As first-time parents, we were looking for a postpartum night doula who qualified for Carrot reimbursement and would be a good fit for our family; including our dog. After meeting Arrieanna virtually, we immediately felt comfortable with her. We worked with Arrieanna for the first 12 weeks after our son was born, and her support was invaluable. She provided overnight newborn care, helped with feedings, and offered breastfeeding support, including guidance on latching and reassurance about what was normal. She also taught us practical newborn care skills, such as swaddling and how to use various nursery items we had received as gifts. What stood out most was her kindness, positivity, and communication. Each morning, she provided detailed updates about feedings, diaper changes, and our son's overall disposition, giving us peace of mind. After a C-section and delivery complications, the overnight support allowed my husband and me to get much needed rest and be more present during the day. I highly recommend Arrieanna to any family looking for overnight postpartum support. If you want to prioritize rest and recovery during those early newborn months, Arrieanna is an incredible resource. read more

We hired Erica for Birth support, but she simply did NOT show up for the birth. She was present for about 10 minutes total, during a rest period after my epidural, but did not show up for the rest of a 34+ hour delivery that ended in an emergency C-section, in part because I had no one advocating for me. Her assistant showed up 2 hours into the pushing phase (after 30+ hours of labor), once the baby was already +3 station, and got in the way more than helped, so I asked her to leave. Meanwhile, I had no one advocating for me through non-consented epidural top-ups, a 3-hour unattended stretch during a staff emergency, repeated cervical checks that caused an infection, and denied requests to try different labor positions. She later messeged us saying that she's sorry we had refused her help to excuse her absense, which is simply false. We obviously wouldn't have paid that much to refuse help on the day. I would not recommend her if you actually want your doula present for your birth. read more

I worked with San Mateo Doula for about 6 weeks postpartum. Ari and Jessica were both wonderful with my son Luca. He was a fussy little guy who was keeping me up all night long. From his first night with Ari and Jessica, he was calm and barely made a peep all night! This put me at such ease. They were understanding and flexible when I was going through numerous bottles and nipples trying to find the right one. Sleep is so important for your postpartum recovery and mental health. I highly recommend anyone who is having a baby to hire a doula even if it's for one night a week. It truly does wonders for your recovery and mental health. Thank you Ari and Jess read more

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Arrieanna for six months after my baby was born, and I can't say enough good things about her. From day one, she was warm, gentle, and incredibly supportive -- both for me and my baby. She was always on time and brought such a positive energy into our home. She talked to our baby constantly, engaging with him, singing, reading books.. She patiently taught us everything we needed to know as new parents -- from bathing, burping, and breastfeeding techniques to using the car seat safely. Honestly, most of what we know about caring for our baby came from her! She's really knowledgeable having raised kids of her own and enthusiastic. As the young and passionate owner of her doula company, she has such a bright future ahead. We wish her all the very best and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any new parents looking for loving, hands-on support. read more

Arrieanna was an excellent postpartum doula! Our baby girl was 2 months old and my husband had just returned to work. After a couple weeks of him back at work, we realized I mentally, emotionally, and physically needed some support. We reached out to Arrieanna quite last minute and she quickly responded and found space in her busy schedule to fit us in 2 days a week for 4 weeks. A doula is more than just someone who teaches you labor positions or helps clean bottles. Arrieanna became a sounding board for me, we spent a lot of our time talking about my experience as a new mom and my worries, and she came with advice as well as perspective as a doula and a mom herself. She met me where I was - quickly and easily understanding my needs, plus my daughter always had so much fun with her during playtime! I'm so thankful for my time with Arrieanna! read more

Arrieanna provided postpartum care to our family, with my 6 weeks old son. She is punctual, nice and gentle to my baby. She taught me tips of swaddling baby to make him sleep better, helped me identify the normality of his poop, ways to comfort baby. When she was here, we always slept soundly. I recommend Arrieanna to families who need help and support taking care of newborn. read more

Arrieanna provided unmatched support as a doula with my birth experience. I am a second time mom, and my goal was to have a successful VBAC/TOLAC and Arrienna helped me achieve that goal. Arrieanna's support during my pregnancy was filled with words of encouragement and emotional support. She provided the strength I needed to believe in myself to keep aiming for a VBAC. She also did not overstep or force any decisions and stayed calm during my labor and delivery while supporting me throughout my 16 hours of labor. She really fulfilled the role of an older sister during my pregnancy and labor with her emotional support. Arrieanna was very patient throughout the entirety of the pregnancy, labor and postpartum. She has good communication and provides very responsive comfort measures when I addressed concerns about my pregnancy/labor with her. Since my medical provider was Kaiser Permanente, they reimburse payments for doula services. While I was submitting my reimbursements, I came across some technical issues with the hospital's billing department. Arrieanna went above and beyond in communicating with the hospital billings representative to make sure all things were in order to allow for the processing of my reimbursement. The labor and delivery techniques she suggested were very helpful during the labor and birth process. Her presence gave me a sense of calm and strength while I was in the delivery room. She was exhausted but never expressed her exhaustion and was always ready for action when I needed her. I cannot recommend her services enough and I pray that she can be my doula again if I were to have more babies in the future. May all mothers who need a doula get the help from Arrienna. read more

