Kim Knapp Birth & Postpartum Doula in San Francisco, CA

Kim was absolutely incredible, and I cannot recommend her enough. She took the time during our pre-delivery sessions to really get to know us, educated us as first time parents on how to prepare for labor, took note of my preferences, and remembered my preferences during delivery. During delivery, Kim created a calm and supportive space for me to process what was happening, think through my options, and make my own medical decisions without ever feeling rushed or pressured (even when there were 5 doctors in the room throwing medical jargon at me). She advocated for me when I needed it, while always respecting my voice and choices. She also took such wonderful care of my partner, making sure he felt supported and knew how he could best support me, and reminded him to rest and eat too. Kim is the best labor and delivery doula ever! And -- her care didn't end when the birth was over. She continued checking in on us postpartum. When we needed time-sensitive help finding a night doula, she immediately tapped into her incredible network and sent us multiple wonderful options. Kim is knowledgeable, compassionate, attentive, deeply supportive, and we have recommended her to all of our friends!

— Ingrid M

Kim was absolutely wonderful as our postpartum doula. As first-time parents without family nearby, it was so reassuring for my wife and me to have someone with her experience, warmth, and passion supporting us during the first weeks with our newborn. We were still adjusting to parenthood while also moving furniture into our new place, and Kim gave us the space, confidence, and support to slowly find our rhythm. She listened to our concerns, helped us navigate everything from postpartum care to babywearing and our daughter’s first bath, and connected us with helpful referrals for lactation support. Kim is truly special, and any family would be lucky to work with her.

— Cecilia C

Kim is simply extraordinary, and we feel so lucky to have had her as our doula. From the very beginning of our pregnancy, her in-home sessions were warm, informative, and empowering. She made sure we understood every decision we might face and every form of support available to us, so when the time came, we walked into labor feeling truly prepared and confident. In the delivery room, Kim's presence was a gift not just to me, but to my whole support team. She helped my husband and my mom understand how they could best show up and engage, so everyone in that room felt supported and purposeful. What I'll carry with me forever, though, are the small, deeply human moments. After my epidural, I napped, and when I woke up she helped me do a simple getting-ready routine: washing my face, brushing my teeth. At the time I didn't think much of it, but looking back, it was one of the most grounding moments of the entire experience. It happened shortly before I needed to start pushing, and it helped me feel refreshed and present in a way I didn't know I needed. And during pushing itself, Kim was my anchor. Her voice is permanently etched in my memory. It's what I held onto, what guided me through each moment. Kim is a truly wonderful doula. If you are looking for someone who will show up for you and for everyone you love in that room, she is the one. We cannot recommend her highly enough.

— Magdalena Cooper

Kim is my go-to birth doula and childbirth education expert. And her support doesn't stop at birth, she offers immediate postpartum care packages as well as other supportive services for birthing families. She has years of experience and has attended hundreds of births. Families and colleagues feel her calm, grounded, non-judgemental presence immediately. Her commitment to this work and passion for it is evident in everything she does. Beyond her client work, she's a generous mentor to other doulas, freely sharing her wisdom and advocating for better cultural standards around birth and postpartum care. I've worked with many of her clients postpartum, and the feedback is always the same: she's kind, funny, caring, and genuinely transformative in their experiences. Highly recommend Kim if you have a chance to work with her, attend her workshops or just be in her presence and chat about the birthing world.

— Amanda Scharpf

We are so grateful to have had Kim as our birth doula. From our very first meeting, she brought such depth of knowledge, wisdom, warmth, and compassion. She answered every single one of our questions thoughtfully and thoroughly, and helped us feel prepared, informed, and confident heading into birth during our in-depth, in-person meetings together. We knew we were in amazing hands with Kim by our side. Between sessions, Kim went above and beyond by sharing incredibly helpful follow-up resources and always being promptly available for additional questions. Her support was consistent, reassuring, and generous. Our baby ended up arriving five weeks early, and Kim was already actively supporting another birth at the time, so she wasn’t able to be physically present for ours. Even so, she supported us beautifully by phone and text, and she sent an amazing backup doula in her place who gave us so much reassurance and support throughout the birthing process. We felt very cared for, even in an unexpected situation. When Kim visited us in the hospital after our baby was born, her caring presence and helpful advice made such a big difference in those early days of parenting. What has also meant so much to us is that Kim’s support did not end after the birth. She has continued to check in and share thoughtful tips that have been genuinely helpful as we navigate early parenthood. She has played an instrumental part in our birth and parenthood journey. We would wholeheartedly recommend Kim to any family looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and deeply supportive birth doula.

