Our Customer Testimonials

This whole experience changed my life for the better, I have never been so informed or felt so cared about by a medical provider. I appreciated how she involved my partner in appointments, the classes and the whole experience. The amount of information I was provided was life changing. It was unbiased, unlimited and raw. I will have a midwife for every birth. I will never stop campaigning for everyone to use Lydia's service. The patience given through my pregnancy, the empowerment that I felt through out my birth, and still being a priority postpartum has been invaluable. 100/10 stars!!!!

Jess C.

We are so grateful for Lydia and her team! From the very beginning, the entire process was amazing. Lydia prepares you in every way possible for birth—physically, mentally, and emotionally—so you feel confident and informed. She is transparent about everything, incredibly knowledgeable, and makes sure you understand each step along the way. We learned so much and felt empowered throughout the entire experience. We also felt truly supported from start to finish. During labor, Lydia and her assistants were calm, attentive, and so encouraging. Their care made all the difference and helped create a positive, supported birth experience for our family. We highly recommend Lydia to anyone looking for a compassionate, thorough, and supportive midwife.

Sinem & Irfan

I loved the midwifery experience at Labored With Love. 10/10 would recommend. I loved the attentiveness, education, support and love. It definitely made me feel more empowered and not just feel like a client but a friend. I feel blessed and grateful for my birth experience. With this being my first baby, I couldn't imagine doing it any other way. I am blessed to have had Lydia with me, supporting me, educating me and holding me accountable. I feel joyful, powerful and full of love. I would definitely recommend Lydia as a midwife and doula and will definitely use her again for my next birth. I liked having the doula team at my birth. They were so supportive and uplifting, There were times I was struggling to keep going and the encouragement to keep going and support throughout my contractions were such a good thing for me. I would definitely recommend having a doula. The best part for me was being able to have my baby in the pool. I remember how i felt getting in the pool, during the water birth and after. Having the help with breastfeeding and postpartum made me feel at ease.

Scarlett & Kelly

My husband and I went into our virtual consults with Lydia not really knowing what we wanted or needed help with, just that we knew we’d need support after having our baby. After several pregnancy losses, we carried a lot of anxiety throughout this pregnancy, and Lydia’s compassion, knowledge, and calm guidance made such a difference. She prepared us so well for our scheduled C-section and helped us organize all our postpartum plans and documents to share with our healthcare providers and family. We even received multiple compliments on how prepared we were, something we owe entirely to Lydia’s thoroughness and thoughtful preparation. Lydia is truly the best. Her warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail made us feel supported and confident every step of the way. We can’t recommend her highly enough to any new or expecting parents, especially those navigating anxiety or uncertainty,she’s an incredible resource and support.

Lauren & Ben R.

Wow, wow, wow! That's all I can say! Lydia helped me immensely as I prepared for the birth of my first child. We live in California and chose the virtual doula package with her; meetings were so thorough that I felt like we were in person. From her variety of classes to the birth plan preparation and what to expect postpartum, she made me feel calm and confident walking into such an unknown territory. She also worked with my partner to ensure he had what he needed for the big day, including how he could support me with different comfort measures and being an advocate for my birth plan. Even though we were virtual clients, I will be referring her to all of my friends when they embark on their pregnancy journeys. If we could fly her out to be there in person, we 100% would for our next baby! Thank you, Lydia, for all your help during this biggest and most rewarding life change!

Natalie & Matt

We are so impressed by Lydia that we just used her for a second time for the home birth of our daughter. The prenatal support that she offers is amazing! She covers so much useful information (breastfeeding preparation, hospital procedures to keep your eyes out for, and additional birthing prep classes). Even though we had gone through a lot of this information with her during our first pregnancy, it was amazing to be able to go over it all again for this time. When our birthing day began, Lydia was a calming support for us. She helped offer techniques and positioning to help keep labor progressing. She helped us with our daughters first latch and answered all our questions before leaving. She also offered additional support in the fourth trimester: helping with breastfeeding support, troubleshooting my oversupply issues & visiting us in person.

Bethany & Jason

I am incredibly grateful to have had Lydia as my home birth midwife. She is the most kind, compassionate, and confident midwife I’ve ever met. Lydia has a calming presence and a way of being straightforward when it matters most. Her confidence in her decisions gave me so much reassurance. Lydia educated me on the childbirth process, breastfeeding, and postpartum care, helping me feel prepared every step of the way. Her home birth midwifery package is organized so beautifully and covers everything needed for a great home birth. Throughout my pregnancy, during labor, and now in the postpartum period, she has been absolutely incredible. Her kindness and compassion during labor were invaluable, and I truly believe I could not have had such an amazing home birth experience without her. If you’re looking for a midwife who genuinely cares, is incredibly knowledgeable, and is deeply committed to your well-being, Lydia is the absolute best. I cannot recommend her highly enough. We love Lydia and are so thankful for the support from Jasmine and Areiona too!

Haley K.

Having Lydia as my nurse and doula was one of the best decisions I could have made! Honestly I don't think I would have achieved the birth outcome I desired (unmedicated VBAC!!) without Lydia. 10/10 would highly recommend. I was initially given educational videos to watch in regards to the type of birth I wanted. All throughout the concierge birth and doula service I was given educational information. It was A LOT of information however it was very relevant. I appreciate her providing us a monthly timeline of appointments and actions that would get completed. Lydia was available and always giving space for me to voice anything I needed from her. She was also great at sending out reminders for things that needed to be completed as well as for classes and appointments. I feel like the preparation and education was offered for the kind of birth experience I wanted but was still given enough information for other scenarios that may have happened. She made sure that myself and my support people knew various comfort measures and ways to support me during the labor process. Upon labor, I was initially concerned that I would give birth before 38 weeks but fortunately I made it to exactly 38 weeks and was able to receive support. She made sure that I had a successful birth even though it became intense and difficult but she maintained to be encouraging yet steadfast. Lydia remained available and provided resources during postpartum and breastfeeding. She was truly an essential resource for me and I'm grateful to have had her for my birthing experience!

Quincy W.

Grateful, accomplished, satisfied, empowered AF :) I strongly recommend midwifery care to anyone I can. 10/10 experience; I felt very well prepared throughout the entire process. The entire plan of care was very organized, informational and reassuring from start to current. Being prepared for several scenarios allowed me to feel even more confident in my birthing team to ensure I was supported and protected in all situations. I will 100% be using Lydia and Labored with Love for our next birth experience. I'm so grateful for her and all that she does for her patients/families.

Emmalee & Deron

First and foremost, Lydia is AMAZING! Her breadth of knowledge and very personable manner immediately puts you at ease and makes what can potentially be a stressfull time, much easier. She is patient, has great recommendations and suggestions for things that will help you in both pregnancy and postpartum stages from resources to actual products, like the belly binder as an example. Additionally, she is well versed in patient advocacy especially around Black Maternal Health disparities and outcomes. For me personally, I had a potential medical diagnosis that most doula's do not necessarily have the training in, but due to Lydia also having a clinical background, I felt relieved that she was able to provide a level of care that I know would be distinct from others that I might have worked with. Also, because of her clinical background, our conversations around my birth vision and subsequent planning were impressive to my clinical team as well, as they typically don't get that level of clinical detail from their patients. I cannot recommend Lydia enough and it's been an honor having her as my doula.

Maisha N.

Lydia was our doula for the birth of our first child. The education and support she provided throughout my pregnancy and during labor and delivery were tremendously helpful. We would not have known what to expect or been prepared to navigate our daughter's birth without her guidance. As a first-time mother, it gave me peace of mind to know that someone had our back in case we had questions or needed to talk through anything. Lydia's experience as a labor and delivery nurse was invaluable when we had specific questions about hospital/birth center procedures, interventions, etc. She also offered the resources we needed to educate ourselves so that we could make informed decisions.

Julie W.

