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!"

Extremely knowledgable and easy to work with. Helped bring our little one into this world safely…read more Highly recommended!

I feel blessed to have found Karen to help with our natural birthing. Being a nervous first-timer…read morewith pregnancy, she was very supportive and took the time to explain and be there for me every step of the way. She is very sweet and I have referred her to friends. She has over 8 years of experience and doula-ed over 50 births (and that was at the time I interviewed her!) so more now! It was so important to me to have a well-seasoned and experienced doula. Also, her rates are very reasonable. She held my hand during labor and my fondest memory was her feeding me muffins and juice minutes before I had a no-epidural natural hypno-birth with my child at the Irvine Hoag hospital suite. Honestly, it could not have gone better and I would recommend her to anyone. Thank you so very much, Karen. (On a side note, that one negative review should not count as hospitals kept changing rules at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and were not allowing in doulas or additional relatives besides spouses! Silly as it was not Karen's fault.)

Christy is seriously amazing. Finding the right midwife was really important to me because birth is…read moresuch a personal experience, and I knew I needed someone I felt 100% comfortable with. From the moment we met her, we just knew she was the perfect fit for us. This was our first baby, and she guided us through everything. She answered all of our questions, made us feel so supported, and honestly exceeded every expectation we had. I also really loved that she's the perfect balance of holistic, but will absolutely speak up if something medical is needed. You can tell her top priority is always keeping both mom and baby safe. We also took her Bradley Method class, which was so helpful and made me feel way more prepared and confident going into birth. We learned so much, and I've already been recommending it to everyone. I fully trusted her the entire time, which made such a difference for me going into labor and birth. Throughout my labor, she was there at any time of day to answer my calls and questions, and she always helped me feel calm and educated about what was happening. On the day of the birth, she was calm, confident, and completely in her element. She made the whole experience feel so smooth and magical. I recommend Christy to anyone, and I already know I'll want her as my midwife for all of my future babies

Safe, warmth and validation. Three words that I experienced with Honey Midwifery during my second…read morepregnancy and birth that I didn't experience with my first. The team at Honey Midwifery has been cultivated with love and education. Every step of the way we talked through my concerns and we talked about the vision of how I wanted my birth to look. My partner was included at every appointment and together we celebrated each new milestone in my pregnancy with love and guidance from Christy and her team. When it was time for my son to make his earthside debut, Christy and her team created a safe space for me and my partner. It's hard to describe but they knew exactly when to check in and when to respect my space. Christy was right there when I needed her wisdom the most. Her words provided the warmth and safety I needed in my most vulnerable time. Honey Midwifery is committed to not only caring for mothers and their families during pregnancy (and postpartum), but also in providing education so families can make informed decisions. I am so glad we chose Honey Midwifery for our health team!

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.

Madi was our doula for the birth of our first child and my husband and I could not recommend her…read moreenough! I interviewed at least 10 doulas and new that Madi was the one almost immediately. She made me feel so empowered and supported throughout the whole process. Her prenatal meetings were SO educational and helped my husband and I feel very prepared for every choice we would encounter through the birthing process. She also took us through pain management exercises and coping techniques that helped me so much when the time came. she was such a calming presence the day of and made sure I was well taken care of throughout. If you're looking for an incredible doula, Madi is your girl!

We couldn't have asked for a better support person--10/10 would absolutely have her by our side…read moreagain! Afterward, my husband even said, "I'm so thankful Madi was there with us." Choosing to work with Madi was hands down one of the best choices we made for the birth of our first child. She brings such a calm, kind, and grounding presence which is exactly the energy you want in the room while laboring and giving birth. Her warmth, knowledge, experience, and steady support made a huge difference. I would rehire her in a second and enthusiastically recommend her to anyone, especially to first-time moms or anyone planning an unmedicated birth. The coping tools she shared during our prenatal visits were incredibly helpful, and her thoughtful advocacy in the hospital gave me peace of mind when I needed it most. Thank you so much, Madi!

