For my first baby I was seeking some postpartum doula support a few nights a week. I was referred to The Birth Companions during my birth prep class. I filled out the initial form on the website and received a prompt response. Maya connected me to various postpartum doulas for me to interview. I selected one of the doulas and Maya helped to easily coordinate the contract and payment. My postpartum doula, Manu, is fantastic and I'm so thankful to be connected with her via TBC. Highly recommend this doula matching service! read more

Our experience with Monet through TBC was extraordinary. Throughout pregnancy, she provided thoughtful insights that helped us navigate decisions with clarity and confidence. When we expressed our wish for an unmedicated birth--something our doctors frequently cautioned us against--Monet became our strongest advocate. Her steady presence during active labor helped my partner manage both the emotional and mental intensity of the moment. She answered every question with patience and professionalism, making us feel supported from the very first meeting to the final push. Monet's dedication is rare, and we are deeply grateful for the role she played in our birth story. read more

We were so lucky to connect with the Birth Companions when looking for doulas in our area who worked with our insurance. They quickly helped us find our doula, Jess Larsen, and after our initial call with Jess, we felt energized, educated and grateful she had availability to work with us. Our early sessions were so informative. Jess made sure to answer all our questions and also prompted helpful reflection and discussion about birth planning that we hadn't yet considered. She previewed for us what the labor process might include and simultaneously assured us that she would be there to help navigate the hospital since you can't plan for everything. She gave us videos and literature, so we felt all the information we accessible and evidence based. When I went into labor, Jess was there at the wee hours of the morning and cheered me on the whole time. She helped with communication and advocacy (I wanted an unmedicated labor), supported my partner to participate (he caught the baby), and stayed with us as we got cleaned up and settles in postpartum. As first time parents, her calm confidence and converation was such a gift! I wholeheartedly hope every birthing parent gets a doula and champion like Jess (or better yet...Jess!!) with them as they navigate the exhausting and amazing process of welcoming a baby. read more

Shadi strand was my birthing doula and I loved her, she was always willing to go above and beyond, visit my home, be available on FaceTime or even visit me in the hospital when I needed her. I would recommend Shadi and the birth companions to any first time mom trying to navigate labor and delivery. read more

I was matched with doula Chelsea. My husband and I were quite disappointed without experience. I had a complicated birth and Chelsea was not proactive in providing support. When I needed counter pressure I would verbalize that I was having a contraction and Chelsea was not at bedside. She was on the other side of the room sitting on the birthing ball. At that point my husband who had been providing counter pressure for 30+ hours would jump in. The point of having her present was to relieve and support my husband. She left in the heat of complications. We had to get vacuum assist assist. Baby was born and Chelsea asked my exhausted husband (48 hours of labor) if she should stay. Chelsea was not present for 48 hours, so we were not asking her to stay strong. She was only present during active labor. My husband was so exhausted and stressed as baby was declining during the end. When Chelsea asked him if she should stay or leave he was not in a position to tell her what she should do, as a doula, a doula should know what was needed. He told her yeah she could leave. Mind you we had the entire rapid response team and NICU team in the room when she asked my husband this question. She then left. Our baby was taken to the NICU, no doula support. Then I emailed regarding this experience. Maya was apologetic. Chelsea however took no accountability, and did not apologize. In fact, she stated that it took 2 weeks for us to get back to her about the equipment she left at the hospital and she stated it was apparent that I was upset because of lack of response. Little did she know I was readmitted into the hospital the same day I was discharged due to sepsis. I was in the hospital for a week fighting for my life. But due to Chelsea not being present or engaged in the situation she just assumed we were ignoring her because we were upset. Sepsis is a life threatening condition and of course your equipment was not the priority of my husband as I was fighting to stay alive. She then stated in an email that she stood by her care and would not change or increase the $210 refund she decided to give. This blew my mind because I never asked her to increase the refund. I did however ask her to conduct honest self examination of the care she provided. The fact that she assumed money was the issue was disappointing. I'm a Registered Nurse and have been for 20 years. When a client has feedback on how your care made them feel, accountability is the first step to integrity. Chelsea as a person is polite and friendly. However, the care she provided was lacking and the sad thing was is that she did not apologize or take even a small amount of accountability. read more

