LGBTQ+ Affirming Doulas in Emeryville, CA

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

45 LGBTQ+ Affirming Doulas near Emeryville, CA

Anna Lidia Parente

Redwood City, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Anna Lidia Parente

6 years of experience
Accepts insurance

Hello! My name is Anna Gonzaga, and I am a Certified Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have more than 6 years of experience caring for newborns, infants, and young children, beginning as an Au Pair and continuing as a nanny, night nanny, and postpartum support provider. My philosophy is to provide compassionate, judgment-free support that helps families feel confident and well-rested during the transition into parenthood. I believe every family is unique, and I strive to meet parents where they are by offering practical newborn care, emotional support, feeding guidance, healthy sleep habits, and a calm, nurturing presence. I am passionate about infant development and enjoy helping babies thrive through responsive care, age-appropriate activities, and consistent routines. My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where both parents and babies can flourish. I look forward to partnering with families and helping make the postpartum experience smoother, more enjoyable, and less overwhelming. Certifications: • Certified Postpartum Doula (ProDoula) • Certified Newborn Care Specialist (Newborn Care Solutions) • Infant, Child & Adult CPR/First Aid Certified

Recent review

When I first became a mom, I never thought I would feel comfortable leaving my baby with someone else, especially during the newborn stage. I was very anxious and had a lot of insecurities. Anna helped me feel calm and confident from the beginning. She was gentle with my baby, always patient, and took the time to explain things when I had questions. Knowing she was there allowed me to get some rest and take care of myself without constantly worrying. Anna helped with overnight newborn care, feedings, diaper changes, soothing, and sleep support. She treated my baby with so much love and care, and I always felt that my baby was safe with her. I am very grateful for the support Anna gave our family and would happily recommend her to any family looking for newborn care or postpartum support.

- Laura Almeida

Gabriela Giacomini

Redwood City, California

5.0 (8 reviews)

Gabriela Giacomini

3 years of experience

About Me My name is Gabriela Giacomini, and I am a postpartum doula with over 8 years of experience caring for babies and 2 years of dedicated postpartum doula support. I provide compassionate, personalized care that respects each family’s values, needs, and pace, helping parents feel supported and confident as they adjust to life with their newborn. My Philosophy I believe postpartum care is essential for healing, bonding, and emotional well-being. My approach combines emotional support, practical guidance, and evidence-based education, always honoring parental intuition and informed choice. My goal is to nurture both baby and parents, creating a calm and supportive postpartum experience.

Recent review

We’ve been so lucky to have Gabi as our newborn doula, providing both day and night support since our daughter was six weeks old. From the start, Gabi has been incredibly thoughtful, knowledgeable, and caring - not just with our daughter but with our whole family as we’ve adjusted to life with a new baby. She brings such confidence, warmth, and positive energy to every visit, and it’s clear how passionate she is about supporting families during this special (and overwhelming!) time. Gabi has also been a wonderful resource, connecting us with others in the doula community and helping us feel supported in so many ways. We’re truly grateful we found her and cannot recommend her highly enough. Any family would be lucky to work with her and have her in their baby’s life!

- Katie T

Leah (Ginger) Johnson

Los Gatos, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Leah (Ginger) Johnson

2 years of experience
Accepts insurance

I am passionate about nurturing and supporting families through the transformative experiences of birth and postpartum periods. I have practiced body work and energy healing for over 20 years additionally for the last 2 years i have been practicing NLP and Doula work. I have worked with children and families for over 25 years in homes and school settings from zero to 18. I have experience in assisting natural labor Inductions, assisting in reducing anxiety, fears around birth, and preparing for birth with NLP and meditation practices. As a spiritually mindful doula, I blend my background as a massage therapist, Laughter yoga & yoga instructor, meditation teacher, and certified Master NLP practitioner, into a holistic, compassionate approach to birth, energy and intuitive work. With a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and fluency in American Sign Language, I connect with diverse families, offering inclusive and empathetic care. My work is grounded in humor, active listening, and deep respect for each unique journey. I specialize in prenatal and postnatal massage, creating space for relaxation, healing, and connection. My NLP Skills help parents release old fears, limiting beliefs around their pregnancy, parenting, and birthing journey. Fostering a new way of being through empowerment and calm inner-presence. My goal is to provide physical, spiritual, emotional, and energetic support so families feel confident, cared for, and prepared for the beautiful path ahead.

