I reached out to a few doulas and felt an immediate connection with Alexis. From the first moment…read morewe spoke, she was so generous with her time and wisdom, as well as personal anecdotes to help me get a better sense of the types of scenarios we should be thinking through. She also helped me navigate the world of prenatal care - sharing the names of a wonderful birth class, prenatal masseuse and chiropractor that kept me in decent shape up until my birth. During labor, Alexis was a perfect partner to my husband and me. My labor was long, and having Alexis there with us meant that I always had a rested partner to help me through labor. She also helped us navigate the many decisions that inevitably arise during birth, and I can honestly say that while it didn't go according to "plan," it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life and I give Alexis so much credit for that. She's incredibly passionate about what she does and even after birth, was an incredible resource and partner to us in those early, uncertain weeks. We're lucky to have her in the Bay Area!

This is a long over due review. Alexis was my doula for the birth of my second son (7/24/14). My…read morehusband and I couldn't have done it without her. I contacted Alexis late into my pregnancy because I really wanted my second birth to be without an epidural. I didn't have the best experience with my first birth and I really wanted this time to be different. Alexis reassured me that this was a different birth and that my body was meant for this. From the moment I spoke to her I knew she was meant to be a doula. She is super calm and sweet and you can tell she loves what she does. We met shortly there after and I didn't have to interview anyone else (although I spoke to many over the phone). I wasn't too happy with my doctor at the time and Alexis not only knew who he was but helped me research other doctors and suggested many others to me.. She always responded to all of my silly questions and concerns and helped me come up with a birth plan. The day I went into labor I called Alexis and she gave me the option to come over or let me keep laboring on my own at home and meet me later. I felt calm and confident so I stayed in the tub and labored from home and stayed in touch with her. She could tell just by talking to me if I was close or not. When the time came I called Alexis and we met at the hospital. I can honestly say that thanks to Alexis I was able to have an un-medicated birth, my husband said it was the best money we have ever spent (and he was hesitant about getting a doula). Alexis helped me through the contractions and helped me remain calm. She even stayed long after to help in any way that she could. The only regret I have is that I didn't take any pictures with her that day.

I've been seeing Christina for over a year. Initially I wanted to experience craniosacral therapy…read more Christina starts each session with your intention. Mine was a desire to feel a sense of safety in my body. That was and has been amazing, to be able to feel safe from within. With her support I was able to start to reconnect with my body, which I didn't even realize was numb/disconnected! Due to her additional pre and perinatal training I've also been able to discover and heal early wounds that my body had memory of, but that my mind and talk therapy had not been able to access. Christina has been vital in my healing from childhood developmental trauma in a safe way without retraumatizing. She's role modeled and helped me learn to have compassion and love for myself, and to grow my emotional capacity and tolerance. When I bump into difficult memories or emotions, Christina is there to walk me through it to welcome them in compassionate way. Christina's calming presence helps me to feel safe and supported, which is critical for healing. She is a special soul and a true healer.

We are so grateful to have worked with Christina. When we got pregnant with our first child, we…read moreknew we wanted a natural, peaceful birth and Christina helped support ​our vision​ every step of the way. In the prenatal visits, she helped​ us discover our ideal birth​ scenario and​​ ​provided us with resources (visualization​s​, books, audio recordings) to help support our preferences. She helped ​prepare us for ​the many decisions​ of pregnancy, labor & delivery and newborn care, so we could make the best choices for our family. When our son's birth arrived, Christina was amazing. She was right there from my initial contractions to post-birth. She knew just how and when to jump in, but also when to give both me and my husband our space. Christina reminded my husband and I focus on one another and the incredible event happening to us. She is very familiar with Marin General ​which​ helped us navigate our admission and get comfortable in the hospital space. ​She gave good suggestions on different positions to minimize my pain while also ensuring my labor progressed. With her help, we had a beautiful, all natural birth. ​Afterward, Christina followed up with us and came to visit our new baby multiple times. She even gave our baby a cranial sacral treatment and came back to give me a much needed postpartum massage. I can't say enough good things about Christina. She is incredibly conscientious and caring. She is a wonderful, calming doula and a talented masseuse. I highly recommend her.

We brought in Milan to help out with our 8 week old son; we needed help managing and improving on…read morehis daytime sleep, as well as a bit of a support on (and reprieve from) the demands of first time parenthood :) She was wonderful in so many ways. she took the approach of following our lead in terms of schedule and preferences with our son, since we'd been on our own in the daytime for 2 months by the time she came in, but she made suggestions and provided advice along the way that's proved very helpful without ever being overbearing. She has great instincts and is very knowledgeable, and for situations where she hadn't directly experienced something before, she tapped into her doula network to get advice and was ready to try a bunch of ideas until one stuck. A good example: my son randomly decided to start rejecting the bottle after having taken it since birth; we tried some things until it turned out to be that I couldn't be in the same room as him because of his preference for nursing. She's also so warm and thoughtful, and made an instant connection with my son (and with me!)

