Krystal Vélez-Gómez-Edwards

Oakland, California

5.0 (4 reviews)

Krystal Vélez-Gómez-Edwards

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

My name is Krystal Brisette Vélez-Gómez-Edwards and I am of Indigenous-Mexicana and Nicaragüense descent. I am open to supporting all births of all beliefs and practices. I am passionate about my own cultural work and practicing as a traditional, Mexican doula, acknowledging birth as ceremony. My first career path was in nursing until I discovered my dismay with Western medicine and healthcare. Years later I experienced the birth of my son, Michael, who is now 16. I was 21 and had no support outside of my marriage, I had no clue what I was doing and I didn't know what I didn't know. I ate awfully and gained at least 70 pounds. When my water broke and I was admitted to the hospital, I was soon told I would need a cesarean due to my son going into "distress." I planned to have a natural birth, but here I was receiving an epidural (fentanyl!) and being cut open and tugged at from within. I was so detached from my own body. My baby was taken from the room and I didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits and pleasure of skin-to-skin bonding, our 'golden hour' to breastfeed peacefully. I suffered from postpartum depression and learned to bury and forget the experience because I figured that's just how it was. It wasn't until years later that it came up for me and was a catalyst for many positive changes in my life. I was a few years into healing work with indigenous medicines and in one of my own ceremonies, I received a calling to bring ceremony back to birth, along with visions of burying a placenta at a sacred tree. I began researching traditional Mexican birth work to discover that this was in fact an indigenous tradition. I dedicated myself to the journey of birth work. I obtained training in many facets of holistic birth work and traditional, Mexican birth work, including herbalism to support birth and postpartum, womb healing, rebozo work, techniques for comfort and pain management as well as repositioning breech babies, lactation support, craniosacral therapy, cerrada de caderas (traditional closing ceremony), and the list continues to grow. I have been studying safe use of psychedelics during pregnancy and birth. As a traditional, certified holistic birth and postpartum doula, my primary role is to provide emotional, physical, and informational support to you during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and beyond. I believe birth work is sacred and magical. Most importantly, I'm passionate about incorporating traditional practices into my work, which means I can also draw on indigenous knowledge and rituals to enhance and support your desired birthing experience. Together, we'll navigate this journey, ensuring you feel empowered and well-supported throughout.

Recent review

Cristal was absolutely essential to my uncomplicated delivery of my child. Her warmth and knowledge gave me the confidence and peace to go within myself and have an unmedicated delivery in the hospital. Being able to text her with any questions during and before early labor was incredibly comforting and helpful. Cristal was also a tremendous support for my mom and husband in the hospital, making the whole experience more personalized and less stressful. She provided them with the confidence and reassurance they needed, creating a calm and supportive environment for all of us. At the end of my quarentena, Cristal performed my cerada de caderas ceremony, which was beautiful and just the pampering I needed. This ceremony helped me reconnect with my roots and heal from my previous two birthing experiences. Cristal's support, both during and after delivery, was invaluable, and I am deeply grateful for her presence during this important time in my life. Thank you, Cristal, for everything you've done for me and my family!

- Rocío G.

Crystal Franco

Fairfield, California

Crystal Franco

5 years of experience

Hi! I’m Crystal! I am a birth and postpartum doula in Solano County. I’m the eldest daughter of Mexican Immigrant parents. My birthwork practice is rooted in remembering and reclaiming ancestral wisdom and indigenous traditions. My parenthood journey opened my eyes to the ways our society has failed mothers and birthers which lead me to this work! I believe birthwork is revolutionary and my role is to show radical love and support for birthing people. I believe in informed consent and I do not shy away from advocacy! I support birthing people and their choices and I see it as my job to ensure you have the education, resources , as well as the empowerment to advocate for yourself and your baby. Birth and postpartum are team sports! Along with supporting the birthing person I also specialize in facilitating support from partners, families, and friends. Please check out my website for all of my offerings! Hola, soy Crystal! Soy una comadrona en el Condado de Solano. Soy la hija mayor de padres inmigrantes mexicanos. Mi práctica de parto se basa en recordar y reclamar la sabiduría ancestral y las tradiciones indígenas. Mi experiencia como madre me abrió los ojos a las formas en que nuestra sociedad les ha fallado a las madres y a quienes dan a luz, ¡lo que me llevó a este trabajo! Creo que el parto es revolucionario y mi trabajo es mostrar amor y apoyo radicales a las personas que dan a luz. Creo en el consentimiento informado y no rehúyo la defensa. Apoyo a las personas que dan a luz y sus decisiones, y considero que es mi trabajo asegurar que tengas la educación, los recursos y el empoderamiento para defenderte a ti misma y a tu bebé. ¡El parto y el posparto son deportes de equipo! Además de apoyar a la persona que da a luz, también me especializo en facilitar el apoyo de parejas, familias y amigos. ¡Visita mi sitio web para ver todas mis ofertas!