There are not enough words to describe how wonderful Sarah is!!! I first met Sarah when I was…read morepregnant with my first baby in 2023 through a birth center, and I was beyond thrilled when she was the midwife on call the night I went into labor and delivered baby #1! She had such a calm and steady presence, that I myself felt calm and steady delivering my first baby into the world. When I became pregnant with baby #2, I learned that Sarah had started her own midwifery practice and I knew I HAD to have her!!! Sarah is the most knowledgeable, kind, caring, gentle, loving, patient, sweet, intelligent and empowering midwife out there - she is fantastic to work with, spends quality time with you and your family to fully get to know you and deliver customized care, which is worlds beyond what many women receive through pregnancy and postpartum. She always made me feel so seen, safe and confident, always answering my questions with extensive knowledge & wisdom, and empowered me as a mother and as a woman. Her faith-based approach made me feel uplifted and secure, bringing forth a sense of tranquility that is not often experienced through pregnancy and labor/delivery in today's world. She is truly gifted in the work that she does. Her home visit appointments made it so easy on me and my family, and she always included my first born in what we were doing, allowing her to rub aloe vera on my belly and use the Doppler to listen to her sister's heartbeat, as well as check my BP. My daughter absolutely adored her, which meant everything to me through such a transitional period of being pregnant with our second baby. She has so many wonderful personalized touches to what she provides as well, such as adorable custom umbilical cord ties, beeswax candles, magnesium salts, a packed labor & postpartum bag with everything that you need during and after labor, herbs to use in your peri-bottle, herbal padsicles, and even a postpartum massage therapist! She just provides fantastic and thoughtful touches to her care of you during and after pregnancy - truly amazing. After baby #2 was born, she was so supportive and attentive to me to the point where I didn't have to worry about a thing. She went above and beyond to handle some extra stressors I had and made my time of recovery so much easier so I could focus all of my energy on our newest baby. She would always check in on me and make sure we were doing well - she truly made us feel so loved. Sarah is family, and I cannot say enough about how absolutely wonderful she is. If you are considering a home birth, Sarah is 10000% your midwife! If we have a 3rd baby, I absolutely know who I will be calling! We love you so much Sarah!!!

My wife and I were expecting our third baby and came across a familiar name during our search for…read moremidwives - Sarah West Brown. She was our doula for our first pregnancy 6-years ago and she was absolutely fantastic! Genuine, kind, compassionate, supportive and truly cared for the well-being of my wife! We knew she'd make a wonderful midwife someday and she absolutely was! During our third pregnancy, hiring Sarah as our midwife was like having a family member and spiritual warrior care for you. Her knowledge, skills and insights are invaluable. She even reviewed our health insurance to see if we qualified for a free breast pump and recommended a great site to shop from (a site that my health insurance did not disclose to us and only gave us two breast pump options). Sarah made my wife feel comfortable, educated and well-informed during the pregnancy and it was obvious to us that Sarah's heart was with her patients. She loves what she does and it shines brightly through the incredibly warm and nurturing care she provides. The postpartum care my wife and newborn received was top-tier! Sarah has a calming presence about her and it put our family at ease knowing someone with her level of expertise was there. Her gentle, sweet and authentic personality was something my two little boys gravitated towards too. They followed her around like little chickens and asked her tons of questions (which she kindly answered all of them!). Not sure how she was able to do what she did with all these Curious Georges hanging around her but she did it with professionalism and class. We're beyond grateful and feel so blessed to have found Sarah! The experience we had from start to finish was magnificent and we cannot thank Sarah enough! This was truly a blessing from the Lord! THANK YOU AGAIN, SARAH!!! TL;DR - We HIGHLY RECOMMEND MAMA BABY!!!

Holly is a colleague of mine in the doula community, and I am so impressed by her level of…read morecompassion, expertise and professionalism. She is incredibly passionate about supporting families in the way they need, without any judgement or agenda, and all the clients I've referred to her have been incredibly happy which speaks volumes! She has such well rounded and unique offerings such as birth and postpartum support as well as babywearing education and car seat installation. Holly is a huge asset to all families!

Holly was my doula for my firstborn and was such a calming presence. Very knowledgeable and helped…read moreguided us through the whole experience. She had previous work with the Hoag Irvine midwives, which made me feel comfortable. My husband called Holly when we needed reinforcements at the hospital. She helped with counter pressure and sat with me through the night until our little baby girl was born. She even took a few pictures when my daughter was born.

Lauren was my doula for the birth of both of my children. Like many first time parents, we had…read moreabsolutely no idea what to expect for birth or the post partum period. She had very helpful info on the birth process, options for birth plans etc. we were so thankful for her guidance with our first. I had to be induced both times and labored with pitocin. For my first birth Lauren really stepped up to help me meditate through the contractions when I started to panic. During my recent second birth, she helped me stretch and move around to reposition my baby and help him move down. She also can take photos/videos of the birth if you want and took the most beautiful photos for both of my children! Overall she's super knowledgeable, wants to advocate for you at whatever level you're comfortable with, and just generally helps everything go more smoothly. Highly recommended Lauren as a birth doula!

Lauren is an exceptional doula and we feel incredibly grateful to have had her as part of our birth…read moreexperience. She is extremely knowledgeable about all things labor and delivery, works seamlessly with the staff at Hoag Newport, and is fantastic at collaborating with the husband (me) both leading up to and during labor and delivery. Lauren even came to our home ahead of time to see our space and provide education, which was such a thoughtful and comforting touch. She truly has a gift for bringing calm, clarity, and confidence to the birth process. She was texting us consistently leading up to going to the hospital, which made us feel deeply supported, cared for, and never alone. We would absolutely recommend Lauren to anyone looking for a doula who is skilled, compassionate, and genuinely invested in your experience.