Going into my first pregnancy I knew I needed some extra help in addition to having my husband…read morethere. I was going to deliver at Kaiser and knew I wanted an experienced Doula that could be with me from start to finish. Felissa was just that and more! My husband and I felt very comfortable with Felissa from the first time we met her she's very sweet and motherly but also very motivating which is very comforting when you're in a lot of pain! The warming pad, tens unit and massages she did on my back were amazing during the contractions. She was also very helpful in helping us make decisions during labor and letting us know what the Doctors were doing. This definitely helped us feel a whole lot better during some important decisions. I highly recommend Felissa, she's very knowledgeable in what she does and is a great support to have during the most important thing a woman has to do.

Simply Amazing! Felissa is the perfect 10 "doula" for the birth of our child. We delivered our baby…read morein Kaiser Redwood City and she was extremely phenomenal in guiding us through the labor and birthing process. With her amazing support, we count ourselves fortunate to have a healthy delivery with 100% natural child birth. No IV line, no blood test, No Pitocin, No pain medication, No intervention whatsoever. In the two pre-natal visits, she gave us great tips and demonstrated various exercises such as pelvic rocking, squatting, and Kegel exercises to help prepare the mother physically and emotionally. When my water broke and my labor started (around 12:45 AM) , she picked up her phone instantly offering us guidelines on what to expect and guiding us through the process. She helped us during our 10+ hours labor. We used her TENTS unit for helping to alleviate the pain and many hot water showers sessions. We did a lot of walking, squatting, all-four position and many others to help progress the labor. We read the two books "Ina May Gaskin's guide to Natural Childbirth" and "The Bradley Natural Childbirth". She helped complement our knowledge with practical information from her wealth of experience. We are so lucky to have her as our doula and we are forever grateful for her patience, support, and compassion in helping us deliver our baby healthily and naturally.

Jamee is absolutely wonderful!…read more We got her assistance and guidance with our second birth, and I honestly wish I had met Jamee sooner and had her present at our first birth. I would highly recommend Jamee to any expectant mother! During our prenatal sessions, she really assisted us with understanding birth as a whole better, helped me understand and honor my previous birth trauma, and helped us let go of things out of our control for the birth process. She was hands on, and she helped me understand my body and prepare for labor mentally, physically, and psychologically. Leading up to my eventual induction, she was always helpful when we provided updates from appointments, and offering advice and a great sounding board- it's hard when you don't really know what to expect from a membrane sweep, and nobody really knows what a Bishop's score is unless you're fully informed. Jamee's ability to listen and her compassion is what really stood out to me during the doula selection process. She is so positive, and she is willing to meet you where you are which is exactly what we needed. Due to circumstances out of our control, Jamee was not able to attend our birth, but she was communicative throughout the entire process and was still offering support and guidance as well as informing our backup doula who was able to step in and ensure we had the best birth experience. We were really bummed in the hospital to not have Jamee with us, but having mentally prepared in our prenatal sessions to let go of the "uncontrollable," we were able to trust the process. After the birth, we were able to meet with Jamee and our backup doula to debrief our birth experience, and we are so thankful to them both for the support and guidance. We had the best birth experience, and we truly believe having a doula, whether it's Jamee or Maya (our backup doula), or someone else present at your birth could make all the difference! Jamee will forever be a part of our family, and a "fairy godmother" to my son!

Jamee is the BEST. If you're looking for a calm, kind and caring doula, which I'm positive all…read morepregnant women are-- look no further!! She was all of that and so much MORE. Being a first time mom with no family around me, nerves and no idea what to expect, Jamee made me feel so reassured and confident. She is knowledgable and patient. Jamee is attentive and answered all of our questions before, during and after delivery. My husband and I still don't know what we would've done with out her. She has the skills and experience to help guide you. AND she made me feel very comfortable in any and all situations, which is so important for this very vulnerable, life changing experience!! Having Jamee at my baby boy's birth made me feel safe and I wouldn't have had it any other way. If I didn't say it enough, THANK YOU JAMEE!

Mairi was an incredible source of education, preparation, and support throughout my pregnancy,…read morebirth, and recovery. She prepared us for every possible outcome and empowered me with both knowledge and invaluable wisdom. Although I ultimately had a C-section, Mairi's education helped me understand what I needed and approach the experience feeling informed and prepared. She continued to support and encourage me throughout my recovery. Most importantly, Mairi genuinely cared about us. I always felt that my well-being was a priority and that she was truly invested in supporting our family. Her knowledge, compassion, and dedication made such a positive difference in our experience. I'm deeply grateful to have had her by my side and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an exceptional doula.

