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.

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!

Brigette was our doula for the birth of our first daughter. We hired her a few months before my…read moreestimated due date and right from the beginning, both my husband and I connected with her and just "had a feeling" that she would be the right fit for us. My husband was initially uncertain about the role of a doula but after meeting Brigette, he said he immediately felt more confident, excited, and less anxious about the birthing experience. In fact, after our daughter was born, he said "I think everyone should have a doula like Brigette for navigating ANY medical situation or diagnosis!" But I digress... We really enjoyed our prenatal visits with Brigette - her approach and information aligned nicely with what we had learned in our birth class and I felt she really took the time to get to know me and my husband - not just who we were but our personalities, what scared us, how we cope with uncertainty and how the two of us tend to work as a team to determine where she would add the most value and to figure out how she would support us both. When my water broke 2.5 weeks early (and 5 days before she was technically "on call" for our birth), Brigette was immediately available via phone and text for support and advice to help me determine when to call the hospital and what I could expect over the next 24-48 hours before labor began - including receiving many, many text messages containing photos of my underwear so she could help me determine where I was in early labor and how to think about when we wanted to call/go to the hospital. When I went into active labor less than 12 hours later in the middle of the night, she was on the phone with my husband, listening to me work through contractions and advising him on how to help me and when we might want to go to the hospital. I will never forget the fact that even without being there in person, Brigette was spot-on for the timing when she told him "how about I meet you at the hospital soon" and we all arrived at the hospital exactly according to what I had hoped. During labor and delivery, Brigette gave me the space to make my own decisions without being pushy or directive, while also providing additional context to what the medical team at UCSF was advising. Brigette was easily able to read my body and what I was going through - getting me to focus on blowing air on her face when I was being admitted, helping me work through not pushing too soon, and managing the contractions when I felt like I was completely out of control. When I decided it was time for an epidural, Brigette had a way of helping me verbalize and articulate what I wanted and why, in a manner that gave me confidence in my decision and excitement in the moment after several hours of intense active labor. In fact, I asked Brigette to be the person in the room with me during the epidural because I couldn't fathom getting through those contractions without her coaching and support. During the pushing phase, Brigette was able to read both the nurse, the resident, the midwife, and my own pushing/breathing capabilities and offer suggestions for how we could modify the position and my breathing to help me push more effectively. I truly felt like she was a critical part of our team during the delivery itself! Unfortunately, our fast and uneventful birth ended traumatically with our daughter being unexpectedly unresponsive, leading to an 8 night stay in the ICN with complications. Brigette remained by my bedside for the 2 hours after delivery when my daughter was taken away from me and my husband went with her. Those were the most agonizing hours of my life and I consider those 2 hours with Brigette by my bedside that I consider to be the most valuable. I cannot imagine getting through them without her care and support. She taught me how to hand express and pump colostrum in the hospital, she stayed with us during the initial meeting with the lead doctor and the social worker in the ICN and was even able to translate and help me understand what my daughter was experiencing and what they were doing. She stayed by our side for almost that entire day and checked in on us countless times in the days and week after her birth. Brigette was truly one of the first people I wanted to text when we had the good news that our daughter was okay. I could not recommend Brigette enough - and have in fact already recommended her to many friends. I jokingly (but actually seriously) say that I cannot wait to have another baby because I would love to be able to experience another birth with Brigette by our side! And my husband was so incredibly grateful that we had Brigette to navigate the unexpected aspects of birth - even at the height of contractions in our bedroom in the middle of the night - he felt in control due to the support that Brigette gave him. Brigette is a birth partner's best asset as well!