Arica Nears Taylor

Fairfield, California

Arica Nears Taylor

52 years of experience
Accepts insurances

MA’s Helping Hands provides you with a mother/daughter doula team that has a combined total of over 50 years experience working with women, their babies and their families during pregnancy, labor/delivery and through the postpartum period.

Kurita Powell

Suisun City, California

5.0 (1 review)

Kurita Powell

14 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I believe every birthing person should have the right to a trauma free birth experience, where their beliefs, values and goals are heard and respected. Birthing bodies are powerful. My goal as a doula is to remind you of the power you hold. I have worked in the medical field for 13 years as a Certified Medical Assistant, Lead Medical Assistant Instructor, recently completed my Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and gained Certification as a Birth and Postpartum Doula. I am a very motivated and determined person. As a dedicated mother and proud African American woman, my heart is deeply rooted in the wellbeing of our community. The glaring disparities in maternal health that disproportionately affect women of color are not just statistics to me; they are urgent calls to action that resonate with my own experiences and those of my loved ones. I am committed to leveraging my knowledge, resources, and voice to initiate and support sustainable changes within the healthcare system. My goal is to ensure that equitable, high-quality maternal care is not a privilege, but a standard afforded to all mothers, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Through community outreach, advocacy, and education, I strive to contribute to a world where maternal mortality in underserved communities is not a grim expectation but a rare exception. My mission is to fight for a future where every mother’s life is given the value it unequivocally deserves.

Recent review

Kurita is a very knowledgeable and passionate doula . I had a very challenging delivery and Kurita advocated for me and my baby through out my delivery . She made sure I was comfortable and made sure my voice was being heard and my needs were being met . Thank you :-)

- Larressha C.

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.

Pontsho Pridesworth Tsiane

Oakland, California

Pontsho Pridesworth Tsiane

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I'm a certified Birth and postpartum doula and a Childbirth Educator. I've assisted in 15+ births. I'm very passionate about birth and helping families through their journey of childbirth. I would love to be your birth best friend.

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.

Tamara Martin

San Leandro, California

Tamara Martin

10 years of experience
Accepts insurances

At Tailored by Tami Doula, birth is a sacred, personal journey where every birthing person deserves to feel seen, heard, and deeply supported. I honor each birth as unique and trust the wisdom of the body. My role is to provide compassionate, evidence-based support that centers autonomy, uplifts confidence, and helps families make informed choices that align with their values. I walk alongside my clients with love, cultural humility, and fierce advocacy—because every birth deserves to feel powerful, not pressured.

Anabel Polanco polanco

Hayward, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Anabel Polanco polanco

17 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I am a certified postpartum doula and lactation educator, also have. A birth doula too, I have many families that I worked through carrot ensure, I have it experience with one baby and twins as a postpartum provider, working with over 150 families in Seattle, WA, LA CA and the Bay Area.

Recent review

We hired Anabelle as a postpartum night doula for the first few weeks after my daughter’s birth back in April. We were very happy with her service and found her to be trustworthy and reliable. She always showed up right on time and did a great job with taking care of my daughter’s night time feeds, putting her to sleep, diaper changes and washing my breast pump and bottle parts. Thanks to her I was able to catch up on some much needed sleep after knowing that my daughter was in good hands. We even extended our contract with her for a few more weeks. However, as she was traveling and had a contract with another family that was coming up she asked if it was okay to send her backup instead for those weeks. We really liked her backup Elida as well and don’t have any complaints about her service either. Overall I would recommend her (and her amazing backup) to any family looking for a good night doula!

