Working with Kirsten as our doula was a fantastic decision and I'd highly recommend her. 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! read more

Not a good fit for me. An unfortunate waste of ~$3,200. I am disheartened to have to share that our 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. read more

There are many things about labor and delivery that you can't control, but hiring Kirsty is one thing you can and she will not disappoint. Choosing a Doula is a BIG decision. This person is going to be by your side for one of life's greatest joys and during such a vulnerable time. You want to look back and have fond memories of those in the room with you and I am so glad Kirsty was there for me and my husband. We spoke with several Doulas before Kirsty, and I knew right away that Kirsty would be a great fit. She is a wealth of knowledge and experience and made us feel so comfortable from Day 1. Kirsty was extremely responsive to all questions and concerns leading up to labor and when it came time, she was a key part of my positive birthing experience. She coached us through laboring at home and promptly met us at the hospital around 1:30am and helped us every step of the way. The nurses and our doctor enjoyed working with her so much that my doctor asked for her contact information so that she could refer patients. We still keep in touch and I hope that is true for many years to come. I would definitely have her by my side again if we decide to have another. If you've read this far, do yourself and your partner a favor and hire Kirsty if you are able to! read more

As a first time mom, I really wanted to have a doula at my birth to support myself and my husband. We interviewed several doulas before deciding on Kirsten - we picked her because she has a lot of experience and we enjoyed our conversation. I enjoyed working with Kirsten - she provided so many resources for me, was very responsive whenever I texted, and I love that she provided a tens unit, which was soooo helpful when my contractions started. At the hospital, Kirsten was very hands on and provided lots of support. I got an epidural and she made sure I was always changing positions every hour, brought me water, and was all around a lot of help to both me and my husband. The nurses also really appreciated her because she was so helpful. We highly recommend Kirsten! read more

I am so grateful for Kirsty and the support that she provided before, during and after the birth of our baby girl. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone considering a birth doula. She was an incredible help to us during pregnancy. She made herself available and provided great information and resources. I can't imagine going through labor without her. It was so reassuring to both my husband and I to have her there. Her presence allowed my husband to get some breaks while having peace of mind. I was able to fully focus on labor without worrying about when we should leave our home because I knew Kirsty was there to talk through that decision when the time came. She spoke to our midwife on the phone about my progress while I was laboring at home, which my husband and I found hugely helpful and reassuring. She suggested different laboring positions and was there to comfort and encourage me. Kirsty was also a helpful and calming presence once Baby girl came. She was incredibly thoughtful and always looking out for our needs. I was so thankful to have her at the birth center with us in those first hours postpartum. read more

I had Kirsty as my birth Doula. She was incredibly knowledgable and gave helpful information during my pregnancy. During my induction, she helped us decide on some important decisions and timing of different things. She helped guide with pain management with different positions, massages and breathing techniques. My pushing experience was particularly difficult, as I had recently been hospitalized with Bell's palsy. I also spiked a fever during pushing. She helped me keep calm and push forward. I always felt like she supported my decisions and provided non-biased information. She guided me through the epidural and she helped my mom and partner figure out how best to support me. I was so appreciative to have her as my doula and recommend her to anyone who is considering. She also came to our house a few days after the birth and we were able to debrief the birth trauma story together which I found very cathartic and she also showed us how to give baby her first bath. That will be a special memory I always cherish. read more

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Oh my goodness Kirsten was seriously the best. She was a wealth of knowledge through my entire pregnancy. So supportive and truly listened to all my questions, concerns or just emotions I was feeling. When the big day finally arrived, she provided so much support to me (obviously) but also for my husband. Helping him figure out how to help me manage pain and when it was the right time to go to the hospital. She was so wonderful and collaborative to the hospital staff (when some of the staffers weren't the friendliest) and was with me for every part of labor. Even after our son was born, she was constantly checking in on us for days, weeks and months after. I can't recommend Kirsten enough. I hope we can have her a part of our baby #2 journey whenever that may be. read more

Kirsten was our doula for both kids. I couldn't recommend her higher. She put at ease throughout the whole process and was a vital calming presence for both deliveries. Especially given the fact our families weren't around, having Kirsten there made us feel safe and cared for. Our first delivery was particularly complicated and I'm convinced if not for her skilled ability at turning the baby around, that my partner would have had a C-section. Bottom line: Kirsten was amazing and if you manage to hire her, you are beyond lucky. read more

