What's the Cost of Hiring a Doula in Novato, CA?

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.

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.

Kentfield, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Ladjane Sampaio

8 years of experience

Hello! My name is Ladjane Sampaio and I am a Certified Postpartum Doula and experienced Nanny based in the Bay Area. I am also a proud Brazilian mother of five, and it’s from this deep well of personal experience and love that I draw my strength and purpose as a caregiver. Supporting families through the delicate postpartum period is not just my profession—it’s my calling. I bring a calm, compassionate, and culturally sensitive presence to every home I serve, helping parents feel empowered, seen, and truly supported as they adjust to life with a new baby. I offer hands-on newborn care, breastfeeding support, postpartum recovery assistance, light housekeeping, and home organization to ensure a peaceful and well-supported transition into parenthood. I am CPR and First Aid certified, and I have excellent references that reflect my professionalism, reliability, and loving care. While English is not my first language, I communicate clearly and warmly—and most importantly, I know how to care for babies with confidence, love, and great attention to detail. Families often tell me how reassured and cared for they feel with me by their side. I speak Portuguese fluently and am happy to support multilingual families with empathy and understanding. I would be honored to support your postpartum journey with heart, skill, and experience.

She’s such a wonderful doula — caring, dedicated, and truly passionate about what she does. She supports both mom and baby with so much love and calm energy, and always offers helpful guidance to the whole family. Her presence brings peace and confidence. I couldn’t recommend her more!”

- Maria M.

Larkspur, California

Laila Silva

5 years of experience

Hello! My name is Laila, and I am a postpartum doula serving the Bay Area, California. I have a deep passion for supporting families during the postpartum period, offering emotional support, practical guidance, and attentive care tailored to the needs of both mother and baby. I believe in respectful, empathetic, and personalized support, helping families feel safe, confident, and well cared for during this important transition. In my free time, I enjoy exploring California’s nature by going hiking with my husband, which helps me recharge and maintain balance so I can provide even more present and compassionate care to the families I support. It would be a pleasure to be part of the Bornbir community and to contribute with love, responsibility, and dedication.

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.

Sonoma, California

5.0 (5 reviews)

Gabriela McAuliffe

Hello families! My name is Gabriela McAuliffe, and I’m a certified Postpartum Doula passionate about helping parents feel calm, confident, and supported during the fourth trimester. I provide nurturing, non-judgmental care for both baby and parents, whether that means newborn soothing, light household support, or simply a listening ear during those big emotional shifts. I also offer breastfeeding support and guidance on safe sleep practices, helping families feel empowered with evidence-based information and gentle techniques that fit their unique needs. Originally from Brazil and now based in California, I speak English and Portuguese and love serving families of diverse cultures and backgrounds. My philosophy is rooted in compassion, respect for each family’s choices, and creating a peaceful environment that allows parents to rest, recover, and bond with their new little one.

We had Gabi come over to help us at night with our newborn. We wish we had her help for longer! It can be scary to welcome someone into your home with a newborn, but Gabi made us feel comfortable, provided advice, and most importantly enabled us to have better sleep!

- Jen G.

Penngrove, California

5.0 (5 reviews)

