Shakila Marando

San Francisco, California

5.0 (6 reviews)

Shakila Marando

17 years of experience
Accepts insurances

My name is Shakila Marando, and I am the founder of DOULAS by the BAY. I am a mother of two children, and I have worked with children and families for over 25 years. For the last 16 years, I have dedicated my life to serving families as a doula, offering support through pregnancy, birth, and the early newborn days. My work comes from a deep love for caring for others, and my goal is always to help parents feel seen, supported, and confident during this special time. My professional background includes Certified Birth Doula, Certified Postpartum Doula, Lactation Counselor, Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), Doula Educational Institute Doula Educator, New Parent Educator, Trained Infant Massage Educator, and Infant Sleep Consultant. These combined skills allow me to guide families with compassion, evidence-based care, and hands-on experience. Alongside my work, I lead a caring and trusted team of doulas who share the same passion for helping families. Together, we have supported over 3,000 families. Every doula on our team is Birth/Postpartum Certified and Perinatal Mood Disorders Certified, fully vetted, professionally assessed, and background screened for safety. Our doulas are CPR trained, follow safety standards and best practices, and are HIPAA certified to protect your privacy. They are also covered by Workers’ Compensation and backed by comprehensive company liability insurance. With ongoing mentorship and professional development, our team offers safe, reliable, and heart-centered support to every family we serve. I created DOULAS by the BAY to build a supportive space where parents feel seen, understood, and empowered. I’m deeply grateful for the trust families place in me, and I remain committed to making a positive difference—one family at a time.

Recent review

Shakila is the best there is. We did not have a night doula for our first child. For our second, we needed one because I had to go back to work right away. I was very nervous about leaving my baby with someone else during the night hours, particularly at just two weeks. Shakila let me control as much of the process as I wanted to so I always felt like she was doing what I wanted. She has a magical touch with babies and had our daughter sleeping through the night by two months old. She would not even leave in the morning until the baby was back to sleep, which allowed us an extra hour of sleep on top of the time she was with us. She was worth every penny and then some. THANK YOU SHAKILA! We miss you.

- Gabriella Rosen Kellerman

Cheriska Bayibansa

Tracy, California

5.0 (1 review)

Cheriska Bayibansa

6 years of experience
Accepts insurances

As a postpartum doula, I am dedicated to supporting families through the critical transition that follows birth. I view the postpartum period as a time that deserves intentional care, where both parent and child benefit from consistent guidance, reassurance, and practical assistance. My role is to provide evidence based support in areas such as infant feeding, soothing strategies, rest, and family adjustment, while also ensuring that parents feel heard, respected, and empowered in their choices. With a background in early childhood education, I bring a solid understanding of child development alongside a deep commitment to family well-being. My philosophy is rooted in holistic care; recognizing the physical, emotional, and relational needs of each family member. I believe that when parents are supported with compassion and knowledge, they are better able to thrive, bond with their baby, and step into their role with confidence. It is an honor to walk alongside families during this meaningful and transformative season.

Recent review

Since I been working with Cheriska, she is one the person who always come on time on her job, and she take her job very serious. She is very hard working. She is a mother of 2 boys and they very loving kids. Always she know how to take care a newborns baby. You will be very happy with her when she taking care of your child. I recommend her to work anywhere. She is very good, she won't disappointed you.

- Elizabeth S.

Jaqueline Himelfarb

Concord, California

5.0 (1 review)

Jaqueline Himelfarb

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I’m Jaqueline, Full Spectrum Doula, Newborn Care Specialist and Sleep Consultant in the East Bay Area! I’m passionate about every parent receiving the support that they need. I believe that all parts of your journey matter equally, and that’s why I’m so excited to offer birth, postpartum, newborn care and sleep consulting! My journey began with a move from Brazil to the US, where I initially served families as a nanny. Feeling called to provide deeper support, I became a newborn care specialist and dual-certified sleep consultant. After having my own babies, my passion for holistic care grew, and I was inspired to get my birth and postpartum doula certifications. Now, I'm excited to combine my passion and years of expertise to serve families like yours holistically throughout the East Bay Area and San Francisco, guiding you from pregnancy through your child's early years.

