Kari Arcuri Birth Doula in Santa Barbara, CA

From the moment me and my husband met Kari, we knew we had found the right support. She is extremely knowledgeable, calm, and caring. I felt seen, supported and never judged. We met with her before birth to get to know each other and work out a desired birth plan. She was resourceful and there is something about her that both felt maternal and grounding. My labor was long and Kari came to our home (before the hospital) for an extra layer of support when I was in active labor. Her nurturing presence brought a calm energy and I felt safe and cared for in the middle of such an intense experience. What meant a lot was how she worked together with my husband and how they together made such a team to support me. During labor Kari gave him confidence and kept him cool, calm and collected so he could provide the best support possible. And at the hospital she had the knowledge we lacked and knew what to ask and expect and how to advocate for me. She came for an in-home visit about a week after birth and it was amazing to get to talk about the birth experience and how we were adjusting. We would highly recommend Kari, because whatever path your labor takes you, Kari will empower you to take in the moment and fully appreciate the beauty of birth. Looking back Kari was such an essential part of our birth story and we feel so lucky to share it with her. We cannot recommend her enough!!

— julia

We introduced our beautiful baby boy into this world on 2/10/25 and could not have done it without the support of Kari! My husband and I do not have any family close and this was our first child. We were terrified to be alone during the delivery process and wanted to make sure we had someone advocating for us while at the hospital giving birth. Kari was that person and so much more. We met with her on several occasions and she listened to our concerns, gave us great advice along the way, and took our delivery wants/desires seriously ensuring that they were all met at the hospital. The delivery process for us went rapidly and it ended up being an unmedicated birth. Kari was so helpful the entire time, literally holding my hand (and sometimes my husbands!) in some of my most vulnerable moments. I highly recommend Kari <3

— Casey Martin

We had a great experience with Kari! Although our birth plan didn’t go as we thought it would, Kari was there every step of the way offering advice and support. My husband especially appreciated her help explaining things ahead of time and in the delivery room so he knew what to expect!

— Kait Hamilton

Highly, highly (!) recommend Kari. Her years of experience and warmth are what initially sold us. We also appreciated her certification as a Spinning Babies educator. But I am recommending her because I cannot imagine our birth without her. We planned on an unmedicated, hospital birth but ended up in an emergency cesarean. Many decisions had to be made quickly - baby was not doing well - but Kari's presence relieved so much stress. She knew what we wanted, she understood the medical situation better than we did, and she had already developed relationships with many of the hospital staff and was skillful in communicating with them in a respectful manner while advocating for our needs & preferences (I have heard stories of other doulas in town being unable to collaborate effectively with their hospital team). Both my husband and I felt deeply supported throughout the experience. Despite not having the birth story we had hoped for, we both feel confident that we got the best outcome possible in the situation - with Kari being a central part of that. Thank you Kari!

— Mercedes M.

I wholeheartedly recommend Kari as a doula! As a first-time mom, I truly felt empowered and supported every step of the way, thanks to Kari's incredible knowledge and care. She was not only there for me physically and emotionally during labor and post birth, but also provided constant reassurance to my husband, helping him navigate the experience alongside me. Kari's calming presence made us both feel at ease and secure, and her thoughtfulness was crucial to our positive birth experience. She stayed with us after the baby arrived to ensure we were settled and checked in during the first week to see how we were adjusting—something that truly demonstrated her commitment and dedication. Hiring Kari was absolutely one of the best decisions we made, and her ongoing encouragement and support was a key factor in making our birth experience so memorable and positive. I'm beyond grateful for her and cannot imagine going through that journey without her on my team! Kari’s presence made all the difference in my transition to motherhood. Her calming and supportive demeanor helped me feel more at ease and confident, whether before the birth, during labor or in the days following the birth. Our at-home meeting before the birth was incredibly helpful—it answered so many of my questions, clarified what to expect, and also gave my husband valuable support about the process of labor and delivery. Through it all, she listened to my concerns and always reminded me of my inner strength, which alleviated any anxieties I had. Knowing Kari was by my side every step of the way allowed me to fully embrace the experience, trusting in my body and the process. Her positivity and support truly gave me the confidence to step into my new role as a mom with peace and assurance. Our family is so thankful. Thank you, Kari! - Brooke

— Brooke H.

I'm so glad we had Kari as our doula for the birth of our first child. I didn't know what to expect given this was my first birth, and Kari's calm, confident, and reassuring demeanor helped me to have the experience I always wanted. She helped us start to finish -- addressing my fears prior to the birth, was there by my side helping me through the toughest part of my labor and delivery, and was there for me postpartum. She's experienced, well-connected in the area, and an all-around wonderful person. I would recommend Kari to anyone looking for a doula!

