We took a childbirth class with Lucy that was aimed towards people choosing out-of-hospital births…read more Lucy was quite personable and knowledgeable. The class covered a lot of material and Lucy was very open to questions and discussing contingencies that may arise. She was also very good at creating community; the class was seven other couples and by the end of the course, I felt that we all knew each other and were excited for each other's births. My partner and I felt very prepared for our birth experience, and even when it didn't go quite as planned, seeing that we had talked out our expectations, boundaries and wants during the class, we still felt in control and empowered during our (4 day!) labor and birth. Lucy genuinely cares about all of her clients and that comes through when you work with her. On a side note, we also worked with Lucy in her capacity as an apprentice as Pacifica Family Maternity Center and love her there as well. If you are lucky enough to be a Pacifica family, you will love her there too!

Lucy met with my son and daughter in law several times before today's labor began. Lucy arrived…read morewith a smile and her special gifts after advising the parents in the morning about their options. We parents and family members had enjoyed a family meeting over dinner prior to Thanksgiving and I have never been so impressed with anyone before. Lucie brings love wherever she goes and within a few moments everyone was taken by her warmth and her knowledge. We all had ample time to ask questions. Lucie obviously has a passion for her work. On the evening when my daughter in law went into early labor, Lucy arrived with her bag of magical doula items to help support the couple. Lucy remained at my daughter-in-law's side, never taking any break and working very hard to keep her focused, positive and in a good state to deliver. Lucy also maintained a very collegial relationship with the nurses at the hospital. The entire labor process went from early Thursday evening, til hospitalization at around 4am Friday morning and to delivery after 7pm on Friday. Lucy was helpful, enthusiastic and so excited for the family. I can highly recommend Lucy as a doula and only wish that I had had such a great person coaching me during my chlldbirth years. You will do well to engage Lucy who is very excellent and personable.

I worked with Soi through Ayus and had the loveliest post-partum experience. She was so patient…read morewith me and made the loneliness of past-partum entirely go away. I received abhyanga, yoni steaming and belly binding which were all so essential to my recovery. A few weeks post birth, we incorporated light yogi and pelvic breath work which truly helped me be in a much better state and a better mother for my kids. Highly recommend working with their doulas!

Ayus has been a blessing in my postpartum. The services and the items provided by them is great and…read moremade my healing journey smooth and faster. They are very attentive to your needs and tailor their approach accordingly. I highly recommend them.

I feel incredibly grateful to have had Yula as our doula. I have very high healthcare literacy and…read moreknow I already had the tools to understand decisions related to my labor/birth and advocate for myself, so I was a little on the fence about working with doula at all. However, I also valued labor/birth as a potentially transformational experience and wanted in support in having an unmedicated birth if possible. After talking with Yula--whose calm and pragmatic demeanor left me also feeling calm and pragmatic--I decided she could help me prepare physically/psychologically for birth and serve not only as an advocate for me but also as a support during a time when both me and my partner would likely be in an altered state. This was beyond true and I cannot imagine my labor and birth experience without her. First, Yula was diligent in understanding my birth preferences. She offered evidence-based information and shared past experiences, but I NEVER felt like she had any agenda other than to support me and help me have the experience that I myself wanted. Second, she was very thorough in helping us prepare for labor. She had 3 meetings with us before my due date to talk through options we might be faced with, help us solidify our birth preference sheet that we would share with our healthcare providers, and practice hands-on ways to cope with labor. I especially appreciated guidance she gave us on perineal massage as well as exercises she offered to help me figure out ways that I personally best coped with pain/uncomfortable sensations. And finally, her support during my labor was invaluable. She offered extremely helpful hands-on counterpressure during my contractions, served as a very calm presence and helped ensure my labor room in the hospital stayed peaceful for me, repeatedly reminded our healthcare team of my preferences and ensured these were enacted so that I could focus on the incredible work I was doing to birth my baby. She provided support in a way that also allowed my partner to support me--she supported our connection rather than interrupt it. When I was doubting myself, she met my doubt with unwavering confidence in me and this helped me find more reserves (the energy gummies she gave me helped too!) Yula has an impressive fund of knowledge to share, yet always centered my experience. She is pragmatic, and also understood and supported the mystical/transformational experience of birth that I desired. I could not recommend her more highly.

