It was a pleasure to have Shannon as my doula. Shannon exudes warmth and kindness. She's…read moreapproachable and makes herself available. Shannon always provided evidence based unbiased information and respected our decisions. She has lots of connections to the birth community in the area and all her referrals and resources were amazing too! I definitely will be recommending Shannon to anyone looking for a doula. Thank you Shannon!

Shannon was an amazing doula! From our very first session, it was clear how knowledgeable and…read moreexperienced she is. She provided incredible support throughout the entire journey, and each session was so informative that my partner and I felt confident and cared for every step of the way. We also appreciated how responsive and timely she always was -- her quick replies meant we could get guidance and reassurance whenever we needed it. All of her referrals were truly top-notch, and every recommendation she gave us made a meaningful difference. I had an unexpected and very fast labor, and Shannon was with me every step of the way -- from coming to my home late at night to meeting me at the hospital shortly after. As a first-time mom, I wouldn't have even realized I was in early labor without her support. She guided me through everything with such calmness and expertise. Her extensive background and path toward becoming a midwife truly set her apart, and we felt completely comfortable placing our trust in her. We would absolutely work with her again in the future!

Patricia was not my doula; but I wanted a consultation with her to possibly become my birthing…read moredoula. Her CV appeared impressive, she holds a DONA certification, which is why I emailed via Yelp and her website to set a consultation up....never received a reply. Ended up going with someone who was prompt and responsive.

Patricia's birth doula services is comparable to an exclusive wedding venue. You need to book her…read morein advance. Her services are invaluable and worth every penny. She'll tell you that and her clients will tell you the same. She backs up her years of experience as a birth doula and in those years she has made valuable connections with other people who strive to help provide services and support for natural unmedicated births. Patricia was referred to us by a midwife in the East bay. We interviewed her along with several other doulas and she was down to earth and straightforward. Don't let her website throw you off, she doesn't need to fancy it up. Her experience speaks for itself. Consider yourself being lucky if she chooses to offer her services to you as she prefers only select hospitals that welcome natural births. While she's all about coaching for a natural unmedicated birth, she does not push in that direction if you don't believe in it. She wants you to believe in what you're asking for and do the research on your own. If you believe what your needs are she will help advocate those needs, especially if you're giving birth in a hospital. While the mom is laboring in pain and the dad is watching aimlessly, she's there whispering in the mom's ears what to say to the nurse and doctors that come in insisting on routine checks or procedures that are really not needed but sounds like they are required through their tone. With her help and some luck my wife had a wonderful birth story. My wife only labored for one hour at the hospital and the baby was out in two pushes all in five minutes. She helped my wife labor at home for three hours and knew when it was time to go in. Patricia helped coach her during the months leading up to the day and then through her whole laboring period at home and at the hospital. If you're seeking a natural unmedicated birth, hiring Patricia would be an invaluable investment.

Going into my first pregnancy I knew I needed some extra help in addition to having my husband…read morethere. I was going to deliver at Kaiser and knew I wanted an experienced Doula that could be with me from start to finish. Felissa was just that and more! My husband and I felt very comfortable with Felissa from the first time we met her she's very sweet and motherly but also very motivating which is very comforting when you're in a lot of pain! The warming pad, tens unit and massages she did on my back were amazing during the contractions. She was also very helpful in helping us make decisions during labor and letting us know what the Doctors were doing. This definitely helped us feel a whole lot better during some important decisions. I highly recommend Felissa, she's very knowledgeable in what she does and is a great support to have during the most important thing a woman has to do.

Simply Amazing! Felissa is the perfect 10 "doula" for the birth of our child. We delivered our baby…read morein Kaiser Redwood City and she was extremely phenomenal in guiding us through the labor and birthing process. With her amazing support, we count ourselves fortunate to have a healthy delivery with 100% natural child birth. No IV line, no blood test, No Pitocin, No pain medication, No intervention whatsoever. In the two pre-natal visits, she gave us great tips and demonstrated various exercises such as pelvic rocking, squatting, and Kegel exercises to help prepare the mother physically and emotionally. When my water broke and my labor started (around 12:45 AM) , she picked up her phone instantly offering us guidelines on what to expect and guiding us through the process. She helped us during our 10+ hours labor. We used her TENTS unit for helping to alleviate the pain and many hot water showers sessions. We did a lot of walking, squatting, all-four position and many others to help progress the labor. We read the two books "Ina May Gaskin's guide to Natural Childbirth" and "The Bradley Natural Childbirth". She helped complement our knowledge with practical information from her wealth of experience. We are so lucky to have her as our doula and we are forever grateful for her patience, support, and compassion in helping us deliver our baby healthily and naturally.

