Perspective from a new dad:…read more My wife and I hired Jenny because we felt that she understood our concerns around childbirth; while we knew we'd have great healthcare in the Bay Area, we wanted to make sure we had an advocate for our family in the delivery room (not just agents of the hospital). At first we weren't sure what kind of doula would be right for us, as we were a couple of scientists looking for an experienced hand to guide us through the process, not... hippies. With her calm and gentle demeanor, Jenny was more than accommodating during our initial meeting. Throughout our pregnancy, Jenny provided us the research behind any suggestions she made and wasn't dogmatic about any one approach. As a prospective father, Jenny listened to me and made my concerns heard, too. Of course, I played a much smaller part in the engagement, but I appreciated that I wasn't an afterthought. Jenny was very helpful in giving both of us tips and exercises to do to prepare my wife for childbirth. Where Jenny's services really shined was, of course, during the big event. We called her when my wife started feeling early contractions on a Saturday morning and into the evening (10pm) and throughout the night (2am to 4am). She was responsive to text and phone calls throughout. We went to UCSF to see how dilated my wife was, and unfortunately we found out she wasn't that far along, so we returned home to Oakland. The next morning, things were _really_ picking up. We called Jenny over and my wife's water broke on Jenny's way over. When Jenny arrived, she assessed the situation and said we should call and start heading to a hospital. Then, the hospital recommended we call 911. While I coordinated the paramedics and firefighters that were taking my laboring wife into an ambulance, Jenny was coaching my wife and helping her deal with the intensity of the surges. I would not have been able to give my wife the support she needed without Jenny's help. The paramedics didn't think imminent birth was likely at all, but Jenny trusted my wife's instincts, despite the fact that she wasn't showing the traditional contraction pattern that indicates active labor! Jenny continued to help her through the contractions from the front seat of the ambulance. Ten minutes later, as that ambulance flung open its doors at the hospital, out came our baby's head. One more push and our son was born healthy as my wife was being rolled into the Emergency Department! Jenny helped us have the most wonderful (and adventurous) birth story, and we're so thankful for her help.

Jenny was my doula for the birth of my first child and she was wonderful! To be honest, we really…read moreweren't sure what to expect (I didn't know much about doulas and was paired with her through a volunteer program at my hospital), but was with us for ~12 hours of my home labor (i.e., before I went to the hospital and was able to get pain medications) and made this phase a ton more physically comfortable and mentally manageable. To begin with, Jenny came over for a meet & greet, established expectations, and gave us some sage advice and a few handouts to stew on. She was really good about staying in touch for the last couple of months of my pregnancy, asking for updates after each of my doctor's appointments. She also wanted to know when I started going into labor, making sure that I knew to call her, especially if it was in the middle of the night. She was always super responsive by text, and she took a cab over around 4am when I did go into labor and my contractions got very painful - basically when my hospital said I wasn't far enough to come in yet, and this was a good time to focus on home labor and to call my doula if I had one. For my partner and I, who were completely inexperienced and mentally unprepared for the intensity of the contractions, Jenny was a complete godsend. She guided us in setting up several coping "stations" using various props, like pillows, our yoga ball and a hall banister, which each facilitated different stretches or poses. One thing she excelled at was tracking my contractions and managing my expectations for progress. Another was helping me manage my pain. Specifically, she leveraged her training as a massage therapist to massage my shoulders and back, do these great hip presses, and applied a TENS (electric pulse) Unit to my lower back muscles. All these things together made my last 12 hours before I could go to the hospital much more relaxed and manageable, and helped me keep my energy up for the long stretch ahead of me. Throughout the whole process, Jenny did a great job soothing our minds and my cramping muscles. I highly recommend her as a doula!

