We are SO grateful to have had Lauren's help with caring for our newborn during the early postpartum weeks. As first-time parents, we were anxious and sleep-deprived upon coming home from the hospital with our baby, and having Lauren there during that first night at home was absolutely life-saving -- I felt so grateful and relieved to see her walk through the door. She was so warm and reassuring, and I knew that our baby would be in good hands. Each night that she came, she would answer all our random questions that we had written down, teach us how to soothe and care for our new baby, and give us the opportunity to catch up on much-needed sleep while she looked after the baby overnight. Then before leaving each morning, she would always give us a summary of how the night went, including anything notable about the baby's health or behavior and any relevant advice. It's clear that Lauren is an expert at what she does, and it was amazing to have her as our trusted advisor on all things baby-related. She is a patient and professional teacher, and her guidance has helped build our confidence as new parents. Anyone would be lucky to work with her! Thank you, Lauren! read more

We kept calling Lauren "Mary Poppins." Not only was she practically perfect in every way - she is - but she was just what we needed when we needed it. Coming home from the hospital as first time parents and knowing Lauren was there to support us helped relieve our "newborn" stress. Lauren adapted her style to our needs. She is extremely experienced and anticipated what we would need before issues arose. She is attentive, attuned and communicates well. She helped us grow in confidence for caring for our child so that by the time she left, although we missed her company, we felt equipped for parenthood. Before I met Lauren, I was hesitant to accept that a night doula could fit into our family. Those first few months are so intimate, and I didn't want to have anyone around that would dampen the experience. Well, that worry was unfounded with Lauren. Lauren helped me be able to focus on my son better than I could have without her help. If you are thinking of hiring Lauren, don't take my word for it - see for yourself. read more

I seriously cannot speak highly enough of Lauren and Supported Birth. To echo similar sentiments from past reviews, she was an absolute godsend from the moment we arrived home from the hospital. I'm not sure how my husband and I would have navigated this new stage of life without her. More than providing support and nights of highly coveted and all-too-rare sleep, she also gave us confidence as first-time parents. With her vast experience and wealth of knowledge, we could always trust that we were in the best-possible hands. At the same time, Lauren was extremely respectful of our wishes as parents and was happy to work with us to figure out the most suitable path that made sense for our baby. She consistently came to the table with great ideas and evidence-based research to back her proposed approaches -- none of which failed us! Beyond helping us nail the basics (swaddling, diaper changes, diaper rash, breastfeeding vs bottles, nail clipping, bath time etc.), Lauren was such a calming and kind presence in our home. She would celebrate our successes and make us feel more sane when things got tough. We genuinely loved seeing her walk through the door each night and basically had to force ourselves to sleep because we were so excited to hang out with her and pick her brain. Becoming a parent is one of the most challenging experiences I've faced, but Lauren helped make it all feel approachable and enjoyable. She exceeded every expectation we had set in working with a night doula, and we can't wait to work with her again when the time comes! read more

As first time parents, the one consistent piece of advice we received from friends was to "hire a night nurse or night doula, " and boy were they right! Finding someone you can trust to bring into your home overnight with your newborn (and pet friendly) can be stressful, but Lauren put us right at ease. From the night we came home from the hospital Lauren was a godsend - putting together a customized overnight schedule that allowed a working dad to get undisturbed full nights of sleep and ensure stretches of sleep for a c-section, breastfeeding mom. Even more importantly, as a childcare educator and newborn expert, Lauren was an invaluable resource for us newbie parents - guiding us through every stage (gas, dry skin, fussiness, etc.) and giving us so many parenting tips/hacks/suggestions backed by research and experience. She saved us endless hours of anxiety, symptom googling, amazon buying and pediatrician calls. Moreover, Lauren was amazing with our baby... and our rambunctious dogs, so loving and taking genuine care of all of them. We originally contracted Lauren to work with us for 6 weeks, and ended up extending her for nearly four months. Yes, this type of care is an investment, but getting guaranteed sleep is invaluable. It enabled us parents to truly enjoy our baby! read more