This review is a bummer to write, but after reading other reviews about communication delays and…read moreissues on the administrative end, it's clear i'm not the only one experiencing this issue and something needs to be seriously addressed. Alicia herself is wonderful, and we used her for placenta encapsulation in 2019. We had an overall good experience, so as we are nearing the birth of our 3rd baby, I reached back out to Alicia as a return client looking for placenta encapsulation again. It took 4 days to get an initial response to my email. Julia (Alicia's assistant) reached out to let me know Alicia is on maternity leave and had a few clarification questions to get the ball rolling with another doula. Unfortunately, I never heard from Julia or anyone else again. I've since left a voicemail and 4 follow-up emails with no response. If Born Doulas is too busy to accept me as a client, I would have appreciated hearing that upfront vs. just ghosting me, especially as a returning client. These types of customer service issues are just unacceptable, and if you are looking for a doula or placenta encapsulation company during the very delicate time of pregnancy and delivery, I recommend looking elsewhere and finding a company that cares about communication.

I can't begin to describe how wonderful, passionate, caring and knowledgeable Alicia is! From the…read morebeginning she guided us during the pregnancy, had many great tips for me, and helped me make my (right) big decisions towards the end. My birth story took longer than we expected, 40+ hours and Alicia was so supportive and strong even till the last seconds, let me correct that, even after the birth! Her stamina throughout the 40+ hours is just amazing! She was always there reassuring me that everything is going well, and making sure I'm hydrated and nourished to go on with the big game. This alone makes me want to tell every women, regardless how supportive your husband is, you still need a doula 100% especially Alicia 10000%! Before and after the birth I had many complications, that caused me to be hospitalized right after my birth, so my newborn was left with my clueless husband and mother. Alicia right away came over and helped them in so many ways, guiding and teaching them how to take care of our baby. She kept checking in on me before and after the birth regarding my condition, and helped me in all kinds of ways, sending over wonderful people to help with my condition, etc. We are eternally grateful to you Alicia! Baby M sending all his love!

At the risk of sounding dramatic, Wendy and Kersti have changed my life. There's no other way I…read moreknow how to put it. I went into this pregnancy not knowing anything about pregnancy nor birth. I mean that - I'd never even held a baby before, and I'm in my thirties! I was nervous and knew I needed guidance. A close friend of mine referred them to me after she had her own positive experience delivering her first baby at the hospital (without an epidural). A delivery without an epidural sounded like a good idea, and if my friend can do it with their help, I felt SO COULD I! So I scheduled to meet them in person, and then Googled the definition of a doula because that's how foreign the birth world was to me. Fast forward to today, I am 3 months postpartum, and incredibly grateful to have had Wendy and Kersti there for me, as a first time mom home birth. They prepared me, a total pregnancy/birth newbie, to having a home birth! They are supportive with whatever birth plan you decide and will provide tons of resources and information to help you make an informed decision, on whatever you feel comfortable with. I appreciated that they are well balanced, and will present evidence based research, as well as speak from their own experiences, but never pushing their opinions upon you. After months of research, I made the decision to go forward with a home birth and it was the most magical experience of my life. It was relaxing, calm, stress-free, and I felt SO supported throughout my entire pregnancy journey, after birth, and ESPECIALLY during labor. Wendy was present during my labor. When she arrived it was like my guardian angel had arrived, and I was so happy to see her. She had lavender essential oils and her hands worked magic on me during the most intense contractions. The back massages helped me Soooo much and she did it for hours. She not only supported me, but also my husband, and she knew just what to say to keep me positive and relaxed, and knew how to direct my husband to help. She also took photos throughout the labor. It all happened so fast, so it was so fun to have photos to go back and relive the moments. I will cherish these photos forever. Thank you Wendy and Kersti for helping bring my baby boy to this world. I know without a doubt that I'd like them to be my doulas again for my future baby.

