As a new parent, the postpartum period is challenging enough without having to deal with the stress…read moreand disappointment of a difficult agency. While Stork and Sprout does have some excellent doulas on its team who provided great support and coaching, my experience with the agency's leadership was overwhelmingly negative. We had a particularly difficult time with Brittany. She demonstrated a pattern of manipulation, gaslighting, and lying, both to us and, from what I understand, to her own employees. Our contract promised consistent coverage, but the scheduling was erratic and communication was poor. We were left to wonder many nights if we would have support, and for several weeks, we only received 1 to 2 days of support instead of the 6 to 7 we paid for. When we requested a refund for the services not provided, Brittany refused and even fought our bank with out-of-context emails and more lies. She claims she "offered a refund" but is even today refusing to honor it as she says in the response. The lack of professionalism extended to some of the staff as well; one sick doula was sent to our home and intentionally caused our newborn physical pain. Brittany treated us like we were the difficult ones and responded with empathy-less chatGPT emails to manage the situation. We were also led to believe we would have one primary doula with a backup, but over the course of our service, we had seven different doulas come to our home. This complete lack of continuity made an already difficult period even more stressful. Based on my experience, I would advise new parents to skip Stork and Sprout and work directly with an independent doula. You will not only save the 30-40% extra fee the agency charges for scheduling, but you will also avoid the toxic and difficult management. This experience is unacceptable for a service that costs tens of thousands of dollars and demands payment upfront months ahead of providing the service. We were not able to switch easily due to the inflexible Carrot reimbursement process through the employer.

I truly couldn't have accomplished my VBAC goals without the incredible support of the Stork and…read moreSprout birth doula team. From the very first moment I needed them through labor and all the way until I was settled into the maternity floor with my new little boy, they were there every step of the way. Their calm presence, deep knowledge, encouragement, and advocacy made all the difference during such an intense and meaningful experience. I felt supported, empowered, and never alone. I am beyond grateful for their care and dedication and would wholeheartedly recommend Stork and Sprout to anyone preparing for birth--especially those pursuing a VBAC.

I cannot recommend Marilou at Doulas by the Bay highly enough. She was our postpartum night doula…read morefor the first few weeks after our son was born, and she was incredible. As new parents, the sleep deprivation is real, but knowing she was there allowed us to finally get the much-needed rest we required to function. Beyond just being a set of expert hands, she became a trusted guide for us and taught us invaluable newborn care tips that we still use daily. We trusted her implicitly with our baby from night one which was critical for us as anxious new parents. Marilou's calm, professional, and warm presence made us feel so at ease during a very vulnerable time. We truly loved our time with her and are so grateful for the care she provided. If you are looking for a doula who is knowledgeable, nurturing, and completely trustworthy, Marilou is amazing!

We had an incredible experience with Sally for our son from when he was 1-3 months. She was…read moreconsistently punctual, professional, and incredibly kind. Beyond just helping with night feeds, she took the initiative with bottles and laundry, which was a huge help to our family. We felt completely at ease knowing our little one was in such caring hands. In addition, she helped with sleep training. Additionally, the office staff was a pleasure to work with. They were extremely professional and maintained a quick turnaround time on all our requests and paperwork. We highly recommend this team for anyone looking for top-tier newborn care!

Sharon Economides was my Lactation Consultant when my newborn was having trouble latching, due to…read morewhat was assumed to be flat nipples. I had been using a shield recommended to me, but my baby was not putting back on her birth weight. On the first visit, within the first few minutes Sharon was able to get my baby to latch properly without the shield! Just by making a few simple suggestions around my babies position and using a pump to help pull the nipple out a little more, my baby was able to latch and begin to nurse properly. Sharon is not only very knowledgeable in her field, but she has a really good vibe to her, making mama and baby feel comfortable. With her down to earth personality and her calm presence, she is able to communicate the information she needs to relay with great ease. Sharon was also very helpful by phone, text and e-mail and was quick to respond when questions which came up between the few sessions we met. I highly recommend any new mama to Sharon. Nursing is not intuitive and if you are having trouble getting started, you will be happy you contacted Sharon so that you and your baby can begin a nursing rhythm that will bring you both great joy and love.