Most of the reviews have been written by the mothers. I am writing this review from the perspective of the husband and support person. This covers both their doula services and birth education knowledge. Pregnancy can be a challenging time but pregnancy and birth in a COVID-19 world was extremely challenging. Both Lauren and Elizabeth really helped us through when we felt lost at times. My wife and I are both type A personalities & like to plan. Plus I'm engineer, but you definitely can't engineer a solution for birth...you have to adapt and adjust quickly. During moments where I felt lost, they were they for my wife to help her her through the process. Lauren and Elizabeth's knowledge and experience help us adjust quickly when they were necessary. My wife and I first met Lauren during the maternity tour at Providence St Joseph (pre-COVID-19). We signed up for the childbirth class through St. Joe's which was to be in person, then everything shut down. Lauren was the instructor and quickly adapted the format to online via Zoom. Through the 5 session course, we learned so much about childbirth and the complications that can arise and the decisions/implications during the process. She was extremely knowledgeable and helped to reassure us so we would feel confident in what to do and how to be when Junior decides to make his debut. Lauren was also very good to point out "dad's take a note on this" items and even preparing a cheat sheet in case daddy gets bird brains day of. During the child birth course (5 weeks), hospital policies were changing constantly...almost daily. Trying to plan as a couple was making us crazy. Lauren kept us up to date and helped to assuage our panic about the situation. Eventually it was cut down to only 1 support person, who could not leave once there and could not change (i.e. hubby for doula). We asked Lauren if she could provide her doula services virtually. Both she and Elizabeth came up with a plan to help my wife during her labor and delivery. In the weeks prior to birth, my wife was experiencing severe pelvic pain. Since so many businesses were closed due to COVID-19, we didn't think that massage or chiropractors were an option. They helped us by referring us to chiropractor that was not only still open but also specialized in pregnancy. During our pre-labor meetings (2 of them), they gave a review of ID'ing labor, alternative pain coping techniques, and the major one for me "daddy checklist with Do's & No-No's" for being a great support for my wife. We also went through our birth plan as well. During labor they provided amazing support. Though they weren't physically there (because of hospital COVID-19 restrictions), they would call to check in on us or always be available to help us. Our birth did not go as planned (unmedicated) but Lauren and Elizabeth were instrumental in helping us weigh the pro's and con's given our developments. Early in the morning that we went to the hospital, my wife's contractions were short and painful. I ran out of coping support, nothing in a worried husband's voice trying hide the fear and worry about his wife's pain could have done so Lauren was just talking her through for almost an hour to help my wife. Her voice was calm, soothing, and confident. After a few hours, she wasn't progressing so we were stuck with the decision to go home and wait it out or change the plan to go medicated. That was a major decision and change to our original plan: change to medicated. I could have not made that decision alone with my wife. Elizabeth brought in her own experience to really help my wife with the decision to change. She was there to let her grieve the change and reassure that grieving the change was normal and natural. That is the most singular point where we were so thankful to have their help and support. I don't know my wife and I would have been able to get through without their support in that moment. After deciding to go medicated, my wife was able to rest and we were ready for our baby's debut a few hours later. Just before the nurses prepared the room, we talked with Lauren for a half hour who gave us a pep talk and reminders to me how to help my wife during pushing. Less than an hour later....our baby was here!!! We are so thankful for Lauren and Elizabeth's support, experience, and care. The birthing process can never be planned but they were instrumental in guiding us and conditions changed. We highly recommend that Lauren and Elizabeth are a part of your birth support team. read more

My husband and I worked with Lauren and Elizabeth for the births of both of our daughters, who were delivered naturally without epidural. I wanted to avoid a C-Section and to have as few medical interventions as possible. Lauren and Elizabeth helped us prepare, align on my birth plan with my medical providers, and were amazingly helpful during labor - which was over 24 hrs long (12 at home via phone support, 12 at the hospital). They encouraged me to be as mobile as possible, using gravity, birth ball, and different positions, and coached my husband to be an active partner during the process. They acted as a mediator / translator between medical staff and my husband and me, helping us make informed choices. They helped me stay focused and used a number of pain management techniques - massage, essential oils, words of encouragement, etc. I never felt alone in this challenging process. I feel incredibly proud of us, thanks to their help! Our second birth was during Covid, so the support we received was via video. My labor was extremely fast, and thanks to the support and education both my husband and I received from Lauren and Elizabeth, we knew what was happening and how to handle it. I highly recommend hiring a doula, especially for first birth. Lauren and Elizabeth are a great team - I couldn't recommend them more highly! read more

