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

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

As we got closer to our due date and reality was sinking in that we were truly going to have a baby…read more(!) my husband and I talked about the idea of having a post-partum doula. We just wanted the peace of mind, especially because we did not have any family around and wanted to make sure we had some support if things were not going well. We found Regula on Yelp and then also found out that she was the post-partum doula for my husband's coworker who LOVED Regula. We engaged Regula to come a 3-4 days a week for the first 6 weeks after having our little one. We were so glad we made the decision to employ Regula. The first 6 weeks are so hard to navigate. Is he eating enough? Is he still hungry, is he sleepy, is it normal he is only sleeping for 20 minutes, should I try and keep him up, should I let him cry a little? So many doubts and questions. It was so wonderful to have Regula around to give that reassurance and confidence. Our son was healthy and happy, we still faced usual challenges. Our son lost a little more weight than the doctors want to see (~12%) so that was a bit stressful. As was my husband getting the flu when Oliver was 2 weeks old. Regula was our rock, personal lactation consultant, and support system. She let us know what was normal and what wasn't, and she put as at so much ease being there for us. She made such a difference to both me and my husband. Regula is also just such a lovely person, with such a calm and warm presence and was so nice to have some socialization during that time without being stressed about having a little one around because that is what she was there for. I personally would recommend everyone use a post-partum Doula (and Regula specifically!) if you've nervous about bringing your newborn home. She made such a big impact on us. She is flexible, will cater to what you need and help any way you best see fit.

Hiring Regula was one of my best life decisions. She came weekday mornings to help my husband and…read moreme adjust to parenthood for a few weeks postpartum. Her calming manner and touch helped ease all of us into my son's first month of life! She reassured me when growth spurts were happening and was invaluable encouragement the first tough weeks of breastfeeding. She was incredibly helpful in keeping our house tidy and baby's room in order, his clothes clean, pumping gear sanitized, and diaper rash at bay ... She set us up with a routine that we are still using and made the first month of insanity somewhat manageable. If you're thinking of having a baby, SERIOUSLY consider a postpartum doula and seriously consider Regula as that doula!

Working with Brigette for my birth doula and placenta encapsulation was a great experience…read more Brigette, and Vanessa Norton who she teamed up with last summer, were the doulas for the birth of my daughter this past July. During our pre-birth meetings, Brigette was warm, responsive, and gave my partner and me a sense that she would be a competent, caring, and strong advocate. On the week of my daughter's birth, the City of SF experienced a record birth boom. What this meant for us was that Brigette was in back-to-back births. As soon as I told her my water broke, she arranged for a back-up for us in case the birth in which she was participating didn't finish by the time I was in active labor. It didn't and we went with her back up doula. We stayed in contact throughout the day until I went into active labor. The Universe has a way of giving me what and who I need at the right time, and this was no exception. Even though Brigette had been in 20+ hours of labor and deliveries, she came to my hospital room right after I delivered my daughter. Can you imagine? We hugged and cheered and introduced Brigette to our miracle - it felt as if in a way she'd been there for the birth. Brigette also took my placenta home with her and encapsulated it. Seeing my placenta post-delivery was nauseating, so I was grateful that Brigette was encapsulating it rather than me try to DIY prepare it. The encapsulation process was easy. A couple days later, Brigette came by and visited with us. She gave me the encapsulations and directions on how to use them. Everything was straightforward and simple, which as an exhausted, new mom, was a big help. I highly recommend partnering with Brigette for your birth!

