If you're looking for a doula, stop searching and just hire Mari. As a dad, I wanted to be as supportive as possible, but the whole hospital/birth world was pretty foreign to me. Mari was a total lifesaver. She's clearly a pro and has been doing this a long time. She explained the entire birthing process and what to expect from the doctors in a way that actually made sense, which took a ton of the stress off my plate. She knows all the best providers in the area and helped us navigate the hospital system like a boss. A few things that make her the best: Super Responsive: Whenever we had a question, she was lightning-fast with a text back. It felt like having an expert in our pocket 24/7. Insane Network: She isn't just a doula; she's connected. Her referral for a lactation consultant was a game-changer for us post-partum with breastfeeding. The "Bonus" Skill: Mari is also a licensed massage therapist. We've been using her for postpartum massages, and my wife says it's been the best thing for her recovery. You can really tell Mari is passionate about her work. She's not just "doing a job"--she genuinely cares about the families she's helping. If I could give her 6 stars, I would! read more

We were very fortunate to have met our doula, Mari, during the journey of welcoming our baby, and we'd love to share our experience. We reached out to Mari fairly late in the pregnancy -- around 32 weeks (maybe even later) -- while most people start working with a doula around 24 weeks. So if you're considering hiring a doula, we'd recommend reaching out sooner rather than later. Mari is incredibly professional and gave us lots of practical support in preparing for birth. Since we hoped for a more natural birth experience, she tailored her guidance accordingly and helped us prepare both physically and mentally for the challenges of labor. Our baby's head was in the 93rd percentile, but I only had a second-degree tear. The labor had its ups and downs -- we went to the hospital twice and even returned home in between. Mari stayed with us through almost the entire process, taking only a short rest. She kept encouraging me at every stage, and her calm, confident presence made me feel very supported. In terms of communication with hospital staff, we were lucky -- the doctors and nurses we met were friendly and largely aligned with our birth preferences. That said, it was reassuring to know Mari was there as a knowledgeable and dependable advocate, especially in case of any challenges. After the birth, Mari visited us twice to assist with postpartum recovery. Her massages were especially relaxing and helped me rest and heal more comfortably. All in all, Mari was not just a skilled and reliable doula, but also a warm and steady presence who supported us through a very special time. read more

We are so grateful and blessed that we were able to work with Mari and Sophia for the hospital birth of our first baby! Together, they helped us feel empowered and educated about what to expect from labor and birth, connected to each other as partners, and filled with joy for an experience that can often seem highly medicalized. We met Mari relatively late in our pregnancy (about 34 weeks), and she immediately jumped in to get to know our values so we could be prepared for labor and birth. She referred us to Sophia, who ultimately provided our in-hospital labor and delivery support. Mari really shined in her depth of knowledge and experience with different kinds of births. She provided us with so many helpful links, videos, and hands-on training for partner comfort measures and helped us develop a comprehensive birth plan. One of the things I was worried about with hiring a doula was whether we would feel pressured to avoid all medical interventions. We were excited to work with a doula team to have a more partner-supported birth, but we definitely wanted the benefit of hospital resources and expertise should we need them. Mari was wonderful at striking that balance. We ended up needing a medically-indicated induction, and although this was definitely not our plan or preference, Mari was completely affirming in the way that we made decisions that felt right for us at each step. For our in-hospital support, we couldn't have asked for a better teammate than Sophia. She brought a joy, warmth, and compassion that completely changed the atmosphere once she arrived at the hospital. Once it came time to push, we were all having such a great time that the nurse decided to stay past her shift to meet our baby! Mari and Sophia have continued to check in on us in the weeks following delivery and visited us when baby was about a week old to answer any lingering questions. From start to finish, Mari and Sophia completely changed my perspective on what birth can look like. We will be forever grateful for how they both helped us have such a wonderful experience starting our little family! read more

