I had a great experience working with Paula for post-partum doula services. Would highly recommend: - great with my baby, notices everything from reflux to stuffy nose. She made suggestions to make things better but doesn't push (e.g., bottle to use) - excellent communication and reliable. Quick to reply, always on time, she even sends out schedules and reminders so i know when she's coming - care about mom's wellbeing and about giving me enough sleep and proactive with offering suggestions so i can squeeze in more sleep - carrot approved doula which made reimbursements so easy! When carrot required additional non-standard info, she provided it promptly read more

I had a mixed experience. Overall I felt like my experience with Paula as a birth doula could have been better. Pros: -She has years of experience although I do not think she knew the doctor delivering my baby or the nurses on staff -She can encapsulate your placenta so it is one less person to coordinate with. -She is excellent with email and text Summary of my experience: My water broke 2 weeks early so I don't remember getting my second pre-natal session. I was a bit rattled the day my water broke but worked hard to keep my composure began cancelling my appointments (dr appointments, massage, acupuncture, etc). It was 8am and I know Paula is a night owl so I didn't want to wake her just yet. I messaged her at 10am letting her know my water broke and telling her I purposely waited so I didn't wake her up. I'm very sensitive to "bothering" people so I think I wanted her to reply with "no, no, it's not a bother, wake me, I'm here for you" . When I didn't get that, I think my subconscious brain felt like I had to be fully convenient for her. Paula and I went back and forth with scheduling over text to determine when she would meet us at the hospital. After checking in with me in the hospital, she said she would leave and come back when I was in active labor. She left us the TENS unit but did not give us a demonstration or directions on how to use it.In that vulnerable state, a nice gesture like leaving the TENS unit was interpreted by me as "leaving me" because we didn't know how to use the machine. Paula told me to call her when I was in "active labor". Even though I took a birth class, when I was actually going through labor I wasn't paying attention to when I was transitioning into active labor... I was too busy being in labor. Finally, a random nurse who was taking over the break shift for my nurse asked me if I had a doula. When I responded I did, she said, "well, you should call her already". When Paula arrived I was in full blown labor. My eyes were closed and I was concentrating on the contractions. She made three comments right away that threw me off and created uncomfortable feelings in me. The first was asking how my husband was doing in supporting me during my contractions. Going in, I was concerned about how my husband was going to do, however, during actual birth, that's not the time to ask for a critique. This was a time when he and I needed to be completely united. Luckily we were. I felt Paula's comment was divisive even though I'm sure she didn't mean it like that. Next, she told me the TENS unit was on full blast and she lowered it. I didn't respond but in my mind I was upset because I felt like, well, how are we supposed to know how to use it and aren't you supposed to be here? We were doing the best we could. The third comment was her telling me I should have contacted her earlier. A lot happened and happened quickly when she left the hospital. I knew that she had appointments because she told me about her busy day in the morning when we were trying to determine when she'd meet me at the hospital. Again, I'm not one to bother people so I never felt comfortable calling her. I never knew when the "right" time was until a nurse said--CALL. When I was pushing, Paula was holding up my leg. I felt very self-conscious about this, even during the worst part of my pain, because I don't like to burden people. I gained a lot of weight and my legs were swollen and very heavy. Paula mentioned as she was holding my leg that she recently had surgery. My first thought was, "oh no, I don't want to hurt her" and my second thought was "stop thinking about anything other than giving birth". I feel with Paula's years of experience, these kind of comments came as a surprise. Pregnant women are already so hormonal and sensitive why say anything that can be misunderstood? The day after my birth, Paula dropped off the encapsulated placenta. I was grateful she did that so quickly. She asked me how my baby was doing. I started answering her question in detail when she stopped me because she needed to go. She had somewhere to be. On the one hand, I get that she had plans since I delivered early. However, I was also under the impression she did not have a packed life because birth is so unpredictable. I think for future births, it would be helpful for her to have time for them during the days she is in the hospital; especially for first time moms like myself. Paula got very, very busy as soon as I gave birth and it became challenging to schedule a post partum meeting. After Paula rescheduled a bit and delayed reaching out, I finally cancelled just because I was so darn sleepy. I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore I was so sleep deprived. So, overall, when hiring a birth doula, you really need to know yourself so you can make sure there is a match. read more

