Cherie is one of a kind: incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, encouraging, compassionate, and fun to…read morebe around. She helped us work through breastfeeding issues with both of our kids (tongue ties, lip ties, poor latches, mastitis, blocked ducts, you name it!) and I'm confident I wouldn't have been able to breastfeed if it weren't for her guidance. She is an expert in her field and you can trust her guidance 100%. She has medical training as a nurse practitioner, and is well respected by many of the pediatricians in the area. I never doubted that I was in excellent hands when working with her. She provided us with coaching that extended beyond breastfeeding to caring for our newborn more generally and supporting our older child welcome a younger sibling. She was an emotional support for me and I always looked forward to her visits. She was incredibly responsive via phone, email, and texts, even making herself available to us when she was on vacation. I can't recommend Cherie strongly enough -- whether you work with her 1on1, attend her parents groups, or both!!

We were referred to Cherie by a pediatrician who told us she would be a great resource for our…read morebaby's sleep issues. That alone says a lot about Cherie's knowledge and expertise. She coached us on how to help our 10 months-old son sleep through the night, she supported us during the time he had surgery, she coached us during our breastfeeding journey and helped us wean him when he was ready to move on, she helped us understand our son's behaviors and needs, and she was always listening to our doubts, fears and challenges with an understanding and supportive attitude. Her groups gave us the opportunity to bond with other parents and create a community that is so needed in this stage of life and so rare in this area.

There are many things about labor and delivery that you can't control, but hiring Kirsty is one…read morething you can and she will not disappoint. Choosing a Doula is a BIG decision. This person is going to be by your side for one of life's greatest joys and during such a vulnerable time. You want to look back and have fond memories of those in the room with you and I am so glad Kirsty was there for me and my husband. We spoke with several Doulas before Kirsty, and I knew right away that Kirsty would be a great fit. She is a wealth of knowledge and experience and made us feel so comfortable from Day 1. Kirsty was extremely responsive to all questions and concerns leading up to labor and when it came time, she was a key part of my positive birthing experience. She coached us through laboring at home and promptly met us at the hospital around 1:30am and helped us every step of the way. The nurses and our doctor enjoyed working with her so much that my doctor asked for her contact information so that she could refer patients. We still keep in touch and I hope that is true for many years to come. I would definitely have her by my side again if we decide to have another. If you've read this far, do yourself and your partner a favor and hire Kirsty if you are able to!

Working with Kirsten as our doula was a fantastic decision and I'd highly recommend her…read more From the beginning, Kirsten was a wealth of information, sharing a variety of informational documents and videos covering everything from prepartum stretches/exercises all the way through birth and postpartum recovery. She was always available for questions and has extensive knowledge from her hundreds of clients as well as her own 6 birth experiences. The night I went into labor, she came over and walked my husband and me through exercises to speed up contractions. During delivery she kept me comfortable, worked seamlessly with the L&D nurse, followed the birth plan we made together, and always had the perfect words of encouragement. She was also a wonderful support to my husband and mom. After birth, when we were ready to give my daughter her first bath, Kirsten came over and walked us through the process, offering additional guidance and advice around sleep and breastfeeding. Kirsten really knows her stuff and loves what she does. Seriously, work with her. Kirsten is an amazing doula and very special human!

Before giving birth to my first child in July, I got the Birth Bag from Kate which is essentially a…read morebeautifully packaged bag of amazingly helpful things that I never would have thought to get for my birth experience. For example, before going into labor, I felt incredibly nauseous and had my husband riffling through the bag for "nux vomica" which helps with nausea which worked great! My back was so sore before and after labor, and I loved the massage ball that can be heated or cooled and rice bag. Besides highly practical things, there's also mints, hand sanitizer, mouth rinse, etc. which I found felt like luxuries when I was in my hospital gown in the post birth daze. It's the perfect kit of eclectic, diverse, all-natural items and remedies to help guide you through what I found to be the exciting and terrifying unknown that is child birth. Kate was also incredibly helpful and a great resource for things like what to pack in your birth bag. She is passionate and has a very non-intrusive approach, sharing her knowledge and expertise based on your needs. I highly recommend her as a resource for the pre or post birth experience.

Kate was my postpartum doula with my youngest daughter. She came to the hospital with food for me…read moreand my family when I was in labor. But before that, during my pregnancy, she helped shop for me and found good maternity clothes that transitioned well for after my daughter was born. After I was home from the hospital she came in and did a closet edit, reorganized my clothes and helped me find good breast feeding tops and pretty clothes that were also functional around my 2 kids. I would highly recommend Kate, she's very knowledgeable and made me feel totally comfortable throughout the whole process.

