It's 8pm on a Saturday night and I am relaxing on my couch having a glass of wine. My little man…read morehas been sleeping in his crib since he fell asleep there, ON HIS OWN, SEVEN minutes after we put him down - without a peep. You read that right. Since I have such ample time, this review will be a long one. I gave you fair warning. I'm not so rigid to think or expect that every night will unfold like tonight. There will be teeth! walking! talking! more regressions to come. However, a month after starting this process, it has become a reasonable reality for me to expect that on more days/nights rather than not (meaning NAPS and bedtime), he will go to sleep. It is a work in progress, but Dahlia guided us through it with the confidence and clarify we ourselves needed to provide to our son for the process to work. The backstory: At 11 weeks old, my son morphed from our lovely sleeping newborn waking twice a night to waking EVERY HOUR, needing to be soothed back to sleep...while sleeping in our bed. As the weeks dragged on, it became clear he was not going to outgrow this hiccup in an amount of time that would preserve my sanity (or marriage lol), and things were snowballing from bad to dreadful (more on that below). He eventually settled on a pattern of waking 4-7 times per night; however, he started having negative sleep associations to most every soothing trick in the book. I won't waste time listing such strategies or the gimmicks I bought on Amazon. Well-meaning folks always shared their soothing strategies. Well, if you can envision it, we tried it. Don't start to tell me about white noise and black out shades. Eventually, NOTHING WORKED except the boob. So sleep - meaning all naps and bedtime plus the night wake ups - became an hour long battle with raging, screaming, kicking, tears. All of which did not guarantee an outcome of sleep in the end! This was a vicious cycle on repeat at least 4 times daily which went on for almost two months (give or take some days where baby was so exhausted he slept well for a night or two). On top of this, I had impending abdominal and oral surgeries. Just icing on the cake. We knew we had to sleep train. After pouring through blogs and books about the various sleep training techniques and studies, I still had reservations (and extreme anxiety subjecting my baby to this), and needed someone to lead me through its ups and downs. Alright I'll be honest - sleep training is mostly down. It is painful. Gutwrenchingly PTSD painful if your baby is anything like mine. Enter Dahlia. She is honest, positive, supportive, respectful, and above all, will use her knowledge to SEE YOU THROUGH IT. She makes herself available and genuinely wants to help you. I cannot thank her enough and I definitely promise you will not get that from a blog. So dread. I used to DREAD naps and bedtime. The clock would hit 5:30pm and my heart would sink a little. My soul would wail a sad song. Now, I think about the time I can spend writing long reviews and blogging while he's sleeping. And the biggest plus? The little man wakes up RELAXED and RESTED and happy to see me. THANK YOU DAHLIA!

Dahlia is the BEST! We hired her for 3 months of postpartum work, which is no small task with…read moretwins! She was so caring, nurturing, and gentle with our babies, her experience was only outweighed by her sweetness and profound gift for "twinning". I feel so lucky to have had her work with us, she taught us (first-time parents) so much, from swaddling to bathing to infant massage! Every morning when Dahila arrived it was a ray of sunshine and positive energy, my babies responded so well to her songs, her feeding techniques, and her cuddles. We were so sad to say goodbye to her when it was time, and are almost jealous of the next family that gets to work with her! :) :)

Erin was recommended to us through our pediatrician's office as an IBCLC, and I'm so glad we found…read moreher. Firstly , I loved how easy Erin's website was to use -- from checking insurance and understanding what to expect, to reaching out and hearing back from her shortly after. As a first-time mom who really wanted to exclusively breastfeed, I ran into several challenges during the first few months. Erin was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, and she helped us work through multiple issues along the way. She always made me feel comfortable, supported, and confident in what I was doing. I'm truly grateful I reached out to Erin. Thank you so much, Erin, for your expertise and all of your help - it made such a difference for our family.

Erin provided the kind of care to my little family I didn't know *existed* in this country…read more Our UCSF birth was complicated, but Erin is one of the reasons we reflect back on it with gratitude and agency. Her presence arrived half by magic -- as our backup doula!! -- and went from a text to a stranger to laboring in our bedroom, UCSF and weeks of care with her as our lactation consultant. Every early week was dotted with an Erin meeting, and they were like mini-meditations in that newborn era: lessons on how to do it and the feeling, as she departed, that we could. Everything we know, we learned from Erin -- from how to breastfeed, bottle feed, how to pair the two in a way that supported our goals and our baby's health. Her home visits and hands-on teaching were invaluable, and always swiftly documented with an email our sleep-deprived parenting brains could re-read for reference. Her advice on low milk supply always centered my well-being with my baby's. Without Erin's instruction, it would have been easy to feel occasionally scared or at a loss -- but we're coming to the end of our parental leave feeling closer than ever as a family. That feeling wouldn't be possible without Erin.