This review is a long time coming. Paula helped deliver our first baby in July of 16. First, I cannot recommend Paula enough. When we met she had a wonderful presence about her. Her overall energy was a great match for what I was looking for in a delivery coach. She supported me and aided my husband in supporting me as well. Paula was a wonderful advocate during delivery, she was able to keep me focused, communicate with the medical staff (like she's REALLY ready to push) and help answer questions (like should they put a monitor on my baby's scalp or not). Everything happened so quickly so it was really nice to have someone so experienced on our side. If you're looking for a doula work with Paula. I plan to again. read more

I had a natural, unmedicated birth this past November. It was a rollercoaster, which started with a last minute (but scheduled) c-section do to a face presentation. I was able to turn my baby at the last minute after doing some exercises suggested by Paula that I had also learned in my birthing class. I ended up going into labor the next day! Paula had an inkling that it could happen this way (I had my membranes swept), so she was nice enough to stay with a doula friend in Redwood City. She didn't want to risk being stuck in rush hour traffic and miss out on my birth (I was already 6 cm...and somehow not feeling contractions). I won't go into a lot of detail, or this might just become the longest review ever. But let me just detail the important things: Paula was SO SUPPORTIVE to me and my husband throughout the ups and downs of my birth. She had a very positive outlook that really kept me going! I think she also helped to keep him calm too with her knowledge of our options and what was going on during the entire experience. She was always ready with new positions and suggestions for how to make it through the next contraction. Paula took photos and even a video of the birth. We had told her ahead of time that a video wasn't necessary, but she suggested we do it anyway and could always delete it later. We couldn't, however, go back and get video if we changed our mind afterwards. I'm so glad we have this moment. It's a bit graphic, but it's pretty special! She encapsulated my placenta and had it to me just days after my birth. Paula is a one stop shop! :) If you need a doula, I can't recommend Paula enough. Should we have baby #2, she'll be the first person I call!! read more

I am soooo glad we hired Paula to be our birth doula! She helped us to make our labor exactly the way we wanted it to be - natural, drug-free and manageable. Paula was there for me for weeks before the labor started, then during labor, and afterwards as well. Paula taught me how to get through contractions using natural ways like massage, rocking, shower/tub, breathing, etc. She also took care of my husband - made sure he slept when he could, ate, and got some rest during my 28-hour long labor :) Paula is awesome - I highly recommend her to anyone, especially, first-time moms. I don't know what I would do without her during labor! I would probably not have the experience I wanted to have... read more

We used Paula as our birth doula & she was absolutely amazing. We met with her two times before labor which helped us be informed as to options for pain management and positioning for labor. She gave great recommendations on pre-labor stress relief and activities to help get the baby ready in the right position. For actual labor, Paula not only made me feel more relaxed but also my husband. As first time parents we could read everything possible to prepare but since each and every labor is unique it was great having Paula there to coach us through each step. The things that Paula did that stand out as most helpful were 1. Use of the TENs machine 2. Paula coaching me through the correct breathing technique during the pushing part of labor- her help lead to a very quick delivery as this part ended up only taking 15 minutes 3. Paula's recommendation of prelabor activities to get my body ready I highly highly recommend Paula for a great labor experience to all moms- whether they be new moms or moms growing their existing family! read more

