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    I had the privilege of having Karissa document my entire journey into motherhood. Being a first time mom, it was very important for me that I got all the photos of all the things! Karissa did my maternity photos, birth photos, and fresh 48/ first family photos. Maternity Session - Our maternity session with Karissa was amazing. We chatted about what I was looking for in capturing my pregnancy. Karissa understood perfectly and picked an amazing location. My husband and I hadn't taken professional photos in almost 10 years so we felt a little awkward. Karissa helped us feel comfortable very quickly and we had a lot of fun creating shots that we wanted. In some of the photos I wanted to capture the raw beauty of my pregnancy while nude. Karissa was the best hype woman and made me feel like a Pregnant goddess. Knowing she is also a birth Doula added to my comfort of being nude in front of her and her camera. Throughout my pregnancy I had a strong yearning to be in the water all the time be it ocean, creek, pool, you name it. So I really wanted to get some photos in water and Karissa brought my vision to life! She straight up got in the water KNEE DEEP to capture these pictures y'all. Talk about dedication to her craft! After our shoot I was obviously already so anxious to see how the shots turned out. Karissa must have read my mind because the next day she sent me several sneak peeks. I loved that she did this because it made me even more excited to see the rest of the beautiful work she had done! Every time we did a photo session she's send those sneak peeks to me to just obsess over until she was finished editing the rest of them. Needless to say I was so happy with the way the pics came out! Birth Photography- With the birth photography, I knew these were going to be amazing knowing Karissa is also a birth Doula. Doulas are great at knowing how to be a fly on the wall if they needed to in a birth space so this was key and specifically why I chose Karissa as our photographer for this. Because I was having a homebirth it was important to me to document what a homebirth prenatal looked like, so Karissa photographed my 36 week in-home prenatal. For the birth, originally we planned out to get some shots of me laboring but my baby had other plans and decided he was going to come out a lot faster than expected. Nonetheless, Karissa coordinated communication with my birth team so I didn't have to worry about it at all. She arrived just in time while I was beginning to push my baby out and stayed about 5 hours afterwards capturing photos of immediate postpartum. Every little detail we talked about prenatally she still managed to get in, even with the way my birth turned out. You will see for yourself below just how amazing these pictures came out! Fresh 48/ Newborn family photos- Like in its name the fresh 48 photos are typically taken within the first 48 hrs the baby has been born. I underestimated how horrible I would feel after giving birth and I just didn't have the physical or mental stamina to be able to do that. Karissa was so understanding and offered to check in later in the week to see how I felt. We ended up having to wait a little longer for my body to recover and eventually got the photo session in at the end of the second week postpartum. Karissa was very flexible and scheduled us accordingly. As she did in our previous sessions, Karissa worked her magic yet again and managed to capture every little thing I wanted. These first family photos are so special to my husband and I since this is our first baby. She captured our family of 3 so beautifully. Overall Karissa is a very professional, flexible, dedicated, talented, sweet, caring, and just freakin amazing photographer. I look forward to booking more photo sessions with her in the future to continue documenting my family's story. Thank you so much Karissa!

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    Labor of Love Birth & Postpartum

    Labor of Love Birth & Postpartum

    4.8
    (120 reviews)

    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.

    Your Natural Birth

    Your Natural Birth

    5.0
    (177 reviews)

    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.

    We took Lia's virtual Bradley method class, and would highly recommend it for any expecting…read moreparents. First off, it can be hard to find time to take a birth class, and Lia chooses convenient times, with multiple options to choose from. It's a very comfortable classroom atmosphere where I felt good to ask any question, or add any comment. Lia keeps it fun and interesting, and is a great teacher. Lia is also available outside of class for questions, and she is super responsive. It shouldn't really matter if a doula has been pregnant herself.... But it was really helpful to hear about her first hand experiences and to know that she has gone through it all before. I just wish we in lived in LA so that we could have Lia as our Doula.