Erica overfilled her calendar and did not show up to my birth despite my baby's on time arrival. We had a long labor the she provided distracted and general support during via text /phone. She forgot preferences and medical information we had discussed at length. Her backup was lovely for the brief time she was with us, but it was long after interventions that we felt could have been avoided with better support had occurred. She delayed sending her backup because she kept assuring us she would make it, and we had to repeat everything we had told Erica to her backup at a very stressful time. read more

Erica and Ashley recently assisted with the birth of my little boy and I couldn't recommend them enough. I had a long labor (29 hours) and they were present the entire time, starting with sending Ashley over shortly after my water broke at 4:30 am. Ashley was there all day, helping me into different positions, etc. and helped my labor progress effectively, with minimal interventions. Erica took over for the home stretch and I was able to have a successful vaginal delivery, as I had hoped I would. Erica was highly responsive in all the months leading up to my birth and was extremely supportive even when my plans changed slightly into having an induced labor. Ashley was also amazing and her calm demeanor was great to have around the entire day of my baby's birth. Highly recommend! read more

We signed the contract to hire Erica Falk on 12/28/2023, the baby was born on 1/18/2024 without Erica's assistance because she failed to show up to work that day! I text her that I was having close contractions, we went to the hospital and my husband called to inform her we were in active labor. Still no reply. We and the hospital staff thought SURELY the doula would show up, and nope! 5 hours after initial contact with her, the baby was born, I guess Erica was fast asleep. We paid $2800 and Erica kept $1400 even though she didn't come. It's horrible to put so much trust in someone in such a delicate situation and even at the hospital I was still waiting, and hoping she would come. Also as someone who doesn't trust easily and has experienced folks not showing up in my life - I really opened my heart to working with her. THEN getting only a partial refund made me feel even worse! She did text me some links of what to pack in my hospital bag (like a rebozo which she never showed us how to use!) and she visited our apt once to say hello and discuss logistics of the big day but no real brass tacks of labor and delivery preparations. We were ultimately completely unprepared for what to expect in an unmedicated childbirth (my goal, that I achieved without Erica), we had NO preparations for positions, and I had to manage the entire labor and delivery myself! It was scary, I was relying so much on Ericas support and she left me stranded! I'm still deciding if I will take it to small claims court for the final $1400. She even asked my husband to request the money via PayPal and he was charged additional fees so we received less than $1400. Don't hire Erica, it was a scam. She didn't show up to work per our agreement. Neither did her backup person. And she was happy to keep her money (unfathomable!). We're small business owners too, and we would not charge if we could not deliver. She should've had her backup person on call if she was not able to work. (She told me she had backup but we never actually met that person or received their contact, so maybe they don't exist?) read more

We hired Erica as our birth doula & Jessica as our Postpartum doula! My husband and I can't say enough about the compassion, knowledge, and professionalism this mother and daughter doula team provided to our family. I was especially nervous to give birth at the hospital, Erica and her back up Arrieanna were both incredible! They guided us every step of the way, prenatally, at our delivery, and postpartum. Having them support us was incredibly reassuring. They navigated the hospital staff so well, it really felt like a team. Postpartum is when we had the pleasure of having Jessica join us for night time postpartum, Jess really knows her stuff when it comes to newborns! She built up our confidence, and taught us both so much. We were always excited to have Jess come to join us in the evening so that we could get some uninterrupted sleep knowing that our newborn was safe in her hands. The whole San Mateo Doula team are truly experts, we were so blessed to have them. read more

I had the privilege of being supported for post partum services by the owner Arrieanna Martinez. My baby came three weeks early to our surprise and Arrieanna with no hesitations made herself available to support our family. I am a first time mom so I had so many questions and felt overwhelmed with the transition and she was comforting and encouraging with her support. Her care for our family was incredible. Whether it was washing bottles, baby laundry, helping me care for our little one or preparing a hearty snack she was so warm and always sharing her doula wisdom and knowledge. Being a new parent is so beautiful and challenging and to have Arrieanna support with the daily new routine helped my healing journey and allowed me to be more present with my little one. We definitely recommend! read more

