Lidia took care of our newborn son at night for 3 and half months. Like so many others have said,…read morewe really can't say enough about what a wonderful caregiver and person she is. She has a very calming presence and we fully trusted her; we looked forward to her arrival not just because we would get a much-needed break, but also because we enjoyed her company. As new parents, it was a relief to have Lidia. We knew that an expert would be coming by each night who would frankly be better capable of taking care of our child than we were, especially early on. She was a great resource and very giving with her time and knowledge, whether about diaper rash, feeding and wake schedules, pacifiers, sleep habits, eczema, etc. Lidia went above and beyond for us. She was proactive in identifying phases he was going through or issues he might have been having but without being pushy. She made suggestions but made room for our preferences as well. She worked to help him stretch through the night and to help him be able to sleep better / without a pacifier or in arms. She often did things that made her job harder but our life easier, e.g. feeding him right before she left so he would not need another feed until later in the morning. We feel very lucky to have been able to have her help and are thankful to have been able to learn from her. If / when we have more kids, we will definitely reach back out to book Lidia!

In brief: if you're fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Lidia, please don't…read morehesitate. She is an absolute treasure and the best investment you could make to support your growing family. Lidia was an incredible partner throughout our first 9 weeks of parenthood. We were completely clueless new parents when we arrived home with our baby girl- so sleep deprived and anxious that we were practically hallucinating. From night one, Lidia provided gentle support, non-judgmental expertise, and empathic care for our entire new family. After 9 weeks with Lidia, our baby had established healthy foundational sleep habits, we had grown more confident and knowledgeable about how to care for an infant, and Lidia truly felt like part of the family. We still rave about Lidia to all of our friends and miss her dearly. A few highlights worth noting: - Extremely professional: always arrived a few minutes early to debrief on the day and answer all of our questions. - Knowledgeable yet flexible: has a wealth of knowledge about infants but was never prescriptive or judgmental; offered insight in a gentle way while welcoming our needs and preferences. - Easy to be around: postpartum is a vulnerable time, but Lidia's calm demeanor made us all feel at ease (even with boobs out and bleary-eyed at 1am ) - Genuinely loves babies and has a knack for soothing them: we had complete confidence that our daughter would be cared for with love and skill whenever we handed her off to Lidia and face-planted into bed. As a sleep-deprived new parent, this feeling of relief was priceless.

Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, dang, that human was born to do this kind of…read morework and has a real gifting for it? That was my thought about Lauren after meeting her for the first time (she taught our 6 week birth prep course). This woman was in her element. She cared, she was knowledgeable, and and she lit up the room. To our pleasant surprise and an epic answer to prayer, she ended up being our doula and what a gift she was in that space for us too. Lauren knew when to say or do something and the art of not saying or doing. We ended up having a dream birth and I'm not sure I would have been able to do it without her support. She was a part of the dream birth. She came along and partnered with me and my husband in a way that complemented and strengthened. Lauren helped me to trust myself and my body. There are no guarantees with birth. I don't love Lauren because I had a dream birth; I love her because of who she is and am so grateful she was with us and for us in the tender, sacred space of birth. No doula is for everyone, but if something about her resonates with you, book a call to see if there's a match.

Lauren is incredible! She helped me bring both of my babies into the world and I couldn't imagine…read morethe birth experience without her. She brought such a truly compassionate, intuitive, calming, and empowering presence to the experiences, and navigated all of the twists and turns with us. She felt like part of the family, and made us feel so held throughout the entire process from prenatal to postpartum. I couldn't recommend Lauren more highly. I almost want to have another baby just to be able to work with her again! If you're considering hiring her, DO IT! She's the absolute best.

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.

Sara is truly a baby whisperer. After our move to San Francisco from London, she helped our son…read moreadjust his jet lag and then guided us through a gentle sleep training approach that really clicked for him. Very quickly, our little guy was sleeping through the night and taking long, restorative naps. Before working with Sara, we were really struggling. He was waking regularly throughout the night, and we were doing everything to get him back down. It was taking a real toll on our whole family. What made Sara stand out immediately was how aligned she was with our values. We are very conscious of attachment, and any version of cry-it-out or Ferber felt far too harsh for us. Sara's approach was gentle, thoughtful, and deeply respectful of both baby and parents. She gave us a framework that felt humane, intuitive, and sustainable. She is incredibly patient, generous with her knowledge, and so perceptive. One of the most amazing things she taught us was how to really tune into the different kinds of cries and better understand what our son was actually communicating. That alone was invaluable. We are so grateful for Sara and all of her guidance during this chapter. She brought so much calm, clarity, and confidence into our home at a time when we really needed it. When we have a second baby, she will absolutely be our first call.