I don't usually write reviews, but Dr. Laura truly deserves every word of praise. She's not only an…read morehonest and compassionate practitioner -- she's a miracle worker. My mother has a heart condition and was taking fifteen prescribed medications. After getting through COVID, her strength and energy just weren't the same. We turned to Dr. Laura, who created a customized program and recommended natural supplements. Little by little, my mom improved -- and now she's on just five medications and feeling strong, active, and ready to celebrate her 90th birthday this month! My family's trust in Dr. Laura runs deep. Every time something comes up, my mom says, "Lo, please ask Dr. Laura what supplement I can take for this!" But that's not all. My daughter-in-law had been trying to conceive for years. I encouraged her to see Dr. Laura, and two months later, she and my son showed up with a tiny baby T-shirt -- their way of telling me she was pregnant! I cried tears of joy. Today, our beautiful grandbaby is five years old. Dr. Laura doesn't just treat symptoms -- she restores faith, hope, and balance. Her care has been life-changing for three generations of my family. I can't thank her enough. If you're looking for someone genuine, intuitive, and deeply knowledgeable, please go see Dr. Laura. She's one in a million.

I've been seeing Dr. Laura Brown for over a year, and it has been one of the most amazing…read moreexperiences I've ever had with a healthcare provider. She is truly a healer. Her depth of knowledge, genuine understanding, and compassion set her apart in every way. She has helped me manage my chronic pain and the emotional challenges that come with it, treating both with care and attention. She consistently reinforces positivity and encourages the belief that my body is meant to heal itself. She takes the time to listen and treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. We need more practitioners like her, especially more women in healthcare! Thank you Dr. Laura for all that you do for us women!

Taylor was recommended to us by our friend as well as various Facebook groups. She was super…read morehelpful for the birth of our son at ucsf. The one thing my husband and I loved most about her was her high eq and the ability to read the couple and situation. She was kind and nurturing and always had an answer to support any questions we had. She frequently checked in even when she was on vacation to make sure we were supported. I was also very appreciative of her not being pushy when it came to specific parts of the birth that I had envisioned. She encouraged us to think more holistically about the whole process when we were in the weeds. She helped me through hours of painful contractions which was well worth the money itself but most importantly, she helped my husband through the whole night and supporting him emotionally as he was navigating how to make the best decisions for us as a family. Overall I spent weeks agonizing if I needed a doula for the process and we are so glad we decided on one and that it was Taylor. I'd highly recommend her to our close friends and family should the time come for them as well!

Taylor is simply the best and my wife and I can't recommend her enough…read more We hired Taylor to help us with the birth of our first daughter in December 2022. My wife wanted to try for an unmedicated birth so we thought having the help of a doula would be a good idea. Now on the other side of things we can confidently say that we could not have done it without Taylor. She provided us with amazing support through the several months leading up to birth, a 30 hour labor, and post-partum life. What we loved about Taylor: - Probably the best listener we have ever met - she really worked hard to understand what our goals were and how she could best support them. She always took the time to listen to us intently. - Very knowledgeable about pregnancy, labor, and post-partum life - Taylor is such a wealth of knowledge when it comes to both traditional medicine and holistic medicine. She was able to answer so many of our questions across so many different areas. She shined at helping us understand the pros & cons of various decisions we had to make or decisions that we anticipated we might have to make. We really trusted her judgement by the time labor came around given how much experience she has and how deeply she understands pregnancy & labor. - Never pushes recommendations - Taylor never pushed recommendations or advice on us unless we specifically asked what she thought we should do. We loved this about her. She simply presents the facts and what she's seen in her experience and helps guide you to the decision that you want to make. This approach was refreshing and helped us build so much trust in her. - Willing to help at any time - even after our time with Taylor was over, she took the time to answer calls & texts from us as we were adjusting to new parent life. - Amazing endurance - during my wife's 30 hour labor Taylor helped me provide counter-pressure to my wife, kept her spirits high, had great comfort measure suggestions, and subbed in when I needed a quick break. Having Taylor with us during labor helped my wife achieve her goal of having a fully unmedicated labor. - Kindness - Taylor is one of the kindest people we know. She brought us awesome treats & thoughtful things throughout the entire time we worked with her. Overall we had the best experience with Taylor. If you are looking for a doula I would highly recommend talking to Taylor and you will quickly see why so many people have great experiences with her. If you see this Taylor, thank you again and you're the best!

