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

Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud

Berkeley, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud

3 years of experience

Consultant. Doula. Mama. Twenty+ years ago, I ran into a college acquaintance at a friends' wedding. She told me she was a Doula. It was the first I'd ever heard of it. Shortly thereafter, I returned to the New York publishing and theater world, later moved to British Columbia to pursue degrees and a career in arts education, birthed my two favorite humans, and then moved to the Bay Area, California, where I was welcomed into the Jewish professional community. Throughout my movement in these roles, I never stopped thinking about what life would be like as a Doula. It took some time, but here I am, pursuing a decades-long dream. And when I'm not reminiscing about my own transformational career path, or working with growing families across the Bay Area, I'm still singing my children to sleep (even the one who's now taller than me).

Recent review

Sarah swooped in to help us with our twin boys two days and two nights per week. She was a breath of fresh for these two tired parents! Sarah's nurturing spirit, organizational skills, and general joy was such a relief in our home. I also learned a lot in watching her care for the boys. The twins blossomed in her care as she seamlessly juggled two babies at once. We miss her, but she has left her mark on our family!

- Kate C.

Alaina Lee

Berkeley, California

Alaina Lee

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Alaina is a holistic full-spectrum doula with four plus years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Alaina emphasizes the power of feminine energy, mindfulness, and trusting the body’s natural wisdom. She specializes in placenta encapsulation and herbalism. Outside of doula work, Alaina has a deep love for nature and finds peace in hiking, camping, and enjoying scenic views. A lifelong learner, she enjoys reading, exploring new cultures through international travel, and experimenting with new restaurants. When at home, you can find her potting and propagating plants, always cultivating a space of growth both for her plants and the families she works with.

Sabreen Ali

Berkeley, California

Sabreen Ali

3 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Greetings everyone! My name is Sabreen and I am a Certified Birth and Post-Partum Doula serving in the Bay Area, California. I am deeply passionate about advocating for mothers and birthing people, empowering them to trust their body's natural and innate wisdom. I seek to provide compassionate and supportive care as you embark on this sacred and transformative time of your life 💜

isabel baer-modena

Berkeley, California

isabel baer-modena

15 years of experience

Hello! I am an experienced doula currently moving back to the Bay Area from Santa Cruz. I am passionate about providing each family with an individualized experience. I have been working as a postpartum doula, primarily at night, since 2020 and I have been a birth doula since last year. My care and experience has supported countless families through this tender chapter of life. Services range from infant care, meal prep, light house cleaning, lactation/infant feeding guidance, and tips I’ve learned through the years of infant care.

Maristela Davids

Berkeley, California

Maristela Davids

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

My philosophy is centered on fostering safety and comfort for both the parent and the baby. My dedication to my profession is unwavering, and as a doula, I am committed to delivering optimal emotional and physical support to my clients. I consider each parent and child unique and being adaptable and attentive to the diverse needs of families ensures that my care is not only practical but also emotionally supportive.

luisa santos

Berkeley, California

luisa santos

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello, my name is Luisa. I am a postpartum doula and nanny who is passionate about caring for babies and supporting families in this special stage of life. I love creating a calm, nurturing environment where parents feel confident and supported while bonding with their little one. My philosophy is rooted in respect, trust, and open communication. I focus on helping parents feel at ease, making sure their baby’s needs are met while also giving space for rest and recovery. I believe in providing personalized care, adapting to each family’s unique rhythms and values.

Ajeet Saraswati

Lafayette, California

5.0 (1 review)

Ajeet Saraswati

13 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hi, I am a birth doula certified through the somatic institute currently working on postpartum birth doula certification with international doula. Let me give you a little backround information on my services. Im also a certified massage therapist and do mobile prenatal and arvigo maya abdominal massage as part of some of my packages. The labor support I offer is hands on and pro-active; i can come to your house and go to the hospital with you if you like or just meet you there. I would like to know more about the type of birth you are envisioning . Feel free to go to my website in the meantime, my spiritual name is ajeet saraswati kaur and my website is uniquetechnique.online. If you would like we can hop on a call this monday sometime or you can reach out through my website. my number is 510-773-6389 and i so look forward to assisting you in achieving your goals. in health !

Recent review

Im so grateful I found Ajeet and was able to work with her both pre and postpartum. She offered in home prenatal massages that were very relaxing and therapeutic and felt great on my achy body. She was very supportive and always available for questions and concerns and to talk through my birth plan. I also just went in for a postnatal massage which felt great to loosen up my breastfeeding shoulders and neck and she also specializes in a technique to help your uterus heal. She is very kind and accommodating and I would definitely recommend her

- Lindsay K.