Erica supported me and my husband for the birth of our second child. Because I gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband was the only one allowed in the hospital with me, so Erica supported us virtually via FaceTime. Talk about a less than ideal situation! However, Erica was super flexible and effective in supporting us, regardless. For the weeks leading up to the birth, she maintained close contact with us, especially as guidelines for hospital visitors were changing on a weekly basis. She continued to emphasize the importance of creating a relaxing, calm environment in the hospital even if she couldn't attend in person. She also supported us virtually at home before we went to the hospital. After the birth, she also called and texted frequently to make sure I felt supported. I highly recommend that all expectant mothers hire a doula, and Erica is a wonderful choice. She genuinely cares about her clients, and is able to provide so much support through her calm, loving energy. Thank you, Erica! read more

I am SO grateful I hired Erica and her amazing doula team for the recent birth of our daughter! We had a unique situation in that our baby was breech so we had to deliver via a scheduled c-section. Even without a traditional birth process, Erica was so, so valuable and helpful and went above and beyond to make sure we felt supported. She gave us the option of converting the birth doula time to postpartum hours OR we could have her come to the hospital to be present before and during the c-section. We chose to have her accompany us to the hospital and are so glad we did. During the two hour prep process at the hospital, Erica was massaging me, comforting me, and encouraging me (and my husband). She answered our questions, was a listening ear, and helped advocate for our desires with the hospital staff (e.g. a huge priority for us was a lot of skin-to-skin immediately after the operation). Not only did Erica help us voice our needs with the hospital, but she also spent several phone calls and prep sessions with us reviewing our birth plan/preferences so we could ensure the c-section went smoothly. As much as I didn't want to have a c-section, the whole experience ended up being so much more wonderful and smooth than I could have imagined, and so much of that had to do with how much Erica prepped us for what to expect, how to advocate for our needs, and was a warm and encouraging voice throughout the process. I also want to shout out Erica and the rest of her team (Ashley and Jessica) for their support during my pregnancy, leading up to the birth, and in this postpartum time (I purchased the package with 20 hours of postpartum support). They have been invaluable resources of information around how to care for myself during pregnancy and how to care for my baby now. They made and continue to make themselves available via text and phone to answer any and all questions (and I have so many!), send resources, and refer to specialists (I spent a lot of time trying to flip my baby when I first found out she was breech and Erica knew all the best specialists like acupuncturists as well as a doctor known for flipping babies in an external version). We would have been so lost and scared during this time without the support of Erica, Ashley, and Jessica, and it's been so nice to have them all on our team throughout this process. Not only are they professional, well-resourced, prompt or early for every appointment, and incredibly knowledgeable, but they are also some of the most kind, caring, warm, and empathetic people I've met. They genuinely care about each one of their clients on a human level. Trust me - you want them in your corner as you navigate the unknowns of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. You will not regret hiring them for a second. read more

Erica is an extremely caring and attentive doula. We are very pleased with the care she provided before, during and after birth. She went up and beyond to make sure I felt calm and prepared before going into labor. She even talked with my very anxious and overbearing mother and was able to calm her down with gentleness and grace. If we have another pregnancy, I will definitely be reaching out to Erica again. She was as calm as a cucumber during labor, which also really helped my husband and, of course, myself. She is very professional and truly cares about her clients in a sincere way. read more

Erica is an intelligent and kind hearted doula that helped me tremendously throughout my pregnancy and child birth. She was great at communicating and was quick to respond to my questions and concerns. As first time parents we were beyond blessed to have Erica for support. She was great from beginning to end. I highly recommend hiring Erica as your doula, she made us feel comfortable and valued. read more

Absolutely, do NOT hire Erica. In my opinion, she doesn't care about her clients, unethical, and will take advantage of you if given the chance. We paid her at the top of the market rate of $2400, and three days later she breached her contract. NO SERVICES WERE RENDERED! Imagine scheduling a massage, then it got canceled because of coronavirus, but the masseuse refuses to give you your money back because she can just "facetime" you and guide you through the massage. This is exactly what we were told on how she would handle our Labor and delivery. I'm about to have a high-risk birth at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, No one (mom or dad) should have to go through the stress I am going through this close to birth. PLEASE DO NOT WORK WITH ERICA. After paying her the full $2400, a few days later, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Kaiser to limit support to just one person. After a heartfelt discussion with my husband we agreed to bring Erica, so that I had the best support possible and that we just paid her in full 3 days earlier. The very next day she informed us she would NOT do any remaining in-person prenatals, in-person labor support, or join us at the hospital for delivery because she is immuno-compromised, She did not want to be at risk which is totally understandable. My husband and I then decided he support me and requested a refund of half the fee, she ignored our request. Instead suggested we interview 4 additional folks that could be a backup for her, since she would NOT be supporting us in-person. By this point, she had burned the bridge, it is clear she did not want to return our money and now back-peddling, making every excuse why she can't pay us our much needed money back. $2400 is a lot of money, we only asked for half $1200 even though she only had ONE prenatal call with us, to try to remain amicable with her. Of course she refused to pay us back. Essentially, she is stealing from us during the recession of Covid-19, from a 9 month pregnant woman, who was relying on her to have a safe and peaceful birth. Unfortunately, we couldn't hire other support given the steep amount money we paid Erica and the two weeks left until I deliver. Some points to help any other mom's not get taken advantage of: 1. Never pay the full contract until the full services are rendered 2. Make sure the contract is mutual 3. Make sure if there is a backup doula you get to also interview that backup doula 4. Understand there are 4 major points to hiring doula, the 1st prenatal, 2nd prenatal, Labor and then delivery and what is expected for each step 5. a Doula is there to support you physically and emotionally through L&D, if Virtual support is offered instead of the in-person support make sure you get a discount for not fulfilling the entire agreement read more