    DoulaLove'sCreation

    DoulaLove'sCreation

    5.0
    (114 reviews)

    Angela is a gift and an incredible Doula. We did her Hypnobabies course which was amazing. I felt…read morelike a first time mama, even though this was my 5th baby. My husband and I learned so much in Hypnobabies with Angela. My husband loved it as well. Angela makes the class what it is though. As for Angela, my Doula, wow. We did so much work together in my monthly chats with her. It was like my own therapy session that I didn't know I needed. I did so much healing in the months I worked with her. She prepared my husband and I for birth so well. She has so much to offer! She doesn't leave anything unchecked. She will be your best advocate! She had a big hand in helping redeem all of my past birth experiences. I'll forever be grateful for Angela!

    Angela is an amazing doula and educator. She was present in our transition into parenthood. She…read moreprovided tough love in moments when we needed it but also showered us with love and compassion in difficult moments through our birthing journey. She supported me to overcome my fears about giving birth and trusting the medical staff. She provided a lot of information and resources. Although we had a c-section and Angela was not allowed to be physically in the OR, she prepared us well enough to go in with confidence that all would go well. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy this past January. It was a beautiful experience. If you cannot afford her doula services, I highly recommend her hypno birthing class. It prepared my fiance and I on the birthing process. Classes were via zoom which was great for us since we got to learn from the comfort of our home. I am grateful for this beautiful soul. She truly is living her life's purpose. Thank you Angela. If you are looking for a doula, she is it!

    In One Breath Center

    In One Breath Center

    5.0
    (13 reviews)

    So grateful that I found this amazing doula team and mama community!…read more Krista Jawin worked closely with my husband and I to prepare us for the birth of our first child. She has truly been the guiding light through our journey into parenthood. We had the amazing, magical, beautiful, empowering home birth that we visualized during our birth education sessions with Krista. We know we would not have had this experience if it were not for her guidance before, during and after the birth of our baby. Thank you Krista for the amazing selfless work you do for mamas, babies, and families!!!!

    I love Maureen and the team at In One Breath Center! I'm so thankful that I was referred to…read moreMaureen: I was halfway through my first pregnancy and my yoga instructor encouraged me to become educated about labor, birth, and postpartum life. I am SO glad I received that encouragement and Maureen's name from her. I had interviewed a couple doulas who I found on Yelp, but my 3rd call was Maureen and I knew by the end of our first phone conversation that she was the one who would be my teammate and would be there to witness the birth of my first baby! We opted to do a hospital birth (although I loved the idea of a midwifery center or a home birth, my husband's desire was to have our son born in a hospital setting) and I knew that I wanted the wisdom and support of a birth doula to assist my husband and I in making the best decisions possible during the labor & delivery process. My goal was to have a natural birth and I knew that might be challenging in the hospital setting. As a side-note, I had previously thought birth doulas were mainly for people who had extra money laying around - but now I don't know why I had that idea because it's not true in the least bit! We made a point to save where we could so that we could spend some on a doula. Before "The Day" arrived, we met with Maureen in person. She asked great questions about our wishes, fears, uncertainties and she helped us to write a very simple birth plan (or 'birth preferences'- since most of the time things DON'T go exactly as you plan for with birth!). She was in contact with us often in the weeks leading up the my due date, especially because at 34 weeks I needed to go to the hospital Triage due to intense/frequent Braxton Hicks and we also found out that baby was breech and would need to turn - and soon! She and Krista gave me excellent advice that I wouldn't have otherwise received - little suggestions and tricks for taking care of myself at home leading up to my due date. We wanted to keep the baby in the womb until he was closer to (or at) 40 weeks and we were hopeful he would flip around, too! So, Maureen advised me to rest, calm my mind, listen to hypnobirthing mp3s, etc. We kept in touch regularly for the 3-4 weeks before my water broke at 37 weeks + 1 day - baby boy waited until he was considered full-term and then wouldn't wait a day longer! He was placed in my arms 37 hours later! For the actual labor & delivery she met us at Hoag while we were still trying to get labor going (unsuccessfully) and then she supported us as the nurses suggested Pitocin to get things going. PItocin wasn't in our "Plan", but with Maureen's support, my husband and I asked that we start the process very slow & steady... LONG story short, I was able to deliver the baby vaginally without any drugs or intervention with exception of the Pitocin. Thank God we had Maureen - she helped with massaging, bathroom trips, various labor positions, pep talks, and she really supported my husband. I think that's the biggest takeaway- my husband had the confidence to tell the hospital staff our desires (when needed) because Maureen was his teammate when I was out of my usual mind during the labor process. Maureen is sincere, hard-working, loving, and just an all-around JOY to be around. God knew what he was doing when he set us up together. It's been nearly 6 months since my son was born (another pregnancy isn't in our imminent future) and when the time is right I know I will be dialing Maureen as soon as we make plans to have Baby #2. I encourage anyone who read this long-winded review to connect with Maureen before making your final decision if a birth doula is right for you! As my husband has told several other of our expecting couple-friends: "Talk to Maureen (or any doula you're considering), it's the best money we chose to spend during this season!"

