Sanctuary San Diego

Needed a back massage asap and Abby was able to help me same day! I am 21 weeks pregnant and needed lower back and shoulder help. She was really great! Used just the right pressure, not to soft and not too aggressive. I will be going back throughout my pregnancy without question. Worth every penny:)

I am 38 weeks pregnant and in serious discomfort. Abbey is our doula and offered us massage services. I decided to get a prenatal massage. I am so glad that I did. Abbey focused on relaxation and was very professional. The table is AMAZING! A place for my boobs and belly to fit so I could be facing down. I loved it! It was the most comfortable I have been in a while. I was so relaxed that I started drooling (gross, I know). By the time she was done I looked like I had just woken up from deep slumber, totally relaxed.
In terms of Abbey being our doula we are so happy! She is so professional, friendly, and organized. We are looking forward to our birth even more knowing she will be there to support us.

Wow! This review is overdue! I had my son almost 14 months ago, and when I was pregnant I was determined to deliver my baby all naturale! These days, natural birth could mean the «v» word: vaginal, but with an epidural or it could mean natural as in absolutely no anesthesia or drugs!
For me, I wanted no drugs. (I guess, I should thank McGruff the crime dog for that.). Call me crazy, but I wanted to experience the entire labor and delivery! I’ve heard some mothers not fully remembering the delivery due to all the anesthesia. I also didn’t want to expose my baby to any unnecessary drugs. I’m either a hippie or organic nut… But, that was my plan so I decided to hire a doula to help me achieve my goals.
What’s a Doula???
A doula is pretty much a person who has experience with delivering babies.
Why hire a doula?
There are many reasons why someone would want to hire a doula. Here’s a few:
(1) Want a natural birth at home (that sounds so primitive doesn’t it? but, I personally think it’s beautiful!)
(2) Nervous about delivering your first baby and want guidance/​support
(3) Want a natural birth at the hospital and want support/​help to make sure your goals are met
(4) Want extra help/​support/​information about labor and delivery regardless of delivery preference
To put my story in a nutshell, I was in labor for 48 hours. Most of that time, Abby was always with us. We are FOREVER grateful for her support!
She stayed with us at our home for several hours. She gave me tips on how to stretch, when to take naps and rest up for the main event, made sure both my hubby and I were well hydrated and fed, she gave me massages, and advised me on how I could accelerate the contractions since I was in labor for SOOOO LONG!
Even my hubby tells me he doesn’t know what he’d do without her. You have to remember that most 1^st moms are in labor for at least 24 hours. It’s great to have a 3^rd person like Abby there to take shifts with your hubby.
Soo. how did my labor & delivery end? I took Castor Oil to avoid Pitocin. My contractions had slowed down a lot when I arrived at the hospital. Then finally at 9pm I decided to take Pitocin (a labor-​inducing drug)… and at 5am I delivered my beautiful son!
With the support of my husband and Abby, I had the labor & delivery I wanted for the most part (no epidural)! I am very certain that if I went with another doula that was less experienced, I would have had a labor & delivery that I dreaded such as a c-​section.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ABBY FOR EVERYTHING! If you are looking for a doula, please consider Abby! She’s amazing to say the least :)
Btw, she also does placenta pills for faster recovery. Call her for more info!

Abby was my doula for my recent vbac and she was awesome! Very knowledgable and compassionate. She was available to me when I had questions, concerns, or meltdowns. ;) I got my dream birth experience and she played such a huge role. I highly recommend!!!

This is the place to go if your pregnant! I had an amazing pregnancy massage and was able to comfortably lay face down the entire time. The pregnancy table is awesome and Abby is a great massage therapist. She really knows her stuff and since she is also a doula is very comfortable treating pregnant women.

Abby has the fingers that like to linger in the right places to get rid of the aches and pains. I have an artificial shoulder and leg — and Abby releases the pain and makes me feel «near-​normal». She’s always cheerful, and always helpful. Highly recommend.

I haven’t received a massage from Abby — yet! — but I have received some wonderful advice on how aromatherapy can greatly help with my severe migraines. Her info was very comprehensive — I loved how she provided the how & why it worked in addition to several practical applications. Next time you have an ailment, ask her about it. I’ll bet aromatherapy can be used way more often than we think! Thanks again Abby!

Abby gave me the best hot stone massage I’ve ever had, hands down. Her regular Swedish is also wonderful, and she always adds something special to the mix with her aromatherapy oils. One day I went in with the start of a cold, and she blended some oils for me to help detox and feel better, and that worked wonders.
I think the reason I love her massage therapy so much is because of the aromatherapy she includes — you can’t get that at normal salons without paying a fortune, and you can never really trust the quality of the oils they use there. With Abby, rest assured you are getting the highest quality aromatherapy, and the highest quality massage therapy — a powerful combination!
I highly recommend her for relaxation, de-​stress, detoxification, and personal well-​being. I have also experienced her work as a traveling massage therapist with a chair massage in our offices, and that was the most relaxed I’d been at work ever.