As a first time mom, I can honestly say that I don't know what I would have done without Meleah! In the months leading up to my due date, Meleah helped me build my birth plan; she provided reading material that discussed the pros and cons of each decision I needed to make and then went through them with me, answering any questions I had, so I could make informed decisions. She even covered contingencies that I hadn't even considered. She also worked with us on techniques for coping with labor pains and guided us through what to expect once I was in labor. When my induction did not go as planned and I completely lost trust in my doctor (who made some very questionable recommendations), I was SO grateful that I had Meleah by my side every step of the way to make sure I understood my options and help me advocate for myself. She was then with me during my c-section, narrating what was happening and snapping pictures when my son was delivered. Then, when he was taken to the NICU for a brief period after delivery, she stayed with me, keeping me calm and relaying any news from my husband who went with our baby. It was definitely not the birth we had planned, but I feel so fortunate that Meleah was there guiding us through it. She also went above and beyond after the birth and was an immense support to us during our first days home with a newborn. She gave us helpful tips on breastfeeding, swaddling, and baby wearing, and helped us locate additional postpartum support when we found we needed it. She really cares about her clients and is amazing with babies! You can tell that she has found her calling and really enjoys what she does. read more

Meleah is a rock star. It was wonderful having her support throughout pregnancy and the birth of my first baby. When the pain became intense during my contractions, I was so grateful to have her by my side (I'm not sure what I would have done without her!). During my hospital stay, she was very hands on and a great team player -- she was ready to help the nurses and do everything she could to make sure I was comfortable, being repositioned often, and getting the best care possible. Postpartum, she came to our home and helped us navigate the first few days of newborn life. She brought us snacks, made sure we were doing ok, answered questions, helped us figure out how to wear the baby carriers, and provided us with reassurance as new parents. read more

We were incredibly lucky to have Meleah support the birth of our second baby. We found our way to her while I was pregnant and I was immediately drawn to her calm, supportive, and focused presence. I understood the pivotal role doulas play from my first birth, and felt at ease going into the experience again knowing Meleah would be at my side. During labor, Meleah was a constant source of strength and support -- from providing caring, spot-on advice during early labor, to coaching me through the tougher later stages. And during a quick delivery, she helped safely and securely catch my baby (!), and for that I'll be eternally beyond grateful. Meleah is the epitome of someone who is doing exactly what she was meant to do. Her passion for her work and sincere care for mothers & babies is evident in everything she does. I would recommend her without hesitation -- anyone would be very fortunate to have her on their birth team. Thank you, Meleah, for everything!! read more

We cannot recommend Meleah enough. Hiring Meleah was honestly one of the best choices I made during my pregnancy. Meleah provided us with the perfect amount of material for us to feel like we could make informed decisions about our birth plan. We didn't feel overwhelmed, but also didn't feel ignorant, we felt secure about our decisions. During labor, she was incredible. She promptly answered my call in the middle of the night, when I went into labor and came over to our place instantly. She was beside me guiding and making recommendations for the 7 hrs I labored at home during the night. When we went to the hospital at 7am she didn't leave my side. She helped orchestrate the entire hospital team - being assertive, while keeping me informed on everything that was happening, and also friendly. She knew exactly when to step in, when to just be quietly present, and how to keep both me grounded through the waves of intensity. Her calm energy made the whole experience feel less scary and more sacred. I can't imagine not having her with us. I know for a fact my birthing experience would not have been nearly as positive. I cannot thank her enough for the work she does! Even after birth, she continued to check in and offer so much care--emotionally, physically, and practically. She showed us how to baby wear - which has been a game changer for us! I truly can't imagine having gone through this without her. She's more than a doula--she's a wise, warm, steady presence that every birthing person deserves! read more

Meleah provided outstanding care leading up to, throughout, and after my first birth. Her wealth of knowledge helped me and my husband feel prepared and at ease as my due date approached. She is easy to work with, professional, and very responsive. She answered any and all questions we had, and anticipated our needs. Her coaching during labor was invaluable - I felt empowered and safe throughout the experience, from the first phone call that labor was starting, through laboring at home, to checking in at the hospital and finally pushing. After giving birth, Meleah continued to support us, answering questions and teaching us baby wearing. I can't recommend Meleah highly enough! read more

I could not have been happier to have Meleah as my doula! Five stars doesn't feel like enough. After a bad doula experience my first birth (basically a doula who did nothing except show up the last 20 mins of me pushing), I was very careful about finding a doula who would truly support me and Meleah was it! I couldn't have asked for more. She went above and beyond with support at the hospital. She was by my side the whole time and was the voice of reason when I needed guidance. Everyone at Marin General knows and loves her too, which is a plus. My first doula experience was a total bummer, but Meleah was my redemption experience :) Very grateful I made the right choice this time, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! read more

Meleah was one of the best investments we made as part of our birth journey--hands down. I would hire Meleah over and over again in a heartbeat! Where to start... Meleah is one of the most knowledgeable people I've come across on almost everything pregnancy and baby related. Anytime I had a question, Meleah was available by text or call and she always made time to talk (yes, even when I panic called her at 2 am) and was never judgmental about my questions. She was unbiased in giving us all the information and was supportive in whatever path we chose. But where she shines the most, is how much she truly cares about her clients. I felt so looked after and knew that meleah would guide me through the process seamlessly. She was a listening ear when I needed someone to talk to and was there to offer advice when I needed it. I really could not have done the labor and delivery without her either. She kept me calm the entire time and knew exactly what to do to help me speed things along when things were stalling. She was the positive person in the room that I needed and made sure my husband was doing all the right things to support me as well. I delivered in a hospital setting and I know that hospitals and doulas sometimes have differing priorities but meleah was so good at what she did that my OBGYN even asked her for her name to refer her to other clients going forward. I am so so thankful for Meleah and you won't regret hiring her. TRUST ME! read more