I first chatted with Yula at a "Meet the Doulas" event (which she moderated) at Natural Resources…read morein SF. She was 1 of 2 doulas who started out by smiling and asking how I was doing, letting the conversation flow naturally, vs launching into a monologue about herself. I also liked her science-based approach (citing data and studies) and calm, no-nonsense demeanour (check out her website FAQ if you don't believe me :-)). All good signs. My husband and I had just one (3-hour!!) prenatal meeting with her at home to talk about hospital and medication logistics before my water broke (excellent timing!) In the days that followed, Yula sat down with us to formulate a birth plan and talk through pain management, helped us advocate for ourselves against the hospital-recommended induction, AND brought us yummy lemon pistachio cake from a nearby cafe. When I finally went into labour a few days later (no induction!), Yula helped calibrate my early contractions over text, then showed up at 4am and stayed by my side for the next 10 hours. She did whatever it took: applying firm yet gentle counterpressure when my back hurt, negotiating with a crabby nurse, singing with me as I chanted through the pain, guiding me through decision-making, and encouraging me with words of support at every turn. Best of all, when I ran out of steam about 12 hours in, she miraculously produced sachets of delicious marathoners' goo, which I sucked on to get me through the next 3 hours of pushing. She took some really incredible photos of the actual birth, too. We've been in occasional contact over text message in the weeks since, her checking in on me and the baby, me sending her questions and photos. I wish we could see her more often! She is warm, smart, and pragmatic -- a fantastic combination. As a first-time parent, I would highly recommend engaging a birth doula; if I could give Yula a 6-star rating, I would!! Thank you Yula for everything you did to ensure my birth experience was beautiful and safe. We love you :heart:

We hired Christalyn as our sibling doula for our 2nd homebirth in early 2017. Since we had a 3 year…read moreold who was very interested in being active in the birth, yet we weren't quite sure of when or how things would play out, we wanted someone else to be with her who was in tune with birth and could help her understand what was happening along the way. Christalyn was exactly that and so much more. She is so knowledgable about birth, and has such a calm but assertive presence that we would hands down hire her again for more doula work. She met with our family a few times before, so when she came in during the birth our daughter was SO excited. In fact, she told everyone for a good 9 months after the birth that she had her OWN Doula and it made the whole birth process special for her too, which as anyone with 2+ kids knows, is important in the transition process. Both my partner and I would hire Christalyn as our own doula if we still lived in SF for any future births, and we have varying needs and personalities so I think that says a lot! We were so happy she could be part of our son's birth, thank you!

Christalyn was a savior in my last moments of labor. After a grueling 36 hours with my main doula,…read moreshe came to relieve her (for some sleep) and picked-up quickly and effortlessly. Her energy was warm and positive and she had great knowledge of the inner workings of a birth centers and hospital births. You could also tell she has great passion for her work- she asked nurses about specific approaches and offered various ideas (even when it wasn't her task at hand). Even after the birth Christalyn proactively offered to help with taking photos, preserving my umbilical cord, etc. Things we hadn't thought of before. I would highly recommend Christalyn for her energy and dedication!

​Where do I even begin? Working with Shené was such an absolute blessing! After receiving her…read moreinformation from two different people, I reached out for placenta encapsulation services, and I am so incredibly grateful we connected. ​Upon meeting her at one of her community walks, her genuine passion and love for what she does became immediately apparent. When I mentioned that my primary doula might be out of town during my labor and delivery, Shené didn't hesitate to offer to step in as our backup. She met with us and was completely supportive of the birth preferences we had already established. While I ultimately didn't need her for the delivery, just knowing she was standing by and ready gave me immense peace of mind and security. ​After the birth, she picked up my placenta from the hospital, but my doctor unfortunately informed us it wasn't fit for consumption. Despite that, Shené thoughtfully held onto it so we could plant it, and she crafted a stunning umbilical cord keepsake that we will treasure forever. ​When she dropped off the keepsake, she shared lactation techniques that completely transformed our breastfeeding journey. She was incredibly thorough, patient, and gentle with both me and my baby. Her advice and encouragement are the exact reasons we have been successful. ​I am truly grateful to have worked with Shené in so many ways. She truly goes above and beyond for her clients. I cannot recommend her highly enough for any doula, placenta, or baby-related services!

