Let me start off by saying this class was a beautiful experience for my baby and I. The office was…read morevery clean, and welcoming. Polly was very friendly, extremely knowledgeable, patient, and Kind. She answered all my questions and made my experience warm and comfortable. The class was not large like other classes I have heard about, which I loved and made my experience more enjoyable and all my questions were answered and not rushed. I felt good, happy and was looking forward to the next class. This is a great class if you are looking for a safe, loving, and happy environment for you and your baby to learn, play, and grow with other babies. You and your baby must attend!

Me and my baby truly enjoyed Taking Polly's Class. I have gained confidence as a parent in…read morecompleting it. The class is very well researched, structured, and comprehensive. Polly is amazing. I have already recommended this class to other parents I know and will continue to do so. Highly recommended.

Words can't describe the vibes & energys that was on our birth room ..my wife was having her birth…read moreexperience to the fullest and exactly like her birth plan and all of that couldn't happened without Cynthia's services Cynthia is well educated in all of birth world and know everything about woman's needs in this precious time of newborn coming to the world she made our birth room look like a yoga class in a spa and our minds clear of fear allso as a husband i felt much more confident and secure to have a professional educated and highly sensitive doola that listen to my wife's needs ( and allso giving me my sleep time :) .. me and my wife moved into California not long time ago and our families are over seas it was so important to us to have a natural birth experience she was giving birth in a hospital and we were afraid to deal with medical intervention i really believe and know that we couldn't do that without Cynthia's help Thank you Cynthia for giving us the opportunity to have an amazing experience of life

From the owner: The Birth Whisperer, Cynthia Marie, PhD, has a passion for the birth process and wants to support…read moreevery woman in having the birth they choose with as few interventions as possible. She encourages each client's partner to be involved as little or as much as they are comfortable with. She offers doula and lactation support during conception, prenatal, birth, and postpartum She supports all births including Natural/Non-Medicated/Minimal Interventions, VBAC, C-Section, Home Birth, Water Birth, HypnoBirth, and Birth Center. She offers special sessions in Couple’s Birth Preparation, Childbirth Eduaction, Child Development, Reiki Energy Healing, The Fourth Trimester, The First Forty Days, Attachment Parenting, Safe Bedsharing, and Effective Child Discipline. Clients may attend sessions with a partner or solo. Birth the way you choose... Get attached to your birth plan... Happy mama, happy baby, happy family.

YUMMY!!!!! I received my lactation cookies from Shani and took one bite! I was in cookie heaven,…read morethey are soooo good. I ate 5 cookies in one sitting, after each cookie I told myself THIS is the last one...LOL. I sent Shani a text message to let her know how much I enjoyed them and that I had already eaten FIVE!!!! She was happy to hear that I enjoyed them but also made sure that I didn't eat so many at once as I would wake up the next morning with an overflow of milk production. To be honest, I didn't think that was possible. Until I woke up the next morning with FULL MILKIES!!!!!! I am 13 months into breast feeding (now on demand), and was able to pump 6oz from "Righty" and 3oz from "Lefty" and had plenty left over for our daughters regular feedings. Thank you Shani your cookie are truly a blessing

Shani was amazing! She encapsulated my placenta and gave me such great guidance throughout my…read morepregnancy and labor. My first call to her I had soo many questions and she answered them all. I got my placenta pills, lactation cookies, & a tincture. My next baby I'm looking to have her as my postpartum doula. She made me feel really comfortable and I'm glad I trusted her with my placenta.

