Lisa has helped me tremendously. She provides relevant info to the specific problem. She helped…read moreme write a birthplan, which Kaiser sort of followed. Breastfeeding was a disaster, from my low milk supply, baby being tongue tied, mastitis, the wrong size flanges for the breast pump that Kaiser gave me. Lisa helped me with homeopathic remedies, support, and information about medications that others have found useful (she does not prescribe or give specific medication dosing advice for prescribed medications). I don't know that I will be able to breastfeed, but it isn't for lack of trying, and Lisa made me feel better, that I have done everything humanly possible and if I can't it's not because I didn't give it my all. I highly recommend using her service. She is responsive, kind, reassuring, and just a lovely person who wants you and your baby to be healthy and strong. She loves babies and respects mamas. What could be better?

If you are wanting to hire a doula or have extra support, definitely hire Lisa. When my husband…read moreand I found out we were pregnant, I knew I wanted to have a doula assist with the birth. I also knew that I wanted to have a natural birth and that doulas could be a great assistance in reaching this goal. I spent a lot of time emailing doulas, a lot of them. Lisa was only one of a couple I heard back from. She responded promptly and was willing to work around our busy/late night schedule to set up an interview. Once we interviewed, I knew that I wanted to hire her. My husband was more apprehensive and had difficulty spending the money when he felt he would be helpful and not need a doula. However, he knew how much it meant to me and went with it. Throughout the pregnancy, we received so much useful information from Lisa. Any questions I had, she was always available to answer them. Towards the end of my pregnancy I had high blood pressure and my doctor wanted to induce me because of concerns regarding my blood pressure. I knew that it would be very difficult to have a natural birth with being induced but felt confident that given the support, I would be able to do it. I ended up having three different types of inducement measures, cervidil, a balloon, and pitocin. My labor was incredibly difficult, with a recommendation of an epidural discussed twice and a c-section discussed once. Lisa saved me from having to have any of this done. She suggested two specific positions to utilize while having contractions that are never done in hospitals. My doctor worked with Lisa and was willing to have Lisa try them with me. These positions saved me from having a c-section and made my goal of having a natural birth possible. She was not only available and there for me during my pregnancy and labor & delivery but afterwards as well. I have asked so many questions regarding breastfeeding and other things and she has always been available for me. She responds promptly to me and is constantly checking in on me (my baby was born 8 days ago). I cannot say enough positive things about Lisa. Hire her as your doula, it will be the best decision you can make. Following the delivery, my somewhat skeptical husband prior to labor and delivery said that it was worth all of the money we spent. He said hiring Lisa was one of the best decisions we made during this process. That, to me, says it all. Hire Lisa.

We had the best experience with Maureen, one of the many talented doulas at Brilliant Births. We…read moreopted for a private Laboring together class, and it exceeded every expectation. Maureen guided us with so much knowledge, warmth and patience. She gave us practical tools, hands on techniques, and the confidence we needed as we prepare for our baby. We both walked out feeling way more prepared. If you're looking for someone who empowers, educates and genuinely cares, Maureen is incredible. We're so grateful!

My partner and I recently completed the Hypnobirthing three week course at Brilliant Births. We had…read morean absolutely incredible experience, for many reasons--The information we learned was invaluable, but also the instructors' teaching styles and depth of personal experience they offered was appreciated, comforting, and helpful. They clearly have a deep well of wisdom and experience-based expertise to share. We started our class with Keira and absolutely loved her--originally we were a bit bummed to know we would have a different instructor for our last day of the course. However, it turned out that Heidi was equitably wonderful and all things lovely-- instead of only one great instructor and guide, we ended up with two...which leads me to believe you'll be in skilled hands with anyone you interact with at BB. We will definitely be returning to take advantage of their other offerings!

Kristal has continued to keep in touch with me after she delivered my encapsulated pills. She…read morechecked in on me and showed that she cared ever since I first emailed her. It was the fact that she went above and beyond with her communication that caused me to choose her about the various others that offer the same service. The pills are helping me with the recovery after the birth of my daughter and I am grateful to Kristal.

I used Kristal for my 2nd child's birth, oh do I wish I had her help with my 1st. Kristal is a…read moresweet easy person to be around. She fit in perfectly with my friends and family. Making a birthing plan with Kristal was helped put me at ease, my pregnancy had complications and I was overwhelmed with the stress and all of the what if?!. Kristal was a wonderful support and she help me manage the pain during some extremely difficult back labor. If you take the time to meet with her you won't be disappointed.