It's daunting to summarize our experience with Meleah in a pithy review -- she's that extraordinary at what she does. Meleah cares deeply about her clients and manages to make every birth feel special and significant. She supported us in planning, she coached me through labor (especially the most difficult painful parts), and when I had a medical complication she advocated for me in the OR and made sure I knew she was there for me in all the ways, throughout the process and even after coming home. She always managed to make us feel safe. We interviewed a few doulas to support the birth of our first child, but when we met with Meleah we immediately knew she was a special person and that our search was over. She was knowledgeable, warm, direct, and truly felt like she balanced educating us on all the angles with a totally judgement free approach to the whole process--unmedicated, epidural, whatever. It's so rare to meet someone for whom their job genuinely a calling, and we are forever grateful we got to work with her as we welcomed our son Henry into the world. Thank you doesn't cut it, but we still want to say thank you, Meleah. For everything you've done for us read more

Where do we even begin to recommend Meleah? After deciding to get a labor and delivery doula for our second baby (we went with a night nurse for our first), we had the best connection with her over the phone for our first meeting. She deeply acknowledged and helped heal the birth trauma from my daughter and I have never felt more seen as a mama! My son's birth was a bit complex leading up to the big day, with high anxiety around prodromal (fake) labor and being SO uncomfortable - Meleah was always available for a text and phone call to help us through all our feels and giving us evidence based advice. Our birth experience was nothing short of magical (and I've never been one to consider birth magical for me!) and it was predominately because of Meleah. She anticipated my every need - water, getting into the tub, helping replace pads after my water had broken, giving counter pressure for back labor, turning me at least every hour once I got the epidural ... everything was seamless and easy. She advocated for my birth plan and kept the environment calm and relaxed. Despite labor going all through the night she stayed by our side. It allowed me to really focus on laboring and my husband and I to connect. We cannot thank her enough and I know that you will love working with her! read more

When I first found out I was pregnant, I didn't know much about the role of a doula. A few of my friends had used one, so I thought maybe I should give it a try. I am so thankful I did--and even more thankful I found Meleah. Her support was nothing short of life-changing. My labor ended up being long and traumatic, and without Meleah's expertise and encouraging presence, I honestly believe I would have ended up with a c-section. She provided so much insight and reassurance to both me and my husband, guiding us through each step of the process. Her knowledge helped us navigate the challenges we faced before, during, and after labor, and I know we would have been completely lost without her. One of the most surprising things was how incredibly encouraging she was, especially during the pushing phase. I had no idea how much I would need her in that moment, but she was there with exactly the right support and guidance. I can't recommend Meleah enough. She went above and beyond, and her presence was a true gift. If you're considering a doula, do yourself a favor and hire Meleah--you won't regret it! read more

Meleah came highly recommended from a girlfriend who'd partnered with her for a home birth in Marin County. I had a hospital birth in San Francisco, and am beyond glad that I hired Meleah to support me and my husband. From our first video chat to the prenatal in-home visits, Meleah was a knowledgeable, kind, and confident presence. Her deep knowledge of the pregnancy and birth space helped me hone in on what was important to me (and, consequently, helped me get more specific around questions to ask my OB/midwife team and prepare for delivery). Meleah was at home with us while I labored for hours before we went to the hospital. She talked me through contractions as they became increasingly intense, coached my husband through supporting me with massage, and provided an overall grounding energy. Meleah's support during early labor and transition also allowed my husband to take breaks to sleep, which we needed since my labor and delivery was a total of about 30 hours, spanning two nights. When things got really intense at the hospital, Meleah's firm direction, kindness and seasoned ability to partner with the nursing and midwife staff was the rock that I at times clung to. My husband feels equally strongly that she was an invaluable part of our team in bringing our daughter into the world. Meleah has continued to be a warm and helpful resource postpartum, continually checking in and providing advice. I'm so grateful that Meleah was part of our first experience having a child. I recommend her wholeheartedly to any parents-to-be. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about working with Meleah. She is truly one of a kind in what she does - working with her is like having a coach, therapist, friend and guru all in one! During the meetings prior to birth she provided resources and guidance for both me and my husband that gave us knowledge, confidence and the support we needed to build a birth plan and prepare mentally and physically. During the days and hours leading up to labor, she gave us the confidence we needed to navigate the choices and feel empowered to follow the birth plan that I sought. Having her as an advocate in the hospital and supporting me throughout labor made a world of difference. It's hard to say how things would have gone without her. Although the birthing experience was nothing short of the hardest thing I've ever done, looking back on the birth of my daughter I feel incredibly proud of every decision that was made at every twist and turn. Meleah played a huge role in helping us navigate that and feel empowered to make choices during a vulnerable time. We can't say enough positive things about her and highly highly recommend working with her!! read more

Meleah was incredible and exactly what we needed in our entire pregnancy and birth journey. I felt so supported from the moment I met her, from going over best pregnancy practices to how to prepare for birth. During my labor, Meleah was my advocate in the hospital and was instrumental in helping me make decisions that was best for me and my baby. She was there with me and my husband throughout an intense birth, and I walked away feeling so grateful she was there. Meleah checked in with us multiple times after we got home from the hospital, and even came over to help us with breast feeding and wearing our baby. I will absolutely have her as my doula again and truly believe she was one of the best decisions we have ever made!! read more