Paula was amazing from the first moment we met her. She was prompt in her reply and just so relaxed and knowledgeable when she came to our place for a first meeting that I told my husband, "She's the one!" We ended up having her and Lucia by our side -- so lucky!! Most of the experience is quite a blur, if I'm to be honest. What I do remember is that when the labor pains came, only Paula's deep massages on my back actually made the pain subside. The tens machine was great in the beginning too. I think my husband's hands would have broken if it weren't for her and Lucia taking shifts during my contractions. Since I only had Paula, Lucia, and my husband at my side -- no other family or friends -- it meant a lot having two women there with all their experience, calm, humor, and knowledge. I wasn't as comfortable with all of the hospital staff, so it was great to have Paula and Lucia to communicate with me and on my behalf so that I didn't feel pressured into anything by staff that kept suggesting I have various interventions despite my requests. At one point, my baby had her umbilical cord around her neck and instead of freaking me out by letting me know, the staff, doulas and my husband agreed that I needed to keep my muscles as relaxed as possible and get my baby out asap. These women kept their game faces on and kept me motivated and pushing while also taking care of my husband who noticeably paled (I've never seen that happen to him! I thought it was just because he was shocked at seeing our baby come out down south, hehe.) but bravely supported me as he saw our baby arrive into the world safely and healthy as can be! After ~8-9 hours of labor, we had our healthy girl, Olivia on May 30, 2013. I would ask Paula to be my doula again in a split second if we were to have another child -- maybe down the line?? ;) Thank you Paula and Lucia -- you gals were PHENOMENAL and part of an experience that I will forever hold dear to my heart. Let us know if you're ever back this side of town! read more

Paula came highly recommended (by my midwives at BAM, by my birthing class instructor, and by a friend) so my expectations were already pretty high. And she didn't disappoint! We were on the fence about hiring a doula, until about week 37 when I started to freak out a little. Lucky for us, Paula was still available. She is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate... she knew exactly when to do what and was by my side the whole time with helpful suggestions. I also kind of fell in love with the tenz machine (I'm a fan)! She was a great cheerleader and my husband's hero (he admits that it was a great relief to have a professional there - it really takes the pressure off the other people in the room). Only thing I would have done differently is to hire her sooner in my pregnancy. read more

Paula encapsulated my placenta. Great experience! She was easy to work with, and the pills were great!

This review is long overdue. Paula helped us deliver our daughter, all naturally, over a 2yrs ago. I can't thank her enough for her calming presence. I would definitely have not made it through naturally without her. read more

Unfortunately I wasn't able to book with Paula due to her being booked for the day of my delivery but I do want to comment on how impressed I was with my email correspondence with her. I had emailed her to see if she was available and asked if she was in my insurance network which apparently doesn't make any sense (I am new to this country and constantly befuddled by insurance here!). She responded that she was booked for my date but sent me 5 referral midwives and then even took the time to explain how midwives bill and insurance coverage. I can imagine if she is that kind and thorough to a stranger whom she is ultimately not making any money off of that she must be an amazingly caring doula to those lucky enough to book with her. read more

