Perspective from a new dad: My wife and I hired Jenny because we felt that she understood our concerns around childbirth; while we knew we'd have great healthcare in the Bay Area, we wanted to make sure we had an advocate for our family in the delivery room (not just agents of the hospital). At first we weren't sure what kind of doula would be right for us, as we were a couple of scientists looking for an experienced hand to guide us through the process, not... hippies. With her calm and gentle demeanor, Jenny was more than accommodating during our initial meeting. Throughout our pregnancy, Jenny provided us the research behind any suggestions she made and wasn't dogmatic about any one approach. As a prospective father, Jenny listened to me and made my concerns heard, too. Of course, I played a much smaller part in the engagement, but I appreciated that I wasn't an afterthought. Jenny was very helpful in giving both of us tips and exercises to do to prepare my wife for childbirth. Where Jenny's services really shined was, of course, during the big event. We called her when my wife started feeling early contractions on a Saturday morning and into the evening (10pm) and throughout the night (2am to 4am). She was responsive to text and phone calls throughout. We went to UCSF to see how dilated my wife was, and unfortunately we found out she wasn't that far along, so we returned home to Oakland. The next morning, things were _really_ picking up. We called Jenny over and my wife's water broke on Jenny's way over. When Jenny arrived, she assessed the situation and said we should call and start heading to a hospital. Then, the hospital recommended we call 911. While I coordinated the paramedics and firefighters that were taking my laboring wife into an ambulance, Jenny was coaching my wife and helping her deal with the intensity of the surges. I would not have been able to give my wife the support she needed without Jenny's help. The paramedics didn't think imminent birth was likely at all, but Jenny trusted my wife's instincts, despite the fact that she wasn't showing the traditional contraction pattern that indicates active labor! Jenny continued to help her through the contractions from the front seat of the ambulance. Ten minutes later, as that ambulance flung open its doors at the hospital, out came our baby's head. One more push and our son was born healthy as my wife was being rolled into the Emergency Department! Jenny helped us have the most wonderful (and adventurous) birth story, and we're so thankful for her help. read more

Doula Jen - Our birth team: EMT Josh Valentine, doula Jenny Nicol, Mom, and Dad - Massage Therapy Near Me

Jenny was my doula for the birth of my first child and she was wonderful! To be honest, we really weren't sure what to expect (I didn't know much about doulas and was paired with her through a volunteer program at my hospital), but was with us for ~12 hours of my home labor (i.e., before I went to the hospital and was able to get pain medications) and made this phase a ton more physically comfortable and mentally manageable. To begin with, Jenny came over for a meet & greet, established expectations, and gave us some sage advice and a few handouts to stew on. She was really good about staying in touch for the last couple of months of my pregnancy, asking for updates after each of my doctor's appointments. She also wanted to know when I started going into labor, making sure that I knew to call her, especially if it was in the middle of the night. She was always super responsive by text, and she took a cab over around 4am when I did go into labor and my contractions got very painful - basically when my hospital said I wasn't far enough to come in yet, and this was a good time to focus on home labor and to call my doula if I had one. For my partner and I, who were completely inexperienced and mentally unprepared for the intensity of the contractions, Jenny was a complete godsend. She guided us in setting up several coping "stations" using various props, like pillows, our yoga ball and a hall banister, which each facilitated different stretches or poses. One thing she excelled at was tracking my contractions and managing my expectations for progress. Another was helping me manage my pain. Specifically, she leveraged her training as a massage therapist to massage my shoulders and back, do these great hip presses, and applied a TENS (electric pulse) Unit to my lower back muscles. All these things together made my last 12 hours before I could go to the hospital much more relaxed and manageable, and helped me keep my energy up for the long stretch ahead of me. Throughout the whole process, Jenny did a great job soothing our minds and my cramping muscles. I highly recommend her as a doula! read more

Before this process I was a bit skeptical of the idea of doulas in general - the hospital has nurses after all. But the various tips and tricks Jenny shared in the lead up to labor to make late stage pregnancy more tolerable for my wife and the impact of Jenny's presence at labor itself made me do a 180. Now I could not imagine how we could have gotten through the birth process without Jenny's guidance. It was great to have someone who was there for my wife emotionally, able to use her massage skills to make her feel better, and with the relevant knowledge of various trade-offs we would have to make and as someone who would be her advocate to help her with what she needed. She was good at fielding my random "what does the science say on X" questions, too. For guys - the nurses and doctors are going to be running in and out doing paperwork & seeing other patients. You are going to want someone like Jenny who will be there for your wife throughout the whole labor. read more