I knew I wanted a home birth if I had kids since someone told me years ago that they had a home…read morebirth and they didn't even give me any details. When I got pregnant and did research on it, it just confirmed that I wanted it. I wanted someone who would spend more time and get to know me so that they could feel confident and I could feel confident to safely give birth at home. I just didn't think a doctor at a hospital was going to get to know me or make me trust in them to be safe. My husband was scared of the thought of a home birth and I was scared of the thought of a hospital birth. He has turned around and would do the home birth again. So many of my friends were telling me horror stories of their births and the interventions they went through at hospitals. I knew I wouldn't be able to stand up or question why if a doctor wanted to do an intervention and that I may regret it after so I chose to do a home birth where an intervention was not an option. My sessions with Shelia were an hour long and I completely trusted her to take care of me and if she had told me to go to the hospital or have an intervention I would have because we built that type of relationship. At each session she did my vitals, asked about diet, exercise, sleep and emotions I may be feeling before measuring my abdomen and listening for the fetal heart. She always gave me information about each test that was standard care and let me decide if I wanted to do it. I always felt like I was in control of my health. Our appts got closer together as I got further along and honestly I loved going to them and listening to the baby. It never felt like a doctors office and I never waited in a lobby. She has a beautiful office and welcomes anyone that wants to join which my 6 year old niece did a couple of times and it was great. When I was ready to give birth everything went well and although it was really long, I never once felt scared or regret in my choice. Shelia was monitoring the baby and giving me advice on positioning to get moving along. When my baby was born she put him on me right away and made sure we were both doing well before cleaning up, making me a large batch of concentrated sitz bath tea she saw I had purchased, adding it to some of the pads and froze them to help with the pain (she really didn't have to do) and then clamped the baby's umbilical cord and did all the exams. I would have Shelia again if I were to give birth again in the future. She really took care of me and made me feel safe and I was really happy through it all.

We made a late switch to Lotus Moon Birth and decided upon a home birth for our second child after…read moreour health insurers told us they were unable to make any guarantees about supporting natural childbirth, or permitting anyone else aside from the mother at the hospital. We interviewed several midwives and immediately felt relaxed when talking to Shelia and decided to work with her and her team. This was undoubtedly the best decision we made during the pregnancy. Shelia and Donna were an amazing team, knowledgable, calm, reassuring and above all quietly competent. We had a fantastic birth and were able to greet our daughter in the comfort of our own home. Pre and postnatal care was also brilliant, despite some complications with our daughter's tongue tie making breastfeeding complicated, and Shelia always made herself available to answer questions or provide support.

CarolAnn is the best doula we could have imagined. She is knowledgeable, caring, and very…read morenurturing. We will definitely use her again.

My husband and I were fortunate enough to have CarolAnn's guidance for the birth of our two sons…read more CarolAnn has an amazing kind and calming energy from the moment you meet her. She is also incredibly knowledgable regarding the entire process from preparation, for the birth, and postpartum care. I was impressed with how carefully CarolAnn listened to me when I opened up about all my questions, concerns, and fears -- she was always honest, compassionate and had an open heart and mind. She was also very responsive and available whenever I reached out (including during both my labors that started at sunset!) During the births she was incredibly nurturing, calm, present, and professional. I would highly highly (highly!) recommend CarolAnn, she is an amazing resource for your sacred journey of childbirth.