Amber has a beautiful, gentle and calm presence and her time with us after the birth of our…read moredaughter was so very valuable. She came and supported us during my postpartum time, cooking delicious, nutritious meals. Making warm spiced chai, special teas and sweets for lactation. Her expert knowledge around birth, postpartum and hormone balancing is excellent. Combined with her gentle touch through abayanga massage, which was so very restorative for me, especially after I had quite significant blood loss during my birth. I felt totally held and nourished and couldn't recommend her highly enough for this incredibly tender time, she is a really special person. Thank you again Amber! X

My husband and I had a wonderful experience working with Alana Corrin through Healthy Mamas,…read moreHealthy Babies. First, learning about the services and speaking with Amber was great. She is highly organized and very responsive. I also loved the online mom support groups with different topics covered each week - these were so helpful! For the doula services, Alana was wonderful. She is very laid back and easy to talk to while also being super knowledgable and attentive. I wasn't sure if I was going to try to have a natural birth or get an epidural and I felt like Alana was ready to support me no matter what option I wound up choosing. Also, my husband tends to be very anxious around any medical or hospital setting so we weren't sure if he would be able to be with me for all of labor and delivery. Our meeting before birth was great because Alana was able to listen to his concerns and talk him through what L&D would be like so he wouldn't be so nervous. We only wound up being able to have one pre-birth meeting because my baby decided to show up 6.5 weeks early! Thankfully, Alana was able to meet us at the hospital within an hour of my husband calling her (around 3am??). My labor proceeded very quickly and we were both overwhelmed because we had not anticipated having our baby that early. Alana remained a calm and consistent presence throughout my labor and for a while after delivery after they took my baby to the NICU. She was also able to ask the nurses and doctors questions we had completely forgotten to ask and kept us up to date with everything that was happening. My husband wound up being able to stay for most of L&D and I think a lot of that has to do with Alana being there - we both felt fully supported the entire time. We had three post-partum sessions with Alana and they were also incredibly helpful. I would definitely recommend her to others and would love to work with her again if we wind up having another baby (hopefully closer to my due date next time, hehe)!

I can't explain in words how caring, loving, and empowering Meleah is--she is truly a beautiful…read moreperson inside and out. I was extremely nervous about the whole birthing process, including the pain, the challenges of birth, and whether I would be able to get through it without major anxiety. Meleah was there every step of the way. She met with us before the birth, talked through my anxiety with me both in person and over the phone, and was available 24/7 for any questions I had. When I went into labor, she was with me every step of the way, and I truly feel like I couldn't have gotten through it without her. She was my rock and made me feel truly loved and supported. She also knows the ins and outs of MarinHealth and was able to advocate for me throughout the entire process. After the birth, she continued to check in on me, give me advice, and help me with breastfeeding. I can't recommend her enough as a birth doula. She is the kind of person who supports you not just through birth, but for a lifetime. I am so incredibly grateful for her!

Meleah is an angel on Earth!!! I truly cannot imagine my birth experience without her. I had an…read moreextremely long labor (over 72 hours) and Meleah was there guiding me, comforting me, advocating for me, and coaching me through it every step of the way. She helped me find the optimal labor positions for my body, guided my husband in how he could best support me, and provided a depth of knowledge that we would have been completely lost without. My goal was to have a vaginal birth without induction, and with Meleah's support, that goal became a reality. I know that if I hadn't hired her and had gone to the hospital as soon as my contractions became more painful, my birth would likely have ended with far more interventions than I wanted, especially given how long my labor was taking. Because of Meleah's constant support and reassurance, I was able to labor safely at home until I reached 6.5 cm and then have the vaginal birth I had hoped for at the hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital, Meleah stayed by my side the entire time. She brought her expertise into the delivery room and helped position me in ways that made a huge difference when it came time to push. She was also there helping with cleanup, offering emotional and physical support, and advocating for me throughout the entire process. I felt completely safe with her. Before my labor, we had three meetings with Meleah, plus another meeting postpartum. We talked through our expectations and preferences, created our birth plan, and did a full labor-preparation session. My husband and I both knew immediately that we were in incredibly good hands. On top of everything else, her communication is outstanding. She responds to texts and emails as soon as she possibly can (often almost immediately) even when it's a 3 a.m. text! And even now, two months later, Meleah continues to check in and answer any questions we have about our baby girl. Her support didn't end when the birth was over, and that has meant so much to us. Meleah was recommended to me by a friend, and I could not be more grateful. I honestly want Meleah at all of my future births because I know she will help me feel supported, confident, and as comfortable as possible throughout the entire experience. I cannot recommend her enough!!! If you're considering hiring a doula, hire Meleah. You will be so grateful you did!!

