Gina Valo Birth & Postpartum Doula in Pasadena, CA

Working with Gina was invaluable - I could not imagine having given birth without her. Confident, professional, and warm, from the get-go I clicked with Gina and she understood exactly what we needed going into the birthing process. Each session felt necessary and informative, and we knew we could reach out at any time to assuage our nerves. On the big day itself, Gina was a source of calm, ideas and authority in a space where it was very much needed. I felt heard, advocated for and supported throughout, and my husband had someone to depend on to feel informed and grounded. I cannot recommend working with Gina enough. If we are lucky enough to expand our family more, we will definitely work with Gina again!!

— Lauren P.

Here’s a polished version that keeps your warmth and specificity while tightening the flow a bit: Working with Gina was one of the greatest gifts of my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience. She is organized, supportive, thoughtful, incredibly prepared, comforting, present, and accessible in every possible way. Truly — I want to have another baby just so we can work with her again. From the very beginning, Gina provided thoughtful modules, a workbook, and a huge collection of resources that were thorough, practical, and always open for discussion during our sessions. Nothing ever felt rigid or overwhelming — she met us exactly where we were and helped us feel informed, empowered, and cared for. When I first thought I might be having contractions, Gina came over immediately. She calmly talked me through what was happening, helped me understand the likelihood that baby was coming, and eased so many of my nerves. When it was really time, she arrived quickly with this incredible energy that was somehow calm, firm, gentle, grounding, and fully present all at once. She stayed with us from 5am until after 7pm, coaching me through a very hard labor with so much patience and care. I was terrified, and having Gina there genuinely gave me access to a level of calm and confidence I don’t think I could have found otherwise. Her presence helped me believe we could do this and safely bring our baby into the world. And her care didn’t stop after delivery. A few days postpartum, I went to the ER to have my lacerations checked, and Gina met me at the hospital and stayed with me for hours. She even brought snacks and stories to help pass the time and bring comfort and calm into a stressful situation. Gina is truly an extraordinary human and an incredible doula. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

— Ginevra F.

I struggle to find the words to adequately convey how wonderful working with Gina is. From the moment we decided to work with her in my 18th week of pregnancy to the delivery of our son, she was a steady, warm, and reassuring presence. She helped me and my husband feel both empowered and prepared for birth and beyond. When our son finally decided to join us, Gina guided us through a long labor with ease. It truly would not have been the positive experience that it was without her! You will absolutely not regret hiring Gina. She is incredibly professional, organized, and thoughtful.

— Langley L.

Working with Gina was worth every penny. From a professional standpoint, she was outstanding. Knowledgeable, resourceful, and patient, Gina provided excellent information, thoughtful advice, and steady emotional support throughout our time working with her. We were fortunate to find her, especially because we came to the doula search later than we should have. Even with the limited time remaining before our due date, Gina quickly equipped us with valuable educational materials to help us prepare for labor, helped us develop a birth plan, and guided us through the final weeks of pregnancy. She shared helpful advice and supported us in our decision-making process, particularly as our baby arrived later than expected, at 41+ weeks. Once labor began, Gina supported us every step of the way. She was there at home, providing both physical and emotional support, and then at the hospital, where she helped us make the best possible decisions in a challenging and evolving situation. When we had to pivot from our original birth plan, Gina helped us navigate that process with remarkable calm and confidence. She offered insightful suggestions, advocated for us with hospital staff, and gave us clear frameworks to guide our decision-making, always with our well-being at the center. On a human level, Gina is a truly wonderful person. She is kind, generous, and unfailingly calm. She made us feel at ease, which in itself is worth its weight in gold when you are going through the birth process for the first time. There were so many things we did not understand, and many others we did not even know to ask about. Gina’s gentle presence gave us the comfort and reassurance we needed to feel that everything was going to be okay. We could not recommend her more highly. We will always be deeply grateful to her for supporting us through the arrival of our baby daughter.

— Aimee G.

Gina and Birthing Kind was an incredible resource to have in our journey while pregnant with our first baby! My husband and I wanted a doula to provide additional support and advocacy outside of a clinical hospital setting, and she delivered that and much more. Her multiple sessions scheduled throughout the pregnancy helped me understand what to expect in the childbirth process without being overwhelmed with information- she answered questions and provided insight on our birth plan that was both informative and unbiased. Her presence at the birth was motivating and comforting (the electric tea candle lighting and Beyonce playlist definitely helped!) and she was very flexible when we ended up at the hospital a week earlier than expected. She remained flexible and responsive when we remained at the hospital for an additional few days of monitoring, and seeing her at our postpartum visit after we arrived home from the hospital was like a warm homecoming from a (very informed) friend. I can’t recommend Gina highly enough, I wouldn’t have been nearly as prepared or ready for stages of pregnancy and childbirth without the services of Birthing Kind!