- Aathira S.

Sabrina Martinez

San Francisco, California

5.0 (1 review)

Sabrina Martinez

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hey there! I’m Sabrina, owner of Little Sprout Doula and I’m thrilled to connect with you! I’m a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula based in San Francisco, California. My journey in the birthing world started as a volunteer with the San Francisco General Hospital Birth doula program. It was such a rewarding experience, and I learned so much about how to support expectant moms and their families. After that, I had the opportunity to work at San Francisco's very first postpartum retreat center. There, I gained valuable insights into the postpartum period. Last year alone, I’ve had the joy of helping over 50 families through their postpartum journeys, and it’s been incredibly rewarding! I also participated in Sutter Hospital's Birth Doula Pilot program, where I got to dive even deeper into this work. Plus, I’ve taken a UC San Diego Lactation Educator course and completed a Spinning Babies workshop because I’m passionate about empowering expectant individuals and their families on this wonderful journey. My focus is now in birth doula support. I can't wait to share my knowledge and support with you. Let’s connect and start this amazing adventure together!

Recent review

Sabrina is a star. She took just thoughtful, empathetic care of our little one and we still appreciate it immensely. She was also a helpful resource and emotional support during some breastfeeding troubles. Our guy was also born a few weeks early underweight, and we trusted Sabrina fully to give him the care he needed. We are forever grateful, and you can be too! Book Sabrina!

- Hamed F.

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.

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

CARA GUYOT

Mill Valley, California

CARA GUYOT

7 years of experience

I am a Postpartum Doula. I mostly work 1:1 with clients, but am open to remote work as well. I teach infant massage either in person or remotely. I love helping with siblings and pets and getting partners more involved with helping out. As a new mom, or a mom for the 10th time, those first few months with baby are a time for you to recover and get to know your little one. But it is not something that you need to do alone, I can help you.

Gena Perdue

Mill Valley, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Gena Perdue

23 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m Gena Perdue, a certified birth and postpartum doula serving families across the Bay Area. I specialize in advocacy for better birth outcomes, overnight postpartum care and recovery, newborn care, and pediatric sleep hygiene. My practice is client-led, evidence-based, unconditional, and free of agenda. Your family deserves care that meets you exactly where you are. I believe that when new parents feel supported, informed, and well-rested, the entire family thrives. I bring a background in community and organizational leadership, having spent years helping families and professionals build systems of care that strengthen both individuals and communities. I’m certified, CPR and Standard First Aid certified, trained in emergency preparedness, insured, background-checked, and have current vaccinations. I'm calm, capable, and ready to help so you can feel supported, confident, and well-rested during your transition to parenthood.

Recent review

Gena was an absolute gift as we navigated the first few weeks of our son’s life. Having had a very difficult postpartum period with my first son, I did all I could to prepare for the birth of my second son which is how I met Gena. She was able to immediately put me at ease when my anxiety was front and center and helped me get centered when things felt extra difficult. She had faith in me when I wasn’t so sure and we talked about life and newborns striking a perfect balance of knowledge and friendliness that is hard to find. If you get the chance to work with Gena you will be all the better for it. I highly recommend her.

- Phyllis S.

Graciela Vaca navarro

San Lorenzo, California

Graciela Vaca navarro

7 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello, I am a woman in love with life, mother of three wonderful children., I love caring for and helping others. six years ago I began this wonderful adventure, helping more than 130 women in their pregnancy and postpartum, helping both in the care of their babies as well as themselves, guiding them in this precious period, so that they can enjoy this time with their baby and make beautiful memories.

Alla Irwin

San Francisco, California

Alla Irwin

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I am a mother of 2, birth and Postpartum doula and a photographer leaving in San Francisco. I am observant, thoughtful person with a good sense of humor who enjoyed walks, books, tea, plants and good conversations.

Kim Knapp

San Francisco, California

5.0 (4 reviews)

Kim Knapp

7 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello! I'm Kim I am a full service birth and postpartum Doula and a member of DONA. I recognize the magical, miraculous wonders of pregnancy and childbirth and offer unconditional, judgement free support for all families. I love to share my knowledge and passionate enthusiasm with expectant families and offer confident, continuity of care to ensure you have a positive birth experience, in alignment with your birth preferences. I live in San Francisco and have a lot of experience at UCSF, CPMC and the Kaiser Network. I have also supported many births on the Peninsula at Mills, Sequoia, Kaiser RWC and Stanford.

