I am so grateful to One Moon Doula for their services. I don't have family in the area and my…read morehusband works a high-demand job. I was in dire need of support during the newborn period, particularly as I was struggling with sleep deprivation. Kathryn was amazing to work with - she took the time to understand my needs and was super communicative and responsive in helping me find the right postpartum doula. Having a postpartum doula was a true gift - it made such a difference to know that I could rely on someone to take care of my son for a few hours out of the day a few times a week, and I could take care of myself (getting caught up on sleep, taking a long hot shower, and eating a healthy meal).

To say that investing in a doula was a good idea would be the understatement of a lifetime. My wife…read moreand I heard about this magical concept as if it were a fairytale idea out of our reach, a luxury item in no way meant for us. That was until we met Kathryn and One Moon Doula. They showed us how we could achieve the dream goals we had for those first precious weeks while also honoring our modest budget. Not knowing what to expect, as this was our first child, we did understand that having someone with us would change everything. We were quickly linked with a few doula interviews and fell in love with one of them. Our schedules aligned and boy did it ever change our lives. I can't imagine not having our doula there for those critical nights of transitioning into parenthood, while making space for healing and recovery. We both slept more than we ever thought possible, while our son was cared for better than we could have imagined, AND we learned so much to build a foundation of comfort and confidence moving forward. No family member or friend would have been able to step in the same way. If you have nothing else on your registry other than a fund for this...do just that. It will change your whole early parenting experience for the better. Thank you to One Moon Doula and their network of Angels.

When I found out about the Sacred Pregnancy program, Linda offered classes at Pregnancy Sanctuary…read more I called her and loved her right away. She has a very soft, kind and loving personality and she can make you laugh. She has such a beautiful way of communicating to women in such a vunerable time in their lives. I loved her classes so much that I took them twice during my pregnancy! It was my third pregnancy and needed extra TLC. Linda is sent from Angels! I drove from San Clemente to Leucadia just to take her classes once a week! She also guided 16 women at my Blessingway! She was so great! Her way with words brought the whole group of women together. After my third baby was born, I continued to be a part of Pregnancy Santuary by meeting at the (free) Nursing Circles once a week! I cannot say enough good things about Linda and her welcoming space, Pregnancy Sanctuary.

Linda is an angel and I'm so grateful I stumbled across the pregnancy sanctuary early in my…read morepregnancy. The first time I walked into the pregnancy sanctuary I felt a sense of ease and an immediate comfort with Linda, she's the kind of person you immediately know you can trust. She was an amazing resource throughout my pregnancy and invaluable in dealing with the surprises birth can bring. I truly wish every pregnant woman could experience a pregnancy circle! It is so special to be able to celebrate, cry, laugh and relate with other pregnant women. It helped me go beyond the aches and pains of pregnancy and really appreciate the sacred time this was in my life and focus on bonding with my sweet baby. Linda and the pregnancy sanctuary will always have a special place in my heart!

Dara is an absolute angel. She's knowledgeable, sweet, helpful, and meets you where you are at. I…read morehad an oversupply and overactive let down AND my baby had a shallow latch. Dara helped with all of these circumstances and made me feel so comfortable. She showed me different feeding positions that specifically would help my baby. My baby is over four months now and he has never had to take any formula Because of her guidance and expertise I am a confident breastfeeding mama ! Thankyou Dara!!

While my pregnancy was wonderful and healthy, it was also frequently wrought with anxiety. I lost…read moremy mother just three months before discovering we were pregnant, and I had always envisioned that she would be there by my side, along with my husband, to deliver my first baby. In addition to desiring the type of nurturing and support only a mother can provide, I also wanted to have an unmedicated labor and delivery. Enter Dara, who instantly made me feel comforted and supported just after a few video calls. When my husband and I met her in person, we felt reassured and excited to have her by our side as we approached our due date. Dara was always available and easily accessible throughout the pregnancy for questions and provided me with an incredible amount of evidence-based childbirth information to help guide my birth plan and help me feel that much more prepared. And while nothing can truly prepare you for such an intense life event, I went in with much more confidence than I would have had without Dara's help. Once we were finally in active labor and called Dara into the hospital, she jumped right in with getting me moving and changing positions to help labor progress and get the baby in a good position. She also helped my husband support me by gently guiding him and educating him throughout the process. While I ended up getting an epidural close to 9cm, she remained active in positioning my body, keeping me hydrated, and helping both my husband and me get some rest before pushing. What I will remember the most from this entire experience is how Dara seemed to embody my own mother's energy with her tenderness. It was as if she knew exactly what I needed, when I needed it the most, without me needing to say a word. We delivered our sweet baby boy with Dara by our side and will never forget what a beautiful experience we had together. -Frances If there is one thing you do to prepare for your child's birth, pick up the phone and schedule a consult with Dara. As a first-time Dad, I had no idea what to expect at the hospital, even with the childbirth classes and e-learning videos. Nothing prepares you. While I initially thought the nurses would be there to support my wife, they're busy working. They don't have the bandwidth to be fully present. Dara was there every step of the way to help her emotionally and physically. Even with our relatively healthy childbirth with no complications, Dara stepped in. To watch her in action was such a relief because I knew my wife was getting the best possible care. Dara also didn't take over the reins. She made sure I was a part of the entire process. You can't put a price on that peace of mind. If I had to sell an organ to pay for Dara's services, I would. She's the most amazing, nurturing doula in north county. -Steven