I learned of Lydia's services during my first pregnancy, and I was so glad that I was able to take her childbirth class. I knew then that I wanted her as my doula for my second pregnancy. Lydia knows her stuff! and she can back that up with her experience and education. Lydia gave me the skills and the knowledge to be confident in my pregnancy, labor, birth and post-partum journey. I learned to use my voice and how to make informed decisions with what I wanted to do. Thanks to her I had my VBAC!! I highly recommend her as your doula, lactation consultant and now midwife.

Celeste R.

I had the privilege of working with Lydia from Labored With Love: Let’s Have A Baby. I gained so much knowledge from our virtual meeting and she assisted me with my birth plan. She helped me create my ideal vision of birth. I feel more confident and assured that I can do this and have a good experience. She is passionate and you can tell that she deeply cares about you as an individual and has your best interest at heart, unlike providers in the medical field. I recommend her services to anyone that is expecting.

CoCoa B

We would highly recommend Lydia and Labored with Love. We contracted with Lydia in our second trimester as anxious parents after multiple losses. Her medical knowledge and expertise was a great comfort to us. We loved that she provided in depth learning about the pregnancy, labor and delivery, we loved her evidenced based approaches, and found her preparation tools incredibly helpful. That was all just leading up to the big day. My husband was especially thankful to feel so included and to be given so many helpful tools to be prepared to support me during labor. He was a rockstar and she helped prep him to do that. We had some complications with our pregnancy and Lydia was there every step of the way including when we had to have an induction for medical reasons. She calmly coached me through transition and pushing. Her bedside manner was so awesome my OB wanted her details so she could refer more patients to her. Lydia is wonderful and we would recommend her!

Gayla

Working with Lydia has been a game changer as a first time mom. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship and have her services for free and I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity. As a first time mom, I went in blind on everything. Lydia helped me by providing resources and knowledge throughout every step of my pregnancy, birth and postpartum stage. She’s truly a diamond in the rough because of all the certifications she has. I felt more comfortable with her knowing that she was a labor and delivery nurse and knew the medical jargon that the doctors and nurses threw at us. With her help, I was able to have a natural birth and breastfeeding baby successfully going on two months now. I can’t say good enough things about her. It’s truly an amazing investment if you’re able to get her services!

Laura S.

It's hard to review something that had such a profound impact on our pregnancy and birth journey, but we'll try and do it anyway. Working with Lydia at Labored with Love was one of the most important and meaningful choices we made during our pregnancy. Lydia was professional and compassionate from the beginning. She constantly empowered us with information and tools that helped us achieve our pregnancy and birth goals. We always felt supported with our decisions and choices and Lydia would speak candidly and honestly if she felt we might be straying or hadn't fully thought through something. It was an amazing experience from the beginning to the birth of our beautiful baby girl. Lydia was instrumental in our birth as we were unsure if we were going to be able to deliver naturally, but when Lydia showed up and went to work during our labor we knew it was going to be possible. Overall our experience with Labored with Love was beyond measure, we were empowered, heard, and cared for, and we would recommend Lydia to anyone seeking a doula in Kansas City.

Carmen V

As a first time mom I thought there was only so much I could control when it came to the birth of my baby and I needed to have an open mind when working with my provider, even though I truly wanted a low intervention and natural birth. The one thing I knew I could control was how I educated myself so I started listening to all the podcasts on birth (EBB & The Birth Hour) and my husband and I attended every virtual child birthing class offered by our hospital. However, there came a point when this education ran dry. We had all the book smarts and took all the notes, but I still felt like I needed more to feel prepared to bring our baby girl into the world. This is when we found Lydia through the Evidence Based Birth website as a highly recommended doula in our area. I was around 30 week pregnant and knew we were going to have a hospital birth so Lydia jumped right in role playing the important conversations we were going to have at the hospital upon admission as well as critical questions we should be asking our provider now. She also created a realistic, but aggressive schedule to attend other classes that would prepare us mentally and physically for the birth we wanted and were so much more comprehensive than those provided by our hospital. Lydia’s experience as a certified labor & delivery nurse is invaluable, but her connections and reputation in the doula community is unmatched. She made sure we were well connected to all the resources for a holistic education and preparation on birth far beyond what our provider could give us. She even went the extra mile to send out reminders for these classes so we didn’t miss anything. Working with Lydia taught us that we had a much bigger voice to have the birthing experience we desired and empowered us to be the decision makers throughout the entire process. Having Lydia in the room during labor was also a huge help to my husband and her presence reminded me of how much we prepared for this day and I had everything I needed to bring our baby into the world. It was also reassuring to have her there when making the difficult decision to break my water when labor was stalling. We knew the risks from our education, but having her there to explain what the next intervention might look like if it was unsuccessful and if we had other options gave us clarity to make the best decision for us. Hiring Lydia as our doula was the best decision we made for our family as first time parents. She knows her stuff, she cared so well for us, and she worked hard but made sure we did too and the end result was the feeling of peace and empowerment walking into and out of the birth of our daughter.

Cali S.

Lydia is undeniably the G.O.A.T in the maternity and birthing community, a wealth of knowledge and support that has transformed my experience across three pregnancies and two births. From the very start, I knew I couldn't approach pregnancy and birth blindly, surrendering control to medical staff was simply not an option. She prepared us for every stage of pregnancy to delivery. Her medical IQ is truly unmatched, which she generously demonstrates through free childbirth classes that serve as a blueprint for what every birthing mama deserves. Lydia’s commitment extends far beyond her passion, she genuinely shows up for her clients, pushes for advocacy, encouraging us to ask the tough questions, and challenge the outdated notion that one size fits all when it comes to birthing practices. During one particularly challenging phase early in 2024, I faced a miscarriage. In my moment of vulnerability, I reached out to Lydia, who immediately enveloped me with her compassionate support. Her understanding nature allowed us to navigate our decisions with confidence, and we are forever grateful for her constant encouragement throughout my recovery. Fast forward to late 2024 when a positive pregnancy test started a new beginning—Lydia was once again on my birth team! This time around, I was incredibly intentional about my goals. I wanted to labor at home and have a natural unmedicated hospital birth, and I did just that. Each piece of advice and information around nutrition, exercise, rest, mental mindfulness became a tool that I utilized throughout my entire pregnancy. Lydia played an incredible role in this process, dedicating nearly two hours to teaching us various comfort measures and breathing techniques that would help us navigate the challenging labor moments. Constant reminders to practice and prepare. Each step of the way Lydia was there encouraging me to press through the waves and embrace the experience. She is truly God sent and fully demonstrated why this is her calling. The birthing world desperately needs more Lydia's and I pray that more women continue to invest in her support and care because it's unmatched.

Morghan C

Having Lydia as my doula was totally worth it. It definitely saved me from a lot of unnecessary visits to dr and hospital, It was totally worth it. Ive had kids already, but I never knew the things that I had control of or my different options. Doing the birth plan was a big game changer. its so much stuff i didnt know i could do so going over a birth plan help me understand everything a lot better. This experience made me feel confident in what I could do and I know for next time what I am capable of. For my first time having a doula I liked it very supportive. I’ll definitely recommend Lydia to others & will also do this again in the future. My birth was good and less stressful than my others. Everything went exactly how i wanted it to and things were explained to me well. i definitely used all of the things she taught me in labor. it helped me get way further when i was in labor and i was able to handle the contractions better.

Freedom

Having a midwife was wonderful! I felt that Lydia really cared about my experience and safety; she stayed on top of everything I needed, whether it was answering questions about random pains, or figuring out hospital and legal things that I wouldn’t have known how to do. I am super grateful for all her help! It was priceless. I would def recommend Lydia at Labored with Love to all my pregnant friends. She is incredibly knowledgeable not only about pregnancy and birth, but also about how hospitals and insurance companies work. She was extremely helpful in all aspects of prepping for birth.

Jennifer A.

