Hiring Lenore as our doula was one of the best decisions we made. She was consistently warm,…read moregenuinely caring, and incredibly responsive. Her professionalism and organization were impressive, yet she remained completely approachable throughout. Lenore empowered me to create the birth plan I wanted and provided resources to help me feel prepared. She walked alongside us through important decisions and connected us to wonderful providers, including a pelvic floor therapist. During labor, her support both at home and at the hospital was critically helpful. I'm so grateful for my beautiful birthing experience! It was also reassuring that she was a known and respected presence at the hospital. My partner was initially uncertain about hiring a doula, but now says without hesitation that it was one of our best decisions. I cannot recommend Lenore highly enough.

If you are looking to hire a doula, look no further. Lenore is absolutely incredible at what she…read moredoes, and choosing to have her on my birthing team was one of the best decisions I've made. I honestly couldn't imagine going through the birthing journey without her. She provided so much insight, support, and value throughout every step of the way. During the prenatal sessions, she was intentional about getting to know my partner and I, as well as my birthing preferences. When the unexpected happened, she was there to offer me a fresh perspective and the right questions to ask. Lastly, when it came to giving birth, she knew exactly what to say, exactly what support I needed, and kept me feeling embodied and empowered throughout the entire experience. I can confidently say that I would never have been able to achieve my desired birth without her.

I have received multiple massages from Gracie during pregnancy and postpartum and they have all…read morebeen fabulous. Especially when I was 9 months pregnant, she did a fantastic job making sure I felt comfortable and helping relieving the physical pain of the third trimester. During postpartum, I have received a couple of massages for back pain related to breastfeeding and I always leave feeling rejuvenated and more aligned. Highly recommend

I reached out to Brilliant Births to find a birth doula. They offer a matching service and…read moreconnected me to 3 doulas who work independently (not employees of BB). We were really fortunate to find our birth doula (who we love!), but the other 2 candidates were not very impressive. The first doula missed our appointment with no follow-up communication. We were initially confused and thought she was the coordinator for BB, because she only communicated by text. The actual meeting was just by telephone so there was no face-to-face interaction, which felt strange. We could've easily FaceTimed or Zoomed. So communication and reliability were not great. The second doula abruptly canceled our half-hour appointment when we were 10 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment due to my husband wrapping up a Zoom meeting. During our appointment time, she was responding to my emails (in which I apologized for being late), but insisted she could no longer meet with us. I thought this was a really bad sign about what she would be like to work with - labor and delivery is rarely precisely timed and some flexibility is needed. In addition, her email said that she lives in Portola Valley, but we live Berkeley (also where Brilliant Births is located). This also struck me as strange, because it would take 1.5 hours for her to arrive to meet us at the hospital, which is not ideal.

We feel so incredibly lucky to have had Marilou as our postpartum night doula. I ended up needing…read moreto be induced earlier than expected, so we had to arrange support at the very last minute. I was honestly pretty anxious going into it because we didn't have the opportunity to interview or even speak with her beforehand, and we were simply going off her profile that was shared with us. But from the moment she arrived, she immediately put us at ease. She was with us for those first few nights home from the hospital, when I was exhausted, emotional, and very newly postpartum. She had such a warm, gentle, and calming presence, and having her there made those overwhelming first nights feel so much more manageable. She was incredibly sweet and attentive with our baby, but she was equally caring toward me, always checking in and offering thoughtful tips for both newborn care and taking care of myself during recovery. She helped with feeds, baby laundry, and washing and assembling bottles and pump parts, and was always punctual, dependable, and proactive. Most importantly, we felt completely comfortable having her care for our brand new baby during such a vulnerable time. Our only regret is that we didn't find her sooner! Because everything came together so last minute, she was only available to be with us for a few nights, and we absolutely would have loved to have had her for longer. We're so grateful she was there when we needed her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any family looking for a kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring postpartum doula. Thanks Marilou and Doulas by the Bay!

We had a wonderful experience with Brenda. She came to meet us before the baby was born, which was…read morereally helpful and gave us a chance to get comfortable with each other beforehand. Once the baby arrived, she was incredibly helpful, especially with tips and guidance on how to soothe him and help him get to sleep. She was so kind, gentle, and caring with our baby, and it was such a pleasure to have her with us during these first days. We're very grateful for all her help and would absolutely recommend her!

