We had Maureen as our birth and postpartum doula and I cannot recommend her enough. She is so empathetic 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. read more

I'm feeling so happy & grateful that Maureen was there for the birth of our twins!! I was going through 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!! read more

We were so grateful to have Maureen as our Doula. Maureen is knowledgeable not only about pregnancy and childbirth, but has many contacts in the community that are great resources through pregnancy and beyond. We ended up having a difficult childbirth/induction process and early delivery by 5 weeks. Maureen was with us every step of the way, checking in, coming to the hospital, bringing us food and being a calming force through labor and delivery. She was always on top of making sure me and my husband were comfortable. She was also a great resource and support system for my husband who had to deal with a great amount of stress as well. She also has attended many births at Alta Bates where we delivered so she is familiar with many of the nurses and Drs which is a major plus. If you are a first time birthing mom, don't hesitate to get a Doula and call Maureen. read more

Maureen is amazing! My husband and I met Maureen at a "Meet the Doulas" event early in our second trimester. I was planning ahead, knowing I would want a doula for the birth of our child. My husband wasn't quite sure, but was open to exploring the idea. When we met Maureen, we immediately liked her. She was knowledgable, kind, warm, and offered tremendous life experience as a mom of three. Just after committing to working with Maureen, I was hospitalized for five days (at 20 weeks) for a fibroid complication. We were so impressed with Maureen's kindness and care during this unexpected ordeal- and this wasn't even our birth! She offered her TENS unit (which was hugely helpful), checked in periodically, and did her own research on my condition. This was way beyond the call of duty and this type of care and attention continued until our birth and beyond. Maureen attended a hospital tour with us on a Saturday given she had not attended a birth at John Muir. When my due date came, I ended up having an induction and felt completely supported by Maureen in the care plan that I chose. Additionally, she checked in on us right after our baby came home from the hospital and she was the first person to tip us off that our daughter had jaundice. It was due to Maureen that we took our baby back to the hospital- and thank goodness she did, as her jaundice was quite severe, and it landed her in the hospital for another 24 hours. We cannot thank Maureen enough for all that she did for us as a couple and our family. She is personable, warm, and offers sweet personalized touches to the services she provides. My husband, the one who was not so sure we needed a doula, was also beyond grateful we had Maureen by our side. You will be very lucky to be supported by Maureen in your birth! read more

We worked with Maureen during our 2nd pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care and I wish I had her by my side with out 1st one too (we went without a doula)! If you are thinking about working with a Doula, without a doubt I would recommend Maureen. Maureen is very knowledgeable and well connected. She brings a sense of calm and reassurance that comes from someone who knows what they are doing and have tons of experience. She also made our first 2 weeks post-partum pretty much stress free since we could focus on our newborn and count on Maureen's delicious food and support with daily errands. Here are some of the ways in which Maureen helped me cope with a stressful pregnancy, eventful delivery and the first couple of weeks post-partum: - Maureen taught us some of the spinning babies techniques, which we practiced daily. I am sure this enabled our son to be better positioned, which led to a smooth delivery although he was 9.5lbs and almost 21 inches. - She connected me with a pelvic therapist that helped greatly with managing scar tissue from previous pregnancy and gave some of the most helpful tips for preparing to push a baby. - I reached out to her many times with questions on labor symptoms. She was always available and super helpful. - I can't stress enough how much better I felt for having Maureen by my side when I went into labor and she met us at home then at the hospital. Same goes for my husband. Having someone with her experience to support us took a lot of the labor stress out of the picture. - The birth would have been very different without Maureen there. She coached me through holding the urge to push (we needed to wait for an OB/midwife to be available) and then though pushing. She also advised on the pain killer options being offered. It made a HUGE difference on my labor experience and outcome. - Maureen was my guardian angel and had a clear mind, focus, and calm that I needed to make sure I could focus only on labor without having to think through everything else (e.g., should I accept the pain killer, what is happening with the car?, why I can't stop shaking after delivery, etc). - Maureen did everything from parking our car (which was left on front of Alta Bates just waiting to be stolen or to get a ticket), to making sure I was well and able to move after birth, to bringing us lunch the next day. - Post-partum Maureen cooked super delicious food, took our toddler (who is absolutely in love with her) to daycare, and ran errands. I would not have survived without her. - And she recommended a great chiropractor that has been putting my body back together so I am no longer in pain and limping around. Working with Maureen enabled my husband and I to experience the pregnancy and labor with confidence, peace of mind, and barely any stress. read more