I cannot recommend Meleah more highly. I was focused on working with a doula specifically for my birthing process, but she was a deep support system for me from prenatal to postpartum. Ahead of my birth, her process got my husband and I thinking through all the steps that we needed to, but were not yet on our radar. It made us both feel prepared and know what to expect when labor started. She's been an incredible resource to us in being new parents, and figuring out the ins and outs of breastfeeding, sleep schedules, and everything in between. Meleah was most importantly a critical advocate through my labor to achieve the birth I hoped for. My birth had unexpected elements and having Meleah there made the difference to feel empowered in my decision-making through the surprises. She helped my husband and I make informed decisions, without putting pressure on any specific approach or solution. She provided physical support, motivation and comfort through my labor process. Beyond grateful to have Meleah in my birthing journey! read more

To say that Meleah was a game changer in our birth experience just does not do the impact she had on my husband, my son and my life justice. As so many births go, we had quite a few complications that lead to a handful of scary moments. Meleah was able to lead us through navigating everything at the hospital, had a strong ability to read both my husband and I in what we needed and made what could have been an incredibly traumatic experience one that was not only manageable but safe and supported in a way that is truely a gift. She is science based, knowledgeable and goes above and beyond to impact the whole birth experience in all ways possible. With any luck, I hope to fall pregnant once more and I know she will be one of the first people we call. I could not recommend Meleah with anymore whole hearted enthusiasm. She has a gift that is impossible to put into words and I'm forever grateful we found her. read more

Meleah is sharp, flexible, practical, spiritual, wise, smart...able to meet you wherever you are. Quick to respond. Exceptional human who truly cares and follows up even after the birth. I wish I had hired her for my first birth which was traumatic. I believe thanks to her, my second birth was wayyy easier. She painted a vision of possibility and set the groundwork for it to happen. She knows how to navigate Marin Medical Health system / hospital, midwives, and nursing staff. She even has direct lines to many of the midwives. I give Meleah 10 stars. She is a GEM and her passion for this work is so obvious. DO NOT HESITATE and HIRE MELEAH. read more

As first time parents, Meleah mentally prepared us for our birthing experience. From our zoom calls, to in person visits, to creating a birthing plan, all these connections helped my husband and me feel more confident for the big day. Once we found out I would need a scheduled c-section, Meleah took the time to come over in person and provide us with an overview of what a c-section would entail and reviewed tips my husband could leverage to support me during the surgery. On the day of my surgery, Meleah greatly reduced my stress by being by my side the whole time from pre-op to surgery all the way through to post-op. She did an amazing job advocating for my wishes to have both my husband and her in the operating room, despite the hospital's stated policy to only allow one other person to be there. During my C section, she shared positive affirmations and also kept me informed of what was occurring during my surgery. When our baby was born, Meleah took incredible photos of our first moments with her,which we will be able to cherish forever. We really appreciate the time Meleah spent with us in person after we came home from the hospital and her continuous check-ins via texts and openness to answering any and all of our questions during and even well after our baby's birth. Thank you so much Meleah for being a part of this incredible journey with us, we can't recommend you enough! read more

From the moment I met Meleah, I knew she was the right person to support me on my birth journey. From our first meeting she showed a genuine interest in my birth wishes and took the time to truly listen to my concerns, making me feel heard and valued. Throughout my pregnancy, Meleah was always available to answer my questions and guide me, which gave me a great sense of comfort--especially as this was my first time giving birth in the U.S. She walked me through all the nuances of the healthcare system and helped me feel confident and informed in my decisions. Initially, I planned for a hospital birth, but two weeks before my due date, I decided to switch to a home birth. Meleah was very supportive of that decision and it was the best choice for our family. During labor, her calm and encouraging presence was exactly what I needed. She knew just how to support me through every contraction, giving me the confidence to believe in myself. I truly can't recommend Meleah enough. Meeting her was a blessing, and I'm endlessly grateful that someone referred her to me. I feel so fortunate to have had her by my side during such an important time in my life. read more

I am SO glad I chose Meleah as my birth doula. There are so many doulas that offer services in the Bay Area but I'm convinced she is one of a kind! She is so knowledgeable, has great experience, knows the hospitals, all the options, preps you with what to know in advance, and guides you through your labor with an absolute sense of calm. She came to my house to visit me afterwards and I learned so much- from baby wearing to breastfeeding tips and tricks. Thank you Meleah for being such an integral part of one of the most special moments in my life! read more

I am incredibly grateful to have had Meleah as my birth doula. Her support leading up to, during, and after the birth was so incredibly valuable. Meleah helped us prepare for our home birth by providing useful resources and information, asking important questions to solidify our birth plan and empower us to make informed decisions, going over important day of tools and techniques for labor and pain management, and addressing any fears my husband and I were having about birth. She was efficient with our time, reliable and responsive, and provided resources that were helpful. During labor and birth, I felt so safe in her care. She was the perfect combination of emotionally attuned, caring, directive when needed, encouraging, and grounding. I truly couldn't have imagined a better person by my side for both myself and my husband. Meleah also went above and beyond to check on me in the postpartum phase to make sure I had all the support I needed as I transitioned into early motherhood. If you're lucky enough to work with Meleah, you and your family will be in such good hands for your birth. She is a truly special person and doula and will help you create the birth experience you want. read more

