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

I am deeply grateful to Joy and April for the support they provided during my pregnancy, birth, and…read morepostpartum journey. I came into this pregnancy with a history of a prior C-section, which naturally carried emotional weight, fear, and many unanswered questions. From the very beginning, Joy and April met me exactly where I was -- without judgment, pressure, or agenda. They never tried to "sell" me a birth outcome. Instead, they supported me as a whole person and honored my autonomy at every step. What stood out most was how grounded and steady they were. During moments of doubt, fear, exhaustion, and decision-making, they helped me feel calm, informed, and supported -- not rushed or overridden. Their presence was reassuring, compassionate, and deeply respectful of my instincts as a mother. They also supported my husband beautifully, helping him feel included, confident, and empowered throughout the process. This made a huge difference for us as a family. Postpartum, their care didn't suddenly disappear. They continued to check in, offer reassurance, and remind me that recovery -- physically and emotionally -- is a process, especially after a complex birth history. If you are looking for doulas who are experienced, emotionally intelligent, trauma-informed, and truly on your side, Joy and April are it. Whether you are navigating a VBAC, a prior C-section, or simply want compassionate, steady support -- you will be in incredibly capable hands. I will always be thankful for the way they held space for me and my family during one of the most vulnerable and important seasons of my life.

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!

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!

​I cannot say enough wonderful things about Nova. If you are looking for a postpartum doula who is…read moreprofessional, deeply intuitive, and truly goes above and beyond, look no further. ​It had been 6 years since I last had a newborn, and to be honest, I was feeling incredibly rusty. Nova was an absolute lifesaver in easing me back into the groove of infant care, bringing a sense of calm confidence into our home right when I needed it most. ​While she is fantastic with babies, what truly sets Nova apart is how much she focuses on the entire family unit. She didn't just care for my newborn; she took incredible care of me as a recovering mother. She anticipated my needs before I even knew them--constantly ensuring I stayed hydrated, offering much-needed massages, and knowing exactly the right level of support to offer. She balances warmth with the utmost professionalism. ​On top of that, she was a massive help around the house, seamlessly taking over everyday household tasks so I could actually rest. She also went out of her way to engage and entertain my 6-year-old son, making sure he felt included and special during a time of big transitions. ​Nova doesn't just do a job; she brings peace, order, and genuine care into your home. We are so incredibly grateful for her support!

Nova is such a wonderful human being. I hired her as a postpartum doula last minute. She was so…read morewarm and welcoming from our very first text exchange. When she came to my home she made me feel at ease and is so great with my son. She has a huge heart with good intentions and takes care of the whole family, not just the baby.. I couldn't say enough positive things to share how much of a difference she made to our family.

Aight, if you're on the fence about placenta encapsulation, just hit up Momma Love and call it a…read moreday. My wife and I had our baby on Monday, found Meriah through Google, and she was solid from start to finish. Her website is hella organized, communication was on point, and even though she's based in Encinitas, she drove all the way to UCSD to pick up our placenta and then delivered everything to our house in Chula Vista. That's love!! She's certified in food safety and foodborne illness prevention too, so you know she actually knows what she's doing. That gave us a lot of peace of mind. And man... we got way more than just capsules. She hooked us up with a tincture, placenta prints, umbilical cord heart, peri spray, raw smoothie cubes, a thank-you card. I was like, "Hold up... all this was included?!" Meriah goes above and beyond. Super kind, calm, professional, and just an all-around awesome human. I'll definitely be sending friends and family her way. Appreciate you, Meriah!

Meriah was absolutely incredible throughout the entire placenta encapsulation process. She was…read moresuper helpful, extremely knowledgeable, and explained everything in a clear, reassuring way. Her friendly and supportive personality made the experience comfortable and stress-free for both me and my girlfriend. She was also very accessible and communicative--any questions we had, she answered right away, and she walked us through each step with confidence and care. You can tell she truly knows what she's doing and genuinely loves helping new moms. Highly recommend Meriah to anyone considering placenta encapsulation. Five stars all the way!