There are so many glowing reviews on here, but I feel like I have to add to the collection because…read moremy experience with Wendy and Kersti was truly life-changing. I am SO GRATEFUL for these two ladies that I just have to share my story!! We didn't hire a doula with our first child, who is now approaching his second birthday. My goal was to have an unmedicated birth and although I succeeded, the entire experience left me absolutely traumatized and panicked at the idea of having to ever go through that again. When we found out we were pregnant with our second child, I was so fearful about the birth I couldn't even speak about it without tearing up and feeling anxious all over. I had a hard time even getting excited about the pregnancy because it meant I had to give birth again, and I was terrified. This led my husband and I to being a search for a doula. My goal was once again to have an unmedicated birth, but I felt incapable of doing that without something being drastically different. Enter Wendy and Kersti. We met with this mother/daughter team over coffee and I quickly fell in love with them. Kersti had the recent experience of having given birth "without fear" herself and Wendy had this amazing mix of strength and confidence in her tone alongside a spirit of gentleness. We had met with a few other doulas in our search, but I constantly felt like they were all too soft-spoken/comforting/gentle and I needed someone a bit more direct alongside those qualities. Wendy was JUST that. :) We counted the cost as if it were a part of the hospital bill, because we knew to have the birth we wanted, it would require an investment. IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!! Over the course of the next few months, we developed a great relationship with Wendy and Kersti. They answered all of our questions with evidence-based research that consistently put my mind at ease. They also gave me a lot of natural methods to prepare both my mind and my body for birth. It took a few months, but through conversations with th, I started to feel more confident and prepared for birth. THEN THE BIG DAY CAME! :) I started having contractions one morning about 12-15 minutes apart and that went on all day. They were mild and I wasn't sure if it was labor or not (my first child was induced), so I stayed in constant text/phone communication with Wendy throughout the day. Finally, when they started getting closer at around 3:30pm, we headed to the hospital and met Wendy in the parking lot. I can't even express to you the relief that washed over me seeing her face. This amazing woman, who had been coaching me for months, met me with a smile and confidence in that parking lot as we walked into the hospital -- almost like we were ready for the big game. We checked in and she immediately started diffusing essential oils, helping me get comfortable, massaging my feet, turning on music and fielding questions from the nurses as I went through contraction after contraction. My contractions were intensifying quickly and Wendy was RIGHT there every second of the way, offering new positions, ideas, distractions and support to keep me going. She knew exactly when she needed to intercede to help me more and when she needed to take a back seat and support my husband Dan as he came alongside me. Within 2.5 hours, I went from 4.5 centimeters to holding my sweet baby boy in my arms. I can confidently say that my birth was beautiful -- something I felt like I would never be able to say and something I contribute HUGELY to this team of incredible women. I am positive the reason I progressed so quickly and smoothly was because I felt relaxed, supported, confident and READY to deliver my baby. After feeling nothing but panic, dread and fear with my first birth, this was life-changing for me. I felt IN CONTROL and SUPPORTED my entire labor and knew I was capable of delivering my baby boy--who ended up being 9 lbs and 3 oz! We also have incredible photos of some special moments during the birth, thanks to Wendy. Whew! So much to say, and I could say more!! All that to express to you that these women are worth gold. If you are hoping to have a positive birth experience and especially if you want to do it medication-free, I would say with confidence HIRE WENDY & KERSTI! We will definitely be using them again with future kiddos! :)

Due to my privileged position, and very personal experience with Silicon Valley doulas, I can tell…read moreyou it has been nothing short of exceptional since their inception. Czarina brings over 20 plus years of experience, extensive training, and a true passion for supporting families through one of life's most meaningful transitions -- welcoming a new baby. Her background covers everything from lactation consulting and sleep training to postpartum depression and psychosis support, patient advocacy, birth preparation, and more. She's worked with over 300 families over her career thus far, providing truly personalized and compassionate care each and every time. Her depth of knowledge about the birth journey, babies, and the postpartum period is remarkable, and she always approaches her work with professionalism, empathy, and a calm confidence and experience. One thing I respect deeply is her clarity and integrity when it comes to her business policies. She has a no-refund policy that's clearly stated in her contract (which is completely legal and standard for her field). The reason is simple and fair, much like many other businesses she reserves specific dates and times for the families she assists and does not take other clients during those scheduled sessions. When someone cancels or tries to back out of a contract she's already set aside that time, so it's clearly ethical that her time and commitment are respected. If you're looking for a highly skilled, knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic doula who combines unmatched experience, professionalism, and genuine care, Czarina is the person you want by your side through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

