As a first time Dad I was not the one doing the hard work, but for all the dad's out there, the whole process is not, I'll just say, the most straight forward for anyone involved. Going into the process there is so much unknown and so much that makes you unsure. The most important person to be comfortable in my situation was my wife. In order for her to be comfortable it was very important for me to be comfortable. I understand that having a doula is not necessary, but it sure did help me and my family. The preparation conversations we had made the experience digestible. The advocate we had in Michelle during the process was incredible. The support we had post-partum was so helpful. Michelle has done this so many times and is so familiar with everything going on. To have her on your team allows for everyone to be present and just helps so much. Technically: She knows her stuff. For instance, Michelle is trained in baby spinning and to the doctor's surprise we avoided a c-section at the final hour. It was nothing short of a miracle. Personally: Michelle is solid, levelheaded, caring, fun, patient, prepared and will advocate for you when you need it. She has a short questionnaire to get on the same page earlier on in the process and she stands by what you discuss. I can't recommend Michelle enough, and if you would like to discuss further please ask Michelle to put us in touch. read more

Michelle was our birth doula for both our first and second child. I cannot imagine having the birth I dreamed of without Michelle's guidance and expertise. Her knowledge and experience shined through during our labor experience. During both labors, she knew exactly what positions to put me into to progress my labor along. I had planned for an unmedicated natural birth, which was what we ended up having for both births all thanks to Michelle. Michelle was always focused on getting baby in an optimal position by making me stay active during each contraction. I felt her full presence and support through each contraction, which put me at ease and made me feel like I was fully capable of getting through it. Michelle goes the extra mile to support her clients in every way possible. When I had a question, she was quick to respond and made herself available for a phone call to lend an ear and provide information to help me make a decision without any judgment. When our second baby was borderline jaundice, she went out of her way and drove to our house on a rainy evening to assist with breastfeeding issues we had, which helped to get my milk supply up and allowed our 3-day old newborn to sleep 3-4 hour stretches during the night - a miracle! Because of Michelle's guidance, our baby was back to her birth weight within a week and no longer had jaundice. Michelle is not just our birth doula, but a lifelong resource and support for new parents going through the trenches of parenthood. Her wisdom and encouragement provided me with the confidence to make my dream birth a reality and become the mama I envisioned myself to be. If you have an opportunity to work with Michelle in any capacity, I would not hesitate to jump on it! read more

Michelle is incredible!! She worked with us as a postpartum doula, spending a few mornings a week with us and our newborn over the first six weeks. She took exceptional care of both me and our little one during her time with us in the early postpartum days. We came home from the hospital over the weekend, and Michelle made herself available to come over as soon as possible to help us settle in and establish a rhythm. Michelle always made sure we were fed and rested, preparing breakfast and/or lunch as needed and taking the baby while one or both of us napped. Her vast experience and helpful tips and tricks made us feel more confident and supported in our new role as parents. She clearly keeps up with the latest research as she would often share the results of new studies or other reporting about best practices for caring for babies. If we had concerns on days she didn't come or after she left, Michelle was great about answering questions over texts, even at night or on the weekends. Thank you so much, Michelle! read more

Working with Michelle was a wonderful experience. She stands out among other doulas with her warmth, knowledge, and experience. Michelle is the person you want 'in your corner' during labor, who respects women's birth preferences, and has deep compassion and care for mamas and their babies. I would highly, highly recommend working with Michelle! read more

Michelle was an amazing doula for our second birth at UCSF. She was very generous in her time and advice to help us navigate a lot of pressure for induction at 40 weeks since my wife had just turned 40. Her guidance was essential for us having the natural, unmedicated birth we desired. She helped us to get labor started at home, and in the hospital she was incredible, supporting position changes and helping to advocate on our behalf to the staff. She was also very generous with her time (in person, by phone and text) with questions about our newborn and gave us a really great lesson on how to have her take the bottle. Highly recommend!!! read more

Michelle Gunderson, Doula - Doulas Near Me

We've been lucky enough to have Michelle support us as a daytime postpartum doula for the last few months. Not only did I have a terrible pregnancy, but I had a bad labor and in the immediate weeks following birth l experienced extreme health challenges leaving me and my partner both insanely sleep deprived and me unable to care for my baby myself. I turned to my birth doula for a recommendation on daytime help as we desperately and urgently needed it and we were lucky enough to be connected to Michelle. We felt an instant comfort with Michelle and we love watching how sweet she is with our daughter. Michelle has provided education and support to us teaching us so many helpful things about caring for a newborn. In addition, she relieved so much stress by helping us with household chores like folding laundry, cooking some great meals for us, washing bottles and helping us freeze milk. We're so thankful to have had her in our corner in the time we really needed support. Here's a photo of her when she was helping teach my wife how to use the Moby wrap, which our daughter loves to be held in! We were too intimidated to even try it as it looks complicated, but Michelle helped us with this like she has many things. I highly recommend her to any parent in need of some extra help and support during this difficult transition time. read more