— Anisha Mudaliar

Kim was our doula for my first pregnancy, and from start to finish she was exceptional. She brought a rare combination of professionalism, deep knowledge, and genuine compassion to every step of the process. Just as importantly, she empowered both my husband and me, helping us build confidence as we prepared for birth. Kim is also well known in our community, and it meant a lot to meet other moms in my neighborhood who had similarly positive experiences with her. Giving birth is such a personal and vulnerable experience, and knowing we had someone so invested—someone who is truly part of our community—made me feel especially supported and cared for. Thank you, Kim. We are so grateful to have you as part of our story.

— Maggie Pryzant

Kim was an absolutely essential part of our pregnancy journey. We couldn’t imagine what it would have been like without her support. At each visit before our due date, her kindness, experience, knowledge, and calm demeanor greatly reduced our anxiety about having a baby. On the big day, our nurse actually celebrated when Kim arrived at the hospital. Kim is well known at Kaiser hospitals, and for good reason. She coached my wife through each step of labor and delivery with true compassion and professionalism. She offered many choices and suggestions. She made sure our wishes were honored and respected. Her guidance was straightforward and concrete, which we really appreciated. Working with Kim was one of the best decisions we made to prepare for the most important moment of our lives.

— Joseph Rizzo

Doula kim was amazing with us! She was so informative leading up to the birth and helped ease my mind, and was there for the long birth process in the hospital at all hours of the night and day! I felt so relieved to have her by our side and she really helped guide me through the whole process! Couldn’t recommend her more! Thank you Kim!

— Emily Orszulak

In the short time I was working with Kim she was such a joy, she answered all my questions promptly and always put our family first! We didn’t end up using her for the birth (insurance things) and she was very understanding and offered to refund our retainer since it was still earlier in my pregnancy! I would 100% recommend her to anyone looking for a kind doula that will put you and your family first!

— Summer

We are so grateful for our experience with Doula Kim. Her kindness, attentiveness, and calm communication style put us at ease from the very beginning. She guided us with thoughtful education that helped make our birth smooth and empowering. When unforeseen circumstances meant she couldn’t be at our birth, she went above and beyond to ensure we were supported by a wonderful replacement. We felt cared for every step of the way and couldn’t recommend her more highly.

— Raquel Munoz

Kim helped us feel confident and calm for the birth of our first child. We loved working with Kim. She was communicative, gave us a clear plan, and told us what we needed to know about expecting our son over the course of several months - she even came to our home to do educational sessions! Kim also supported us through our unexpected C section, coming to the hospital and supporting us by being there with us for the first few hours of our son’s life. I couldn’t recommend Kim enough!

— Shannon Morrissey

It's hard to express how lucky my partner and I feel to have worked with Doula Kim!! From our first conversation, Kim's calm, competent presence and evidence-based approach chipped away at my fears as a first-time parent and made it clear that we were in good hands. She was incredibly knowledgeable about my hospital and medical group (CPMC Van Ness and Pacific Women's), took the time to answer all of my and my partner's questions with no rush, and made the space for me to advocate for myself to my doctor. Kim was a real partner as I encountered various decisions, never pushing any "right" or "wrong" paths and instead presenting a range of reliable sources and perspectives to help me determine what I wanted to do. More broadly, Kim's guidance helped me build the confidence that I am capable of making informed decisions in the midst of the uncertainty inherent in pregnancy and birth (and life in general!). From start to finish, I felt safe, deeply cared for, and respected. Thank you Kim!

— Gennie Gebhart

Our doula, Kim, was a godsend for us. She was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and helped guide us through the entire labor process. You can tell she loves what she does and it made all the difference. We were so thankful to have her with us though out the process and would highly recommend!!

— Adam Brownrout

I can’t say enough wonderful things about my experience with Kim as my doula. From the very beginning, she was incredibly professional, punctual, and deeply supportive. She made me and my partner feel seen and cared for with respect to our birthing preferences. Kim was also an excellent communicator who facilitated seamlessly between us and the hospital staff, helping me stay calm and focused. I’m so grateful to have had her by my side!