Recent review

I am so grateful for my Newborn Care Specialist Jacqueline and the exceptional support she provided when my daughter was born. Her vast knowledge of newborn care is truly impressive, and her advice was invaluable. She is also an incredible communicator, always keeping me informed and reassured. Her attention to detail and genuine compassion were gamechangers and I felt incredibly supported every step of the way. She went above and beyond to ensure my daughter had everything she needed to thrive and that I had everything I needed to care for her. Jacqueline made this special time even more special for my family. I cannot recommend Jacqueline enough to any new parent(s) looking for outstanding care and support.

- Stacey F.

Arnita Dobbins

Antioch, California

Arnita Dobbins

6 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello, My name is Arnita, while I live in Contra Costa County, I provide Doula services throughout the Bay Area, including Alameda, Solano,and Napa counties and of course Contra Costa. I became a Doula to advocate for individuals and families, in all the ways that we make family_ singe parent, LGBTQI, People of Color and other marginalized communities. to have a birth experience that truly aligns with their wishes—free from pressure and guided by informed, compassionate support.

Patricia Karas

San Francisco, California

5.0 (1 review)

Patricia Karas

12 years of experience

I’m a professional newborn care specialist with 10 years of experience working with babies. I am a devoted mother myself, with two young adult children whom I adore (25 and 27 years old). I love children and babies, and take care them as if they were my own. My approach is gentle and mindful to the needs of both parents and the new baby. I’ve taken care of newborn twins solo (without a team), premature babies and babies with medical conditions (such as severe reflux). I help establish a routine so that once the baby is old enough you can choose to sleep train them if you wish. I do not believe in the cry out method because if we establish the routine, they will learn to sleep without having to let them cry it out. I pour love and patience into my job and feel that working with babies and families during this special time as a new angel comes into the family is definitely my calling. My ideal role will be with a family that I can feel comfortable to work with, exchanging my experience and working as a time to make the baby and mom time more enjoyable possible. Some skills: - Baby-Led Weaning - Bottle Prep - Bottle Sanitation - Swaddling - Sleep Training – Assisting with Nursing - Medical Management - Routine Development - Log Keeping - Organization and Cleaning.

Recent review

My main message is: if you’re considering having a baby I wouldn’t recommend doing it without Patty. I had the pleasure of having Patty with me full for the first 6 months of my third daughter’s life. When she arrived, Patty was the 6th baby nurse I had in the house over a 5 year period. She was by far the most skilled in terms of knowledge of babies, curiosity about how to get better and she was a wizard when it came to helping the baby with gas, burping and discomfort. I really felt she was an expert in babies and she truly has a deep passion for babies and constantly learning. She is reading about babies and in baby forums constantly. Patty was an executive assistant in Brazil at a major global pharmaceutical company. I am a CEO and my schedule is pretty high pressure and she was superbly adaptable and flexible with me if I was late on a call or needed to shift things real time. She is organized, energetic, quick, efficient and insanely reliable. You can set your watch by her. She worked 6 months straight without a day off and did 18 hours a day. I don’t know how, but she never was tired or grumpy or negative. She is like the energizer bunny. Once we had a really bad travel problem coming back from Hawaii with the whole family and she and I had to completely shift our travel and we went with the baby from Kona to Phoenix overnight, we checked into a hotel where she and the baby slept while I did a conference and 20 hours later we got on a flight and flew home. Patty was completely fine with this. This is just an example of how flexible and calm and collected she is. She is not fussy at all. I really wish I had had Patty with one of my older daughters who had really bad gas and belly issues as an infant. I know that if Patty had been there with us then, her expertise in burping and baby / GI massage would have lead to much less crying and a more pleasant infanthood for that baby. One of the things that was most important to me is that despite having had weak supply I really wanted to breastfeed through the first year. Patty was a complete and total partner to me in this and she is the only reason I made it to 9 months. Even though it made her job much harder having to wake me up every few hours, sit with me while I nursed and then bottle feed the baby while I pumped (plus dealing with all the pumping equipment!)— she was totally in, she was a wonderful cheerleader for me and she helped me never feel alone or discouraged. I cannot thank her enough for this and my guess is most baby nurses would never have been so committed, kind and self-sacrificial. I would be remiss not to mention why I picked Patty after interviewing over 30 baby nurses. The baby nurse business / industry is one I have a love / not love relationship with because when it’s your baby and your home, you want someone there who is working (it’s obviously a job) but also feels a real calling and spiritual connection with the sacredness and preciousness of babies. The first time I met Patty on video during the interview process I knew my search was over because her love for children— her own and others — was so deep and visceral. Lastly, I would note that although we never let my baby "cry it out" ever (I think that practice is super wrong), my baby was sleeping through the night when Patty left when she was 6 months old.