I logged into my Yelp account for the first time JUST to review Sara, because I can't imagine doing…read morethis first-time mom thing without her. She just knows absolutely everything about babies, and knowing that I could call on her gave me so much confidence and comfort. Some of the best things about Sara: - Most importantly, Sara gets results! Our baby was a pretty good sleeper from the get go, but as soon as the doctor gave us the go-ahead to stop waking him to feed every three hours, Sara had him sleeping six hours a night. By two months after his due date, he was sleeping 10 hours, and at six months, he's sleeping 12 hours a night with no noticeable regression. - Hiring Sara doesn't just give you relief for one night. She gives you a game plan to develop good sleep habits that you can implement on the nights she's not there, so that your baby becomes a good sleeper every night. We had done all the reading and online courses (Taking Cara Babies, etc.), but it's just different doing it in real life, and Sara can show you how to apply that generic wisdom to your specific baby. For example: She figured out--without us having to experiment for months--that the best thing for our baby was firmly tapping his hip so his whole torso jostled slightly. It relaxed him and got him right back to sleep. We theoretically knew that movement/rocking helped babies, but would never have thought to apply that to our baby by patting his hip! - She has literally seen it all and can help with any kind of baby. Our baby was a preemie who spent weeks in the NICU and had to take a cross-country flight very early and then adjust to a new home. Sara put us instantly at ease with caring for him overnight, despite his special needs, and had very concrete ideas about how to adapt the conventional sleep wisdom to his specific circumstance. - You will face no judgment from Sara. She's seen it all and knows way more than you, but she is super deferential to your decisions on parenting and will share hilarious stories about her own child-rearing experience to make you feel comfortable. - She's attentive to all facets of your baby's well-being, not just his sleep. On the very first night she came to us, she noticed that the way we were mixing baby's formula (shaking instead of swirling) was likely to worsen his reflux. Literally overnight, our baby went from shrieking in agony and arching his back after every feed to having bad reflux symptoms maybe once or twice a week. For that alone, I would have paid Sara any sum of money. - Having Sara in our Rolodex has made us much more adventurous and confident parents. We took a trip to Hawaii and are planning a trip to Japan; I doubt we would have done either without Sara's assurance that she'd get our baby back on track and over jetlag in a night or two. - She gets results fast. After five months of ignoring Sara's nap/daytime recommendations and winding up with a baby that required hours of movement/snuggling/very specific sounds to fall asleep during the day, we finally caved and asked Sara for a daytime consult. In literally a single two-hour stretch, she got our baby falling asleep easily in his crib for naps and has freed up hours of our day. - She's not at all doctrinaire about baby sleep philosophies. She's not a hippie dippie doula who makes you feel guilty if your child fusses or cries. But she also doesn't use crying it out or Ferber or any of harsher sleep training schools. She meets the parents where they are comfortable and is happy to use whatever method they think is best. But we deferred to her recommendation (for naps; she got us full nights of sleep with zero crying)--which involve some crying, but never more than a minute or two, and never without you cuddling and comforting when it felt right--and it worked really well for our baby. I could go on and on, but send me a message if you want more details. I know she's expensive, but it's one of the best investments we've made. It was worth every dollar to get enough sleep; it made us happier people and better parents.

Doula Jen is amazing!! I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to go through our second pregnancy…read moreand childbirth with her by our side. From our first meeting I felt at ease by Jen's calm presence and vast experience as both a doula and a nurse. (Coincidentally we learned Jen was a birth doula twice with our neighbors' kids too, and they assured us of their own positive experience.) My pregnancy took several unexpected twists and turns, and along the way there was no question too big or small for Jen, who'd patiently educate and encourage us to make our own informed decisions. A notable facet of my pregnancy was our baby's breech position the last month and half, when my husband and I decided to try turning him head-down through what felt like every method available. Jen provided vital support in this often stressful last stretch of pregnancy with recommendations, checkins, and referrals within the Golden Gate Doula community who could help (including a wonderful acupuncturist and chiropractor group). We went in twice for external cephalic versions (ECVs)-intensive attempts to turn baby that I felt better prepped for thanks to her guidance. She was even present for one of the procedures, during which I opted in to more intensive options I otherwise would have forgone in hopes of higher chances of success. Ultimately our little guy stayed in breech and we determined a planned C-section was safest. I was super nervous going into the surgery, and Jen helped us stay as grounded as possible by her comfort techniques, encouragement, and doses of humor at just the right moments. Her background as a UCSF pediatric nurse was especially beneficial to us as I gave birth to our son at UCSF Mission Bay, where Jen worked seamlessly with their systems and staff. I can't imagine our baby arriving as smoothly or free of complication as he did without Jen's expertise and magic touch. She's one of a kind, and we absolutely loved working with her!!

Jen Darwin is absolutely fabulous!! When putting together a labor and delivery checklist, make…read moresure it includes Jen - she deserves FIVE stars and more for how good she is at her job. The support that she gave to my husband and I during the birth of our second baby DURING COVID is unmatched and I can't thank her enough for the beautifully positive birth experience that we had. During our pregnancy, Jen provided my husband and I with the information that we needed to make informed decisions on where we were going to deliver (we switched from CPMC to UCSF at 37 weeks) and how I was going to manage my gestational diabetes. She put me in contact with other women who had GD, which was extremely helpful to understand how the care was being managed at the hospital with COVID. She also met us in person at our home to help prepare us with techniques and equipment to labor at home. When we arrived at the hospital, Jen met us in the parking lot and escorted us in. If you've ever met Jen, you know that her presence is enough to put you at ease and instantly make you feel comfortable and taken care of. With her background, she is extremely knowledgeable on hospital procedures and decision making and walked us through each step as we were being admitted to the hospital. We ended up delivering in triage because so many babies were being born that night, but we had one of the larger and more spacious rooms all due to Jen and her experience in knowing the hospital layout and in working with the UCSF staff. We also had an unmedicated birth, which would not have been possible had Jen not coached me through each stage and gave me the strength and confidence to keep going. My recovery was quick and easy due in large part to how Jen helped me to prepare before and during labor and delivery. If you are thinking about getting a doula, look no further - get on her schedule before she fills up!