We were incredibly lucky to have Andrea Berkey as our postpartum doula for six weeks, starting the…read moreweek our baby boy was born. As first-time parents, those early days felt overwhelming, and Andrea's calm presence and support made a world of difference. She has an amazing depth of knowledge about newborns and patiently taught us the basics--burping, de-gassing, bathing, and feeling confident handling our extra-small newborn. As a new mom, I was especially grateful for her help with feeding. She walked me through different feeding positions and helped me get fully set up and comfortable with pumping. Andrea was incredibly gentle and patient with our baby, often lulling him to sleep and holding him for long stretches. Knowing he was in such caring hands gave us so much peace of mind and allowed us to truly rest and recover. She consistently went above and beyond--staying an extra hour on her first day to accompany us to our baby's first pediatrician visit, keeping our baby's dresser organized, always refilling the water in our bottle cleaner before leaving, and sharing age-appropriate activities along with helpful tools and resources. We are really thankful for her little acts of thoughtfulness. She was always flexible and adapted her approach to what worked best for our family. Because of Andrea, we were able to enjoy the first weeks of parenthood without feeling constantly overwhelmed. We are so grateful for her support and cannot recommend her highly enough to any family looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and thoughtful support system!

Andrea is a wealth of knowledge about newborns and postpartum: nursing and latching,…read more mastitis prevention and management, baby weight gain, wake and sleep patterns, identifying types of baby cries, burping tricks, pumping, bottle and syringe feeding, baby quiet alert state, integrating older siblings, rhythms and strategies for getting through the nights, setting boundaries with overzealous friends and family, and just generally getting your sea legs with a new baby no matter how seasoned a parent you are. Some of this info, tips and tricks seem to be lost over the years and generations but she has honed it and is holding the flame alive for us. She is a sought out favorite of other doulas and midwives themselves. I'm not sure there is a bigger recommendation than that! I initially thought the most helpful move would have been having a night doula but I actually benefited much more from Andrea's support and education during the days - which turned out to make the nights so much more manageable and less mysteriously hard. This was not intuitive to me but I'm now an absolute believer in daytime doula support. She delivers all of this learning with a cheerful and steady calm I've rarely encountered and I look up to so much as a mother. I feel so lucky to have gotten to spend some time with her - she is unforgettable and her impact on my parenting is forever. I hope to pass on everything I learned from her to others.

I cannot recommend Marilou at Doulas by the Bay highly enough. She was our postpartum night doula…read morefor the first few weeks after our son was born, and she was incredible. As new parents, the sleep deprivation is real, but knowing she was there allowed us to finally get the much-needed rest we required to function. Beyond just being a set of expert hands, she became a trusted guide for us and taught us invaluable newborn care tips that we still use daily. We trusted her implicitly with our baby from night one which was critical for us as anxious new parents. Marilou's calm, professional, and warm presence made us feel so at ease during a very vulnerable time. We truly loved our time with her and are so grateful for the care she provided. If you are looking for a doula who is knowledgeable, nurturing, and completely trustworthy, Marilou is amazing!

We had an incredible experience with Sally for our son from when he was 1-3 months. She was…read moreconsistently punctual, professional, and incredibly kind. Beyond just helping with night feeds, she took the initiative with bottles and laundry, which was a huge help to our family. We felt completely at ease knowing our little one was in such caring hands. In addition, she helped with sleep training. Additionally, the office staff was a pleasure to work with. They were extremely professional and maintained a quick turnaround time on all our requests and paperwork. We highly recommend this team for anyone looking for top-tier newborn care!

Stacey was our night doula for our second child and a real game changer. We would count down the…read moredays before her next visit! She was really flexible in working with our schedules and provided such loving care to our baby girl. It's a big deal to have a stranger in your home with a newborn, and we always felt at ease with Stacey. I just wish I could replicate the long stretches of sleep she got with our baby haha.

Stacey was a nanny for my youngest son Keaton from 6m to 3 years. She has made such an impact on…read morehis life. Now 16, he is a kind, and loving young man. Her loving care and attention to him in those early years were so paramount to the human being he is today. She came every day and fed and cared for him while I worked from home. She brang him to me to nurse. She took him to the park and just truly loved and nurtured him. She became part of our family. To this day 16 years later, we are still very close. Over the years I have recommended her to multiple families and I am certain that they feel the same way. Stacey loves children and any family would be lucky to have her in their lives.

Having Violet at my birth was like having my best friend there -- well, a best friend who wasn't…read morehundreds of miles away in graduate school with her own life, guy troubles, and schooling to be preoccupied with. Violet was sweet, gentle, caring, and was a great resource for me as I was considering what I wanted for my pregnancy and birth. She is trained in cranial sacral therapy and reiki, and the essential oils she brought to my labor were very helpful and soothing as well. One week before my due date, we changed from hospital birth to a homebirth, and with such a drastic, last-minute change, I was comforted in knowing that at least Violet would be there -- a familiar, comforting, presence whom I had gotten to know quite well during my pregnancy. Many doulas have the exact same package: 2 prenatal visits, labor support, and postpartum visits. Not Violet -- I had many unhurried prenatal visits with Violet, and she even accompanied me to my Bradley classes when my husband was out of town so that I wouldn't have to be alone for those. The prenatal visits were leisurely and unhurried, so she could really get to know who I was and what I wanted for my birth so she could best support me. I went into labor in the middle of the night, and by early morning, we needed the pros to come. Violet was the first person on my birth team, and she was the first to arrive on the day of my son's birth. I am so humbled and grateful for her presence and her help.