- K. T. R.

Josy Ferreira

Richmond, California

5.0 (6 reviews)

Josy Ferreira

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello! My name is Joseane Ferreira, and I’m a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula based in San Mateo, California. I bring over 8 years of hands-on experience supporting families during one of the most meaningful and transformative stages of life — welcoming a new baby. I specialize in newborn care, nighttime support, breastfeeding guidance, and helping families transition smoothly into the postpartum period. I am certified by the Hospital Friendly Doula (HFD) program and have advanced training as a Newborn Specialist (Colorado University), Lactation Educator (UC San Diego), and in Child Development (Abilene Program). I’m also CPR and First Aid certified by the Menlo Park Fire Department and proudly volunteer with birthing families at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley. My philosophy centers on empathy, education, and creating a safe, judgment-free space for parents. I believe every family deserves support that is calm, culturally sensitive, and empowering. Whether it’s holding space during recovery, assisting with baby’s sleep cues, or helping establish confident feeding routines, I’m here to walk alongside you — day or night. I speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and I’m happy to support diverse families with warmth and respect.

Recent review

Josy helped us care for our newborn daughter in the weeks after her birth. She did an amazing job of caring for our daughter. Josy was always highly professional, kind, empathetic, punctual, and helpful. She was able to give us tips and advice while also giving us much-needed rest during both daytime and nighttime shifts. We trusted her completely to take care of the baby, and she gave us an enormous amount of relief during those challenging first weeks. I can't recommend her highly enough.

- Serena H.

Katie Sullivan

El Cerrito, California

5.0 (1 review)

Katie Sullivan

20 years of experience

I'm Katie Sullivan, M.Ed, CPPD, a parenting and sleep consultant, an early childhood professional, a certified postpartum doula, a Montessori educator, and a mother of two. I have studied and worked with young children and families for nearly 20 years, with a special love and appreciation for the infant and toddler stages. My area of expertise is providing families with individualized practical recommendations and sleep/parenting plans. I am passionate about setting up good sleep habits from birth, serving as a resource for new parents, and troubleshooting tricky situations from zero to three.

Recent review

Wouldn't have survived the first year of parenthood without Katie. Her expertise is only matched by her sense of calm. She got my baby sleeping through the night faster than I could have imagined and 2 years later we haven't had a single regression. She walked us through potty training – one of the more stressful parenting situations I've encountered – and helped us cross every potty milestone. Couldn't recommend her more.

- R E.

Samantha Saephan

El Cerrito, California

Samantha Saephan

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I'm a certified overnight postpartum doula and lactation educator counselor. Prior, I was a career nanny of the past 10+ years working with children of all ages. Am located in the East Bay and am open to travel for work. I am a non-smoker, have up-to-date vaccines, and CPR certified. I accept Carrot. Currently on maternity leave until November 2026 :)

Marcia Barreto

Pittsburg, California

Marcia Barreto

8 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I was born in Brazil and has been living in the US since 2015. For over 14 years I worked as a nurse in different hospitals in her country specializing in ER and pediatrics. I decided to take a training to become a birth and postpartum doula and worked for several years before immigrating to US. While in Brazil, I completed additional training specializing in breastfeeding techniques, I'm also a pre-nursing student. I’m passionate about helping families successfully navigate through their birth and postpartum journey. I strives to provide empathetic and non-judgmental support to all families that she works with. I’m a mother of two beautiful children. Having experienced both a vaginal birth and cesarean birth, I’m well aware of how to help moms through their postpartum period. Im fluent in English and Portuguese.