I am so happy we had Erica with us during the birth of our son. Her calm demeanor helped foster an atmosphere of peace during the delivery and I felt more at ease knowing I had someone with so much knowledge and experience by my side. I really appreciated the meetings we had with Erica before the birth where she showed us some great natural pain management techniques. These were game changers during labor, I'm not sure I would have been able to make it through the natural birth I wanted without them. It is obvious that Erica truly cares about her clients and I'm grateful she was there to share in our joy when our baby was born. read more

Erica helped us 3 weeks ago with the birth of our 2nd son. She was fantastic and I thought it could be helpful for me to share a husband's perspective on what it's like to work with her.... What is most important to me is that my wife feels safe, confident, and cared for. Erica went above and beyond on all of these for us. She helped my wife be comfortable knowing that we had an "expert" there by our side every step of the way (even if virtually!). She also helped my wife feel confident throughout the pregnancy and most importantly during labor. This helped lower the anxiety that she had about the process. Lastly, because Erica was there to support us, I was able to spend my time caring for my wife and being by her side... this helped her feel cared for and allowed me to present and focused on her through the process. I'd highly recommend working with Erica. We trust her and are incredibly thankful for her support. read more

Erica was our doula for the birth of our first child. I spent a lot of time researching other doulas in the area, and chose Erica for the following reasons: - I felt totally confident in her expertise (she has been a practicing doula for over 17 years, and has provided support for 400 + births). - She has a warm, authentic and natural way of relating, which put me at ease each time we connected. - She is incredibly responsive and caring; whenever I reached out with a question or concern, she got back to me swiftly and provided thoughtful answers to my questions, helpful articles and resources, etc... Now, a month after the birth of our daughter, I feel so grateful that Erica has been with us through this whole process. Leading up to the birth, Erica provided invaluable information and practical advice that helped both me and my partner to prepare ourselves physically and emotionally for the experience. She met with us in our home and spent a generous amount of time with us, showing us positions that would help while we labored at home before going to the hospital, and providing is with a comprehensive worksheet to help us create our birth plan, among other things. I also got a prenatal massage from Erica, which was very grounding and nurturing. During the actual labor and birth of our daughter, Erica was a godsend. She interfaced effortlessly with the hospital staff and was a source of strength and clarity for me and my family throughout the process. Most importantly, during the pivotal period of transition in the birth, when I was exhausted and at the end of my rope, she knew exactly what to say and do to keep me going and to comfort me. Erica's "birth whispering" was crucial for me---I feel clearly that without her expert guidance and the trust I felt in her, I might not have had the strength to endure the hardest parts of my labor. Thanks to Erica and with the support of my family and the awesome nurse midwife team at Redwood City Kaiser, I was able to have a safe, natural and beautiful birth experience. Lastly, in the weeks following the birth, Erica has continued to check in with me and to provide helpful resources. She truly cares about the mamas she works with, and has gone above and beyond to help me navigate smoothly through all stages of this process. I would recommend Erica without reservation to anyone looking for a truly experienced, intuitive and caring doula. read more