Magdalena Eschenberg

Childbirth has always been very intertwined with my life. I owe some of that to my mother, who planned home births for all of her children. I am the oldest of us four, and my labor was long and hard. I grew up hearing the story of the four day marathon of labor, hospital transfer, and, ultimately, the beautiful birth that brought me into the world. My brother was born when I was almost three, on a hot July day. I have some memories of this day, but nothing very clear. My mom remembers me bringing her a cool glass of water between contractions. Some might say I became a doula that day. When I was 6, my mom became pregnant again. I was absolutely thrilled to be having a baby sister. I remember going to midwife appointments at the midwife’s home in Sebastopol, listening to my sister’s heartbeat, and enjoying every moment of it. Her labor started some time during the night. This time, it was Winter. My mom spent most of her labor in front of the woodburning stove in our living room with my dad applying counter pressure to her back. I remember she had thigh high socks to wear specifically for labor, because she didn’t want to wear pants, but knew her legs would be cold. In the early afternoon, she began pushing on our couch. The midwives were always close by, creating a sense of safety and calm, one of them singing as my sister was born. I stood at the end of the couch, and saw my sister’s head slowly emerge, and then the rest of her body slip out. She immediately went to my mom’s chest and crawled to the breast herself. I was entranced by birth at this moment. In the weeks after, I told my mom I wanted to become a midwife. The last baby was born when I was 10 years old. I was again elated to be around pregnancy and looking forward to the birth. My mom labored all through the night, and when the sun rose, her intuition told her she needed to go to the hospital and get some rest. No one thinks that a fourth baby will take 17 hours to be born, but sometimes they do! After my mom got a few hours of rest, my grandparents took us to the hospital to join her. She felt that birth was a family affair, and believed that children should be a part of birth. I also would have been furious with her if I didn’t get to be there. My sister entered the world, and I got to cut the umbilical cord and be the first to hold her after my mom. I took my first doula training with Connie Sultana in 2024 and since then have attended almost 50 births. I am in constant pursuit of knowledge, each birth teaching me something different. I am now a Cornerstone Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula and Evidence Based Birth® instructor. I am always striving to be able to provide the best support I can for my clients. I am currently pursuing becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. As of 2026, I have completed nursing prerequisite courses, including biology, chemistry anatomy, physiology, and microbiology and look forward to beginning an RN program in Fall of 2026. I use the knowledge I have gained of the human body through my formal education to help inform the support I provide so that my clients can understand what is happening with their body and their baby. For most people, childbirth is the time in their lives where they will be asked to be the most medically literate, which is intimidating for most working outside of healthcare. The education I have has given me the language and tools to communicate and learn from nurses, midwives, and doctors during births, so that I can understand and interpret information for my clients. After becoming a registered nurse, I plan to attend graduate school to obtain my degree and certification as a Certified Nurse Midwife and practice in a hospital based setting.

Maggie is a remarkable human being and Doula! With my planned C-section, I wasn’t sure how a doula would be able to support my experience. Before my son’s birth she provided a whole binder full of helpful resources and an easy template for creating a birthing plan. At the hospital before my surgery she was a wonderful advocate and made sure all my providers were on the same page. Her calming presence, along with the grounding exercises she lead, helped me go into my birth in the right headspace. In the post-op room she was there to help my baby boy get a good latch right away. Breastfeeding has been such a positive experience and I have Maggie to thank for that! I always looked forward to her visits as she is a true baby whisperer. Maggie was super supportive with tasks like nail trimming, pumping, bottle feeding, bathing, and holding the baby so I could tend to myself. I can’t recommend her highly enough!

- Lindsay Battey

Napa, California

Mary Flynn

21 years of experience

It nice to meet you I have been a postpartum doula and sleep trainer for over 20 years. There isn't anything I haven't seen and I looking forward to helping you find your way on your journey into parenthood

Sausalito, California

Ana Clara Duarte Xavier de Mello

Hello everyone, my name is Ana Clara and I am a Postpartum Doula located in Marin County, California. I am originally from Brazil and I have 13 years of experience in childcare. I began my career as a nanny and have since grown into a dedicated Postpartum Doula. My mission is to provide families with the care, guidance and reassurance they need during this precious time.

Vallejo, California

1.0 (1 review)

Briahna Baskett

8 years of experience

Hello! My name is Briahna and I am a full spectrum doula and lactation counselor. As a mother of 3, I have experienced all the joys of motherhood and the challenges that come with it. After birthing my son in 2016, I knew I wanted to support other birthing people. I believe child birth to be a transformative and rewarding experience while understanding how difficult it can be. My hope as a doula is that I can help other mamas navigate the complexities of child birth and mothering through education, holistic practices and tradition.

Richmond, California

Manuella Orsi

6 years of experience

My path to becoming a doula comes from both my clinical background and my lived experience caring for families. I am a registered nurse by training, and after moving to the U.S., I spent years supporting families as a nanny, building deep trust in their most intimate routines. Becoming a doula allowed me to reconnect with my nursing roots while offering something deeply human: calm, presence, and informed support during one of the most transformative moments of life.

Richmond, California

Maria Calderon

3 years of experience

Hello and welcome! My name is Maria, and I am a postpartum night doula with a background in emergency medicine. With over 10 years of nanny experience and the last two years focused exclusively on overnight postpartum care, my primary goal is to help families thrive rather than just survive this period. I specialize in establishing baby schedules, sleep training, and supporting families through the initial transition home. My background includes extensive experience with twins and various feeding methods, and I am a certified infant feeding educator. Prior to my work as a doula, I served for six years as an EMT in San Francisco, which included conducting NICU transports for premature babies. This experience allows me to remain calm and effective under pressure. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I am dedicated to providing unbiased, compassionate, and inclusive care to every kind of family. I hold certifications in Postpartum Infant Care, Infant Feeding Education, CPR, and First Aid. When I am not working, I enjoy powerlifting, singing, and working on jigsaw puzzles. I truly love the work I do and look forward to the possibility of supporting your family.