Jenny is an incredible doula. Sure she is knowledgeable (seriously, she has SO much to teach and share!), proactive, empathetic, and a skilled masseuse..but more than that, she is a wonderful human and someone I truly felt at peace with. As many have said here, it was such a blessing to have her during my long labor for not only my benefit but my husbands' as well. He was much more comfortable engaging and navigating the whole process with her by his side. Furthermore, she took some pictures and videos that otherwise would not have been captured and now I will always have those beautiful memories of my baby girl's birth. THANK YOU JEN. read more

Soon-to-be-fathers: If you wife is expecting, a doula is a MUST. (A good friend said that a "doula is worth the moulah," and he wasn't lying.) If your doula is a certified massage therapist specializing in prenatal and post, even BETTER. I never felt more useless in my life than when my wife went into agonizing contractions. Jenny's knowledge of the body totally saved her as she massaged her during the most painful moments and coaching me in places to rub during down times. I highly recommend Jenny if you want a smooth birth process. She will definitely be there for my next kid read more

Jenny was my doula for the birth of my son just a few weeks ago. I can't recommend her services enough! To start, Jenny is a kind, relaxed person; she's easy to talk to and has a very calming presence. But I think what makes her such a great doula is her willingness to work toward a client's specific desires and needs, even if those needs and desires don't line up with those typical in the doula community. I'm a second-time mom and not exactly a "doula type" -- my older son has extensive medical needs and as a result, I very much trust and value doctors. However, I had a bad reaction to an epidural the first time I gave birth (some scar tissue makes me prone to spinal headaches) and wanted to avoid it this time, if possible. Jenny really listened to my desires and had a lot of suggestions for how to best set this up. But because of my older son's medical needs and the trickiness of setting up his child care, I chose to schedule an elective induction, which I know many believe will lead to an epidural. But Jenny listened to my reasoning and concluded that whatever made me feel the most relaxed -- knowing my older son would be properly cared for, laboring in a hospital setting -- was the best choice. After a night of low-key contractions and a morning of not-so-bad Pitocin ones, Jenny came to the hospital and immediately became a huge help. She had great suggestions for how my husband could best support me and somehow just knew where to touch or not touch me during contractions. I'd originally predicted I would hate some of the laboring positions Jenny suggested during our initial meetings, but when the time came I was surprised that I really liked some of them. Others I didn't like at all, and when that was the case, Jenny would simply move on to something else. Once it was time to push, Jenny took a bit of a step back and my doctor took over instructing me, which is exactly what I wanted. My son was born after just 20 or 30 minutes of pushing, after an elective induction, Pitocin, and no pain medication. I've been so grateful to spend the first few weeks of my younger son's life free of the spinal headaches I had during the first weeks home with my older son. I feel very fortunate that I was able to have such a great birth experience, and while I'm sure some of it was due to second-time birth and sheer luck, I think a not insignificant part was because of having Jenny as a doula. Plus, her massage skills are amazing! read more

We hired Jenny to be our postpartum doula with the idea that she would be with us for about 3 weeks. Fast forward to 4+ months of Jenny helping me find my way through new motherhood, maternity leave and the physical experience of being postpartum. After the first day I knew that having Jenny in our lives, mainly as my support, would be hands down the best decision we made as new parents. Right from the beginning she intuitively knew how to come in with her gentle and kind spirit and be helpful. She would support me in taking care of myself, watching the baby so I could eat, shower, sleep. She was happy to help with laundry, dishes or cooking. She was such a wealth of knowledge when I needed someone to bounce my new-mom anxieties off of. She is an AMAZING masseuse. She was great at giving little shoulder and feet rubs when she was at the house and I've also hired her for two full body massages, which were amazing. She checked all of the boxes in terms of helping out with the baby and around the house. But most importantly for me, she was someone I felt completely comfortable being vulnerable with. If you're someone who is used to handling things quite well on your own, motherhood can be a trip... Jenny made it easy for this go-getter to admit fear or confusion and ask for help. I never felt that her presence required more energy on my part (an introverts dream) she seemed to know if I was in the mood to chat, or just needed quiet without me having to say so. I could literally write 20 paragraphs about Jenny and our experience with her. We called her my son's "best friend," she feels like family to us and I could not recommend her more highly. If you hire Jenny you'll only be sad that you can't turn her into your child's nanny and keep her forever, like we tried to. read more

Jenny is one of the best massage therapists I've had. After the massage she follows up with advice for good stretches to ensure that my back pain will stay away in between treatments. I'm a fairly recent customer but I will be a returning one from now on. Highly recommended! read more

We were referred to Jenny by a family member for her doula services. From the moment I met Jenny, I knew I wanted her to be a part of my support circle during my pregnancy and birth. Jenny has an incredibly calm and gentle demeanor. She always kept my physical, spiritual and emotional well-being at the forefront, and made sure my partner was supported in these areas as well. Jenny is also a very skilled massage therapist and brings a lot of that philosophy and technique into her doula practice. Jenny exceeded our expectations and I highly recommend her for both her doula and massage therapy services. read more