Kourtney McGowan

Walnut Creek, California

5.0 (5 reviews)

Kourtney McGowan

12 years of experience
Accepts insurances

We believe that birth is YOUR story and should be done your way. We try our best to support our clients wishes during births and follow directions for post Partum care as well. We think it’s important not to push clients to do things but allow them to choose their own paths. We love what we do and love educating our clients so that they’re able to make the best decisions for themselves and feel well informed when doing so… We are a team/partnership of two doulas and a registered nurse to cover all things birth, postpartum and beyond!

Recent review

Kourtney was our son’s night doula for 8 weeks. We interviewed several doula’s before landing on her. From our very first conversation Kourtney’s professionalism, knowledge, and kindness stood out well above the others. From discussing her schedule, rates, and philosophy of care, she was clearly very experienced and willing to educate us as first time parents. She was also willing to work with our schedule and needs to make her services work for both of us. Working with Kourtney was nothing short of amazing. She was always on time or early for every shift, she came prepared to learn about our sons day and what to expect out of the night. We were always able to discuss any concerns we have and she gave great advice to help us manage him when she was not there. She helped us trouble shoot the many challenges we had navigating our son’s first few weeks of life. Offering advice on how to treat his ailments, products to support his care, and when to consult our pediatrician. Our son was a NICU baby and we were extremely concerned for his early development and couldn’t have found a better provider to be a part of our village. Every night we were able to rest peacefully knowing our son was in great care. Kourtney took great notes and let us know how he did every night and gave us suggestions to have a good day and better nights when she wasn’t coming in. Overall, Kourtney was the best doula we could have asked for and we loved working with her. We highly recommend her as a caregiver.

- Penelope A.

Yasmin Balmaceda

Walnut Creek, California

5.0 (1 review)

Yasmin Balmaceda

¡Hola! Hello everyone, my name is Yasmin and I am a certified Postpartum Doula. I split my time between The Woodlands, TX, north of Houston, and Walnut Creek, CA, East of San Francisco in the Bay Area. I speak English and Spanish, we can communicate in whichever language you feel most at home with. I am passionate about the postpartum period, specifically the first 40 days, and providing care and love to nurture the mother back to health after giving birth. My passion is cooking and self-care. We will sit down together to plan menus to help aid in replenishing you and promote healing to your body during my time taking care of you. In addition to helping you transition to bringing home baby, I will fill your freezer with ready to eat meals to enjoy when I'm gone, focus on your rest to promote mental ease and relaxation, and provide an environment where you are being tended to and taken care of. My role strongly focuses on the recovery and healing of the mother. My interests in continuing to expand my abilities have directed me to continue my studies and expand into a holistic traditional approach to my postpartum work. I would love to be alongside you as you make your journey through this transformative time in your life.

Recent review

I don’t even know where to begin, hiring Yasmin as my postpartum doula was truly one of the best decisions I made as a first-time mom. I had an unexpected emergency C-section, my family and in-laws live out of state, and I came home feeling vulnerable, sore, and overwhelmed. I had a lot of anxiety during pregnancy and it continued after having my baby. Yasmin stepped in and filled my home with warmth, comfort, and the kind of support I didn’t even realize I needed. Before I even arrived home with my baby, she prepared my space so it felt peaceful and welcoming. Walking into that environment after surgery made an immediate difference in my recovery. She even recommended supplements to help my c-section heal. In those early days, Yasmin made it possible for me and my husband to actually rest. Even thought my husband was working from home, I needed someone who could focus on caring for me and our baby. Yasmin was that person. When I was in too much pain to sit up, she gently brought the baby to my bedside so I could breastfeed or bond without straining myself. Those small acts of care meant everything during such a vulnerable time. I also struggled with low breast milk production at first, and Yasmin supported me with so much patience and knowledge. She made me special teas and the most delicious, plant-forward meals. I didn’t realize how much fiber and nourishment my body needed after birth, but she did. Her meals were genuinely healing — comforting, flavorful, and exactly what my recovering body needed. She was also kind enough to make several freezer meals for me and my family to have once she left. She listened, encouraged me, and created a calm environment where I felt supported, seen, and truly cared for. I can honestly say my postpartum experience, especially recovering from a C-section would have been incredibly difficult without her. Yasmin helped me heal, nourished my body, and cared for me and my baby with care. I am grateful for her and wholeheartedly recommend her to any new parent. Every new mom deserves help and support postpartum.