This lady can save lives.... Erica rescued me and my monster baby during delivery... and get this...all by phone! (I didn't have a doula and called her at 4am...sorry Erica). I was amazed at what she could do without even having to be present. Makes me Think about how all these mamas who need to go virtual during COVID-19 pandemic with their doulas are going to be just fine and Erica can do A LOT in emergent situations where a baby is in danger even if she isn't physically there. I didn't even get a video of her so if I got to zoom with her, it would have been even more epic! Knowing this now...I would pay her $4000 just for one video call if she were my doula during all this. I called her in an emergency, even though I didn't have a contract with her or any doula. She was a sweet heart and helped me at 4am in the morning! and guided me through labor to get my baby out when the doctors were trying to force me into c-section (and I was being extremely stubborn saying no to docs) becuase my baby was big and was stuck, and not coming. Without her, my son would either not be here right now, or I would have been rushed into emergency c section. The nurse said I could try one more time Before making me go into labor (telling me there was absolutely no way the baby could get out) but 5 minutes on the phone with Erica, and her guiding me and the nurse what to do... becuase the nurses didn't know about the positions she was telling me about and that baby slid out immediately!!!! It was some lateral, side laying yoga ball roll thing...so Literally they started screaming for the doctor to come back because the baby started coming- and I pushed for just 10 minutes and birthed a 10 1/2 pound monster baby). The doctor came back in the morning And told me she admitted she was mad at herself becuase she was wrong about this baby, after 40 years of delivering....and said I have an absolutely amazing doula. And she didn't even charge me a dime for any of that.... she's the most selfless person I know. I do not recommending anyone do this to her, call her without a contract at 4am, but just shows she really cares so much. She was following up with me as well after the baby was born for weeks. This lady ROCKS! Even by phone! These doulas work so hard and earn every penny (in fact they barely make much for all the hours they work) and do way more than just have to come to the hospital... they can't go on vacation and have to put their whole lives on-call for us mamas to be ready at any moment. Let's keep the doula's out of the hospitals, right now and let's pay them even more now than ever during the pandemic. read more

San Mateo Doula - Look at the weight! - Doulas Near Me

A little over 10 years ago I gave birth. A little over 10 years ago I was only 16, confused, scared, didn't have any support during my pregnancy. Erica was my saving grace. She was probably the only person who made me feel safe and taken care of during this time of my life. She's supportive, nurturing, knows little tips and tricks to help keep you calm and is 100% there for you. She really helped with my labor and made it as smooth as possible. She did everything in her power to make sure I was ok. I couldn't recommend this women more to be your doula! She is the love and support you need read more

Erica has been our doula twice now (in 2017, for the birth of our daughter, and again 6 months ago for the birth of our son). I feel bad we never got around to writing a review before, but having a newborn at home is the least conducive time to do things like write Yelp reviews! So we're doing it now. Erica was great, exactly what we needed for both births. Especially the first time around, you want someone who has seen it all, has the knowledge to serve as a resource and guide to you, but also the EQ to read you and know what you are comfortable with and not comfortable with, and go from there. And that describes Erica, in spades! As the dad and someone who had no prior experience with childbirth, I felt the hour or so we spent with Erica (ahead of the birth of our first child) where she described how labor would progress, what signs to look for, when to call her, etc., was amazing and put me better at ease. As it turned out, my wife had to be induced, and we had a bit of a non-standard birth progression the first time around, so all that notion of the 'canonical' childbirth went out the window. But that made having Erica as our doula even more invaluable, as she helped us roll with the punches of spending a lot of time at the hospital and working through a few days of inductions. Personally, I find hospitals a bit scary and I don't instinctually/automatically trust that such a large institution is always making medical care decisions that align to your wishes. I really felt much more at ease with having an independent advocate in our corner, who is deeply knowledgeable about childbirth but who is working for us and no one else. Erica was superb in this role: telling us what drugs she had some concerns about if administered too early, what alternatives existed, etc. Intellectual and emotional support, chatting with our nurses and OB. She was awesome! Thankfully, with #2 we had a much more 'classic' childbirth, and we finally got to put to use Erica's preparations/advice for how to labor at home! And we avoided spending more time at the hospital than was necessary. Again, Erica was there for birth, laughing with us as we recalled all our previous experiences together, helping at the time of pushing, and just generally making for a comfortable, beautiful moment for our son to arrive. In summary: Erica is great, a doula for all seasons (births that go according to plan, and births that don't), and absolutely a beautiful and knowledgable human being to have in your corner on one of the best, most memorable days of your lives! PS - Erica managed to get great photos of the moment of arrival of both our beautiful babies, thanks Erica! We'll cherish them forever. read more

Erica was great providing me virtual support leading up to my sons birth! I was referred to Erica when I was about 6 months pregnant but unfortunately did not live in the Bay Area. She provided support to me and my husband virtually and it was great to know that she was just a phone call/text/email away. She was very supportive of whatever I wanted my birthing experience to be and supported my wants. She provided me the tools and tips to ensure that my birthing experience was the best it could be. She sent me some great information (eat 7 dates a day!) that helped me prepare for Silas. I highly recommend working with Erica to provide you the support and tips we all need. read more