Meleah is super understanding, a very knowledgeable resource, a kind soul, a great communicator, and all the wonderful things we could ever hope for surrounding our birth. Words can not describe how grateful I am for Meleah. I was due for a repeat cesarean (my first cesarean in retrospect probably could have been avoided if I had a doula the first go-around, I am a true doula believer now). I was looking for a support person for my second birth, but it being a planned repeat c-section I was unsure if that would "fit" a doula's role as much as other birth types. It definitely does! Meleah is super supportive of all births, whatever you feel comfortable with she is there to help you see your personal version of success. She really made this birth it's own, and special, and beautiful. I also am one who doesn't ask for help, and she was great about being proactive, to check-in with me during the weeks before and after. She somehow knew when to reach out, and reached out frequently, to help out and be a resource for sooo soo many other things surrounding the birth, not just day-of. Meleah is the best! Thank you! read more

Inner Strength Birth Services - Doulas Near Me

Where even to begin! To say that engaging Meleah was the most important and valuable component of my pregnancy journey -- and early motherhood journey! -- is no exaggeration. Meleah has been available and generous with her incredible wisdom, knowledge, and considered advice every step of the way and has been an invaluable support to me and my husband. PRENATAL SUPPORT: Meleah provided us with extensive and rich prenatal counseling throughout my entire pregnancy, with a meaningful focus on nutrition (that went miles beyond the basic info sheets my OBGYN provided!) and fetal position to best support a smooth birth and recovery process, and to minimize the need for interventions during delivery. In addition to the virtual and in-person prenatal coaching sessions, as my pregnancy progressed Meleah was always available to respond to my many questions, recommend courses, exercises, books and other reading, and helped us to feel prepared to welcome our baby during her detailed prenatal visits to our home. Importantly, she gave my husband tools to be productively involved in my pregnancy and to meaningfully support me during labor. BIRTH: Meleah's company is called Inner Strength -- and at the risk of sounding cheesy, Meleah really did help me find my inner strength at all of the critical moments of labor. I trusted her implicitly and am so grateful to have done so. I hoped for a vaginal hospital birth with managed pain and minimal intervention, and Meleah patently respected all of my preferences and tailored the full scope of her guidance to ensure we achieved it (we did, thanks to her!). When I was in labor, Meleah floored us by essentially shepherding us through the labor and delivery process, ensuring my husband was (productively and helpfully!) involved at every step of the way (as he wanted to be!). She respected and collaborated with my doctor to provide supportive care, and her instincts and expertise -- not to mention her reassuring, deeply encouraging, confident words and presence -- truly helped us to calmly consider options for my treatment in the heat of the moment, and for my labor to progress smoothly. I had a very straightforward, relatively quick labor with minimal tearing, and sincerely attribute this "success" largely to Meleah's support (and her focus on fetal position and my overall health) both during the delivery process and throughout my pregnancy. (For example, there were moments during labor when she correctly ascertained a need to adjust the fetal position based on how my contractions were progressing, and was able guide my husband in supporting me through positions to course correct.) And, at the most difficult moments -- breathing and eventually pushing through painful contractions -- Meleah's firm and positive encouragement empowered me to believe in my own body and abilities, helping me to overcome moments of self doubt. For what it's worth, my doctor also told me she loved having Meleah in the delivery room and shares the opinion that she's a fabulous doula with incredible energy. POSTPARTUM: In the weeks since I gave birth, Meleah has continued to be an essential support to our newly grown little family. During her postpartum visit she taught us how to tie a baby wearing wrap -- a skill which proved to be a game changer in managing life with our newborn!) Meleah quite literally wrote the book (and I seriously recommend her adorable book, "Swaddle Me Up"!!) on swaddling and baby wearing, and gifted us a copy which we love and reference frequently. And, she continues to check in regularly on us and our baby, giving advice and reassurance for my healing process and responding to myriad new-parent quandaries from me and my husband. (Critically, she even successfully diagnosed yeast diaper rash in our baby from looking at a photograph, after we battled for a week following our pediatrician's advice to avoid an acute diaper rash that nevertheless got precipitously worse. Thanks to her opinion we sought out an emergency appointment with our pediatrician, who corroborated the diagnosis and prescribed the medications that have healed our baby.) Most importantly, Meleah has helped me learn to trust my instincts both as a parent and about my own body. From the very beginning my husband and I have been so deeply impressed with Meleah's expertise, thoughtfulness, pragmatism, and graciousness. She is truly a fabulous doula and a deeply caring and compassionate practitioner. We could note recommend her more highly, and we will absolutely hope to engage her again if the opportunity arises! Thank you, Meleah!!! read more

Meleah made our birthing journey a safe, healthy and beautiful experience. She listened to my hopes for my birth plan as well as my fears. She was honest, thorough and organized in her tailored approach. There were multiple times where she intervened at my home and in the hospital to advocate for me, ease pain and ensure my baby was getting the best care possible. We so enjoyed learning from her vast knowledge, we never felt judged and she gave my partner space to be a critical part of the journey. When I was looking for a doula, I wanted to make sure we vibed w this person bc it's such a big life moment. Meleah checked all the boxes and more. I would recommend her a million times over. Wishing you all the best w your birth journey! read more