Mari is the doula and ally you want by your side no matter what type of birth experience you want! I achieved my goal of having a non-medicated birth and I have to say it is thanks to Mari's dedication in educating me about birth, encouraging me to trust my body, learning comfort measures, understanding optimal positions that help myself and the baby, and all-around strengthening my mental game leading up to and especially during the birth. I will always look back at the birth of my son with great joy and fulfillment and I'm entirely grateful to Mari for this. If you're on the market looking for a doula to truly support you physically and emotionally during your birth, Mari is the one!!! Things that truly sets Mari apart: 1. Mari empowers women to advocate for the care they want in the labyrinth of policies that is our healthcare system. Her passion to help women achieve the birth they want is palpable. She is a gold mine of information in everything related to birthing and receiving pregnancy-related care. Thanks to the knowledge Mari imparted, I became better informed to advocate for myself as a patient. I switched my OB when I felt like something was off. I learned to ask for referrals to see certain specialists for evaluation even when no pre-existing conditions exist (and learned what to say should I receive textbook pushback). These two decisions alone were huge in altering the quality of care I was receiving from my care providers and I frankly didn't know I could ask for those wishes to be honored if I had not talked to Mari about it. 2. Passionate about all things birth - this one is probably a given. Since day one, Mari has been sending a lot of helpful resources to my husband and I about what to expect during birth. Very informative and helpful birth modules to watch aside, Mari has also jumped on multiple video calls with us to check-in, to impart knowledge, visited our home to go over comfort measures + to truly meet us and get to know us so she can better tailor her support. You can tell that she enjoys being a doula and wants to do this to help families! 3. Last but certainly not least - Mari knows how to help you during the birth. If this isn't a big one, I don't know what else is. On the day of, you're going to be too occupied to "provide instructions" on how to help you especially if you're aiming for a non-medicated birth. Mari reads the room, reads the situation and tries different things to encourage position changing as well as ensuring your birth plan is followed through so you can have the birth you want. I also recall very helpful massages that helped me get through my surges/contractions - such a lifesaver! In sum, I felt so incredibly supported, encouraged, and cared for in the birth of my second child and I have Mari to thank for every bit of it. read more

5-Star Review for Mari, Our Incredible Doula Dad review: I can't say enough good things about Mari, from the moment we met her, she was so nice and caring! I remember reaching out to Mari 3 weeks before our baby arrived (super late, wish I would have reached out earlier). Our baby was still breach at the time. As a first time parent who "planned and prepped" for everything it still wasn't enough, we needed more experience, more knowledge, more tips on how to navigate through the unexpected situations; and that's where Mari came in to save the day. She had all the answers to our questions and more. What sets Mari apart is how informative and knowledgeable she is without ever making you feel overwhelmed. She explained everything from achieving optimal fetal positioning, to pain management techniques, in a way that clicked instantly. She also helped us put together the perfect birth plan so when we got to the hospital it was easy to communicate what we wanted during labor. But beyond the knowledge, she has this magical way of building your confidence when doubt creeps in. During our toughest moments (our baby was breach and we are prepping for our scheduled ECV at 38 weeks pregnant), her calm presence and gentle encouragement made us feel like we could actually do this. Mari's blend of humor, heart, and expertise turned what could've been an intimidating experience into something beautiful and empowering. We had a successful ECV, avoided a C-section and I was able to "catch" my baby girl! I'm telling you, there is something about Mari's coaching that made our experience a very memorable one that connected us with all the right people. If you're looking for a doula who makes you feel seen, supported, and genuinely excited about birth, Mari is your person. We're forever grateful! Thank you so much Mari, this review is long overdue! And also, my wife enjoyed Mari's massages very much! She's the best! read more

Dad review here - We have now welcomed two children enlisting Mari as our doula and we absolutely cannot recommend her enough. Mari's wealth of knowledge and experience was incredibly helpful to guide us every step of the way. Along with that, Mari always showed us unwavering support, compassion, care, love, and empathy to put any worries and anxieties at ease. Both my wife and I are incredibly grateful for our experiences with Mari and every piece of her mind, heart, and soul that she puts into this process for you. Don't hesitate in your search for a doula and put Mari at the top of your list. Fantastic all around! read more

