about a mother's haven
Our Mission
At A Mother’s Haven, our mission is to provide expectant and new parents a nurturing and welcoming environment where they can receive the education, support, and products they need to begin the most rewarding experience of their lives. Our prenatal classes and instructors support families through the birthing process and teach parents how to care for their babies and keep them safe. After baby, our Mothers’ Gathering (Mommy & Me) and Daddy & Me instructors guide Moms and Dads through their new journey into becoming a family and provide a wonderful chance to bond with other parents experiencing similar successes and challenges. Our music and baby sign language classes stimulate babies’ cognitive and physical development and give them a great head start. Our 2,500 square foot boutique has a variety of hand-selected items catering to Mom, Dad, and Baby’s needs. Lastly, we offer the Hospital Grade Medela Symphony® Breast Pump for Rent and Lactation Consultations.
Our Story
A Mother’s Haven has been a one-stop destination for expectant and new parents in the San Fernando Valley since 2002. The 2,500 square foot boutique has a variety of Mom, Dad and Baby necessities including Medela pumps and pumping supplies, nursing bras, clothing, toys, books, diapers, diaper accessories and so much more! The educational center provides private and intimate classes for families before baby to toddler age.
Our Teachers
Donna Cohen, IBCLC
Donna is a mother of three beautiful children. Donna’s passion for breastfeeding support started after she gave birth to her oldest child. She had a very unpleasant experience with a lactation consultant, which left her on the verge of giving up. However, she didn’t give up and she continued to find support. After meeting with a different consultant, she felt empowered and supported to continue her breastfeeding journey. It was then that she knew she wanted to help other mothers like herself. She vows to be respectful, sensitive, knowledgeable, and flexible to adapt to each new mamas needs.
Donna started her lactation studies in 2008 and became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2010. She is a current member of USLCA and ILCA. Since 2010 she has been in private practice, helping moms and babies in the comfort of their own homes. She specializes in breastfeeding support and education.
In Donna’s free time she loves to cook authentic cuisines, hike with her family, and have a good dance party in her living room! We are honored to have Donna join A Mother’s Haven as our Lactation Consultant.
Heather Ward, BA, Sociology and MA, AMFT
Heather joined Mother’s Haven to support mothers, drawing in part from her personal journey with her daughter as a new mother. Heather understands the stress and joy that can come from attempting to balance work, parenting, and self-care.
In addition to her work at Mother’s Haven, Heather maintains a private West Los Angeles practice and other affiliations where she facilitates mindful parenting classes and family therapy.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC).
Lauren Ryan
Lauren is a childbirth educator, labor doula, and infant care specialist. She teaches Supported Birth childbirth education classes and Caring for Your Newborn classes at A Mother’s Haven. She also has run a pregnancy support group called Tummy Talk. Lauren got certified to be a Supported Birth childbirth educator (CSBE) in 2003 and got certified as a Supported Birth doula (CSBD) in 2006.
In addition to teaching group and private classes, Lauren has been working on a newborn care e-book. It will be full of pictures and how-to videos, which will make understanding what it means to take care of a newborn much easier.
Lauren lives in Tarzana with her husband and daughter. Her daughter was born in 2000 at West Hills Hospital and is a first generation Valley Girl. Lauren likes to read, cook, organize, ride her bike, swim and go to amusement parks. October is her favorite month because of her birthday and the best holiday, Halloween.
Lauren loves working at A Mother’s Haven because she gets to meet all different types of parents-to-be and knows how important it is for them to go into parenthood feeling relaxed and confident.
Sarah M. Boorstin, MS, LMFT, NCC
Sarah has adored A Mother’s Haven since 2014 when she participated in a Mothers’ Gathering with her infant son. Three years later, the friendships from her group are still going strong for the mothers and the children and she couldn’t be more appreciative.
Sarah became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2010 and National Certified Counselor in 2016. Having worked in many different treatment settings including Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic, Naval Base San Diego, and elementary and high schools, Sarah has delivered services to a variety of populations including minorities, active-duty military personnel, and their spouses, children with severe emotional disturbances, and domestic violence victims and offenders.
The diversity in her training has provided her with numerous treatment modalities which she uses at her psychotherapy private practice in Sherman Oaks, CA. Sarah began leading Mothers’ Gathering groups in 2017 and feels fortunate to be part of the AMH community. She is excited to support women in their journey as new mothers and hopes they enjoy their groups as much as she did hers. Sarah is also a member of the Alliance of Moms. When not with her family or working, she enjoys crafting, Cardio Barre, and weekend trips to San Diego.
Richard Pass, RN, BS
Richard is the Program & Course Director for Save A Little Life. His experience includes many years as a clinical practitioner in critical care areas, including many years in large emergency departments. He has been a basic and advanced CPR instructor for about 25 years.
Save A Little Life began when Richard decided it was time to take a simple, yet quality educational program into the community. His affiliation with the American Heart Association and continued focus on the latest CPR related science makes the Save A Little Life course a most current and modern approach to these life-saving skills.
Richard has served as a clinical instructor of nursing at California State University Northridge since 2008.
Victoria Miller
Victoria has been practicing Kundalini Yoga for over twenty-eight years. As a former dancer, and then marketing & public relations professional she began taking classes with renowned yoga teacher Gurmukh at her home studio. There Victoria found a perfect blend of physical and spiritual balance she sought as a young professional working in the entertainment industry. Her personal practice highlight came during her own pregnancy experience with Prenatal and Mommy & Me Yoga classes.
As a result, she began teaching over twenty years ago. Victoria has studied extensively with Gurmukh, including substituting for her classes while she traveled. Victoria completed the KRI (Kundalini Research Institute) 200-hour Teacher’s Training Course in 2003 and has continued her education as a student, alongside her teaching practice, with continued education, workshops, and retreats.
Currently, Victoria teaches Women’s, Prenatal, and Parent & Me Yoga, as well as general Kundalini Yoga/Kundalini-Flow classes for all levels of students at several locations in the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley area, as well as privately. Teaching by example, her classes are physical, healing, musical, and uplifting–conducted in a supportive environment where students can dedicate themselves to their own individual practice and awakening.
Victoria and her husband Henry celebrated 25 years of marriage in May, and they have a twenty-two-year-old daughter, Saeli (a recent college grad and the apple of her eye), who continue to inspire her every day to live life as a woman, wife, and mother of grace.