— Alessandra Barbosa

I’m incredibly grateful to have had Kim as my birth doula. She was a calm, supportive, and knowledgeable presence throughout my pregnancy and birth. As I got close to delivery, she responded to my messages—even at 4 am—with such speed and care, which gave me so much reassurance. On the day of delivery, her support made a huge difference. She helped me stay relaxed and grounded through essential oils, massage, and gentle guidance on changing positions. Just as importantly, she helped me think through different options during labor, always making sure I felt informed and empowered. Having her by my side made the whole experience feel more manageable and even peaceful at times. I can’t imagine going through it without her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any expecting parent.

— Yueying “Jasmine” Ouyang

We are so grateful to have had Doula Kim by our side during the birth of our baby. Her calm presence, deep knowledge, and unwavering support made all the difference. She empowered us every step of the way and created a space where we felt safe, heard, and cared for. We couldn’t imagine our birth experience without her!

— Samantha Ku-Jewell

Doula Kim provided virtual support for me and my husband during my pregnancy and birth of our baby girl. She gave us great education and resources throughout our pregnancy and helped us understand our options when things became confusing and hard to manage with our care provider. Doula Kim was available via text and phone calls to answer our questions and help guide us through various decisions. She was also great emotional support, especially going in to the last few weeks of our pregnancy in preparing for labor and birth. She provided evidence based articles to read and sent videos to help us feel confident in our knowledge and choices. Highly recommend!

— Carolina Aguilar

Kim was an incredible doula to work with throughout my pregnancy and labor! Her experience, kindness, and attention to detail really set her apart. She brings calming and knowledgeable nature that made us feel well cared for and supported. Kim quickly earned our trust during our pre-labor visits and helped build our confidence. During labor, her pain management strategies and knowledge of the hospital (UCSF) were absolutely essential. She worked incredibly well with my bedside nurses and provided key support for my partner. Her ability to anticipate our needs and provide both emotional and physical support during my long labor was incredible! We could not imagine going through this journey without her, even with our own backgrounds in healthcare. We could not recommend Doula Kim more highly!

— V M

We originally weren't going to hire a birth doula after speaking to a few as it didn't seem to be worth it, but post chatting with Kim we were immediately impressed. Kim is very knowledgeable about the labor experience and medical jargon, which was comforting for my first birth. She walked us through the different birthing options, potential complications and mitigations, and pain management, and was a great advocate for me during my labor experience. Highly recommend!

— Tiffany Ly

After initially being on the fence about whether I should hire a birth doula, after meeting with Kim for the first time, I knew we had to work with her. She brought confident expertise and empathy to every meeting, and helped me feel more prepared and empowered for birth. She was with us throughout a long labor and provided coaching, comfort, and helped me navigate several medical decision points. I appreciated that Kim was really familiar with UCSF and was respected by the staff. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire her again.

— Andrea Caldwell

My partner and I loved working with Kim! Our sessions with her pre-birth were very valuable and informative. Even though we originally prepared for a vaginal birth, I ended up with a scheduled c-section due to the positioning of my twins. Kim helped us navigate the conversations with my doctor so that we were asking the right questions and felt comfortable with our decision. During the operation, she provided much needed emotional support and afterwards, made sure my partner also had skin to skin with both babies. I ended up with a very positive birth experience even though it didn’t go as originally planned. I would highly recommend having Kim as your doula!

— J L.

Kim assisted my wife and I with the birth of our first baby. She was very knowledgeable; Kim's advice helped us prepare for the big day and she was instrumental during the whole delivery process. Her advice made a big difference and improved the whole experience for both of us. Highly recommended!

— Daan Camps

Kim was absolutely incredible. She helped explain all the stages of labor - what was happening in the body, how the baby would move, symptoms, etc. Her expertise and teaching skills helped me wrap my head around what would happen so I felt prepared. During labor she was a wonderful resource for getting through the pain, changing into helpful positions, and navigating medical decisions with the staff at Kaiser SF. I truly felt that she was there to support whatever decisions I made, and wasn't pushing her own agenda at all! I would highly highly recommend Kim to help you on your birth journey!

— Lucy Finn

We loved working with Kim. From the outset, we could tell she was extremely knowledgeable and was able to bring evidence-based suggestions (something that was important to me). She had a knack for providing comfort and support when I needed it, but also blending it with confidence building and strength when I needed to dig a little deeper. I always felt like I was in great hands with her, and would strongly recommend her to anyone!

— Amy Ng

We had the most wonderful experience working with Doula Kim. I honestly could not imagine having gone through my delivery without her. She was a wealth of knowledge and support. There were certain points of my labor where I was getting pretty scared and overwhelmed and Kim was a calming presence who would help me re focus. 10/10 would recommend, my husband and I agreed hiring Kim was the best decision we made surrounding our labor.