I reached my goal of having a natural, unmedicated birth in a hospital setting due to Mari and Sheryll. Mari connected us with Sheryll, who was the one present during labor and delivery. Sheryll was just as wonderful as Mari and I'm so glad we had them both on our birthing team. From the first time we talked to Mari on the phone, we connected with her warmth and vibrancy so well and we knew that we needed her as our doula. We decided to work with her very early on in the pregnancy at 13 weeks, and she was a constant support and guide the entire time. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience that she shared liberally with us to answer our questions and prepare us for prenatal care, birth, and postpartum. She provided the Intentional Birth modules which educated us with videos, workbooks, and other resources. She was always available to answer our questions and consistently sent us additional resources such as articles and videos, classes, experiences, etc. to help us further learn. She helped through all steps of the process, whether it was switching providers, coming up with the birth plan, advocacy, role play, comfort techniques, positioning of baby, prenatal care, exercise, concerns about the pregnancy, etc. Every prenatal was longer than expected as she wanted to ensure we were fully prepared and educated, and we even had extra prenatal sessions than were specified since she wanted to make sure we knew everything we could. She consistently checked in with us by phone and text. She also gives great massages! Her support and love made us feel like she was an additional family member. We cannot recommend her highly enough. Our postpartum visit was lovely. We recapped our magical birth story and she gave me a wonderful massage as well as showered us with thoughtful gifts. Her care went beyond the prenatal period and even went into lactation and baby care. In a world where being at the hospital means more interventions, having Mari and Sheryll by our side from the beginning of the pregnancy to a successful delivery was crucial to a beautiful, healthy birth story. I would recommend her again and again! read more

Mari was a God-sent doula for our second child. When my wife told me we were expecting our 3rd, the first person I called was Mari to make sure we blocked her calendar! As a Dad, just 'protecting the cave' is not enough; having someone who is emotionally, intuitively & spiritually in the zone with your wife at her most critical time makes all the difference in the world. Mari not only equipped me (Dad) with the right tools and language to communicate with the hospital but was also there every bit, nudging us in the right direction to avoid unnecessary interventions and maximize the soothing, nurturing, calm environment conducive to natural birth. She also had a way with the nurses where they took her on as a part of the team instead of seeing the Doula as an outsider interrupting their work. I could not recommend Mari more! You are missing out if you are with any other Doula in the Bay area (and I am speaking from our experience in the first birth). read more

Mari and Sheryll were absolutely amazing! I was really nervous about my first time experience with pregnancy and birth, so I researched doulas in the area and found Mari. She connected me with Sheryll, and together they offered so much support, especially when I was overwhelmed or had tons of questions. The skills they taught both me and my husband were very helpful and made such a big difference during labor. The educational materials were very helpful and I felt so informed, which really helped us with advocating for ourselves in the hospital. Also if you're thinking of getting the massages, I highly recommend! You will feel amazing afterwards. Mari's support is warm and caring, from the early stages of pregnancy to postpartum, and she helped so much with our confidence levels. Highly recommend for any future parents! read more

Mari gave me and my husband a great session learning about massage techniques, some can be applied during child labor process. Hopefully I have many years to benefit from the massage class She is a very patient teacher with amazing skills! Highly recommended. read more

During pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, Mari has been such an incredible support. I went into labor feeling so prepared, confident and knowledgeable because of all of the information she shared. During labor, I was able to have a beautiful birth experience that was made possible by all of her help during the labor process (physical support, helping keep a calm mindset, creating a peaceful atmosphere, being an advocate, etc). In this postpartum period, she has continued to be such a support with regular check in calls, a visit to see how we were doing, and always available to share information. She's truly the best! read more

My doula recommended Mari for child birth education. Mari was very accommodating and came over to my house. She's was engaging and full of knowledge. Her materials were easy to digest. I also did a prenatal massage with her and felt amazing after. If you're looking for a doula, a quick child birth class or a prenatal massage I highly recommend Mari. read more

I'm so pleased that I found Mari to help me achieve my VBAC that I desperately wanted with my second birth. What a difference having a doula can make on the whole birth experience. Mari prepared me with so much knowledge beforehand, and was an amazing support person during labor. She helped create the calming atmosphere in the hospital that was necessary to progress and instill a positive mindset. She stayed in the hospital with me for 14 hours and really contributed with ideas and encouragement during a strenuous and long pushing phase, which was critical for both my husband and I. Her postpartum follow-up and massage helped me recover and feel cared for, and her availability to answer questions and just be a lifeline for both my husband and I to reach out to if we need it was invaluable. Thanks Mari! I'd use her again if I have another child. read more

