LGBTQ+ Affirming Doulas in Baltimore, MD

These providers list LGBTQ+ families as a specialty. Read their profiles and reviews, and message the ones who feel right for your family.

53 LGBTQ+ Affirming Doulas near Baltimore, MD

Gabriell Garner

Baltimore, Maryland 16 years of experience

5.0 (10 reviews)

Gabriell Garner Popular: among the most-viewed doulas in Maryland, last 60 days

NPI verified Responds within an hour Accepts insurance

Now Accepting Maryland Medicaid! Hi there! I’m Gabriell (Gabby) Garner, a certified birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and pediatric sleep consultant. I’m also the owner of Flourishing Mama Co., a doula practice supporting growing families throughout the Washington, DC and Baltimore metro areas. Our team includes certified birth and postpartum doulas, Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), certified pediatric sleep consultants, and newborn care experts. Together, we provide personalized support throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the early months of parenthood. Whether you’re preparing for birth, looking for hands-on postpartum support, navigating feeding, or simply wanting an experienced and reassuring person in your corner, our goal is to help you feel informed, supported, and confident along the way. We offer both in-person and virtual support and are currently accepting Maryland Medicaid, select commercial insurance plans, employer-sponsored benefits, and private-pay clients. We’d love to learn more about your growing family and how we can support you! www.flourishingmamaco.com

Recent review

We can't thank Gabrielle and Dale enough for the care we received during one of the most important moments of our lives. From the very first call, Gabrielle went above and beyond, she reached out to us personally and, even on short notice, made sure we were matched with a doula in time for our son's birth. That kind of responsiveness and care told us right away we were in good hands. We were paired with Dale, and we truly don't know what we would have done without her. Dale brings decades of experience, and it shows in every piece of advice she gives practical, brutally honest, and exactly what two nervous first-time parents needed to hear. She stayed with my wife through long overnight hours of labor, and when things shifted to a C-section, she was right there with us in the room, just as we'd hoped and planned. Having her steady presence in that moment meant more to us than words can capture. What really set Dale apart, though, was how she showed up for us even after our son was born. In the days that followed, she kept checking in on us and sending along newborn care videos from trusted specialists, little things that made a huge difference as we found our footing as new parents. She also took the time to capture photos of us during the whole process and those very first moments with our son, gifts we'll treasure forever. We will never forget the time we spent with Dale, and we're endlessly grateful to Gabrielle for connecting us with her. If you're looking for a doula practice that truly cares about your family, look no further.

- Ian Chisongela

Adrienne Bergthold

Baltimore, Maryland 20 years of experience

5.0 (13 reviews)

Adrienne Bergthold

I am an experienced doula and childbirth educator with over 30 years of experience in healthcare as a massage therapist and yoga teacher and Spinning Babies trained. I teach childbirth education using the Calm Birth method and can also help with breech presenting pregnancies. I work with all families and support the lbgqt community. Let me help you to have a calm birth experience.

Recent review

Working with Adrienne was a really great experience for me during my pregnancy and birth of my first child. She provided support throughout the pregnancy with frequent checkins and meetings. I feel her approach to calm birth attributed to my birth experience and my son’s joyful demeanor now. He is a very calm baby and when we feel overwhelmed we remember our practice to breathe life and calm into our bodies. During the birth Adrienne helped me get comfortable in the hospital by creating a safe space with calming music and dimmed lights. She also helped advocate for me to switch positions so that I could avoid a c-section. Once I changed positions the baby was ready to come out naturally. She also provided cool towels on my head and neck support which made a lot of difference when it feels like you’re heating up everywhere from pushing. I especially appreciated her massage therapist expertise before and after the baby. I think the massage after the baby was more invigorating and life giving for my recovery than anything else I did postpartum. We are so thankful that we met Adrienne and that she supported us during this beautiful experience!

- Rosemary Burns

Darshal Smith

Columbia, Maryland 10 years of experience

5.0 (7 reviews)

Darshal Smith

Certification verified

Hi there! My name is Darshal but you can call me Dee! I am a mom and experienced doula. I’m originally from Mississippi, and have a beautiful, blossoming teenage daughter! My journey into motherhood and the knowledge and empowerment gained through childbirth has led me to become a doula. I have a passion for helping women achieve a positive and satisfying childbirth experience. My goal as a doula is to help educate, advocate, offer support and comfort for all birthing persons during their fertility, pregnancy along with labor, ultimately leading to a positive birth and wellness experience. 