I can't imagine having gone through the labor and birth of our son without Carole. She came to the…read morehouse twice in the last month of pregnancy to help us prepare, was very patient and super knowledgable and supported us In preparing to have the kind of birth that we wanted. The actual birth did not go according to plan (I'm sure it often doesn't) and she helped us to understand the choices and feel good about the outcome. I was never scared because she was there every step of the way (for 72 hours!). She also got along well with my family and husband which is really important. Carole is the perfect balance for us - she has a deep understanding of the medical side of the process, but really supports and educates on the body's natural ability to give birth. She is caring and wise, and helped us have a positive birth experience.

Carole is an amazing doula with a very warm personality and calming presence. We hired her for my…read moreJune 2016 due date after meeting with several other Marin County doulas. She had more experience then the others I met with and I just loved her positive & calming energy, which is what I wanted for my baby's birth! After calling several of her mommy references, which we're gushing with rave reviews, we hired her. We had several pre due date meetings in our home which were informative, educational and helped us reach our birth preferences. I had the goal of trying to have an unmedicated labor at Marin General Hospital and the books and literature Carole provided to me, helped to educate me on that experience. In the end, I had an incredibly positive, easy and completely unmedicated labor and Carole was there helping me through each contraction. Her pain management techniques proved very helpful for me, especially during the pushing phase. She even took photos of our labor which were incredible to see given you're in 'labor land,' & have little concept of what the birth really looks like. Carole was an amazing resource and support person for me and I can't recommend her enough! At our post birth visit, she brought me homemade food & a lovey for our baby boy - so incredibly thoughtful!

Katie Howser is the absolute best! She supported me through my journey of providing 100% breastmilk…read morefor each of my four children for a full year. While I was fortunate to have an abundant supply, Katie was always incredibly supportive of whatever path I chose, including transitioning to formula if needed. Her care goes well beyond breastfeeding--she is there to support you with whatever you need. Whether it's teaching you how to swaddle, showing you how to safely bathe your baby, or simply holding your little one so you can take a well-deserved minute to breathe, she does it all. I would recommend Katie to anyone. She is a truly amazing lactation consultant!

I honestly can't say enough good things about Katie. I worked with lactation consultants with my…read moreprevious baby, so I thought I knew what to expect--but Katie is in a completely different league. The depth of her knowledge, experience, and professionalism is unlike anything I've encountered. She helped me through literally every postpartum breastfeeding challenge I had. She recognized that my baby had reflux and a cow's milk protein allergy before our pediatrician did. She helped me finally get recurrent mastitis under control and, more importantly, taught me how to prevent it from happening again. She guided me through a difficult oversupply, improved my baby's latch, and always had practical, thoughtful solutions. What really sets Katie apart is that everything she recommends is evidence-based. When we discussed different treatment options for mastitis, she even sent me research articles explaining the reasoning behind her recommendations. I never felt like I was just getting generic advice--she took the time to educate me, answer every question, and make sure I understood the reasoning behind everything. Knowing she trained at Cleveland Clinic made so much sense after working with her. Her level of expertise is truly exceptional. I can say without hesitation that working with Katie was one of the best investments I made after having my baby. She is worth every single penny, and I recommend her to every expecting or new mom I know. If you're wondering whether to book with her, do it. I truly don't think you'll find anyone better.

I had placenta pills made after my first birth and noticed immediately how much more emotionally…read morebalanced and energetic I was when taking them. I feel they really help to even out the postpartum hormones and allowed me to get through the days with very little sleep! I knew that with my second child I'd also want to use placenta pills, so I arranged for Ozzie to process them for me. Ozzie picked up my placenta within several hours after my son was born and had them back to me the same day, beautifully packaged and with easy to understand instructions right on the glass jar. In six weeks time, she had a placenta tincture for me that I use now and again now that the placenta pills are used up. I highly recommend Ozzie to make your magic happy pills!

I highly recommend Marin Placenta Services for your placenta encapsulation needs. Ozzie couldn't…read moremake it easier - she takes your placenta & 2 days later, she will drop off your pills! She is also flexible - I asked her to cut off some pieces for me to freeze to add to smoothies and she was happy to do it. Additionally, she is very easy to communicate with and will respond to your inquiries rapidly. I was very pleased with her services!