I'm so glad I found Mari for the birth of my twins. As a first time mother, I wanted someone with experience and I chose Mari because we hit it off right away - she's confident, friendly, no frills and all of our interactions from the get go had so much heart and warmth. My pregnancy ended up having quite a bit of complications and each step of the way Mari was able to provide more than just emotional support - she had resources and references to people and research from all her years of experience and vast network. I was able to get second opinions, read up on evidence based findings, and really be confident that I was doing the best in whatever my decisions were as my husband and I navigated through some quite challenging times. I love that she as part of her package she enrolls her clients in the Intentional Birth classes. These classes were packed with tons of information and because it was online and self-paced, I was able to watch them at my leisure or multiple times. Mari also has a pretty kick-ass back up doula (Margaret) who was able to provide additional information during our sessions. In the end due to Nature's timing, it was Margaret who ended up being at the delivery of our twins, and I felt very comforted knowing that both Margaret and Mari were up to date on all my information and everything had been handed off, so that there was no miscommunication or confusion. All in all, I would highly recommend Mari to any future mama! read more

I am so grateful that Mari was our doula for the birth of our first child. I was very nervous and labor and delivery, and wanted to have a natural birth with a few interventions as possible. Mari fully supported us and our wishes, and helped give me tools to work through my nerves. We found out our baby was breech which created a lot of anxiety for us. Mari was with us every step of the way. She was such a calm and soothing presence during the ECV procedure. She helped me relax and breath through the pressure so the doctors were able to give turning the baby their best effort. Even though the procedure was ultimately unsuccessful, I am so thankful that Mari was there supporting me. Mari was also with us for the scheduled c-section. The hospital staff was great but, becuase the procedure was routine, they didn't seem to realize that it was a big (kinda scary) deal for us. Mari talked us through every step of the day so we knew what to expect. She constantly helped focus our attention away from the scary stuff and onto the exciting parts (we'd be meeting our baby in a few short hours!). When the nurses had some trouble with my IV and I fainted because my blood pressure dropped, Mari held my hand and helped me stay calm. She was reassured me that all the shaking from the blood pressure meds was normal. And when we returned with our baby from the surgery, Mari helped me start breastfeeding. I cannot imagine going through my pregnancy and birth experience without Mari. Especially during the pandemic, I was so so lucky to have had such a wonderful person supporting me. Also, the postpartum massage I received from Mari was awesome and super relaxing. I'd recommend Mari to anyone! read more

I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Mari. I signed with Mari to be my doula when I was 12 weeks pregnant as I wanted someone who could help educate myself and my husband about a natural birth experience and grow my confidence in the process over the next 6 months. Mari came with an ABUNDANCE of information, materials, and resources to help me do just that. She provided access to the Intentional Birth video series which gave me with invaluable information related to the birth industry in the US, natural pain management techniques, birth stories, and strategies to reduce fear/anxiety around birth. My husband and I also met with Mari multiple times throughout the next 6 months to practice labor positions, talk about the different stages of labor, and gather more resources to help with my specific pregnancy needs. At 41 weeks and 2 days, I decided to be induced due to some extenuating medical circumstances. Mari came over the night before to help prepare my husband and I for the medical induction process. As this was quite different than my original birth plan, I was upset and scared. She helped calm my fears around being induced and helped me feel confident in my decision. As we had discussed at our pre-induction meeting, my husband called Mari to the hospital when I entered active labor. Mari arrived quickly with fresh energy, new techniques, and her doula bag of tricks. Her presence allowed my husband to get some much needed rest and reinvigorated me to focus on moving our baby down. I so appreciated Mari's hands-on approach to my labor; she did massage, lunged with me in the hospital hallways, applied counter-pressure to my hips/back, reminded me to breath, and held hot pads to my back during contractions. Between my husband and Mari, I had everything I needed during labor and it was truly a magical experience. All in all, I ended up requiring a c-section. Mari was with my husband and I the whole time helping us process information to make the best decisions for my body and our baby. We ended up with a very healthy, very big (10 pounds 5 ounces) baby girl and an absolutely unforgettable, lovely, and wonderful birth experience that I will treasure forever. In short, I would recommend her regardless of your birth goals (medicated, unmedicated, c-section, planned induction, VBAC, etc.). She was an irreplaceable part of my birth team who helped me feel prepared, confident, and strong before, during, and after my daughter's birth. read more

Doula by Mari - Doulas Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Mari has been more than just our doula. She has become a close friend and supporter. We felt genuine care and love from her as she helped us with our second pregnancy (she was also with us for our first!) She was prepared and brought her A game and was there when we needed her. She responded quick to our calls and texts and she was a joy to work with. We totally recommend choosing her to be your doula! You won't regret it read more