Mairi was such a wonderful part of our birth and postpartum journey. From the very beginning, her…read moreprenatal sessions were helpful. She made sure we understood all our options, and patiently answered every question we had. She helped us prepare in practical ways, but also gave us the confidence we didn't know we needed. During the birth, Mairi brought a calm, steady energy that made all the difference. She's such a kind, thoughtful listener, and truly cares. We felt supported every step of the way. Having Mairi on our team was one of the best decisions we made. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

I'm beyond thankful for Viji and her personalized, holistic approach throughout my pregnancy and…read morebirth. From the start, she took the time to understand my unique needs, offering tailored guidance on nutrition, stress management, and natural remedies to reduce inflammation and support healing. She has a deep understanding of how to complement the medical recommendations with natural remedies. She helped me understand why things were happening in my body and what options I had at each stage. She connected the dots between my medical history, daily habits, and birth experience in a way no one else had. I felt prepared for conversations with my care team instead of overwhelmed. She helped me adapt my plan when unexpected challenges came up, like getting covid :(. Her care didn't just help me feel physically strong and balanced during pregnancy--it also minimized risks for both me and my baby. Postpartum, her support continued to make a huge difference in my recovery. If you're looking for a doula who genuinely cares and provides thoughtful, individualized care, I cannot recommend Viji enough! I would also add that this felt less like standard doula care after interviewing several. This is more like having a personal guide through pregnancy, birth, and recovery with takeaways for well beyond the birth and for lifetime.

Viji is truly one of a kind. Every mother deserves someone like her by their side during their…read morebirth journey. After a traumatic first pregnancy and postpartum preeclampsia, I was considered high-risk during my second pregnancy as well. Around 32 weeks, I started seeing elevated blood pressure readings along with severe white coat syndrome. I was anxious and searching for support, and that's when I found Viji. Even before our first consultation, I had a strong feeling that she was God-sent -- a true blessing -- and that feeling only grew stronger with time. Viji stepped in with so much calm, confidence, and care. She took everything upon herself and made sure I was prepared in every possible way -- physically, mentally, and emotionally. She guided me through provider decisions, helped me find the right midwifery care, and thoughtfully connected me with an exceptional midwife, Lin Lee, who aligned perfectly with my needs. Because of Viji's discernment and support in building the right team around me, my entire experience was completely different from my first pregnancy. The birth itself felt smooth and empowering -- no tears, no episiotomy, and my blood pressure remained well controlled throughout. What truly sets Viji apart is how deeply she cares and how holistic her approach is. She took the time to understand my full medical history and personal background, worked to get to the root of my previous complications, and helped me navigate provider complexities with clarity and confidence. She also combined her Jyotish knowledge to help identify the most supportive and auspicious timing for my induction, which brought me an incredible sense of peace and trust going into labor. During labor, Viji was there through it all. She supported me with Ayurvedic care, calming massages, constant reassurance, and gentle guidance. She made sure I was comfortable, grounded, and never felt alone. She even stayed with me through the entire night -- watching over me, advocating for me, and helping me make important decisions when I was exhausted and vulnerable. Because of Viji, my second birth experience became healing, empowering, and beautiful. She didn't just help me prepare for birth -- she helped me heal from my past experience and trust my body again. I will always be grateful for her presence, her wisdom, and the love she brought into one of the most important moments of my life. I thank God every day for leading me to her at exactly the right time.