I met Paula on a Wednesday at 24 weeks pregnant. She was our first in person interview for a Doula but we immediately knew that she was a perfect match for us.At that point we had not officially hired her but intended to get back to her within the next week to sign papers and officially make her our doula. The following Friday I started bleeding and rushed to the hospital. On the way there I called Paula and told her that I was going to the hospital and was concerned because I was bleeding. At this point I assumed she would think I didn't need her services anymore. I walked into the labor and delivery department and was immediately admitted by the time I got in to a bed Paula walked in and immediately got to working finding out what was going on, if we were ok. She was comforting us and reassuring us. The hospital was really busy and the nurses had been working for 18 hours straight and we're not at their best. They were very burnt out and we're not listening to my concerns about back pain due to my chronic back issues. Paula went into a total mama bear mode and got me a padded bed which they don't normally do for delivery beds. She advocated for me to the staff when I felt like I wasn't being heard and was in pain or when they simply were not listening to me because they were so busy. She would walk to the nurses station and make sure she spoke to somebody and got what I needed. She stayed with us for two days straight Only leaving for a few hours to sleep when I was stable. You have to remember at this point we didn't know each other and I did not hire her or pay her she just showed up and went to work no questions asked! We both did not have parents or siblings to help us. So she was all we had. When they informed us that my son was probably going to come out and they were prepping the OR Paula advised us to get the head of the NICU to speak with us on what to expect. We had so many questions and no one could answer them. 24 weeks is considered viability so what was our baby going to be like, we didn't even know if he would live. After a few hours of waiting Paul's pressed to have someone come speak to us and the head of the NICU came in and told us it was a 50/50 chance and if he lived we should be prepared for him to have severe disabilities. Again Paula reassured us and comforted us. After 36 hours they went to check for dilation and I had a cord prolapse and was rushed for an emergency C-section. They held my husband back and Paula stayed with him and comforted him. I can't imagine what it would have been like for him to be alone at that point. As soon as I was wheeled out into the recovery room Paula raced in with my husband. I asked her to go check on my son in the NICU. And she asked if I was sure because maybe I wanted to see him first and I asked her to go see him and tell me if he was OK. She rushed to the NICU and came back and told me he was OK and he was beautiful. It was the first time I had felt any form of relief and happiness since being in the hospital. Paula stayed with us another day on and off and visited while I recovered and my son was getting stabilized for about 3-4 days till I was discharged. Oh I also forgot, let me go back. Sorry this is hard to write. During all this my doctor was on vacation and the on-call doctor was refusing to come into the hospital even though I was dilated 2 centimeters and then jumped to 4 cm. I didn't know what to do there is no Doctor helping me it was just nurses talking to this on-call doctor on the phone and my baby was so small he could have come out at 5-6 cm if I sneezed. And this doctor would not come in. At that point Paula advised me to demand that the hospitalist,meaning the doctor working at the hospital, take over my care. So I told the nurse I wanted the hospitalist now. The doctor I saw was Dr Richards. She was kind and immediately began taking care of me. If I didn't demand the hospitalist I believe me and my son could've possibly died. We both had acquired sepsis from the hospital and needed multiple blood transfusions and that's why we were both in distress but the on-call doctor was still refusing to come in. Paula's advice saved me and my sons life. My son is now two years old with no delays and is a very happy healthy boy. We had an unusual situation and Paula handled it amazingly. I can't imagine how much more wonderful it would've been if we had a normal delivery and were able to get the pictures and the memories captured during labor and delivery. I highly recommend Paula! She is so compassionate, loving and competent at what she does. This is so hard for me to write but Paula deserves this so much. She is amazing. read more

I had a mixed experience. On the one hand, Paula was encouraging, supportive, and helped me achieve a natural birth. She helped me understand what was happening at each stage of labor, she reassured me, she pointed out things that needed to get done (for example, when the nurse hadn't set up the delivery supplies, she made sure that got done), and she anticipated my needs (water to drink, etc.) That was all very helpful. But there were a few things that disappointed me: - One of the reasons I hired a doula was to help be my advocate in the hospital. And it turned out a I needed an advocate - I had a terrible nurse, who ignored me for most of my labor, was very negative/discouraging, and didn't even carry out her basic duties. She soured the whole birth experience, which makes me sad even to this day. Looking back, I should have insisted the hospital give me a different nurse. But this didn't occur to me at the time, and Paula never suggested it. Perhaps Paula didn't want to antagonize the hospital staff, but I really needed her to be on my side and tell me my options. - She didn't help me stand up for my birth plan or push for safe care. In my birth plan, I requested intermittent or wireless monitoring so I could move around during labor. At first, the nurse hooked me up to a wired monitor, thereby immobilizing me. Later, the nurse didn't bother monitoring me at all. I wish Paula had encouraged us to speak up about this. There was no need to accept unsafe care just because the nurse couldn't be bothered to find the wireless monitor or dig out a Doppler. (The hospital later admitted the care was unsafe and didn't meet standards.) - The biggest disappointment came after the birth. Paula had been very responsive leading up to the birth, answering my emails and questions quickly. After the birth, that all changed. I had some follow-up questions, and her response time became very slow or nonexistent. It took many emails and almost a month just to arrange a short phone conversation. I felt deserted. I ended up getting a lot of my post-birth questions answered by other doulas, since Paula didn't seem interested in responding to me after the birth was over. read more

I'd like to update my review of Paula...while we loved having her at our birth, she never followed up with an in-home visit, which was desperately needed (post partum and troubles breast feeding). We eagerly responded that we'd love to have her come by (twice), but then I never heard from her again until I got an email about her new nail decor business. Truly disappointed after a good birth experience. read more