Doula by Mari - Our super awesome doula Mari! - Doulas Near Me - Burlingame, California

Stop your doula search here - Mari is the best! She not only has the experience and knowledge to help you along the way and thru labor, but is one of the most compassionate people I've ever met. Whether you are wanting a medicated birth, an unmedicated birth, or aren't sure, Mari will support you every step of the way. She was such a valuable resource for questions and information throughout my whole pregnancy, especially leading up to labor. Even more important to me was the mental support she provided. I was nervous throughout my pregnancy and each check-in I had with her left me feeling peaceful and grounded about my pregnancy journey. Without her support my headspace would not have been so calm and positive going into labor. Lastly, I want to call out how caring she is. When you speak with Mari you will feel that right away! She went above and beyond on checking in with me when she knew I was concerned about something and continues to check in with my husband and I now even 5 weeks after birth. The support is ongoing! read more

During the overwhelming and joyful preparation for our first child, my wife did extensive research into Doulas in the Bay Area. She called me one afternoon ecstatic after her initial screening call with Mari saying she thinks she found the one, and that it was so comforting and empowering to talk with her. We did phone and zoom interviews with a handful of other Doulas and both agreed that Mari was our perfect match. The package included several in person sessions, access to a wealth of information, courses, video modules, and Maris network of amazing specialists, whether its lactation support, prenatal yoga, etc. She helped us with our birth plans, connecting with each other, hospital bag, labor preparations, support and much more. I knew it was worth it even before my daughter's birth date - which was when we really found out how amazing Mari truly is. During a really long and intense labor, Mari provided amazing support for my wife and I, allowing me to recoup energy and show up strong. She used massage, aromatics, brought food, and laughter to a sometimes cold, clinical environment. We had several nurses comment on how lovely our birth room looked and smelled, and even more nurses, OBs and midwives comment on how much they loved our Doula Mari. Our main OB remarked that she wishes every Doula was like this and I couldn't agree more. Mari went above and beyond her call of duty that long day and we felt blessed to have her care and experience. She checked in with us often after and made sure we were adjusting to parenting and being home post-partum. Mari's post-partum massages were absolutely worth it. She is a terrific massage therapist and we even got sessions for me and my mother in law. If I were to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing - and if you're in the search for pregnancy, labor, and post partum support - look no further, Mari is the best! read more

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If you are like me whose goal is to have unmedicated birth and wonder how covid has impacted the delivery process, I hope you find this review helpful. Because of the pandemic, both my parents and in-laws are not able to come. Given that this is our first baby, we decided to find a doula to help us navigating this journey. We found Mari on Yelp and hired her after 1st consultation. During the prenatal visit, her birth class was very helpful and fun. For a first time mom, I have a lot of anxiety and fear about delivering a baby. After talking to Mari, she helped me realized my fear came from other people's birth stories. Mari told me that next time, when other people want to share their horrifying birth stories, I can refused and affirm to them that I will have my own birth experience that is different from them. Mari is also very resourceful. She introduced us the midwifery care system. Even though we chose to deliver baby in the hospital, Mari offered lots of tips and advice to achieve the birth experience I wish to have. I will let my husband David to write about virtual support during labor. In nutshell, I feel so empowered during my labor because of Mari. She is not only helping me to achieve my unmedicated birth goal but also feeling strong and confident, which is important during labor. We are so grateful to have Mari not only as a doula but a wonderful friend that give you confidence to create the birth experience you hope for. Below is my husband's review: I'm not sure what we would have done without Mari. Mari had prepared us weeks in advance in person with training about the birth process to help build our confidence and help us relax with evidence-based principles. When my wife went into labor, due to the pandemic, Mari could not be with us physically in the hospital. During labor, I was continually on the phone with Mari remotely--she told us what positions to be in to safely progress the labor naturally--she was with us the entire time. Mari told us what to do, what not to do, and what to expect. I'm thankful for Mari being with us and guiding us every step of the way. I feel like she had us take actions which ended up later reducing the recovery time for my wife! Would recommend based on the improved safety, and peace of mind she gives and her expertise! read more