    Lauren Faith Birth Services

    Lauren Faith Birth Services

    5.0
    (36 reviews)

    Lauren is not only is an amazing doula but a truly outstanding person!…read more I wanted to work with a doula that had a strong faith, had babies of her own, a calming spirit, and helped give me strength in my time of need! I deal with a lot of anxiety and had a lot of worries and doubts going into birth! Before my birth she sat and had a long talk with me and my midwife! Lauren met me in my mess exactly where I was at and provided me strength, comfort, and affirmation! When the time came for my birth Lauren showed up and set the tone for my entire birth! I truly believe God used her to help center me with peace! She made me feel instantly calm with her presence when she walked in the room! She set the tone for my birth as a judgment free, relaxed, and loving environment! She helped also my mom, sister, and husband feel at ease as well! They all loved her and raved about her as well! She reminded me that I do not need to rush and take one step at a time! That I am made for birth! With her and my midwife I had the absolute dream team! I will 100% use Lauren for all my babies! If you are considering Lauren.... Let this be your sign that she's the doula for you! You will be blessed by her loving presence!

    Lauren stepped in as our doula at the very last minute when our original doula was out of town, and…read moresomehow it felt like she was exactly who was meant to be there. I had an incredibly intense home birth with hours of nonstop contractions and a long pushing stage. Lauren brought such a calm, grounded presence. She kept me hydrated, physically supported me through contractions and pushing, and seemed to intuitively know when I needed encouragement and when I just needed to stay in my own space. She also captured photos and videos throughout the birth without ever feeling intrusive. Having those raw moments documented, especially the ones I barely remember because I was so deep in labor, is something I'll treasure forever. What started as a last minute change ended up feeling like one of those things that was simply meant to happen. I'll always be grateful our paths crossed that day.

    The Breezy Doula

    The Breezy Doula

    4.9
    (132 reviews)

    This review is long overdue, as my baby is already turning 7 months! As a first-time mom, I am so,…read moreso thankful that I had Ezrae as my doula. In the weeks leading up to my delivery, Ezrae checked in with me regularly, which I really appreciated as a first time mom. I ended up being induced at 41 weeks and labored for almost 36 hours. It was a very emotional experience for me. Through it all, Ezrae was such a calming and supportive presence. She applied comfort measures, checked in on me constantly, shared stories to help put me at ease, and stayed by my and my husband's side throughout the entire experience. At one point, she was giving me such a gentle, relaxing massage that I actually dozed off during labor! Ezrae truly went above and beyond to make me feel cared for and comfortable during such a long and exhausting experience. I'm incredibly grateful that she was part of my birth team and would absolutely recommend her to any expecting mom looking for a kind, attentive, and supportive doula. Thank you so much for your genuine kindness and support, Ezrae!!