Erica and I signed a contract in March 2013 & I paid an $800 deposit. My due date is in August 2013. I emailed her a week ago, asking for a suggestion about birth books to read, and she replied by telling me that she had decided to go out state for most of July and August, and was cancelling our contract. This is **10 weeks before my due date** and three weeks before our first prenatal appointment. I called her and she told me that it "had lately been occurring to her" that she needed to take care of family issues this summer instead of being a doula. While I understand that people's plans change, I don't understand her inability to decide what she was going to do this summer, make a decision, and then preemptively contact me. What happened afterwards was even worse. In her email, she suggested that I call her back ups (she didn't bother to do so for me), one of which doesn't even see clients in my city. The other two back ups had no idea that Erica was cancelling her contracts, and weren't available or interested in taking me on as a client. In short, she cancelled on me, out of the blue, weeks before my due date and months after I both signed a contract with her and gave her a hefty deposit, and made no provisions for providing substitute doula care for me before canceling our contract. I spent the rest of the day basically cold-calling doulas and was turned down 5 times, b/c this is already the last week in May and everyone was either already booked for August or going on vacation themselves. When I called her later that day, in tears, and told her that I was having a hard time finding an available doula for August, she had the nerve to say, "Yeah, I know. I saw something on one of my lists about people having a hard time finding back ups." Great. Thanks. She then emailed me a bunch of wacky and inappropriate suggestions, such as hiring her friend in Santa Rosa (I live in SF), herself flying back from out-of-state (!), or that I call her friend "Joy" (no last name, no website, and what turned out to be an incorrect phone number). After two days of this, I was resolved to not have a doula, rather than deal with the stress of finding another one by myself, so close to my due date. Luckily, two very nice doulas heard about my plight and offered to do what Erica should have done to begin with, which was to email doula lists on my behalf. One woman was so kind as to review the responses and only forward me the names of doulas who were: actually available for August, in my price range, and in my geographic region. I was fortunate to interview of number of doulas this past week, and now I think I'll find someone great for myself & my husband to work with. My advice, besides avoiding this woman, is to look carefully at your doula's background. Look for people who have had professional jobs, that involve being paid by other people, to be at a specific place, at a specific time, and have held those jobs for years. It really filters out the flakes. I'll also add that she was a doula for a friend of mine, which is why I contacted her in the first place. My friend was satisfied w/ working with her, as are some of these other reviewers, but none of that amounts to anything if she flakes on you in this manner and doesn't show up for your appointments or birth. She also didn't know my address and misspelled my name on both the check (she did return my deposit) and the envelope. You'd think that if she had ever been serious about being my doula, she would have recorded basic information like that about me somewhere. In fact, I think the reason that she didn't tell me earlier about her change in plans was that she had lost my contact information and details about my birth entirely - I probably jogged her memory as to my entire existence when I emailed her out of the blue. Ah. In her apology below, she misspelled my name, again. Hardly the worst thing she did, but it is funny that I mentioned that in the context of her being a flake above). Also, after I posted this review a few of her personal friends started sending me nasty messages on yelp. Lovely. read more

I hired Erica because I wanted to limit unnecessary medical interventions during birth. With her education and guidance, my husband and I decided we would plan for home birth. I was able to deliver both of our babies naturally, at home. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Erica, who directly helped create these amazing, beautiful experiences. Even though my midwife had an assistant present, and my husband is a firefighter/EMT, my "birth team" would not have been complete without Erica. While the midwife's primary job is to ensure the baby's health and ensure a smooth, safe delivery, the doula's primary job is provide comfort and support to the mom, and techniques that ease delivery and help create a memorable, pleasant birth experience. Erica does that job extremely well. She is an experienced and skilled professional. She's also highly intuitive in the way she reads cues to determine where/when she is most needed and when to provide space to the mom, partner, and midwife/doctor. For example, when I hit a wall during transition with my first baby (I stopped progressing at 7 cm and was having a rough time overall), she was the first to subtly and confidently suggest changes that would help restore me to calm, including spending some time outside in the sun listening to music, trying positions that would increase hip opening, breathing exercises, showering, etc. Everything progressed beautifully after that. She also provided support and rest for my husband, who certainly needed it, especially the first time around with my 27-hour labor. Whether you are just exploring the idea of hiring a doula, or ready to hire someone, contact Erica. She is a wealth of knowledge on many birthing topics and can help you on your path! read more

I hired Erica a little late in my pregnancy, I was about 7 months along and I'm extremely glad I did. My pregnancy went very smoothly up until my 8th month. I started having issues with my blood pressure and I was in and out of the hospital for 3 weeks before my son was born. I wanted to limit the amount of medical interventions and I felt I was being pressured by doctors to be induced at 37 weeks, and I didn't feel we were ready. Erica was so helpful in supporting me and assisting me to make the decision I felt was right for me and my baby. She is extremely knowledgable about pregnancy, birthing, and women's bodies. She came with me to a couple of doctors appointments, asked the doctor many questions I would have had no clue to ask and was a wonderful advocate for me and my birth plan. Erica was readily available whenever I had a question or concern, she was always prompt at returning a text or a phone call. She was a calming presence towards the final months of my birth, always reminding me to take deep breaths and that I was doing a fantastic job. She was also very supportive for me postpartum with a helpful visit to my home and providing me with valuable resources. I highly recommend Erica and I would hire her again if I got pregnant again. read more