Milan was an absolute lifesaver when I came home from the hospital. We initially hadn't planned for…read morea postpartum day doula but I quickly realized that help during the day would be needed. From day one Milan gave me the confidence I needed to care for my newborn. She helped us with the first bath, made sure I stay hydrated and came up with ideas on how to get the baby to nap. She also brought her own wrap baby carrier. Thanks to her I was able to actually enjoy a long hot shower while the baby enjoyed contact naps. She also guided me through meditation when I was worried about my baby's weight gain. What I appreciated the most was her ability to get things done with little guidance, never making me feel like I'd need to find the energy to explain something to her. She prepared a sitz bath, helped me put the dishes and the laundry away or showed me how the Snoo works. Even though she isn't working with us anymore I still hear her reminders to stay hydrated while breastfeeding and to trust my instincts when I make a decision for the baby. Thank you, Milan!

As a first time mom, I can honestly say that I don't know what I would have done without Meleah! In…read morethe months leading up to my due date, Meleah helped me build my birth plan; she provided reading material that discussed the pros and cons of each decision I needed to make and then went through them with me, answering any questions I had, so I could make informed decisions. She even covered contingencies that I hadn't even considered. She also worked with us on techniques for coping with labor pains and guided us through what to expect once I was in labor. When my induction did not go as planned and I completely lost trust in my doctor (who made some very questionable recommendations), I was SO grateful that I had Meleah by my side every step of the way to make sure I understood my options and help me advocate for myself. She was then with me during my c-section, narrating what was happening and snapping pictures when my son was delivered. Then, when he was taken to the NICU for a brief period after delivery, she stayed with me, keeping me calm and relaying any news from my husband who went with our baby. It was definitely not the birth we had planned, but I feel so fortunate that Meleah was there guiding us through it. She also went above and beyond after the birth and was an immense support to us during our first days home with a newborn. She gave us helpful tips on breastfeeding, swaddling, and baby wearing, and helped us locate additional postpartum support when we found we needed it. She really cares about her clients and is amazing with babies! You can tell that she has found her calling and really enjoys what she does.

We were incredibly lucky to have Meleah support the birth of our second baby. We found our way to…read moreher while I was pregnant and I was immediately drawn to her calm, supportive, and focused presence. I understood the pivotal role doulas play from my first birth, and felt at ease going into the experience again knowing Meleah would be at my side. During labor, Meleah was a constant source of strength and support -- from providing caring, spot-on advice during early labor, to coaching me through the tougher later stages. And during a quick delivery, she helped safely and securely catch my baby (!), and for that I'll be eternally beyond grateful. Meleah is the epitome of someone who is doing exactly what she was meant to do. Her passion for her work and sincere care for mothers & babies is evident in everything she does. I would recommend her without hesitation -- anyone would be very fortunate to have her on their birth team. Thank you, Meleah, for everything!!

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

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

I truly couldn't have accomplished my VBAC goals without the incredible support of the Stork and…read moreSprout birth doula team. From the very first moment I needed them through labor and all the way until I was settled into the maternity floor with my new little boy, they were there every step of the way. Their calm presence, deep knowledge, encouragement, and advocacy made all the difference during such an intense and meaningful experience. I felt supported, empowered, and never alone. I am beyond grateful for their care and dedication and would wholeheartedly recommend Stork and Sprout to anyone preparing for birth--especially those pursuing a VBAC.

As a new parent, the postpartum period is challenging enough without having to deal with the stress…read moreand disappointment of a difficult agency. While Stork and Sprout does have some excellent doulas on its team who provided great support and coaching, my experience with the agency's leadership was overwhelmingly negative. We had a particularly difficult time with Brittany. She demonstrated a pattern of manipulation, gaslighting, and lying, both to us and, from what I understand, to her own employees. Our contract promised consistent coverage, but the scheduling was erratic and communication was poor. We were left to wonder many nights if we would have support, and for several weeks, we only received 1 to 2 days of support instead of the 6 to 7 we paid for. When we requested a refund for the services not provided, Brittany refused and even fought our bank with out-of-context emails and more lies. She claims she "offered a refund" but is even today refusing to honor it as she says in the response. The lack of professionalism extended to some of the staff as well; one sick doula was sent to our home and intentionally caused our newborn physical pain. Brittany treated us like we were the difficult ones and responded with empathy-less chatGPT emails to manage the situation. We were also led to believe we would have one primary doula with a backup, but over the course of our service, we had seven different doulas come to our home. This complete lack of continuity made an already difficult period even more stressful. Based on my experience, I would advise new parents to skip Stork and Sprout and work directly with an independent doula. You will not only save the 30-40% extra fee the agency charges for scheduling, but you will also avoid the toxic and difficult management. This experience is unacceptable for a service that costs tens of thousands of dollars and demands payment upfront months ahead of providing the service. We were not able to switch easily due to the inflexible Carrot reimbursement process through the employer.