I highly recommend Paula. I only wish I had her for my first birth as well. After my first son I had made up my mind that second time around I will have s doula. Paula was recommended to me by my obg at PAMF. I wanted someone who would work well with the doctors so I decided to ask my dr for a recommendation. Paula is very professional and was always available when I needed. She helped me labor and deliver my son. For anyone looking for a good birth experience look no further :). read more

We were lucky to have Paula on our birth team. Once contractions started, it increased in intensity and frequency so fast that my wife and I didn't have time to regroup and collect ourselves. To have Paula tell us that "it's normal" and "you're doing great" was so reassuring, and to have someone so experienced with us during labor at home helped us calm our nerves and likely shortened the entire duration. My wife birthed our first child naturally and without drugs after 5 hours of labor. There were multiple scary moments that I'm really not sure what we would've done without Paula's support. Labor aside, she provided incredible emotional support during the months leading up to the due date. read more

I had a great experience working with Paula when I delivered my first child and wanted her there again when I had my second child. Everyone says that the second child comes out fast, but my labor lasted twenty hours. Paula was once again crucial in helping me and my husband make good decisions and achieve an epidural free, natural birth which was my goal. She has lots of experience with deliveries at El Camino hospital in Mountain View and knows the staff, so she was able to request an amazing nurse for me. She has also learned a great acupressure massage since I worked with her last time which really helped me get through the contractions. I can not recommend Paula highly enough. read more

My wife and I found Paula enormously supportive and comforting through all the surprises that our daughter's birth threw our way. First time parents, I strongly recommend hiring a doula. We're really glad we chose Paula. read more

Paula was amazing! She was easy to contact and very flexible in her appointments. I had a very long labor as I had to be induced and my actual labor did not start until the third day. She would come every day and check on me and was there at the right times. She did not mind the long labor and was available when we needed her the most. She knows what she is doing and she is fun, supportive and a caring person. She is also laid back and made us feel very comfortable which helped the labor go smoothly. I would definitely recommend her. read more

Choosing to work with Paula was one of the best decisions that I made for my delivery. I delivered my baby one month before due date and I really appreciate that Paula made herself available to assist me at such a short notice. She provided so much support at each stage of labor and her suggestions were invaluable. Pain relief options suggested by her helped me a lot. In short, she is a true professional and at the same time very friendly and supportive person. I would highly recommend Paula for anyone looking for delivery doula service in Bay area. read more

I am glad we had Paula during the delivery of my baby son! It was our first pregnancy and my husband and I decided that we wanted to hire a doula because we felt we wouldn't know what to do when the contractions started. We met Paula at the meet the doulas night and I immediately liked her, I was looking for someone who had knowledge and experience about births, and who was also warm and compassionate, and we found all of that and more in Paula. She was there when we needed her, answered all our questions over the phone when the contractions started and came to the hospital in the middle of the night when we call her, she gave me massages, helped me to the restroom, talked to my husband while I was resting and gave us advice on what to do when we needed to make a decision about medical procedures, she also explained all the medical terms the nurses and doctors were using and kept us at peace. Paula came to our home when the baby was two weeks old and showed me different positions for breastfeeding, she also sent information about post-partum depression via email. She is reliable and a very nice person, we really liked her and my husband says that he couldn't have done it without her :) read more