— Alyssa Morales

Kim was phenomenal, a life-saver, 10 stars. We can’t give high enough praise to Doula Kim at Bundles of Joy Doula Services. We are first time parents, had a challenging pregnancy leading up to the birth of our kiddo in September 2024, and we would not have been able to do this without Kim. We started interviewing doulas in May and after meeting with five different people, Kim was a very easy gut instinct #1 choice for us for a few reasons outlined here (and informed by our experience working with her June-September): 1) She has assisted with hundreds of births and is extremely knowledgeable not only about birthing, but about the doctors, nurses, and facilities across the Bay Area from her vast experience. 2) She really listened to us and supported our preferences and plan, rather than pushing some anti-hospital or anti-alternative medicine approaches. 3) She offered advice based on experience, real data/studies, and tried to help us understand our full range of options – we didn’t know what we didn’t know. 4) She advocated for us with the labor and delivery team and helped us be informed enough to advocate effectively for ourselves. When we felt like we were being pressured or rushed, Kim helped us understand our choices and slow things down (where safe to do so). 5) She brought humor and heart to the table in addition to concrete knowledge. 6) She has an extremely robust network of colleagues and connections such that 5 days postpartum when we needed emergency night nurse help, Kim connected us to a fabulous professional who was able to join us that very night (and provide support over the next two weeks). 7) Even though our engagement with Kim had concluded in September, she still checked in on us and our new arrival to see how we were doing and offer support. She cares deeply and it went such a long way to help us on our journey. Kim is absolutely amazing; you will be so glad you brought her along on your own most important life journey.

— Marcos Santiago

My wife and I didn’t have the birth experience we wanted or expected, but we could not have done it without Kim. We always knew we wanted to work with a doula, and after interviewing several, Kim’s experience, real-talk perspectives, and kindness set her apart. Our pre-birth sessions with Kim only corroborated those first impressions as she created a space for both of us to discuss and prepare for the arrival of our son. During labor, Kim was a true partner to both my wife and me. She helped me show up for my wife, coaching me in support interventions and giving me the confidence to play an active role in the birth. She helped my wife show up for our son, guiding her in active pain management exercises and engaging her attention to make it through the peaks and valleys of active delivery and repair. But most of all, Kim was a steady and empathic partner when things veered off course. In the moment when it became clear the one thing we didn’t want to do in our birth plan was the least medically risky intervention, Kim helped us think through and process our options. Having a knowledgeable third party (not a doctor or midwife) – especially one as experienced and kind as Kim – was invaluable for us in the moment. And in retrospect, it’s become all the more clear to us how integral her partnership was to helping all three of us. Quite literally, I don’t know how we could have done it without her by our side. At this point, it’s probably clear: we can’t recommend Kim enough. She’s become more than a day-of doula: she’s been a partner in one of the most intimate and vulnerable moments of our lives. And we’re so happy she was.

— Gary Pelissier

Working with Kim is one of the main reasons I had such a positive birth experience. Not only did we get a lot of helpful, practical information from our prenatal visits with Kim, Kim's calm and positive demeanor helped me to feel more confident and get excited about labor. Even though Kim was with another family at the same time that we got to the hospital, she connected us with our wonderful backup doula and then came to join us at the hospital as soon as she could. We had to wait about 10 hours before I was fully dilated and ready to push and it was really nice having Kim there during that time. She checked in on how I was feeling mentally at exactly the right moments and provided aromatherapy that was super effective when I was shaking from my epidural. She also worked really well with the hospital staff and had even delivered two other babies with our labor and delivery nurse! I was so glad to have Kim encouraging me while pushing right alongside my OB and nurse. I felt very safe the whole time. She also took some wonderful photos in the moment that I'll treasure forever. I cannot recommend Kim strongly enough as a birth doula!

— Cary Luu

I'm so happy my husband & I decided to work with Kim. From our first interview, I had a gut feeling that Kim was exactly the personality we needed. She's warm yet assertive, calm yet takes action when needed. My husband & I needed someone who could give us authoritative answers but also give us the space to make decisions that were right for us. Kim provided that perfect balance. The day of the birth is when I needed Kim the most, and she showed up & was with me and my husband fully. She was by my side the entire time - holding on to me, guiding my breathing, reassuring me, providing comfort measures, acting as a go-between with the medical team when needed, & guiding my husband. She took a very active role in my labor. I will always remember three voices from that day - my husband's, my baby's first cries, & Kim's voice counting down my breathing as I pushed. If you're delivering at UCSF, Kim is well-known by the staff and very familiar with the hospital. I recommend her wholeheartedly.