Michelle Gunderson, Doula - Michelle reading to our daughter - Doulas Near Me

We were blessed to have Michelle as our postpartum doula during the crucial first 10 weeks after our baby daughter was born. She was nothing short of a guardian angel for our new family! From the moment Michelle stepped into our home, we felt an immediate sense of calm and reassurance. Her warm, compassionate, and nurturing nature put us at ease during what could have been an overwhelming time. She was not just a doula; she quickly became a trusted friend and confidant. Michelle's support was invaluable in many ways. Her extensive knowledge and experience in postpartum care were evident as she provided guidance on breastfeeding, soothing techniques, and establishing healthy routines for our baby. She patiently answered all our questions and addressed our concerns with care and expertise. Michelle's holistic approach to postpartum care extended beyond the baby. She made sure that we were taking care of ourselves, both physically and emotionally. Her homemade nourishing oat-meals were not only delicious but also a testament to her genuine care for our well-being. On top of this she instantly formed a bond with our 3-year-old Lab, it turned out that she's not only amazing doula but also excellent dog trainer! She helped our pup get used to new reality with little baby in the house. As first-time parents, we had moments of doubt and exhaustion, but Michelle's encouragement and positivity kept us going. Her ability to instill confidence in us as parents was truly remarkable. She helped us build a strong foundation for our family, and we will be forever grateful for her guidance. Michelle, you are a true blessing to new parents like us. Your kindness, expertise, and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on our lives. We can't thank you enough for being there when we needed you the most. You are not just a doula; you are a superhero in our book! If you are fortunate enough to have Michelle as your postpartum doula, consider yourself truly blessed. We wholeheartedly recommend her to any new parents seeking exceptional care and support during the precious early weeks of parenthood. Thank you, Michelle, from the bottom of our hearts! read more

Michelle is everything you want in a birth doula, and I could not have had the labor I wanted without her. She is knowledgeable and straightforward. I interviewed many doulas who gave ambiguous answers, but Michelle is frank, evidence-based, and shows her homework. She has charts, visuals, links ready to share if you want them. But listens to you so that it's catered to what *you* need. Her years of experience shine in the prenatal visits, when we threw so many questions her ways. I felt reassured I was in the right hands the whole time. She is punctual and responsive. She replies to text messages in a timely manner and came over to labor at our house as soon as I was ready for her to. She puts you at ease. You can mindlessly focus on breathing through contractions as she manually adjusts your body for optimal labor progression, records the time between contractions, communicates to your partner about how best to support you, and identifies when it's time to get ready to go to the hospital. She was a stellar advocate for me at the hospital. Standing up for my birth preferences when care providers pushed for certain things. Reminding each new provider who walked into the room what my high risk factors were. Coaching me through pushing. Partnering with the OB team during delivery to ensure everything went seamlessly (and it did). And staying with me afterwards to ensure my transition to recovery and lactation went smoothly. She's caring. She checks in to make sure you're doing ok. She brought little treats for our older kid when she came over for visits. She only takes two births a month so that she doesn't overlap and run the risk of having to send a replacement. She truly gives a crap about each client and it shows. I have recommended her to every pregnant friend I know. read more

Michelle saved my household on a daily basis as our postpartum doula!!! She was incredible in helping me learn to breastfeed and help the baby latch during our first week home from the hospital. She helped us manage burping, changing, and cleaning up after the baby so I could rest, cooked meals (that were big enough to have leftovers for a few days!), prepped snacks for me to have in the fridge for overnight feedings, helped with our laundry and cleaning, and was incredibly supportive during my hormone drops... the list of things she assisted us with is never-ending. Even more important than the functional tasks that Michelle helped our family with, she was such a comfort during the first weeks of motherhood. As new parents, Michelle was our teacher, cheerleader, caregiver, and coach. She was kind, supportive, warm, and comforting despite how chaotic our home sometimes felt -- we are going to miss her so much! read more

Michelle Gunderson, Doula - Wearing our baby so I could nap! - Doulas Near Me

We worked with Michelle for 8 weeks after our baby boy was born, for two mornings and one night every week. Michelle was a fantastic support for our new family. She is warm and energetic, and very loving with the baby. She helped us find our rhythm with him, from expert swaddling to his first bath and his first bottle. We trusted her entirely with baby and felt very comfortable leaving him alone with Michelle while we went out for a walk or to run some errands. Michelle also took great care of me, as a new mom. She helped me with breastfeeding, using the pump for the first time, and made sure I always had something to eat and to drink when I was nursing. She was always checking on my mental state and was a very reassuring presence for me over the first few weeks. She was very available in between her visits too, and had great tips to help when I was dealing with engorgement or a clogged duct. Baby loved hanging out with Michelle - I think he may have given his first real smile to her! We highly recommend working with her. read more

We've done 2 births with Michelle and she was incredible both times. We had a high risk pregnancy and Michelle helped us navigate the whole thing, before, during and after birth. At every point, she was excellent. She's caring and knowledgable and was always there for us when we needed her. She helped the labor process immensely by knowing how to keep things progressing, providing comfort measures that allowed us to stay home as long as possible at arrive at the hospital at the right time. She was a great advocate for our preferences at every step, even when those changed. I'm not sure how we would've made it through without Michelle and we owe her many thanks! I would not hesitate to recommend Michelle for any doula needs you have. read more

