Sabrina Martinez

I cannot recommend Sabrina enough as a birth doula! She brought so much support, calmness, and clarity to my birth experience. During the first half of my pregnancy, I kept going back and forth on getting a doula or not. When I met Sabrina at the GGDA doula meet and greet, I knew I wanted to work with her right away. Her ability to explain the birth experience, her support, and overall clear communication put me at ease. During one of our prenatal appointments she walked me through all the options for my birth preferences. She was very knowledgeable about all my options, but not pushy in any way. I really appreciated her ability to explain what the options were, why people may prefer them, and then how she would support me with each option. I really didn't have too many strong opinions going in, so this was incredibly helpful for me to reflect on what I wanted, without feeling any pressure. I ended up going into labor 2.5 weeks early and the process moved much faster than expected for a first time mom. The moment Sabrina stepped into the hospital room, she jumped into action and I immediately thought "omg, best decision ever to work with Sabrina and have a doula, I'm so happy she's here." I had such a positive birth experience, and I attribute a lot of that to Sabrina. Prior to have a doula and going through birth, I had a hard time comprehending the experience and how a doula would support me. I think the easiest way to explain is to share some highlights of her amazing work with me and my husband: At the hospital: * TENS, heat packs, and hands on pressure to alleviate contraction pain/discomfort. She actually got the TENS machine and heat packs on me within 30 seconds of being in the room. My labor progressed very quickly and this physical support felt amazing. * Helped me get and stay in position while getting the epidural, which was challenging with active contractions. The epidural process went very quickly for me because I had her helping me work through the contractions while having to stay still * Checked in with my husband as we prepared for the transition from active labor to pushing. I loved that he got some personal attention while everything moved really quickly around us. * Multiple nurses and doctors recognized her from previous births and were all happy to work with her again. She actively collaborated with them all throughout the birth. (This was at SF Kaiser) * While I pushed she counted, gave breathing reminders, and worked with the nurse to move me into position since I had an epidural * Stayed during golden hour to support with first latch and make sure we were all ok. Gave hands on support to help with latching. * Took AMAZING pictures right after the birth of my child on my chest for the first time and first skin-to-skin with my husband. I didn't even know I wanted these pictures, but I feel so grateful to have them. She really captured the moment in a non-intrusive way, and I'll cherish these photos forever. At home follow up: * We had to triple feed due to my son loosing a lot of weight within 24 hours. We were in the thick of newborn sleeplessness and our appointment with her brought us so much relief. She helped us with paced bottle feeding which was a huge game changer during time consuming triple feeding. * I was really frustrated with the hospital pump, she helped me with flange sizing and just affirmed a lot of my frustration. * Reviewed sustainable options for feeding and our own sleeping * Reviewed my own recovery and helped me prioritized my own healing, which can feel so hard when you are also a new parent I felt so supported by Sabrina throughout my birth experience, I don't think I can fully explain it in writing! Having a doula felt so abstract to me while pregnant, but I kept reading about the studies that show positive outcomes of working with a doula, including decreased chances of further medical intervention. This felt hard to understand until I actually experienced it. My husband and I had someone we trusted with us for the whole birth experience, who knew us and knew what I wanted. Nurses changed during their shifts and I had a doctor at the delivery I'd never met before. But having Sabrina as the constant, was so assuring, calming, and supportive. If you are looking for a birth doula I HIGHLY recommend Sabrina, especially if you want someone thorough, calm, knowledgeable, and who will support whatever type of birth you are hoping to have.

- Lily N.

Having Sabrina by my side truly made my birth experience a much better one. I gave birth to my son two weeks ago after a pregnancy that ran a week late and needed an induction in the end -- and her gentle disposition, reassurance, and support through contractions made a world of difference. Sabrina respected my choices throughout while also making sure that as nursing staff changed shifts, everyone was updated in a thorough way -- not just on the medical aspects, but on how I was actually feeling. She supported my husband brilliantly and kept our families informed as things progressed. Before the birth, she came to our home a couple of times to patiently walk us through everything. The fact that she is both a birth and lactation doula meant the breastfeeding process got off to a much better start than it would have otherwise. When my son was a week old, she also came by to make sure we were on track with lactation and that mum and baby were doing well. I cannot recommend her enough -- it is a very worthwhile investment for any first-time mum, or honestly anyone who wants a better birth experience and strong support in the lead-up and beyond. Sabrina is warm, knowledgeable, and truly exceptional!

- Marta R.

Sabrina is one of those lucky people who has found her exact calling in life and it shines through every aspect of her work. Working with her was one of the greatest blessings of my pregnancy and birthing experience. I connected with her via Golden Gate Doulas and contracted her services as a birth doula. She provided service in the last few weeks of pregnancy, during birth, and also post partum. Along the entire experience, Sabrina helped me feel comfortable, prepared, and in control; all things I needed as a first time mom-to-be. Sabrina's approach centers science and medicine at the foundation of all she does which was very important to me. At the same time, she empowers her clients to set their own goals & boundaries and offers her full support so her clients can have their ideal birthing experiences. Sabrina was with me as soon as my labor started, she stayed by my side through the painful contractions, she advocated for me and my baby throughout the 14+hrs of labor, and she held my hand as I pushed. Through it all I felt unbelievable safe, cared for, knowledgeable, & empowered. I truly can't recommend Sabrina enough. I'm just so grateful I got lucky enough to work with such a special person.