We were so grateful we had Kirsten by our side for labor and delivery. She has a very calm energy and in moments of chaos for parents going through this for the first time, was vital in helping us make sense of everything and take the next steps at the right time. She also helped communicate my birth plan with the nurses so that I could deliver the baby the way I had hoped. There were moments where having her there was a relief for me and others where it was a relief for my husband- everybody wins when they hire Kirsten! read more

I can't speak highly enough about our experience with Kirsten as our birth doula. Kirsten was recommended to us from another mom who spoke leaps and bounds about how wonderful she was during her pregnancy and birth. We had spoken with 3 other birth doulas prior to talking with Kirsten, and we immediately felt like she was a friend we had known for a long time. She has a generous warmth and kindness to her, wrapped in positive energy and an upbeat spirit. At the same time she has a calming confidence and a thoroughly knowledgeable presence about her - especially as it relates to all things pregnancy and birth. As a soon-to-be first time mom, with a 5 plus year fertility journey that we had gone through to get here, you can imagine how nervous I was to let another person into our highly emotional experience. But I knew my husband and I could use the support navigating both the pregnancy, labor and nervousness around first time parenthood. We were also planning for an unmedicated birth as well, so on a number of levels, we knew doula support was an absolute must for us. Kirsten helped my husband and me through all the fears and anxieties around labor, and through 3 plus days of early labor, 7 hours of active labor and 5 1/2 hours of pushing our 9 lb 8 ounce baby boy into the world. It was no small feat to have that kind of intense labor end with a happy healthy boy, and an incredibly positive, humbling, and meaningful experience that my husband and I cherish as one that brought us closer. We truly can't recommend Kirsten enough to any person or family looking for a caring, loving, knowledgeable and extremely experienced doula. She exceeded our expectations in every way possible and we feel beyond blessed to have had her help and support during this special time for our family. She continues to be someone we can turn to to this day. read more

I am so grateful that Kirsten was my birth doula. I spoke with a handful of doulas, and I wanted to work with Kirsten because I felt that she was the best advocate. Some doulas that I spoke with emphasized that their job was to empower me to speak up for myself. But during labor, I wanted someone to know my preferences and values and speak up for me. Kirsten did exactly that. Just one example: she knew that it was important to us for the hospital team to wear masks, and she reminded them to do so when I was too exhausted and out of it. I really appreciated that. I owe my positive labor experience to Kirsten: every time the doctors said something that would have ordinarily freaked me out (e.g., baby heart rate dropping, might need a c section/vacuum, etc.), Kirsten's presence calmed me down and I knew everything would be ok. She's a fierce advocate and a knowledgeable advisor. Whenever I had questions during my pregnancy and labor, Kirsten had information and recommendations for me. She was never pushy (except to do my exercises, which was so helpful!). Kirsten is full of positive energy, wisdom, and love for babies and their parents. She's a very popular doula, so reach out to her early on in your pregnancy! read more

Kirsty provided a very kind and calming presence throughout labor and delivery. She continually made helpful suggestions for what positions / activities to try and made sure that I was comfortable. Even though I was a first-time mom, she helped me feel relaxed about the process and confident in a positive outcome. Kirsty integrated seamlessly with the medical staff at the hospital and the nurses loved her. I honestly can't imagine what my husband and I would have done for all those hours without her guidance! read more

It's hard to find the words to express the depth of my gratitude for Kirstie and having her by my side made the world of difference during a stressful birth. Kirstie was with me throughout, she helped me to find positions of comfort, to remain present in my body and to feel truly held in one of the most vulnerable and tender moments of my life thus far. She brought an energy of calm and was a loving presence in the lead up to my son's arrival, during and afterwards. Kirstie not only supported me, but also my husband and coordinated with the hospital staff to ensure my wishes were conveyed to the other team members. Kirstie brings with her a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise, as well as a huge loving heart, a good sense of humor and a beautiful spirit. Birth is transformational and having her by side helped me find the strength and courage I needed, right when I needed it. I am forever indebted to this incredible woman. I would recommend her a million times over- don't hesitate! She is a true gem. read more

Kirsten was an amazing doula! I felt like I was in the most knowledgeable and caring hands. I vibed with her immediately and loved having her as a part of my birth. She helped me achieve the birth I envisioned - totally unmedicated despite being induced. I honestly wouldn't have had the courage to get through it without her. I'll definitely have her at my next birth! read more