I used Michelle's placenta encapsulation service for both my babies :) She provides such a wonderful service, picking the placenta up and dropping the pills off at the hospital (if you are within range). It's been such a joy working with Michelle. I'll miss her! read more

When we first met with Meghan and Michelle we liked the idea of having both of them as a team. They worked so well together and were so knowledgeable. We thought they would be great advocates for us during childbirth. We felt supported by them throughout the pregnancy just knowing we could ask questions and they would either know the answer or reach out to someone who did. They also went out of their way to research and learn about my specific medical conditions so that they could advocate for my during labor. We liked that they were a part of GGDA and appreciated all of the groups and workshops. When I went into labor Meghan was on shift. Even over the phone during a contraction having her guide me made all the difference, and her encouragement helped us decide when to go to the hospital. In the labor room, Meghan had a flexibility and steadiness that was very grounding, and helped the labor naturally progress with different interventions. It was important for me to have an un-medicated birth and I could not have done it without Meghan's calm presence, guidance, and coaching throughout. She was amazing. Both my husband and I are so grateful. Michelle came to the hospital the next day to check in on breastfeeding. She was so helpful and made sure I was seen by a lactation consultant. The support we received after the birth was a lifeline. They answered many texts and questions and provided much needed encouragement in the first few weeks. We felt so connected to them throughout the whole process, and truly believe working them made all the difference in having the best possible outcome in the birth and postpartum experience. read more

Meghan and Michelle are the golden duo. From the moment we met them when we were looking for our birth doula, I felt very comfortable and safe to share probably my most vulnerable and emotional journey I've ever experienced so far in my life (I just had my first baby). Not only they are knowledgeable and experienced, they're very responsive, supportive with great energy and approachable. On a delivery day, it was so nice to have Meghan's support and good vibe on the way to the hospital and in the delivery room, she calmed me down of course but my husband would have lost his mind in this special but crazy experience without her support. Hope we get to work with M&M again if we get to have another/ more babies! read more

I don't know how to even begin. How do you review people for making you feel loved and cared for and supported during the most physically and emotionally vulnerable moment of your life other than to say, that's exactly what they did! And you should make them a part of your life too! Meghan and Michelle are full of love, humor, and down-to-earth good sense, which is exactly what I needed and wanted in the final weeks and moments of pregnancy. I had long wanted to pursue a natural birth if possible, but with di-di twins I had to accept early on that my experience was going to involve some significant medical interventions no matter what. Michelle and Meghan were a perfect fit for me--they have deep knowledge and strong support for natural birth practices, but are not at all dogmatic or unrealistic about it, so was able to discuss all possible practices and alternatives without judgment and trusted their insights. Once I finally got to the actual birth experience, it went off the rails in every possible way--an emergency C-section in a hospital I had never wanted to go to--and I was more grateful than ever to have their support around me. Michelle stayed up with me until the wee hours, helped get my milk production going when I wasn't allowed out of post-op to see my babies, and just made me feel cared for in an otherwise lonely, emotionally exhausted moment. Months later, my mom still talks about how incredible Michelle is, and my partner (who, in the second trimester, said "What's a doula? Is that really something you need?") gives speeches to pregnant friends about the critical importance of doula care and why it should be a human right. So there you go. Call Meghan and Michelle now. You'll love them, they'll love you. You won't be sorry. read more

This review is LONG overdue. My little one was born end of August and I could NOT have done it without Michelle and her partner Meghan. From the get go Michelle's warmth, knowledge, professionalism, and experience made me instantly want her a part of my birth team. I loved the fact that she works as a team which means 2 doula's experience and energy in 1 package! As a nurse myself I couldn't imagine working more than 12 hours so it made complete sense to me that she and Meghan swap so you can get a refreshed ready to go doula in the midst of your labor. Michelle was my doula for the active labor portion of my birth and she instantly jumped in and started helping me through contractions. I don't have time to list the various ways she helped reposition, massage, advocate, reassure, assess, change tactics, coach, listen, encourage etc etc etc etc. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HER and my husband feels the same way. She was such a supportive presence in the room till the very last second. She helped me navigate a tricky end to my birth (which all turned out ok) but her support was invaluable. I was also so glad she was also there to capture photos/videos of the most incredible moment of my life (which allowed my husband to enjoy the moment as well and not hide behind a screen). I feel so lucky and fortunate to have met Michelle and her partner Meghan and have them with me for the birth of my son. I would hire them again in a heart beat. I recommend them 10000%! read more