I had an overall negative experience with TBC and ultimately would not recommend their services. What worked well: I appreciated the ability to meet multiple doulas through their platform. We matched with Mackinzie, and our initial conversation was positive. One of our prenatal sessions, which focused on pain management techniques for labor, was informative and useful. She brought a variety of tools and clearly has experience supporting laboring patients. Concerns: During our first prenatal meeting, it became clear that Mackinzie's perspective on medical care differed significantly from ours. I felt that she was more skeptical of physicians and medical interventions than I was comfortable with. While I understand that doulas and OBs play different roles, I was looking for someone who could work collaboratively within a medical team. As someone with a higher-risk pregnancy who required closer monitoring, it was important to me that my providers' expertise be respected. This difference in approach made the fit challenging. I had asked about this during our initial phone call, and found her approach in our first pre-natal visit to be quite different than what she communicated in that first call. Had I better understood her approach, I would not have selected her as our doula. I also found it inappropriate that she commented on the size of my belly. While this may seem minor, it was a sensitive issue given my pregnancy risks, and I do not think it is appropriate for a doula (or anyone!) to comment on a client's body in that way. Scheduling was another difficulty. Our final prenatal visit was pushed later than planned due to her availability, and we were not able to have an important conversation about expectations for labor support before I went into labor. Because of this--and because my labor progressed quickly--I chose not to have her attend the birth. Communication around the birth itself was also limited. She called while I was already pushing, and there was no follow-up afterward. I think she expected us to reach out. Finally, I was surprised to receive a request for final payment from the owner on *the day I gave birth* (literally just hours later). The timing felt inappropriate, especially given the limited services ultimately provided. I shared this feedback directly but did not receive an apology. Overall, the lack of alignment in care approach, communication gaps, and lack of professionalism mean I would not choose to work with TBC again and would recommend looking elsewhere for doula services, or forgoing a doula entirely. read more

TBC helped coordinate services for my birth doula (Jamee Vasquez) and my postpartum doula (Lanie Mocherman). I had Kaiser insurance, and they dealt with the billing directly so I didn't have to, making the process easy to navigate. This review is really to shout out and show love to both of my doulas. Jamee was indispensable to my birth journey. Unfortunately, my birth ended up being far from my original birth plan, but having Jamee as a pillar of support to walk me through all the unforeseen circumstances was instrumental. I think my birth would have been so much harder if she wasn't there to provide a calming presence, answer all our questions, hold my hand, and wipe my tears. When I needed an unplanned C-section and she couldn't be in the operating room, I fully expected her to head home, as she had already been by my side for over 24 hours. Instead, she stayed until I was in the post-op area and continued supporting me. Her dedication and empathy extended beyond just me--she was also a rock for my husband. At one point, when he started feeling sick and arguably needed more support than I did, she ran out to get him food and medicine, seamlessly caring for both of us at the same time. She truly made all the difference during a very emotional and trying experience. Once I was postpartum, I had the pleasure to work with Lanie. I love Lanie's vibe--she is always so positive and ready to jump into whatever the day holds. She is incredibly professional, and I loved that she asked for feedback right after our first meeting to ensure she was meeting our family's specific needs. Lanie is very easy to talk to and brings a wealth of knowledge that we truly valued as first-time parents. Best of all, I really appreciated how she took the initiative to identify tasks around the house and simply handled them without me ever having to ask. Overall, I would highly recommend both my doulas, Jamee Vasquez and Lanie Mocherman! read more

This review is for a specific doula we had earlier this year in May-- Testimonial for Mackinzie - Our Incredible Doula My husband and I were initially hesitant about hiring a doula--we weren't sure if it was something we truly needed. But after meeting Mackinzie, everything changed. She immediately put us at ease with her warm, compassionate presence and deep knowledge. We felt an instant connection and knew we were in good hands. Surprisingly,I went into labor the very next day after our first meeting. Mackinzie jumped right in, guiding and supporting us through the entire experience. Her calm coaching and encouragement helped us stay grounded and focused throughout our goal of having a first-time unmedicated delivery. She supported not just me, but my husband as well, helping him feel confident and involved during every step. Mackinzie's support didn't stop after birth. During the postpartum period, she continued to check in and offered incredibly helpful resources that made a huge difference in our transition as new parents. She was absolutely amazing from start to finish, and we would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who's still considering hiring a doula! read more