    Breezy Doula made finding a doula with insurance easy. They connected me with Valerie Godbout. If…read moreyou're thinking about hiring Valerie as your doula, do it. She was one of the best decisions we made for our birth. From our very first prenatal appointment, she was so easy to talk to. She really took the time to listen to what I wanted for my birth and even typed it up for me. My biggest goals were to avoid an epidural and Pitocin if they weren't medically necessary, and she completely respected and supported those wishes. Our prenatal visits were incredibly thorough. We talked through my birth plan in detail, went over labor positions, and discussed different scenarios so I felt prepared going into labor. When she arrived at the hospital, she completely transformed the room. She turned off the harsh hospital lights, brought a light projector, and even set up an essential oil diffuser that made the room feel peaceful. It immediately created a calming environment that helped me relax. Throughout labor, she was an incredible advocate. At one point, Pitocin was started even though I had already declined it. Valerie caught it right away, spoke up, and voiced her concerns on my behalf. Having someone who was paying such close attention and advocating for my birth preferences gave me so much confidence. She also had so many helpful techniques to keep labor moving naturally. Whether it was changing positions, offering encouragement, or giving me tools like a spiky massage ball and a labor comb to squeeze through contractions, she always seemed to know exactly what I needed. Between contractions, she kept me distracted with conversation and helped me stay calm and focused. I truly believe her guidance and support played a huge role in helping me achieve the birth plan I had hoped for. What impressed me even more was that her care didn't end after delivery. She came to our home about a week postpartum to check on both me and the baby, answer questions, and make sure we were adjusting well. Valerie is kind, knowledgeable, calming, and an incredible advocate. She made me feel heard, respected, and supported every step of the way. I cannot recommend her highly enough to anyone looking for a doula who genuinely cares and will be by your side through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

    Urban Village Birth Services

    Urban Village Birth Services

    4.8
    (35 reviews)

    Just want to keep this short and to the point. We had a newborn that needed a heart transplant and…read morewere not able to communicate and attend immediately; however, I have made numerous attempts to try and get our placenta. My wife has gone through some serious of emotional hardships and we have heard the benefits of this service. I like to know where is our placenta. Secondly, it would mean a lot to get a response.

    At thirty-five weeks pregnant with my firstborn, I knew I wanted a med-free birth in a hospital but…read morewas worried that unnecessary interventions might take place, so we decided to hire a doula for additional labor/hospital birth support. I found Renea online & met with her a few days later in our home. I knew by the end of our meeting that she was who I wanted beside me as I labored and gave birth. On the day I went into labor we were in constant communication via text. Once active labor began she came over to my home (with all of her essential oils!) and worked through the contractions with me. She was a strong supporter for me during this intense time! She came with us to the hospital and was right by my side as I delivered my son. We hired her again for our second-born son's delivery and she was with me, again, during active labor and at the hospital. We also saw her for a postpartum visit after each delivery. It's been 2 years since we first hired her and we are still friends. I text her randomly with a question and she is quick to reply! I've said this before and i'll say it again--i wouldn't want to birth my babies without Renea by my side!

    Nurture Birth

    Nurture Birth

    4.9
    (51 reviews)

    Nurture Births doula training is absoultely amazing!! I recommend this training to everyone!…read moreWhitney ran the training that I took and she is incredible! We were provided with tons of information, given goodies to help us with our own clients, and there were lots of hands on learning to help us perfect the skills that are essential for being a doula. The women that you are surrounded by when taking this class is unmatchable. They are so kind, talented, and very down to earth.

    Do I recommend Whitney and Lauren?…read more Yes. With all my heart, YES. These two women are truly the best. They helped me navigate the choppy waters of my very stressful, last few weeks of pregnancy. They were instrumental in paving a smooth road from a desired home birth to the hospital birth I needed to have. Whitney attended the birth of my beautiful baby boy, and it would not have been the spiritually profound experience it was if she hadn't been there. She was a heaven-sent Angel. An unyielding Advocate. She guided my husband and I on how to have as non-invasive an induction as possible. She came to the hospital when I needed her. During the birthing, she coached me through every step, keeping me grounded and focused, comforting me when I needed it, and urging me on when I needed to hear words of encouragement and strength. I don't know how women go through childbirth without someone like her. Please, if you can, make the investment. Whitney and Lauren are worth their weight in gold.

    Karissa M Raya - photographers - Updated August 2026

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