If you have been considering a natural home waterbirth as a possibility for your next birth…read more Seriously... you can look no further. Pick up the phone and call Birthwell... RIGHT NOW! Words can not begin to describe the appreciation I have for Mari and her team. The care I received from Birthwell exceeded all of my expectations and I felt like I was in this big bubble of love during every visit. I know that sounds a bit sappy, but when you have been working so hard being pregnant and preparing for that perfect birth, feeling supported with love and acceptance really makes a difference. And that is exactly what I was blessed with- an absolute perfect birth. I had been receiving prenatal care through my insurance provider at a local hospital, not very happy with the rushed, impersonal experience of being there. After my first ultrasound, doctor after doctor told me that my placenta was too low for a home waterbirth- it wasn't quite a previa, but "too close for comfort" in their eyes. At 36 weeks they were adamant about scheduling me a c-section (the last thing you want to hear when you had been committed to a natural birth), so I demanded one last look. I had been praying so much that my placenta move just the 2 millimeters out of the way. My OB really didn't think it was going to in only two weeks since the last ultrasound, but low and behold, it had! I took this as a sign to get a Midwife and do it the way I wanted from the beginning - at home and in the water. Mariposa of Birthwell was recommended to me by two difference sources - coincidentally the first two people I had asked. I knew that choosing a midwife was a very personal and important decision, so I did my research and looked at all the different midwifery service providers around LA. Before I gave Mari a call, I went on to her website to check her bio. The second I saw her amazing eyes, I was overflowing with tears. I knew right away she was the one. It was a great bonus that she ended up having so much Labor & Delivery experience and that she was super-sweet an empowering. I don't think I've even told her this, but she had me at the online photo :-) After an in-person meeting with her and my partner, we "tied the knot" and she put me to work. There was so much preparation my body needed for the birth that I had no idea about. I was shocked my OB hadn't told me even a fraction of tricks Mari filled me in on. From the yoga moves, to the borage oil, to the squats- I was on a daily regime that got me ready for the big day. One night at around 10:00pm, just after finishing Mari's prenatal yoga video and downing some fresh coconut juice, it started. The contractions were happening every 6 or 7 minutes, but they were pretty manageable. I called Mari up and she told me to call her every hour to tell her how far a part they were at each hour increment. I was pretty surprised, considering it was already so late at night and worried I was going to keep her up all night with phone calls until it was time for her to come (I have a family history of 30-40 hour labor "marathons", so I knew it was going to be a while). After a few hours, I ended up falling asleep somehow. At 5:30am I woke up to my water breaking in bed (luckily Mari had given me a checklist for preparing my home for the birth- including a full waterproof bed pad we had on the bed ready to go!) I called up Mari and she said she was on her way over. She lived pretty close and was at the house within 20 minutes. The contractions weren't that bad, but they were happening every 2 minutes or so. She checked me and we both couldn't believe that I was already dilated 8 centimeters! I got in the water (we had a hot tub prepared on the deck) and she called her assistant to come. Less than 3 hours later, our precious little girl was born. It went so perfect in every way and Mari & Beth were a true blessing. Mari taught me how to breath, low and slow, and she made me feel fearless and so powerful. I was able to birth my daughter in the water and Mari talked me through how to birth most of her by myself- something I really wanted to do. It was the happiest moment of my life. It's been 3 months and, safe to say, Mari is definitely a part of the family.

The level of pre and postnatal care I received from Mari was beyond my expectations. I began my…read morecare with Birthwell at 10 weeks pregnant and just delivered my healthy, beautiful boy on 7/21. He was born at home, in the water, drug free-Just how I imagined. If you want a beautiful, empowered, natural birth with a practitioner who brings the energy of a professional nurse as well as a supportive best friend-She is your girl.

I've been taking pre-natal classes with Katie since I was 10 weeks, this week I'm 39 weeks!!…read moreKatie's approach is gentle, empowering, and meets the needs of each attendee. I appreciate when she opens with a mama focused intention and supports a community by having us check in and support each other. I've been able to make some new mama friends and have enjoyed having Katie as part of my birth support team. Looking forward to the baby and me post-natal classes !

Katie was my yoga instructor for the entire duration of my pregnancy with baby boy #2 and post…read morepartum - baby is currently 3 months old. We did private sessions together and met at various locations in the community. Katie would create a session that focused on my individual needs. For example, if I was having lower back pain that week then we would focus our session on that. Our sessions also included helpful tools such as meditation, yoga props, music, chants, motivational quotes, and visual imagery which were all used later during labor. Katie has a special gift for yoga. I even did the majority of my labor at the comfort of my home and the park! I was truly empowered by this experience as it is such a pivotal time in a woman's life. I am currently enjoying the post partum classes where I can bring the baby with me, takes breaks to nurse, change diapers, and still have the baby close to me while doing yoga. Yoga classes with Katie has been such a huge blessing in my life and has helped alleviate a variety of symptoms such as insomnia, posture, headaches, fatigue, stress, anxiety, and muscle/joint pain. Yoga is now a part of my everyday life and my children are enjoying it too. Thanks Katie! Namaste.