Recent review

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.

Jem G

Daly City, California

5.0 (4 reviews)

Jem G

2 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Jem is a full-spectrum doula/birthworker who specializes in care for mamas and babies. She majored in Early Childhood Education and has had over 10 years of experience in the Childcare/Education Realm. Roles she's held include: daycare attendant, teacher's assistant, teacher, babysitter, nanny, and mother's helper. Each one has taught her how to continue providing compassionate care for children and how to be an effective member of the family's village (care team). Jem is a certified Mental Health First Aider and her work focuses in supporting Maternal Mental Health. The postpartum support Jem provides in her work includes wraparound wellness services for physical and emotional support anchored in celebrating mamas in their new role. Helping mamas in their period of transition-be it to new life with baby, back to work, or simply to their routines. Jem strives to honor the wants and needs of the families she works with.

Recent review

We hired Jeremy Anne to help care for our daughter back when she was 9 months. She was with us for about 5 months. She helped with feeding, play, naps, walking development, baby sign, minor housekeeping items and offered advice with caring for a baby. She has a wonderful holistic approach with her support. She cares about ALL family members - humans and pets alike! We loved that she wasn’t a “transactional” kind of person, she really took the time to get to know us, ask good questions and offer personal care support when needed. She also went out of her way for many things. I will always remember how she helped develop healthy boundaries with our dog as we were adjusting to our daughter’s needs. The boundaries helped build a healthy relationship with our baby and fur baby! Our daughter enjoyed being around Jeremy and she misses her I think sometimes. Jeremy was very helpful with helping our baby walk! We keep in touch and recently shared how our little one is walking all over the place now! I wish we could have had more time with Jeremy. She is a blessing, she is so peaceful and calm.

- Jayson A.

Maya Jones

Pleasanton, California

Maya Jones

7 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hi, I’m Maya Jones a Certified Full Spectrum Doula and Placenta Care Specialist dedicated to supporting you through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My mission is to create safe, empowering experiences for all birthing people—honoring your unique birth preferences, whether natural, medicated, cesarean, or VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Growing up in East Palo Alto, I was inspired by the strength of my community and the compassion of my grandmother and mother, who were community leaders and nurturers. Their example taught me to lead with advocacy, care, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting others. With over a decade of childcare experience and a passion for birth work sparked in 2017, I founded All Hues LLC in 2023 to provide holistic, personalized care. My comprehensive training in Birth, Loss, and Postpartum Care, alongside certifications in Placenta Encapsulation and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Safety, equips me to meet your needs with evidence-based knowledge, practical tools, and emotional reassurance. I am committed to addressing inequities in perinatal care and providing inclusive, affirming support to all families, especially Black families, families of color, LGBTQ+ families, single parents, and surrogates. Through compassionate guidance, I help you navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood with confidence and ease. Whether you’re looking for birth planning, hands-on labor support, lactation guidance, postpartum recovery care, or placenta encapsulation, my goal is to ensure you feel seen, respected, and cared for every step of the way. Let’s create a birth and postpartum experience that empowers you to not just survive but thrive!

Karen DeCarlo

Petaluma, California

5.0 (1 review)

Karen DeCarlo

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I became a parent in 2020. This birth was difficult, but it didn't have to be. The Pandemic heightened my feelings of confusion and loneliness during my pregnancy and birth, and I longed for a community of support. When connecting with other Covid-parents, I saw how negatively this isolation impacted all of us. Birth is an experience no one should have to do alone. As a Doula, I can provide the emotional, physical, and informational support I wish I had. I'm a fierce advocate for my clients and their preferences, and create a nurturing and empowering space for emerging parents.

Recent review

We are so grateful to have had Karen! She helped me write out how I envisioned my birth and what I wanted. And during the labor she was so valued! She gave my husband support as well as myself. It felt like we were all a part of a true team. Her guidance and support was what we needed! I’d highly recommend her to any family and friends of mine.

- Nicole S.