I am forever grateful to Sharon for her care during my pregnancy and birth of my second child. It…read morewas such a world of difference from the first time around. My OB was nice enough, but would spend maybe 5 minutes tops just to check the baby's vitals and then usher me out the door. My OB wasn't available for my first birth, and I ended up with a surly OB at delivery that I definitely wouldn't have picked myself. I decided the second time around that I wanted a more personal level of care, and I'm so glad I went with Coastal Maternity. Sharon always gave me her undivided attention during our prenatal and postnatal visits. She was so thorough and knowledgeable, and she made sure to address any questions I had (or didn't know I had!). She brought things for me like books, tea, website recommendations, etc. She was always available via email or phone if any questions or concerns came up between visits. She also struck just the right balance for me between "crunchy" and conventional, meaning that she could readily recommend holistic remedies like acupuncture while also putting in orders for bloodwork or ultrasounds if needed. Visits definitely involved more than just checking the baby's heartbeat...She also took my well-being fully into account, as well as my husband and toddler. That level of care for my entire family meant so much to me. Personalities can factor into one's decision when choosing a midwife, but Sharon is so warm, calm, and grounded that I would imagine that she could work with just about anybody. She has such a seamless and intuitive way of knowing when to jump in and lead and when to step back and let you take the wheel. This was exactly what I needed during my labor and birth. She was there every step of the way to help me keep my focus and stay strong. She understood and respected my wishes but also knew when to make helpful suggestions and try new things if I was feeling stuck. I ended up with an empowering home birth experience that I will cherish forever. I highly recommend Sharon and Coastal Maternity!

We were incredibly lucky to have Thais as our postpartum doula for the first 6 weeks with our first…read morebaby. From the start, she was thoughtful and well prepared. She even came to our home beforehand to review what we had for the baby and helped us identify what we were missing. Thais truly loves babies and her work, and it shows in how gentle, attentive, and calm she is. She also organize our baby items very well, which made daily life much easier. Before her last week, she checked in to make sure I felt confident caring for the baby on my own and taught me essential skills like bathing the baby and using a baby carrier. As a first-time mom, her support made a huge difference. I highly recommend Thais to any new family.

I feel so lucky to have Thais helping me take care of my first newborn baby!…read more She has been so patient, passionate, knowledgeable and really into the details of everything. She also turned my husband and me into parents who are capable of handling different situations! She gave me good guidance on breastfeeding and pumping. And our cat loves her!

Michelle was my birth and evening postpartum doula for the birth of my daughter. Her nurturing wise…read morepresence eased both the UCSF L&D staff, my husband and myself during a most fantastic birthing experience. She knew when I may have pushed pain threshold too far and gently reminded me of alternative pain relief. Not to mention she used a technique called Spinning Babies to bring my daughter out of an awkward position. Once home, she kindly showed me changes in breastfeeding positions to diminish pain, cleaned dishes and watched the baby so I could take time alone. She held space for this incredible time and we love her like family.

As a first time Dad I was not the one doing the hard work, but for all the dad's out there, the…read morewhole process is not, I'll just say, the most straight forward for anyone involved. Going into the process there is so much unknown and so much that makes you unsure. The most important person to be comfortable in my situation was my wife. In order for her to be comfortable it was very important for me to be comfortable. I understand that having a doula is not necessary, but it sure did help me and my family. The preparation conversations we had made the experience digestible. The advocate we had in Michelle during the process was incredible. The support we had post-partum was so helpful. Michelle has done this so many times and is so familiar with everything going on. To have her on your team allows for everyone to be present and just helps so much. Technically: She knows her stuff. For instance, Michelle is trained in baby spinning and to the doctor's surprise we avoided a c-section at the final hour. It was nothing short of a miracle. Personally: Michelle is solid, levelheaded, caring, fun, patient, prepared and will advocate for you when you need it. She has a short questionnaire to get on the same page earlier on in the process and she stands by what you discuss. I can't recommend Michelle enough, and if you would like to discuss further please ask Michelle to put us in touch.