'Violet'....just the name brings the memories of her comforting presence during my pregnancy and…read morelabor. It was late into my 2nd pregnancy (week 36) that we decided to hire a doula. My husband was working out of town and I needed all the help I could get in case I went into labor when he wasn't around. That's when I got to know Violet. Violet is an extremely warm and affectionate person... a very good listener. She never judged or influenced me and was rather very respectful of my birthing choices. Unlike others who hire doulas, I was not very persistent for natural birth. I had no hard and fast rules about the way I wanted to give birth...I simply desired to go with the flow and let things take its natural course. I am a person who cannot work under pressure and Violet was just the friend I needed. She even accompanied me during my prenatal visits and met several times other than the 2-3 home visits just to hand over informative material. The home visits were very patient and focused on knowing each other better. When the day came we were not sure if it was actual labor but Violet still stayed with me the whole time. Luckily my husband was by my side too and felt great support of Violet's presence and knowledge. She made the atmosphere at home very casual and relaxing which would otherwise have been extremely tensed. Other than helping me do the relaxation poses she suggested that we go for a walk. And I guess that was the best part as it made my irregular contractions somewhat regular :-). She gave me counter pressure on my back during each contraction and that helped immensely. Later when my contractions started getting more intense she advised that I try to lie down and relax and within 30 mins my labor progressed rapidly making me dilate 9 cms by the time we reached the hospital..! She made sure that I ate well and was comfortable in my car before we left for the hospital. Even the hospital room felt so pleasant (at least to others....!) with the aroma fragrances that all the nurses were happy to be serving me :-)... this was my husband's observation. She very well knew how best to interact with nurses and sought all permissions beforehand like aroma therapy, shower in the room, fetal telemonitoring etc. More than anything else her gentle and caring touch worked wonders for me.That along with my continuous talking to my husband(....mostly yelling and even occasional hitting :-)) helped me to cope with the labor pains and deliver ALL NATURALLY..!!...to my own surprise..! :-) My mom is grateful to Violet too for taking her place during my 2nd delivery while she was busy taking care of our toddler. Thanks Violet for making my birthing experience so special..! Love you..!!

I lucked out with having Sophia as my Doula!!…read more Sophia helped me deliver my first born baby boy this September 2022. I thought I was mentally prepared to have my first baby but I soon realized that if it wasn't for the support of the nurses and Sophia, my experience could have easily turned out not to be so great. The day of my delivery was the first time I met Sophia, but I instantly felt comforted by her with her calm demeanor and willingness to make my feel as comfortable as possible. As soon as Sophia got into the delivery room, she began helping me with my breathing and massages. She knew exactly what I needed. I asked her for recommendations on positions and technics to help with the contractions and she provided a selection (some that were new to me) to help with easing the pain. She helped me mentally with consistently providing encouraging words during each contraction and during my labor. Even after my delivery Sophia checks in with me during my postpartum. She really cares about my recovery and provides advice on whatever she can. She made my birth experience one to be proud of and I highly recommend her!!

My midwife recommended Sophia to me. I never knew I needed a doula until I met Sophia, I can't…read moreimagine the birth of my baby boy without her. As first time parents, she gave us insights what to expect before and during birth, and also helped us with my birth plan. When my contractions started, she came home and helped with pain reliving massages. Once in hospital, she kept continuing to support me. She made me and my husband be relaxed during the birth. I was able to handle the pain with her support ( no epidural or other pain relieving methods). She stayed with us in the hospital till my baby boy and I were well rested and kept checking on us with messages. She also visited me during postpartum and helped with a sitz bath, breastfeeding and pumping tricks. She is very easy to talk to and makes you feel comfortable quickly. Recommend her 100%

Deanna was not my doula; but I wanted a consultation with her to possibly become my doula. Her CV…read moreappeared impressive, an educator and DONA certified, which is why I emailed via Yelp and her website to set a consultation up....never received a reply. Ended up going with someone who was prompt and responsive. Expected more from a veteran doula.