We feel extremely fortunate that we got to have Keelia help us settle into being a family of four…read more She was a consistently warm and caring presence, not just for our new baby but for all four of us. And she has a special knack for just finding ways to be helpful even if we're frazzled and don't know what to ask. She's also very thoughtful about providing advice--in addition to answering whatever random questions we have, she gently offers advice without it ever feeling like she's forcing it on us or it feeling overly didactic. We could go on about how great she is, but the long and short of it is that she's amazing at what she does.

I am certain that my experience with Keelia made THE difference in achieving the birth of my…read moredaughter the ways that I wanted it- delaying at home for as long as possible, no pain meds and a positive, empowered experience. My biggest fears were my low pain tolerance and lack of control over knowing exactly how it would go. Shortly before our due date, Keelia came over to review our birth plan and a timeline of what to expect for pre-labor, active labor, travel to the birth center, transition, and delivery. She made sure we practiced comfort measures, breathing and how I wanted to be supported verbally. It wasn't until the last moments with Keelia where she looked me in the eye and said I was ready, that I actually felt prepared to go into labor and meet my daughter. 2 days later, my water broke in the middle of the night. For the next 44 hours of contractions, naps, two car rides up to the birth center, a traumatic cervical check on day one to then be sent back home, many walks around the neighborhood, yoga ball bouncing, 1 game of Monopoly, snacks, massages, and support - Keelia was at our beck and call. By the time we got to the birth center (again) on day 2 after 36 hours, I was only at 1cm and 50% effaced. Keelia helped me calm down from exhausition and frustration at this news, and we made a plan to get misoprostol to thin my cervix but hopefully proceed with no other interventions. Miraculously, Ava was born 7 hours later. Keelia coached me through contractions which came back to back for hours, waved lavendar oil in front of my face for nausea, massaged my back, covered the clock when she noticed it stressing me out, got me into the shower with Joe when I hit the wall of transition, and helped me breathe through pushing - 3 contractions! She reassured me every step of the way - calmly & knowing I could do it at all moments. In this amazing doula's hands, I felt loved, safe, and supported. Thank you, Keelia.

Stacey was our night doula for 8 weeks after we brought home our first baby…read more Having Stacey there to help us navigate the first few nights and weeks of newborn life was invaluable, she was able to give us advice and support for feeding, fussiness, extending sleep lengths, etc. The nights that Stacey was with us allowed my husband and I to truly rest, knowing our baby was under expert care. At first, we only booked Stacey for 6 weeks, but her experience and advice was so valuable that we extended for an additional 2 weeks, and we have no regrets! We'll miss having Stacey's help and guidance, but we feel so much more prepared for the next phase of parenthood after having her help.

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.

I can't speak highly enough about our experience with Allison as our doula. As a first time dad, I…read morehad no experience with any of the things, and Allison was great with answering any questions we had. The pre-natal visits were so helpful to set a framework/context of what the labor/delivery date would be like, and both her and my role in it. She was so calm, caring, and reassuring. She helped talk us through during the at-home contractions part of labor until we decided it was time to go to the hospital. At the hospital,I was so appreciative of her experience and the relationship she already had with the labor staff. Because she had the context and experience, I didn't have to stress as much about anything I didn't know to ask or do and could focus on my wife and encouraging her through the process. Allison also helped to record some of the experience as well as explain the labor status. The post-partum checkups were also very helpful and reassuring/validating.

I can not say enough positive things about Allison! From our first prenatal home visit I knew I…read moreliked her vibe. She is a funny, kind, compassionate and easy to talk to person. As a first time mom I had a ton of questions and she had a ton of patience and a wealth of knowledge. When contractions started her calm demeanor was vital in helping my husband and I calm down and think clearly. She was available via text and call and set clear check ins (let's talk at x time) until we made decisions about next steps. When we decided to head to the hospital she arrived first and met us in a parking spot she was holding for us. While my husband was getting us checked in she talked me through contractions. When I made a comment about the smell of a nearby trash can she, within seconds, had essential oils; when I complained of leg cramps she had a TENS machine readily available, when we needed a pen to sign paperwork she had two. She was always steps ahead clearing the the path for us. When labor slowed she was a joy to talk to! She fit right in with my support team (husband, mom and sister) and felt like part of our family (she will forever be part of my family now) When my baby's heart rate dropped and we faced some (what felt like to me) scary decisions it was Allison I looked to for reassurance. While 10-15 medical staff were asking rushed/urgent questions and waiting for answers I was able to find Allison's eyes and with a smile or head nod or pat of my hair know we made the right decision. Her existing relationship with the hospital staff was as added bonus! She was the glue that brought everyone (the hospital, her and my family support) together to feel like one team. During our post partum visits she provided the reassurance, encouragement and support my husband and I didn't know we needed. The photos and videos she took (with our permission of course!) during labor are treasured and I'm so thankful for those memories. If you're questioning hiring a doula I say do it! And if you're going to do it- get Allison. You will not regret it