My wife gave birth to our first daughter last October. In her plight to have a natural birth, my wife studied all the literature that exists on this planet pertaining to child birth (or so it seemed anyway). She also immersed herself in the oral tradition...picking the brain of all moms who crossed her path. At four months, she decided that she would need a doula to assist in the voyage to motherhood. In keeping with her maniacal adherence to comprehensive exploration, my wife unearthed every identifiable doula in the Bay Area, researched them, screened them, then invited the short listed chosen few (roughly a dozen) to our home for face to face meetings. Erica emerged as the chosen ONE! We met several great doulas in the process but ultimately, it was the combination of Erica's extensive experience (over 120 births), broad knowledge base (trained with Ina May), calm and pleasant demeanor, great listening skills, and balances approach that separated her from the pack. Overall, we just felt really comfortable and confident with her. We were not disappointed with our decision! Erica spent time with my wife at our home in advance of the birth, helping to prepare for the big day. She coached both my wife and I on numerous techniques and practices to facilitate a natural birth. She helped my wife create a birth plan while simultaneously coaching us on addressing the unexpected. The made herself readily available to my wife in the weeks leading up to the birth, anticipating needs and addressing questions as they arose. Erica was an angel on the day of the birth. She kept in regular phone contact with us while in early labor prior to going to the hospital. She was a reassuring voice and a wise coach shepherding us through the incredible experience. She met us promptly at the hospital as we arrived (offered to meet us beforehand, but we opted for her to meet us once at the hospital). Once at the hospital, the intensity of my wife's contractions started to increase significantly, and I was sure glad that Erica was there! This is were she truly shined! She knew all the phases, signs and symptoms my wife was experiencing and comforted her with such sincerity and grace. She was extremely nurturing and knew just how to read my wife, consoling her lovingly but also challenging her when appropriate. She also helped me to be at my best and coached us as a couple as we strove to optimize the birthing process. Having Erica by out side leading up to and during the birth of our child gave us the courage, comfort, reassurance, and toolkit we needed to persevere with grace. We HIGHLY recommend her. read more

My wife and I had our first child in Feb. An honestly, we had no idea what to expect during the process. We knew my wife wanted to have a natural birth. Enter Erica. She is a Doula and a registered massage therapist. And really chill. It was great to have Erica looking out for us, helping talk through what to expect, and what was happening. She stayed in the room with us while my wife was pushing. I was afraid that a Doula would be "in the way", but nothing could be further from the truth. Erica was very conscious of when we needed space, and when we needed guidance. She was available through out the pregnancy, during the birth and after. It was really great having Erica with us, helping us through the process. And yes, my wife did have a natural birth and our daughter is super cute! Thanks Erica. If someone is not sure if they want a Doula or not, I would recommend that they get one. If they are looking for a recommendation, I would be happy to recommend Erica! read more

I have now had my baby and it was so great to have Erica there at the hospital with us. Things got a bit crazy when we got to the hospital in the middle of the night and had to wait for the doctor to arrive. At some point my husband had to hold some medical equipment because the nurses were shorthanded. I think Erica was coming from further away, but she managed to get to the hospital before the doctor. The moment Erica arrived we all took a deep breath and felt like we have a good support system with her. Erica has super helpful during labor giving me tips on how to cope. It was also great having her as kind of insurance policy. Whatever was happening, I knew that I was in the optimal position to help me have the labor I wanted, so I didn't have to think and could just focus on getting the baby out. When it was all done and I asked for food Erica produced a whole plate of food out of nowhere (at 5am). She also stayed with us until we were all settled and ready to rest. I'm very glad we hired Erica, she was worth it for calm alone that she brought with her. read more

Erica was not just a doula for my first delivery, she was a friend, advocate, and a source of support, advice and comfort. She gives amazing pre natal and post partum massages too. She made me feel at ease when I was anxious or emotional. Her support and care continued even after delivery. Hiring her as my doula was the the best thing I did! read more

Trained on "The Farm" by Ina May Gaskin, Erica is super informative and centered, she was great to have with us during a 25 hour birth. My SO was further along in her pregnancy than most when a doula is hired, but we are more than happy we decided to do so. read more