— Meg F.

As two non-US citizens with limited experience of the US healthcare system and first time parents to be, my partner and I couldn't have asked for a better and more competent doula than Gina to guide us through our pregnancy. From the outset, Gina displayed compassion and understanding for our circumstances, as well as in-depth knowledge and support. She guided us through the critical decisions in the birth plan and prepared us mentally and technically for what to expect. We were so lucky to have her support even at the OR during the C section. Furthermore, Gina was highly attentive to our needs and went beyond what we would expect in terms of support and care. Having Gina by our side during the pregnancy, the C-section and for post-partum support was a blessing. We couldn't recommend Gina more highly!

— Klicia O.

very best decision my husband and I made during pregnancy was hiring Gina as our doula. I was upfront with her from the beginning about my desire for a medicated hospital birth, which she was more than willing to support. To say Gina has a wealth of knowledge and experience in pregnancy and delivery is an understatement. She is truly an expert in her field and relies on evidence and data to support her guidance. Beyond her knowledge and experience, Gina is incredibly warm, empathetic, and personable. By the end of our experience, she felt like a member of our family. Also, I’m completely confident that our delivery would not have been nearly as positive an experience if Gina had not been there supporting us. We are so grateful for her!

— Angela R.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Gina and I was so incredibly lucky and thankful to have her present at the birth of my daughter. As a nurse midwife myself, I have worked with a large number of doulas and Gina is truly one of the best doulas I have ever worked with in my career. From not only supporting me physically through my unmedicated vaginal delivery (I don’t know that I would have made it without her incredible hip squeezes). Gina made a point to remember that my husband also needed support (he’s a little squeamish haha). Her ability to take care of not only the birthing person, but the entire family made Gina such a valuable member of my team. And then when complications arose and I was bleeding more than normal, Gina was the most incredible advocate. Checking in with the medical team to ask when I would be re-evaluated and when the MDs were coming into the room, which allowed me and my husband to continue to bond with the baby. And ultimately, when I ended up in the operating room, Gina stayed with my husband and newborn, so that he was not left alone with a new baby and a wife in the OR, which I know was an absolute necessity to keep him calm and at peace. Gina was by my side for almost 12 hours, never taking a break, and did not end up leaving the hospital until almost 3AM when me, my baby, and my husband were all safe and sound. Hiring Gina was the best decision I made during this pregnancy, and I don’t know how I would have emotionally survived this delivery without her.

— Maariya B.

Doing anything for the first time is hard enough. Doing it without help is nearly impossible. As a first time mother with some anxieties about the process, having a doula who could provide guidance, a steady hand and support for all of our preferences was essential. From our first conversation with Gina, we felt comfortable sharing with her and asking "dumb" questions to make sure that we were prepared. When labor unexpectedly began, Gina offered clear advice and made sure that I was able to safely get to the hospital on my own terms. During delivery, she was incredible and I don't know what I would have done without her. If she is available, I don't think there is a better option for those seeking evidence-based doula support.

— MARGARITA B.

Sometimes a person comes along and makes something that had felt impossible feel natural and positive. Gina is one of those people. My wife has a history of medical trauma and we had a lot of apprehension about the pregnancy and childbirth process. But as soon as we met with Gina for our first consultation I felt more relaxed and positive. Her experience, professionalism, wealth of knowledge, evidence-based approach, and trauma-informed care made sure that I felt supported throughout the pregnancy, and she was more helpful at the birth than any doctor or nurse. I credit Gina with making my wife’s labor and birth an incredibly positive experience, and she provided the data and emotional support we needed through challenges like having to change providers multiple times, negative experiences with doctors, and preeclampsia. I can’t imagine having done this without her, and I would recommend her to anyone and everyone. 

— Daniel M.

Working with Gina was one of the best decisions we made. From the start, she was warm, down-to-earth, incredibly organized, and deeply passionate about her work. She took time to understand our birth preferences and supported our choices 100%—without judgment. Throughout pregnancy, she checked in often, answered every question, and helped us feel calm, informed, and prepared. During labor, Gina brought a steady, grounding presence, offering comfort, reassurance, and seamless support alongside our care team. Her thoughtful postpartum guidance was just as invaluable. Gina is more than a doula—she’s a steady hand, a kind heart, and a true advocate. We’re so grateful to have had her by our side.