Victoria was so helpful and thoughtful during our tough transition to becoming first time parents…read more Due to some minor complications, it was tough for me to move around the first couple of weeks post partum and so Victoria provided some much needed relief to my partner in learning new tasks (reorganizing our changing station to be more efficient, sanitizing pump equipment, baby wearing, etc.) and even household chores like laundry. Victoria also provided really helpful tips and tricks on how to put baby to sleep, support their development during awake times, and just general guidance on what to expect and how to cope. For me, her help during the long night shifts allowed me to get more rest and recover faster. She brought such kindness and warmth to the table in addition to her knowledge and skill, it felt very much like a lifesaver, esp since we do not have a lot of support in the form of family close by (and sometimes family support is actually also not that helpful). Our baby also loved Victoria and was very calm when she was interacting with him (showing us it was possible to have a diaper change without crying haha). We know we can trust Victoria with our newborn and so even went to have lunch without baby while knowing baby was in good hands. We likely would not trust anyone else to take care of baby at this early stage without our close supervision. TL;DR: Highly recommend Victoria who provided invaluable support and guidance during our transition to becoming parents.

Victoria worked for us for several months late last year supporting my wife once our baby girl was…read moreborn. I cannot say enough about how attentive she was to everything. She was always on time and extremely competent caring for our baby and my wife as she recovered. We were very lucky to have her and highly recommend her. The Gilberts

We're delighted to recommend Fernanda Mafra as a postpartum doula for any family who's considering…read morethe extra help. Choosing Fernanda to help overnight with our first baby was the best decision we made, and looking back, we truly don't think we could've done it without her. We even interviewed 5 other doulas and Fernanda clearly stood out because of her professional, calm, and knowledgeable demeanor. Leading up to the birth, she checked in weekly and sent across helpful resources so that I could mentally and physically prepare for the birth and we could prepare the nursery with all the essentials. When our baby arrived a whole month early and I texted Fernanda from the hospital, she immediately and kindly arranged for an amazing backup doula to help us during those weeks - she didn't need to do this, but this is a perfect example of how Fernanda goes above and beyond to care for her families. Fernanda always arrived early each night, checked in on us and the baby to see how our day had been, and shared suggestions that helped us establish a routine in the first month that most families only dream of in the first year. The uniquely helpful thing about Fernanda is that she happily collaborated with us on every topic (feeding, swaddling, pacifiers, etc.), so it felt like a true partnership and we never felt judged as first time parents. We learned so much from her that we could've never learned from books or other resources. She was a wise angel when I was stressed about breastfeeding and helped suggest a pumping schedule to increase my milk supply, and also created a weaning plan for me when I was done. Her communication is impeccable and she wrote detailed notes each day to summarize the night for us so we could stay informed. You can tell that she genuinely cares about her families, and even by the end of our short time with Fernanda, our son was sleeping from 8pm to 6am with a single dream feed! She even gave us a documented transition plan to help us continue the sleep conditioning in a gradual, soothing way. In short, no matter how our day had gone, I'd always feel relaxed and happy when Fernanda would arrive, knowing that our baby was in great hands. We cannot say enough good things about Fernanda and will definitely hire her again for our second baby!

I can't say enough good things about Fernanda. She was exactly what our family needed after…read morebringing home baby #2. From the very first night, she brought a calm, confident presence into our home--and it was immediately clear just how much she knows- she understood him. She moved with such assurance and gentleness, reading his cues, getting him into a healthy sleep routine, and helping him settle in ways that made us feel completely at ease. What stood out most, though, was how gracefully she adapted to our family's dynamic. She offered thoughtful updates each morning, checked in on how I was doing, and was a constant, nonjudgmental sounding board as I processed everything from feeding choices to sibling transitions. Even when I didn't feel sure of myself, she never pushed--she just provided insight and space, and always supported whatever direction I chose. She showed up early every single shift, organized and prepared, which meant the world during those chaotic early weeks. She even helped with the nitty-gritty details like invoices and documentation for our employer benefit reimbursement--something that felt completely overwhelming in my foggy postpartum state. This was our second child, and I went in thinking I wouldn't need much help. I was wrong. I learned so much more this time--things I wish I'd known the first time around--and Fernanda was at the center of that. She also helped guide us through toddler regression and the emotional shifts that came with our older child adjusting to a new sibling which I hadn't expected. Fernanda is warm, professional, deeply experienced, and just a truly special human to have by your side during such a tender time. We're so grateful we found her.