Supported Birth - Baby feet in dad's hands - Adult Education Near Me

I highly recommend Lauren. She is professional, caring, thoughtful, hard-working, and respectful. I don't know how I would have made it through the first 3 months without her! She not only cared for my newborn but she helped mama out tremendously. Lauren took the time to get to know me and wanted to understand my philosophy toward caring for my baby (how to do night feedings, bottles, pumping, etc). She answered all of my questions, made recommendations, supported my choices, and made it easy to nurse my baby for all the nighttime feedings. I was able to go to bed feeling confident that my little one was in good hands and I even felt that Lauren knew how to handle more situations with a newborn than I did! She taught me so much -- what the best swaddles are, how to use them, how to try a pacifier, how to trim baby nails, and so much more. She's a pro. She's seen it all. There were some nights when I was sick and could not have been there for my baby -- thank goodness for Lauren. She really went above and beyond to be supportive to me and my family. read more

I don't know what I would have done with out Lauren. Her birthing classes were more of a benefit to me than my wife. I enjoyed her calm guidance and easy humor. A week before my wife gave birth I had to have a surgery to repair my ankle. I was completely useless during my wives labor. I will forever be indebted to Lauren for stepping in and making my wife feel taken care of. read more

My husband and I took Lauren's recent "Caring For Your Newborn" class at A Mother's Haven in Encino just after our first grandtwins -- 2 boys in Montana -- were born at only 34 weeks. It's been 35 years since I held and cared for an infant (the twins mother, my only child) so Lauren's information, guidance, tips, patience and support were invaluable and priceless! The manual and add'l tips she gave us on what's really useful and what's not in the first few months of a newborn's life were simpler and more instantly useful than the what I got from many other books I've read to help my daughter for several weeks once the twins finally go home from the NICU. I feel more prepared to diaper (again), swaddle (for the first time) and burp without being nervous that I'll drop or hurt the babies. My husband was even better at diapering and swaddling than I am! I recommend Lauren and her class to new parents to be and also grandparents -- grammas and grandpas alike -- who will be helping with their new grandkids and haven't been around babies in awhile. It does take a village -- especially with twins! read more

My husband and I took Lauren's Birthing Class and Taking Caring of Your Newborn Class at A Mother's Haven in Encino. Both classes were great - extremely informative, interesting and eye opening. I'd highly recommend both classes - Lauren's patience and experience shines through and we feel prepared and ready to tackle parenthood! read more

I did not want to go to a hospital for birth classes so having Lauren come to our home and tell us everything that we TRULY needed to know was priceless. I felt at ease in my home and my husband was more apt to ask questions than he would have in a group setting. I would recommend her class to all new parents. Lauren, in turn, became my birthing doula. She gave immense comfort and support at the hospital. As a result, I felt confident enough to have a home birth my second time around. read more

My husband and I hired Elizabeth and Lauren after receiving a recommendation from our birthing class instructor and meeting them for an interview. I was planning to have an unmedicated childbirth, but there was the possibility of having a planned c-section. Elizabeth and Lauren were invaluable in supporting us during the remaining weeks of my pregnancy and answering all of our questions regarding a possible c-section. It really put our minds at ease to have an experienced team on whom we could rely to answer any and all of our questions. I ended up having a natural childbirth. Lauren came to our home to help me through active labor and escorted us to the hospital. Elizabeth then assisted us during the pushing phase. I was able to labor at home for much longer than I would have felt comfortable with on our own, since we were confident that Lauren was experienced enough to tell us when we actually needed to head to the hospital. Then, while pushing, Elizabeth helped to communicate with the nursing staff to make sure we took advantage of all of the appropriate methods of help I might receive. Both were kind, open-minded (and never pushed their own ideas of birthing onto us), and very helpful in lending their experience to the situation. I was extremely happy with my birth experience, and definitely believe that I owe much of that to them. I'm now six weeks postpartum, and my husband has commented countless times that hiring them was the best decision we could have possibly made. During the birth, he was able to assist as much as he was comfortable, and also take a step back when he was overwhelmed, and rest when he was tired, all the while knowing that I was well taken care of. I would highly recommend hiring Elizabeth and Lauren to absolutely anyone, especially if you are hoping to accomplish an unmedicated birth. I feel that my pain was cut down significantly by their extensive knowledge of different positions, laboring in the bath, etc. as well as by simply relieving the stress and fear that comes from the unknown. I was relaxed and confident throughout my birth knowing that they were there to support me. read more