When my husband and I were preparing for our first baby to be born, I knew I wanted to hire a doula…read morebecause I wanted to give birth naturally with no epidural or any other pain medications. We did our research and chose three doula services that we were interested in. After having multiple phone and in person meetings with all three, I knew Deanna was the right one for me. Meeting Deanna for the first time is like meeting a friend you haven't seen in a long time. She definitely gives you a sense of comfort. She's also very knowledgable and answered all of my husband's and I's questions we had about my pregnancy and prepared us for what to expect during labor and delivery. When that day finally came (about 2.5 weeks earlier than expected) Deanna and my husband were on it. Both of them worked so hard to make me feel comfortable. Deanna definitely helped my husband be more hands on during my labor which took over 24 hours. As much as I wanted to give birth vaginally, I eventually had to get a c-section after pushing for 6 hours and trying all the possible birthing positions Deanna recommended. I was also prepared going in to the operating room as Deanna also educated us about what would happen if I was to get a c-section. Deanna was by my side the whole time up until I had the c-section. When the nurses where not available Deanna was moving the bed to get me to a comfortable position and also helping me get to the bathroom. So if you're looking for a knowledgable doula with lots of experience and is hands on, I would definitely recommend Deanna.

We went with Redwood Doulas for a night nurse. Our baby came 3 weeks early so our original doula…read morewas initially unavailable. Redwood doulas was responsive to help us get another interim doula right away. Doula Thais stepped in to help us super last minute. She was extremely professional and helpful. We were triple feeding when we first got back from the hospital, so doula Thais would every three hours bring me the baby, then bottle feed her while I pumped, then clean all the bottle and part pumps. When she left in the morning all of the bottle and pump parts were cleaned and organized and ready for the next day. She listened and helped us figure out our game plan for the nights. She was very communicative about her availability and it was great she was able to help on such short notice. We only had her for a few nights but would definitely recommend her to anyone considering her, she even followed up asking about our baby and how she was doing weeks later! Doula Suely was the other doula we worked with. We worked with Sue for about 7 weeks and she was so critical for helping us get peace and sleep. She was great and easy to work with and schedule shifts for the week. She went along with whatever schedule and plan we wanted for the night. But when we were uncertain about something, or wanted advice for reflux and spit up she was extremely helpful with her advice. You could tell the love and care she had for our baby! It's nerve wracking handing your baby over to someone for the entire night but it was so easy to trust Sue. She helped us get some extremely critical sleep and always ensured my pump parts and the bottles were clean in the morning. We ended up extending our contract by three weeks because Sue's help was so critical to our family. I can't recommend Sue enough!!

We loved working with Redwood Doulas and would highly recommend them!…read more Kymberlie is SO incredibly warm, understanding, empathetic, and compassionate. She was a great help in setting up the initial meetings with doulas who she thought would be a good match for us and figuring out schedules and such. During a postpartum call, she was so kind and empathetic. I just can't say thank you enough to her for her kindness. Doula Thais was our birth doula and was amazing in every way. She was incredibly supportive to both my husband and I, helping us navigate the unknowns pre-birth, during labor, and afterward. I had some medical issues crop up that required an extended postpartum stay and she was so so kind and continued to reach out and check in on me, which meant SO much to me. We also did a baby wearing session with her and that helped both of us feel more comfortable that we were wearing our baby correctly (those darn things have so many darn straps and snaps and doodads, lol). Regarding postpartum night support, we had initially gone with a doula (who ran her own business) that we hired outside of Redwood Doulas. Within two weeks, we were desperately looking for other help as this private-doula-for-hire was just not jamming well with us. We reached out to Kymberlie and she was able to help us do some trials until we found a doula we matched well with. We were able to snag a couple weeks with Doula Ivette and we loved working with her just as much as we did with Doula Thais! Doula Ivette came in the first night and was able to identify that our baby was gassy and helped show us different techniques on how to de-gas her! We continued using those techniques for the next few months while our baby's digestive system was sorting itself out. We weren't able to continue with Redwood Doulas after a few weeks as we had contacted them too late and we weren't able to find continuity of care with just one doula. For this reason, we decided to hire another private-doula-for-hire outside of Redwood Doulas and similar to our first experience doing this, this private-doula-for-hire just was not as professional as the doulas from Redwood Doulas. I bring this up to highlight that our experience with Redwood Doulas was truly exceptional. I contacted and spoke with A LOT of doulas and different agencies around the bay area and the team at Redwood Doulas was my favorite to work with. They were always ON TIME! Which is like SO FREAKING KEY when you're a first time parent holding a baby who has been screaming their head off for hours hours and nothing you do is working and you need a break from that damn yoga ball bouncing you've been doing! Lol. When my private-for-hire-doula would come late, the intense baby screams tears at you every additional minute you're waiting. But Redwood Doulas never did this to us. They were always on time- thank. goodness. Lol. So all in all, work with them!! They're awesome. (Open to DM's if anyone has questions, etc!)