Before leaving the delivery room-truly within an hour of our daughter's birth-I said to my husband, "We have to plan the next baby around Meleah's availability." She was the key to an empowered and joyful pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum for us, and we will be eternally grateful. From the moment we began working with Meleah, she made us feel safe, respected, and held. She provided a wealth of useful, evidence-based information and resources before and during our prenatal visits. No question was too small or silly, via text or in person, from the practical to facing existential fears. She helped us wade through the noise, discuss pros and cons, and come to the right decisions for us without ever pushing us or judging our choices. While my preference was for an unmedicated labor, I knew I was free to change my mind about that or anything else; nothing would faze or disappoint her. Meleah is also a childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care instructor through Kaiser, our healthcare provider, so we were able to take her group classes, where we benefited from the same qualities that make her an amazing doula: she has a great sense of humor and communicates complex information simply and clearly, but without eliminating nuance. Despite it being our first baby, I had a very short early labor and was in active labor and wondering if it was time to head into the hospital a few hours in, around 4am. My husband contacted Meleah and she quickly joined us, patiently helping me through inversions and position changes and uncomplainingly getting soaked as I labored for hours in the shower. She helped us feel out when to leave for the hospital, and helped me through three gnarly back-of-the-car contractions as we drove there. She was right by our side as we navigated a mostly-positive hospital experience, but one in which some staff were a little overeager to move things along. Meleah has UN-level diplomacy skills: she was very kind to the nurses and midwives, who clearly recognized and respected her knowledge and experience, but also helped us ask for more time to make decisions and reminded me I could decline certain elective interventions. While I arrived at 7cm, our daughter wasn't turned optimally and it took a long time for labor to progress. She was right there coaching me through challenging inversions and positions to get us to the finish line. When it came time to push, I had been laboring 20 hours; I was tired, a little scared, and as much as I had read and tried to prepare, I just wasn't able to make the mind-body connection right away. Meleah taught me how to push in real time! I really could not have done it if she hadn't been right there coaching me through, pointing out the right kind of push when I found my way there. When our daughter was finally born, she needed some suction and help in the warmer; my husband went with her, assured I was safe and held with Meleah at my side stroking my hair and telling me how the baby was faring as they stitched me up and gave me some Pitocin for hemorrhage. My husband and I truly have no idea how, because from our perspective she was 100% present with us and working extremely hard throughout my labor and delivery, but somehow Meleah also took a ton of incredible photos of the process and our first moments as a family. We will treasure them forever. A few days postpartum, I was exhausted and emotionally raw, experiencing some pain and imposter syndrome with breastfeeding, worried I wasn't getting my baby enough food. Meleah came to our apartment like a ray of sunshine, full of encouragement, affirmation, and helpful advice. I felt a thousand times better after seeing her. She helped my husband wear our daughter in her wrap for the first time. She continues to check on us via text in the weeks after our daughter's birth, readily available for questions. It seemed to me my husband was totally unafraid through my labor and delivery-warm, positive, and ever-present. We chatted after and it turns out he was indeed afraid, but the education, encouragement, and example of Meleah helped him push past the fear and be my perfect birth partner. We can't believe our luck to have had Meleah with us as we became a family of three. Anyone and everyone having a baby, anywhere and with any preferences, would benefit tremendously from working with her. read more

We worked with Meleah as our doula for our first baby and had the most incredible experience! My husband and I echo what many others have said, that having Meleah as our birth doula was the best investment we made in preparing for our little one. I may hold the record for how early I reached out to Meleah, just a few weeks into my pregnancy. I always wanted to have an unmedicated birth, but being high anxiety, I doubted if I would be able to deal with the uncertainty and pain. Meleah was incredibly supportive from our very first conversation and continued to be an amazing support throughout my pregnancy. She provided invaluable guidance and information while never pushing her views and ensuring me any decision was the right one for me and our baby. When I ultimately decided to go for an unmedicated birth, her prenatal appointments made my husband and I feel so much more confident about laboring at home and the alternative pain relief options I had including a TENS unit she loaned us (MUST USE!), and shower and tub laboring. In the days leading up to my birth, Meleah checked in regularly as I started dilating several days early before having any signs of labor. She answered all my questions (nothing was out of bounds) and made me feel safe and secure in the process. When labor finally started it moved quickly. Meleah came over in the middle of the night and coached my husband and I through active labor so that I didn't arrive to the hospital until I was 8cm dilated. Meleah knew everyone at the hospital and ensured our check in was speedy and stress free. She made sure I was then able to finish the last 4 hours of my labor exactly how I envisioned it: in a dark room, mostly in the tub then pushing on hands and knees until my baby arrived. It was the most incredible experience of my life and I know I wouldn't have been able to do it without Meleah. She was my guide through active labor and her coaching allowed me to squarely focus on my body and my baby so that my birth was exactly what I hoped for. Since welcoming our baby girl, Meleah has checked in regularly and provided me with so much support from guidance on challenges with milk supply to my overall wellbeing as a mama. I could not be more grateful for her and will absolutely have her by my side for Baby #2 in the future. For all the soon to be dads out there ... here is my husband's perspective: Having Meleah's support through labor and birth was fantastic! With all of the adrenaline that labor brings my wife and I both forgot a lot of the preparation we had done, but with Meleah's support and guidance I was able to focus completely on my wife while Meleah balanced working with the hospital staff to ensure we were getting the birth experience we planned for. Look no further for a birth doula... Meleah is truly incredible! read more