My wife Gwen wrote this review but it speaks to how we both felt!…read more I can't imagine not having Brigette at my (first) birth and postpartum - throughout the process she was a breath of fresh air and allowed me to stay calm and even maintain my sense of humor when things got tough. I joke with her that I can't wait to get pregnant again so she can support me for round two - although I'm going to give my body some buffer time ;) haha. I planned a homebirth, but hired Brigette because I knew she'd be an incredible advocate for me whether I gave birth at home or had to transfer to hospital. She was recommended by our midwife Kara Englebrecht, and I was so grateful that Kara pointed us to her. From our first meeting Brigette was down to earth with a warm and openhearted energy. She made me feel calm and confident - helped me feel empowered about the fact that I was the one giving birth and she was there to support and guide as needed. During my labor she was extremely intuitive. She was great at providing counter pressure on my hips during labor sensations and read my body for what I needed. Most of the time what I needed was to bury my head in her neck during contractions so I could breath through them - she felt like a sister to me, which is incredible when I step back and think that we hadn't spent *that* much time together - but it speaks to how quickly I grew to trust her. When I was pushing, I was concentrating on her bangs, blowing air towards them to focus and she read my mind and made sure to stay close so I could continue to focus that way (strange I know, but it helped, and best part was I didn't have to ask/tell her to stay still - she just knew what to do!). She also encapsulated my placenta and supported our family postpartum. She showed me how to be an excellent burper, and helped me spread my momma wings with little tips and tricks to grow my confidence. I'm *so* glad we got to continue working with her as our postpartum doula - she was so helpful and efficient it was almost difficult for me and my husband to think up additional to-do tasks. But mostly, she was a warm familiar face that helped me exhale and feel at ease in those challenging first couple of weeks. I'd recommend her 100x over, can't imagine it any other way. FYI: I was able to use my FSA health savings account to use pre-tax dollars to pay for her birth doula services. It's an eligible expense ("Birth Coach"), I had my OB fill out a short form (Letter of Medical Necessity) that I got from the FSA website, and attached it to the reimbursement request. I think hiring a doula is worth every penny, but helpful tip to get a "discount" by using pre-tax dollars!

I was so lucky to have had Taylor as my birth doula. She was a tremendous resource and support for…read moreanything I needed throughout my pregnancy and in preparation for birth. She is so kind, gentle, and patient. She encouraged me to pursue the kind of birth I wanted and assured me that I can have that experience even in the chaotic and unpredictable times we are in. Taylor brought such calm energy to my birth and encouraged me all the way along. She massaged and breathed with me, and kept bringing me water. Taylor was there after I gave birth and offered support in many ways with postpartum which was so helpful. I highly recommend Taylor!

Taylor is an amazing doula. She's super supportive, flexible, accommodating, resourceful and…read moreresponsive. I felt honored as she listened to my story and concerns about birth and labor and appreciated her tips & references. I highly recommend Taylor if you're looking for a doula in the Bay Area!

Working with Kirsten as our doula was a fantastic decision and I'd highly recommend her…read more From the beginning, Kirsten was a wealth of information, sharing a variety of informational documents and videos covering everything from prepartum stretches/exercises all the way through birth and postpartum recovery. She was always available for questions and has extensive knowledge from her hundreds of clients as well as her own 6 birth experiences. The night I went into labor, she came over and walked my husband and me through exercises to speed up contractions. During delivery she kept me comfortable, worked seamlessly with the L&D nurse, followed the birth plan we made together, and always had the perfect words of encouragement. She was also a wonderful support to my husband and mom. After birth, when we were ready to give my daughter her first bath, Kirsten came over and walked us through the process, offering additional guidance and advice around sleep and breastfeeding. Kirsten really knows her stuff and loves what she does. Seriously, work with her. Kirsten is an amazing doula and very special human!