We had the grace of Courtney's presence and support as we gave birth to our first son last week…read more Truthfully I don't think words can articulate how much of an impact she had on me and how grateful I am to have had her during our journey. She had a few prenatal visits which made me feel empowered and confident to have the birth we were aiming for. I went until 42 weeks and Courtney really helped give me the tools and patience to listen to my body (it felt like I was waiting for years!). Above all she constantly reminded me to TRUST my body. I ended up having the birth I manifested which was unmedicated. I don't know if I would have been able to do it without her! She calmed me and my husband so much during the whole process. Courtney guided us but also had a subtle presence which made it so intimate for me and my husband. She knew exactly what to say it and when, she was also very hands on while I was laboring. I was congested and had nausea and she had peppermint oil for me which was another saving grace! Courtney came a few days later and delivered my placenta. I've been taking it as directed and feel a huge noticeable difference! The hormone shifts after birth are real and it really helps level them out. I've also had plenty of breast milk for this growing babe. If you're looking for a doula to help with your pregnancy, I couldn't recommend Courtney enough!!!

Courtney is the most amazing midwife! I truly couldn't have asked for a more perfect match for my…read morehome birth. She has a kind, patient, and calming soul that brought peace to my heart and mind each and every time that I saw her. From the hour long prenatal appointments, to the calming presence at my birth, she really blew us away with her care. During my delivery, our baby was found to have shoulder dystocia. Although a scary event, Courtney remained calm and used her knowledge, expertise, and care to manipulate the situation and deliver my little girl safe and sound. She made my entire postpartum experience so enjoyable and special for my family and I. She even took the time to teach my older daughter all about the placenta. I highly recommend her to anyone considering a home birth. We will definitely be using her again if we have another little angel in the future. Thank you so much, Courtney!!

Where do I begin?! This was our second birth and it was honestly just a dream! Exactly how I…read moreenvisioned our little lady arriving earthside and there is no way I could have done it without the support of Meghan. I had used an epidural with our first birth after 40 long hours of labor and feeling like I needed some relief. This time, I wanted to try and go without an epidural but by the time I had arrived to the hospital, where we met Meghan, I was tired and ready to throw in the towel. Meghan gently led me to the birth center room and we quickly ordered nitrous oxide to take the edge off and it was exactly what I needed. With her guidance and my husband's love and assistance, we had our dream birth with a dream baby and I am so very thankful she was there! She has a gentle way about her while still being such a strong presence. During each surge she knew exactly what i needed to hear and was right there for me. I just can't say enough good things!!!!

I used Meghan for placenta Encapsulation a couple months ago. Meghan went above and beyond and…read moredelivered my capsules in 1 day and even included some delicious chocolates and goodies! If you want a quick turnaround time for placenta encapsulation definitely go with Meghan! I'm still taking my capsules and I feel great. Thank you so much!

I honestly don't even know where to start! I met Joanna through a yoga studio in North park because…read moreshe did prenatal massages in the studio. I was about 3 months pregnant when I started getting massages with her once a week. And off the bat, her and I clicked so well! She's truly so amazing and so passionate at everything she does! She made my pregnancy a breeze! I could do it over and over again! I call her my pregnancy and birth angel! I knew that I wanted a doula as I was preparing for a natural birth, so when I found out that it is one of the services she offered, I already knew she was it and I didn't even have to look around and interview anyone else. Throughout pregnancy she gave so many pointers and advice and I see the difference it has made with my daughter. On the day I was giving birth, she was at the hospital within minutes, she was there the whole entire 37 hours and maybe took a 4 hour nap within the whole time. I cant even go into detail about all the things she's done during my birth.. I guess it's more like what didn't she do for us?! Lol but after I gave birth, she took my placenta and sterilized it, and encapsulated it at her home, came back a few hours later with my own placenta shake. People might find that gross but it was actually really yummy, tasted like mixed fruit smoothie, you can't even taste the placenta. I took my placenta for about 3 months. Never had postpartum depression and it helped me feel energized! Even though I ended up with a c-section, I was up doing chores within 5 days after birth! I didn't feel tired or lazy as long as I was taking my pills! My mom and sisters even had to force me to stop doing everything I was doing. My placenta pills helped reduce post-natal bleeding and also helped with my milk production but since my daughter couldn't latch as she was 3.5 weeks early it got very hard and after 2.5 months, I dried up. A couple of weeks after my birth, Joanna massaged me focusing on my stomach to reduce the bloating and to start moving everything to get back to my pre pregnancy state. She also used cupping during the massage to help promote healing. I had the herbal steam bath done, which was amazing! Afterwards I felt so brand new down there and so clean.. I did bleed heavily after but I felt it took out all the gunk that was there for the last 9 months lol (sorry..tmi)! She's given my daughter infant massages and she taught me how to do them as well, which I do on my daughter everyday for bonding. I can't even tell you what a good and calm baby I have and I honestly believe it's because of how easy and relaxing my whole pregnancy was! Every service I've received through Joanna, she's blown me away by her work and passion every time! I love her so much and honestly wouldn't give birth without her, and that is coming from my partner as well! Even if we had to fly her out somewhere as long as she's there lol! Absolutely amazing and I'm so blessed to have found her!