Meleah is AMAZING! We hired her as our doula for our second child, and now I don't know how I could have done this without her. Meleah and I met many times leading up to our son's birth--sometimes just to talk through how I was doing--which was really important to me, having gone through a traumatic first birth experience. She's incredibly knowledgeable, and doesn't try to influence you into making any particular decisions. Just support and empowerment! When I went into labor, in the middle of the night, we called Meleah and she came immediately to our house. She supported me though the entire duration of my labor. And at the hospital, she clearly spoke the same language as the nurses, midwives, and doctors, helping advocate for the birth that I wanted (a successful VBAC!). She also helped to support my partner, and he feels extremely grateful that she was there. I'm a pretty private person, which made me initially hesitant to hire a doula, but Meleah made me feel comfortable the entire way through. I can't thank her enough! read more

Meleah is absolutely amazing throughout the whole process. During our prenatal visits, she taught us so much about what to expect and what choices we had when it came to birth preferences and newborn care. When I went into labor, she was there for us every step of the way. She held my hand through 8 hours of intense early labor as we worked to get the baby in a better position for birthing. She helped us with informed decision making as things didn't go quite as planned and she remained my advocate throughout the whole process. She remains available for all of our newborn and feeding questions as we navigate life as new parents. We couldn't have done it without her and I can't recommend her enough! read more

Meleah is who you want by your side throughout the labor process. She strikes the perfect balance of calm, cool, and relaxed but is also confident, experienced, and a wonderful patient advocate. She is fabulous to work with- communication is easy, she is flexible, and very responsive. I felt very relaxed going into my first labor knowing that Meleah would be there to guide me and my husband through uncharted territory and she did that exceptionally. She also took the most gorgeous and special photos during the process which I am so grateful to have. You will be in the best hands with Meleah. read more

Meleah is absolutely AMAZING! I highly highly recommend her. She is a total superstar. I used Meleah as my doula for my third baby, and I wish I had her for my other deliveries. I decided to use a doula for this delivery, as my first two were traumatic in different ways, and I knew I wanted more support and guidance this time around. Meleah was exactly what I needed and more. I learned so much from her beforehand even though I already had two deliveries. I ended up having an unmedicated birth, and I only got through it because of Meleah. She keep me focused, gave me confidence and knew what I needed to hear to get me through it all. I love how she is down to earth, super easy to get along with, and has a fun-loving spirit. For me, she struck a great balance of being super supportive without being overly touchy feely. She can adapt to whatever you need, which is think is the sign of a successful doula. She is there to support you and never forces her beliefs on you. She maintains calm and confidence in delivery. With all of the unexpected, crazy stuff that can happen, Meleah is so amazing at keeping mama focused. Post-delivery Meleah has still been amazing and supportive. She checks in on me and has continued to be a resource. She is a wealth of knowledge and just an awesome person to be around. I really enjoy spending time with her! To anyone considering Meleah, do it. You will not be disappointed! read more

Father's take: I cannot say enough great things about Meleah. I feel so greatful that she was our Doula. Her knowledges, experience are fantastic. She guided us on the medical aspects of the birth and was a great support psychologically in the difficult moments. I m so thankful that she was present during the C section I don't know how I could have done this without her. She is so confident and you can feel she loves being a doula. Thanks to her and that she advocated for our birth plan, she made the C section "feel" like a natural birth. Her services were way beyond my expectations. She was and always be part of this beautiful experience. thank you Meleah. read more

Wife/Mom: In my experience, Meleah transformed my labor and birth experience to something good. As a new parent in my mind for some reason I used to think that labor would be fast and easy for me, even though I knew I shouldn't create any of these expectations. While the whole experience was happening and reality kicked in, i realized how hard being in labor was, and luckily Meleah was there for me to calm me down, support during contractions giving tips and what i needed. Now i know what birth is like, it isn't easy but having a doula when you are in pain, scared, anxious helps a lot. If i didn't have her i know my experience would be bad. I cant thank her enough and explain how important having her with me was. I highly recommend her and I don't know how people can have births without a doula, specially first timers. I now have good memories of my birth story because I had Meleah. Husband/Dad: There really isn't anything I can say, to express how amazing Meleah was. My wife and I were about 7 months out when we found Meleah. Once we got closer to the birth, she was incredible. She came over a couple times to help us figure out a birth plan and made sure we were comfortable with the process getting closer. As we got closer to the delivery day, she was always reachable via text and provided a lot of knowledge (her knowledge of medicines, scenarios, hospital locations, birth options, prep work, exercises are absolutely incredible). All of this was extremely helpful but it was only a small sample of how amazing she was about to become. On the day my wife went into labor, Meleah spent about 7 hours at our house helping my wife handle the contractions and keep her as calm as possible. We then headed to the Hospital were Meleah spent another 7 or so hours with us until we finally had our baby girl. I cant thank her enough for everything, I would recommend her to any potential parents, especially first timers. read more

We decided to look for a birth doula to help us prepare for the unknowns of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum as first time parents. After interviewing a few different doulas, Meleah immediately stood out because of her philosophy, direct communication and no nonsense approach. From our first conversation, I knew she was organized, caring, highly competent, and a straight shooter who fully supported whatever experience we wanted without any judgment. Her goal of educating us on our options and letting us create a birth plan/preferences around that made me feel so much less anxiety about the process and ultimately made us feel very empowered and informed of our choices. As we approached birth, we had plenty of decisions to make at OB appointments (membrane sweeps, cervical exams, early induction, etc) and frequently texted her before, during and after appointments to help our decision-making. Meleah provided induction techniques which helped kickstart my labor when I was over 10 days past due (magic!!). Some of the first words I remember saying after birth to her was "How does anyone do childbirth without a doula!!??" Meleah was my light and coach throughout a very long labor and she also really empowered my husband as an advocate for me throughout. Her postpartum support communication has been critical, unwavering, and always so warm and genuine. You can tell she lives and breathes her job with passion and sincerity and her clients are for life - how amazing is that. Overall, I can't recommend Meleah enough - we would be utterly lost without her support and we tell everyone we know that she has been the best investment we've made while starting a family. Book her now... Thank you, Meleah, we love you!! read more

