HeadFirst Lactation & Doula Services in Marina Del Rey

Review №1

2023-07-03 04:38:20

There is so much that can be said about Yana--she is warm, supportive, a wealth of knowledge, and just an all-around gem. I am writing this review as we approach my sons first birthday, nearly a year after Yana was with us and she is still a daily name in our household (well as Yana taught us...). Yana served as our postpartum doula for our first child and I am so grateful we found her. Before the birth, she came over and went over many of the basics--diaper changing, feeding, etc. We were pregnant during covid and all of the baby classes were online, so having Yana teach us hands-on how to put on a diaper was huge! After coming home from the hospital we had Yana for several visits in the first few weeks and then again a few months later. Her help was invaluable--Yana did everything from teaching us how to give a bath, to teaching us how to put on the baby carrier, to setting up a routine/schedule, to taking care of me (mom) and making sure I napped/ate/rested. Yana is truly such a wonderful spirit and I am so grateful we found her. If you considering a doula, I would highly recommend Yana time and time again.

Review №2

2023-01-19 01:42:03

Yana was my birth doula and she fundamentally helped me shape my birth experience. I cannot imagine achieving what I did without her support, and I wholeheartedly recommend her.As a first time parent it can be difficult to know where to start. At our first visit, Yana quickly intuited my personality and my husband’s personality, and recommended birth classes and books that were completely inline with our goals and ethics. At another prenatal visit she helped me build a visualization that was my go to place during my unmedicated labor. During the birth she strongly advocated for me and my birth plan. She helped me feel supported and strong. In postpartum she helped me navigate through several challenges including getting breastfeeding support and recommending post partum anxiety resources.I can’t thank Yana enough for her support, guidance, and wisdom. I feel so lucky she was part of my motherhood journey.

Review №3

2023-01-04 19:04:11

Yana is a wonderful doula and a wonderful human. She is knowledgeable, thoughtful, experienced and compassionate, all crucial characteristics for this time in a familys life. She took amazing care of me while in labor and made the birthing process so much more manageable for our family. I would highly recommend her.

Review №4

2020-09-09 03:58:10

Yana is wonderful! She has a very soothing, calm, positive motherly energy! Attended her Postpartum Doula workshop and it was packed with valuable information, aha moments, & Oxytocin (love hormone).... She cares about each student. She starts with a big welcome hug. She checks in with us to stay connected after the workshop. She is well-informed on inclusivity. I highly recommend her workshops as not only she is a great instructor, but also a role model of a doula with integrity.

Review №5

2020-09-07 21:59:28

I have nothing but great things to say about Yana. I took her postpartum doula training (prior to Covid 19) as well as her breastfeeding class and I loved both. Not only is she so sweet and welcoming but i learned so much and felt so supported. I’m so grateful to have crossed paths with her. It was awesome to be inspired by her on both a personal and business level. Whether you are seeking doula or lactation support OR training, I highly recommend her.

Review №6

2023-04-03 01:12:28

Our second child was born with Yana by our side. Words cannot express how grateful we are to have had her with us. From our first meeting to the delivery itself Yana has been a tremendous source of knowledge and support. She is extremely attentive to your needs and very caring. There is no one we’d rather have by our side but Yana !

Review №7

2019-06-04 15:40:47

Yana’s postpartum workshop and breastfeeding class were both a joy to attend. I learned so much and came out feeling confident and ready to start working as a doula. She encourages connection, openness, and compassion. I would recommend her as a teacher or a doula to anyone I know.

Review №8

2018-04-30 18:54:35

Like so many others I find it hard to think of where to begin. When I think about my birth experience I know that I look back on it fondly because of Yana. She was our birth doula and postpartum doula and it was worth every single penny. Her service started out with coming to our home and talking to my husband and I about all kinds of things that we would have never known that we should discuss prior to the birth. It was so valuable to us to have these conversations ahead of time, something as simple as talking about what we like and, maybe more importantly, dont like while we are stressed was really enlightening for us.When it came time for the big day Yana was an absolute dream. She was there at the hospital with us for over 24 hours, taking care of us and making sure we understood everything that was happening and our options. The only way I can even come close to describing it to someone is to imagine that there is someone by your side whose only job is to make sure you are taken care of. Any single thing I needed she took care of me.Then it came time to bring our little boy home and Yana was there for the first 4 nights home from the hospital. I dont know what we would have done without her. It was so special seeing as she was there for my sons birth it felt like she already knew him. While we slept she looked after the baby, washed baby clothes and bottles, cooked etc etc etc. It was so lovely to have someone to wake me when he was hungry, help me nurse and then help him back to sleep so that I could rest as much as possible. She even reminded me to take my meds and made sure I had snacks and had a hot breakfast ready for me in the morning. Yana was the expert mom that we needed to help us learn how to thrive with our son as a family.He is doing so well, he is a happy boy and a great sleeper and I truly believe I owe that to Yana and the great start we got off to with her help. I will always have a special place for her in my heart and I wouldnt hesitate to hire her again. We miss you Yana!

Review №9

2019-02-02 23:56:27

I was skeptical when my wife first said she wanted to hire a doula for the birth process. I had no idea what a doula did or why you needed one (none of my other guy friends had one with their kids). But Yana and Head First proved me wrong--she was an absolute pleasure to work with. We did one of our post-birth meetings with Yanna and came up with the term emotional sherpa--she is a calming and guiding presence that helps you prepare for and perform on the big day.I can attest that I could not have done the birth process without her, and my wife was helped tremendously by her lactation services. She helped me provide support for my wife and came soon after we called her at 3 am at the hospital. The research shows doulas help with birth outcomes. That was surely the case with us.Between the 2 pre-birth visits, the extended hospital birth, and the 3 post-birth visits with expert lactation consulting, the Head First doula package was a must have (not to mention a tremendous value).

Review №10

2023-01-08 09:48:23

Great service. We really appreciated her help. I recommend.