Mari supported the birth of our baby girl in May of 2024. Mari is a very special doula and has become like family to us. We wanted to give birth in a hospital but I have really bad white coat syndrome and pass out when I see blood. Mari helped me overcome my fears about giving birth and prepared us for natural physiological birth in a hospital setting. Unfortunately my birth didn't go as planned. I developed severe preeclampsia and was sent for an induction. The induction was long and ended in an emergency c-section. Mari supported us every step of the way. Her resources and experience made us feel confident talking to the medical staff, advocating for ourselves, and making decisions during the birth. I am so thankful Mari was there because I think my birth could have otherwise been traumatic. The hospital staff respected Mari and one doctor asked for her contact info to refer her to her patients. We had a lot of fun with Mari during the prenatal sessions practicing coping techniques and her exercises made us stronger and more connected as a couple. During my pregnancy a few other issues came up and Mari was always quick to offer advice, resources and contacts to help. She continues to check in with us postpartum and helped us with breastfeeding. Mari has magical hands that got me through hours of strong contractions from the induction and gave my husband needed some rest. It was lovely to see Mari a few extra times when she came to our house for prenatal/postpartum massages. She gives the best massage I've ever in my life. Mari is the best. I couldn't have done it without her, and I won't do it again without her! read more

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Mari & Jeni as a Team are absolutely amazing. They educated my partner and I so well prior to labor and delivery. Putting our minds at ease going into such a monumental event was a wonderful headspace to live in. Their gentle kind hearted mommie centered approach was felt throughout the time leading up to, during and after Labor and delivery. I felt like I had an educated advocate next to me cheering me on and ensuring I felt safe protected and grounded through my entire birthing and laboring time. We feel like we gained two Aunties into our family. And truly cannot recommend Mari & Jeni at a higher level than adding them into your family unit as well. They are a blessing in every way. Attentive, responsive, well educated, passionate about your care and voice being heard, and in love with every aspect of their jobs and the families they work with . read more

Doula by Mari - Doulas Near Me - Burlingame, California

我和太太非常幸运地找到了Mari做我们的doula。这是我们的第一个宝宝，Mari对我们的帮助非常大。她的package包括三个线下的sessions，ECV和生产过程的陪伴以及与医生护士的沟通，还有许多线上的check-ins。 - 产前Mari和我们线下见了两次，传授了许多关于生产过程中的知识，包括我们如何加快产程，如何与医院沟通options，生产过程中如何通过改变姿势来让胎儿转到正确的位置，等等等等。这两个sessions以及她提供的许多materials让我们对生产过程有了非常深入的了解。因为胎儿臀位，我们通过Mari的介绍认识了一个非常棒的Chiro和做ECV的医生。做ECV当天Mari全程陪同，负责与护士医生沟通，帮我们省了很多精力。 - Mari在我们预产期的前一两周开始oncall，24/7随时接听我们的电话。在我的太太开始有规律的宫缩之后，Mari会通过视频来判断我们处在什么阶段，还经常通过短信checkin。在我们去医院之后，Mari帮助我们和护士沟通，让我的太太能安心生产。刚进医院的时候胎儿还是脸朝上，然后Mari指导我的太太改变姿势，最后成功让宝宝转了过来。进医院4个多小时之后，我们的宝宝就成功出生了。整个过程非常顺利。 - 产后我们还有一个线下的session。Mari和我们复盘了整个生产过程，也对我太太的产后恢复做了一些指导。 最后，如果你的公司可以报销doula或者backup care的部分费用，Mari也会非常配合。 read more

We're so grateful we found Mari during our pregnancy journey. She has a way of breaking down big childbirth topics, like the different stages of labor and pain relief options, into easy-to-understand bits. She's big on evidence-based birth, which gave us a lot of trust in her teachings. Beyond the knowledge, Mari taught us how to advocate for our own labor and delivery healthcare, ensuring we felt heard and respected. When she was with us for the procedure to try to turn our breech baby, it felt like having a close friend by our side. I felt way less nervous with her there. Mari's warmth, clear communication, and expertise made our path to childbirth smoother and more confident. We can't recommend her enough to other soon-to-be parents. read more

Mari went above and beyond in making us feel comfortable and prepared before, during and after the birth of our child. She is an encyclopedia of knowledge and resources on pregnancy. She sends follow-up texts with the relevant information (and often demonstrative photos) after each session. She carefully balances the often competing schools of thoughts of the medical community and the doula community, tuning into our unique needs. We couldn't have done it without you Mari! read more