Lydia is the truth. Coming to her at 36 weeks after completing and receiving the Laboured With Love Scholarship was the biggest blessing I have ever received. Not only did Lydia work her butt off to get me all the information I needed regarding birth and how to achieve my dream birth unmedicated, but she pushed for getting me prepared knowing we were in a time crunch and at full term that's no easy task because it was literally any day that I could've gone into labor. She was truly there for me from checking in, reminding me of childbirth classes, answering my questions at odd hours of the night, checking in to see how I was feeling etc. Lydia took all the fears that the doctors were trying to plant in my head and squashed them and continually made sure my voice was heard because they were just there to assist. I only pushed for 15 minutes and for a first time mom I think that is AMAZING. Lydia checked on me every 2 hours if not every hour that I had began early labor until well after I had given birth and even was there to answer all my questions about how my breasts were changing once I got home and continued to support me. Lydia is truly amazing and if not for her I don't know how my birth experience would've turned out. Book her

Jayla V.

Lydia is absolutely amazing! She cares about her clients and is always one call, text or email away. I am FTM so everything was so new to me and I had questions about everything early on. Lydia would patiently explain things and answer my questions throughout the day! She provided my husband and I with valuable education prior to giving birth. She made us feel prepared and knowledgeable and as a result we were able to make decisions and advocate for ourselves and our baby! After a successful delivery, Lydia checked on us daily and helped me with my breastfeeding journey. Not only did she provide her knowledge and her expertise, she also provided her encouragement. Now, my baby girl has a good latch and we are both enjoying the breastfeeding process. We are forever grateful and blessed for Lydia! Having her in our corner was definitely a game changer! I would highly recommend Lydia!

Morgan & Jordan

As a new black father seeking knowledge on helping my wife during her pregnancy, this information was extremely valuable, enlightening, and inspiring. I love how the moderators broke down large amounts of information into bite size and digestible content. I would encourage any mom (or dad) looking for information on pregnancy to attend their classes asap especially fathers.

Lequinton L.

Lydia was instrumental in teaching us the most important things we needed to know for my pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. She provided us with the necessary tools to have successful relationships with providers and to advocate for myself when needed. She not only taught us what medical interventions can take place in my experience, but the risks and benefits of the medical interventions. She helped us create a birth plan that was tailored to my needs and how I wanted the birth of our child to go. She was available on call 24/7 from the moment my water broke to the moment our son was born. She was consistently available for questions postpartum when I had them concerning myself or my son. She helped me advocate for further testing and treatment for my mastitis, and cared about my situation as strongly as a family member would. She also helped create my breastfeeding plan to help me reach my goal of exclusively breastfeeding. Thanks to Lydia, my husband and I are more knowledgeable surrounding pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and we couldn’t be more grateful for her care and support during this life changing, vulnerable, and exciting time in our lives. Lastly, we highly recommend her for any first time parents or parents who have never had a doula before. We recommend her to parents living in Kansas City or thousands of miles away. She was available to us virtually, as we currently live in Germany due to my husband’s career in the Air Force. She was just as available and just as personable to us virtually as I know she would have been in person. Don’t let the distance deter you from acquiring her as your doula. Thank you, Lydia for all of your help, guidance, knowledge, and support. We appreciate you!!!

Elahe

Absolutely adore her teaching style. Have attended a handful of her classes and still left feeling like I learned in a new way each time. She breaks down medical terminology in a more digestible way without “dumbing it down”. Highly recommend for Childbirth Education Classes!

Jolene

Being a part of labored with love gave me extreme confidence during my pregnancy and throughout My birthing experience. I was able to obtain a lot of knowledge that proved to be very beneficial to my care. Feeling heard and understood was extremely helpful and healing. I would recommend having a doula and connecting with Nurse Lydia with Labored with Love a thousand times over. I will definitely be using a doula everytime that I have a child.. I will recommend it to everyone . I don't believe that I could have done it with the same strength and knowledge that I did with a doula. Realizing that I was strong enough to have a natural birth was the best part. I recanted on a couple things in the moment but I did it and that meant the world to me to feel my baby and then push him out. It definitely healed a lot of the trauma that I experience previously. I don't have the same fear of having children as I did the last four years. Thank you so much for being a part of my healing with my birth trauma and giving me the support that helped me make it through this pregnancy. From using my placenta pills I don't feel dragged out like I did with my first pregnancy. I'm not experiencing heavy hair loss and My mood feels more stabilized.

Meka B.

This process has been life changing in the best way. Without a single doubt, using Nurse Lydia's company Labored With Love and her staff and her support system has changed my views on birth as a whole. I never knew I could feel so cared for and thought of. I didn’t and don’t have that support from friends and family and because of her and her team, I feel confident that having a second child is in our future. I attribute the birth of my future second baby to this first experience. I would absolutely and have already recommended. The classes! They helped prepare me for knowing what the nurses were talking about and what was going on medically. I would have been so anxious without that knowledge it was my armor for sure I don’t know how people don’t! I really liked the scripts we did where Nurse Lydia acted like the hospital and we answered her. We did a few minutes of that and it was very helpful to see how easily we caved into the hospitals demands and suggestions. Having the support for my breastfeeding journey has been so valuable. The initial weeks were challenging but made so much easier with Lydia's lactation help. Im so much more confident and happy with seeing how my baby is growing. We will be calling her again for our next baby!

Sophia

When my wife asked about us having a doula I was reluctant to give an answer. I wasn’t for it, but I also wasn’t against it. Of course, COVID also threw in challenges of its own. However, once we became Lydia’s clients it was amazing! The amount of knowledge she both allowed us to explore for ourselves and personally provided was priceless! I wanted to be supportive and involved with my wife’s pregnancy, but I wasn’t sure how that’d happen. Lydia gave great advice for each phase from the final months, to contractions, to postpartum support. I wondered how she’d be there for us with other clientele. However, we never felt ignored or like Lydia was preoccupied. She made sure we had the necessary tools to OWN our entire birth process. I didn’t know what questions to ask or what to look for as this was our first child. Lydia was awesome talking us through our birthing plan and even giving us scenarios to act out so that we remained in control. She gave me the confidence boost I needed to support my wife and welcome our son Vincent with NO complications. I’d recommend Lydia to anyone and I’m certain we’ll be using her again. There will be more babies! Lol. 10 out of 10!!

Andre E.

Working with Lydia Robinson and Labored With Love made my birthing experience wonderful. I didn't meet Lydia until towards the end of my pregnancy, and I was unfamiliar with the roles of a birth doula. Due to us being in sepearate cities, all of our interactions were virtual. When Lydia first offered her services to me I had no idea what I was getting into; but I'm glad I accepted. Our first Zoom conference Lydia was very welcoming and friendly. She explained in detail who she was and her job as a birth doula. She provided me with information and courses on Evidence Based Birth, and made sure I knew and fully understood my rights going into labor. She was very attentive and understanding of my high-risk pregnancy, and she offered much support and encouragement. With Lydia as my doula I was taught how to speak up for myself when it comes to my medical care and the care for my child. She assisted me in creating a birth plan to take control of my labor, and to make sure I could voice my consent and denial of medical practices to the labor and delivery staff. When at the last minute I was informed I would be getting induced, Lydia adjusted with me and educated me on the process of induction. Because of our distance she was not able to attend my birth, but she was there every step of the way. She texted me frequently to check in and made sure I was comfortable and the hospital staff was following my birth plan. Once I gave birth to provide breast feeding and post partum support; checking on me and baby frequently to make sure we were adjusting to our new life. Currently I still remain in contact with Lydia, and I am eternally grateful for her services. Before I went into labor I was terrified and didn't know anything about birthing a baby. With Lydia's help I was able to relax and enjoy my birthing experience; because of her expertise and knowledge I had a smooth , almost pain-free labor.

Brittany-Anne

My experience with Lydia, was great. She is extremely knowledgeable. Her background in nursing truly helps her as a doula. She helped me understand everything that was going on while she was there. I felt I could ask questions, and they would be answered. If I had any doubts I knew I could get an evidenced based answer. Lydia is warm and friendly. She is strong willed and determined to help you get the birth you want. She helped me with getting me walking, getting into different positions to progress my labor, we did birth ball excercises and more. I am perfectly happy with the way my birth went. I felt so close to my husband even though it was extremely hard at times. It's an experience I'll always have in my heart. It matters to have support and someone to keep you on your feet and Lydia Robinson helped me with that! Thank you Lydia!