TLDR: Liat is incredible. If there's one thing I would recommend to help you through your labor,…read moreit's having her by your side. She was the best decision we could have made. My husband and I went back and forth for months about whether we wanted to include a doula in our birth experience. After a lot of discussion, we decided to hire one for two reasons: first, we wanted someone who could help us advocate for ourselves in the hospital so we could stay as close to our birth plan as possible. Second, we wanted someone who could physically support me throughout labor. Liat is truly one of the most incredible human beings I've ever met. She became such an essential part of my birth experience that, looking back, I genuinely don't think I could have done it without her. To make a very long story short, I chose to be induced at 41 weeks after a lot of pressure and fear mongering from my doctors due to elevated amniotic fluid levels. I labored at the hospital until my contractions reached a certain intensity, and then Liat joined us. The moment she arrived, she jumped right in--rubbing my back, talking me through each contraction, and bringing such a calming presence into the room. For the next seven hours, she coached both my husband and me through contractions that were every 2-3 minutes apart. She constantly adjusted my laboring positions to help my baby descend and was incredibly attentive to the fetal monitor. Anytime my baby's heart rate dipped during a contraction, she immediately repositioned me to help him tolerate labor better. Those seven hours somehow flew by. I labored on the birth ball, in the bed, in the bathroom, and even did lunges at one point! Liat was always thinking one step ahead, using every tool and technique she had to help labor progress naturally. Eventually, I reached a point where I decided to get an epidural. I was exhausted, in pain, and my baby was having a harder time tolerating the contractions, with his heart rate decelerating during each one. After the epidural, my labor was paused to help baby, and I was able to rest for about an hour. When I woke up, the nurses wanted to talk about interventions (even the possibility of a C-section) because my labor "wasn't progressing"--despite the fact that they had just given me medication to stop my contractions. Liat immediately stepped in and advocated for us. She calmly explained that labor couldn't progress without contractions and suggested restarting the Pitocin, giving it time to work, and then reassessing before making any decisions. Sure enough, labor picked back up beautifully. A few hours later, I was fully dilated and effaced, but my baby's station was still a little high. Liat spent what felt like hours gently rocking my hips and helping my baby naturally move farther down into my pelvis until it was finally time to push. She stayed by my side every step of the way until our son was born later that afternoon. If you're on the fence about hiring a doula, I cannot recommend Liat enough. She advocated for me every step of the way, helped me navigate unexpected twists in my labor, and supported both me and my husband physically and emotionally throughout the entire experience. Her knowledge, calm confidence, and compassion made all the difference. A few weeks after our son was born, Liat came to visit us at home, and it honestly felt like having family over. Liat, we are endlessly grateful for everything you did to help bring our son safely into this world. We love you, and we can't wait to have you by our side again when it's time to welcome our next baby. Love, The Zimmerman Family

I had the most wonderfully redemptive unmedicated VBAC a few weeks ago, and it is difficult to…read moreoverstate how critical of a role Liat played in making that happen. My first birth had gone much differently than I had hoped (preterm labor that led to immediate C-section due to breech positioning). I had come to terms with that experience, but I was surprised to find in my second pregnancy that it would be difficult to escape those "labels" from my first pregnancy, making it harder to be given a fair shot at having a vaginal birth. Thankfully, I found Liat whose passion for VBACs is infectious and whose no-nonsense approach is grounding. In our conversations before the birth, my husband and I both appreciated the balance of her approach - she strongly believes in the benefits of physiologic birth, but she also recognizes there is a time and place for medical intervention. My primary hope for this birth was that I wouldn't undergo any interventions that I wasn't convinced I needed, and she was a trustworthy sounding board throughout the entire pregnancy and delivery to ensure that was the case. This time around, my baby decided to stay inside long past the due date, so I agreed with my provider that it would be a good idea to induce. This was pretty disappointing for me, but Liat was wonderful at helping me stay in a good headspace in those final days, checking in frequently via texts and calls. When it came time for delivery, she was every bit as exceptional as all her other reviews describe. When she arrived at the hospital, she took one look at me and knew exactly how to change my environment to help me relax. Sure enough, labor accelerated rapidly after she arrived. She massaged my back through every single contraction. She knew exactly what to say to keep my mind present and focused. When she was talking me through my contractions, they were noticeably more efficient. At one point, I almost wanted to give up and she knew exactly how to keep me going. And sooner than I could have dared hope, my baby arrived. I'm pretty sure I professed my love for Liat minutes after giving birth :) And just as she had been for the entire pregnancy and labor, she was a constant comfort and encouragement to us in the minutes, days, and weeks after the delivery as well. Liat takes absolutely no BS, but is also the warmest and most compassionate woman you've ever met. She's exactly who you want at your birth. I know I want her at my next one!

Stephanie is truly an amazing birth instructor. I went into the birth of our first daughter with…read morethe intention of having an unmedicated birth and I felt her class (combined with my doula, supportive partner, and midwife-Lin Lee) played a huge role in making that happen successfully. We loved her sense of humor, her straight forwardness, and her genuine passion for helping new parents on their birth journey. She gave us a very thorough picture of what we could expect, how to advocate for our needs, and how to mentally & physically prepare for an unmedicated birth and the possibility of a medicated birth without any judgement...just love and support. She even prepared dads/partners for what to expect and how to support mama and baby. Additionally, she provided use with such great service for placenta encapsulation for both births (2017 & 2021), which included pick up, delivery, and an umbilical cord souvenir. She is the first person I recommend to any first time parents who are looking for a birth instructor, doula, or placenta encapsulation. So grateful to have had her as guide on our journey.