Jessica provides an immersive therapeutic environment combined with adept therapeutic services…read more Her curated environment creates a complete secondary world which invites a transcendence to heal. Like the physical space, she created, Jessica provides highly personalized therapeutic services designed to support your needs. It's a delight to visit her and facility, for, combined with her body work, it actually seems otherworldly most times. Her unique approach is not to be missed.

I'd never experienced the kind of pain that I did until I developed sciatica. My nerve pain was…read moreshooting down my leg and forced me onto my knees. I was in agony for two weeks. Everytime I moved I would nearly pass out. Reading about it brought very little hope in terms of treatment due to the surgical recommendations that seemed to dominate the web. Jessica works miracles. That's all I know. She got in where the nerve was and when she was done, i was walking again. I can't thank her enough. She knows what's mechanically wrong and how to fix it. This is the woman you need to see if you need help!

I first saw Alison about 10 months post-partum when I felt like I just needed to get everything…read more"right" again after the crazy body changes of pregnancy and birth. She was such a perfect choice with her extensive knowledge of pregnancy/birth/mama bodies and I left feeling AMAZING. Like floating on a cloud. Which was probably all the pent up toxins coming out of muscles but she did that! It was the best massage of my life. And I love massages. So I keep booking and recommending her even though it will make it harder for me to book appointments. #yourewelcome A session with Alison is downright healing. Her extensive body knowledge paired with her grounded but somehow still effervescent nature make for a wonderful massage experience (and hour or more of lightweight free therapy/cathartic convo if you're chatty like me!). She's about the work and isn't going to try to sell you 25 products and a facial. I have a crap ton of ailments and injuries which have thrown other massage therapists for a loop, but they've been nbd for Alison. She works with and through them without any further injury or irritation. I've tried soooo many different massage therapists through the bay and truly feel like I've found the best. Book your appointment and thank me later!

I cannot praise and recommend Alison, her healing hands and presence enough! I started seeing…read moreAlison (based on her wonderful reviews) shortly before the pandemic for my wellbeing. I left my first session knowing I was in the hands of an incredible healer. She is so attuned to your mind, body, and spirit and knows exactly what you need. Grounded, highly skilled, experienced and intuitive, Alison cares, nurtures, and renews you and your body. She is a wonderful, real person who genuinely cares for you and your health. She also lets you know what's going on in your body and gives you excellent self-care suggestions. I returned in 2021 after some injuries and health issues and continue to be deeply grateful for the excellent personalized massage and therapeutic treatment I receive from her. With Alison you don't just get a massage -- you get a deep, personalized healing that you can feel the benefits of for days.

We had Maureen as our birth and postpartum doula and I cannot recommend her enough. She is so…read moreempathetic and connected with us on what we wanted our birth experience to be. She is incredible at coming into a family, observing and giving just the right tailored suggestion to make OUR life easier. Not some one size fits all solution. She was constantly observing the sitauation to figure out exactly what was missing and filling that role.

I'm feeling so happy & grateful that Maureen was there for the birth of our twins!! I was going…read morethrough a lot with our surprise twins. I thought I'd been through everything being it was to be my 4th birth but as soon as I found out it was twins my whole world changed. Not only were we not expecting any more babies but they didn't find the twins until my 5 month ultrasound! i knew I couldn't do it alone. So on a mission to find a doula with excellent twins experience I found Maureen. After many dead ends & almost giving up, Maureen was the light that shone through. Initially she couldn't take me as a client because she was already booked near to my due date but she helped me so much! she gave me info over the phone & sent me emails with all the twin resources & spinning babies info I could need. She even helped make some postings for me to find a doula online & was there for me whenever I had a question. Well the timing just happened to be perfect & she was able to be my doula as I went full term with twins and she was free! She gave the best support during my labor & was able to be with me in the OR (standard for twin births) & counsel me as the process went along like when I had to decide what do do to birth me breech 2nd twin. Her knowledge & confidence are astounding. I couldn't have done it without her. I'm so thankful & highly recommend. She goes above & beyond and truly cares!!

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.

We have nothing but praise and fond feelings for Nicky and her help at our home following my knee…read moresurgery. She travelled quite a distance to be with us returning to home post-op. She cooked us fantastic vegan meals, staying one night in a chair in my room overnight to cater to all my needs, stayed in our guest room to catch some sleep before tending to me, then went to care for a new family elsewhere. She is unassuming, patient, flexible, and heart fully open with unending love and care. I highly recommend her for anyone.