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.

After having a few friends recommend working with a pelvic floor therapist before giving birth, I…read moreset up an appointment with Charisse for a perineal preparation visit during my third trimester. This was the best thing that I did to prepare for giving birth. Charisse was incredibly professional and supportive. I learned more about the anatomy of delivering a baby, my body, and what my preferences would be for laboring during my appointment with Charisse than the birthing class I took through the hospital. I came away from our appointment excited for my labor and delivery. I highly recommend working with Charisse during your third trimester.

I met Charisse (Dr. Charisse Balance, .. but so unpretentious and assimilating - she never…read moreintroduced herself as such), .. as my Anatomy Instructor, in my Yoga Teacher Training, at Point Reyes Yoga, in Point Reyes Station, California - with Nicholas Giacomini (MC Yogi) & Amanda Giacomini (10,000 Buddhas). As I helped Charisse with her artificial skeleton assistant friend, (sweetly dubbed 'Bone-ita') :-) from her car to class .. I already was falling in love with her. She was (and is still .. so much so), cute, sweet, smart, approachable, .. used words to subtly let me know she was 'getting' me, .. and gorgeous. It's ridiculous to mention her appearance twice, .. but really, .. it's no wonder she was selected as the model throughout and on the cover of this new awesome yoga book that was just published. S/o to : "Yoga Myths: What You Need to Learn and Unlearn for a Safe and Healthy Yoga Practice", by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D. (I have no affiliation) Speaking of yoga - she practices it, teaches it, .. and lives it. AND, she integrates her years of education, skill, and professional and personal life INTO it, .. beautifully and interestingly intertwined with physiotherapy. A month.ish later, while still hanging out in the Bay Area, CA (I'm a current Nomad, .. from Chicago), .. the chronic pain I've experienced for decades (I've been diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease, .. and all the sh*t that goes along with that, throughout the body), .. took a turn toward the super wtf acute version pain. So I contacted Charisse to schedule a phone consultation. I texted with her, while I was at Stanford Hospital, .. but then spoke with her when out. Talking with her was like doing so with a good Friend, .. the smart, reassuring, helpful kind. She incorporated an individualized holistic approach .. sort of augmenting the treatment suggested by the hospital and doctors, .. and addressed my body, mind and spirit. As a woman, mother, yogini, *and* physiotherapist, - she was able to share these offerings with an understanding of the science of movement, biomechanics, kinesiology and anatomy. She seemed to have a respect for the entirety of my person - not just the diagnosis. She was sensitive to the fact that other factors may have contributed to my physical and emotional challenges (shout out to trauma, .. *&* fascia which is likely sort of storing it - my words). And then offered ways to incorporate various tools to work with that - including the suggestion that I look into other teachers and practitioners (very cool), .. and do my own independent research. I love Charisse. And appreciate her dearly - especially for her calming, assuring demeanor, .. during my time of need. And would recommend her for Yoga, Yoga Instruction, or Holistic Health / Physiotherapy Consulting .. anyday.

Alex is easily one of the most impactful humans I've ever had the pleasure to come across. I was…read morelucky to have been referred to her by a mom in my pregnancy and new mother's group. She has been an invaluable resource and support on my journey into becoming a single mother of 3. I found her presence incredibly calm and healing, she was so intuitive and really helped me do a lot of soul work. Even her singing voice is captivating and comforting, lulling me into quiet tears. She helped uplift me from a dark place into a transformed mother, self assured and capable. I had suffered through postpartum depression two times before, and I was fortunate to have evaded it this time around with the tremendous care of Alex. Thank you for your profound impact on my family.