We started working with Julia early on in our pregnancy and it was the best choice we could have…read moretaken. From the very beginning she was very helpful, cordial, and supportive. As a first time mom I had a thousand questions ranging from healthy eating to pain management (i have chronic lower back pain) and she helped deal with my anxiety/ worries. Her availability and response time made me feel comfortable and safe, I couldn't have asked for a better person to help us with our journey. Hopefully we are able to have her as our doula again for our next pregnancy! Highly recommend her!! My husband and I appreciate you very much!! Thank you Julia!

Julia has been a treasured part of our village as we welcome our second baby. She supported us…read morethrough prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum services, as well as with beautiful film photography. Julia has been nurturing, intuitive and calming throughout. She also has been adaptable, helping us through what each day and even hour brings. Some highlights... During the prenatal period, she helped me process my first birth, and create the space for a new narrative and experience for this one. She also helped us develop strategies for our transition to a family with two kids, suggesting ways to help us spend time together and bond, as well as rest. During labor and delivery, she astutely helped us make the transition from home to hospital--right in time! Julia helped me labor at home as long as possible before I delivered within a few minutes of arriving at the hospital. Right after delivery she helped me get comfortable and start resting and restoring energy. The postpartum fourth trimester period has been especially precious. Julia's healing touch and care has been invaluable for both baby and me. She's also been a trusted sounding board for lactation, sleep, baby carrier, play, bathing, and sleep, amongst so much else. Her incredible cooking has kept the whole family nourished, and she's helped keep the home organized, clean, and calm. Julia's artistic eye and skill as a photographer has also helped us capture this sweet time. Her photos are a keepsake we cherish. Thank you for everything, Julia! With your help, we now have a foundation to establish a new rhythm and routine as a family.

Leah came into our home when our baby was just a few weeks old. I was struggling as a first time…read moremom (triple feeding) and I thought she could help with the baby, which she did, but she also helped take care of me! In addition to babycare, Leah provided me with resources, snack plates and helpful info (breastfeeding encouragement and positions, baby care tips) that improved my bond with my daughter and helped me recover during the 4th trimester. I'd highly recommend Leah if you are looking for a doula!

We were able to connect with Leah very quickly, last minute while at the hospital, through Golden…read moreGate Doula Association. Leah was extremely helpful in our first days back from the hospital, showed me various breastfeeding poses and other tricks, rearranged our living space to be more baby friendly, and concocted delicious snack plates. Working with Leah also allows my husband to run errands and gave me peace of mind to not be alone in our baby's early days.

Shannon is everything we could have imagined for a doula--she is welcoming, warm, thoughtful, and…read morehas a lovely sense of humor! You get the whole package (and then some!) with her. As part of her doula services, she comes to your home for 3 prenatal visits, where you get the opportunity to try out practical exercises (from pregnancy massage techniques to pain alleviating exercises, talk through how your pregnancy is going individualizing our care and even review a manual binder that she provides for you. And of course, the main event, true labor and giving birth! Shannon has a way of just blending into your family during such an intense moment and your family's needs, stepping up and stepping down seamlessly, but always right there when we needed her. During labor/birth at the hospital, Shannon's belief and faith in me to surrender and brave through a natural birth never wavered. She really did it *all*--preparing bone broth for me to sip on in the midst of a contraction, acting as head cheerleader, setting the oxytocin mood in our delivery room with string lights, aromatherapy, and music. Oh, and not to mention, the hip squeezes and back rubs she provides in the most intense moments of labor. My husband and I had never been so impressed with a service before! Oh, I'm not done...she even did labor/birth photos for us, and a newborn session in our home two weeks postpartum. *cries happy tears* Thanks to Shannon, I experienced the most FUN and empowering birth. 12/10 recommend investing in her services!

For anyone seeking a birth doula, I wholeheartedly recommend Shannon. In our search, she stood out…read moreduring our initial meeting by not only trying to understand what we cared about but being able to reflect that understanding back at us with even more clarity. It was clear to us that Shannon's approach is personalized, recognizing that not every path to parenthood is the same. Having attended over 400 births, Shannon also brought a wealth of experience with her that shone through in her calming presence, well-balanced guidance, and the articulate birth plan she helped us craft. Her ability to address our worries without ever being dismissive, provide valuable advice at the right moment, and offer a diverse array of resources made our journey as first-time parents all the more enjoyable and helped us be prepared.