Not a good fit for me. An unfortunate waste of ~$3,200. I am disheartened to have to share that…read moreour experience was not good for us. Each relationship is a combination and this wasn't the right one for me. I should have said something early on as I knew it right after our first meeting. I feared having to deal with contractual bindings and didn't have the energy to. I hoped for the best when it became "showtime" during labor. It didn't change, it actually got worse. I originally liked Kirsten b/c she seemed compelling when she spoke. Quick. Which I thought would be a positive for a couple of reasons: -to be efficient with time given with my career responsibilities, I do not have much to give -I thought the pace would do a good job at keeping my attention How that formed up was: During our call to come up with a birth plan, Kirsten spoke so quickly and consistently we felt as though we couldn't get much of a word in. She also interrupted us multiple times. She seemed impatient. The insight she was sharing with questions we asked seemed boiler plate and lacking much depth. Or avoidant all together. I felt I was finding and receiving much more thorough information elsewhere on my own. I thought she was supposed to create a more personal rapport with me/us. Then help us really hone in to answers that were right for us. It seemed early on like she was just trying to check her deliverables boxes. My pregnancy was uncomplicated, therefore I didn't have much to share with her post pre natal appts etc... However, as the due date got closer, we could have used more attentiveness. As I mentioned, her style felt so impersonal that my motivation to reach out to her waned. It was more of a disapointment than an uplift. It felt like an easy paycheck grab. Our second mtg of her allotted services (the in-person one) she also seemed a little impatient and checked out. She was stopping to text with her kids during. The hour visit seemed to lend us again more of a machine gun style of "help" and pointers. Without great direction or clarity. In the meantime I was working with a prenatal bodyworker and midwife whom was a glaring counterpoint to the different styles of supporting someone during pregnancy. Patient & attuned to the person, not seemingly seeing them as a to-do list without really connecting. Fast forward to the weeks before the due date, the bodyworker/midwife could tell our baby was posterior or sunny side up. She was recommending certain exercises to do. Kirsten sent quick responses to any questions I asked that seemed like copy and paste answers. The lack of personal connection made this feel like a waste of time. My interest was already low, yet I tried to stay the course vs. say we don't need your services at all. (on a side note, there should be something said very clearly up front that if it doesn't feel like the right fit... even after contract signing and deposits paid that the mother and client should feel 100% welcome to say so and stop services without further payment - this would have created a safe environment vs. more stress in a time that can be draining enough). When it got closer to the date, and we went in to the hospital Kirsten sent a substitute b/c she had a personal event to attend. The substitute was, from the onset, seemingly more attuned to me (vs seeing me as a task). I responded much more openly to this and it was a pleasure to work with her. My labor process was just over a cpl of days w/ some stops & starts. Kirsten seemed to be either absent (w/ her replacement there for a portion of) or too late. If she were more connected I think she would have known to work on the posterior likelihood much earlier. I also wanted to ask for her substitute to come back instead, but I feared the bad energy that could bring to an already lack luster exchange...and my partner talked me out of it in the end. I found I lost respect for her and did not want to listen when she did make some effort. Her tone was again lacking personal touch. She sat on her phone and droned from across the room good job, you're so strong on repeat for a while. That sums up how I felt the service was performed for me. It seems she is a great fit for many, I am very happy for those mothers. I believe it is clear, she was not for me. I debated saying anything here for 5 mo. If nothing else, I wanted to advocate for the ability to get out of the contract if you start feeling the fit isn't for you. I think this should be offered up verbally and clearly by Kirsten at the onset of the relationship. I skimmed the contract and believe I saw binding language. I was pregnant, still running my business & drained. I did not however go back in and dissect it to see if I could get out of it. I avoided the confrontation thinking it would bring more bad feelings to our sacred space vs. help. I hoped for the best when it became show time. The best it was not.

Sophi is an outstanding doula and a good person to be around. My husband and I are extremely…read moregrateful that Sophi was our doula for the recent birth of our first child. We had two sessions with Sophi during my third trimester. Sophi provided tons of information but more than anything she was a good listener. She worked with us to elicit information about our family and what we wanted out of the birth process (besides a perfectly healthy little baby). Additionally, she is a very likable person. I think most people have an easy time getting comfortable with Sophi. She is very nurturing (but not in a crazy-hippie sort of way), passionate, organized, confident and has a great sense of humor. Ultimately, we connected with and came to trust Sophi in a short period of time. Then comes our birth. We had hoped and prepared for a natural child birth at UCSF. To make a long story short(ish), I had to have a very unexpected medical induction at 40 weeks 4 days due to severe preeclampsia (after an otherwise healthy and easy pregnancy) followed by several other birth complications. This means that our birth preferences were challenged at every turn of the process. Sophi gave us strength and calm and she stayed with us through 38 hours of labor! We could consider this experience traumatic or disappointing but with Sophi's extra guidance and support, we were able to retain a sense of control and feel that we made the right decisions, for us, each step of the way. Above all, I am most thankful to Sophi for being a guide and a support to my husband so he could be actively involved and truly there for me in labor. We felt more connected than ever and I don't think that would have been possible without Sophi. It was a wonderful way to bring our little girl into the world -- to me this is priceless.