After several different doula interviews, we hired Michelle and Meghan to help guide us through the birth of our first baby. I say "us" because they had so many insights, recommendations, and tips for both me and my husband. They're an incredible team and were extremely responsive and communicative through the entire process. We loved that they were calming, knowledgeable, well connected at hospitals, and knew how to keep serious stuff light hearted. Their pre-birth checkins, meetings, and birth kit bag was incredibly useful and when the it came time for labor, they couldn't have been more helpful. I went into active labor very quickly and with one text, they immediately pulled together a game plan and met us at our car when parking at the hospital. Meghan ushered me straight through triage and into the labor room all while helping me mitigate pain, navigate anesthesia, and updating me on how things were progressing. When Meghan left at the end of her shift, she made a seamless transition with Michelle who then stepped in as a key cheerleader, helped me push, and got me through the finish line (while also keeping me company for a bit after)! Their personalities vibe so nicely together and each have their separate strengths that when paired together, gave us significantly greater value than what we expected to get (which we also had high expectations). Within the week following my daughter's arrival, I had trouble with breastfeeding and they both followed up, checked in, offered introductions, video support, and Michelle even came over in person to provide guidance. None of this was part of their contract with me, however it's clear they invest heavily in their clients and wanted to make sure I was supported in every which way pre and post labor. We loved our time with them and while I don't miss being in labor, I do miss our group texts, calls, and in-persons.... they were pretty epic. These two truly are super heroes!! read more

Michelle is an incredible doula and all around wonderful human being. She was our birth doula and I don't know how my husband and I would have gotten through labor without her. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, thoughtful, and confident. She helped us to stay at home for as long as possible, and once we got to the hospital she was an amazing advocate who worked well with nurses and doctors at UCSF and was always a step ahead in terms of knowing exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Michelle helped my husband and I both to feel at ease and to be present throughout my labor. She was kind of magic, honestly. Prior to the birth of our daughter, my husband and I met with Michelle and Meghan, her doula partner, two times to prepare for the birth process. We walked through our ideal scenarios and also practiced ways for me to relax and work through contractions. Those sessions were so helpful and while I think there's little that can actually really prepare anyone for the birth process, I felt so much more confident working with both Michelle and Meghan. I cannot recommend them highly enough! read more

I was so fortunate to work with Michelle as my doula for the birth of both my children. Michelle was a wonderful advocate, and excellent at empowering me to achieve the type of birth I wanted. Both of my birth experiences were overwhelmingly positive, and I credit that to her expertise. She is truly gifted at birthing work and I'd recommend her as a doula to anyone, no matter what type of birth or pain management techniques you are planning on. I had previously worked with Michelle in 2019 for the birth of my firstborn (see that review below), and had such a positive experience that I contacted her right away when I learned I was pregnant a second time. From the moment we began working with her, Michelle was always accessible via text for questions large and small. She met with us twice before the birth, and provided useful resources to help me comfortably throughout my second pregnancy. As my due date approached (and then passed!), she continued to be a resource for at-home induction methods, and I was able to avoid hospital induction thanks to her expert guidance. Once in labor, I was able to labor at home comfortably with the use of a TENS unit (provided to me at 36 weeks as part of the doula contract) and various relaxation techniques that she recommended. After we went to the hospital, she helped me with laboring in the bathtub at UCSF Mission Bay and in various positions to help baby descend safely. She also worked with our nurse/midwife team to deploy the Spinning Babies techniques when my baby had some trouble descending the right way. I was so grateful for her expertise to help me decide on pain management options and to avoid unnecessary interventions during the birth. read more

Michelle and Meghan were amazing as my wife's delivery doulas. Honestly, we could have not gone through this birth without them. My wife had prodromal labour for 2 nights and Michelle was there at home with us working through the night trying to bring the contractions closer. On the third night when we finally went into labour and were admitted to the hospital, Michelle helped us manage the pain through various techniques and breathing exercises. Having her there was such a source of comfort and help. For postpartum, Michelle helped us with latching and breastfeeding. She made the yummiest oatmeal that just tasted divine :) Michelle and Meghan made this delivery experience an empowering and transformational. Thank you for all the help, we really couldn't have done it without you!! read more

We worked with Meghan and Michelle for the birth of our twins during COVID and we can't say enough wonderful things about working with these rockstars. Our twins were delivered vaginally (one breech!) at UCSF and these two were total and complete professionals (and quite personable as well). We can't say enough good things. They prepared us for every eventuality with kindness and humor (including pre-and postpartum visits) and offered emotinal support during a particularly crazy time to be pregnant, especially in lead up to our induction at 38 weeks. When we were unsure, confused, or in disagreement about how to proceed they were always quick to pick up the phone and offer practical advice. For instance, when the doctor wanted to break my wife's water after hours of pitocin, Meghan knew exactly how labor would progress (intense contractions), how to prepare for it (partnered with my nurse on care approach), and she managed it all with ease and aplomb. Additionally, during our first night in the hospital (for an induction), we were anxious, uncomfortable, and still awake in the middle of night. Michelle showed up at 2am and took charge of the situation, calmed us down, rubbed my wife's swollen feet, and had us asleep by 4am. Again, we love these two, and look forward to staying in touch for many years to come and supporting their important work in any way we can. read more