Working with Brigette for my birth doula and placenta encapsulation was a great experience…read more Brigette, and Vanessa Norton who she teamed up with last summer, were the doulas for the birth of my daughter this past July. During our pre-birth meetings, Brigette was warm, responsive, and gave my partner and me a sense that she would be a competent, caring, and strong advocate. On the week of my daughter's birth, the City of SF experienced a record birth boom. What this meant for us was that Brigette was in back-to-back births. As soon as I told her my water broke, she arranged for a back-up for us in case the birth in which she was participating didn't finish by the time I was in active labor. It didn't and we went with her back up doula. We stayed in contact throughout the day until I went into active labor. The Universe has a way of giving me what and who I need at the right time, and this was no exception. Even though Brigette had been in 20+ hours of labor and deliveries, she came to my hospital room right after I delivered my daughter. Can you imagine? We hugged and cheered and introduced Brigette to our miracle - it felt as if in a way she'd been there for the birth. Brigette also took my placenta home with her and encapsulated it. Seeing my placenta post-delivery was nauseating, so I was grateful that Brigette was encapsulating it rather than me try to DIY prepare it. The encapsulation process was easy. A couple days later, Brigette came by and visited with us. She gave me the encapsulations and directions on how to use them. Everything was straightforward and simple, which as an exhausted, new mom, was a big help. I highly recommend partnering with Brigette for your birth!

I was so lucky to have had Taylor as my birth doula. She was a tremendous resource and support for…read moreanything I needed throughout my pregnancy and in preparation for birth. She is so kind, gentle, and patient. She encouraged me to pursue the kind of birth I wanted and assured me that I can have that experience even in the chaotic and unpredictable times we are in. Taylor brought such calm energy to my birth and encouraged me all the way along. She massaged and breathed with me, and kept bringing me water. Taylor was there after I gave birth and offered support in many ways with postpartum which was so helpful. I highly recommend Taylor!

Taylor is an amazing doula. She's super supportive, flexible, accommodating, resourceful and…read moreresponsive. I felt honored as she listened to my story and concerns about birth and labor and appreciated her tips & references. I highly recommend Taylor if you're looking for a doula in the Bay Area!

Karina was an incredible support during my postpartum period. She started working with us when my…read moredaughter was just 3 days old. Her calm, reassuring presence made a huge difference as we navigated those first weeks with our newborn. She was very prompt in recognizing our baby's sensitivity to formula early on and shared valuable tips and guidance on how to manage it. She demonstrated and taught various techniques to both me and my husband that would have otherwise taken us a long time to figure out on our own. She is extremely knowledgeable, attentive, and intuitive--always anticipating our needs while respecting our parenting preferences. Karina provided both practical help and emotional support, from guiding feeding and sleep routines to simply offering a listening ear when things felt overwhelming. She has a warm, professional demeanor and brings a sense of confidence and comfort that is invaluable for new families. I would highly recommend Karina to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled postpartum doula.

If you've come this far and are considering Karina as your postpartum doula, look no further!…read moreKarina helped us for the first month after our son was born early, and looking back, we honestly would've been so lost without her. She brought a level of competence, warmth, and levity that was much needed during those first few weeks, especially since our son was born premature. She handled him lovingly, suggested helpful breastfeeding tips to me, and even helped us with the very daunting task of giving him his first bath What I most appreciated about Karina was how proactively she did things to help out - tidied his closet, trimmed his fingernails, helped resolve his diaper rash, etc. I also want to call out her amazing work ethic because there was a terrible rainstorm for the week and she left her house early and endured the crazy floods to always make it to us on time. Simply put, Karina made us feel like everything's going to be okay during a very difficult time for us. I honestly miss Karina and would highly recommend her as a positive, helpful, and warm addition to your family's new journey!

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

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

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

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

Nicole is awesome! She took me the same day after I got rear-ended in my car and she fixed my back…read morein one session. Her office is very soothing, and I felt totally relaxed after my treatment which rarely happens for me (feeling relaxed). I can't wait to go back! Updated, 10/12, went back to Nicole after I broke my foot 8 weeks ago. I was still having daily pain and after one session, my foot is so much more flexible and is pain free. She is such healer, amazing!!!

What can I say? There are acupuncturists and there are acupuncturist who are gifted healers. Nicole…read morehas the gift. She helped me with my fatigue and weariness. She explored all my lifestyle factors but where I got the most value was in her guiding me through unlocked trauma and emotional stress I didn't even know I was holding onto. Instantly I felt relieved and lighter. Thanks for all your help Ronan