Meleah is the best. I used her duola services for 2 babies, born in the past couple of years. I had precipitous labor with both babies, which meant once labor started they arrived very quickly. Each time she showed up to our house super fast and helped get us to the hospital safely. She was amazing when we had to call an ambulance to get me to the hospital on time, informing everybody around us that I was already pushing when she arrived. (not even I had realized this) We got to the hospital with no time to spare. She knew just what to say as I was in active labor at the hospital in order for me to feel comfortable and in charge of the births. I delivered at a hospital I did not intend to deliver at (Marin General), because I was so far along; when we arrived several people were saying hello to Meleah and asking about her kids etc. It really made me feel comfortable that I was going to be in good hands as I was being wheeled in from the ambulance. :-) She helped me let go of some emotional baggage from previous difficulties; I am actually not sure what I would've done without her for this. All of my babies have arrived weeks or months early. Meleah made sure that she was available earlier than normal because of this. She also has experience with prodromal labor or irritable uterus, where I had contractions every five minutes for weeks or months leading up to the birth. (Basically I had several weird pregnancy and delivery situations; she was comfortable and helped with all of them) She lent us a scale for both babies, which helped in those early days when you are figuring out breastfeeding together with your new human. She checked in on us to make sure that everything was going well the first few weeks. She was a central part of the village I needed to help bring these babies into the world. She went above and beyond what I thought a duola would do. She is a beautiful human being and I'm so grateful for all of her help and support. I highly highly recommend you contact Meleah if you are considering extra support for your birth adventure. read more

Meleah was just the person I was on the lookout for when I brought up the idea to my husband -- "We should hire a Doula to have at the birth!" My husband was hesitant at first (Another expense??!) When he began looking into Doulas online, he gave each one a call. Based from our first phone interaction, it was obvious to us that Meleah was the one. I was already sure I wanted an unmedicated birth (this being our first child), but I wanted us to have the support we were looking for to power through the pain when labor began. Meleah proved to be a constant support through and through. Her extensive knowledge was a great comfort to both me and my husband, and her timely responses to our questions was most impressive. Having her calm and grounded presence during my labor was a real gift, and we are so grateful!!!! Thank you for what you do, Meleah! read more

Our family is so grateful to have had Meleah in our corner through the birth of our twins. We were confident we made the right decision throughout the pregnancy, as she always made herself available swiftly for questions along the way, and our visits were so informative. The final week of an otherwise healthy pregnancy presented several challenges. Meleah arrived at the hospital and stayed, present, until everything stabilized, after the twins were born. I can't imagine it without her. She added so much to my birthing experience, helped my husband to be in the best state he could be, and she knows just the right approach for each novel moment. There was so much that she helped prepare us for, and also supported with the plethora of unexpected twists, in ways that are more humbling than I would share on yelp. It was postpartum that she really pulled through- consistently went above and beyond for us when we had a baby in the NICU. She's caring, experienced, non-judgmental, consistent, and passionate. I would recommend Meleah a thousand times over. read more

We hired Meleah to assist us in our second birth, because our first birth didn't go at all according to plan, and we felt like we needed someone to help us advocate for ourselves better the second time around. During my first birth, I felt like I was constantly being told what "needed to be done" to me, and I felt very condescended to and patronized. Everyone ended up healthy in the end, but I really wanted to have a birth experience where I could feel more empowered. Our second labor and delivery ended up being my dream unmedicated birth! During pregnancy, Meleah provided insights and advice on how to make it to full term, how to prepare for an unmedicated labor, and pain management options, as well as updates on the daily changing covid policies of my hospital of choice (UCSF Mission Bay). Meleah helped me make the decision on what hospital to deliver at, and she helped me put together my birth preference sheet (birth plan) based on topics we had discussed. She coached me extensively on finding opportunities to make my own medical decisions. During labor, Meleah knew exactly when she should come over based on how I sounded on the phone, when to leave for the hospital, and she made sure to tell me exactly what to expect at each step of the process. She ensured that nothing would be done to me without my consent, thanks to her constant vigilance about everything that was happening in the hospital room. I firmly believe I couldn't have achieved my dream birth without Meleah's help. So what worked for me during labor? - Meleah's verbal affirmations - Meleah offering new coping techniques before and during labor - Meleah's suggestions to labor in the shower up until I started feeling the urge to push, because that was what was working for me SECOND BIRTH DETAILS: - contractions started at 39 weeks - labored at home for a few hours, arrived at the hospital at 7cm, labored in the shower at the hospital for another couple of hours - pushed for 9 minutes - delivered standing up - a first degree tear - water broke while pushing read more

This review is for those who are not necessarily going the natural birth route; those who are on the fence, but curious, about having a doula because they are planning a more conventional and/or moderately medicated birth. I initially didn't consider having a doula as I had the perception they were more for the new age-y type woman; the natural, no epidural, minimal medical intervention type momma. However I've learned that doulas can be a valuable partner even for those planning to have an epidural. From pain management techniques, to assessing pros and cons of different treatment options, to helping provide advice/guidance through the (inevitable) many twists and turns of labor and delivery, to providing moral and physical pain relief support, Meleah proved to be a key part of "bringing it home". She gives pragmatic, balanced advice without an agenda; recommending but never pushing one approach against the preference of her clients. That was important to me as I did not want to feel pressured or shamed into going a more natural path. She listens to what you want and meets you there with a wealth of knowledge and tools in the toolkit. Even following birth, she checked in often and made herself available for questions. As a first time momma, it was reassuring to know she's there for us. Having Meleah help us along our birthing process was absolutely worth it! read more