I found Lauren through the Evidence Based Birth website. I was so grateful to have a doula who was…read moreup to date on the research and would help support us in pushing against some unnecessary hospital conventions while still being generally pro-medicine. Lauren was very responsive and helpful throughout our pregnancy. We had great prenatal visits and texted and emailed about some concerns that arose. Lauren always replied promptly with great insight and calm. She was just the same way on the day I gave birth. I texted her early in the day that I was feeling contractions but I thought they might be Braxton Hicks. She suggested I focus on other things and time again in a few hours. Later that night it became clear I was going into labor. I waited a bit too long before asking Lauren to come - I had just started to feel the urge to push when she arrived. But I knew I was in safe hands. She drove me to the hospital while my husband grabbed our bag. Along the way she bent over so I could lean on her through the contractions. I gave birth to our beautiful baby girl 40 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. Lauren cooled my face with a cold towel and massaged me through the contractions. She also took lovely photos just after the birth. An hour later, I turned up my husband and said, "I could do that again." It was no doubt thanks in part to Lauren's emotional and physical support. She stayed another 2-3 hours after the birth as well to make sure we were all settled. Lauren has also been helping a new doula Emily train. Emily attended our birth as well and it was helpful to have her extra set of hands!

I sent an inquiry about availability and setting up a consultation for being my birth doula BUT…read moreShe's not accepting clients right now due to being a recent mom. I appreciated her prompt response to inform me.

My postnatal massage with Gracie at Brilliant Births was such a beautiful and restorative…read moreexperience. She was warm, professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and made me feel completely at ease from the moment I arrived. At 11 weeks postpartum, I was still very much in the process of recovering and adjusting, and Gracie created a calm, supportive space where I could truly relax and focus on myself for a little while. Her care and expertise made the experience feel incredibly special. There is so much that our bodies continue to do after having a baby, and this massage felt like a meaningful way to acknowledge and care for mine. I left feeling refreshed, supported, and grateful that I had taken the time to prioritize my recovery. I highly recommend Brilliant Births and Gracie to any new mother looking for compassionate, knowledgeable, and deeply restorative postpartum care. During my pregnancy I had also seen Kyra for a prenatal massage and she was excellent as well. Both she and Gracie have their own styles and both provided wonderful experiences.

My partner and I recently completed the Hypnobirthing three week course at Brilliant Births. We had…read morean absolutely incredible experience, for many reasons--The information we learned was invaluable, but also the instructors' teaching styles and depth of personal experience they offered was appreciated, comforting, and helpful. They clearly have a deep well of wisdom and experience-based expertise to share. We started our class with Keira and absolutely loved her--originally we were a bit bummed to know we would have a different instructor for our last day of the course. However, it turned out that Heidi was equitably wonderful and all things lovely-- instead of only one great instructor and guide, we ended up with two...which leads me to believe you'll be in skilled hands with anyone you interact with at BB. We will definitely be returning to take advantage of their other offerings!

We absolutely loved having Amy's help during my postpartum period. She was so reliable, helpful,…read moreknowledgeable, and a pro. We trusted her wholeheartedly to care for our little newborn. She also was a calming presence that put us at ease from night 1. We appreciated everything she taught us and for the extra sleep she allowed us to get that first month!

We are so lucky to have found Amy to help us with newborn care. From the moment she walked into…read moreour home, she brought with her a calm, grounding presence that made us feel instantly at ease and felt she was trustworthy. Her deep knowledge, gentle guidance, and intuitive understanding of both baby and parent needs were truly invaluable. She was also a wonderful listener, never imposing but always offering thoughtful suggestions and advice that helped us build confidence as new parents. Her ability to soothe and care for our baby was nothing short of magical...our baby loved Amy! Whether it was helping us navigate feeding routines, gassy issues, sleep, or simply reassuring us when we needed it most, she was consistently supportive, respectful, and nurturing. Thanks to her expertise, I was able to find a baby carrier that my baby loved & test out all the different pacifiers she brought with her. We still have her baby-shusher that we use today. Thanks to her, we felt empowered, rested, and much more prepared to care for our little one. We truly can't imagine those early weeks without her, and we recommend her wholeheartedly to any new family seeking compassionate and skilled postpartum care.