— Megan

Working with Kari was one of the best decisions my husband and I made during pregnancy. When we first met with her, we instantly clicked and felt reassured by her extensive knowledge and experience. Kari brought a maternal sense of calm to me in late pregnancy and during the birth, while also making me laugh like an old friend. This warmth and emotional support was so beneficial to both my partner and I. Our prenatal visits helped us to feel more confident and better equipped to navigate childbirth, and she took time to answer our questions and explore our concerns as first time parents. Kari was incredibly supportive during a lengthy prodromal labor, and contributed immensely to my challenging labor and delivery experience that spanned 41 hours. Kari supported me in making decisions on my own terms, and advocated on my behalf with my medical providers to support the birth that I wanted and making adaptations along the way when necessary. Kari’s guidance and support to my partner was also invaluable and allowed him to be fully present for me. Having Kari a part of our journey was incredibly helpful and I cannot imagine having had a better person to support us in mind, body, and spirit— we are forever grateful.

— Hannah Grey

I have struggled to find the words to adequately describe how transformational Kari was for us in the prenatal and birthing process. As first-time parents, we didn't know what we didn't know, and we definitely didn't know a LOT about birth or even what we wanted. Kari took us under her wing from our very first meeting--I felt so seen, so heard, so held--and it was clear that she was our person. From that point on, she was a guiding light; supporting us through figuring out how we wanted to show up in the birthing process and then all the way through. Kari took my preferences seriously while gently offering her expertise--but she never made me feel anything but so, so supported, no matter what I ultimately chose. We really wanted to work with someone who had a lot of experience, and Kari was this but so much more. Yes, she has incredible expertise and is incredibly generous in sharing it. But she is also so warm, so caring--she even came over when I was in early labor just to give me a hug, because she could tell that's what I needed in that moment. She was right on, as she always was with us. She was so in tune with me and with my partner; she knew exactly what to say and how to be with each of us in our different needs and emotions throughout the process. I want to especially call this out because her equal support for my partner as well meant a lot to me. During my labor and delivery, she gave me permission and created the space to really listen to myself in the hospital environment: to know my body, to speak it out loud, and to follow my instincts, while also answering my questions and giving me a path to follow when I needed it. Her warmth and intuition are unparalleled, and I truly can't imagine having had our birth experience without her. She was so integral to it all, including postpartum, and her genuine love for what she does comes through in every moment. She is honest but reassuring, full of knowledge but also laughter and joy and love. She is the absolute best. Kari is just magic!

— Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld

We always knew we wanted to have a doula present for the birth of our son, and when we first met with Kari, we knew she was the perfect fit. Kari’s passion for supporting parents through the childbirth experience shines through in every interaction we’ve had with her. From the prenatal visits, through birth and during the postpartum visit, she was attentive, caring and nonjudgmental. Her scope of experience and knowledge made us feel like we were in the best hands and she always had a thoughtful, educated answer for any question we had. Kari helped make what was a very anxious time for me a very positive experience from start to finish. As most births go, not much went to “plan” and she supported us through the long, exhausting process with unwavering emotional support. Cannot recommend having a doula enough, and Kari was the absolute best!

— Rachel Petrovsky

We had the privilege of working with Kari for the pregnancy and birth of our first child. We also participated in the one day Birth Class that Kari offers. Kari has been so easy to work with and was such a pivotal piece in helping labor and delivery of our beautiful baby girl go smoothly. Kari helped us develop a plan through multiple one on one meetings, and supported and advocated that plan till the end. Kari had our full trust and worked so well with the nurses at Cottage to keep things going forward, all for the good of Mama and Baby. It was easy to lean on Kari for encouragement or guidance during the hard moments and decisions because of the relationship we were able to build with her beforehand. She has been accessible and intentional throughout the journey. The post birth visit was a huge blessing and positive debrief for us as well. We are so thankful for Kari!

— Benjamin Regan

We LOVE Kari!! We hired Kari to support and guide us through the birth of our first baby girl. As unexperienced first time parents, we were looking for someone warm, knowledgeable, and experienced to join our birth team. From our first meeting, we knew Kari was the perfect fit! She has guided us through our birth plan, birthing classes, a rough labor, delivery, and supported us postpartum. We are over the moon with our experience and feel it was the absolute best decision to include her as our doula. We can’t wait to have her join our team again for our next bundle of joy. If you’re looking for the best doula, Kari is simply that!

— Blair Brown

I truly cannot recommend Kari enough!! From start to finish she was amazing! I have known Kari for years and have always heard her talk about the love she has for her work! I was so excited I got to experience that when I had my baby! My son was wedged into my hip and I was dilating unevenly! Kari spent all day with me moving me into different positions and doing new techniques to help get him unwedged! I truly believe without her I might have ended up in a c section! She made me feel so comfortable and helped explain everything that was going on the whole time! We also took our birthing class with her, and I highly recommend you do that. All in all, Kari was by far the best decision we made it! I will be using her for every child in the future.