We met Maureen at a Meet the Doulas event at Yoga Alameda and were instantly at ease with her and knew she was the type of energy and support we sought during the birth of our first daughter. She was open-minded and considerate of our birth plan and preferences, but still advised us based on past experiences in a way that helped guide our own decisions. She had both positive and honest observations about the hospital we chose and helped mentally prepare us for giving birth to our first child in a teaching hospital. I ended up being induced early and we were that couple with the hospital bag half-packed. Maureen stopped by our home to collect some of the missing items we "needed". During delivery and immediately postpartum, I had some complications that were tough on our family, and Maureen was our rock. She took copious notes on all the developments during my 45-hour labor, including the names or nurses and doctors as they switched shifts. She was by my side helping me walk the halls, breathing through the contractions, and counting during my active labor. After the birth, she stayed to help us ease into parenthood emotionally and physically move from Labor & Delivery rooms to a Postpartum room. In the days to follow, Maureen made several follow up calls and visits to check on how the baby was doing, how breastfeeding was going, how my health was doing, making sure my husband was sleeping when he could. When our night routine began to wear on us, Maureen immediately stepped in to help with our sleeping/nursing/pumping cycles so that we could be better rested parents during the first 2-3 weeks. We will always be grateful for Maureen's care and now consider her part of our inner circle support system with our closest friends and family. Our daughter will grow up hearing all about Auntie Maureen's part of her safe arrival. I highly recommend her to anyone considering hiring a birth doula or postpartum doula and would be happy to be contacted as a reference for anyone with questions. read more

Having Maureen as my doula was one of the key reasons why I am thrilled with my recent birth experience. This was my first pregnancy, and I plan to have her there for the delivery of all my future babies. A few reasons why she is exceptional: - makes husbands and other family members feel important and instrumental in the labor room, helps give everyone a gratifying role; - guides you in preparing for the big day with invaluable tips, exercises and resources - builds excellent relationships with the hospital staff immediately upon arrival, creating a very positive and collaborative energy in your hospital room (even my doctor told me how impressed she was by Maureen) - there were key moments throughout my labor where she got me to change positions, take a nap, try different coping technique, etc. that I wouldn't have otherwise done on my own...and they were pivotal to the ultimate outcome of my birth story I will be recommending Maureen to all my friends as they get pregnant too. read more

I would highly recommend Maureen to anyone seeking the services of a birth doula. I agree with the other reviews here. We met a few times before the birth, and talked over our birth plan. She is a wealth of knowledge (has 3 kiddos of her own) and definitely made me feel at ease with the process of childbirth. Maureen came to our house for the early stages of labor, got us outside walking around. She was there every minute of my 33 hour labor, and the only time she went home was when I insisted that she go get some sleep. She was incredibly supportive and a great resource for my husband, who needed coaching as well :o) If it was not for Maureen, I would have gotten a C-section, and I did not want that. She was incredibly patient with the hospital staff too. After we got home with our baby boy, Maureen came to visit and check to make sure nursing was going well. She is such a wonderful human being and I am so glad she came into my life. read more