I'm so glad I found Birth Companions and my amazing doula Taylor. TBC was the only provider that I found to fully handle Kaiser insurance claims for you, and my services were fully covered by Kaiser's doula benefit. TBC's website shows a number of available doulas within their network and you're able to select a doula with a pretty clear idea of how much you will or will not pay out of pocket beforehand. There is a refundable deposit (if insurance fully covers) and a claim handling fee, a small price to pay for not having to deal with submitting claims yourself or the uncertainty of knowing how much you'll be out of pocket. Doula Taylor was very knowledgeable, empathetic and easy to work with. As first time parents, we were pretty clueless and she was able to put us at ease and answered all of our questions. I cannot stress how crucial it was to have Taylor with us during the birth. Taylor was enormously helpful when we were discussing the care plan with doctors and helped us advocate for space to discuss and consider options before being rushed into interventions, and how to ask the right questions at the right moments. My birth ended up taking two overnights and Taylor was there for almost the entire time. We can't thank her enough for helping us navigate one of the craziest moments of our lives. read more

After having an emergency C-section with my first birth, I was really hoping for a vaginal delivery the second time around. That first experience had left both my husband and me questioning whether we had all the information we needed to make informed decisions. During my second pregnancy, we were advised to consider induction or C-section. That's when we decided--late in the pregnancy--to bring on a doula who could support our goal of a VBAC and help guide us through the process. We're so glad we found Mackinzie. She truly understood and respected our birth choices, and helped us feel more confident and prepared--emotionally and mentally. She stood by us, helping to advocate for what we wanted. During labor, she kept things progressing, offering new strategies and positions that helped us stay positive and focused. Mackinzie was an incredible support not just for me, but also for my husband. Her presence was exactly what we both needed to turn this birth into a deeply empowering and memorable experience. Mackinzie also offers photography services, and we were lucky to have her capture some beautiful moments during the birth and with our newborn. Those photos are now some of our most cherished memories. We can't express enough how grateful we are to have had her by our side. read more

We are beyond grateful for the incredible support Jess provided throughout our birth journey. From the very beginning, she helped us feel as calm and prepared as possible going into delivery -- the information, resources, and reassurance she shared ahead of time made such a difference. By the time labor began, we felt grounded and confident knowing she'd be by our side. During my 27-hour labor and over 4 hours of pushing, Jess was an absolute rock. Her calm presence, steady encouragement, and intuitive care helped us stay focused and strong through every moment. Even after birth, Jess continued to go above and beyond. After a challenging discharge experience, she made herself available to us immediately once we were home -- her kindness and guidance in those early hours meant so much. She also continued to check in on us in the days that followed, offering thoughtful postpartum support and reassurance when we needed it most. We truly can't imagine having gone through this without her. Jess is compassionate, knowledgeable, and wholeheartedly dedicated to the families she supports. Her presence made an incredibly long and intense experience feel safe, supported, and full of grace -- and we'll always be deeply thankful for her. read more

Maya was super helpful and helped me find a doula last minute. She heard me and went through what I needed and introduced me to Monet who was my doula from the birth companions. She was more than I could ask for as she supported me through my pregnancy and birth. She was very knowledgable and passionate about what she does. But most of all she is just a caring human being who really makes you feel supported. She held my hand through it all and vouched for me many times in the hospital. I can easily say she was a reason I had an empowering birth. I will always remember her as she was a part of a big chapter in my life read more

My husband and I started our doula journey a few weeks before we gave birth on August 13. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Monet. From the moment we first connected, I felt supported, heard, and genuinely cared for. Her calm, confident presence was exactly what I needed throughout my pregnancy. During labor, she was a grounding force not only for me but also for my partner. She helped us feel informed and empowered with every decision. Whether it was offering physical comfort techniques, advocating for my birth preferences, or simply being a calming presence. Monet made herself available whenever I had questions or concerns and provided incredible resources that helped ease my anxiety. Postpartum, she continued to be an incredible support by checking in, offering guidance, and reminding me to give myself grace during those early, emotional weeks. Thanks to her, I felt more confident and capable. If you're considering hiring a doula, I wholeheartedly recommend Monet. read more