If you are looking for a Doula, look no further. Nicky was truly wonderful to work with! She has…read moresuch a calming demeanor and was the perfect addition during my labor and delivery. I had a very very quick delivery but she was there every step of the way. She took some amazing pictures and videos (as requested), provided snacks after delivery and helped us get a quiet hour to ourselves right after that incredible birth. She also provided a few pre and post sessions where she really helped us talk about what exactly we wanted during this process and after came back and helped with the new baby and even gave me some time to myself to go and shower. I would definitely hire here again and highly recommend her!!

We are not "doula" people. But we were first time parents, and although I had to ask a friend what…read morethe purpose of a doula was and winced at the price tag - we felt it might be a good safety blanket. We interviewed two excellent doulas and ended up going with Lindsay due to our friend's recommendation and the fact that we felt like we could relate to her better due to her straightforward demeanor and since she's close to us in age. Lindsay provides you with two pre-natal visits and one post-partum visit in addition to the birth visit. She also gives you a hefty packet of info on pregnancy and post partum stuff- some of which is medically accurate, but serves more as a good starting point to talk with your ob or midwife (and she's clear about that). Lindsay has a great demeanor, kind, helpful, smart, and strong. She has this amazing ability of being there for you during labor/delivery without being intrusive and giving you and your partner the space to do your own thing while providing support. And when we needed her to step in, she was there 100%!!! In fact, it was during a difficult labor that Lindsay's experience, skill, and bedside manner really shone - she really wowed us and physically invested herself in making it work. We had a long labor and she was prepared to be there and totally present and actively supporting us for the whole thing!! I can honestly say that the price is worth it, in fact I almost feel we under paid!! Go with Lindsay, you won't be disappointed!

Lindsay is a god send. I had a home birth in May (also thanks to her!), and she was my doula. My…read morelabor came one fast and hard. My husband was filling the tub while my mother was making the bed, and I was stuck on all fours in the baby room with back labor. I was terrified and didn't think I was going to make it through this; I'd definitely need to go to the hospital. I called Lindsay, and she came over very quickly. As soon as she entered the room, everything got better. Lindsay jumped in without missing a beat, telling me in a calming voice that the things that were happening to me were all okay and coaching me through deep breathing techniques with each surge. She helped put me in the tub even though I was resistant to move, and suddenly my labor was more manageable. She also communicated with my midwife, getting her there on time as things were moving along very quickly. Lindsay made me feel safe throughout the entire process. Her voice was calming and she knew exactly what to say at the exact right time. She made sure I was hydrated and comfortable. She placed her hands just where I needed them right when I needed them there. She knew when to step in and when to step back. Above all else, she emitted a calming vibe that helped everyone stay cool, calm, and collected, even a basket case like me. She empowered me to birth my first born at home, with the labor I wanted (and deserved), and supported me the entire way, through pregnancy and beyond. Before she left after my birth, I asked her if I could keep her forever and ever. I really couldn't have done any of this without her, and will be thankful for her presence in my life for many years to come. Needless to say, if you are looking for the most loving and educated doula on the block, Lindsay is your gal. 5+ stars!!

We had two amazing doulas for our second daughter, both covered through my Carrot benefit at work,…read moreRhona at night and Julie during the day. Rhona was our overnight doula for both of our girls, and honestly I don't know how I would've gotten through those first months without her. With my first, she helped me figure out breastfeeding, kept me going on the hard nights, and taught me how to pump so I could actually get some sleep. With our second we had jaundice and an unplanned trip back to the hospital and Rhona was such a calm, steady presence for me while I got through it. Rhona is just so good at what she does, and clearly cares a lot about the families she works with. Julie was equally wonderful during the day. She's sincere, honest, and has this calming way about her. She normalized so much of what I was feeling and hyped me up until I actually felt ready to handle life with two kids. Genuinely fun to have around too, even on the rough days. We're so grateful for both of them and would recommend them without hesitation.

We had the absolute pleasure of having Agnes K. as our night doula after the birth of our newborn…read moreand we are incredibly grateful for her help. She is extremely knowledgeable about baby care, and we could tell that our baby loved how calm, caring, and confident she was. Agnes was happy to not only help with taking care of our baby at night, but also logged feedings and kept bottles prepped. She also was easily accessible via text for ongoing support. She was able to give us plenty of actionable advice and feedback on how to take care of our little one which, as new parents, made a massive positive difference with our confidence as well. We definitely would be in a far worse place in terms of taking care of our baby if not for her help, and highly recommend Agnes to any family who is looking for a doula who clearly loves what she does and is really good at it too.