We met Paula through a "Meet the Doulas" event at Blossom Birth. She stood out to us at that time as very warm and a good communicator so we asked her to be the doula for the birth of our second child, for which we were attempting a VBAC. Paula has a lot of experience and offered us a lot of great tips prenatally regarding supplements, stretches, etc. that would all help with a successful birth. She also has a TENS machine, which is worth its weight in gold! In addition to two prenatal visits, Paula was available to talk anytime in the weeks before the birth (including via text, which was a big time saver for us). When my water broke and nothing happened contraction-wise, she brought supplements over to our house to both help things get going and protect against infection. When I finally went in to have a non-stress test 24 hours later, she was very helpful in navigating things when another OB (not my own) wanted me to check in to the hospital, which was not what my OB had told me to do. During labor, Paula was absolutely excellent in knowing when to intervene during my contractions and when to do nothing. She suggested different positions to help the baby come down and supported my husband in getting me through. (I should also mention that Paula and my husband got along very well. He was really hesitant about the whole doula thing initially, but he really appreciated having Paula with us before and during the birth.) Eventually, I did have to have a c-section, which was a bummer, but it was because the umbilical cord was wrapped around our little one several times and he was not descending. Paula was very sensitive to our needs; she tactfully suggested that she step out for a minute after the c-section decision so that my husband and I could have some alone time, which we really needed at that moment. She also stayed with me during recovery, texting with my husband, who was with our baby, and giving me updates about exactly what was happening with our new baby. She showed me the pictures that he sent of our guy getting his first bath, etc. This was HUGE for me, since I didn't get to see my first baby at all after my c-section and it really bugged me. She also communicated well with the nurses we had (at Sequoia, best hospital EVER) so that I got to have my baby with me as soon as physically possible. A few days later, when another client was delivering at Sequoia, Paula came to check in on me, which I thought was really nice. Of course, she also came by for a postpartum follow-up, during which she showed me how to use my Moby wrap! Overall, I think she is fabulous; a very skilled and sensitive doula whom I would recommend to anyone, especially a VBAC mom. She understood the extra emotional "baggage" that this group can potentially carry. Her wardrobe of track suits also earns five stars! :) read more

From the first time I met Paula (2 weeks before giving birth), I knew she was the perfect person to be part of my birth team. I had no idea how much having Paula attend my labor would help me. I already had a great team. I had amazing Midwives, my mom, husband and my acupuncturist, why did I need a Doula? Well, Paula was literally with me the whole time. She showed me so many ways to move around to reduce pain. She massaged me (she's really good!), and helped me relax through aromatherapy. She helped me in the tub using hydrotherapy on my back or massaging my legs. She was right next to me holding my hands as I pushed. She would gently yet firmly tell me when to push, when to calm down and when to hold back. It was Paula's voice I remember when I think back to that evening. She helped me achieve my dream of having a natural childbirth. She also helped me for quite some time after the birth (and I needed that support). Paula didn't leave until I was ready to let her go. She really took the pressure off my husband who was able to enjoy being my companion and birth partner. The experience was magical and wonderful for both of us. We will definitely use Paula when we have our next baby. read more

We decided to include a doula in our birth plan because I was unsure whether or not I wanted a medicated or natural birth. I also wanted to spend most of early labor at home, and felt that it would be helpful to have someone there for support. Finally, I didn't feel confident in making informed decisions during labor (with regard to interventions, among other things) and wanted to have someone there who knew the pros and cons of the choices I could be presented with. Paula took on all of these roles. She joined us at home and helped me labor through 5 hours of frequent, painful contractions. She helped us decide when it was time to head to the hospital, and stayed with us as I made the choice to have an epidural. She helped me voice my concerns and state my preferences at a time when I was not able to think very clearly. Most importantly, she was there when my husband needed her support and when I had moments of doubt that I could go through with the late stages of labor. 24 hours after labor began, Paula was there to see our baby girl arrive! We are so grateful to have had her assistance and knowledge, and would recommend her to any expecting mother or couple. read more

Paula helped us during the birth of our first child - she met with us several times prior to the birth to understand our preferences, goals and wishes and despite running on little to no sleep prior to our labor she made every effort and attempt at ensuring I was comfortable, relaxed and progressing. She has a gentle approach and is incredibly supportive. Unfortunately we went into labor just after and before two of her other clients, which is VERY rare! My most memorable two moments were 1) when Paula helped me labor in the middle of the early morning when my husband needed to desperately sleep...i remember thinking i would have been all alone if not for Paula...and 2) Paula suggesting i get into the tub/shower to labor, which was very relaxing and "cleansing"...thanks Paula! read more

Even though we ended up having a planned C section, I wanted to leave this review for Paula cause of the immense help she provided to us while we prepared with the hope of having a natural birth experience. She was very helpful with all our queries and was easily reachable and responsive throughout the pregnancy. My mother was surprised how my face lit up the moment Paula came in during my prep for the C-section. Since Paula herself has had a C, she was very helpful guiding me through what all the steps would feel like. It really helped cause I wasn't as prepared for it. She is a very easy and warm person and that made me feel very comfortable involving her in this very personal experience of ours. We are a very introvert couple and this mattered a lot to us. She has a lot of information and has a good network of friends to get extra information from. Go ahead, hire her as your Doula. read more