— David B.

I learned about Birthing Kind through word of mouth and am so glad that we worked with Gina Valo for the birth of our first child. It is hard to overstate the value of Gina’s guidance and preparation before birth, for labor and delivery, and for postpartum. My labor and delivery ended up being very different from what I wanted, including a multi-day induction and some concerning complications, but the preparation we did with Gina - and her guidance during L&D - gave us the information we needed to understand the doctor’s recommendations and be confident in my decisions. I also had late onset pregnancy complications which were discovered because I advocated for myself at Gina’s encouragement to do so. Gina provided a steady, evidence-based hand to guide us through our pregnancy anxieties and was very responsive to our questions. We started working with Gina relatively late in my pregnancy and Gina was very accommodating in scheduling (and rescheduling). Gina is a very thoughtful and easy going person and we will miss spending time with her! I cannot recommend working with Gina enough for preparing for birth.

— Veronica P.

Gina was a true gift to our family during my son’s birth. What became a stressful situation at the hospital was eased by Gina’s deep compassion, sure-footedness, advocacy, and wisdom. Her approach is a very special blend of science-backed guidance with an emotionally brilliant, intuitive deep knowing that ensured both my husband and I felt confident, understood, and supported in all the ways we needed, and then some. Gina is a gem. We are forever grateful to her for her presence and support in the birth of our beautiful, healthy boy!

— Kate P.

Working with Gina and the birthing kind team was the best decision my husband and I made when it came to our birth plan as first time parents. As someone with a lot of anxiety around hospitals and medical situations I was looking for resources that would help me to have a successful labor. While ultimately very little on our birth plan came to pass, Gina was so integral in helping us make efficient and informed decisions about my care and what was happening. Gina worked with us to tailor her support to our specific needs and requests. She provided us with information to make decisions and helped us to feel confident in our choices while always making us feel as though whatever we chose was valid. She supports her clients with compassion and kindness while being an advocate and voice for parents when needed or requested. Bringing our daughter into the world was messy and emotional but Gina being with us each step of the way made all the difference in our experience

— Tory C.

We had the absolute privilege of working with Gina Valo as our doula, and I truly cannot recommend her enough. From the moment we reached out in our first trimester, she was a grounding, supportive, and compassionate presence. Gina didn’t just guide us through the process—she became a friend. She validated both mine and my wife's feelings every step of the way and helped us feel informed, empowered, and emotionally prepared for birth. What truly set Gina apart was her unwavering support in the hospital. She advocated for our wishes when we didn’t have the words, and made sure our voices were heard in what could have been an overwhelming environment. Her recommended classes were spot-on and helped us feel more confident heading into the big day. Saying goodbye after our son was born was bittersweet—Gina had become such a meaningful part of our journey. If you’re even considering hiring a doula, please reach out to Gina. She is nothing short of amazing and would be a gift to any growing family.

— Dwaine W.

Gina was an incredible guide and support before, during, and after our birth. As someone who planned for a medicated birth, and isn't especially skeptical of Western medicine, I didn't initially know *why* everyone recommended a doula, and why it mattered to have someone "advocate" for you in a medical setting. But going through labor, it was UNBELIEVABLY helpful  to have Gina as a calm, knowledgeable person by my side to help me have a positive birth. This probably won't surprise anyone who has spent time in a hospital, but there are exhausted, sleep-deprived doctors who are prone to mistakes; residents streaming in and out of your room who haven't really read your chart; etc. -- so needing an advocate in this context makes complete sense!   During a challenging birth, Gina made me (and my very anxious wife!) confident that everything would be OK. I planned on a medicated birth, but the initial epidural placement had some signifcant issues (specifically, it was a 'wet tap'), so I had to go through birth with significantly less pain relief that I expected. As such, I can speak to the fact Gina would be a good choice regardless of whether you want a medicated or unmedicated birth, as I had a bit of both! I can also speak to Gina as a good choice for LGBT couples, and to higher-risk/more medically complicated patients. I appreciated how Gina guided us through the huge number of decisions you have to make in childbirth, bringing her experience to help us make choices aligned with our own goals. I initially picked Gina because I felt her strong academic background might be an asset, and working with her, it was both obvious that she had a true depth of knowledge, and that she was an incredibly compassionate and grounding person who deserved my complete trust. It was so helpful to have Gina's support in establishing breastfeeding, both in the delivery room, and in her postpartum visit. I can't recommend her highly enough! 