Maria Marli Martins

Richmond, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Maria Marli Martins

11 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello! My name is Marli Martins, and I’m a Certified Postpartum Doula with over 15 years of experience in childcare, massage therapy, and nursing. I hold multiple degrees in Early Childhood Education, Nursing, and Massage Therapy, and I’m passionate about helping families feel supported and confident during the postpartum journey. I specialize in emotional and physical support, breastfeeding and lactation care, and newborn care education. I believe that with the right guidance and gentle encouragement, the early days with a new baby can be peaceful and empowering for every family. I speak Portuguese and English (and some Spanish), and I strive to create a warm, organized, and judgment-free space for every parent I work with.

Recent review

Marli is an exceptional postpartum doula. Her calm presence, extensive knowledge, and nurturing care make a real difference in the lives of the families she supports. I’ve witnessed her offer thoughtful, respectful, and personalized support, always prioritizing the baby’s wellbeing and the parents’ comfort. I trust her work deeply and highly recommend her. — Joseane de Jesus Ferreira Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula (HFD) | Newborn Specialist (CU) | CPR & First Aid (Menlo Park FD) | Lactation Education (UCSD) | Child Development (Abilene)

- Joseane D.

Natasha Pulliam

Pittsburg, California

Natasha Pulliam

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Community-Based Full-Spectrum Doula, CHW & CLE | Advocate | Mother | Grandmother Rooted in Love. Grounded in Service. Called to Birthwork. My name is Natasha Pulliam I am a San Francisco native, proud mother of five, and grandmother to two beautiful children both of whom I have had the honor of supporting as a doula during their births. My journey into birthwork is deeply personal, generational, and spirit-led. I am dedicated to supporting birthing people of color achieve the birth they desire through culturally-grounded, holistic, and empowering care. From a young age, I was immersed in the spirit of holistic healing and service, assisting my aunt in community organizing and witnessing my great grandmother heal many with herbs throughout San Francisco. My early exposure to advocacy, healing and grassroots support laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to uplifting and supporting as many people as I can.

Ana De Castro

El Sobrante, California

5.0 (1 review)

Ana De Castro

22 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I am a Postpartum Certified Night Doula, Newborn Care Specialist, Sleeping Training, I have over 11 years of experience in infant care. I specialize in night support for 18 years,giving that extra set of hands so you can have an easier night with a newborn at home. I also help with guidance of breastfeeding, sleep training, and of course postpartum support. I am Doula Certified, specializing and in-depth trained!

Recent review

Private Postpartum Doula/ Sleeping Training D.S. October 2024 - The first two years I worked full time taking care of the twins. Provided postpartum infant care by supporting mother with newborn babies - assisted with feeding, diaper changing, bathing, dressing, sleep training, setting up babies' schedule as children grew. Additional house support included laundry, cooking and light cleaning. As they grew, the following two years I worked part-time, transporting them to and from school, helping with homework and projects, preparing healthy meals, taking care of their laundry. Nowadays I am still their nanny when the family needs something extra. Private

- Rachael S.

Tyler Jackson

Tracy, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Tyler Jackson

6 years of experience
Accepts insurances

A certified herbalist, holistic doula & lactation counselor. Coffee lover. Brunch dates. Beach babe. Boy mom. Divine woman. I am here to help empower women to connect with their divine feminine, embracing the energy & wisdom of their ancestors to have the birth of their dreams. My goal is to remind them of the innate wisdom of their body. I hold space for mothers and families in every way, through pregnancy, birth, postpartum & lactation.