Absolutely LOVE Alex! We gave birth to our first baby girl last month completely unmedicated thanks…read moreto Alex. She is extremely knowledgable, takes time to explain every single detail and gives you the information to make decisions for yourself. I was a skeptic at first before hiring a doula, but thanks to my husband's encouragement, it was the best investment spent for our baby. We've also taken all the foundational courses at the hospitals, but none of them compare to just one session with Alex. Alex is hands on, answers any and all your questions quickly and is the best advocate for you and your health and the health of your baby. From the moment we met Alex, we knew she loves her job. When your contractions start, your immediate response is to go to the hospital, but thanks to Alex, she kept me calm at home for an extra 8hrs, well fed and well hydrated and knew exactly when is the right time to go. She provided all the right massages and calming techniques from start to finish. We can't be more grateful to have found her and we'll definitely be using her for all her post delivery services, she is simply the most amazing woman you'll meet.

This review is long overdue…read more I had my first child in Dec 2023. I worked with Chandra as my postpartum doula and the experience was nothing short of amazing! She was like a second mother / sister to me the entire time. The first few weeks of postpartum were truly a rollercoaster ride of emotions but working with Chandra made it so much easier. I could ask her any question and knew that there was no judgement whatsoever. I felt so comfortable around her within a few days. She was the blessing I needed during my postpartum phase and I am truly grateful that our paths crossed. She is a wonderful human being with such a beautiful aura. The treats she made were so tasty and healthy. When I mentioned to her how I loved a certain treat she made, she made me the same one a few days later as a surprise in addition to what she already made for me. On our last day, she gave me a sacred thread to bless me and my family which I am still wearing a whole year later! I am super thankful to her for taking care of me so well during my postpartum phase. she is truly a gem!

Chandra and Soi have been the most incredible support system during my postpartum period. My first…read morepregnancy and postpartum were very difficult and I knew I wanted to take a different approach for my second baby. Chandra and Soi created a custom support package for me and worked closely with me to craft a plan to make sure that postpartum with my second baby was a more positive experience. While I was still pregnant, Chandra and Soi provided bodywork that really helped me prepare for the birth. Chandra also took the time to educate me on the Ayurvedic approach to postpartum (nutrition, bodywork, and healing in general). After my baby was born, Chandra delivered an incredible food and drink package to UCSF so that I could focus on my recovery from day 1. She was also in touch in the lead up and during the delivery providing emotional support and encouragement. After I came home from the hospital, Soi arrived and cared for me and my baby for 8 weeks. The level of care that was provided went above and beyond my expectations. Soi truly took care of me, so that I could be there for my new baby and toddler and be present with them to enjoy this precious time together. Soi cooked nutritious and warming meals for me, she provided daily bodywork to help my sore muscles, and she was there every step of the way encouraging me. She quickly became a very close friend that I knew that I could rely on. She was incredibly hands on with my newborn, making sure that I had time to rest and recover. It was such a relief to have someone in my home that I felt like I could trust, and who I genuinely believed cared about my and my baby's well being. Over the course of these 8 weeks Chandra was also always on call and available to provide additional support, advice, and encouragement. After the 8 week period I have continued bodywork with Chandra and it has made such a positive impact on my continued recovery. Working with Chandra and Soi was the best investment I could have ever made in my physical and mental health and my recovery. From the moment you meet Chandra you can immediately tell that she loves caring for others, and finds joy and meaning in helping other people. Soi also has a very positive and nurturing energy and puts 100% of her heart into her work. Every thing that Chandra and Soi do comes from a place of love and wanting to connect and care for new moms. I highly recommend both Chandra and Soi, and would work with them again with no hesitation.

My husband and I had a great experience working with Cradle and Coos to find our postpartum night…read moredoula to help care for our first child. After communicating the type of care and support we were looking for, we were able to select and interview several fantastic doulas and ultimately found Sheila. We trusted Sheila wholeheartedly with our daughter. She not only took care of her in the night, allowing us to get some much-needed rest, she genuinely cared for our whole family. We learned so much from Sheila as new parents. Everything from how to bathe our daughter, how to comfort her when she fussed, and more. Sheila has many years of experience with newborns but never passed judgment on our parenting approach and was completely open to doing things in the way that was most comfortable to us. She was a comforting presence in our home during the sometimes stressful early newborn weeks. We are forever grateful to Sheila and would work with her again in a heartbeat. We are so happy to have found her and Cradle and Coos.