Words cannot express how much we valued Jenny's partnership and support throughout our entire experience. She was a pillar of strength, not only for me, but for my husband and that created space for him to be more present during labor and delivery. Our time with her beforehand eased a lot of the unknown and she helped us uncover what we wanted out of our birth experience. She had absolutely no judgements and never tried to persuade or dissuade us one way or another. Her calm and loving nature was exactly what I needed during one of my most (if not the most) vulnerable times. If you are thinking of hiring a doula, look no further because Jenny is absolutely the person you need by your side during this monumental moment in your life. My husband and I have already agreed that if/when we have another Jenny will be there. read more

If you're on the fence about hiring a doula - don't be. Then, go hire Jenny Nicol. Jenny was our birth doula for our first child, Maren, and she was nothing short of amazing! We had a marathon labor, and Jenny brought her calm energy, funny sense of humor, and amazing doula fanny-pack to help deliver our daughter into the world. For my wife and I, finding a doula that we connected with on a personal level was key and we really found that in Jenny. Every step of the way, Jenny made both of us feel cared for and we wouldn't have made it through labor without her support. Through the pre-labor meetings, Jenny took the time to get to know us as a family and really understand what was important to us. From helping us think about our birth preferences, to making the hospital room feel like home, Jenny was amazing. It's a huge benefit that Jenny is also an amazing massage therapist, and despite our long labor, she was always there to help massage Courtney's hips and shoulders to keep her as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Through our pre-labor meetings, she even taught me a few techniques that came in handy throughout the process. During labor, Jenny took detailed notes about Courtney's progress, which medical staff we worked with, certain decisions we made, etc. A few days after we left the hospital, Jenny came by our house for some postpartum, and we were able to re-live the birth through her notes, helping us to remember certain details that we had forgotten because it was such a blur. I thought this touch really demonstrated Jenny's connectedness to our birth, and showed how much she cared. Jenny also took amazing photos and videos during labor, which we're so glad that we have! We can't thank Jenny enough for everything she's done for our family, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a birth doula! read more

Jenny Nicol is a wonderful human being, body worker and doula. Her kind and calm demeanor, immediately puts you at ease. I first saw jenny for a prenatal massage Late in my pregnancy. After that massage, I found my doula match. Jenny was amazing during the birth of my daughter. Her body work knowledge and her supportive, calm personality helped my husband and I throughout our birthing experience. I still thank jenny to this day, and don't think I could have done it without her by my side. And I continue to see jenny for massages read more

I always knew that I wanted the support of a doula, but wasn't quite sure what all that entailed. From the very first phone conversation I knew that Jenny was my person to help my husband and I throughout the remainder of my pregnancy, labor and delivery. Jenny helped me truly understand what type of labor and delivery I wanted and how my husband could support me along the way. With the help of Jenny we had a birth plan that I was comfortable with and knew that she would assist in facilitating my plan once we arrived at the hospital. What I didn't expect during labor and delivery was how much I appreciated all that she did for me and my husband. She had the ability to keep me focused and calm with words of encouragement, massage, the TENS machine and verbalizing to the hospital staff what type of birth I wanted to have. I can honestly say that Jenny was my guiding light during everything and I was able to go into labor and delivery at peace with knowing I had her by my side. If you're looking for someone who can ease your fears and provide a wealth of knowledge and love for her job then Jenny is the perfect person! read more

Jenny was my doula for the birth of my first daughter. She was actually a shadow doula, working with the woman I had hired to be my doula (so, yes, I had TWO doulas, which was awesome!) Although Jenny had not had a lot of experience as a doula at the time, I found her presence and instincts to be excellent. She was calm and comforting and at the same time working very hard to physically support me through my unmedicated ("natural") birth. She is strong from massage therapy and climbing, so I could squeeze her hands as hard as I wanted, and she still had energy to give me back and foot massages between contractions. She is a natural and is constantly training and learning and gaining great experience. Jenny also supported me a bit post-partum and I really appreciated having someone who was at my labor continue to support me. It was effortless to have her in my apartment and she knocked down chores as she noticed them without being asked. And she always made sure I was getting fed with great snacks! I feel very lucky to have gotten to work with Jenny and recommend her highly! read more

Jenny Nicol is an amazing massage therapist and I am lucky to have been a patient for the past 3 years. She is extremely "body conscious" and well versed in matters of the body related to health and wellness. She takes her practice beyond the massage table and provides tips and practices for everyday life. She is also extremely personable and her energy makes you feel at ease the moment you walk through the door. Whether you are looking for a quick tune up or helping with a long term problem, Jenny is a wonderful certified massage therapist and one you should seek out in the Bay Area. read more

i started seeing jenny for deep tissue massages at golden gate chiropractic over two years ago. i have sciatica, and a very tense neck and shoulder, where i tend to carry stress. i followed jenny to this new location after dr. ross closed his practice due to prohibitive rent increases. she eases my chronic pain beyond measure. the effects of her work last well over a day. unlike other bodyworkers who just want to get you out, jenny is kind and caring. her presence is exceptionally calming. the studio is a bit far from the marina but more peaceful than the office on bustling lombard street. parking is also much easier. best of luck to you at dehart, jenny. your colleagues are lucky to have you. see you next month. read more