We were introduced to Kirsten by a friend who used her services for her first delivery. We felt an instance connection with her as Kirsten is very approachable. Throughout the entire process, she communicated clearly and was super knowledgeable when answering any questions we had along the way and also providing numerous resources for us to research. As such we felt extremely prepared going into the birthing process. Leading up to the big day, we had a couple of meetings with Kirsten, both virtual and in person, and we appreciated that she let us guide those sessions with our questions/concerns. She was extremely attentive to our needs and desires for our birth plan. We never felt rushed and in fact, it made us feel like we were her only clients. When it came time for our son to be born, Kirsten was exactly the cheerleader and advocate we had hoped she would be. Labor was a difficult process, but it was made better with Kirsten. read more

I cannot recommend Kirsten enough as a doula; She is knowledgable, calm and most importantly focused on creating a positive and supportive environment for the arrival of our baby. I was on the fence about hiring a doula and I am so glad I did. Kirsten was a tremendous support to both my husband and me through out the entire labor and delivery process. She was a wonderful source of information, positive reinforcement and calmness that I needed. I would have been more stressed and panicked if I didn't have her as my doula. Prior the birth of our daughter, Kirsten was exceptionally accommodating to meet with us to make sure we had all the information we needed to create a birth plan that I desired. She helped me mentally prepare for child birth so that I had an understanding of what would happen and what to do through each phase. During early labor, Kirsten help me understand what my body was going through and how to work through the pain. After our baby arrived, Kirsten made sure to check in and make sure we were adjusting to our new life. While my labor didn't go completely as planned, having Kirsten by my side helped me and my husband with the unexpected. I highly recommend Kirsten and a doula and would work with her again in the future. read more

Kirsten is a wonderful doula. I had a few unexpected pregnancy events along the way and she was there at every step. We found out baby was breach and decided to do a version. Kirsten was a great source of information and comfort during the procedure. Baby was successfully turned during the version, but flipped back to being breach and we needed to schedule a C-section. I ended up going into labor before the scheduled C-section and things progressed extremely quickly, but Kirsten was at the hospital before I went into the operating room. She was very responsive, kind, and knowledgeable throughout the entire process and I couldn't recommend her more! read more

I would highly recommend Kirsten! She is professional, responsive any time of the day or night and highly knowledgeable. Great advice about breastfeeding and baby care after the baby was born. She truly cares and understands. I am thankful I had her with me on my journey to become a mother. read more

Kirsten is a rockstar doula When we me for a first time after the initial phone call, I had a feeling that I met an old friend. Knowledgeable, supportive, empathetic friend. There was a connection. I wanted her to be with me on this journey of my pregnancy and delivery. And that was a great choice! She carefully listened to me and followed my needs all the time. Kirsten was by my side - via texts, emails, phone calls and in person when needed. I got all the answers, support, encouragement that I was looking for. All our meetings left me smiling and calm - and that is a big deal. I am so grateful she was with me, holding my hand in the hospital. Not only she made me feel physically comfortable (as much as it can be during delivery), but also took care of most of the communications with medical professionals (according to our birth plan, allowing me to avoid answering same questions multiple times etc and keeping focus) She was truly there for me. If you ask me who was the new r doctor or was in the room- I have no idea, I looked only at Kirsten. While it's hard to describe all the work she's done for me, I'd like to say that I had a birth experience that I was dreaming about. And I'm sure it is because of Kirsten. She helped me to stay confident, ready and kind of relaxed. My only regret is that I didn't met her when I was pregnant with my first baby. No jokes- working with Kirsten was the best decision and the best investment. read more

Kirstie is an absolutely amazing doula. She is so knowledgeable and energetic but also such a calming and encouraging presence. We never felt judged or pressured in any of the decisions that go into having a baby. Kirstie guided and supported us so we could feel informed about the decisions we were making and we knew we would have a good advocate at the hospital when the time came. I would definitely want to work with her again if/when I have another baby! read more

Kirsten Dudley is my hero. I had an extremely fast labor with my second child and did not make it to the SF Birth Center as planned. We were working with Jennifer Darwin at GGDA and Kirsten was our back up doula in the event that my labor moved quickly and we needed someone in the neighborhood (we live in Marin). Needless to say, once I went into labor Jennifer knew she wasn't going to make it from the city in time, so she called up Kirsten who jumped out of bed and arrived at our door just in time to catch my daughter. Having an unplanned home birth can be stressful, but Kirsten immediately put me at ease and we are so thankful for her presence at our daughter's birth. It was such a unexpected night and I am so grateful that Kirsten was a part of it. We adore her and would recommend her to anyone! read more