Posted on behalf of my wife: TL;DR: Reach out to them NOW before someone else scoops up Meghan and Michelle for their birth. Honestly, we are not quite sure how we could have done this without Meghan and Michelle. Our induction took about 34 hours from initial admission into the hospital to birth. Our support from them started early when Meghan took our call after our initial chat with the midwife. We had two options: Foley balloon or misoprostol with continuous monitoring of the baby in the hospital. She didn't push us one way or another but gave us her perspective: sure, the Foley might be nice and you can go home, but they'll make you come back in 12 hours anyway and you may not go into labor then anyway. So we went with the misoprostol. She then came to support me the next day when I started having strong contractions from the Foley balloon. She did it all: helped me through breathing exercises, took my mind off of the labor, set up aromatherapy. She provided a peace of mind that both my husband and I needed. With the contractions gone, she headed out and left us to try and relax before the oncoming storm. Later that evening, Michelle took over. Her first act: a call to my husband at 9 pm to remind him that if the water broke while I was on pitocin, my pain level was going to go from zero to 100 instantly. Like clockwork: at 11pm, my water broke and I was in so much pain that I couldn't breathe. We requested Michelle to come in, and she arrived shortly after. While I slept, she made little touches around the room: electric candles, changed my position every 45 minutes for comfort and epidural effectiveness. During the birth, she was even more useful: she helped me through my breathing, talked and offered suggestions to the nurses, reassuring my husband, and then literally helped hold one of my legs in place while I pushed. She was a motherly presence but if your mother had been to hundreds of births and knew how to make labor as pleasant as possible. Their support didn't end there. We texted them throughout the next few days and we even had 3 am chats asking them basic questions like: guys we haven't slept and want to give her a pacifier, are we terrible parents? (they supported the pacifier and encouraged us to sleep). Meghan even made a postpartum visit in the hospital to help me with my lactation. If you can afford to get a doula, why not get two amazing ones? Meghan and Michelle will not disappoint you. read more

I could not have asked for a better experience than the one I had with Meghan and Michelle. I worked with them for baby #2 (did not have a doula for baby #1) and the experience was no less than one million times better than my first go round. From beginning to end they helped coach me through what to expect and what to do -- giving me supreme confidence and certainty that my birth would be a smooth one. After my delivery, the nurses and doctors could not stop singing their praises. Even they had never seen doulas this good. My recovery was also 10x better, and they checked in with me many times to make sure I had the lactation and post-delivery recovery support that I needed. Meghan and Michelle are the birthing fairy godmothers. Don't have a baby without them :). read more

Michelle is an incredible doulah. I could not recommend her enough. She was there during the homebirths of my first and second sons, four years apart. The moment we met, we knew we would want to work with her. She is very strong, personable, insightful and in general someone you feel very comfortable being around no matter what the situation is. Having her in the room during birth makes you feel relaxed and strong at the same time. She was very good at making me try different positions and holding my hand and whispering 'you are safe' each time I started getting worried. I don't think I would have had such a great birth experience without her! She is a force of nature! Now she is offering many more services, like placenta pills and tinctures which helped tons with my postpartum recovery. Ask her about the smoothie too:) She also took photos and videos of both births somehow while she was present with me at every second of birth. She is magic. The amazing teamwork during the births between Michelle and my midwife I just want to keep on having more babies:) read more

Michelle made my first born experience smooth and reassuring. Since I had NO IDEA what to expect, I felt so comforted and prepared having her at my side. Since her and Meghan work together in 12 hour shifts, Michelle was pivotal between the pitocin and epidural and my pain went from 0-80 in no time. Her massages, ranging knowledge and readiness to help ease my discomfort was HUGE! I'm getting teary writing this thinking about my gratitude I have for her!! Also, post-birth being able to text questions about breastfeeding or sleeping was so incredibly beneficial. Michelle is a real pro and all of her advice was so helpful. I definitely recommend her! read more

I cannot recommend Meghan and Michelle highly enough! The benefit of having a team of 2 doulas became apparent to my husband and I immediately - you get two lifetimes of expertise, access to two extensive professional networks (at my post-partum visit they couldn't answer my question about a cramp in my chest but they texted their lactation consultant network and got an answer in minutes), someone is always available to answer a question over text or take a call, and of course you get someone who is full of energy during your entire labor and delivery if you end up having a long labor. Plus they are an amazing mixture of helpful and hilarious and they make a great team. In addition to two pre-natal visits, they gave me a major pep-talk when I was 11 days overdue and helped me think through whether to wait or induce. They never impose their own opinions but they present the data and their own experience to help you make an informed decision, something we found infinitely valuable. Meghan is a certified lactation consultant and night doula and was so helpful when I was struggling with breastfeeding at their post-partum visit. I ended up having a short labor and had Michelle the entire time. She helped me achieve a natural, zero intervention birth and I am so grateful. She came to our house, drove to the hospital with us, and stayed until we were comfortable and calm in our room. She came back the next day to check on us. Through it all she was a calm, warm, strong presence, managing at the same time to be comforting and calm by my side, out of the way of the hospital staff, but also to advocate for me and command the room when needed. She had endless magic tricks to solve problems and make me more comfortable (i.e. using a rebozo to reposition the baby or peppermint oil to help me pee) and when I was uncomfortable she always knew what position would be better or how to help. Having Michelle by my side during labor and delivery made me feel calm and prepared for anything. I am so glad we found Meghan and Michelle - they are an easy choice if you can get them! read more

