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

Would 100% recommend. My doulas were Kim & Ella and I felt that they provided some a good…read morecombination. I had such a wonderful birthing experience and largely attribute it to them and the birth 101 class that we had. I was so informed and felt confident in the decisions I was making throughout the process. I would 1000% recommend going with this co. The other thing is that there are several different doulas that work under this agency so if one doesn't fit your vibe, there are more that they could pair you up with. Thank you BB for being part of our birthing experience.

We are so grateful to have had the dream team of Louise and Emry…read more At the prenatal visit, they kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. They took their time to carefully understand our previous pregnancy and birth experience and supported us in forming the birth plan we were most comfortable with. During labor, Louise's steady presence and calm, reassuring energy made all the difference. She knew exactly when to step in to offer guidance or helpful suggestions, advocate for our needs, and even when to lighten the mood with her wonderful sense of humor. At the postpartum visit, Louise continued to show her sweet, supportive, thoughtful nature. She checked-in on all of us, answered questions, and made sure we were adjusting well to a new family member. We couldn't have asked for a better team to support us through such an important time in our lives. We would absolutely recommend Louise and Emry to anyone looking for a doula.

My husband and I sought out a doula to help us prepare for the birth of our son. Unfortunately the…read moremore pregnant I got, the sicker my Mother became, and we were not able to prepare for his birth the way we wanted. At 34 weeks pregnant we met with Robin and I knew immediately that she would be able to help calm my husband and I during our first delivery. There is something about her, she makes you feel like your meeting with a long lost friend from high school. She supplied us with great resources to prepare for Travis's arrival in a few weeks. She came to visit us at our home and helped me learn stretches, pelvic exercises, comfortable sleep positions, and even soothed our fears that we were missing crucial baby equipment. The night I went into labor I waited till about 10 pm to finally call her, she met us at Escondido and even return with us at 6 am when they sent me home! She was basically awake driving around all night! Once I was finally admitted she was an amazing support person through my 36 hours of labor! I was so nervous I wouldn't be prepared for labor, but after trusting all the advice and labor education Robin had passed on I look back now and think, it really wasn't bad. TV and movies make it seems so horrible, and as I walked around and around the birthing floor I just breathed through every contraction knowing my little guy was one step closer to being in my arms. I was so confident and clam as the process continued, I found out the nursing staff had been watching in awe of how long I was able to continue au natural. Weeks later Robin came to our new home (!) and took our family photos with out new little mancub. I highly suggest that any first time parents, or parents to be in general, seek the support of a doula. It made our birth experience something to embrace and I will always have fond memories.

I have worked with Robin in several different ways. I first met her as a photographer when I was…read morelucky enough to be included in a breastfeeding shoot. I had an emotional and rough start to breastfeeding with that particular child and capturing it on film was truly one of the greatest gifts I have received as a mom. I have also worked FOR her, painting a business belly for her to use in promotions for Birth Blessings. I can tell you that her level of professionalism is unmatched, and she is an awesome "boss". She also trained me in placenta encapsulation, and her mentorship is invaluable. The standards that she sets are incredible, as is the one-on-one teaching. If you are seeking out training in encapsulation, you will find no better program. You certainly will not get to HANDS ON train through the entire process in a group setting. Not only does she thoroughly verse you in the actual process, but she also touches on branding and how to provide a solid service to new mommas. Working with Robin has really helped grow my own postpartum services business.

Jen was our postpartum doula from the time my son was a newborn, until he was 3 months old. She…read moretook care of him 5 nights per week, giving us some much-needed sleep in those difficult newborn days. Jen was absolutely amazing. She was so gentle and caring with my baby, and every time she arrived I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew he was in such capable hands. He was really not the best sleeper, so by the time she came in I was usually on my 3rd or 4th attempt to put him down to sleep for the night, and desperate to get some food or a shower for myself. I would hand him off to her, and she would cuddle him for as long as necessary to get him into a deep sleep before putting him down. I'm a third-time mom, and it's hard for me to let go of my babies and accept help. But with Jen, I always felt safe and comfortable having her care for my baby each night. I was still waking up to breastfeed in the beginning, and she was extremely supportive of my breastfeeding journey. Then when I decided to switch to exclusive pumping, she helped me figure out the best way to maximize my sleep while still providing my baby with the correctly-timed nighttime milk. She supported all my goals for my baby and was so kind through it all. I also had a lot of requests and instructions for her, and she handled it all with so much patience and understanding. Every evening she came 5-10 minutes early and we chatted about all the usual newborn and postpartum stuff that was worrying me. She was always so caring, giving empathy and helpful advice. She also did baby related chores and made our lives a million times easier. We truly wouldn't have survived the newborn phase without her. Anyone would be lucky to have Jen as their postpartum doula!