Mari was a key into a successfully pleasant pregnancy, birth and postpartum. As we know, the pandemic affected everyone one way or another. At the beginning of my second trimester I began feeling a lot of fear and anxiety with what my labor would be like without being able to have our moms or sisters at the hospital for support due to restrictions. My husband and I decided to look into hiring a doula. I had spoken with a couple of other doulas before speaking to Mari but I had yet to feel that comfort or connection I was looking for. From the beginning of our conversation, I knew Mari would be someone I would want as part of my support system. With all her experience and confidence, she gave us an IMMENSE amount of evidence-based information that not only allowed us to make choices we didn't know we had but also greatly reduced our anxiety and fears. She met with us various times, communicated with us via e-mail and text, as well as included a prenatal massage which was AMAZING! I knew exactly what to expect when I went into labor and with her techniques I was able to dilate quickly at the hospital with minimal medical intervention. I am currently 6 1/2 weeks post partum and Mari has been kind enough to check up on me we will forever be grateful for her! read more

My wife and I sought out Mari's assistance to help us navigate the birth of our first child at Kaiser Redwood City. From the moment we met she has been tremendously energetic, caring, and positive in her support and education of the pregnancy and birth process. She helped us understand what to expect from Kaiser, gave us a ton of very useful material to prepare, prompted us at each stage/step of things to be mindful and thinking about, met with us multiple times to prepare and practice techniques to use while laboring, gave massages to my wife, was always available for a call to discuss status updates throughout pregnancy, and most importantly supported us the ~1.5 days of the birth of our baby girl. Mari was instrumental in supporting my wife during labor and helping to relieve me so I could get some rest to continue supporting. We are very happy with how everything turned out despite not going according to our birth plan. I can't say enough good things about Mari and her approach. She is a super sweet person that cares deeply about supporting couples. Happy to call her our friend and confidant! read more

Doula by Mari - Doulas Near Me - Burlingame, California

Mari is awesome. This was our first little one, and it was daunting for me to be the sole support of my partner as birth was entirely new to me. She provided us both excellent support both before and during the pregnancy. Super grateful to have worked with her. Highly recommend read more

I am so glad Mari was part of my birth team! I would give 6 stars if I could. She is warm, compassionate, knowledgeable, kind, caring, and experienced. Her presence during labor and delivery gave my husband and I so much confidence for the birth of our first child. Though I chose to give birth in a hospital setting, and though my baby was born two weeks past her estimated due date, with Mari's help, I achieved a natural childbirth: without pain medication, and with minimum intervention. If I have another pregnancy in the future, I would absolutely hire Mari again. Here are four ways Mari proved essential: #1. Childbirth education and birth plan. She provided childbirth education to my partner and myself that was extremely complementary to the education we received through the hospital. I learned breathing techniques. Mari pointed me to a deep trove of resources on physiologic, natural childbirth to guide me as I wrote my birth plan. We went through my birth plan in detail together. Going into the hospital for what was supposed to be a 3-step, scheduled induction, I felt prepared. [Perhaps as a result, my induction was not 3 steps but just 1 step and then lo and behold!, my contractions continued on their own steam. Thanks in large part to Mari, I was prepared and got control over the fear/tension/pain cycle and had a minimum of interventions. ] #2. Experience and support for unexpected situation or complication. My due date came and went and as I progressed through week 41 hoping to go into labor naturally, she was a great comfort. She even gave me a massage that definitely helped to reduce stress during a challenging week. #3. Confidence and experience to support pain medication-free birth. After my husband let Mari know it was time, shortly thereafter she joined us in in L&D ward. Because I had no pain medication, the contractions were intense. She supported me by reminding me how to breathe She helped me move into different positions to help the baby rotate and descend. Her presence made me feel more confident when I was in labor-land, and when pushing the baby out. #4. Postpartum support and access to Mari's network. Mari knows a lot of people (other doulas, lactation consultants, etc) and connected us when we needed it most. For example, after coming home from the hospital, baby and I were struggling with breastfeeding. Mari came to the rescue and connected us to a great lactation consultant located closeby who was able to help us. read more