Jasmine G.

We highly recommend Lydia for your prenatal/postnatal experience. We remember the very first phone call being warmly welcomed as Lydia provided a continuous flow of information and wonderful assistance throughout the entire experience. Lydia is very informative and hands on. Most importantly, in the beginning we had extreme anxiety regarding labor, especially with this being our first baby. As soon as Lydia answered any of our questions and concerns, our nerves were eased tremendously. Lydia always replied quickly and never let our questions go unanswered throughout the entire experience. We were able to experience a beautiful, peaceful, natural vaginal birth because Lydia helped us gain the knowledge needed when it came to knowing our options during birth months prior of our actual delivery. Being the husband, I really enjoyed that she was there to assist in ways that I couldn’t, but loved how she incorporated ways I could help during this process. The videos on her platform were highly information and the research were well conducted. Even after delivery she answered all of our new parenting questions when it came to our little bundle of joy, which was really beneficial to the both of us as we were transitioning into our new roles of caregivers. Lydia genuinely cares about what she does and it reflects in her character & professionalism. We can tell she does this for the love of caring for others and not because of some dollar amount. Without a doubt, we received top notch A+ experience & we highly recommend Lydia for all of your doula needs! Yes, we will be hiring Lydia again once we decide on baby number 2! Overall, amazing!

Justin S.

Lydia is the TRUTH! She was more than what we could have asked for in a doula! Lydia was very invested in making sure we understood the power of educating ourselves so we could advocate for ourselves and have the birth we desired. It takes a lot more than just writing a birth plan, we role played conversations and scenarios to have with our healthcare provider from the prenatal appointments to the labor itself! She prepared us for ALL scenarios not just what we wanted because you never know what that day will bring! (Hospital birth, c-sections, Medical interventions, etc). Knowledge is not just power but freedom! Lydia’s experience as a labor and delivery nurse is invaluable! The night of my labor she showed up and SHOWED OUT for us and made me feel so safe and cared for. Her connections and resources she provided us not only Shortened my labor by 12 Hours from our first child but we have adopted some health habits and Practitioners into our lives! This journey with Lydia has been life changing and we are forever grateful for her and her services!

Keiondra S.

Meeting Lydia and having her as my doula was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Lydia is not just a nurse; she's an expert in labor and delivery, a certified lactation specialist, a teacher, a supporter, a researcher, and so much more. She is genuinely committed to her clients and serves to educate and empower them. Not only was I fully supported by her, but I was able to meet other mommas and fellowship with them as we navigated pregnancy and beyond. During my time with her, my husband and I had access to classes and other digital resources that provided detailed information about pregnancy, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, the history of doulas, and even the postpartum phase. My labor and delivery took an unexpected turn when my twin girls decided they wanted to make their debut 6 weeks early. Although my husband and I had planned a vaginal delivery, the on-call doctor proposed a c-section because one of my girls was transverse. Lydia provided support to my husband and me THE ENTIRE time I was in labor. Initially, after learning that my water had broken and that I would be admitted, I was emotionally distraught and panicked. Need I mention that my contractions were a bit of a distraction too…LOL Without hesitation, Lydia willingly spoke to the gynecologist, inquired about their medical recommendations, and advocated for me while my husband comforted me. I thank God for Lydia; even now, at almost 6 months postpartum, she is still very active in our lives, and we plan to keep it that way. She became family the day we met. A doula is an investment you will not regret. My husband and I are already planning our next pregnancy journey with Lydia.❤️ Thank you, Lydia, for ALL you do and have done for my family and me. As a Black Momma, I feel heard, valued, and confident because of you.

Brianna B.

Lydia was incredible. She came out and helped us create a birth plan and reviewed comfort measures for labor. I cannot express how informative and empowering our session was. Not only is she doula and mama advocate, she is also a labor and delivery RN! It's truly the best of both worlds. She is incredibly smart and has great experience. She knows the ins and outs of hospital labor and delivery, can explain all the different interventions (risks, benefits, what to expect during each, etc.) and help you make the best choice for you and your baby. Taking the time to review this before you get to the hospital is so helpful so you don't get caught off guard and end up agreeing to something you don't fully understand or want. She is friendly, passionate and energetic (even thought she was up with a delivery the night before!). I am so glad I connected with her.

Sara B.

Our experience with Lydia was extremely beneficial for gaining knowledge about prenatal care, what to expect during a hospital birth, possible interventions, creating a birth plan, and most importantly, for her support during the birth. The multiple online courses walked us through all the health information we needed to know for prenatal care, birthing options, and postpartum care. These courses laid the foundation for us to feel confident and informed as Lydia walked us through designing a birth plan that met our wants and needs. Lydia was available and attentive while my wife labored at home in the middle of the night. During these hours she offered advice and exercises to foster baby moving down the birth canal and into the optimal position for birth. Lydia met us at the hospital at 3:00 AM and quickly jumped into action, requesting birthing supports from the nurse to start pushing and determine an optimal pushing position. She was extremely proactive, which was a sharp contrast to our hands-off nurse. She instructed me with ways to support my wife with pushing and other comfort measures. Ultimately, our birth went as well as it could have thanks to Lydia's guidance!

Matt M.

I can honestly say to anyone who gets to experience services with the company Labored with Love and/or having Ms. Lydia as your doula are in good hands. The amount of knowledge and different resources that they have available for soon to be moms and moms in general is amazing. I really enjoyed the Zoom meetings and classes that were available to me and my family, we learned a lot and enjoyed hearing and sharing with other families from all of over the United States!! I am so lucky to have had the support from Labored with Love I would highly recommend them.

Sierra H.

My experience with my doula Lydia was very helpful the whole time. She stuck by my side when I wasn't very responsive from being so sick in my beginning trimester. She is the perfect doula and was exactly what I wanted for my experience. I wanted someone who was black and could understand me and she did all that. she made sure I stuck to my birthing plan! If it wasn't for her I probably would have ended up getting a c-section and getting transferred to a hospital! She said encouraging words the whole time I was in active labor and I wanted to give up! She made sure to be firm and also sweet at the same time getting her point across to me letting me know I had to and would get my baby out. And I did and after it was all over I really appreciated her for making me carry through with my birthing plan! Because now it's all said and done I really enjoyed my experience and wouldn't have wanted it any other way! So thank you again Lydia for making my dream come true🩷

Anya S.

My experience with my Doula, Miss Lydia was a little different for me because I was a dad for the first time as well as my girlfriend being a first time mom. But it was very Eventful. this process has changed my life in so many ways and I’m glad Lydia was able to help us with this big step in our life. I look forward to using what Lydia taught me NOW and in the future. I am very thankful for everything we’ve been through, and I appreciate everything she taught us. When the time comes, we will be using Lydia again for sure she was a great help!

Cameron N.

The BEST DOULA you'll ever have!!! Hands down!! She was there for me during pregnancy and educated me on everything. She knows her stuff! I called her as soon as my water broke and she was there to coach me right away. She helped me write a birth plan for the hospital which I handed over to the hospital staff and I didn't have to explain anything. I had a healthy baby boy. Lydia was also there for me during postpartum. She helped with lactation services and guided me through that as well. She made sure that I had everything I needed. She was absolutely a God send!

Keyia Y.

As a husband and proud member of my wife’s support team, I want to thank Lydia and Nikia for the informative class. I want to be an educated husband and birthing partner and this class has helped that process. I also appreciate how they speak up and make known matters that affect black women and other women of color. It’s important for their voices and lives to be lifted at all times. Thank you Lydia!

Gaylon D.

I truly cannot recommend Labored with Love enough. They were steadfast in their support of me in my journey through the medical birth system and helped me make the best, most informed choices for me and my baby. I cannot recommend Lydia enough. She is has incredible knowledge and compassion. She has done so much to help ease my anxiety and help me take care of myself as a first time mom. The birth class she leads has been absolutely invaluable for me - packed with information for anyone who is pregnant or is supporting a pregnant person.