Recent review

Dee the Doula (Darshal) is simply phenomenal! From the moment we connected, Dee brought such warmth, professionalism, and genuine care to every conversation. She is not only a certified birth & postpartum doula but also a student midwife with an incredible depth of knowledge about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Her approach is the perfect balance of evidence-based guidance and heartfelt emotional support. She listened to my needs, respected my preferences, and made me feel empowered every step of the way. Whether it was helping me create a birth plan, offering comfort measures during labor, or ensuring I had the resources I needed at home postpartum, Dee went above and beyond. Even during times when she was navigating her own personal life challenges and may not have been quite as sharp for a few moments as she’s usually 110% of the time, she still showed up fully for me and my family. We gave her space to process because what good would she be to us if she wasn’t replenished? That mutual respect only strengthened our bond, and I can truly call her family and for that, I’m deeply grateful. It’s clear that this is more than just a job for her, it’s her calling. She treats her clients like family and creates a safe, uplifting environment for both parents and baby. If you’re looking for someone who will advocate for you, educate you, and hold space for you through one of the most important times in your life, I can’t recommend Dee the Doula enough! As we grow our family, she will ALWAYS be our go to doula! I can’t wait to see her in action one day as a midwife!

- Michelle T.

Anisha Thompson

Silver Spring, Maryland 10 years of experience

5.0 (4 reviews)

Anisha Thompson Popular: among the most-viewed doulas in Maryland, last 60 days

Responds within an hour Accepts insurance

Hi, I’m Anisha, a birth doula and the owner of Womb 360. For over 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting families through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the early postpartum period. My approach to doula care is centered around making sure you feel informed, heard, supported, and confident in the decisions you make for your birth. I believe every family deserves to understand their options and have someone in their corner who can provide calm, nonjudgmental support throughout the experience. Whether you’re preparing for your first birth, hoping for a different experience this time around, feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions, or simply want an experienced support person by your side, I meet you where you are. I provide in-person birth support throughout the DMV area as well as virtual doula support. Through Womb 360, I also offer personalized birth planning and pregnancy education to help families feel prepared long before labor begins. Birth can be unpredictable, but you shouldn’t have to walk into it feeling unprepared. I’d be honored to be part of your support team.

Recent review

Anisha was such a calming presence during my labor. She paid attention to what I needed and helped me through contractions with different comfort measures. One thing I’ll never forget is the warm stones she used on my back. The heat felt so soothing, especially when she paired it with pressure on my hips. It helped me relax and get through some of the hardest moments. She also made sure my partner knew how to support me and helped me feel heard throughout the experience. I’m grateful I had Anisha there. If you want a doula who brings both knowledge and genuine care into the room, I highly recommend her.

- Catherine L.

Kristen Nero

Bowie, Maryland 7 years of experience

5.0 (6 reviews)

Kristen Nero

Thank you so much for stopping by! My journey to birth work began in 2017, following the birth of my first baby. I have been a fully certified childbirth educator and doula since 2018. Additionally, I recently obtained my Certified Breastfeeding Specialist certificate (CBS) from Lactation Education Resources in October 2025. Prior to getting into birth work, I attended Notre Dame of Maryland University, where I studied biology and graduated with high honors. I have since become a mother of 2. Both of my children were born without intervention and at home. When not working, I can be found reading for pleasure, exercising, doing yoga, hiking, or gardening. I reside in Bowie, MD and serve clients within a 50-mile radius of my home.

Recent review

My husband and I took Kristen’s class to support my dreams of an unmedicated birth. We learned so much about birthing naturally, avoiding interventions, and working through labor together. In the end I got my dream birth! We delivered in the hospital and confidently denied (and worked with) the medical staff to support our preferences through quoted studies, avoided all interventions (despite having my water break 2 weeks early before labor began), and gave birth completely naturally with no NICU time. They even released us after 24 hours! It was perfect and Kristen’s class played a huge part in it along with her recommended reading list. 10/10 recommend taking this class if you are planning an all natural birth! SO worth it!

- Allison E.

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San Francisco, CA

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Austin, TX

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