April & Joy were a huge part of my pregnancy and our birth story. They quickly became one the…read morehighlights of everything we did to prepare and celebrate baby. My husband and I were so anxious about this new experience and really had no idea what to expect and how to best prepare in this age of social media. We felt so overwhelmed with the over-saturation of information and since neither of us had done this before we wanted to have a trusted source and know we could prepare mentally as much as physically and financially. From the first consultation we felt comfortable and confident in Joyful Roots. My husband is a yogi and told me he instantly felt that same sense of calm with April & Joy. We joined this process a bit late so we were worried we would have to rush to learn and get through everything, but with the ease of the portal, videos and their flexibility and dedication, we were able to fit everything in and not feel pressured or rushed. They came to our home twice before birth and we met each of them separately. We also had zoom calls and a group chat up until 2+ weeks after birth. My labor and birth story was very unique and unexpected, however with the constant support and easy communication, we felt taken care of through it all. I ended up in early prodromal labor for 72+ hours and April and Joy were there for us through all of it! When I was finally admitted to the hospital, April was there to walk us through labor positions and help me feel safe. She knew what positions to help get baby in the right position as well as ease my nerves. She also made sure I was fed and hydrated. She helped my husband interpret what options we had each step of the way and how to speak to the staff, while making sure we were asking the right questions and able to advocate for what we wanted. Due to unexpected circumstances, I was not able to have a natural birth and this was not because we didn't try everything. She could tell I was exhausted and did all she could to give me a pleasant birth experience; one without trauma. She stayed until after my cesarean and I felt so cared for when I saw she was still there waiting for baby and I to return. We cannot thank April and Joy enough for all they did. I don't know how we would have navigated ourselves through this arduous journey without them. It was a hard week and we made it through with their warmth, positivity and encouragement. In our final follow up zoom, they told us "they would always be our Doulas" and we will definitely keep in touch and look forward to having them in our lives later on down the road. Thank you for everything! Love, Chelsea, Lafras and baby Atlas

We absolutely loved our doula team! Both Joy and April were so attentive and helpful throughout our…read moreentire journey from pregnancy all the way through to the weeks after birth. They are so knowledgeable and it shows in the extensive 8 week birth course that they provide. We learned so much leading up to birth and really felt we got so much preparation and value out of their course. Their frequent check ins leading up to birth (and the days past my due date) made me feel like I wasn't forgotten about. I really appreciated their words of encouragement in that time of anxiously waiting to meet our baby. Joy and April are very well known in Scripps. Our nurse that we had was so excited that they were our doulas and to be working with them. That made us feel even more relaxed and confident knowing we had a great team. Even though my birth didn't go according to plan and ended in a C-section, my husband and I are both SO grateful that we had Joy with us that day. She kept us calm, explained things to us, and ultimately made us feel like we made the right decision in the end. We couldn't recommend them enough. Thank you for everything Joy and April!

I had the best experience with Breathe Bitch Doula! Louise and Mahri were incredible. They made me…read morefeel so supported and relaxed throughout my whole journey. They are set up to tag team so one of them is guaranteed to be there for the brith which was so helpful to know that someone would be there no matter what. They helped prep me and we amazing resources throughout my pregnancy, obviously during labor, and even postpartum. I'd text them with all my "my baby is doing this is it normal" questions. I want them there for any future pregnancies and labor!

Short answer: Hire a doula, if you can afford it, it is so worth it!…read more Long review: I worked with birth doulas from BBD for both of my births (2024 and 2026). I was extremely nervous about giving birth, and my main goal the first time was just to not have trauma. Thanks to amazing support from our doulas, I discovered not only did I not have trauma, but I also find giving birth such a transformative and positive experience, something I never even considered a possibility for me. I worked with Tamara and Sage for my first birth, a late-term induction and vaginal delivery (both attended), and Tamara and Kim for my second, spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery (Kim attended). A goal in both my births was to wait until transition to get an epidural, and thanks to Sage helping me ride contractions and helping my spouse keep me comfortable I was able to wait as I had hoped. In my second birth, I used techniques I had learned from Sage as well as new ones from Kim to stay so comfortable laboring that I got to the hospital pretty late without realizing how far labor had progressed! I never considered an unmedicated birth a possibility for me, but due to doula support allowing me to stay comfortable I think I would give it a try if I have another baby. Doula support was key to keeping me out of my "fear brain", as in both births, things happened that I didn't understand and they were able to explain them, both on the phone and in person at the hospital. This allowed me to keep calm. We didn't do the birth class due to our schedules, so did 2 prenatal visits instead both times. These were helpful in getting to know the doulas, but also they gave a wealth of recommendations for birth and for postpartum - for instance, Tamara suggested identifying a lactation consultant before birth, which was an amazing suggestion given that I needed lactation support immediately with my first and I would have not lined this up without her suggestion. We really like the 2 doula model, also, which seems pretty unique. We highly recommend BBD!