I truly can't say enough good things about Shene and the care she provided during my postpartum…read moreseason. From the moment she entered our home, she made me feel deeply cared for, supported, and seen. She gave me the gift of true rest in the mornings while lovingly caring for my newborn, and somehow always knew exactly what I needed before I even had to ask. She helped me manage my postpartum foot swelling, kept me nourished with healthy and delicious breakfasts and snacks, and shared practical, encouraging advice that helped me not just survive, but thrive - even as a second-time mom. Her presence felt like having a knowledgeable, nurturing big sister in our home. What also meant so much was how naturally she became part of our family rhythm. Postpartum can feel so vulnerable and overwhelming, and Shene created an environment where I felt safe, rested, supported, and loved. Every mother deserves to be cared for the way Shene cares for her clients. We are forever grateful for her.

I had a wonderful experience taking my doula course with her. She is an excellent…read moreprofessional--kind, knowledgeable, patient, and very supportive. She explained everything clearly and made the learning experience easy and enjoyable. I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to start a career as a doula!

Working with Juliana was a great experience. This was my third baby, and I specifically wanted a…read moredoula for emotional support and guidance through an unmedicated birth and she exceeded all my expectations. Juliana was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout the entire process. I really appreciated how she took the time to listen to my needs and consistently checked in for feedback, making sure I felt comfortable and heard every step of the way. Her presence brought a sense of calm and confidence during labor that made such a difference. I'm so grateful to have had her support and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled doula.

We LOVE Kristen!!! We interviewed 3 midwives in our search and picked Kristen because she is a…read morecompetent nurse (has the technical skills) and also so compassionate and down to earth. She has a lot of experience and that was clear the whole way through. On the rare occasions when she didn't know the answer to a question, she would investigate and get back to us. (My wife and I are writing this together.) Her visits to our home were relaxed and really informative. We didn't realize that we even had so many questions, and she would just talk with us and they would come up. She has great diagrams and handouts the whole way along that helped us understand exactly what we'd gotten ourselves into. The birth plan meeting was great and she facilitated all 5 people we invited, getting them ready for anything. She loaned us DVDs and books the whole way through so that by the time of the first contraction, we felt ready and confident that it would all go well. The labor was everything we hoped. We called Kristen in the morning and calmly assessed the situation, coming over while I was still in the beginning stages of labor. She talked with us and we laughed and walked the house together like old friends. She has a real knack for making me feel comfortable and reminding me to listen to my body. She was completely present when the going got tough, reminding me to breathe in a way that didn't make me crazy. Her midwife assist, Eva, was also a gem. At one point the baby's heart rate went down for awhile and she gave me oxygen and showed me how to help bring it back up. It worked like a charm. When his head seemed stuck, she was an amazing cheerleader and after about 90 minutes of pushing in our bed, I delivered the most wonderful, healthy baby boy. The aftercare has been great too. My mom was so impressed with how she checked in with my emotional as well as physical state. She has taken great care of us the whole way through. Did we mention she teaches prenatal yoga, and is a lactation specialist, and a part time school nurse, and speaks Spanish, and, and, and!?! Also, we're a queer couple and she of course was wonderful and open to that, asking all the right questions with a confusing extended family. We hope to have another child someday and would most definitely ask Kristin to midwife it into the world. See was wonderful in a million ways. We could write another 3 paragraphs why, but the baby's up and we're off to enjoy him! Good luck with your search. You won't go wrong with Kristen. (ps. read the filtered reviews!)