This is now the second time I hired Erica to be my doula and yes, she was fantastic! My first experience with birth was beautiful but left me with some fear around active labor and some post delivery issues. When I contacted Erica a few months before my due date to talk about these reservations that I had, she was so supportive! She provided me with SO many resources - comic strips, articles, videos, websites, texts, phone chats - all to ease my tension around having a natural birth for the 2nd time. I already trusted her from my fabulous experience the first time around that I was able to quickly fall into that dynamic with her, 3 years after our first experience with her. Erica is extremely sensitive and compassionate. She understands the stresses and anxiety that a pregnant woman can have and supports with the utmost gentle words. Erica always told me to trust myself and gave me the confidence to trust that I could handle a natural birth again! My birth was intense but once I resolved to do i naturally, everything fell into place. Erica was there to support me even during the post birth procedures (stitches). I will never forget having her in those early vulnerable moments right after birth. Erica was also so wonderful as a post-partum doula. She came over to check on me, provide support for PPD related matters, centering and grounding me. I am so grateful to her for her love and support in my journey as a new mom. I highly recommend to her to anyone in search of a birth doula or a post part doula! read more

I would highly recommend Erica as your doula. My husband was on the fence about paying for a doula, he wasn't sure that he would feel comfortable with a "stranger" at the birth, but once he met Erica he leaned over to me and said, "she is hired!" Erica was very professional at our first meeting and for our second meeting, I actually went into labor that day, and she never left me, actually drove me to the hospital while my husband finished up at work and met us there. She encouraged me to acheive all my birthing goals that we had discussed and I so had a natural childbirth with no epidural and a perfectly vibrant healthy girl. There are so many questions surrounding your first baby and I felt I could ask Erica anything, she even gave me references and a book to borrow. Erica followed up with us many times after the birth and continues to make a phone call once in a while. She is a sweet, loving and genuine person and I was honored to have her help us through the most amazing expierence of our lives. read more

At 37 weeks with a breech baby I was really anxious and stressed wanting to avoid a C-section. I felt so much better after meeting with Erica via Google Hangouts. She really listened to me, offered a wealth of specific resources, and answered all my questions. She helped me identify questions I didn't even know I had, and I left with a concrete plan that made me feel much calmer and in control of my situation emotionally and physically. I can't recommend her enough! read more

Erica could of not been a better choice for my husband and I. After some things not going the way we wanted them in our first birth we were looking for a solution the second time around. We met Erica and BOTH were very comfortable with her. She was very respectful of our relationship, desires and beliefs around our birth experience. I would highly recommend her to anyone. weather you are looking for a person to help guide you or just someone to be there as a support. Many people ask why would you need a doula well she is the one person in the room that is totally focused on what you are your partner want out of the experience. read more

I hired Erica to support my VBAC after interviewing multiple potential doulas in the area. She immediately stood out from the rest due to her level of experience (including with VBACs), immediate insight after listening to my first birth story, and natural, authentic style. Leading up to the birth, Erica offered multiple resources to help me prepare mentally and physically for the VBAC (podcasts, research, videos, chiropractic care, exercises, etc.), and met with my husband and I in our home and over google hangouts. Moving to the main event, Erica was absolutely instrumental to the success of my VBAC. She helped me labor at home confidently for far longer than I would have otherwise been able to - and created an extremely positive, memorable experience despite my being in a great deal of pain. The same was true at the hospital, where she created a positive, calming yet energetic environment that was true to what we wanted. She also served as my advocate and encouraged me to ask critical questions of the medical staff that if not asked, could have created an alternate outcome. Once at the pushing phase, Erica was ready with coaching and encouragement, essential oils, and honey sticks to keep me going. She also took amazing photos of the birth. Importantly, she and my husband partnered together beautifully throughout - and I could not have asked for a more supportive team in the birth of our perfect baby girl. read more

Erica was the doula for the delivery of our first baby, and hiring her was one of the best decisions we have ever made. She was incredibly responsive and warm from the very first time I contacted her via her website. We hit it off right away, and this was really important to me, given that she would be involved in a very intimate moment in our lives. We met in person once and then stayed in close contact through the day of my labor. I faced some complications near the end of my pregnancy, and she helped us navigate them with great poise. During the labor and delivery, she helped me relax, and I truly believe her efforts gave me the stamina to stay energized through the whole process, which involved some unexpected and truly scary moments as well. I knew we hit the jackpot with Erica when my husband, who tends to rely heavily on developments in science and the medical profession, said hiring her was crucial in our labor and delivery process. What's more, Erica has continued to actively stay in touch with me during the postpartum phase, a time I've quickly come to realize deserves the label "fourth trimester." Overall, we highly recommend Erica without any reservations! read more

Erica worked in tandem with Ilana Pearlman for my birth: Ilana supported me though the night before, which meant Erica was nice and fresh for supporting me on the day of my daughter's birth: an arrangement I'd definitely recommend, as I had two excellent doulas who were well rested. She was very knowledgeable and gave excellent support for both myself and my husband, and I would thoroughly recommend her. read more

Erika is a wonderful doula! I am convinced she is the reason I was able to have a natural childbirth experience with no drugs. She is confident, compassionate, and smart. She worked so well with both my husband and the doctors at the hospital. I felt in very capable hands and believe having her as my doula was the best decision I made regarding my birth plan. read more