We contacted Paula after reading her stellar yelp reviews and are happy to report that she is as wonderful as the other reviews state. As first-time parents, we really had no idea what we were getting into and were naturally somewhat apprehensive about the entire birthing process. From the start, Paula helped alleviate our concerns by providing us with objective information from various viewpoints. We particularly appreciated that she did not push any kind of agenda, but rather answered our questions in a straightforward manner and provided information from multiple sources. She was also great at bringing up and answering questions we did not even know to ask! Paula is also very reliable and more organized and responsive than any of the other doulas we initially contacted. She does two pre-birth meetings and covers a range of topics in these meetings prior to the big day, complete with handouts and links to helpful websites and online videos. Perhaps most importantly, Paula is simply a warm and caring individual and exactly the type of person you want to have on your side during such a uniquely difficult and simultaneously intimate and wonderful experience as childbirth. Finally, we highly recommend her birth photos. She does a wonderful job of tastefully capturing the experience, and the photos are something we already look back at fondly to help remember the whirlwind of the day. read more

While I can't gush about my labor experience...nothing went as we wanted or planned, but that's the beginning of parenthood I guess. I can say that Paula was a great resource, and while I didn't want to hear her tell me after 3-4 days of regular prelabor contractions that I wasn't yet in labor, she was right, and there was nothing I could do to make my daughter come before she was absolutely ready (a full two weeks late)! We probably didn't get to experience Paula's full range of abilities and experience because I was basically strapped down and stuck in one position for the full 37 hours. But it was nice to have one "care giver" be constant throughout, we had 4 different nurses and 4 different midwives because we were there for so long. She was a great advocate for us, and really helped us through a difficult labor that thankfully did not result in a c-section! read more

Even though I had a relatively easy labor, I'm so glad I hired Paula. After my first birth ended in a c-section I was really nervous the second time around. Paula gave me the confidence to successfully have the un-medicated VBAC I was hoping for. At 36 weeks, the baby was breech - Paula was a shoulder to lean on. I ended up having an external version and Paula was in the hospital to help me through it. During the birth, Paula made sure I ate and stayed active despite the delivery nurse who was trying to keep me in the hospital bed. When contractions got stronger, taking a shower, changing positions, and aromatherapy were all very helpful to manage through the pain. After the birth, I was about ready to give up breastfeeding but Paula encouraged me to stick with it - I'm so glad I did and am still breastfeeding my 11 month old son. read more

Paula was a great support during my labor and delivery for both myself and my husband. Her calming presence and experience were very reassuring and her natural pain management techniques allowed me to cope with labor pains without an epidural. I had a natural childbirth without complications and I'm sure that it's in part due to her support for our birth preferences and "bag of tricks" to smooth out the labor and delivery process. She was also helpful and patient at the prenatal and post partum appointments, taking time to answer all our questions thoroughly and with compassion. I would highly recommend her to anyone searching for a birth doula! read more

Paula was absolutely wonderful in every way. We wanted to find a doula who had experience with deliveries at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, who could provide us with advice and support about pain management during labor, and who could empower my husband to be the most helpful. Paula exceeded our expectations on all three fronts. We were so impressed with her experience at LPCH--she knew many of the doctors, nurses, and staff members so was able to help us navigate the facility to have the best experience possible. We ended up loving our nursing staff and had a great experience in the hospital. We particularly loved having Paula as a support person during the times we were alone in the labor/delivery room. We were able to ask her what was happening, what would happen next, and felt much more in control of what was going on. We also loved having Paula come to our house during early labor. I was able to labor at home for 8 hours before going to the hospital. Paula encouraged me to try different positions to relieve some of the pain from my contractions. Paula's calm and in-control demeanor was a perfect balance to our personalities and was exactly what we needed to get through a challenging yet exciting time in our lives. My husband was particularly grateful to have Paula with us. Paula guided us, respected, and supported all of our decisions. We couldn't recommend her more highly! read more