Naoko Sumii

Accept insurances
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Santa Clara, California
15 years of experience
5.0
About me

Hello! I'm Naoko. I am a licensed midwife from Japan, a birth and postpartum doula, and a mother of four. Before moving to the United States, I attended more than 1,500 births as a midwife in Japan. Over the past 10+ years in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have supported more than 500 births as a doula. I believe every family deserves compassionate, evidence-based, and personalized support, whether they are planning an unmedicated birth, epidural, induction, VBAC, or cesarean birth. As both a midwife and a doula, I combine medical knowledge with continuous emotional and physical support. I also offer childbirth education, breastfeeding guidance, prenatal yoga classes for my clients, and bilingual support in English and Japanese. My goal is to help every family feel informed, confident, and empowered while creating a positive birth experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Education

Diploma in Midwifery, Tokyo Midwifery School (2005)

Certification and training

Diploma in Midwifery, Tokyo Midwifery School (2005)

Memberships and affiliations

Golden Gate Doula Associates Brilliant Births Hello My Doula LLC

Specialties
Birth and Lactation Birth Doula Birth Photographer Birth Support Birth Trauma Breastfeeding Assistance and Support Breastfeeding Consultation Breastfeeding Support Doula Trainer Infant Care Labor Doula Latch Issues LGBTQ+ Postpartum Doula Care Prenatal Care Prenatal Lactation Education Prenatal Yoga
Languages

English, Japanese

Accepted insurances
Medi-Cal Carrot Kaiser Permanente
Service introduction

Hello! I'm Naoko. I am a licensed midwife from Japan, a birth and postpartum doula, and a mother of four. Before moving to the United States, I worked as a midwife in Japan. Since then, I have been supporting families in the San Francisco Bay Area as a birth and postpartum doula. I believe every family deserves compassionate, evidence-based, and personalized support, whether they are planning an unmedicated birth, epidural, induction, VBAC, or cesarean birth.

Packages
Birth Doula Package
Birth doula packages start at $3,000. Packages include prenatal support, continuous labor support during labor and birth, and postpartum follow-up. Customized packages and postpartum services are also available.
$3,000.00
USD Flat rate
Ratings and reviews
Average
5.0
# of Reviews
6
5.0

Having Naoko by our side during the birth was the very first gift our baby received. Now, two years later, I've come to realize even more just how much her presence and support meant to us. She quickly recognized that my labor was progressing much faster than expected. With her calm guidance and timely advice, we were able to communicate seamlessly with the hospital staff and make the right decisions at every step. She also thoughtfully connected a video call so that my daughter and my husband, who couldn't be in the delivery room, could still share the moment my son entered the world. Thanks to Naoko, the moment arrived in a calm, joyful atmosphere, and everyone in the room cheered, "The party's starting!" It remains one of my most treasured memories, and every time I think about it, I'm filled with happiness and gratitude. I wholeheartedly recommend Naoko to anyone looking for a birth doula. She brings not only exceptional knowledge and professionalism, but also genuine warmth, compassion, and a reassuring presence. She gave our family a gift that will stay with us for years to come.

- Ryoko T.

5.0

Naoko was the best doula I could have wished for! I had to have her for my second delivery as well. She comes to know you well as a person so with my second delivery, her advice as contraction coming in was very helpful and taking into considerations of what I want and my personality. I am fluent in Japanese and English and my husband speaks English. She was able to communicate with both of us and made us feel like a one team. Her postpartum meal prep service is very helpful too. She has extensive experience in breastfeeding so will be of help around your breastfeeding journey if that is a topic you care about.

- Mariko A.

5.0

Choosing Naoko as our postpartum doula was one of the best decisions we made as part of our birth journey. First of all, she has an amazing, warm, motherly presence that immediately brings comfort to everyone around her. When she came over to our house on the fifth day postpartum, she taught us how to bathe our daughter, how to swaddle her, and guided me through breastfeeding. Her tremendous knowledge and experience are truly incredible. I had a difficult time with breastfeeding, and it exhausted me both physically and emotionally. Naoko supported me every step of the way during those first three months postpartum until breastfeeding was finally well established. She never hesitated to call me and would even come by our house to check in on me and make sure I never felt alone. I truly can't imagine how I would have survived the postpartum period without her. If you're thinking about hiring her, don't hesitate. She is an absolute gift to any new family, and every mother deserves a Naoko in her life.

- Satoko A.

5.0

I recently delivered my second child after a long interval of almost 10 years. We had forgotten almost everything about the pregnancy and labor. It was our first time giving birth in the US too. Naoko and Ayako has helped me out a lot by answering any questions or worries I had. Especially when it was getting close to full term, having her as a doula was a strong mental support. Both my husband and I were able to stay calm and be prepared for the baby’s arrival. It’s really nice to have a professional on your side 24/7, ready to support you :) Highly recommend.

- R. Y.

5.0

I hired her as my birth doula for my second child. She supported me during pregnancy, attended my labor and delivery, provided postpartum care, and offered childbirth preparation classes. My first birth and postpartum experience were very difficult, so even though this was my second baby, I decided to seek additional support. When my labor started and I headed to the hospital, she was easy to reach and came right away. During labor, she helped me feel calm and supported by providing massage and continuous encouragement. Her presence gave me a great sense of comfort and confidence. I don’t know whether I will have a third child, but if I do have the opportunity in the future, I would absolutely want to work with her again.

- Manami I.

5.0

Naoko was my doula for my first birth, and I couldn’t have asked for better support. She is incredibly kind, experienced, and knowledgeable. Throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period, she provided guidance, encouragement, and practical help that made me feel confident and well prepared. Her calm and caring presence helped make my first birth experience a positive one. I highly recommend her to any expecting family.

- Manami I.

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