I had a really great experience with The Birth Companions - specifically I was looking to find a doula covered under my Kaiser insurance and one where I wouldn't have to deal with any paperwork postpartum. TBC has been so easy to work with: Maya and Deja were clear and quick at communication and made everything seamless. I want to give a specific shout out to my doula Bailey who I absolutely loved working with! Bailey has made our pregnancy, birth experience, and even now freshly postpartum, all the better - she is warm, caring, and incredibly knowledgeable. She ensured that I was well informed and always supported whatever direction I wanted to take. During a very long induction process, Bailey was a constant source of comfort as we would text her every step of the way. When active labor began suddenly, Bailey showed up immediately and I truly cannot imagine our birth story without her (I've had some bad hospital experiences and having her by our side truly made me feel protected and well cared for). Note this was the next day/night after she had just supported another mom too! HIGHLY highly recommend Bailey!! Beyond grateful for her. read more

I found TBC through a friend who had an amazing experience, and now I truly understand why. From the very beginning, Maya and the team were incredibly warm and responsive, and the matching process felt effortless. They even handled all the Kaiser reimbursement paperwork for me, which lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm genuinely so grateful for their support. I met with a couple of doulas, and what stood out to me was how deeply each one cared. It didn't feel transactional--it felt like they wanted me to find the person who would truly walk with me through this journey. That person was Bailey. And I don't think I could ever put into words how thankful I am for her. As a first-time mom, everything felt overwhelming and brand new. Bailey held so much space for me--she answered every question with patience and never made me feel silly or unsure. Our phone calls, video chats, and especially our in-person meetings became moments I genuinely looked forward to. She brought comfort, clarity, and even joy to something that could have easily felt intimidating. I had a high-risk pregnancy, and when things took a sudden turn toward the end, Bailey never once wavered. She showed up for me--fully, compassionately, and with so much heart. She believed in me even when I doubted myself. During labor and recovery, she was this grounding, steady presence who helped me tap into a strength I didn't even know existed. Her knowledge, confidence, empathy, and unwavering support carried me through one of the most intense and beautiful moments of my life. My husband and I are endlessly grateful for her. If we choose to do this again, there's not a single doubt in our minds--Bailey is the one we'd want by our side again. read more

If I could give our birth doula Bailey 100 stars, I would! When I was pregnant with my second child, I learned that Kaiser Permanente had begun covering doula services. At the time, The Birth Companions was one of the few agencies working with Kaiser members, and Deja was helpful in clearly and transparently walking me through how the coverage worked. I was looking for a doula who could support me with movement, hands-on pain relief, and effective pushing techniques, while also fully respecting that I might choose to get an epidural. Bailey was the perfect match for me. With her background in kinesiology, experience as a personal trainer, and grounded, pragmatic approach, I felt confident in her from our very first conversation. Bailey is warm, knowledgeable, and confident, the kind of presence you want in the room when you're in labor. She came to our home for prenatal education sessions, helping us prepare both mentally and physically. When it came time for baby to arrive, she was right by my side, offering encouragement, guidance, and calm, capable support-- even when that meant feeding me pizza and letting me squash her hand. If I were having another baby, I wouldn't hesitate to hire Bailey again, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a strong, skilled, and compassionate doula. read more

Maya provided doula care in the form of prenatal visits to educate on birthing experience and in person support during birth. Maya was an incredible support during my labor. Her calm energy, reassuring words, and steady presence helped me stay centered and confident through every stage. She brought such a thoughtful, nurturing approach--not just to me, but to my whole birth team. I felt truly seen, heard, and cared for. Having Maya by my side made the entire experience more positive and empowering than I could have imagined. I'm so grateful we had her with us. read more