Rachel O.

Lydia provided an exceptional experience during my recent online birthing class that was recommended by my doula. My partner and I have attended five different classes so far, and the knowledge we gained from just part one of Lydia's class surpassed everything we learned in all the others combined. If you're a new family seeking resourceful, medically accurate information, I HIGHLY recommend Lydia's services. You will absolutely not regret investing in her expertise!

Serita G.

Lydia's class is a must for anyone navigating pregnancy! It’s packed with insightful, fact-based information that really helps ease the anxiety that can come with this journey. I especially appreciated that it’s not hosted by a hospital—there’s no agenda, just honest, empowering guidance to help you make informed decisions. The presenters are incredibly candid and clearly passionate about what they do, which makes the experience even more meaningful. If you’re looking for clarity, confidence, and real support during pregnancy, I highly recommend signing up for this class!

Brianna D.

Community Midwife, Doula, L&D Nurse, IBCLC, childbirth educator, placenta professional.... she's a BEAST 🐐! She is an awesome asset to the birth community. She gives from her heart and educates the community. The material she shares is culturally congruent, evidence-based, and relevant. I'm so grateful for her support and blessing. She is what our community needs. I'm glad she continues to serve. She's amazing!

Nikia L.

This is a great class that is extremely informative and not only helps supports the one who is pregnant but the family/support team as well. Lydia and team created a safe space for those who are in the class!!!!! If you need a child birth education class……take this one!!!!!!!

Alexcia H.

My husband and I worked with Lydia as a virtual doula for our first baby. She was wonderful and helped us so much. I learned a lot about advocating for myself before the birth, comfort and pain relief techniques for during the birth, and then lactation assistance afterwards. Highly recommended! The virtual service was just what we needed for our schedules.

Emily B.

This was the most informative and helpful virtual class I’ve ever attended out of all categories of virtual classes! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m a first time momma and was recommended this class by my doula Jac’Quee! Let me tell you she was looking out because they cover EVERYTHING you can think of about child carrying and birthing and postpartum. The class was fun, full of life with the different host sharing their experiences, and so much more. The class is open to everyone!! And I believe it’s something everyone should attend as it’s informative for all mommas but especially to those who are in marginalized communities that get overlooked and go unheard. After taking this class I feel seen, supported, prepared, heard and encouraged!!

Chanel M.

I highly recommend! Lydia is a midwife, experienced, and completely trustworthy midwife. She and her entire team do a fantastic job; they have been like my support system throughout my pregnancy and childbirth journey. I will definitely return to them in the future. My overall pregnancy birth and experience is happy and satisfied. I share my experience with my family and it has changed how they think about natural home birth. I came to Lydia at the beginning of my pregnancy and enjoyed everything about the whole process. All of the preparations we did with Lydia were important beginning to end. Having a midwife at the birth made me feel safe and more comfortable. They are experts, and you trust them and let them guide you. The midwife and doula care makes all the difference during pregnancy and childbirth. The preparation was very important for me and my baby, resulting in a peaceful and unique experience. I would undoubtedly do it again. I did placenta encapsulation and feel they helped me stay relaxed, focused and calm. Everything was excellent!

Haydee M.

Nurse Lydia made my birthing experience more than I could have ever imagined. The education and preparation I received as she guided and provided me with all of the resources to make sure I had all of the information to make informed decisions. I was able to competently make each decision with proper knowledge and could not have done it without her. This time around I felt comfortable with all of her guidance. She was always patient with me and during my struggles with breastfeeding was readily available almost immediately! Had I not had her by my side, I would most likely had given up on breastfeeding on day 3. 3 months later, I am still going strong. I am so grateful for choosing her as my doula and couldn’t imagine my birth and postpartum journey any other way. Anytime I know someone planning or pregnant, I always speak on my experiences with Lydia and recommend!

Ashley B.

I’m a few days behind BUT I really wanted to say how much I appreciated the birth plan workshop this past Saturday. I had an idea of what I wanted to have for my birth but the breakdown and interactive scenarios we went through opened my eyes to SO MUCH MORE. Details are everything- it’s more than checking of boxes and handing to your provider. I was so excited after getting off the zoom- I couldn’t wait to share with my husband. This is our first child in 8 years and the information received helped to solidify things we already wanted but gave even more to look into. It was time well spent and so valuable. THANK YOU AGAIN! if her support as a doula/nurse is anything like the effort and care we received in the workshop you’re definitely in great hands

Lakeshia W.

Now that I’m home relaxing, i want to send a HUGE shout out to Lydia! She EDUCATED us in the Black Maternal Health Workshop she did. Being educated on various topics of pregnancy/birth. From birth planning, to educating us on monitoring, medications, comfort measures, and more! I know there is more i will need to learn but she touched some very key points that will help my husband and I begin to prepare for the birth of our baby. It feels great not going into birth without knowledge. Knowing what’s best for me and baby is key and I am so grateful to have attended that class today. You’re a true gem Lydia!

Brianna T.

I would definitely recommend Labored With Love! It was a powerful class and I am going to tell anyone I know who is currently pregnant or preparing for birth to take this class be apart of the community. It was an awesome experience! I learned SO much. This is my second baby, having had the first 11 years ago, and I now am equipped with tools and questions to ensure a smooth delivery for me and my baby something I didn't have previously. I wish I had this class back then but am happy I was sent this class by a friend. I now know that I didn't have to have the previous experience that I did thanks to Lydia. Take the class, join the group, use her!

Amber E.

I'm almost 3 months postpartum. I gave birth to my baby girl and when I say Lydia mad it possible for me to have my birth the way I want it I mean just that! If I didn't have her I wouldn't of know I had so much control, And not just that I was able to go natural again but this time on purpose! I was able to do cordless monitoring, no medicine, use the tub, etc. I'm just thankful for all the information and education I was giving. I will definately have her again if I was to ever get pregnant again!

Cokeeshia S.

Soo blessed to have Lydia Robinson as my doula. She taught me so much and gave me a peace of mind knowing I had someone to turn to with educated answers to my questions. Although my birth experience was almost completely different than my birth plan, I still felt like I took charge of my birth experience and made the things I wanted happen. It meant so much to be able to make my birth MY own, and I didn’t feel like I was being pushed over. I took my time and made decisions I believed were logical. Thank you again!!! I was so blessed to be able to turn to you as things changed and I had to made different decisions.

Marissa W.

Lydia was awesome in helping my husband and I make decisions for our birth. She enlightened us on the labor and delivery process as well as the medical manipulation tactics that are commonly used in the hospital setting. Lydia eased my labor anxiety and allowed me to regain my confidence in having a successful labor and delivery. With her services we were confident in navigating through the medical tactics and achieved our desired birth plan. We were able to make decisions and changes based on the knowledge acquired from Lydia and the evidence based birth training. During postpartum, Lydia provided me with the information and advice to successfully breastfeed. She gave me the much needed support and encouragement to continue breastfeeding. We plan to request her services again for our next pregnancy.

Danielle S.

The entire process/prep from early pregnancy prepared me for my birth experience. Very proud of what I accomplished, I never gave up. I also felt very in control of all the moving pieces. I've had Lydia on my birth team for both pregnancies/births. There was no way i could go into my pregnancy/birth blind and just allow medical staffs to control all outcomes. Now there are doulas and then theres Lydia. Lydia's medical IQ is unreal. The time she takes to educate herself and her clients is unreal. You can tell this goes beyond passion for Lydia, she shows up for her people and coaches us to advocate for ourselves, ask questions, and challenge standard practice. I think I'm 2 and done but if that changes I would most definitely have Lydia back on the team! As I reflect back on my experience one thing truly sticks out to me...Mid-way through my experience I took time to really identify my goals, and what I needed from my birth team. I wanted to experience Lydia's full service b/c i just knew I could achieve my goal of a natural unmedicated birth. The resources for she shared for training for birth, labor day prep etc were so critical. Also having her come to my house and assist us during laboring was very encouraging

Morghan C.