- Carol S.

Klarity Coleman

Santa Cruz, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Klarity Coleman

20 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I’m Klarity Coleman (she/they), a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Birth & Postpartum Doula, Prenatal Yoga Instructor, and Birth Hypnotherapy Childbirth Educator with over a decade of experience. Birth Hypnotherapy is also known as Hypnobirthing. I specialize in anxiety, birth, fertility, and prenatal yoga, with a strong focus on fear release and trauma-informed hypnotherapy. As a birth trauma specialist, I help families navigate getting pregnant, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with confidence, using proven techniques to ease fear and promote a positive experience. Whether you prefer virtual sessions or in-person support, I’m here to guide you. I proudly serve families across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties along with the bay area. I am able to bill Kaiser for reimbursement of doula services. If you are interested in learning more please schedule a free consultation with me. www.CreatingKlarity.com hypnotherapy@creatingklarity.com 831-293-9297

Recent review

My partner and I took 3-part hypnobirthing class with Klarity. It was very personalized, holistic and gave us homework and told to practice for months leading up to birth. We were also fortunate for Klarity to be our doula. Our baby came very early and Klarity didn't skip a beat, shifting her schedule around to be present with us that day and through the birth. Her calm, grounded presence and experience working alongside medical team was invaluable and I felt well supported. I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to have Klarity in our both team and highly recommend her to others.

- Hart F.

Sofia Bisbee

Santa Cruz, California

5.0 (5 reviews)

Sofia Bisbee

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hi, I’m Sofia. I’m a birth and postpartum doula trained through The Circle Family Center, a certified 500-hour yoga teacher with six years of experience specializing in pre and postnatal yoga, and a trained mindfulness childbirth educator through the Mindfulness Childbirth Class with Nancy Bardacki. My work integrates mindfulness, embodiment, and evidence-based education to support parents through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with confidence, clarity, and calm. When people feel supported and safe, their bodies are better able to move out of the fight flight freeze response and into a more grounded, responsive state. This shift allows labor to unfold more smoothly and helps parents stay present and connected throughout the process. I meet each client where they’re at, honoring the full spectrum of birth preferences and experiences with compassion, presence, and care. As a mother to a three-year-old, I bring both personal insight and professional experience to my work, offering guidance that is informed, empathetic, and deeply rooted in lived experience.

Recent review

I cannot express how grateful I am for the incredible support I received from Sofia during the birth of my first child. From the moment we connected, it felt like it was meant to be. She was everything I didn’t even know I needed and so much more. During labor, especially when unexpected complications arose, she was my anchor. She guided me through every intense moment with such positivity and grounding techniques that I didn’t panic and remained confident in my body. I am sure that because of her support, I was able to avoid a C-section and stay focused on what my body was capable of. She also supported my husband and mother. They also are so grateful. Her compassion, knowledge and advocacy truly are unmatched. She made all of us feel safe, supported, and genuinely cared for. I truly believe my birth experience would have been completely different without her—she transformed it into something I look back on with strength, pride, and deep gratitude. If you are considering a doula, lucky you to have found her. She is phenomenal in every sense of the word, and I feel beyond blessed that she was my doula. I will cherish the impact she had on my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum life forever.

- Tanya S.

Sarah Denton

Santa Cruz, California

5.0 (1 review)

Sarah Denton

3 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I am a full-spectrum doula trained by Doula Trainings International (DTI) and hold a Bachelor's degree from San Jose State University. After experiencing the challenges new parents face firsthand with the arrival of my own two children, I dedicated myself to improving support for families during this transformative time. I firmly believe in the power of community, as captured by the phrase “it takes a village.” I am committed to being that supportive presence for your family, guiding you through every aspect of the birth, labor, and postpartum experience.

Recent review

Sarah was an unwavering source of support during one of the most physically and emotionally challenging experiences of my life. After choosing to have an at-home abortion, I found myself in the hospital due to unmanageable pain and later faced complications and prolonged bleeding for over two months. Through it all, Sarah was there—offering not just physical comfort, but deep emotional and mental support. She provided reassurance when I felt scared, advocated for me when I felt unheard, and helped me navigate the overwhelming aftermath with patience and compassion. Her presence was a lifeline, creating a safe space where I could process my emotions without judgment. Whether it was through gentle encouragement, grounding techniques, or simply holding space for my emotions, Sarah made sure I never felt alone in my healing process. I am beyond grateful for her kindness, knowledge, and unwavering care during such a difficult time.