Repeat customers here! We worked with Meghan and Michelle in 2018 with the birth of our daughter. When my husband and I found out we were pregnant again with our son we didn't think twice about calling Meghan and Michelle. This time around there was the added stress of Covid, but they did not waiver in their professionalism and dedication to providing the best pregnancy/birth support possible despite the circumstances. Because of all the added uncertainty of Covid I was all over the place about where to give birth, how I would give birth, and had a lot of added general anxiety about things I couldn't control. The emotional support I received was invaluable! They were so encouraging, supportive, and affirming. They helped me brainstorm solutions to my questions and reassured me each time my anxiety about birthing crept up. I ended up having an amazing birth and labored almost the entire time at home (which is what I wanted). When we got to the hospital my husband video called Meghan and Michelle and they cheered me on the whole time I pushed! Don't go through pregnancy or give birth without a doula - seriously! They are essential!! read more

Michelle and Meghan were the doulas for the birth of our daughter on 11/26/2018. I can't say enough good things about them, but what I can say is I cannot imagine getting through a 23 hour induced labor without them by my side. Their incredible support and guidance, wealth of knowledge, leadership, and genuine love for what they do was invaluable to us before and during our birth. We spoke with a number of doulas and within 10 minutes of getting to know Michelle and Meghan my husband and I knew we wanted them as part of our birth team. As if the long hours and endless energy they provided during the labor weren't enough, they also came by and helped me work through my initial breastfeeding challenges and answered questions thoroughly when I texted late at night seeking advice. I would give them 10 stars if I could! read more

I am so thankful that my husband and I found Michelle to be my birth doula. Thanks in large part to Michelle, I had a fantastic birth experience, giving birth naturally despite some difficult circumstances. I got Michelle's name through a natural birth/hypnobirthing class I took. I wanted a doula who was familiar with the techniques I was hoping to use, which Michelle was. At a "get to know you" visit with Michelle, my husband and I immediately felt comfortable with her and knew she had the energy we wanted on our child's birth day. Michelle told us she tries to provide the energy you need at that moment--whether that's encouragement and high energy, or a calming, soothing presence. This turned out to be true. Michelle was very thorough during our first pre-natal visit with her, reviewing details of how a birth might be expected to go, her role, what she would do to support us. She also provided helpful templates for a birth plan. I ended up not having a second pre-natal visit because I was admitted to the hospital early for an unanticipated induction. I was really worried about the induction, as I was only 38 weeks, and I was concerned I would not end up with the birth experience I had been hoping for. I stayed in touch with Michelle and she seemed to have the perfect sense of when to come to the hospital. After 36 hours of little progress with the induction, by Friday morning I know I was in real labor, and that's just when Michelle arrived. I had hoped to labor at home, but Michelle immediately set to work creating a calm, comforting environment at the hospital. Michelle was great at communicating and working together with the nurses who were assisting me during labor. Michelle was there to support me in so many ways, but also knew when to let the nurses do their job. The nurses commented on this as well, and were very impressed with Michelle. Michelle used a variety of techniques to help me with my labor-- reminding me about my breathing techniques, helping me use a birthing ball and peanut, using a rebozo to spin the baby while I was having back labor, and massage. I think she massaged my low back and sacrum for almost 4 hours straight. It was incredible. And throughout all of this, she managed to take photos of everything. I was concerned about having a "stranger" in the room on my child's birth day, but Michelle knew exactly the right role to play. She freed my husband up to focus on me and our new baby. I really do not think I would have had such a positive birth experience had it not been for Michelle. I recommend her wholeheartedly and know you will be glad to have her there on your special day. read more

Worth every penny and then some! We worked with Michelle and Meghan as a two doula team. Having two doulas was actually one of the main reasons we chose them after interviewing many others. Michelle and Meghan came to every prenatal and postnatal visit with us together so we felt equally comfortable with both of them. They each brought their own experience and expertise to the table so it was like we had two doulas for the price of one! And I appreciated how their two perspectives complimented each other so well.. Both are kind, compassionate, professional and confident (will be a bold advocate if needed). It is obvious they are passionate about their work and advocacy for great birth experiences. Meghan even stopped by the hospital the day after our daughter was born as an added bonus to make sure we were okay! When it came to our birth experience-- it was wonderful! We really don't know what we would have done without them. When contractions started at 2am and we texted them, they responded immediately and walked us through what we needed to do. We delivered at Kaiser Redwood City and it was a wonderful facility/staff, however, we still felt we needed and were especially thankful for the coaching and advocacy of Michelle and Meghan. We had discussed our birth "wishes" beforehand and they made sure that it happened! I especially felt supported through the entire experience -- both Meghan and Michelle looked after me and helped me to support my wife through the whole experience. Lastly, even if we hadn't had Michelle and Meghan for our birth we would still probably pay them for their 24/7 advice and support both before and after birth! We had A LOT of questions (actually we still do:)) and they were incredibly helpful and informative (and not opinionated). There were a few times I would call Kaiser Advice Line about a non-emergency issue or concern and be put on hold for a 40 minute wait. Meanwhile I would text Meghan and Michelle and get a faster and usually better response. We highly highly recommend them both and plan to rehire if we have a second! read more