Recent review

Finding Ginger less than a month before my due date felt like pure fate—she literally approached us as we were walking out the door at a Meet the Doulas event, and we felt instantly warm, comfortable, and at ease with her. My labor didn't exactly go on schedule (he arrived almost two weeks late and required an induction!), but Ginger was our absolute anchor through every single moment of it. She is such a nurturing, loving, and caring maternal soul—so much so that we affectionately call her "Aunt Ginger." Leading up to and during the induction, she gave us incredible guidance, helping us try to get things moving naturally with advice on pressure points and keeping us grounded. Throughout the hospital stay, whenever the medical staff left the room, Ginger would quietly review everything with us, help us process what the doctors had said, and make sure we remembered the questions we wanted to ask. When the medical team brought up using a vacuum during delivery, Ginger gently encouraged us to pause, push back, and ask for time to discuss our options. Having her there to prep, advocate, and vouch for us meant everything—we ended up having a completely intervention-free birth and welcomed a perfectly healthy, beautiful 10-pound baby. Ginger was truly an angel during one of the most intense experiences of my life, and she is someone we will remember and cherish forever. If you are looking for a doula who will treat you like family, protect your birth experience, and pour her whole heart into supporting you, hire Ginger immediately!

- Katie K.

Jay Menelik

Oakland, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Jay Menelik

7 years of experience
Accepts insurance

N/A

Recent review

My experience was working with Jay as my postpartum doula after the birth of my third baby. I had never worked with a doula before, and after my previous postpartum experiences, I now know how invaluable that kind of support truly is. After my third child was born, I thought I had everything under control, but the postpartum period still brought challenges I wasn’t fully prepared for. She provided such a calm, knowledgeable presence that made all the difference. From helping me establish a breastfeeding routine to offering emotional support when I felt overwhelmed, she was the anchor I didn’t realize I needed. Unlike my previous postpartum experiences, this time I didn’t feel isolated or unsure. She checked in on me regularly, made sure I was taking care of myself, and offered practical tips for balancing my recovery while caring for my newborn and older children. What really stood out was her genuine care for me as a whole person, not just as a mother or caregiver. She ensured I had moments to rest and recharge, which was something I struggled with before. Her support was more than just physical help i was emotional, mental, and holistic. I felt heard, cared for, and reassured every step of the way. I can honestly say that having her as part of my postpartum journey made this time completely different from my past experiences, and I couldn’t recommend her more highly.

- Semaj’Ay T.

Leila Mottley

Oakland, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Leila Mottley

5 years of experience
Accepts insurance

I'm a queer, Black birth worker offering sliding scale doula care in the East Bay. I was born and raised in Oakland and I only take on a handful of clients at a time so that I can give you as much individualized attention as possible. I trained as a full-spectrum doula in 2021 with Sumi's Touch and have been actively supporting clients in the transformative process of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for over a year. Before that, I worked as an infant-toddler teacher for years and I incorporate education on newborn care in my work as a doula. I believe that education and information is critical to you being able to make choices that work best for you and go into birth with confidence and grounding in your abilities and understanding of your own body and baby. The goal of every birth is to create an environment and process that is uniquely comfortable and grounding for the person giving birth and so I provide a number of prenatal sessions to prepare parents with the knowledge and tools to make their own informed decisions while also being ready to step in and advocate on behalf of the parents' needs at any point. I am particularly interested in mindful birthing and finding the methods of pain reduction that work for each person, building a birth environment that feels as familiar and homey as possible (music, lighting, calming scents, etc), and being anything and everything you may need from home to the hospital, whether that be a coach, cook, massage therapist, fierce advocate, or photographer. I also have an affinity for postpartum care that encompasses lactation support, postpartum healing, herbal remedies, baby care, or just doing your dishes so you don’t have to worry about that too.

Recent review

I was in labor for three days, and I can’t imagine how I would’ve managed without Leila. She is the support every person deserves during this process. She listened to my needs and helped me create a birth plan that reflected my personality. At the hospital, she advocated for me fiercely, pushing for alternatives that aligned with my wishes, even when the medical team repeatedly fear-mongered. Postpartum, she offered invaluable advice that helped me process my labor experience and navigate lactation. I am incredibly grateful that I had her by my side.

- Hafeezah A.

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San Francisco, CA

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Austin, TX

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