Doulas

All practitioners listed on this website were used and highly recommended by someone in the kula (heart-filled community).

For a free or almost free doula, you can contact a doula trainer such as Ellie Shea at www.doulabirthpartners.com or www.chapmanfamilycenter.com and ask if they can hook you up with someone who is trained, but not yet certified. They can also help you find the right doula at whatever price - of course, in general, the more experienced they are, the more expensive.

1. Amanda Blake 310-383-9038 (amanda@greenark.org)
Please tell people about my doula-- she was great!

2. Jessica Rich 310-351-7709
I think I gave you my wonderful doula's info. but here it is again.

3. Margie Levy www.supportivedoula.com
I really liked my doula, her name is Margie Levy. She does Reiki and hynopsis for pain relief and supports whatever birth plan you choose yet still offers an opinion if you ask for it.

4. Glyol Pannbechi 310-403-0379
We used THE BEST labor doula. Her name is Glyol Panbechi (her last name may be spelled wrong). I ended up needing a last-minute c-section, but until then, Glyol was a life-saver. I had two days of contractions at home (kept getting sent home from the hospital) and without Glyol, I don't know what we would have done. Jorge had thought that a doula was not necessary, but when the time came, he was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad she was with us! Apparently, I was in a lot of pain, but I don't remember any of it. When we returned home from the hospital, there were all these wet towels on the floor, and I asked Jorge what they were doing there. He said, don't you remember Glyol had you get in the shower? I didn't really remember it. It's so weird how the mind works -- I just don't remember the painful parts.

5. Beth Tiner - 310-399-4849. I used her as a doula and she is incredible. So professional, organized and most inportantly present.

6. Elena Vogel (both Labor and Postpartum): 310.889.8444

and Abigail Morgan Massage Therapist (pre/postnatal and labor specialist):
I can't say enough about how much the support of these wonderful people guided me through my entire labor and made even the most difficult moments meaningful and powerful. And massage really helps! During contractions, one person would squeeze my hips together, and the other would push in and down on my sacrum. And then in between they'd massage me all over to keep me relaxed. It really really relieved the pain. At one point I turned to them and told them I should go into labor more often! This was definitely the way to do it.

8. Ana Markel 818-763-7202 Birth Educator and Labor Doula
Ana has had four children and has experienced both vaginal and Caesarian, medicated and natural birth. She is wonderfully open minded and a very experienced doula. Please see her recommended Birth Prep and Infant Care Class under Recommended Caregivers. 818-763-7202.

1. Julie Skehan and phone is 310-804-4677
I had a post-partum doula that I LOVED. I cannot say enough wonderful things about her. She is so fantastic with the baby and with me (providing breastfeeding advice, etc.). She's just amazing. She also specializing in multiples, although definitely works with people who just have one baby. She is also a labor doula, and although I didn't use her for that, I'm sure she's equally great at that too.

2. Ronna Filkow - Newborn Care and Instruction - 310-505-0001, filko@sbcglobal.net
My testimonial: My sister-in-law gifted us a week of Ronna's time. I was seriously apprehensive about having someone I didn't know at all spending the week that we got back from the hospital with us AND I didn't think we were really going to need her because my mom stayed with us. Lets just say, by the time Ronna left, she was like part of the family. I cried - of course I was hopped up on postpartum hormones - but I really was so sad that she was finished. However, her lessons during those first weeks have be nothing short of miraculous. And, she checked in on me periodically over the next couple of months just to see how things were coming along and offered support and encouragement! I heartily recommend her to ANYONE considering a postpartum doula.

3. Elena Vogel (both Labor and Postpartum): 310.889.8444
(please see above Labor Doula list for testimonial)

4. Glyol Pannbechi 310-403-0379
I used Glyol as my labor doula but when she came over the next day just for a couple hours, she was a life-saver. She brought me a pump, taught me things about breastfeeding and was in general super-helpful in giving me a much-needed attitude shift. I don't know if she does just post-partum or only does both but worth a try!