Jenny was the doula for the birth of our daughter at the SF birth center. One of the initial reasons we chose to go with her was because of how flexible she was to accommodate our situation (we live in the south bay). However, over the course of her service she turned out to be so much more than we were expecting. She is incredibly knowledgeable without being overbearing on what to do. Additionally, her calming presence was definitely something that was needed when things started to get crazy. Her body work knowledge for my wife helped a LOT to calm things down and ease the entire birthing process. Because of her, we had an incredible and memorable birthing experience. We cannot stress enough how amazing and incredible Jenny is! read more

Jenny is an inspired massage therapist. I have been going to her nearly weekly for over a year. I have been having problems with my knee, which translates into aches and tight muscles all over. Jenny is a lovely person,warm and caring, and simply does an amazing job. I always feel wonderful when my massage is done. Jenny finds the tender areas and and works out the tensions. She has made dealing with an injury so much less painful! I truly can't imagine a better massage therapist. read more

I first went to Jenny (Nicol Bodywork) as a runner needing to get my muscles worked out. She was knowledgable and helpful. She knew which muscles needed the most attention more than I did. But where Jenny really impressed me was when I visited her for prenatal massages. I started at 5 months pregnant and was hooked. I scheduled a massage for every other week and I can honestly say I would count down the days until my next one. As I got bigger, my body took on more stress in new places (back pain, shin splints, shoulder pain). Jenny would find those places and work them out enough that I would feel good days later. I am really happy I continued to see Jenny throughout my pregnancy because as the months went by she really got to know my body-what hurt, where to press harder, where to focus her energy. Her calm and kind demeanor was a godsend during the last months of pregnancy. I felt the stress melt away not only with her touch, but the way she spoke and breathed and just her overall presence. Even my fetus liked her!! I swear, he would follow her around the room, and kick when she placed her hand on my belly. I cannot say enough nice things about Jenny. I feel truly blessed to have found such an amazing massage therapist. read more

I have been going to Jenny for massages for over a year and find that she is one of the best massage therapist I have encountered. She is very knowledgable, able to identify areas that are sore that I wasn't even aware of. Her massage techniques are able to work out my many muscle knots and kinks so that I feel refreshed and relaxed after my session. She is very easy going and easy to communicate with and always ensures you feel at ease during the session. Definitely recommend for someone who's looking for a friendly, skilled deep-tissue masseuse. read more

I started seeing Jenny to see if massage therapy would help with back pain caused by a herniated disc, and see if therapy would help in my return to a yoga practice which I sorely missed. I saw her over a consistent period of several months. She did a nice job of mixing up the style of treatment each visit, and focused on the nagging areas which were causing me pain/distress. I'd definitely recommend her to anyone looking for an experienced massage therapist. I've returned to yoga and Pilates mindful that I'm still in recovery, but feel stronger each passing day. Jenny played a part in that and I will return for future sessions. read more

I have been going to Jenny Nicol for massages since I first moved to San Francisco in July 2016 and cannot imagine seeing anyone else. She immediately makes your feel comfortable and has a genuine interest in learning exactly what you're hoping to get out of the massage, areas that are bothering you, and what you would like her to concentrate on. During the massage, she also helps you to discover areas you didn't even realize need some extra attention. Jenny is able to seamlessly blend breathing, relaxation, a gentle touch, and deep tissue all into one session so that when you get off the massage table you feel absolutely wonderful and revived. I have also had a craniosacral massage with Jenny which was truly amazing. It's hard to explain all of the sensations but were felt during it, but it was one of the most calming, meditative, and intense experiences I have ever had. I am very active with weight lifting, running, and rock climbing, and also spend a lot of time at a desk working (and being stressed!), so getting a massage by Jenny always helps to relax me and give my body exactly what it needs to be able to continue with my busy lifestyle. I highly recommend Jenny and hope you are able to experience her great massages for yourself! read more

Best healing massage ever! I had been experiencing tension headaches from a former head/neck injury and Jenny worked on my shoulders and neck. No headaches since I started visiting Jenny once a month since Fall 2016. Recently, she worked out my lower back, hip and nagging upper leg muscle tightness, that go back to an injury over 10 years ago. Jenny is amazing and so kind that it's easy to be relaxed with her maximizing the healing massage. Thanks Jenny, I feel at least five years younger! Katie B. read more