence, compassionate communication, and patience remain central to every birthing experience.

I am so glad that my husband and I were referred to Jessica for her midwifery services. It wasn't…read moreuntil halfway through our Bradley class that we decided we wanted to do a homebirth. At that point we were already 28 weeks pregnant and now had to find a midwife. Jessica was always so compassionate and helpful in answering all of our homebirth questions and concerns. She also invited family members to come to prenatal visits to feel more comfortable about our homebirth decision as well. That was a huge win for us! She took great care of me During pregnancy and each time we got to listen to our little girls heartbeat. I loved that she focused a lot on making sure I was getting great nutrition via food and supplementation to help make sure my body was as healthy it needed to be for delivery. When it came to Labor Day, Jessica's experience definitely prevailed! As I was slow to progress, she knew exactly what I needed to do in order to help Baby along. Her guidance and experience made our homebirth a reality. Her and her assistant were fabulous during our golden hour that we got to spend with our baby girl in our home. They took amazing care for me and the baby. Postpartum visits were so helpful and informative especially as a first time mom. Jessica took care / monitored both me and baby for six weeks. We put our full trust in her for caring for myself, our new baby girl and all our future babies.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted to go the natural route and find a more…read moreholistic care provider. I had several midwife interviews lined up and Jessica was my first call. After talking to her, I instantly knew she was THE one and didn't even bother interviewing anyone else. I'm so glad I trusted my gut. Jessica provided the best holistic prenatal care and still continues to do so postpartum. I always looked forward to every appointment with her knowing that no matter what I was feeling I would walk out feeling comfortable, supported, and heard. She made my fiancé feel included throughout the process and always made sure all of his questions were answered too! During early labor she was in constant contact with my fiancé to check up on me. Unfortunately I didn't end up having the home birth that I had planned for, but Jessica was by my side every step of the way. When we ended up transferring to the hospital, she made sure to advocate for me, and thankfully, she was still able to be by my side throughout the rest of my labor and delivery. Mine and my son's health and safety was always her #1 priority through our entire journey. I am so grateful for her holistic approach throughout pregnancy, her informed consent for every single decision, and most importantly, her friendship. Jessica's passion for guiding mothers and bringing babies earthside shines through everything she does. Thank you, Jessica!

Birthing Rhythm is truly the gold standard when it comes to midwifery. We were so impressed with…read morethe level of care we received from start to finish. Beth Cannon has a wealth of knowledge & treats your entire family with such compassionate and excellence. She and everyone in her circle are incredibly skilled, trustworthy & a joy to work with. Prenatal appts are so comprehensive and never rushed. You have access to loads of information and resources to help you navigate the different stages of pregnancy and beyond. Options & recommendations are offered and your decisions are always respected. ***If you have concerns about the possibility of an emergency during labor/birth, please know you are in the BEST hands with Beth and her team.*** They are educated, equipped and prepared to manage urgent situations while maintaining clear communication, respect, and gentleness every step of the way. In my case, I had a retained placenta and a postpartum hemorrhage, but Beth, Jen & Mikki went above and beyond to care for me and my family through it all. They calmly communicated my options, took swift action, and gave tons of extra support and check-ins until I was fully recovered. I truly don't think any other midwife would have gone to the lengths that they did so seemingly effortlessly. Couldn't imagine having anyone else They say it takes a village, and in hiring Birthing Rhythm, you get a village. Beth has a vast and thoughtfully built community of experts, specialists and sincere care-givers to come alongside you in whatever your journey brings!

I don't even know where to start with Beth, Jenn and team because "amazing" doesn't feel like a big…read moreenough word. I went into this birth after a previous C-section, really hoping for a HBAC but honestly not fully trusting that my body would get me there. After a few days of what felt like never-ending contractions (turns out it was prodromal labor), I was completely exhausted and starting to spiral a bit mentally. Beth helped us figure out what was actually going on--baby had flipped posterior--and gave us really clear direction on what to do next. No pressure, no fear, just calm, grounded guidance. By the time active labor hit, I was in a pretty raw place. Tired, emotional, unsure. When Beth and team arrived, everything shifted. She was so calm and steady, and I could feel that she trusted my body even when I didn't. Things moved fast after her arrival . At one point baby's shoulder got a little stuck and I remember hearing timing being called out, but Beth handled it so calmly and confidently that there was never panic in the room. Within moments, he was in my arms. It was intense, messy, beautiful, and honestly one of the most empowering experiences of my life. Every birthing person deserves the kind of experience Beth and her team provide. Coming from a previous C-section, the difference between my two births couldn't have been more opposite. This time I felt seen, respected, and truly taken care of in a way I didn't even realize I was missing before. Forever grateful for her. Would choose her again a thousand times.

Torrey you are amazing! Torrey was my doula for my second pregnancy and I never knew the value of…read morehaving a doula until I had her. Right away from 30 weeks pregnant she always made sure that if I had any questions that I could turn to her, from prenatal headaches to information on placenta encapsulation. She answered all my texts and emails quickly and I never felt that I couldn't reach her, something I feel is very important for a birth worker! You can tell she has a passion for what she does and wants to help woman claim their birth. I had my daughter on October 15th, 2017 at home under the presence of midwives. When Torrey arrived to the birth, I felt a sudden calm knowing she was there and she helped me get through transition and pushing with her own grace and ease. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a doula that absolutely loves her work and has a passion for babies. She also encapsulated my placenta for me (my husband and I had tried to do our first one ourselves and that did not work out too well, haha). The pills arrived in a lovely jar and from the minute I took the first one, I knew it had been prepared well because not only did my postpartum nerves calm, my breast milk supply increased! Having Torrey as my doula was a wonderful experience, you cannot go wrong choosing her for your own birth!

Torrey from wiggle womb was my doula for my home birth this last march 2016. Torrey & I got…read moretogether several times before my birth to build a trusting warm relationship. Torrey is one incredible woman who truly loves the miracle of her work. She was with me all day in my contractions helping me understand my body & keeping track of their duration. She even helped massage my back & hips as my contractions got more intense & she also used essential oils during my birthing. I felt very comfortable with Torrey, she is a wonderful doula! She made sure I ate food to keep my energy up (which I truly needed). She even held coconut water or juice for me while I sipped from a straw to keep me hydrated! She was so positive & helpful through the entire process. I plan to use her again for baby #2 in a couple years! Thanks Wiggle Womb for your gentle love & helping my babe arrive safely!

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.

After a difficult start with our original midwife, we were feeling overwhelmed and let down during…read moresuch a vulnerable time. Thankfully, Lauren stepped in during our first week postpartum--and everything changed. She brought calm, compassion, and clarity when we needed it most. Her care was attentive, respectful, and deeply reassuring. She took time to listen, answer our questions, and made us feel truly supported. We are so grateful for the difference she made in our early days at home. Any family would be lucky to be in her care.

We are so grateful for the incredible birthing classes we took with Lauren at MadreluzLA! From the…read morevery first session, she made us feel informed, empowered, and truly prepared for birth. Her deep knowledge, warm presence, and willingness to answer all of our questions (no matter how big or small) eased so many of my pregnancy anxieties. She created a space where we felt comfortable, supported, and confident going into labor and delivery. Thanks to Lauren, we approached birth with a sense of readiness rather than fear, and I can't recommend her enough to any expecting parents. This class was an invaluable part of our journey!