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

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

Brilliant Births matched me with an amazing night doula, Mirai! I so appreciate that they provide…read morethis helpful matching service. They quickly processed my application and sent me profiles of several doulas to interview, all of whom were excellent. I was especially grateful that they provided the referrals so quickly, as we were in desperate need of some help at night with our first daughter.

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

We found Veronica through BAND with our first daughter, and she made such an impression that when…read morewe learned we were expecting our second, we didn't even hesitate. We texted "Auntie V," as she's now known in our house, right away to secure her before anyone else could! We were overjoyed when she said yes. Having Veronica back felt like welcoming family home. She stepped in on day one as if she'd never left: calm, confident, and full of love for our new baby girl. There was no learning curve. She already knew us, our routines, and how we like to track feedings and diapers, so we could skip the getting-to-know-you phase and simply lean on her from the very first night. A second baby brings its own challenges, and this time we had a toddler to care for too. Knowing our newborn was in Auntie V's hands overnight meant we could actually sleep, and that rest made all the difference. We had the energy and patience to be present for our older daughter during a big transition, and to enjoy those early weeks instead of just surviving them. What we love most about Veronica is her rare combination of deep expertise and genuine warmth. She's a wealth of knowledge on everything from soothing and sleep to feeding and development, and she shares it in a way that builds your confidence rather than making you feel dependent. Just as important, she truly cares. You can see it in how she holds the baby, how she checks in on the parents, and how she celebrates every little milestone with you. Veronica isn't just our night doula; she's part of our family. We'd recommend her to anyone without a second thought, and we feel incredibly lucky to have had her by our side twice.

Janet L. was incredibly warm, kind, and compassionate when she helped us over the first couple of…read moremonths of our daughter's life! She blended into our new family seamlessly and was so helpful as we got used to life as a family of three. My husband had some tricky tech requests and she was super willing to work with us to get all the systems set up. She was beyond accomodating and was able to either wake me right before a feed or just handle the night feeds with pumped milk, depending on the night/timing. She was wonderful and helped us so much - would recommend her to anyone looking for a night doula!

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!

We could not have had the birth experience we had without Meleah! She was absolutely invaluable - I…read moredon't know what we would have done without her. She is incredibly knowledgeable, kind and really helped me listen to my instincts and guide me through birth. My husband and I can't recommend her enough!

My husband I are so grateful we found Marilou at fairly last min notice, she brought such a…read morewonderful, calming energy to our house to help with our 6 week old. Our daughter immediately took to Lu, as did our toddler, who loved to stop in to the nursery and say hi. Marilou helped us figure out bath time, feeding, and tummy issues, all with a super gentle approach that put both me and the baby at ease. While she was here I was able to truly rest, a rarity in those early PP weeks. I would highly recommend Marilou to anyone!! I teared up when she left!

My wife and I had Jordan from Doulas by the Bay help care for our newborn overnight from 11 p.m. to…read more7 a.m., and she quickly earned our trust. Jordan is young, eager, and incredibly attentive. Throughout every overnight shift, she remained awake and alert, always ready when our daughter needed her. Most importantly, she cared for our baby with the same patience and gentleness we would ourselves, which gave us tremendous peace of mind as new parents. Her reliability was equally impressive. She was consistently punctual, arriving between 10:58 and 11:00 p.m., and was always respectful and ready to help. Trusting someone with your newborn is no small thing. Jordan made that trust easy. I would confidently recommend both Jordan and Doulas by the Bay to my closest friends and family, and we'd happily welcome her back into our home. Thank you, Jordan, for taking such wonderful care of our little girl!