5 stars is simply not enough!…read more Oh. My. God. Where would we be without Amy?! We're still working with her today but I couldn't wait to write this for any new parent out there feeling overwhelmed. Amy is truly the baby whisperer -- the moment she held our baby, it was clear she knew exactly what to do. She's experienced, knowledgeable, kind and absolutely loves what she does! You can feel her passion in everything, and it makes all the difference. How lucky are we that she exists?! Our 10 wk old had slow weight gain and sleep issues. With Amy's help, we're now on a much better schedule and things have already turned around. She's responsive, supportive and truly holds your hand every step of the way -- something priceless during such a stressful time...! I can't express enough how grateful I am for her skill, support and compassion. She's amazing in every way, and trust me -- if you have a baby problem, she has the answers. Our lives are so much better with Amy in them. We feel so lucky to have her care and guidance! THANK YOU AMY!!

We feel incredibly lucky to have had Amy Hicks as our night doula. From our first meeting, she…read moreoffered not just moral support but calm, confident guidance rooted in years of experience and deep expertise. Her presence gave us peace of mind during a really challenging time--our baby arrived early, and Amy helped us navigate the many choices and uncertainty with care, insight, and compassion while we were still in NICU. Amy went above and beyond. She helped us figure out how to approach our baby's reflux and food allergies, always respectful of our doctor's guidance but also encouraging an iterative, thoughtful process to find what actually worked for him. She connected us with specialists in our area to advise on formula, so we could get exactly the right one when that became our best option to manage our baby's allergies. Her ability to blend evidence-based insight with individualized care was invaluable. She wasn't just a reassuring presence at night (which let us truly rest and enjoy our days), she was also available during the day to answer questions, help us establish strong routines, and coach us through the ups and downs of those early weeks. Thanks to her, our baby was sleeping through the night by 12 weeks (despite being premature and having a series of health issues in his early weeks)--though she mentioned that most of the families she works with see that milestone by 8 weeks! If you're considering a postpartum night doula, I can't recommend Amy highly enough. She's a gifted, grounded, and deeply supportive person to have on your team during the fourth trimester.

I found sister doulas when looking for a doula who worked with Kaiser (my insurance). We did an…read moreinitial meet and greet type call where they introduced themselves, their services and answered our questions. They ended the meeting saying they recommend we meet with several doulas before making a decision. As soon as the call ended my husband and I looked at a each and knew our search was over; we signed paperwork that week. Between the prenatal home visits to the group educational classes we felt like we had the support we needed going into labor. The wealth of knowledge and experience between them was incredible. When contractions got serious and we reached out it was sister doulas calm voices on the phone that helped us slow down and make decisions. Their existing relationship with the hospital staff was reassuring. They ensured I/we felt supported, cared and advocated for the entire 22 hour labor. The post partum visits were helpful in a way that I hadn't expected. After the initial new baby excitement when family leaves and lack of sleep kicks in it was so wonderful to have sister doulas reach out and come to our home to check in on us. Without hesitation I would recommend Sister Doulas to any expecting family.

It's hard to put into words the gratitude my partner and I feel for the Sisters Doula team --…read moreAllison, Renata, and Andrea are truly incredible. Before meeting them, we thought of birth as something to get through. They helped us shift our thinking and see it as something to be experienced. The birth of our son became a deeply intimate, connected, and transformative experience. Even weeks later, we still find ourselves in awe, and we're certain it wouldn't have been the same without the Sisters team. They prepared us for labor in a way that felt both meaningful and empowering. We feel so grateful that we began our journey into parenthood in such a beautiful way with their support. From our initial at-home meeting with Allison, we immediately felt at ease. Her calm presence and deep wisdom around birth were grounding from the start. Renata's classes were interactive and experiential, helping us feel informed, capable, and prepared. When labor began, the Sisters team was an invaluable support. Andrea checked in consistently by text during the early phase, and when we were ready, Renata joined us on the phone--calming us and helping us with decision-making. Allison then met us at home and helped guide us in timing our transition to the hospital. Throughout labor, she was a steady, reassuring presence--gently guiding me through different positions, offering encouragement, and helping me stay grounded. The postpartum visits with Allison have been meaningful in ways we hadn't anticipated. Having the space to revisit and process the birth experience with her felt emotional and meaningful. She has been incredibly helpful in normalizing the challenges of early parenthood while also sharing in and celebrating the joys.

She is the best birth doula in the world She is kind and…read morecompassionate. I recommend her for sure.

I took Renata's birth and postpartum doula course some years ago and finally decided to get…read morecertified. It was amazing and very educational. She's very knowledgeable and passionate about the work she does. I also volunteered at her doula program at Alta Bates in Berkley. I am beyond thankful for all the work she does and the help she wants to give to us as students and the clients as well. It is easy to get in contact with her and get whatever information you may need. I am glad I got to meet and learn from her.