We welcomed our little one in April 2021, during the pandemic. We decided to hire a doula when we realized our hospital was allowing two support people, and we're so glad we chose Mari! We were a bit late to the game, and hired her two weeks before our due date. Little one stayed put for an extra week, but we had two prenatal prep sessions, I received a prenatal massage (she is also a massage therapist!), and had lots of text and email support and sharing of resources during our short timeline. We delivered at Kaiser in Redwood City, and Mari is quite familiar with the facility and staff there which made the process feel much more comfortable. She coached me from laboring at home to laboring at the hospital, helping us to make all the necessary decisions along the way. We felt very well supported with Mari, and would recommend her to anyone looking for birth support (during a pandemic or otherwise)! read more

Mari is the best! When looking for a doula, we were looking for someone that could help us achieve a natural childbirth, which in my eyes was someone who could help me with basic birth preparation, position changes during labor, and pain management. After meeting with Mari for the first time, we knew she could offer all of that, plus so much more. Mari really involves the birth partner and she enhanced a deep connection between me, my husband, and the baby throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. In terms of birth preparation, Mari knows a ton. She is continually adding to her arsenal and shares as much as you want to learn. She introduced me to some excellent resources that really transformed my birth plan, for the better! Her information can be a bit scattered but once you get to know Mari, you love it. She is Spinning Babies certified, knows a lot about positioning and taught my husband how to use the rebozo for birth. She also knows a lot about tantra and offers tantra teaching as a part of a doula package. She helped us remove negative emotions and include positive emotions in our birth vibes. She is also an excellent bodyworker (a massage is a part of the doula package) and I bet she helps a lot during birth. Where Mari shines is that she cares about making her clients happy-she is a true advocate for you. COVID happened during the beginning of my second trimester and made me re-evaluate my birth plan. She went above and beyond by supporting us via MULTIPLE zoom calls to change from a hospital provider to home birth. She checked in on us continually during the stressful time, helped connect us to midwives, and included us in community events related to COVID/pregnancy. Unfortunately, I had to go to the hospital to be induced and the hospital did not allow doulas. In the morning, before going to the hospital, she stopped by our house to make sure we had everything we needed, let us borrow some of her doula tools (peanut ball, rebozo, oils, electric candles, snacks, etc.) and gave us some extra TLC. We had planned on using her virtually via zoom (Mari made it very clear she was available in any way that we needed) but when labor hit, it felt like there was no time to video chat. My husband communicated with her often by text, getting advice and resources. Even though it was not the doula support we originally envisioned, she was very supportive and prepared us well. Mari also helped me with some postpartum support. Mari can help with newborn care, postpartum care, breastfeeding and keeping your house afloat. We got so close with her throughout the birth preparation that having her over postpartum was like having family over, but more helpful! We look forward to having Mari as our doula for our next baby and might buy a tantra package to help us stay connected during this transition :) Mari is such a loving woman! read more

Doula by Mari - Mari with our newborn - Doulas Near Me - Burlingame, California

My wife and I chose Mari after interviewing three doulas. We had decided that we wanted a natural birth, and wanted someone who would both support us and increase our chances of the delivery going well. We also chose Mari because she's a skilled massage therapist, which is something that my wife really responds well to. She received several messages in the months leading up to the birth and was happy with them. We also liked that she doesn't overbook herself with clients and thus we could be confident that she would be there for our birth. One reason to choose a doula, from the birth partner's point of view, is that it decreases the stress and pressure on you as the only support person for the mother as she is in labor. Of course you want to support her, but you haven't got the experience to be sure you're saying or doing the right things, and plus labor might last for a long time and if you take a break to nap, your wife is left alone. That sucks. When you have a doula present, she can provide that confidence and coaching, for both the mother and the partner, and also can relieve you so you can have a break. In our case, I was able to sleep for several hours during the night while Mari massaged, relaxed, and reassured my wife. Then when the time came to push, I was pretty well rested and thus able to be fully present and by her side. I'm glad we chose Mari and I would recommend her to anyone who is having a baby. read more

I wanted to have natural delivery with minimal to no medical interventions. As a first time mom I was super nervous and scared if I could do it or no. When I first spoke to Mari, i was super overwhelmed with the amount of information she shared. She is super hands-on , very informative and knows her work. She will always reply to your texts, calls etc. She was very helpful throughout my entire delivery. I don't think it would have been possible for me to have normal delivery without her. She stayed with me throughout my entire delivery process and help me cope with the pain and came up with awesome methods to cope with the pain. She is awesome. She even helped me after the delivery with breastfeeding etc. She is awesome and very resourceful. Thanks Mari for being there for my birth read more