My husband and i took Lauren's support birth class at the Pump Station. She was informative, kind and easy going. We learned so much and really felt prepared for childbirth after these classes. i would definitely recommend this class and Lauren to any expecting mama! read more

Lauren and Elizabeth helped my wife thru 30 hours of induced labor. Lauren stayed almost all night talking to my wife to calm her nerves. They helped us make informed decision like when to start epidural or just being there till the end. They were professional, caring and supportive through the entire process. I would recommend them anyway for anyone who is going through pregnancy to rely on as their support. They are super knowledgeable and have a calmness to bring to the table during chaos. read more

Took Lauren's Caring for your Newborn class at Mother's Haven. The class was excellent and wildly informative. She was organized and presented the information clearly and easily. We took Elizabeth's birth class the next day and also had a really great experience and learned a LOT. read more

I agree with all the previous reviews. Lauren was hands down one of the best decisions we made for our baby girls birth. I was very afraid of the whole birthing process and she made me feel more confident and educated about my options. I wanted a natural birth and she helped me to realize that desire as long as I could. After 60 hours of labor I ended up with pitocin and a c-section but I can confidently say she helped me do the best I could with my situation. If I'm ever blessed with another baby I will be calling her up again ;) read more

My wife and I took Lauren's Supportive Birth class at the pump station in Santa Monica. As the only same-sex couple in the class, we were very comfortable and fit right in. We felt very supported and received tons of valuable information. read more

great newborn essentials class at a convenient location! Very informative.

I can't say enough great things about Lauren! My husband and I took her class at the mothers haven for caring for your newborn. We took a birthing class and a breastfeeding class at the same place but this was our favorite!! I wish she would have taught all our classes. She was enthusiastic and didn't just read off a piece of paper like the other instructors did. She is truly passionate about what she does. My husband even said he would love to hire her if we have trouble settling into newborn life! read more

My husband and I just took her Birth preparation class. It was a bonding experience and it allowed us to find time to connect to the idea and expectations of birthing. She is very knowledgeable and fun to listen to. We had to miss one of the classes and she met with us privately to catch us up. She is still sending us emails with information we requested and is a great person to have on your team at this time. I highly recommend taking any of her classes and/or having her as a doula! read more

So glad my husband and I attended Lauren's Supported Birth Class in Santa Monica at The Pump Station in April 2017. Lauren has a wealth of knowledge and provides an environment where asking questions is welcomed. She fosters a sense of community in the class where everyone can learn each other's hopes and concerns. Lauren educated us about the pro's and con's of common pregnancy procedures especially concerning epidurals and the reasons why you might consider not getting one which was very empowering. Would definitely recommend! read more

Lauren is a gem- down to earth, a wealth of knowledge, and frankly, the reason I was calm throughout my pregnancy. I took her class and used her as a consultant, which not only benefited me, but my husband, as well. Although the class focused on a natural childbirth, she reminded us over and over that it was in our hands and she never judged, rather she wanted her students to be prepared for the unexpected and to be educated on hospital procedure. I cannot imagine my pregnancy journey without her. Almost two years later, she remains a part of ours and our little one's life! read more

My husband and I took Lauren's supported birth class at Mother's Haven. This was our second birth but it was a VBAC and we wanted to be prepared for the hospital routine since we were ambushed into a c-section the first time, It is incredibly important for women to be as informed as possible if they are going to have a baby at a hospital and Lauren will help you with that and make you feel secure with knowledge. I also would say to get a doula!! Partners are jconcerned, worried and stressed about their wives and having a douls is having someone on your team that is there for you. Take the birthing classes with Lauren, it is time well spent! She respects your wishes, if you want all natural or an epidural, she is a great resource and a wonderful teacher. read more

Lauren's class at A Mother's Haven was wonderful! We had a great time and learned a lot. My husband felt very comfortable in the class as well, and we would highly recommend it to any first time parent. Thank you Lauren! read more