I'm not sure I have the words to fully describe how incredible Mary is. After our daughter was…read moreborn, my husband said that the three birth essentials are diapers, wipes, and Mary--and I couldn't agree more. Mary's prenatal yoga classes are incredibly calming and create such a beautiful sense of community. You meet wonderful moms and moms-to-be, and Mary has a gift for transporting you into a place of peace and relaxation during a time that can feel overwhelming and uncertain. Her prenatal doula appointments are never rushed and provide invaluable education, guidance, and preparation for birth. Throughout my pregnancy, I was able to text Mary with questions, concerns, and fears, and her insight and support were always incredibly valuable. When it came time to give birth, Mary was truly indispensable. She started as a calming presence during contractions, helping distract me from the intensity, keeping me focused, and providing constant encouragement. During pushing, she guided me through different positions and became my biggest cheerleader. After 4 1/2 hours of pushing, I had reached a point where I felt completely defeated and ready to give up. Mary never let me lose faith in myself and helped me find the strength to keep going. I truly believe that without her support, my birth experience would have looked very different and likely involved more interventions. Her care didn't stop after delivery. During postpartum visits, she arrived with delicious homemade goodies, checked in on my recovery, and continued to provide reassurance and guidance when I needed it most. Mary is a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and support during one of the most transformative, vulnerable, and sometimes scary experiences of your life. Having her by my side was one of the best decisions we made, and I genuinely cannot imagine going through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum without her.

I cannot recommend Mary Skinner enough. She is not just a doula--she is an angel sent from heaven…read moreto make your labor and delivery experience as smooth, supported, and empowering as possible. From the moment we connected, Mary's depth of knowledge, warmth, and intuition put me at ease. She met with my partner and me before delivery, spending hours walking us through what to expect, how to prepare my body, and how my partner could actively support my experience. No question was too small, and she answered my endless stream of inquiries with patience, wisdom, and zero judgment. When it came time to labor, Mary was by my side every step of the way. Even though my birth was not what we planned, Mary advocated for me and created a calm and sacred space with soothing massages, body oils, and sound bowls. When I think back to my labor and birth story, I literally see her face... she practically labored WITH me through her hands on support, coaching, encouragement, guidance, and unwavering empowerment. It carried me through. And her care didn't stop there. Postpartum, Mary showed up at my home with a bundle of thoughtful recovery goodies. She not only provided a healing full-body massage and prepared a soothing sitz bath, but she also cleaned my (very messy) postpartum bathroom--without hesitation or judgment. Her level of care, both physically and emotionally, is unparalleled. Mary was truly a godsend during my first pregnancy, and I will undoubtedly hire her again for every one of my future births! If you're considering working with her, don't walk--RUN to book her. She is simply the best of the best.

While being pregnant, I researched local mommy and me classes and was bummed out to see that pump…read morestation doesn't have locations nearby. I ended up signing up for mother's haven classes but didn't enjoy them at all. I was so happy to hear that pump station is testing out a new Calabasas location. Once I attended the complimentary drop-in class, I was hooked and signed up right away! We are now in our 2nd session and I look forward to Tuesday classes every week. Our instructor, Jill, is extremely knowledgeable - sleeping, solids, teething... you name it - and she will be able to give you research/based advice for you and your baby! She also provides weekly materials pertaining to each topic that are extremely helpful. Not to mention, meeting other moms with kids around the same age has been amazing! I definitely highly recommend mommy and me class at this location to all new moms!

From the owner: Mommy & Me Classesread more

I just had a baby in May and was discharged from the hospital with the most minimal breastfeeding…read moreinformation. I knew I really wanted to breastfeed my baby and to enjoy it with minimal stress. So I hired a lactation consultant , Mor ! She made all the difference in my breastfeeding journey. She even helped my baby out of jaundice with a feeding schedule that worked. She also helped my baby gain her birth weight back by day 9 ! Mor is very knowledgeable in her field, kind, patient, and has great bedside manner. She also was available to answer any questions I had and sent demo videos as needed. Thanks to her, my breastfeeding journey has been enjoyable and successful.

Mor is an absolute gem!! I hired her a bit too late with my first when I was only getting 1/2 an…read moreounce after a pumping session. Although it was a bit of an uphill battle given I had to delay breastfeeding from the start, she managed to help me breastfeed until my baby was 6month! what a relief! Fast forward to baby #2, she has been on speed dial for me. I couldn't be more thrilled to see that amount of milk I'm pumping!! Thanks to Mor, I'll have a nice stash in the freezer soon for my moms night out. Mor understands how breasts work, she is supportive and kind, she is always there to answer all your questions and she will go out of her way to make sure you get the results you want!! Do not hesitate. Out of all lactation consultants, she is the breast of them ;)