For our second birth, I knew I wanted a doula to help achieve an unmedicated hospital birth. I wouldn't be able to have a doula accompany me to the hospital though, because during the pandemic our hospital only allowed one support person. Lydia offers many different services, one of which is helping couples prepare a birth plan. We thoroughly went over the risks and benefits of hospital procedures that are routine during labor, birth, and newborn care. After that discussion my husband and I created our birth plan and felt much more informed of our options and prepared to advocate for ourselves if needed. We then chose to continue working with Lydia so we went with the virtual doula package. It was so comforting during the last weeks of pregnancy to be able to ask her any and all questions, all of which she answered promptly. Knowing that I would be able to call or text her during labor eased my fears. In addtion, we had access to the Evidence Based Birth site and all of its resources. When I did go into labor, Lydia helped with pain management by telling my husband how to do counter pressure which ended up being what helped the most with easing pain. We were able to have the birth we envisioned! Once the baby was delivered Lydia gave advice on my physical recovery, and cared about my mental health as well. She also helped breastfeeding get off to a successful start by troubleshooting a painful latch. Hiring a doula made the 3rd trimester, labor, and postpartum seasons a smooth transition for our growing family. I will always be thankful to Lydia for being an important part of this special time.

Anne D.

I was lucky enough on my 30th birthday to win a doula virtual package. I was filled with so much information about this pregnancy that I didn't know about my last pregnancy 7 years ago. This pregnancy took me on a long journey from doctors telling me he had an irregular heartbeat to hes measuring small to the my last 2 weeks telling me my fluid level looks too high. But because I pushed the issue of having a medical reason each time they set up a date for me to be induced I declined and just kept going to my 2 weeks appt until I was 30 weeks I went 2 times a week to be monitored. With my doula by my side and her helping me understand my choices I declined any unnecessary things I didnt need. At 39 weeks and 5 days my water broke and my husband and I went to my mom's house since it was closer to the hospital than where I live which is 45 mins away. My contractions were 8-10 mins apart for about 3 hrs more after that it started to progress once I was resting and getting myself mentally prepared all while updating my doula. Decided to go to the hospital after I was 5 mins apart because I felt weird but still updating my doula when I could. Once I got to the hospital to get checked out they read my birth plan and I thought it was all a go until I realized I felt too much pain and pressure and when I got up for a contraction to move around I started to bleed and the doctor wanted to check me out. My placenta abrupture causing me to bleed and after contraction I had which was now 3 mins apart they gave me a shot to try and slow down the contractions but that didn't work. I had to have a csection.It wasn't what I wanted to experience but things happen for a reason and he was born 6lbs8oz and overall im happy with the choices I made.I'm so thankful for the knowledge she gave to me and for understanding my needs. I can't thank my doula enough for all the information and everything she gave to me to help make my journey better! My voice was heard and Lydia was great! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Crystal R.

I told Lydia plenty of times that she was godsend and I really mean that. I didn’t connect with her for doula services until I was 32 weeks pregnant. I thought it was too late but clearly that wasn’t the case. The amount of information that she provided my husband and I with was incredible. Another bonus was that this was a virtual service. Everyone knows what has been going on with Covid, so having meetings in person was not an option. Lydia met with us numerous times via zoom to make sure we had all of the tools to help us succeed. She informed me about all of my options throughout my pregnancy and reassured me to use my voice no matter what doctors or nurses said. They’re working for me, not the other way around lol. She definitely gave me the confidence to not allow them to do what is routine for them and tell them what works for me. She was there for us anytime we needed her. During my doctors appointments, during labor, and now postpartum. She checks in all of the time to make sure we are ok. Thanks to her, my husband was able to learn how to support me mentally and physically during labor which also helped me progress and able to have a delivery with no epidural. I would recommend her to every single pregnant woman it’s so important to have someone advocate and support you. I’m just thankful I was blessed to be able to work with her through my pregnancy.

Mia B.

Lydia was awesome as a first time father I knew very little about the labor process. With her tips and guidance I was able to not only support my wife verbally but physically as well. She is very personable and professional, and understands that everyone is different and I appreciated that she took the time to understand our concerns and help us through any questions we had.

Marc B.

Working with Lydia was nothing short of amazing! Lydia was kind, caring, concerned, and gave us so much information that I am certain I had the best possible birth experience for me! She was always available to answer any questions we had as a family! Lydia embraced my partner and made sure she was just as informed as me , which allowed my mate to make the best choices for me when I was to far into labor. If you are thinking about using Lydia as a doula, please please just book now!!

Deaira R.

Lydia was great, our initial appointment I was 8months pregnant and was use to being told by doctors what would happen instead of being presented with options for me to choose. Through working with Lydia my husband and I learned that we can say no and speak up about what we want. After my prenatal appointment with my doctor Lydia walked us through everything the doctor stated. I had complications with my delivery and Lydia was available to answer any questions my husband had on making decisions to move forward. A week after delivery I was rushed to the hospital due to loss of blood and blood clots. Lydia was available still to help us make decisions and made sure we advocated for ourselves when the hospital skipped steps to discharge me. I definitely would recommend her service and believe that a doula is definitely needed for new and experienced moms. Lydia provided us with more information than the doctors did so that we could make an inform decision and not just take what was given to us. She helped reduce the stress and overwhelming feelings of making important decisions when it comes to me and my babies health.

Luvvly C.

What can I say there's so much goodness to share!...lol Lydia is amazing! She was so helpful and very resourceful when it came to everything that my husband and I needed. When it came to the feedback session it was easy to say all of the amazing things that she did but we struggled with finding an area of growth outside of my husband wanting her to be in Atlanta lol...the biggest part that I took from this experience is that I have consent to everything, if I don't want to do something I don't have to. We learned about the different things used during birth if needed and or necessary as well as what to expect out of the process whether it be vaginal or c-section delivery. She was available to us the entire time and we reached out to her during late times in the middle of the night and she was there for us every step of the way. She is very passionate about what she does and also has a very genuine spirit and we felt the care and support that she had for us. I have already recommended some pregnant women to her, getting a doula was one of the best decisions I could have made!! The last cherry on top was that she and my OB were on the same page with pretty much everything and it made me feel even more at ease especially when it came to advocating for myself!!

Candice C.

I found out I was having twins super early in my pregnancy. Having Lydia as my Doula was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, I was terrified throughout my pregnancy. When i was in labor I actually got induced and Lydia was there from the time I called her to the minute I was being rolled into OR. Her support and reassurance through EVERYTHING was phenomenal!!! It was a great experience for me and my family. I recommend Lydia to any and everyone looking for or interested in a doula she’s truly amazing at what she does!

MarQuayzia H.

We decided to have a Doula after we reflected back on the roller coaster ride of our first birth. Although we knew it was a serious need, we didn’t realize just how much of an impact it would have on the pregnancy and delivery. Lydia was an amazing support throughout the pregnancy. She utilized her knowledge as a Doula combined with her knowledge as a L&D nurse to help me understand all the medical things I was experiencing and help us prepare for the birth. For our home visit Lydia brought the exact tools that they used in the hospital. Having seen those tools prior to experiencing them made it so much less overwhelming in the hospital for delivery. She was a phenomenal support of advice, a guide, and advocate in the hospital. Her knowledge of ways to help labor progress and different ways to physically manage a low intervention birth was exactly what we needed. Although we wound up needing some interventions Lydia helped us stay flexible and focused to reach the ultimate goal, our baby girl. We are so entirely grateful for her presence in our life during that time. If another baby comes along she will first person we call to take the journey with us.

Ariel K.

