The Doulas of B*E*S*T
tracy *
Margie *
Cheri *
Diane *
DeAnne *
Yvonne *
Joni
tracy hartley
has owned and operated B*E*S*T (Birth Empowerment Support Team) Doula Service since 1996 and has supported more than 350 babies and families during pregnancy, labor, birth and immediate postpartum. She is trained in birth hypnosis, spinning babies, childbirth education, breastfeeding basics and much more. She is currently the Director of Development of DASC (Doulas Association of Southern California).
Margie Levy has been a doula since 2002 and is certified with DONA and CAPPA. She believes that all women and their partners need and deserve the support of someone trained and experienced in childbirth. Having great support makes labor and birth more comfortable and enjoyable!
(more about Margie)
Cheri Masek
has been working with women and their families as a doula since 2000. She was trained and certified through DONA and is a board member for DASC. She has also taken many lactation courses, including the UCLA Lactation Education extension course. She provides continual support during labor and birthing, and on to breastfeeding at the hospital and home. Cheri is a strong believer in "welcoming life gently."
(more about Cheri)
Diane Dawson, or Diane West as she is known in the birth community, has been working with new families since 1995, supporting women through labor and birth and leaving them with a newfound confidence in their ability to care for their newborn. In 2004 she received her midwifery license and now offers homebirth, hospital labor support, breastfeeding consultations and childbirth classes in Pasadena and the surrounding areas.(more about Diane)
DeAnne Todd
has been a doula since 1996. She is a Lamaze childbirth educator who has received the award for Volunteer Doula of the Year in 2007 and 2008 from DASC. She currently runs a volunteer program for incarcerated women. Before becoming a doula, DeAnne was a professional dancer. She is married and has three children. DeAnne is not taking new clients at this time, but is available as a backup.
Yvonne Novak began her journey supporting women before, during and after birth, as a La Leche League Leader and Bradley Childbirth Instructor in 1979. She has had the privilege of attending birth for more than 30 years and has chosen doula support as a full-time commitment for the past 5+ years. She is also a childbirth educator and trainer, a part-time midwifery student and also offers lactation support. (more about Yvonne)
Joni Lucarelli
has been a doula since 2007, after she had attended the births of her sisters and girlfriends for years. She is married and the mother of two grown children. Prior to becoming a doula she worked in child welfare for impoverished children.