Our family highly recommends Stephanie for classes, placenta encapsulation, and doula services. She…read morewas a fantastic and supportive coach through the birthing process. I felt prepared, informed, and supported. I learned so much about natural birthing and my own strength. I'm incredibly grateful to look back on my birthing experience as a positive and empowering one. Thank you, Stephanie, for thoughtfully facilitating such an important experience for us.

I feel so lucky to have had Neri as my doula. With over 20 years of experience, her knowledge is…read moreincredible, and she always provides professional guidance. During my late pregnancy, I experienced some complications, and Neri immediately referred me to specialists for check-ups. Initially, we hoped for labor to start spontaneously, but eventually, I needed induction. Neri gave me personalized advice based on my body and my preferences. I chose not to use a water ball and wanted to rely on medication to induce cervical dilation and contraction. Most doctors recommended the water ball, but Neri suggested trying Cervidil. To my surprise, it worked beautifully--I developed regular contractions and eventually experienced a spontaneous rupture of membranes. When I gave birth, my Pitocin dose was very low (only 4), and even with an epidural, I was able to push by changing multiple positions like hands and knees. Throughout the entire process, Neri's professionalism, patience, and support gave me confidence and peace of mind. I highly recommend Neri to any expecting parent--she's not only an experienced doula but also a caring and supportive guide through pregnancy and birth.

We cannot recommend Neri enough. As first-time parents planning an unmedicated hospital birth, her…read moresupport made all the difference. Neri helped us prepare mentally and physically leading up to the birth -- from putting together a solid birth plan to answering questions, addressing research-related anxiety, and being a thoughtful, validating listener. During labor, she was absolutely indispensable. She joined us at the hospital and supported us through every stage with incredible skill and professionalism -- changing positions, massage, breathing guidance, aromatherapy, ice chips, and always knowing what to do next. We truly could not have done it without her. She also advocated for us with the medical team and helped make our unmedicated birth happen, even when others doubted us. Neri is calm, grounded, professional, and genuinely prioritizes her clients with personalized care. We will absolutely be reaching out to her again when we're ready for baby number two!

This review is a bummer to write, but after reading other reviews about communication delays and…read moreissues on the administrative end, it's clear i'm not the only one experiencing this issue and something needs to be seriously addressed. Alicia herself is wonderful, and we used her for placenta encapsulation in 2019. We had an overall good experience, so as we are nearing the birth of our 3rd baby, I reached back out to Alicia as a return client looking for placenta encapsulation again. It took 4 days to get an initial response to my email. Julia (Alicia's assistant) reached out to let me know Alicia is on maternity leave and had a few clarification questions to get the ball rolling with another doula. Unfortunately, I never heard from Julia or anyone else again. I've since left a voicemail and 4 follow-up emails with no response. If Born Doulas is too busy to accept me as a client, I would have appreciated hearing that upfront vs. just ghosting me, especially as a returning client. These types of customer service issues are just unacceptable, and if you are looking for a doula or placenta encapsulation company during the very delicate time of pregnancy and delivery, I recommend looking elsewhere and finding a company that cares about communication.

I can't begin to describe how wonderful, passionate, caring and knowledgeable Alicia is! From the…read morebeginning she guided us during the pregnancy, had many great tips for me, and helped me make my (right) big decisions towards the end. My birth story took longer than we expected, 40+ hours and Alicia was so supportive and strong even till the last seconds, let me correct that, even after the birth! Her stamina throughout the 40+ hours is just amazing! She was always there reassuring me that everything is going well, and making sure I'm hydrated and nourished to go on with the big game. This alone makes me want to tell every women, regardless how supportive your husband is, you still need a doula 100% especially Alicia 10000%! Before and after the birth I had many complications, that caused me to be hospitalized right after my birth, so my newborn was left with my clueless husband and mother. Alicia right away came over and helped them in so many ways, guiding and teaching them how to take care of our baby. She kept checking in on me before and after the birth regarding my condition, and helped me in all kinds of ways, sending over wonderful people to help with my condition, etc. We are eternally grateful to you Alicia! Baby M sending all his love!