We were ecstatic to hire Maureen as our birth and postpartum doula and we enthusiastically recommend her. She's compassionate, wise, and incredibly confident - exactly what you want in your labor & delivery room. Maureen met with my husband and me several times throughout my pregnancy helping us create a birthing plan and answering all of our questions. We talked about everything from the technical details of birth to the complicated emotions. She was 110% there for me throughout my pregnancy. Maureen was also a fantastic and calming person to have in my L&D room and it felt very natural to have her on our birthing team. She spent hour and hours with us through my induction. I had a very difficult labor and when I had an unexpected c-section and my son and husband rushed to the NICU, she finagled her way into the operating room (per my previous request) and held my hand as I was shaking my way through the rest of the surgery. Maureen still helps us out with our newborn and is an invaluable resource. I would highly recommend you reach out to her, meet her and hire her! We love her. read more

Maureen is stellar. From the moment I met her, I trusted her with myself, partner, and baby. She's attentive, of service, thorough, passionate, generous, and caring. I don't know what we would've done without her. We had a very intense 8-day hospital stay with induced labor. There were complications and Maureen was able to help us stay focused and calm during some pretty scary moments. She also translated communications that doctors were trying to get across to us in very simple, straight-forward terms as well as made sure were were fed and rested. (Several doctors and nurses asked us for her business card, she was that awesome). I highly recommend Maureen. Well worth the investment. read more

I don't Yelp very often, but I do when I find a service exceptional or the experience I've had would be valuable to others. In this instance I can say both apply. What could be more important to have a recommendation for, than choosing the right person to share in your birth? Every aspect of my experience with Maureen Layag was exceptional. She's very easy to work with, she's an empathetic person who you can tell truly loves what she's doing and is passionate about helping support you and the your vision of how your birth experience will be. The first step was meeting to review several questions that were very helpful for me to consider. This was my third birth and the first time we used a doula. I realize now how great it would have been to have her for all three. The questions helped me organize things like, childcare, my dog, my life and oh yeah...how I would like my birth to go. It almost seemed like an after thought with all the moving parts we had. During the actual day of the labor Maureen came over first thing and we spent time on a beautiful walk through town to "move things along", she made sure I was fed, that my husband had the support that he needed and even that my kids were safely off to were we planned them to be so we could focus on the new baby on the way. My husband never thought he needed help with "his job" as my labor support. He now is telling everyone how great a doula is. At the hospital during the active labor she provided calm words of support and birth position ideas. She is not pushy at all and really helps you with what you are comfortable with. She helped my husband know new ways to help me feel comfortable and was supportive if I wanted a natural labor or ended up needing pain assistance. It's nice not to be judged as I've felt from some other birth coaches or nurses. Post delivery she's been available for questions, nursing support and holding new baby George while I was able to order coffee. Maureen was the doula for several of my friends and came highly recommended. Now I'd like to pass on that same glowing recommendation. read more

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Dear upcoming parent, Congratulations! If you are reading this, it means you have chosen to take ownership of the birthing process and looking for a doula to help guide you through the journey. We cannot put into words how much we appreciate having Maureen at our side. Her encyclopedic knowledge built from years of working with expectant parents was an invaluable resource. She was there for us and truly wanted to make sure we had a memorable pregnancy with our desired outcome. Maureen's comprehensive process ensured we always felt empowered and confident in our decisions. The number of roles she took on was amazing. To us she was a teacher, coach, adviser, project manager, negotiator, but most of all, a friend and confidant. We honestly believe our desired birth only came about because of Maureen was at our side. Her experience, calming presence, and interactions with the medical team during labor turned what would have been a likely C-section into a beautiful natural birth. Her coaching and advice leading up to labor ensured mommy was able to cut her own umbilical cord and spend those precious first hours skin to skin with our baby. Once home, Maureen was there to ensure everything postpartum was going smoothly. She even brought a few keepsakes to remember that special day. Whether you are a first time parent or adding another one little one to your family, each pregnancy is different and being able to call on Maureen as your doula is the best decision you can make. While no one can guarantee a perfect birth, we probably hit 99% of what we hoped for with her by our side. read more