— Elena B.

Gina was a fantastic doula and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for additional support during their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum journey. During our initial call I was immediately impressed by Gina’s knowledge and her calm and steady demeanor. She helped me to understand the various options and decisions that I would have to consider and then, when plans changed, helped me navigate an unexpected induction, long labor, and emergency c-section. I’m so lucky that we had her in our corner and for her constant advocacy at the hospital.

— Kathy W.

We decided to work with Gina before the birth of our second baby. One may think doula is not that necessary with the second birth, but it turned out to be a really good idea. My main motivation was to have a support person next to me during labor in case my husband had to leave because of an emergency with our toddler. But it turned out to be much more than that, even though my husband did not have to leave to take care of our firstborn. Gina made the preparation for the birth easier for us - during the two visits and email contact before birth she refreshed with us the pain management techniques and taught some new ones. She also prepared a birth plan and hospital packing list which we later discussed and customized. That took some mental load off of our shoulders as we were already very busy with our first kid and our jobs. I was able to talk with her about my fears and concerns. For example, my first baby was sunny side up and I wanted to avoid this with my second baby. Gina gave me a lot of advice on how to position the baby, both before and during birth. And this baby came out in the optimal position which made the whole process much smoother! During the labor Gina was present but not intrusive. She helped me to change positions and showed my husband how to give me a back massage which was extremely helpful. She also brought a small fan which does not sound like a lot but at that moment it was a big relief. I was able to give birth to a 9 lb 12 oz baby naturally without an epidural, which is quite an achievement! Gina definitely contributed to our success. During the whole process Gina was very friendly and professional at the same time. Her help made the time around the birth of our second baby much easier and more enjoyable for us. I wholeheartedly recommend her! One more thing that drew my attention and I would like to mention: Gina offers her assistance for free for parents experiencing infant loss. It tells a lot about how considerate and empathetic she is.

— Ewa S.

Gina was amazing as our doula. We’re so grateful for her support, and she was instrumental to our very positive birth experience! Gina has a deep understanding of evidence-based information about birth, and rich experience of different births from her work as a doula and at a local hospital. We leaned heavily on her guidance as we faced unfamiliar situations and choices, and her presence gave us a lot of confidence going into an unknown situation. We really appreciated that Gina didn’t come with a set agenda; she took the time to understand what we wanted and supported us in achieving it. This was so helpful both in preparation for birth, and during labor when it was much harder to have a clear head, be assertive, respond to the unexpected, etc. We cared about birth being a special and intimate experience for our new family. Gina knew when to step in with support, and when to give us space for bonding and to feel ownership over our birth. Overall we are so grateful for her support and couldn’t have asked for a better experience, and were happy to share this special time Gina!

— Sally M.

I can't express enough how much it meant to have Gina's support during my pregnancy and labor. She was amazing from day 1, answering all of our questions so timely, with so many details and back up evidence. She is truly passionate about the work she does and that shows in all her support to you as her client. She truly feels like a friend that is there for you in this transitional moment of life. Having her support was the best decision we could have ever taken.Her presence during labor was nothing short of magical—she brought a calming, empowering and informed energy to the room and knew exactly how to support us in the most meaningful ways. Since she started supporting us she made us feel like we were her top priority and was always available when we needed her, whether it was for a quick question, a reassuring word, a decision making process and even coming over to help me practice exercises to position the baby well for birth. If you're looking for a doula who is not only highly skilled but also warm, loving, and dedicated, we wholeheartedly recommend Gina. We feel incredibly lucky to have had her by our side during this special time, as she truly made my pregnancy and birth experience beautiful and unforgettable.

— Alba C.

Gina provided my wife with two, in-person prenatal sessions and in-person day-of support. Each prenatal session was focused on ensuring that my wife was ready for the delivery and had the birth plan that aligned with what she wanted. Gina was FANTASTIC and supported my wife and I above and beyond what we expected. She’s turned me into a huge doula advocate since she helped my wife understand what was most important to her as part of the delivery process and helped articulate that to the medical providers via my wife’s birth plan. I learned so much from her and I was able to better support my wife throughout the process. She is also kind, a great listener and extremely empathetic. I highly recommend Gina and hope you give her an opportunity to support you as much as she supported us!

— Michael O.