Lydia was beyond amazing! She was very helpful from the moment I chose her as my doula at 4 months pregnant in October 2017. I was busy going to school and working full time, and she made sure to check on me. Lydia was available to answer ALL my questions any time of day. I went from having 0 questions to millions a week. She was and still is very patient with me and always remained calm when I would stress or freak out. I was able to work with her and create a birth vision for me and my baby, while working with her I became more comfortable if my vision did not go as planned. Lydia attended doctors appointments with me and would help me come up with a list of thorough questions to ask. She advised me what to look for in a great and not so great OB/GYN. When asking questions I was able to feel comfortable with my choice of doctor. When it came time for labor Lydia exceeded all my expectations! Lydia met me at the hospital and from then on we started to implemented my birth vision. I am grateful for her also being a labor and delivery nurse. I listened and communicated with her more than my real nurses because I trusted her 100%. During labor she reminded me to take care of myself and make sure I rested, I was so anxious and excited that I was wide awake. Having her there eased my mind because she was able to help break down all the medical terms. While in labor she pushed me past my level of comfort, made me change positions and do things to help my labor progress. I was stubborn but I did what she asked because I knew she was going to help me get my baby. I never realized without a doula present the doctors and nurses are rarely in the room and if you don't have anyone knowledgeable you are stuck laboring by yourself. Lydia has also helped me postpartum especially with breastfeeding, even when it seemed like the hardest thing to do but she would not let me give up I would recommend Lydia. I would definitely choose her for my future pregnancies!

Toria F.

My pregnancy was amazing and I equate that to our midwife Lydia and everything I learned about my body through the resources provided. I felt extremely confident going into birth due to our midwife’s experience and preparations provided beforehand. Postpartum care was also very informative and taught me a lot about what my body actually needed to heal. I needed more hands on support during the first 6 weeks of breastfeeding. I am grateful for all our midwife did to ensure my body was healing correctly and our baby was gaining weight during the first few months following birth. All of the preparation beforehand was extremely helpful. Taking the childbirth class and talking through our birth plan in extensive detail helped mentally and physically prepare me for everything birth entailed. I loved being in my own home and knowing who all was going to be present. I love that I was able to follow my body’s own cues and be in a peaceful environment. Overall, I love that I chose a home birth.

Skylar O.

Lydia has been a part of our parenthood journey since our first pregnancy back in 2020. Our first pregnancy which ended in preterm loss, I had already established services with Lydia as our doula. After being told in triage that my first pregnancy was no longer viable and that I had to deliver, I called Lydia and she helped us through that moment. She walked me through the process of being admitted, delivery, brought up things such as meeting the baby or not, religious rites such as baptism, burial services, etc. basically all the things I didn’t know I needed to prepare for mentally. She checked in on me after our loss and always offered support. When I soon after got pregnant with Lucas our second pregnancy, I immediately contacted her and established cares with her as my doula again. During my long hospital induction Lydia was there, making sure I moved. I felt safe and supported as she was there monitoring baby, providing reassurance and clarification when needed. After 36hrs of induction ended up in a c-section, she stayed until I recovered from my c section, met Lucas and made sure I felt comfortable with initial breastfeeding attempt. We admired her for staying awake the entire time and not leaving us! My third pregnancy was a miscarriage in the first trimester, so really I was unsure I’d try for another baby. But God chose for us and blessed me with another pregnancy. High risk once again given my maternal medical history so I reached out to Lydia and asked about her scholarship opportunity. She gave me the information and I was able to once again hire her as my doula for our fourth pregnancy having services covered under a scholarship! She made sure I stayed on track with our syllabus ensuring I attended our birthing classes, educated me on my rights for a vbac, met in person to go over comfort measures, etc. My ultimate goal was to have a VBAC with natural induction methods and plan on a natural birth given my thrombocytopenia and being at risk of not being able to have an epidural. Well we worked and we prepped and thanks to all the education and support I had from Lydia, I advocated for myself numerous times and avoided a medical induction. Throughout my pregnancies I have heard/been told so many scare tactics along with worst case scenarios, so having education and a professional so well versed in the profession made the difference for me between a repeat c-section and not medically needed induction! I learned to advocate for not only myself but for my baby, so she could continue to grow as much as she could within the womb before being born and by the end of it all I had a successful vbac story! Doctors wanted me to have an early cerclage removal, followed by a medical induction but I respectfully said no on more than 3 occasions. I reviewed my rights, my BPP scans and baby’s well being as well as talked through each appt with Lydia. The plan I had agreed to with my team was to be medically induced at 38w4d which was scheduled for 08/06. On 07/28, I went in for my cerclage removal and I was offered at that appt to go ahead and admit for an induction which I politely declined. At my clinic appt on 07/30, my blood pressure was slightly elevated so induction was pushed for, I agreed to have the complete preeclampsia work up and when everything came back negative, I politely declined induction. 07/31, I woke up at 0400 with contractions. I decided it was best to call in to work and focus on movement. I stayed hydrated, walked, did exercises and monitored my contractions. They were inconsistent but present. Overnight I had contractions all night long but I remembered the golden rule 5-1-1; contractions should be 5 minutes apart, 1 minute in duration for 1 hour to be consistent and indicate laboring process. Every time I got close to the 5min mark, they’d space out again. My contraction app advised me multiple times to “head to the hospital” haha but I knew it wasn’t time yet. And Lydia provided reassurance of what I was thinking and experiencing. Morning of 08/01, I was going to make myself a cup of coffee when a strong contraction hit and next thing I knew I had a puddle of fluid. I got in the shower, rinsed off and continued to have contractions so I knew it was time. After verifying my water had broke, got labs drawn and moved into my room I was having contractions back to back. Luckily the stars aligned and my platelet counts were safe enough to have an epidural. Now I learned through Lydia and my pelvic floor therapist that movement is key to progress labor. Even with an epidural in place, you can do bed mobility position changes to aid in the laboring process AND labor off your back! By the time Lydia arrived at bedside, I was at 9+cm dilated but still had some cervix to thin out, so we kept on working til we were told I was ready to push! Not knowing whether it’d take me 30 minutes versus 4 hours to push baby girl out, I reviewed with Lydia how to push and bare down, so by the time the medical team was dressed up and told me to start I was ready. After 25mins of pushing on my right side NOT my back like the team pushed for and Lydia reminded them it wasn’t my desire to, I pushed out my healthy 7lb11oz baby girl and had my golden uninterrupted hour of skin to skin with her. I felt safe and advocated for throughout my laboring process having my husband and Lydia at bedside and that truly helped me zone in when the time to push came on. Having a full term pregnancy is a true gift, not everyone gets that and not everyone gets a worry free pregnancy either. I had gestational diabetes, some questionable hypertension which was thankfully just monitored no medications required, thrombocytopenia requiring weekly lab draws and multiple steroid dose changes, and an iron infusion involved. My body put in the work to create this beautiful human, had I not had the education and power in knowledge from my years of working with Lydia I’m sure I would’ve ended up with a repeat c section and instead I’m recovering great with my vbac baby. I did not have to wait on my mother or husband to have my first postpartum shower. I do not need help moving/changing positions because I had 7 layers of skin cut into again. Now did I leave unscathed? No, I did sustain tears and a vaginal recovery is clearly different from a cesarean, but I desired a vbac experience as I knew this was my last pregnancy and I got it. What our body’s as women are designed to do is truly amazing and empowering! To anyone still reading this, this is just a reminder to please educate yourself always. Know your rights as a woman and as an expectant mother, our jobs of protecting and advocating begin the moment you learn you are pregnant and sadly in today’s world we are told we can’t do something or interventions are super imposed in today’s L&D world. Get you a Lydia or doula who is willing to teach you and go to bat for you because the education is out there! Also, Lydia is a certified midwife for anyone wanting to labor at home. She is also a lactation consultant, helped me achieve 18months of breastfeeding with Lucas and hoping for the same with Lucero! Lydia has also added placenta encapsulation services, which I highly recommend and other services as well! When I say she’s your go to for everything needed throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey she’s the one to have in your corner if your in the KCK, KCMO area 💜 Lydia thank you again for being so passionate and caring in all the work that you do!

Cynthia M.