My husband and I always knew that we wanted to have a home birth so, practically the day after I…read morefound out I was pregnant, I started researching midwives around the Bay Area. I arranged to meet with four midwives, Kristen being the last one and, almost immediately after our interview, we knew we had found our midwife! Kristen fit everything we were looking for. She is warm and friendly, very trustworthy, extremely well qualified and very open about her policy of transparency through honesty in every aspect of her care. We started prenatal care so early on in my pregnancy (11 weeks) and, because of that, Kristen was the only provider I saw throughout the entire time. The care she gave was amazing and I can't imagine having seen anyone else. For each visit, Kristen came to our home and spent time discussing the medical/physical aspects of pregnancy as well as the emotional and mental experiences we were going through. She never judged or belittled our questions and was always open to answering them fully with her own knowledge, PDF articles and the books or DVDs from her own library that she lent us. Everything was so comprehensive that we really felt like we were in control of our birth process and the decisions surrounding it. Kristen really emphasized that we were a team and active participants in our birth and that we were as responsible in our learning and preparation as she was in monitoring the growth and development of our baby and my body. That shared responsibility, and the homework and exercises Kristen gave us along the way, really gave us the means to grow both as a couple and as new parents-to-be going through this experience for the first time. Kristen was extremely flexible with our needs throughout. While she recommended certain diagnostic tests, she never forced her opinion on us. She gave us the information and allowed us to come to our own conclusion about what tests and procedures we wanted to have done. Kristen also readily accepted and encouraged a lot of partner participation. This meant that she was flexible in changing around her schedule to meet with us when my husband was home from work. Those times were extremely necessary in making sure that he was as prepared as I was for what was to come. Finally, there was never a doubt that we could always reach Kristen whenever we needed her. We always had options of getting in contact, whether it was an emergency or just a quick question. That level of availability was invaluable. For my birth, Kristen was so calm and supportive. She refocused my breathing so that I could easily birth my baby and made me feel safe and secure throughout the whole process. The immediate postpartum was precious and Kristen made sure to take care of me and my baby while still respecting the new family bonding time. Postpartum care has been equally as wonderful with Kristen monitoring my healing process, the baby's growth and our transition into parenthood. She helped us troubleshoot breastfeeding issues in the very beginning, showed Papa how to properly burp his new bundle and offered suggestions for diaper rash and all sorts of other first-time parent woes. While I could go on and on about everything we love about Kristen, the bottom-line is that she was the best choice for us personally and for the birth we wanted. We love her dearly and have come to regard her as more than a midwife; she is a friend. There is no doubt that, when baby #2 is on their way, I will make sure Kristen is there to see that baby come into the world. We are so grateful that such a beautiful, caring, gentle, qualified midwife was with us when our little girl made her debut.

We started working with Julia early on in our pregnancy and it was the best choice we could have…read moretaken. From the very beginning she was very helpful, cordial, and supportive. As a first time mom I had a thousand questions ranging from healthy eating to pain management (i have chronic lower back pain) and she helped deal with my anxiety/ worries. Her availability and response time made me feel comfortable and safe, I couldn't have asked for a better person to help us with our journey. Hopefully we are able to have her as our doula again for our next pregnancy! Highly recommend her!! My husband and I appreciate you very much!! Thank you Julia!

Julia has been a treasured part of our village as we welcome our second baby. She supported us…read morethrough prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum services, as well as with beautiful film photography. Julia has been nurturing, intuitive and calming throughout. She also has been adaptable, helping us through what each day and even hour brings. Some highlights... During the prenatal period, she helped me process my first birth, and create the space for a new narrative and experience for this one. She also helped us develop strategies for our transition to a family with two kids, suggesting ways to help us spend time together and bond, as well as rest. During labor and delivery, she astutely helped us make the transition from home to hospital--right in time! Julia helped me labor at home as long as possible before I delivered within a few minutes of arriving at the hospital. Right after delivery she helped me get comfortable and start resting and restoring energy. The postpartum fourth trimester period has been especially precious. Julia's healing touch and care has been invaluable for both baby and me. She's also been a trusted sounding board for lactation, sleep, baby carrier, play, bathing, and sleep, amongst so much else. Her incredible cooking has kept the whole family nourished, and she's helped keep the home organized, clean, and calm. Julia's artistic eye and skill as a photographer has also helped us capture this sweet time. Her photos are a keepsake we cherish. Thank you for everything, Julia! With your help, we now have a foundation to establish a new rhythm and routine as a family.