Like many of the other reviews here I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through labor without Michelle. I had a very long back labor and Michelle was by my side for 15+ hours of my 28-hour labor. She worked so hard and did so much for me, I can't even describe it. Many of the special memories of the hours of labor and back pain are of Michelle being there and helping me through it by massaging my back, coaching my breathing, cheering me on. My husband also loved having her there with us, he was a little concerned he was not going to know how to best help me but Michelle showed him some massage and relaxation techniques that he could use on me as well as just allowing him the time and freedom to sit by my side and hold my hand at times (or go grab a snack or take a rest) without feeling anxious or concerned. Michelle was the first and only doula I "interviewed", 5 minutes into our meeting I knew I wanted her there with us. I felt very comfortable with her and during labor I felt very loved and respected. Michelle is a ball of energy too, she is funny and engaging but also tranquil and grounding. I will always hold her dear in my heart and will be forever grateful for everything she did for. I can safely say without an ounce of doubt that if she had not been there my birth story would have been much different, not for the better. I'm not going to go into details, but I owe a lot to her. read more

Michelle and Meghan are the absolute best!! If you are considering partnering with a doula, you should partner with Michelle and Meghan because a) they work as a team b) they are both wonderful to be around, in addition to being really good at what they do c) they cared for us in a way that made our birth experience, despite the challenges that came up, totally perfect. My husband and I were initially interested in partnering with Michelle and Meghan because they work as a team, so we knew that one of them would definitely be available for the birth of our son. The bonus was that they were both available to us before and after birth to help us prepare and recover, and to answer our many (MANY) questions. Getting this type of support from both Michelle and Meghan made it feel like we got two doulas for the price of one! It was an easy decision for us to partner with Michelle and Meghan because they are both so warm, reassuring, and responsive. Being first time parents, both my husband and I were pretty nervous in the months leading up to our due date. During our initial meeting with Michelle and Meghan, we were immediately put at ease. They are both so down to earth and easy to talk to, and we felt very comfortable discussing our questions, concerns, and the type of birth experience we were hoping for. Michelle and Meghan really got to know us and our specific needs, so when it came time to go to the hospital, I was confident that we were in great hands. The main reason why my husband and I had wanted to partner with a doula in the first place was because we knew that we would not have the capacity or expertise to advocate for ourselves during the exciting but overwhelming experience of giving birth. Michelle came to support us in the hospital and she was an amazing advocate for us. Michelle essentially acted as the "go between" us and the many nurses and doctors we worked with that day; she would ask them questions, double-check what they told us, and worked for us to get the kind of birth experience that we had hoped for. During the pushing phase of my labor, things began to stall, and a couple doctors warned of a possible c-section. Michelle stayed determined and reassured me that I could keep pushing and deliver my baby. I really needed her confidence and support at that time. My son arrived soon after and all was well. I look back at our birth experience with happiness, not because of the actual events, but because I felt cared for throughout. We would absolutely hire Michelle and Meghan again, should we decide to have another child. Again, they are the absolute best!! read more

We're so thankful for having Michelle take part in the birth of our baby boy. Michelle was so warn and sensitive to my needs, she knew how to do and say the exact right things and she was calm and professional during the whole process. Michelle made us feel confident that we have the best support we could ask for and she even allowed us to enjoy that process of giving birth by being so warm and positive. In addition to the physical and emotional support, Michelle took pictures of the birth, which was an amazing gift and I'm so grateful for having these incredible moments documented. I'm so happy I got to have Michelle as my doula and I'm sure you'll be happy as well. read more

We hired Michelle and Meghan as our birth doulas, and it is very hard to put into words how much they have done for us. The birth of our daughter was the hardest 3 days of my life, but when we look back on it, the only feeling we have is love and adoration for the two women that got us through it. From the beginning it was obvious how easy it was going to be working with Michelle and Meghan. From the first conversation, we had found that both of them made us feel as comfortable as an old friend. Not only did they put us at ease with their deep knowledge of labor and birth, but both of them happen to also be hilarious, fun, and they have unending compassion for the women (and their partners) that go through this experience. We had wanted a birth with as little intervention as possible, but we also wanted the option to change our minds during labor. Michelle directed us through each part of active labor, knowing when to change positions to help out mama and baby, as well as using massage and counter pressure for help with coping. We were so well taken care of in her hands and when labor slowed down dramatically at the hospital, she was the emotional support we needed to not give up hope. Then when Meghan came to help us through the hardest part of labor, she was confidant in my wife's ability to get through each and every contraction, even when they were 2 minutes long with less than 30 seconds of a break in between. We fed off her energy and were able to labor for 45 hours without any pain medications. And when my wife very badly needed a break and wanted an epidural to get through what ended up being 5 more hours, they were both very supportive. The techniques and direction that they used during contractions were extremely helpful, getting my wife through painful back labor, and giving me the direction to be able to comfort her as well. I'm genuinely not sure how people get through a difficult labor without the kind of support that a doula gives. From my perspective, Meghan and Michelle were the people that directed the delivery of my daughter, not the doctors and midwives of the hospital. I believe the job that they provided was worth more than the entire hospital and its staff during our labor. I've never had care from a professional like these women were able to give us, bursting with absolute love and compassion. I feel we owe Meghan and Michelle more than we can possibly give them. Our birth was long and difficult, but because of these women, we got through it exactly as we wanted to. I'll be telling every person I know who is pregnant to hire them. read more