— Brandy Au

Kim was absolutely AMAZING supporting my wife and I through the birth of our first child. We would hire her again for our next child and highly recommend her to anyone thinking about a doula. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, and kind and she helped out with everything, big and small, acting as a reassuring coach and partner throughout the entire process. Before labor, she helped us prepare for the journey ahead, telling us what to do, what to expect, and answering all of our questions. Throughout labor at the hospital, Kim was indispensable – I don’t know how we would have done it without her. She supported us emotionally and physically, helping us rest when we needed a break, lifting us when we needed a boost, and cheering us on when we needed encouragement. She offered a refreshing perspective and another set of hands throughout labor. She helped us navigate the maze of hospital staff, supplies, and decisions. She even took care of the small things like bringing us a fan when we were stuck in a hot triage room for hours, showed us tricks for making good refreshments out of the hospital pantry, and made sure my wife got to brush teeth while stuck in bed. Thanks to Kim, my wife and I made it through birth unscathed and ready for the next adventure of caring for our newborn!

— Tyeler Quentmeyer

Kim was amazing and essential during my labor. From the start she made me feel reassured that I was in good hands. She was everything I and my husband needed her to be, directing and supporting me in what I needed to do, guiding my husband in how he could help me. Her wealth of experience and knowledge was clear as well as her ability to make me feel heard. Kim supported my birth plan and helped me navigate when things out of my control meant I had to adjust my plan, so I felt advocated for the whole time. Kim was my rock during labor—and if you know what labor is like, that means a whole lot! I and my husband can’t imagine how things would have gone without her. We both feel it was 100% the right decision to ask Kim to be our doula and are so glad and grateful that she was there for us!

— Christine W

We are so thrilled to have chosen Kim as our doula! She was simply essential throughout the entire process, everything we could have hoped for in a doula and more. She is so incredibly knowledgeable about the entire birth process. We had three great sessions with her to prepare for the birth, full of information and tips, giving us confidence ahead of the day itself. She was always responsive over text. The real value came during the birth itself. We ended up having a somewhat complicated birth process, and Kim was such an amazing support throughout it. She provided emotional support, she helped us navigate medical choices as they came up, and she made sure the nursing staff and doctors always knew what was going on. She was a great advocate for us, but always in a way that put us in the driver seat. She always laid our decisions clearly and then put our preferences first, only sharing her opinion when we explicitly asked for it. She knew just what to say to my wife throughout the process to help her through it. I truly can’t imagine the birth process without her, she made a challenging process so much better. I highly, highly recommend her to anyone looking for a great doula!

— Jason Goodman

You wont go wrong when choosing Kim Knapp as your Doula. Kim makes you feel so comfortable and is happy to assist with any questions or concerns. love you Kim

— Nora Aguayo

I cannot imagine pregnancy or birth without Kim by our side. Leading up to the birth of our son, Kim made us feel at ease and prepared for labor through multiple educational meetings. She was also always available to answer questions outside of our scheduled meetings. Not only is Kim incredibly knowledgeable and excellent at sharing that knowledge in a way that does not feel overwhelming, Kim was a calming and compassionate presence throughout our pregnancy and birth journey. There were many times I felt so grateful we found Kim to be our birth guide, especially when complications arose during labor. Even in the scarier moments, I felt like everything would be okay because Kim was there to help us. We will be forever grateful for her care!

— Megan W.

We loved working with Kim and will absolutely work with her again for any future pregnancies! Kim helped us feel confident and prepared with our pre-birth sessions, and she empathized with our focus on data-driven decision-making. During the birth, Kim was absolutely critical. She is a kind and warm but firm and steady presence who inspires confidence and motivated me to get the baby out! There were so many critical moments when I don't know what I would have done without Kim - especially getting the epidural very late in labor, and going through three hours of pushing which required creative positioning and breathing to manage prolonged fetal heart rate decelerations. Kim worked super well with the doctors and nurses at the hospital too, and our doctor mentioned she would recommend Kim to her other patients.

— D M.

Kim was exceptional. She really took the time and care to educate and prepare us for birth beforehand. During the labor she went above and beyond to help me have the birth I planned for, helped with comfort measures, and helped me communicate my needs to the hospital team. My birth would have been completely different without Kim, we are so grateful for her. Afterward, she was available to answer any questions and help calm our first time parent worries.

— Britany T.