Jola is exceptional and takes her job very seriously. She truly cares about the babies in her…read morecharge and its her goal to make sure they are content and safe so the parents can rest with ease. We were very blessed to have her three nights a week for ten weeks. She helped us troubleshoot all kinds of issues as first time parents and provided loving care to our baby boy. It was so nice to hear her humming him to sleep and I was sad on her last night when I realized it was coming to an end! We knew that when she was in our home, he was in wonderful hands and we could rest, worry free. I am very detail oriented myself and could tell that Jola is as well and is the consummate professional. Her services were worth every penny and we would hire her again in a heartbeat.

My wife and I have a 2 year old son and a 3 month old baby girl. We didn't get a night nurse the…read morefirst time around, but we hired Jola to help with our baby girl. It was an amazing experience. Jola is incredible and she will be our first call if we have any more children :) Her communication is excellent. She is extremely punctual and reliable (on time 100% of the time, never called in sick or cancelled for any reason). Her baby knowledge is second to none - our daughter has had a few health issues that Jola diligently helped us troubleshoot. She got us on a great schedule, and heading into month 4 we are confident that our household will be sleeping reasonably well. We also have 2 dogs that can be a handful... She was very patient with them. I really can't say enough good things about Jola. It feels like she's a member of our family now. Our son loved running up to her yelling "me hug miss Jola!!" every morning. We are very grateful to have had her help over the past few months.

I am so glad that my husband and I found Rachel's Bradley class and placenta services for our first…read morepregnancy! We both learned so much and I am so thankful we got the chance to make such informed decisions. Rachel is so funny, knowledgeable, extremely helpful, and approachable. You can tell how much she cares from the first time you meet her. We also chose to encapsulate my placenta and once again her services were second to none! Turn around time was so quick and she delivered right to our door (which matters when you have a newborn!). I would highly recommend her birth class (which is so much more than just straight from the book Bradley method, seriously so much more extensive), as well as her placenta services!

Rachel's Bradley Birthing Classes are the best thing you can do for yourself, your husband, and…read moreyour birth experience! You'll learn everything you need to feel confident and prepared to welcome your sweet baby. Your hubby will feel confident and involved. And best of all your odds for having a safe natural childbirth will greatly improve!! Plus it's fun and you'll meet great people!

We took Rachel's class as second time parents after a difficult birth of our first child. She took…read moreextra time to talk with me about my previous birth and helped me understand what happened. I cannot thank her enough for her expertise and kindness and I left her class feeling so empowered. I was able to achieve the VBAC I so badly desired and I credit so much to Rachel's class. Cannot recommend her and her hypnobirthing class enough!!

Rachel's hypnobirthing class is amazing! Even as second time parents we learned sooo much (we wish…read morewe took the class before our first birth) and feel so much more confident and knowledgeable going into this second birth. The classes gave us such great tools to have in our toolbox and helped us understand so much about the birth process so that we feel more empowered. We would recommend this class to all expecting parents!

We had a wonderful experience with Doula Jenn and highly recommend her!…read moreJenn has a lot of experience as a doula. During pregnancy she was a great source of information and peace of mind. Then I had a long, hard labor (including laboring on pitocin only- no epirural- for about 5 hours). We appreciated that she was so positive and always had ideas to try. She was a huge support to my husband and I during labor. In the end, I got a c-section. Jenn came back after the surgery and helped with my immediate recovery, and helped my husband get settled with baby. I did a lot of research and interviewed about 5 doulas before booking Jenn. Jenn was the best communicator out of all. We were always so thankful and felt like she was really there for us. Thank you Jenn!

Doula Jenn is the absolute best. This was my second birth with a doula, and Jenn is without a doubt…read morethe calming, positive and hands on presence that you and your partner will want in a birth. I had a vision for my birth, and it wasn't going to plan, but Jenn has a beautiful way of validating your feelings while also bringing it back to a positive and productive space. My husband and I looked back at many moments in my labor where Jenn was invaluable from helping with better positions, to remaining stable and calm through the twists, turns and moments you need it the most. Our nurse at Scripps I could tell really respected her. She truly cares, is always within reach, and I feel so grateful that she was part of the journey to get my daughter here safe and sound!

Just had my first baby with Jamin and Emily and what an amazing experience it was! From first…read moremeeting Jamin to my last postpartum visit the care was exceptional! I work in the medical field and know that this kind of care is hard to find. They truly are passionate about their clients and go through every aspect of pregnancy with such diligence. I felt so supported and taken care of the entire time. They are like family now Will absolutely use them for my next home birth!

San Diego midwife was the best care I could have asked for! Jamin and Emily were absolutely amazing…read morestarting off with my pre natal visits, always making me feel welcomed and loved. They took such great care of me during labor making me feel safe and cared for. After my daughter was born they continued to check in and I love that even though I no longer need care they always welcome us to keep communication. I would recommend them to anyone who is pregnant and looking for a midwife!