I always wanted a doula, but my fiancé was on the fence originally. After we attended a meet the…read moredoula event, it became clear to both of us that we had to have a doula for our birth. We ended up interviewing about seven doula's and for us Sophi was the best choice. First, she is very smart and well spoken. We liked how she educated us about things we hadn't discussed/thought about in a supportive manner. She also provided us with resources which were helpful. Before the birth, we met with Sophi a few times and she was really thorough. I would forget about certain things, and she would remind me about it. I appreciated her follow through. Sophi also helped us with our birth plan and made it personal. I know one of our nurses actually read our birth plan and she loved hearing about the story of my fiancé and I. Providing color on who we were as a couple was Sophi's idea as well as providing photos of ourselves. We delivered at UCSF and we were there for a long time. Sophi fit in with the staff at UCSF as well as our family who attended the birth. Our whole family loved Sophi! During the birth, Sophi was a strong leader. She put me in a trance and helped me labor naturally for about 15 hours. She took notes on my labor which is great and I love having a record of it. I don't remember all the details but thanks to Sophi's notes I have a better idea on our birth. She massaged me as well to help with the pain and she was a strong rock when I needed it. She also had helpful tools to help with the pain. She put something on my back to massage it and she also had essential oils which I loved. Everyone said our room smelled so good and it was relaxing. This is what we wanted. All in all, we wanted to have a healthy baby and to bring our child into a peaceful environment. Sophi helped us accomplish this. We loved her and we are grateful to her! In addition to being our doula, Sophi took maternity photos for us, and took video during our birth (we requested this). We absolutely love the photos/video she took and feel this is priceless! My fiancé has said hiring Sophi was the best decision we made for our birth. We highly recommend her.

We hired Meghan to take care of our newborn twins and she immediately made us feel comfortable. She…read morewas so easy to communicate with, did a walkthrough of our nursery, and shared great product recommendations even before the babies were born. Once they arrived, she handled their newborn colic and gas with ease. We slept well each night, knowing our babies were in good hands. She always went above and beyond to help, washing and sterilizing bottles, doing the babies' laundry, and even occasionally throwing in a load of our laundry. She sleep trained them towards the end of her time with us, and it was helpful to have her lead the process and give us a detailed plan to follow for naps during the day. She is such a treasure trove of info, I still occasionally text her now, even though our twins are older. If you have a chance to work with her, take it!

We worked with Meghan as our postpartum doula during the newborn phase with our twins…read more As first-time parents, there's an inexplicable amount of anxiety that comes with entrusting someone new in your home overnight, caring for your most precious little ones while you're asleep. From the start, Meghan helped ease that concern. She consistently made us feel that our babies' health and safety were being thoughtfully attended to, which was ultimately the most important thing for us. Meghan is very kind, easy to talk to, and approachable, which made communication feel straightforward and collaborative rather than stressful. She was also punctual and reliable, and on the rare occasion timing needed to shift, she was always proactive and communicative, which we really appreciated. Knowing that Meghan was caring for our newborns overnight allowed us to rest (as much as anyone with twins can), and that sense of security is invaluable in those early weeks. We appreciated her calm presence and professionalism, and would recommend her to other families looking for dependable overnight support, especially those navigating the newborn stage for the first time.

I'm so glad my husband and I found Richelle and hired her as a sleep consultant. The 4-month sleep…read moreregression hit our son hard and we wanted to try non-sleep training solutions first. Richelle was so helpful revising his sleep schedule and giving us guidance on how to help him. Within a week or so we started seeing improvements and his sleep got so much better! As our son has grown, Richelle has continued to be a valued resource and now she's helping us transition him to one nap per day. We have recommended her to several friends struggling with sleep with their little ones and I'm sure we'll be reaching out for further help in the future.

From day 1 working with a Richelle as our Doula was one of the best pre parenting moves we made…read more This was our first baby and while we had a small clue of what the adventure ahead looked like, Richelle provided us with a plethora of knowledge to support us as new parents and a wealth of options to suit our life style and core values. All of our classes and meetups were via zoom which was very convenient for my husband and I and we got to know Richelle so well during this time, when show time came and it was time to head to the hospital we truly felt we had a best friend and advocate present, we even had a few surprises pop up and she was there to support with options before the hospital staff gave us any. From communication to one of a kind mentoring we couldn't have picked a better doula and look forward to sharing her with future friends and family looking for get support. Erica and Michael