Maureen was our doula for the birth of our son in January. She was AMAZING. Having her as my doula was one of the reasons we were able to still have a natural birth and not go to c-section. Maureen will give you the resources and encourage you and your partner to have the conversations necessary so you feel prepared for birth, and all of the unexpected things that occur. One thing I also really loved about Maureen is how motherly she is - I didn't want someone my age that was "cheering me on" during labor, rather, someone who is experienced with their own children that can guide me through to a healthy birth. Maureen also did a great job dealing with some of the cranky nurses and doctors at CPMC, and ultimately won them over in the end (everyone was asking where I found them). Next baby - totally hiring Maureen again. My husband and I were so lucky to find her. read more

My husband and I are forever grateful to have found Maureen to be our doula with the birth of our daughter. I know neither of us would have felt as confident going into the birthing process without her. She was invaluable for so much, both ahead of the birth and during. I found Maureen because my OB actually gave me her name as a doula who she'd enjoyed working with. When we met Maureen, my husband and I just felt she had a great warm and calming energy (even our shy kitty liked her!). While I was pregnant, she met with us multiple times and armed me with questions to ask my doctor to get a feel for her/our hospital's philosophies, prompted my husband and I to understand our feelings around birthing, shared knowledge on how we could help the baby get in a good position during pregnancy, and so much more. During my labor, Maureen was incredible. She was there right away when my contractions started to get intense, and she spent the night at our home and was there all of the next day as I labored at home. She talked me through the worst contractions, squeezed my hips and showed my husband how to do it, and made me feel so supported and like I was in good hands. When we finally went to the hospital I was shocked to discover I was already 9cm dilated -- I am sure partly due to her help in managing the pain. Maureen helped us understand what choices we had with our delivery at the hospital and got along so well with the staff, never clashing with them but being totally supportive of us. Once I had delivered my daughter, she got us food to nourish us and stayed with us for a few hours while we soaked everything in. She visited us at home once we'd returned from the hospital to ensure we were on the right track with breastfeeding, and left some lovely gifts for our daughter. I will always remember my daughter's birthday as one of the most amazing and triumphant days of my life, and am so happy Maureen was part of that story. Thank you so much, Maureen. read more

Maureen is an amazing person and an exceptional doula! She was introduced to me by a common friend and we quickly connected while I was expecting my first child. I did not know what to expect of a doula but Maureen surprised me in every way, delivering way beyond what I ever imagined! We met to discuss labor plans and my preferences way prior to the delivery date, once I went into labor Maureen was quick to respond and stayed with me for most of the crazy 48 hours that it took for my baby to be born. She went to the hospital with me three times, did a great job pacing my contractions, conducting different exercises to help me manage the pain and even went to the market to fulfill my crazy need for coconut water! She really made my labor an amazing experience and I can't thank her enough for thinking about little details that would have completely escaped me at that moment, she even got me the newspaper of the day as a souvenir for the day my daughter was born. I highly recommend her to any mom to be out there! read more

I have never written a Yelp review, this is my first deliberate review because I believe Maureen is awesome. I highly recommend her as a doula. Maureen was our doula for my second child, delivered at the Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley. I was planning a VBAC and was nervous about it. I'm so glad I had Maureen there in our lives to help us embrace the birth of our son, and to coach me through the parts that were still unfamiliar regarding the delivery room versus operating room. As true luck would have it, my contractions started while I was meeting Maureen in person. I had never experienced labor for my first birth, so she guided my expectations, helped me feel in control. Maureen assisted my husband and I towards developing a customized plan of what we wanted our birth experience to consist of. She helped us to be thoughtful and deliberate regarding what we valued/wanted in a way we hadn't had control of for our first delivery. She was respectful and supportive of our wishes. With Maureen's help, we felt all the more empowered and excited about the delivery of our baby. I labored for what felt like an eternity. Maureen was really good about regularly checking in with me via phone and text and was so supportive. At the hospital, Maureen was totally present for my family and I. At the same time, she was respectful and clarified that she would be present for us in the room as much or little as I wanted. Maureen had brought music, massage oils, and aromatherapy, to make me feel more comfortable and at ease, and had different suggestions for comfort or resting. From the slow agonizing moments, to the final delivery hour, both my husband and I were really impressed with Maureen and we definitely gained having her there with us. We will forever cherish the role she played in the birth of our son. Maureen rocks!!! read more