Vallejo, California

Imani Lopez

3 years of experience

Hello Everyone! My name is Imani Lopez (They/Them). I am a full spectrum doula and childbirth educator serving Solano and surrounding counties. I have been a birthworker for two years now and serve clients multiple capacities. I can support with education and planning, labor and birth, and postpartum. I believe everyone deserves support during such big life transitions and I would be honored to be called in to support you.

El Sobrante, California

5.0 (1 review)

Ana De Castro

22 years of experience

I am a Postpartum Certified Night Doula, Newborn Care Specialist, Sleeping Training, I have over 11 years of experience in infant care. I specialize in night support for 18 years,giving that extra set of hands so you can have an easier night with a newborn at home. I also help with guidance of breastfeeding, sleep training, and of course postpartum support. I am Doula Certified, specializing and in-depth trained!

Private Postpartum Doula/ Sleeping Training D.S. October 2024 - The first two years I worked full time taking care of the twins. Provided postpartum infant care by supporting mother with newborn babies - assisted with feeding, diaper changing, bathing, dressing, sleep training, setting up babies' schedule as children grew. Additional house support included laundry, cooking and light cleaning. As they grew, the following two years I worked part-time, transporting them to and from school, helping with homework and projects, preparing healthy meals, taking care of their laundry. Nowadays I am still their nanny when the family needs something extra. Private

- Rachael S.

Richmond, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Maria Marli Martins

11 years of experience

Hello! My name is Marli Martins, and I’m a Certified Postpartum Doula with over 15 years of experience in childcare, massage therapy, and nursing. I hold multiple degrees in Early Childhood Education, Nursing, and Massage Therapy, and I’m passionate about helping families feel supported and confident during the postpartum journey. I specialize in emotional and physical support, breastfeeding and lactation care, and newborn care education. I believe that with the right guidance and gentle encouragement, the early days with a new baby can be peaceful and empowering for every family. I speak Portuguese and English (and some Spanish), and I strive to create a warm, organized, and judgment-free space for every parent I work with.

Marli is an exceptional postpartum doula. Her calm presence, extensive knowledge, and nurturing care make a real difference in the lives of the families she supports. I’ve witnessed her offer thoughtful, respectful, and personalized support, always prioritizing the baby’s wellbeing and the parents’ comfort. I trust her work deeply and highly recommend her. — Joseane de Jesus Ferreira Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula (HFD) | Newborn Specialist (CU) | CPR & First Aid (Menlo Park FD) | Lactation Education (UCSD) | Child Development (Abilene)

- Joseane D.

El Cerrito, California

5.0 (1 review)

Katie Sullivan

20 years of experience

I'm Katie Sullivan, M.Ed, CPPD, a parenting and sleep consultant, an early childhood professional, a certified postpartum doula, a Montessori educator, and a mother of two. I have studied and worked with young children and families for nearly 20 years, with a special love and appreciation for the infant and toddler stages. My area of expertise is providing families with individualized practical recommendations and sleep/parenting plans. I am passionate about setting up good sleep habits from birth, serving as a resource for new parents, and troubleshooting tricky situations from zero to three.

Wouldn't have survived the first year of parenthood without Katie. Her expertise is only matched by her sense of calm. She got my baby sleeping through the night faster than I could have imagined and 2 years later we haven't had a single regression. She walked us through potty training – one of the more stressful parenting situations I've encountered – and helped us cross every potty milestone. Couldn't recommend her more.

- R E.

El Cerrito, California

Samantha Saephan

4 years of experience

I'm a certified overnight postpartum doula and lactation educator counselor. Prior, I was a career nanny of the past 10+ years working with children of all ages. Am located in the East Bay and am open to travel for work. I am a non-smoker, have up-to-date vaccines, and CPR certified. I accept Carrot. Currently on maternity leave until November 2026 :)

Vallejo, California

Mayara Beers

Hello, my name is Mayara, originally from Brazil, I have over 6 years of experience in child care. I began my career as a nanny and have since grown into a dedicated Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Specialist. My mission is to provide families with the care, guidance, and reassurance they need during this precious time. I offer personalized support for new moms and their babies, ensuring you feel rested, confident, and cared for. With a calm, nurturing approach and expert knowledge of newborn needs, I’m here to guide you through this beautiful transition. Whether you’re seeking newborn care advice or simply need time to rest, I’m committed to making your experience smooth and joyful

Richmond, California

5.0 (7 reviews)