Jen is AMAZING! She cared for our baby with love, attention to detail, and consideration for our…read morewishes. She provided the perfect blend of advice/assist and listening to/incorporating our goals. She is a fun, kind, passionate, organized doula who truly made our evenings restful. Bringing home our first baby was the most beautiful, meaningful experience; we largely have Jen to thank in allowing us to rest and show up as the best versions of ourselves for him each day.

So much gratitude to this amazing doula duo!!…read more From the first time we met with April and Joy we felt comfortable and confident in our decision to work together. We are from out of town and I came down to San Diego first as my husband had to finish work and it was very reassuring to have April and Joy as part of our birth team in case I went into labor earlier than expected. Throughout my pregnancy all the resources, check ins, and words of encouragement that April and Joy provided were much appreciated. They were also very quick to respond to any questions/concerns that I had. The morning of my delivery my surges came in very quickly. I contacted Joy and April right away and shortly after had a phone conversation with Joy to confirm it was time to head to the hospital. She met my husband and I there and it was such a relief to see and have her support during the most challenging part of my labor. Her calming presence, hands on comfort measures were invaluable and she worked so harmoniously with the hospital staff. The photos she captured of our first moments with our second born are truly priceless. After delivery I had unexpected bleeding and I'm so thankful to have Joy's knowledge on the different types of medications. She helped slowed things down and explained the benefits of them for my case and I felt confident in my decision making. I am incredibly thankful for April's belly binding offering postpartum. The foot bath and belly massage was such a treat and it was a lovely way to wrap up our time together with her. There isn't a single thing I would have changed with my birth experience. April and Joy are a fantastic team, highly highly recommend them!

Working with Joyful Roots was truly one of the best decisions we made, and I can honestly say that…read moreJoy and April are the number one thing I credit for helping me have such a beautiful, positive birth experience. Before giving birth, I was someone who felt really nervous and unsure about the whole experience. But after going through it, I genuinely tell everyone that I loved giving birth, which is something I never thought I would say! That is such a testament to the incredible support and care Joy and April provided throughout my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience. My hope going into birth was to labor naturally at home as long as possible and remain open to getting an epidural once I was at the hospital and further along in active labor. They helped me achieve exactly that. While we were laboring at home, April was the one on the phone coaching my husband and me through contractions, helping us feel safe and calm. She offered different suggestions for positions and comfort measures that made such a difference. My husband shared after that he would have been freaking out much more and probably would have pushed going to the hospital earlier if it was not for her guidance. When Joy met us at the hospital, I instantly felt a huge sense of comfort and relief the moment I saw her. She was tremendously helpful supporting me through contractions with her touch through different comfort measures. After I got the epidural, she continued to be so knowledgeable and helped position me in ways that encouraged baby to be in the best possible position for birth. He was more to the side before but she made such a difference in getting him in a great position. What stood out most to me was how deeply seen and understood I felt by her. She was so in tune with my needs, emotions, and what I needed in each moment in a way that felt different from anyone else present in the room at my birth. Her presence was grounding and incredibly reassuring. Even after I gave birth, when I was feeling overwhelmed by all the emotions and hormones, she noticed immediately and supported me so thoughtfully and gently. That care meant so much to me. I know hiring a doula is an investment, but truly, it was one of the greatest gifts I could have given myself, my family, and my birth experience. If you are considering working with Joyful Roots, I cannot recommend Joy and April enough.

I am so glad that I chose Beautiful One Midwifery for my care during my first pregnancy and birth…read more Kelly, Tiffany, and Christina all gave wonderful care, took time to answer all my questions, and never pressured any decisions. I always felt informed and supported in my decisions. After a long labor and successfully delivering my baby at home, I required a hospital transfer for extensive stitching. Tiffany drove me to the hospital and stayed with me the whole time, advocating for me and providing emotional support during the procedure. The postpartum care (in my home!) has been invaluable as I have navigated these first few weeks of having a newborn. The ladies would check on me and my newborn, provide breast feeding support, and answer any questions or concerns.