- Diana H.

I truly can't recommend Sabrina enough - she was absolutely incredible. What makes Sabrina so special is this rare combination: she brings such genuine warmth, care, and calm presence that you feel completely safe having her by your side during one of the most intimate moments of your life. And at the same time, she is super knowledgeable, professional, fast to respond, and completely on top of everything. That balance is so unique, and it made all the difference for me. Even before the birth, Sabrina helped transform my entire mindset. I was honestly quite scared, and she met that with so much patience - answering every question (many of them more than once), walking me through what to expect, and helping me feel not just prepared, but actually excited. During labor, she was simply amazing. I genuinely cannot imagine going through it without her. She provided constant emotional and physical support - from massages and hands-on comfort techniques to warm compresses - always knowing exactly what would help in the moment. She kept me going through a very long six-hour labor with encouragement and calm reassurance. One of the most unexpected gifts: she took photos right after our baby was born. I didn't even notice at the time, but those images are now some of the most meaningful, raw, and beautiful photos we have as a family. And her support didn't stop there. After the birth, she checked in on me and helped me navigate postpartum recovery and feeding, including getting a good latch - something that felt overwhelming at first. She truly went above and beyond, and it honestly felt like having a doula and a lactation expert in one. Sabrina was such an important part of this experience for me, and I feel incredibly grateful we had her. I only wish every mom could have someone like her by their side.

- Katerina O.

Sabrina was the best investment we made for our birth experience. She's warm, knowledgeable, non-judgmental, and genuinely made me feel in control of my own birth, even when things got intense. If you're on the fence about hiring a doula, just do it. And if you're looking for one, you want Sabrina. We had two prenatal sessions, and she taught me more than the three-part birth class we took. She walked us through what birth would actually look like, helped me figure out my preferences, and showed my husband pain management techniques so he could feel prepared too. Leading up to delivery, she was always just a text away to help me think through symptoms and options, and that alone gave me so much peace of mind. Once contractions kicked in, her pain relief techniques felt like magic. I felt immediate relief and was actually able to rest between contractions. I ended up having a pretty long labor, so having her help gauge when to head to the hospital was huge. By the time my water broke, I wasn't in a headspace to advocate for myself at all. Sabrina stepped in seamlessly -- getting a wheelchair, communicating my symptoms to the nurses, helping me get the epidural right away -- all while I was just trying to get through each contraction. The nurses and midwives clearly trusted her, which made me feel even more at ease. When it came time to push, she guided my husband and family on how to support me and communicated with the medical team about what I needed. I had the most positive birth experience and delivered vaginally without any major tears, and I genuinely believe a lot of that is thanks to Sabrina. I went into birth nervous about the pain and the unknown, and came out of it feeling genuinely empowered, and that's thanks to Sabrina. She turned what could have been a scary, overwhelming experience into one of the most magical experiences of my life. I can't recommend her enough!

- Yuri J.

Sabrina was one of the best decisions we made as first-time parents. Well before labor, she was always quick to respond and gave us clear, reassuring guidance that helped both my wife and me feel prepared and at ease heading into delivery. From breathing techniques to knowing what to expect at each stage, she made the whole process feel manageable. When contractions started, she helped us figure out exactly when to head to the hospital, which alone took so much stress off our shoulders. During labor, her calm and reassuring presence was irreplaceable. She helped my wife manage contractions, guided us through decisions without panic, and kept the whole room grounded. So grateful we had her by our side for one of the most meaningful and intense experiences of our lives. Cannot recommend her enough.

- Ken U.

I cannot recommend Sabrina highly enough. From the very beginning, she was sweet, warm, deeply supportive, and completely client-centered. Her presence made an enormous difference in my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. During our prenatal visits, Sabrina spent time helping us prepare for labor with practical, research-based strategies, while also making space for our all of many questions! She has a remarkable ability to combine evidence-based guidance with genuine warmth and reassurance, which helped me feel informed and grounded. She provides information without pushing you one way or another! I felt super empowered and supported all the way through. When my birth plan shifted to an induction and ultimately a C-section, Sabrina guided both my partner and I through every step with calm, clarity, and compassion. She showed up fully emotionally and physically and remained present throughout all aspects of the experience. Her support was not only invaluable to me, but also to my partner, who felt more confident and supported because of her care. Sabrina has a steady, nurturing presence that makes you feel safe, heard, and never alone. She is incredibly knowledgeable, and intuitive, and she meets families exactly where they are with kindness and respect. If you are looking for a doula who is deeply supportive, thoughtful, and truly invested in both parents' well-being, Sabrina is exceptional. We are so grateful to have had her by our side and cannot imagine this experience without her.

- Kate M.

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.