Joanna is AWESOME! She provided incredible support and healing remedies to me postpartum. The…read moreherbal remedies helped me heal quickly; her binding helped my ligaments reattach; the stretching methods kept me strong and relaxed; and her outstanding postnatal massage utterly restored my being. She has my strongest recommendation for herbal remedies, prenatal and postnatal massage and postpartum doula services.

As a dad-to-be, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going into a hypnobirthing class. If I'm being…read morehonest, I was a little skeptical at first--"hypno" anything sounded a bit out there to me. But I signed up to support my wife, and I'm really glad I did. This class completely changed how I see birth and my role in it. Instead of feeling like a bystander, I walked away feeling informed, useful, and actually confident in how I can support my wife during labor. The techniques we learned--breathing, relaxation, visualization--aren't just for moms. I found myself using them too, and they've already helped us both stay calmer leading up to the big day. What stood out most was how much emphasis was placed on teamwork. I learned specific, practical ways to advocate for my wife, help her stay relaxed, and create a positive environment no matter how the birth unfolds. It made me feel like an active participant instead of just "the guy in the room." The instructor, Care, was very knowledgeable, approachable, and never made any question feel silly. She made the classes very comfortable and even pretty funny at times. The class also struck a great balance between education and hands-on practice, so it didn't feel like we were just sitting through lectures. If you're a partner on the fence about taking a hypnobirthing class--do it. Even if you're skeptical like I was, you'll come away with tools, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of what your partner is going through. Honestly, it's one of the best things we've done together to prepare for becoming parents.

I gave birth a couple months ago, and decided to go through Care's Hypnobirthing class, and also…read moreuse her for my placenta encapsulation, and I can't recommend her highly enough! From the very first class, it was clear that Care is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about empowering expectant parents. Her approach to hypnobirthing and breathing techniques was not only informative but also calming and reassuring for both me and my partner. We completed it feeling much more prepared and confident for the birth experience ahead. Care provided a wealth of resources, ensuring we had everything we needed to make informed decisions about our birthing plan. She was always responsive to our questions, both during the classes and even after the birth, which made a world of difference in our journey. It's rare to find someone who continues to support you even after the classes are over. Overall, the entire experience with Care was amazing. Her warmth, expertise, and dedication to her clients truly set her apart. If you're looking for guidance and support in your birth preparation, look no further than Care Messer at the Birth Education Center!

I could not be happier with my placenta encapsulation. I reached out to Trisha from Zoe Bella after…read moremy birthing doula recommended her placenta encapsulation services. Trisha explained the whole process to me and answered all of my questions. She even offered a print of my placenta before she encapsulated it. We unexpectedly had to stay a few days longer in the hospital while my son received care in the NICU and Trisha graciously offered to get me the capsules to me within 48 hours AND personally delivered them to the hospital herself. I could not have been more thankful because I was experiencing a lot of stress at the time and the capsules helped regulate me. I've been taking the capsules as Trisha described for 6 weeks now and I have not experienced any postpartum blues, no dips in my mood or emotional rollercoasters. I've even experienced a surge of energy similar to having a cup of coffee about an hour after taking them (without the caffeine crash) which has been so helpful in the postpartum days caring for a little one. I would HIGHLY recommend any expecting mama to get her placenta encapsulated and would HIGHLY recommend Trisha at Zoe Bella for this service. You won't regret it!

Trisha is the best! I reached out just two weeks before my baby arrived, and she still managed to…read moreencapsulate my placenta for me. She was incredibly communicative, answered every question I had, and made the whole process feel so easy. I was honestly shocked by how fast she worked--she encapsulated everything and hand-delivered the pills so quickly. When she dropped them off, she even helped me with some breastfeeding questions I had, which meant so much to me as a first-time mom. And the cord artwork that comes with the pills is absolutely beautiful--something I'll treasure forever. This was my first baby, so I don't have another postpartum to compare it to, but I truly believe these pills made a positive difference. I had zero PPD or PPA, my milk supply was super healthy, and overall I had such a smooth postpartum experience. I'll definitely do this again for my next baby. Amazing experience! I recommend Trisha to all mamas--because honestly, when else do you get the chance to eat your own placenta?!