We're incredibly grateful to The Birth Companions for their outstanding support throughout our birth journey. Deja and Maya made the entire Kaiser Northern California insurance process completely stress-free by promptly handling all our claims and getting them approved--without us needing to get involved. Their communication was consistently clear, responsive, and thoughtful, and they were always available to answer any questions we had along the way. They also introduced us to our doula, Mackinzie, whose calming and intuitive presence made a lasting impact. She supported us every step of the way--before, during, and after labor. During labor especially, she guided us with effective comfort techniques, offered emotional reassurance, and even captured special moments with such care and discretion. We felt truly supported and seen. We couldn't have asked for a better team--professional, compassionate, and genuinely dedicated to making the experience smooth and meaningful. read more

My husband and I were unsure if we wanted a doula for our first birth. After interviewing a handful of doulas we knew without a doubt that Maya was the right fit for us. She instantly made me feel comfortable and vulnerable, and she was the only one who really connected with us about birth being a spiritual experience. It was great to have the meetings before hand to get to know each other better, go over my birth plan and for her to share some birth prep and labor strategies. We can't imaging not having her there for birth. She provided a calm, nurturing and supportive energy. She helped make the space more comfortable, provided physical and emotional support, worked well with my partner to support my contractions, advocated for us in a way that empowered us to do what we thought was right. She was the presence with both needed through the birth experience to make it a magical one I would highly recommend hiring a doula through The Birth Companion read more

I had an excellent experience working with Monet from Birth Companions. From our first meeting, she was incredibly supportive. Her calm approach and expertise provided great reassurance throughout my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. Monet consistently went above and beyond, she was checking in regularly, answering all of my questions, and ensuring I felt informed and confident every step of the way. During labor, her presence was grounding and comforting, and her guidance made a noticeable difference in my overall experience.I highly recommend Monet to anyone seeking a dedicated, reliable, and compassionate doula. Her professionalism and genuine care truly set her apart. I also recommend Birth Companions. Their experise to deal with insurance details helped a lot throughout the process. read more

I am so grateful to have found the Birth Companions - they are the main reason I was able to face birth confidently and was happy with my labor experience. From the get-go Maya was extremely helpful and made me feel cared for from that first phone call. She helped pair us with doula Bailey, who was an incredible resource before, during, and after birth. Since we had just moved to the area while I was in the 3rd trimester, they were also extremely helpful getting us connected to a midwife practice that aligned with our birthing goals and courses at the Nesting Spot to prepare us for labor. The education that Bailey and the courses we took, ended up being critical during our unexpected precipitous labor and allowed us to make time-critical informed decisions confidently, when they mattered most. I also don't know how I would have gotten through labor without the pain management and emotional comfort Bailey provided to both me and my spouse. While the labor didn't go exactly as planned, the result was a safe delivery of a healthy beautiful baby and a birth story I am proud of. Thank you Bailey, Maya, and the team at the Birthing Companions for your support! read more

We heard about the birth companions through our insurance plan (via Kaiser NorCal). We met with a couple of doulas and selected Rosevera. We were not sure how everything would go because we were selecting a doula later in our process. Rosevera was AMAZING! She was comforting and kind and walked us through her philosophy and process. She visited us in person which was even better for us to get to know her. My birthing and labor experience did not go as planned, but Rosevera was with us every step of the way until I had my unexpected c-section. She was there through all the contractions and through the night as well. She even met my parents and they shared their own bonding experience with her. Due to delivering our child earlier than expected Rosevera offered several post-partum appointments. One of them was in the evening which helped us so very much! If you are selecting a doula in the bae area, I highly recommend them! read more

When I knew I wanted an unmedicated birth, my husband and I started looking for a doula who could help guide and support us. We interviewed a few doulas and went with Maya because of her calming energy, soothing presence, and attention to both of our wants and needs. Also, when she came to visit at our house, our typically shy cat came right up to her and fell asleep near her, which was clearly a good sign! Maya repeatedly told me that her goal was to help me achieve my desired birth experience. She never pushed any agenda on me or pressured me to do or not do anything I wasn't comfortable with. In the hospital when the staff asked me about certain testing, she gently encouraged me just by saying "you don't have to say yes." I appreciated her support without making me feel guilty or like I was disappointing her. During labor, Maya was constantly by my side with massage, counter pressure, and words of encouragement. She also had an instant heat pad with her that was amazing, since I hadn't packed one. I would definitely recommend Maya as a supportive, encouraging, and calming doula! read more