Two weeks ago I gave birth and couldn't be more pleased with the decision to hire Maureen as our post partum doula. Given that I had a c-section and being a first time mom, everything was overwhelming and new when my body was in need of serious rest and recuperation. Maureen made this challenging time so much easier and was amazing to work with - super nurturing, kind, empathic, reassuring, flexible, knowledgable and experienced (having 3 kids of her own). She was incredibly helpful as I learned how to breast feed (which didn't exactly come easy) but now I can confidently say - I got this! She even cooked a huge pot of delicious and nutritious lentil soup that helped my digestive "issues" post-op. I couldn't say enough good about Maureen and would highly recommend her to anyone having a baby who is in need of extra in home support. And let's face it - who doesn't ?!! BTW, we live in Oakland and even though she is based in Alameda that was no issue. read more

Maureen was a back up Doula for us as our original Doula wasn't sure shed be available due to already being booked. In the end, we had both Doulas and Maureen was a champ! She's super kind and sweet. She took great care of me (even put deodorant on me when I asked and had been in labor near 32 hours!) and my husband. She wrote down some things I said during labor so later I'd have them to laugh at, or write down for my birth story. She took photos and video as we had asked and did a fabulous job. We already have her pinned for our next birth! After the birth she came over several times, brought soup and went for a walk with me to help me with my overwhelmed feelings. Nothing beats that. Hire her, you'll be in good hands. read more

Maureen was amazing! Having done my doula class with Maureen I knew how strong of a woman she was and that we would be a great fit. Maureen has had 3 home births so when it came time to find a doula for my first home birth I didn't hesitate to ask Maureen. She was great with my partner who refused to watch any birth videos or do birth classes. She made sure to do little birth prenatal classes at our home to help educate and prepare him. On the day labor began things got really intense really fast. I texted her and she came right over. The best part was the relief I felt as soon as she walked in the door. I knew I was in good hands. She called my midwives, which she had taken the time to meet before hand, and told them how quickly my contractions were coming and told them they should head on over! From start to finish Maureen was such a wonderful support and we are so grateful she was able to be there for us. I would definitely recommend her if you want a strong but loving support person by your side prenatal to postnatal and everything in between! read more

Maureen comes with so much expertise, connections, and most importantly, a style that adapted to our needs and an incredibly warm heart. While we were originally only looking for post partum support, after talking to Maureen a few months before our baby was due at the end of Dec, 2017, we decided to also hire her for help during my pregnancy and labor. She was invaluable with resources such as information about classes, lactation consultants, prenatal massage, and the process of labor, including questions I should ask my physician that I would have NEVER thought of. My labor was long and somewhat difficult and resulted in a C-section and Maureen was by my side the entire time, advocating for me and making sure all the right questions were asked. For the first several weeks after the baby was born, Maureen came 2x a week to make sure I was eating, had enough sleep and felt confident in how I was caring for our baby which was so incredibly helpful given we had no family near by. During post partum support, Maureen recognized immediately that we should take our 3 week old to the pediatrician for a cough she had. We were trying to manage it at home, and had called the MD office for suggestions. We went to the pediatrician that day and our baby had a respiratory virus and spent 4 nights in the hospital. I am incredibly grateful for Maureen's experience in recognizing that something was not right with our little one. We also had another difficult experience when our baby was 9 weeks old and had to have surgery. Neither my husband or I were getting much sleep and we wanted to have energy to care for a newborn coming out of surgery. At the last minute, we called Maureen to see if she could provide night support a couple days before the surgery and she was at our house within an hour that night. And came for 3 nights to help us prepare for our baby's surgery. It was in incredible act of kindness and support. Maureen will always be a very special part of our story and we are tremendously grateful for all that she did for us. read more