A father's take: we were so blessed to have Meleah present with us during the delivery of our daughter. Without a doubt, Meleah has precisely the qualities that you need -- She is super supportive, She knows what she is doing, She is confident (this is usually lacking in first-time parents!), and She is ON TIME and always "PRESENT". Prior to delivery, Meleah guided us through the labor process and gave us the thinking framework. She also guided us through our decision-making about induction. Throughout the entire labor and delivery, Meleah helped us in every possible way - she was on phone with us (talk and chat) and she came in super early in the morning when active labor started. Our little angel's birth was exciting and different. I have to give credit for that to Meleah. Her insight and alertness were the keys to success. We are so grateful to Meleah and can't thank her enough for all the support she provided us. Bottom line, I can't recommend Meleah enough. She is a smart, confident, and compassionate doula and a kind person. She is the exact person you want to be with you during a vulnerable and stressful time. To all the fathers out there: Have Meleah during this time! You won't be disappointed !!! read more

I hired Meleah as our Doula for both of my pregnancies and deliveries. I firmly believe that neither would have progressed as positively if she was not part of our team. Meleah is honest, smart, and will support you tirelessly throughout the process. I knew we were going to hire again when during my first delivery, there was a renewed sense of energy when she arrived and traded places with my exhausted husband. That new sense of energy put me in the mental space to focus back on what my body was doing. And she was even more important during my second pregnancy when it progressed very rapidly and she coached me through intense contractions as we rushed to the hospital in the car! You will not regret hiring Meleah! read more

This is a long one, but what can I say? Worth it. Without a doubt, Meleah is the reason I can look back on my birth experience as a positive and empowering one. As a first time mom during a pandemic, I was really anxious about giving birth in the hospital (May 2020) and started doing research late in my pregnancy (32 weeks) on what it even meant to have a doula, because I really had no idea. I'd assumed it was a luxury some women opted for, one that I didn't think I needed. I reached out to Meleah late one night after finding so many amazing reviews on her service here on Yelp, and curious to know more, anxious because it felt too late in the game to even consider. She responded within five minutes (and was that speedy and responsive through the course of our work together) and I immediately felt like she gave me the emotional support I was missing from every doctor's appt I'd had up to that point. I took my time in committing because we had so many questions... and she still was so responsive and helpful in those weeks before I finally knew I had to work with her. Long birth story short, I had done a lot of research into home birth in these early pandemic days and was really keen on the idea of not being in a hospital (even though I'd started in a place of thinking home birth was about the scariest/most painful birth scenario I could think of) Meleah was a wealth of information and support for all of my questions and fears, and helped me prepare mentally for both scenarios so I felt strong either way. We decided pretty last minute to go with a hospital birth, but only because insurance would pay for it. But then, of course (as I've heard is common with a lot of birth plans) that all went out the window when I went into labor (Meleah being a huge support by my side), then went to the hospital, then was sent home because I wasn't far enough along. Through all of this, she supported me at home, drove me to the hospital, was on the phone when they wouldn't take us in and helping us go through options or what our plan would be next. I was sent home on morphine, and then, when my labor picked up again the next day so fast that I wasn't sure if I'd make it all the way back to the hospital, she called in the midwife that I'd met with and loved (Lael Stemming) who came last minute to do an exam and if it was again time to go to the hospital (so I could avoid the painful back and forth in the car again if there was a repeat of the day before). I ended up delivering at home, supported by these two amazing women, in the perfect -- hard but so so empowering -- scenario. Looking back, I Know it's what I'd wanted all along but was too fearful to go through with it. Hands down the most empowering experience of my life, and that is 100% thanks to Meleah. She was the perfect mix of understanding, patient, and empathetic, and also a tough, no-B.S. coach in those moments when I wanted to give up. She also helped my husband have an active role in the birth--arming him with the right things to say and ways to support me physically and emotionally--despite him having NO IDEA what he was doing going into this. (How could he?!) ;) I was able to have the natural birth I dreamed of, at home, and I will forever cherish the memory. Since I wasn't able to have friends or family around, Meleah was also a crucial part of my postpartum experience-- something I hadn't really even thought about needing. In those early days when I had no idea what I was doing and breastfeeding was so challenging, she would come over at a moment's notice -- even after our technical last visit had happened -- to help me troubleshoot. She was always available by text, too. I'm proud to say that, because of her, we're still successfully and happily (less painfully) breastfeeding 3 months in. You can tell she truly truly cares about her clients, and the little ones she helps bring into the world. I feel so so lucky to have literally stumbled into her via Yelp reviews. To have that level of genuine care here at a time when we felt so isolated and anxious about giving birth, I honestly feel like she was the best gift we gave ourselves in all of this. THANK YOU MELEAH. YOU'RE AN ANGEL. ;) So yeah... the point of this epic long review is just to say: SO MUCH MORE THAN FIVE STARS. If you're even questioning having a doula at your birth... JUST DO IT. Best money I've spent in this whole journey. Meleah is magic. You won't regret having her in your life at this incredible time. read more