I don't have words to describe how much I appreciate the support and love I received from these two…read moreamazing women. I met Kelly in 2014 while taking her birth prep class. She then attended my daughter's birth ( a VBA2C) in 2015. In 2018, when I was pregnant with my son, I knew in my heart I wanted a home birth. It was my last pregnancy and my last chance to have this experience. Since I already had two previous c-sections, I wasn't 100% confident about my body ability to give birth at home. Kelly and Tiffany were simply AMAZING! They have so much knowledge and passion about pregnancy, labor and delivery, making me feel safe, empowered and supported. From providing information and deep explanations to words of encouragement, physical support, essential oils, counter pressure and hip squeezes, they did everything I needed to bring my son into this world. It was the most beautiful night of my life and I'm forever thankful to these two women! If you are looking for the best midwives and two incredible souls to be by your side during this beautiful (and challenging) time of life, look no further.

Lindsey was a blessing. She was more than I could have asked for. I don't have family nearby to…read morehelp so I looked into doula services. She made me so comfortable with her caring for my newborn, which is very hard to let someone else do. She was very easy to get along with and offered tips and advice that were so helpful to me, even as a second time mom. She made it so I could get good sleep and be ready for the next day with the baby and my oldest, refreshed. Thank you!! I am forever grateful. :)

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.

Rosie showed up when I was in labor and told me I wasn't in labor yet. told me to go to the…read morerestroom, and eat a banana. She was dismissive and honestly ruined my labor. Still angry over it after 6 years. When I got to the birth center I was 8-9 cm! Her excuse was "I thought you wanted to labor at home as long as possible." Even though I told her I wanted to go because I was in so much pain. She ruined my birth experience. Would never recommend and people still can't believe how she treated me. Told her I felt like I could push and she walked me to my bathroom and shut the door.

Rosie was the most amazing and thoughtful, peaceful, loving, patient and professional Doula I could…read morehave dreamed of. My husband was reluctant to have someone join us during such an intimate time and we are so glad we did! I had GD and my doctors wanted to induce me and Rosie helped my son Matthew to choose his own birthday by coming with me to all of my doctors appointments and asking the right questions when I would usually just nod my head yes. She recognized my signs of hard labor and eased my discomfort in a multitude of ways, even by getting my husband a drink of water and just her being there was monumental to my labor and my sons birth. I'm not kidding, she even flew across the country to be with us during this magical time. Just the sound of her voice is even soothing. I found out later the doula circle nicknamed her birth whisperer. Perfect.

I can say without a doubt that I would not have been able to have the birthing experience I wanted…read morewithout the help of Jenn. She was very responsive throughout the pregnancy, a wealth of knowledge when google searches were unclear. She helped prepare me for a natural, unmedicated birth with countless tips. She was also invaluable during early/active labor, helping with exercises to get baby in place and labor at home as long as possible. Most importantly, though, she provided the nurture and support that was non-existent at the hospital. This was my and my husbands first time experiencing childbirth and we assumed that the nursing staff would provide a caring and trusting environment during the labor. Really, the nurses were just there to monitor the stats, and didn't tend to my needs. It was Jenn who got me water, reassured me through contractions, held me through them when my husband was helping with something else, and translated what was going on when the nurses' communications were unclear. Her calming and encouraging presence got me through those final hours, and I really don't believe I would have been able to achieve unmedicated birth without her. Because of her, I look back happily and empowered on what I was able to accomplish, and am forever thankful for her support. If we are in this area with our next child, we will solicit her services again!

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!

Simply put- best decision I've ever made…read more This practice combines modern medicine with midwife intuition, teaching, and deep wisdom. I've never experienced holistic care quite like the Circle Midwifery team. Story time -- my baby was in the perfect position my entire pregnancy... until late in the game when they surprised us by turning breech. As nerve-wracking as that moment was, it also felt like witnessing something incredible. Watching the midwives calmly and confidently work together to encourage my baby to flip was amazing. Each of them knew exactly what to do, and they surrounded my fear with such grounded, focused, and reassuring energy. I felt completely supported -- it was truly a privilege to witness them do what they were clearly put on the planet to do! I've truly never felt so much love and support from a medical care team. I absolutely loved my experience with Your Circle Midwifery. From my husband's perspective: They heard my concerns about home birth without ever dismissing them. Instead, they made me feel informed, respected, and genuinely comfortable with the entire process. I appreciated the personalized care for my wife, our baby and her specific needs They provided incredible support during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum We are forever grateful for this team.

These talented beauties cared and coached us in the home birth I have been dreaming of. They had my…read moreback as I labored and eventually birthed my baby boy at home. I could not have done it without them. I highly recommend them if you want a natural empowered birth. They kept us safe and supported as I did the hardest best thing I've ever done.