— Krysta Biancone

100% recommend Kari as a doula! She took time before our birth to get to know us and ensure that we felt comfortable with her. She was a helpful resource in choosing a prenatal provider as well as helping us make the decision of where to have our baby. During labor Kari’s help was invaluable. She was by my side from the moment I needed her there until I delivered. She was instrumental in helping me through my unmedicated labor and delivery. She also helped my husband understand how he could play a role in labor, and helped make him feel comfortable and empowered during the process. I can’t say enough good things about Kari!

— Ali Overton

I was so happy that Kari was there to support me and my husband during the birth of our daughter. She was key to my positive birth story. Thank you, Kari!

— April Price

My husband and I hired Kari for a private birthing prep seminar because of our difficult schedules and wanting something besides a zoom class to really grasp the birth process. We are so happy we had a class with her! It was convenient and she is a wealth of knowledge. We came away with several "ah ha" moments that we know will set-us up for success!

— Serena Zahler

Kari was instrumental in helping me deliver the unmedicated hospital birth I wanted. From 6 months pregnant, Kari acted as our birth consultant, providing 1:1 birth classes and hands on support. Our baby was breech for a number of months which required at-home remedies and eventually an ECV procedure. Kari acted as a trusted advisor every step of the way. When I began labor, we were in contact every hour as she coached me through contractions at home. She met us at the hospital and was truly a calming influence on an otherwise unknown process for first time moms. She talked me through every single step of the labor process relieving me of so much of the “first time” anxiety. Maybe most importantly, Kari helped my husband be the most supportive partner he could be. Our healthy happy baby was born and Kari effortlessly shifted gears into postpartum support mode -  helping me with the first steps of breastfeeding and connecting me with the best lactation consultants in Santa Barbara. Kari’s calm demeanor and nurturing nature makes her an excellent doula. I plan on using Kari again for any future birth journeys and highly recommend her to first time moms.

— Tessa Angell

Kari supported me and my partner in both of my births. My first labor was long and harrowing. Kari and her wonderful doula partner at the time were both incredible during this experience. I had intense back labor, and Kari was a calm, strong, supportive force. She provided great pain relief with counter pressure on my hips and a tennis ball at my back, helped me in and out of the birthing tub, and supported me and my partner in making independent, informed decisions about my body and my baby. During my fast and furious second birth, she was a ray of sunshine and provided an even sense of calm and grounding while I rode through the contractions. Kari was mindful of my requests and thoughtful about the trauma I experienced during my first birth. I have type one diabetes, hashimotos, and celiac disease, so both of my pregnancies were considered high risk. She was unfazed by this and approached my health conditions with respect for my choices and my knowledge about what was best for my body and my conditions. I am grateful for her calm, compassion, and support. Thank you, Kari!

— Elise Cossart-Daly

I am so grateful to have had Kari on my birthing team. Becoming a mother during a global pandemic was certainly a unique experience, but Kari really helped things go as smoothly as I think they could have. We did an initial zoom call followed by masked, socially distanced meetings in my backyard, including a birthing class, which was wonderful since the one we were going to take was cancelled. Not only did Kari impart valuable information, but this gave us the opportunity to get to know each other, share our birthing philosophies, and plan for several different labor scenarios. I ended up having a very long and challenging labor that required interventions, and I was so grateful that we had already talked through the possibilities beforehand. With Kari’s support I was able to feel confident in my choices, and stay present and calm throughout. My labor could have left me feeling defeated, but I felt so strong and empowered, and I know that Kari helped me have that experience. Thank you Kari!

— Lisa Sanderson Tane

Hiring Kari as our doula was the BEST decision we made surrounding our birth!! She was helpful and professional throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. Our labor was long and complicated, and I don’t know what we would have done without Kari’s expertise and support. We needed her support from the very beginning to the very end, and she tirelessly stood by us every step of the way. She really made my husband and I feel more comfortable, informed, and empowered. I felt very comfortable laboring and delivering with her by my side. She helped my husband figure out how to best help me, and gave us very valuable advice and insight. If you are considering a doula, HIRE HER NOW! You will not regret it!! We are so grateful for her support and encouragement during the most important, difficult, and joyful experience of our lives.

— Michaela Taylor

Kari’s assurances made my birth beautiful. I was able to have a natural birth following natural instincts. It was helpful to have her sage advice both in advance in planning for what the birth would be, and also in the delivery room. If it wasn’t for her incredible responsiveness, my daughter might have been born at home alone.

— catherine brozowski

Every visit from Kari during my second pregnancy was like a ray of sunshine. She reminded me of my inner wisdom to navigate birth and everything that came after, while also answering my many questions about everything I had forgotten about labor, delivery and postpartum with her extensive knowledge. She always thought about the details that would help bring me calm and a sense of delight even in the most difficult moments, she brought me fresh peaches when I most craved them, thought to have lavender essential oil on hand during my delivery, and held my hand when my husband had to be with my baby during the delivery. My journey of giving birth to my second child did not go as I had planned, and threw me for quite a loop. Kari's support helped me find my confidence and my sense of calm at every step. Thank you Kari!

— Mona Damluji