I could not imagine my first birth without Becca! From the very first phone call, I felt an instant…read moreconnection with her--she's such a kind, caring soul and a true expert in her field. One of the things that impressed me most was how seamlessly she read the dynamic between me and my husband. She always knew when to step in with support and when to step back and give us space. That balance was invaluable during such an emotional, vulnerable time. When my birth plan didn't go the way I had envisioned, Becca's expert advice and calm presence gave me so much security in the decisions I had to make. She helped me feel grounded, informed, and confident every step of the way and encouraged me to listen to my instinct and body. Another aspect of her support that you simply can't put a price on is how connected she is at Kaiser. She knew nearly every midwife and nurse, and because of her strong relationships there, I felt reassured that the care I was receiving was exactly what I needed. Her presence gave me an extra layer of trust in the whole process. Becca communicated beautifully, supported us with such compassion, and helped make my first birth experience one that I will cherish forever. I can't recommend her enough--if you're considering a doula, Becca is truly one of a kind! Thank you so much Becca!

Becca was a god send during the first couple of months as a first time mom. After a hard emergency…read morec-section she took care of me and my baby with love, compassion and care. I would absolutely recommend Becca. Becca, if you read this we miss you, and so does Hannah :)

Rosie Q. and the Bay Area Night Doulas team were an enormous support to our family during the early…read moreweeks with our newborn son. As first-time parents, we were exhausted, anxious, and very aware that we didn't know what we didn't know. From her very first shift, Rosie brought the calm, knowledgeable presence we needed. A few things stood out about Rosie. First, she was reliably punctual. She always arrived about 10 minutes early so we could debrief her on the day, and she left right on time. That kind of consistency sounds small, but when you're running on no sleep, it means everything. Second, she taught us so much. So much of what we do today as parents -- how we hold him, how we soothe him, how we approach feeds and sleep -- came from Rosie patiently showing us. She has a real gift for sharing her knowledge. Most importantly, Rosie is a true professional. We always felt completely safe leaving our son in her hands, and that level of trust is everything at this stage. Being able to fully rest, knowing he was being cared for by someone competent and attentive, changed our experience of the newborn phase. Frances and the BAND team were also wonderful to work with -- responsive, organized, and genuinely thoughtful about pairing us with the right doula. We feel incredibly lucky we got Rosie. If you're considering overnight support, hire her without hesitation.

We worked with Kaylyn G. during the first 6 weeks with our newborn, and had a really positive…read moreexperience. She was punctual, reliable, and made scheduling and billing paperwork very easy. She provided overnight support so we could get some much-needed rest, and was incredibly helpful knowing we could trust that our baby was in good hands. She would also leave notes for us in the morning so we knew how he did. She also helped with washing bottles, preparing formula, assisting with our newborn's bath, doing baby laundry, and even emptying the dishwasher. She also gave thoughtful product recommendations, offered a helpful pumping consultation, provided sleep training tips, and walked us through using the Huckleberry app. As first-time parents, it was helpful to see firsthand how she changed, fed, and burped our baby, which helped build our confidence. We also appreciated being able to text her with questions between visits--it made those early weeks feel a lot more manageable.

I wish that everyone has the privilege to feel the tenderness and warmth of Daniella's doula care…read more They held not only me and baby, in this tender time but our entire family, (our dog & cat included )! Always beautifying the space, helping to prepare nourishing food, making sure my water or tea was full, and bringing a playful & positive energy into our home! We contracted their services for support as I returned to work when our babe was around 6mo old. Although we were more fortified than the tender early postpartum days, the emotional landscape was challenging and Daniella was intuitive and attuned to helping us navigate this transition- offering time to check in on how me and my partner were emotionally, offering gentle suggestions to the ever changing baby/ new parenting landscape, and most of all tuning in to our daughter's cues to advocate for her needs. We knew we needed more than just "childcare" and felt so held and supported by Daniella through it all. We love our Tia Yella!

Daniella is a natural and talented postpartum doula who supported me and my husband with our first…read morenewborn baby when we had very little help our support due to the pandemic. Daniella brought an energy of care, focus, and structure to the chaotic and challenging time that is adjusting to life with an infant and recovering from birth. They taught us so much about what the body needs to heal, the optimal conditions for a baby to sleep and burp and rest, etc, and cooked me the most delicious and nourishing food that she would serve to me *in bed* usually with flowers on top. Any family is lucky to work with Daniella!