TL;DR: Last-minute cancellations, fell asleep on duty watching our newborn, refused hands-on baby…read morecare, offered useless virtual support, prepaid for 13 nights, and refused refund. We're disputing the charges with our credit card company. Do not recommend. We hired Czarina for evening doula services shortly after welcoming our newborn, hoping for support and rest. Unfortunately, the experience caused us significantly more stress than doing it alone. The most alarming issue was that she repeatedly fell asleep snoring loudly while on duty watching our newborn. This happened on multiple visits. We could see and hear her sleeping, which meant that instead of resting, we stayed awake monitoring her to ensure our baby was safe. When we addressed this directly, her response was shocking: she claimed she was doing it to "train us to be better parents" and get us used to sleeping while the baby sleeps. As exhausted first-time parents, this felt unreassuring and completely unsafe. We hired a night doula to reduce anxiety, not to monitor the caregiver. Beyond the safety issues, basic doula duties were neglected: * Refusal of Care: She was unwilling to help wash the baby and unable to provide clear, hands-on guidance for newborn care. * Household Help: She provided little to no assistance with basic household tasks. * Ineffective Virtual Support: She attempted to substitute some support with "virtual" sessions, which offered zero value to us as parents who needed physical, hands-on help with a newborn during overnight hours. Her reliability was poor, with multiple last-minute cancellations and rescheduling. Most importantly, we prepaid for 13 nights of service. When we terminated the arrangement due to the safety concerns and poor service, she refused to provide a refund for the unused nights. We were forced to escalate this to our credit card company to try and recoup our funds. Czarina was pleasant to speak with initially, but her actions put our peace of mind at risk and violated our trust. If you are looking for reliable, hands-on postpartum care that allows you to rest, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. Ask specific questions about staying awake during night shifts, hands-on newborn care (including bathing), refund policies, and what "virtual support" entails before hiring.

Mairi was such a wonderful part of our birth and postpartum journey. From the very beginning, her…read moreprenatal sessions were helpful. She made sure we understood all our options, and patiently answered every question we had. She helped us prepare in practical ways, but also gave us the confidence we didn't know we needed. During the birth, Mairi brought a calm, steady energy that made all the difference. She's such a kind, thoughtful listener, and truly cares. We felt supported every step of the way. Having Mairi on our team was one of the best decisions we made. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

If you're looking for a doula who truly cares, shows up with authenticity every single day, and…read morehandles even the toughest conversations with grace and kindness, look no further. Working with Mairi was a genuinely wonderful experience. She supported us throughout our second and third trimesters, from the onset of labor through the day of delivery, and remained a steady source of support afterward as well. Mairi is a beautiful soul who gives her whole self to care for both mother and baby as if they were her own family. Her presence brought comfort, strength, and a deep sense of calm during such a transformative time. She helped us not only navigate the challenges but also embrace the profound beauty of birth. Thanks Mairi! We will remain forever grateful.

Working with Melanie as my birth doula was one of the best decisions my husband and I made. She is…read morea true super mom -- she always arrived with positivity, a big smile, and a grounded confidence that immediately made me feel safe and understood. From the very beginning, she took me under her wings. I always felt attended to, heard, and genuinely protected. As immigrants who were completely unfamiliar with the U.S. medical system, my husband and I would have felt lost navigating pregnancy and birth on our own. But thanks to Melanie, we never did. She guided us step by step, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our choices. When I faced a very challenging situation with my medical team, Melanie was the person I leaned on for honest, thoughtful opinions and unwavering support. What makes Melanie truly special is how resourceful and connected she is. She didn't just support me herself -- she brought an entire community of top-tier professionals to my side: doulas, midwives, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a birth educator. Through her, I was able to piece together my own birth support team -- my own village. Even though my birth journey turned out to be very, very different from our original beautiful plan, I never felt alone. I will never forget the moment after my unexpected c-section when Melanie held my hands and told me, firmly and lovingly, that even though everything had been dramatic and difficult, I did my best... that I did a good job, and that next time could be better. Those words meant more to me than I can express. In a fragile moment, she gave me strength and dignity. If you are looking for someone who is not only exceptionally skilled, but who leads with heart, wisdom, and genuine care -- someone who will stand by you no matter how your birth unfolds -- Melanie is that person. She changed my experience, and I will always be grateful for her presence in my birth journey.

Melanie is the best!! I'm SO grateful I found her. She is so knowledgeable in all things birth and…read morehelped me feel so much better prepared. During birth, her calm, supportive confidence and positivity are a game changer and I felt so well guided. Melanie has such a depth of experience and knowledge, and is truly one-of-a-kind! I highly recommend working with her if you get the chance.