Lydia's program Taught me everything that I need to know when it came to laboring and breast-feeding and was an amazing support group when I felt my Lowest. I will definitely Be using them again for my next child. Lydia was sooo much help an never gave up

Shanae B.

I would recommend Lydia to anyone. I had a very tough pregnancy luckily I was blessed with awesome nurses. Her service was exceptional I was terrified to deliver my son but with her constant support, prayers, and reassurance everything was going to be ok I was so blessed to have a happy but most importantly safe delivery of a handsome little prince. So if you're looking for a great doula and nurse who will make sure all your needs are met, you're informed of everything that's going on try her out you won't regret it.

Kendra

Overall, a wonderful experience and would do it again! I became highly educated about my body and the birthing process. I was emotionally supported the entire time, and my needs were almost always met immediately, but always promptly. I felt cared about and heard in every step of the process. I was able to have a healthy baby and successfully breastfeed because of the education and support I received. I feel like my entire birth experience was a roller coaster and full of unexpected things, such as my placenta previa and 3 unexpected hospital stays. However, coping with those things was pretty easy, and I feel that I had an amazing support system for all of it. The best part of my experience was learning about breastfeeding, and then being able to put into place what I learned about it immediately after birth. Breastfeeding helped me to bond with baby and it gave me something that I could feel in control of. I also felt very proud of the work I put in to it and the results that came from it. I would recommend midwifery care and have one for my next birth. During the midwifery care I received, I felt heard, and I felt like the care I received with Lydia was very trustworthy. I would absolutely recommend having a midwife and a doula to others and use one again. Having that emotional support, especially with it being in full support of my wishes and non-judgmental, made a world of difference in my emotional state both before and after the birth. Basically, everyone else I spoke to, other than my husband, had a strong opinion or judgment about my decisions, which made me pretty frustrated. The biggest thing that we did that impacted my birth was the childbirth education class, and all the other education she provided. It made me aware of things I couldn't have found on Google, and helped me to feel confident in my decision-making. The support I received from Lydia was amazing!

Taylor & Luke

Greatest experience ever!!!! My daughter just had her second baby, my second gbaby! I was nervous because she had to have a c-section. Lydia was there from the beginning to the end. Her knowledge and bedside manner was the bombdigity! I had questions and she had answers! The comfort she gave me was awesome. I’m the gmama watching and waiting, so you can only imagine how the mother to be felt. Total awesomeness is what I experienced!!!!!!

Yulunda

I would definitely recommend midwifery care and a doula to anyone who asks. We learned a lot more about the perinatal process compared to my last pregnancy. I appreciated the attention to detail and the open communication when I needed it.I had a tough pregnancy and a tough birth experience. Nothing went as planned but I am grateful that I had Lydia to keep me accountable and educated throughout the process. I'm healthy and so is my baby and that is the greatest blessing.

Rachelle & Asare

Words can not describe how incredible Labor With Love was to my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. Lydia went above and beyond for us, always putting our care first. From the first meeting we knew we needed Lydia on our team and we were correct! I really enjoyed having Lydia's hands on knowledge of the medical system and midwifery. Everyone is giving a ton of advice, so having a trusted person who is familiar with my care was so important. She walked with us every step of the way and always made sure we were well informed. Through the ups and downs of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum Lydia has been a wealth of knowledge, a beacon of hope, and someone to call on when you're feeling lost. I couldn't imagine going through this experience with anyone else, and will forever be grateful to Lydia for helping getting our daughter here safely!

Joni & Brett

I feel like I had a really enjoyable birthday experience this time around I felt very supported and listened to. The best part of my experience was having a successful VBAC and a quicker recovery. Having a doula, it’s a nonnegotiable for me. it’s just a very great place to land. Whenever you have questions about what the doctor has said or just about how you’re feeling in general it’s nice to have that continuous reassurance, so I definitely would recommend this type of support to others.

Ebony

I simply had the absolute best experience as a first time mom and I can’t imagine having done it without her! I would recommend Lydia to anyone looking for a great doula! At first, I wasn’t sure if I should hire a doula, but I’m SSOOOOO GLAD I DID! can’t imagine having done this without Lydia by my side! She was very attentive throughout the whole process and made me feel as prepared as one could be for their first time. Her background as a nurse also made me feel like I was in the best possible hands! I just can’t say enough about her as a person and a doula!If you are considering a doula for your labor, seriously look no further!!

Lydia H

My husband and I met with Lydia virtually. We came in with no questions and a checkbox birth plan off Pinterest. We were going to go to the hospital and just trust that the doctors knew best, but quickly with talking with Lydia, I decided to be an active participant in my own care. We made a birth plan and a postpartum plan from scratch (which is the only way to do it). Lydia is a wealth of knowledge, patient, and answered any questions we had. She gave us so many resources to help us with our knowledge gaps which helped us make informed decisions. More than just learning new things about the whole birthing process, both me and my husband felt a lot more confident going into it. She didn't try to push us into any plan, but worked with us to make sure we knew the benefits and risks to every option. She was kind and supportive in making sure that we knew all our options. It was great having a set time with Lydia knowing that she didn't have anything to gain from any particular decision. Whether you plan on giving birth in a hospital, birthing center, or at home, we could not recommend working with Lydia more.

Samantha M

Lydia was great during my labor. This was my first and only child. I contacted her prior and requested her. At the time and date of my induction she made sure she was scheduled for that time and her service was exceptional and nothing short of amazing. She explained every procedure and helped me feel at ease. After delivery she continued to check on me and baby throughout. I couldn't have done this without her. She definitely made my first experience a nice and relaxed moment. I would definitely do it all over again and make sure I use her services again.

Tiffany

Lydia was and is such a blessing. Breastfeeding was a very big challenge but she pushed me to keep going. It was so helpful having her to talk to and learn from. I'd recommend her without a doubt. Lydia has now helped me with both of my pregnancies and births. There were some discouraging moments with my pregnancies but Lydia assisted mentally and physically to push through. With breastfeeding and my options with delivery, Lydia was very helpful. It seemed as if I was too busy to keep track of the things happening the day of my deliveries but Lydia was there to help keep track of that and now I forever have a keepsake and timeline of a beautiful day. So very grateful and more than satisfied with my Doula experience

Jarea M.

Lydia has been a huge blessing for my first pregnancy. She reassured me in all of my concerns and made me much more comfortable with delivering my baby.

Lovie & Craig

Most definitely recommend Lydia because the work that she does and how she does it is truly amazing I have never met a Doula who was more compassionate and sincere....throughout the whole process everything through and through she was so thorough and she explained things perfectly....anyone who had a kid on the way I would most definitely recommend Lydia the Doula who's the best at this I have seen honestly"

Jordan

Lydia was absolutely God sent to us! I came across her Facebook page after moving back home to KCMO back in October 2020 and was so glad I did! I was able to learn so much about pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding through the many resources she provided me with(this was before we even booked her). After learning so much and realizing how much more there is to learn about the process, we decided to hire her. I was able to have access to a wealth of knowledge at any point during my process. Lydia made sure both my husband and I were educated and ready for the journey we were about to embark on. I felt so confident going into the process and was able to labor at home until I was 9cm dilated and pushed my baby girl out in 19mins! You would think after baby was born Lydia's job would be done, but no! She was only getting started. I felt so safe and cared for after delivery and she was right by my side to help get baby latched on within the first hour of her being born. I truly do not know if my breastfeeding journey would be what it is now if it were not for her support. She checked on the 3 of us constantly during the first 4 weeks of the postpartum journey and helped me get over a few mental blocks during that time. Several different times my husband stated how much he appreciated having Lydia by our side during our delivery and that he could not imagine doing this without her! You can see the passion she has for helping black families get the education and services they need during their pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. She is without a doubt one of the best in the game! You will not find too many doulas with the level of knowledge she has. As a nurse, lactation consultant, doula, evidence based birth instructor, and friend, she is someone to have on your team! It also doesn't hurt that she has the best prices out there either. Thank you so much Lydia for everything you have done for us over these last months! We are lucky to have you!

Ko & Marek