Recent review

I had my son unassisted at home in my tub with my partner and Tyler as my virtual doula support. She was so sweet and helped me ride my waves of sensations until I brought my sweet boy home. I was reminded of my affirmations and goals throughout and after it all, she helped me latch baby and we have been exclusively breastfeeding now for 14 months! Tyler provided me with support and answered my questions in postpartum, I couldn’t have survived baby blues without her.

- Sasha P.

Maria Calderon

Richmond, California

Maria Calderon

3 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I’m a patient, compassionate, and reliable overnight doula who specializes in getting baby on a schedule, sleep training, and helping families transition into postpartum. I am calm and cool under pressure. I worked 6 years in Emergency Medicine as an EMT in San Francisco and did NICU transports of premature babies. I am passionate about my work since I truly believe it takes a village to care for children and want to help many families in enjoying postpartum rather than just surviving it! I am flexible and friendly and love good communication. When I’m not working, I enjoy powerlifting, singing, and doing jigsaw puzzles. I am certified in Postpartum Infant Care, Infant Feeding Education, CPR, and First Aid.

Fabiola Calderon

Antioch, California

5.0 (5 reviews)

Fabiola Calderon

3 years of experience
Accepts insurances

My name is Fabiola and I’m a mother of four, and a grandmother of a sweet baby boy. I am a pregnancy, birth, & postpartum Doula.

Recent review

Fabiola came into my home and instantly made me feel at ease. Her prenatal massage was not only physically relaxing but emotionally nourishing as well. I truly needed this moment of care, and she delivered it with so much intention and kindness. I’m so grateful for her time and highly recommend her to any mama-to-be.

- Vanessa L.

Allison Green

Martinez, California

Allison Green

2 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello, my name is Allison Green & I am a certified holistic birth & postpartum doula. I love to support & nurture families through birth & postpartum so that love & care can ripple out into the community & inspire others. Recognizing birth as a rite of passage, I hope my clients feel seen, honored, & supported in their journey. I received my certifications through The Matrona & Cornerstone Doula Trainings. I have also completed the Innate Postpartum Care Practitioner Training. In addition, I am a trained Birth Story Medicine Listener.

Kaitlin Dinmore

Martinez, California

Kaitlin Dinmore

11 years of experience

Hi expectant families! I’m Kate, a Newborn Care Specialist with 10 years of newborn experience. I’m primarily serving the Lamorinda and other East Bay/Oakland areas, but willing to consider San Francisco or Marin for the right fit. In 2022, I left my classroom teaching position to pursue private childcare, with a specialty in newborns. Since then, I’ve supported several families as they’ve navigated the early weeks of their new baby’s life. It’s my goal to help new (or renewed!) parents get a full night’s rest so they can take on the day ahead.

Macy Anderegg

Martinez, California

Macy Anderegg

5 years of experience

Hello! I am a NICU RN. I am passionate about my job and I would love to use what I have learned to help you and your family. I am a large advocate for safe, restful sleep in newborns and infants. Additionally, I believe restful sleep in parents is crucial. As your Night Nanny, I would tend to all your infant’s needs, as well as your own to ensure decreased stress is accomplished. I am flexible with unique schedules and I enjoy enforcing those schedules as that is what is best for your infant and family.

Clara SweetDoula

Concord, California

Clara SweetDoula

4 years of experience

About Me As an experienced mother for about 2 years, I have developed a profound love for children and a passion for supporting parents and babies. My own journey into motherhood, filled with challenges during pregnancy and postpartum, inspired me to become a doula. I am dedicated to helping fellow mothers navigate these crucial times with care, empathy, and support. Why Choose Me ?? Having faced difficulties myself, I approach each family with empathy and a supportive mindset. I offer comprehensive doula services tailored to meet your unique needs, ensuring you feel empowered and confident throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. I am honored to be a part of this special time in your life and look forward to serving you and your family.

Patti Smith

Oakley, California

Patti Smith

19 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I have been a Doula and Contra Costa County for 18 years. Every woman deserves a Doula. I believe in Hypnobirthing, Aromatherapy, Yoga, Meditation, and Labor education to make your labor memories enjoyable! I have much more to offer.