There aren't enough good things to say about Michelle! She was our postpartum doula - and the reason we kept our sanity while transitioning from a family of three to four with the birth of our second son. With her extensive knowledge, upbeat spirit, warm demeanor, and easy confidence around babies and new moms, we were always excited to welcome Michelle into our home; she took care of all of us! Michelle was with us from 10pm to 6am several nights a week for few a months. And she took care of everything from bottle feeding the baby (we actually got to sleep!) to folding the laundry (I can't emphasize what a tremendous help this was). She would even help with dishes and fix wholesome breakfasts the entire family could enjoy. As a birth and postpartum doula, Michelle is an expert in birthing, newborns, and new mamas - and this knowledge came in very helpful. She was always interested in what was going on and had fantastic tips for me as I healed from birth as well as great advice on baby; for example, when our son came down with a fever at 5 weeks, she immediately knew something was wrong and encouraged us to go to the hospital. We're so glad we did. And we're SO glad we hired Michelle as our postpartum doula. read more

Outside of our baby boy, Michelle, Meghan and Heather from GG Doulas were really the best part of our birth experience. Michelle was so so in the game throughout labor and completely irreplaceable. She knew exactly what to do and say to get me through. The whole team offered knowledge, advice, emotional and physical support for both my husband and myself. Really, highly recommended. I couldn't say enough how helpful it was to have these women by our side throughout this process. If you're on the fence, this will be the one decision you don't regret. read more

Michelle was our labor and postpartum doula. I don't know how we could have gotten though it all without her! She was so supportive during what ended up being a complicated labor, with multiple inductions ending up in c section. She was always quick to respond and was both physically and emotionally supportive at the hospital. Once we finally got to the postpartum stage, she was part of the family! Our little one took to her very quickly. She helped us get needed rest, answered my many questions about new parenthood, nurtured and soothed our baby, along with helping around the house (her oatmeal is to die for). For all of this, we will be eternally grateful! Hiring Michelle will be the best thing for your family. read more

I hired Michelle and her doula partner Meghan as my birth doulas and cannot recommend them highly enough. They are both so warm and incredibly knowledgeable about everything from preparing for birth, the birth process, the pros and cons of different hospitals in the area, and navigating the postpartum period. Both Michelle and Meghan were also super responsive to emails, calls, and texts, both before and after my son was born, and checked in on me frequently to see how I was doing. As an example, after my son was born he was having trouble breastfeeding, and both Michelle and Meghan came to my house on very short notice to help me out. They also both immediately responded to texts my husband and I sent them in the middle of the night one time when we were freaking out about my baby refusing to nurse, and really helped us through a challenging time. Without their support I am not sure I would have been able to keep at it, but with their help my infant is now a breastfeeding pro! I felt truly cared for by both of them and highly recommend making them part of your birth team. read more

Michelle and her partner Meghan Murphy were our birth doulas. They were both incredible but I will focus on Michelle here. Michelle is one of the warmest and most caring people you will ever meet, which is probably the most important thing you want in a birth doula. And if that wasn't enough, she is very experienced, dedicated, hardworking and effective at making sure your wishes are respected at the hospital. When I went into labor Michelle made three trips to the hospital for me. Thanks to her I received much needed pain relief during an unusually painful cervical exam and she made sure that doctors were aware of my birth preferences. I also give most of the credit for the fact that I ended up avoiding a C-section to her. I pushed my baby for 5 hours and she was literally the hardest working person in the room of 5 medical professionals, not only guiding me through pushing and supporting me, but also helping me adopt various positions. I owe so much to her! You cannot go wrong with letting Michelle be part of your birth experience. read more

I enthusiastically recommend Michelle as a birth doula. Warm, funny, and caring, she was the perfect addition to our team for the birth of our daughter. My husband and I enjoyed meeting with Michelle prior to birth, but I gained a new appreciation for her skills the day I went into labor. Michelle is the person you want next to you when you're having a contraction and simultaneously throwing up! She calmly handed me a plastic bag, and reassured me that my body was getting ready to have the baby. Michelle calmed all of us in the delivery room with her steady presence, her foresight, and ability to anticipate needs. She freed my husband up to be present with me, and helped me feel nurtured and focused, even as hospital staff came and went. I was incredibly happy with my first experience with childbirth, and am so grateful that Michelle was a part of it. read more