- Lena W.

Josy Ferreira

Richmond, California

5.0 (6 reviews)

Josy Ferreira

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello! My name is Joseane Ferreira, and I’m a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula based in San Mateo, California. I bring over 8 years of hands-on experience supporting families during one of the most meaningful and transformative stages of life — welcoming a new baby. I specialize in newborn care, nighttime support, breastfeeding guidance, and helping families transition smoothly into the postpartum period. I am certified by the Hospital Friendly Doula (HFD) program and have advanced training as a Newborn Specialist (Colorado University), Lactation Educator (UC San Diego), and in Child Development (Abilene Program). I’m also CPR and First Aid certified by the Menlo Park Fire Department and proudly volunteer with birthing families at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley. My philosophy centers on empathy, education, and creating a safe, judgment-free space for parents. I believe every family deserves support that is calm, culturally sensitive, and empowering. Whether it’s holding space during recovery, assisting with baby’s sleep cues, or helping establish confident feeding routines, I’m here to walk alongside you — day or night. I speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and I’m happy to support diverse families with warmth and respect.

Recent review

Josy helped us care for our newborn daughter in the weeks after her birth. She did an amazing job of caring for our daughter. Josy was always highly professional, kind, empathetic, punctual, and helpful. She was able to give us tips and advice while also giving us much-needed rest during both daytime and nighttime shifts. We trusted her completely to take care of the baby, and she gave us an enormous amount of relief during those challenging first weeks. I can't recommend her highly enough.

- Serena H.

Carmen Munoz-Sigala

Capitola, California

5.0 (1 review)

Carmen Munoz-Sigala

2 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello beautiful mama & family! My name is Carmen; I am a mother of two and a Postpartum Doula serving Santa Cruz, CA & surrounding areas. I have experienced the labor & postpartum period both without and with the support of a doula…THIS IS WHY I’M HERE. This unique perspective has graced me with the ability to know how it feels to go through the sacred transition from maiden to mother afraid, exhausted, overwhelmed (we can go on), as well as empowered, safe, supported and dare I say confident. I am here to be of service to you — to hold space for every emotion, help you nourish yourself, assist with newborn care, help around the house, point you in the direction of other local resources; anything you might need to feel held, seen and supported as a new mother. I am currently accepting private pay as well as MEDI-CAL(woot woot!), including MCPs: • Central CA Alliance for Health • Kaiser of Northern CA • HealthNet

Recent review

Getting a postpartum doula was the best decision ever. Specifically, having Carmen as my doula. She was the additional support I didn’t fully realize I needed until experiencing this beautiful process with her. Bringing new life into the world is no easy task but Carmen helped me through the recovery process in several ways. She was an extra set of hands when needed, she cooked meals for me and she was emotionally supportive. She provided me with self care tips that I was able to implement during a time that I found it hard to make time for myself. When becoming a mom, so much of yourself, both mentally and physically, is dedicated to your new baby. Carmen made sure that I was also taken care of. She helped me enter this newest chapter of my life with tools and support to care for not only my baby but myself. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to hire her as my postpartum doula and I would highly recommend her to anyone who is expecting a baby.

- Alison M.

Samantha Saephan

El Cerrito, California

Samantha Saephan

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

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 :)

Katie Sullivan

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.

Recent review

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.

Maria Calderon

Richmond, California

Maria Calderon

3 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I’m a patient, compassionate, and reliable overnight doula who specializes in getting baby on a schedule, sleep training, and helping families transition into postpartum. I am calm and cool under pressure. I worked 6 years in Emergency Medicine as an EMT in San Francisco and did NICU transports of premature babies. I am passionate about my work since I truly believe it takes a village to care for children and want to help many families in enjoying postpartum rather than just surviving it! I am flexible and friendly and love good communication. When I’m not working, I enjoy powerlifting, singing, and doing jigsaw puzzles. I am certified in Postpartum Infant Care, Infant Feeding Education, CPR, and First Aid.

Maria Marli Martins

Richmond, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Maria Marli Martins

11 years of experience
Accepts insurances

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.

Recent review

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.

Ana De Castro

El Sobrante, California

5.0 (1 review)

Ana De Castro

22 years of experience
Accepts insurances

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!

Recent review

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.