Josy Ferreira

9 years of experience

From the moment I stepped into the world of birth and postpartum work, I knew this was my calling. I’m a Birth & Postpartum Doula and Newborn & Infant Care Specialist serving families across the Bay Area and East Bay, with a background grounded in evidence-based care, cultural sensitivity, and a genuine passion for supporting parents during one of the most transformative seasons of their lives. My training includes Cross-Certification through ProDoula as a Certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, Hospital Friendly Doula (HFD) Certification as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, Newborn Care Specialist certification through the University of Colorado, CPR & First Aid through the Menlo Park Fire Department, CERT Member through the Menlo Park Fire Department, Child Development through Abilene, continuing education in Lactation (UCSD), Infant Massage, and professional development in Sleep Shaping/Sleep Training through Summer Sleep Secrets. I am also an active volunteer doula at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, supporting birthing people and families from diverse backgrounds. Families often describe my approach as a blend of warmth, intuition, and grounded professionalism. I deeply believe in meeting each family where they are — without judgment, without pressure, and with a plan that reflects their unique rhythms, identities, and goals. I proudly support LGBTQ+ families, offering fully inclusive, gender-affirming care and language so every parent feels safe, welcomed, and respected. My philosophy is rooted in gentle structure and the Montessori method, encouraging independence for both parents and babies through simple, responsive routines. I specialize in newborn behavior, feeding, sleep foundations, and emotional support — helping families understand their baby’s cues and build healthy rhythms from the very beginning. One of my strongest areas of expertise is sleep shaping, using age-appropriate techniques that allow many babies to sleep through the night by 4–5 months, always with a respectful, attachment-minded approach. Clients often share that I have an effortless way of integrating into the home, anticipating needs before they are spoken, and creating an environment of peace, order, and emotional safety. Whether supporting breastfeeding, troubleshooting sleep, soothing a fussy newborn, guiding siblings, or caring for a recovering parent, my goal is always the same: to bring calm, clarity, and confidence to the postpartum experience. For me, being a doula is more than a profession — it’s a devotion to nurturing, empowering, and walking alongside families during a beautiful and vulnerable chapter. Every home I enter becomes part of my heart, and it is an honor to support parents as they grow into their new roles with confidence, joy, and rest. If you’re looking for someone who will care for your baby with tenderness, support your recovery with evidence-based expertise, honor your family’s identity, and guide you with compassion every step of the way, I would be honored to walk this journey with you.

I had the pleasure of working with Josy as my postpartum doula, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From day one, she was incredibly respectful of our family's needs and preferences, always communicating clearly and checking in to make sure we felt supported. Josy's knowledge of infant care is exceptional. She guided us through everything from feeding and sleep routines to soothing techniques with confidence and expertise. She supported me on my nursing journey and with infant massage, especially tummy massage in the early weeks. What truly impressed me was her commitment to continuously learning and deepening her skills—she stayed current with the latest research and best practices, which gave me tremendous peace of mind during those early weeks. Her calm and joyful presence and genuine care made such a difference during a vulnerable time. If you're looking for a postpartum doula who is professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to her craft, Josy is an outstanding choice. Beyond her technical expertise, what truly set Josy apart was her extraordinary kindness and emotional intelligence. She understood that welcoming a newborn into the family is about so much more than feeding schedules and sleep—it's about navigating a profound life transition with all its joys and challenges. Josy met us exactly where we were, without judgment, and created a safe space for us to ask questions, express concerns, and adjust to our new reality. Her deep understanding of the needs of families with newborns was evident in countless small but meaningful ways. She anticipated our needs before we even voiced them, whether it was preparing a nourishing snack, tidying up the kitchen so we could rest, or simply sitting with me during a difficult moment and offering reassurance. She recognized when I needed encouragement and when I just needed someone to listen. Josy also showed remarkable sensitivity to the dynamics of our whole family. She understood that postpartum support isn't just about the baby—it's about caring for parents as they adjust to their new roles, managing recovery, sleep deprivation, and the emotional roller coaster of those first weeks. Her presence brought a sense of calm and competence that allowed us to feel more confident as parents. What I valued most was her genuine warmth and the way she made us feel seen and supported as individuals, not just clients. Josy truly cares about the families she works with, and that compassion shines through in everything she does. Having her by our side during those precious early weeks was an invaluable gift.

- S M.

Vallejo, California

Tiffany Murphy

20 years of experience

Supporting birthing people realize their ability to achieve their desired and safe birth outcomes. I intend to educate and encourage you and your community mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally.

Vallejo, California

Gabriela Tripp