I had the positive birth experience of my dreams thanks to Lauren's amazing childbirth prep class, which we took at The Pump Station in Santa Monica. The three part course went into great detail about all things childbirth. If it involves labor & delivery, Lauren touched on it. What was really great was that the class did not cater to one particular ideology of childbirth. If you want an unmedicated birth, great, she set you up for success. If you want an epidural, great, she told us all about them. If you need a c-section, have no fear, she will help you feel ready for that possibility. My dream was to have an unmedicated hospital birth, and because of the information and tools my husband and I learned in this class, I was able to have it. Even if my birth experience had gone a different way, I would have been prepared for almost anything. Birth is such a vulnerable and life-changing experience, I really think it behooves all women and their partners to take a class like this so they can confront all that awaits them. It's very empowering to have the kind of knowledge you'll get in this class. Lauren has warm and positive energy without being cloying or patronizing at all. She's straightforward and supportive, and I can tell would keep an even keel in a delivery room. Can't recommend her class enough. read more

My wife and I loved the birthing class with Lauren finding it very informative and therefore comforting. We had to miss the second week but Lauren was generous enough to meet with us privately for an intensive catch-up. After completing the 3-week course she is totally accessible by email or cell in case any questions or concerns arise. We still have the Baby 101 and CPR classes at the Pump Station to look forward to, but I am happy to recommend this particular course and instructor to anyone curious about what to expect with their first pregnancy. read more

My husband and I took Lauren's Supported Birth Childbirth Prep Class at the Pump Station in Santa Monica. The class was so informative and really prepared us as new parents for what to expect during labor and delivery. You can tell she clearly has a passion for what she does and it comes through in her teaching. She takes the time to answer questions and to make sure everyone leaves the class feeling prepared and ready! We unfortunately had to miss our last class as my husband was not feeling well and we did not want to risk getting anyone else sick and Lauren went above and beyond to make sure that we still got all of the information we missed. We really appreciated it - highly recommend! read more

Lauren Ryan was our childbirth educator when we were expecting our first child. My husband and I had a great time in her class, and she even was part of my inspiration for becoming a doula myself. I am looking forward to her published books and hope to have more interactions with Lauren in the future. If you are looking for a childbirth class, I highly recommend hers. read more

This is a long overdue post. Thank you SO much to Lauren and Elizabeth for helping to bring our baby girl, Emmy, into the world November 5, 2018. I am cuddling with her now as she rests her hand on my growing belly. We are 3 weeks away from welcoming baby 4 . Laura and Elizabeth supported my every wish as I successfully brought Emmy into the world through VBAC (after 2 previous C-sections). I started labor around noon and delivered her, only after 8 minutes of pushing, at 8:33pm, unmedicated. Lauren was my support the entire time. She explained what was happening and how to help with positions and pain. She advocated for me to the nurses and my OB. It was the most amazing experience and I am so grateful for all their advice, help and love through the process. I plan to do it the same way with baby 4. You are in the best hands with these two. I am still in awe at their knowledge, their calmness, and their devotion. No need to search anymore- Lauren and Elizabeth are the ones to hire. read more

My husband and I took Lauren's supported birth class and we loved it.. She is really nice and very easy to talk to. The class was great in giving my husband a sense of a role in the labor process. Before this class he was feeling a little helpless as to how he can participate when time comes for labor. Since we took the class, he has already downloaded contraction apps on his phone and is excited to be in charge! Thank you Lauren for giving him this confidence! read more

My husband and I took Lauren's class and it was great. She was So informative and helpful. She even emailed us after the class to give us extra helpful info regarding twins. I highly recommend any class Lauren teaches. read more

My wife and I took Lauren's supported birth class in Tarzana, CA and we liked it so much we hired her as our birth doula to be with us in the hospital. Lauren's class was extremely informative and educational. We felt well prepared for the arrival of our baby by the end of the class. In the hospital, Lauren was an awesome support for us. It was great to have her there to help us enforce our birth plan. She is very experienced and knows her way around the hospital. She was on time and available and a great support to us during such a crazy time. I highly recommend Lauren's supportive birth class and her doula expertise to have on hand on the big day! We couldn't have done it without her. read more