Annie is such an incredible human and a gifted birth worker. We love her so much! As a second-time…read moremom, I wasn't sure whether a postpartum doula was necessary, but deciding to have her support during my fourth trimester made all of the difference in my emotional and physical recovery. She is SO good with babies - we learned a lot from observing the calm and confidence she brought to every interaction with my girl, whether during a feed, a diaper change, or tummy time. One of my main concerns during this postpartum period was how the arrival of a little sister might affect my older daughter and impact my relationship with her. Annie connected with my toddler almost instantly, and never hesitated to jump right in and spend time with her so I could get some much-needed rest. (After her first day "More Annie!" became a constant refrain in our house.) When Annie was focused on the baby, this also gave me the time and space to focus on quality time with our toddler. We also appreciated how Annie helped us to introduce a bottle early on, and supported us in implementing an independent sleep framework when our baby was only 10 weeks old. If you're in Marin and looking for a postpartum doula, I don't think you could find one who's better than Annie. Even if you're a second-time mom, I strongly recommend engaging her for support - she's truly special and I'm so grateful for the time she spent in our postpartum bubble.

Working with Annie was one of the best decisions I made as a new mom. From the moment she stepped…read moreinto our home, I felt a wave of calm and reassurance that I didn't even realize I needed. She brought so much knowledge, patience, and warmth -- not only to my baby's care but to mine as well. Annie gently guided me through things that had felt intimidating at first. I'll never forget the first time she showed me how to bathe my daughter -- she took the time to walk me through each step, making sure I felt confident and safe. She taught me how to read my baby's cues when she was overtired and showed me soothing techniques that helped her go down to sleep during the day, even when she was fussy. When it came to feeding, Annie supported me in introducing a bottle -- helping me find the right position, pace, and environment so my baby could take it comfortably. She also taught me how to play with her in ways that were developmentally appropriate and engaging, which helped me build a real bond during those early days when I sometimes felt unsure. Annie gave me strategies to make tummy time more enjoyable for my daughter-- and even fun! One of the most meaningful gifts Annie gave me, though, was emotional support. Postpartum can be incredibly isolating and raw, and Annie always checked in on me -- not just the baby. She created space for me to share what I was feeling, offered thoughtful reflections, and never made me feel judged or alone. She was a steady, grounding presence during a time when I desperately needed one. Annie is more than a postpartum doula -- she's a teacher, a nurturer, and an unwavering support system. I'm endlessly grateful for everything she brought into our lives.

Enricka is awesome! She provided my wife and I great tips to navigate the challenging times of…read moreraising our 1st child. The 1st 6 months are a lot to handle, but Enricka gave us valuable tips so that way we could be more strategic with what we were doing to get her sleep trained! She's also a great listener and willing to lend a helping hand when needed. Thank you Enricka!

Enricka took care of our baby at night for the first 3 months of his life, starting right after we…read morebrought him home. She has so much experience with babies and families with new babies, and she helped us in so many more ways than I hoped for. In the earliest, most difficult nights, Enricka used her lactation training to help us get a better latch for happier, more efficient feeds. She snuggled with baby so I could sleep. She helped us with everything from how to prepare him for sleep, to optimizing a daytime schedule, to YES getting him to sleep all night. Enricka has a program that clearly works, but she was also really willing to work with us when I wanted to try something different. So, yeah, I highly recommend her!!

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!

Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, dang, that human was born to do this kind of…read morework and has a real gifting for it? That was my thought about Lauren after meeting her for the first time (she taught our 6 week birth prep course). This woman was in her element. She cared, she was knowledgeable, and and she lit up the room. To our pleasant surprise and an epic answer to prayer, she ended up being our doula and what a gift she was in that space for us too. Lauren knew when to say or do something and the art of not saying or doing. We ended up having a dream birth and I'm not sure I would have been able to do it without her support. She was a part of the dream birth. She came along and partnered with me and my husband in a way that complemented and strengthened. Lauren helped me to trust myself and my body. There are no guarantees with birth. I don't love Lauren because I had a dream birth; I love her because of who she is and am so grateful she was with us and for us in the tender, sacred space of birth. No doula is for everyone, but if something about her resonates with you, book a call to see if there's a match.

Lauren is incredible! She helped me bring both of my babies into the world and I couldn't imagine…read morethe birth experience without her. She brought such a truly compassionate, intuitive, calming, and empowering presence to the experiences, and navigated all of the twists and turns with us. She felt like part of the family, and made us feel so held throughout the entire process from prenatal to postpartum. I couldn't recommend Lauren more highly. I almost want to have another baby just to be able to work with her again! If you're considering hiring her, DO IT! She's the absolute best.