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.

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.

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

Patricia Karas

San Francisco, California

5.0 (1 review)

Patricia Karas

12 years of experience

I’m a professional newborn care specialist with 10 years of experience working with babies. I am a devoted mother myself, with two young adult children whom I adore (25 and 27 years old). I love children and babies, and take care them as if they were my own. My approach is gentle and mindful to the needs of both parents and the new baby. I’ve taken care of newborn twins solo (without a team), premature babies and babies with medical conditions (such as severe reflux). I help establish a routine so that once the baby is old enough you can choose to sleep train them if you wish. I do not believe in the cry out method because if we establish the routine, they will learn to sleep without having to let them cry it out. I pour love and patience into my job and feel that working with babies and families during this special time as a new angel comes into the family is definitely my calling. My ideal role will be with a family that I can feel comfortable to work with, exchanging my experience and working as a time to make the baby and mom time more enjoyable possible. Some skills: - Baby-Led Weaning - Bottle Prep - Bottle Sanitation - Swaddling - Sleep Training – Assisting with Nursing - Medical Management - Routine Development - Log Keeping - Organization and Cleaning.

Recent review

My main message is: if you’re considering having a baby I wouldn’t recommend doing it without Patty. I had the pleasure of having Patty with me full for the first 6 months of my third daughter’s life. When she arrived, Patty was the 6th baby nurse I had in the house over a 5 year period. She was by far the most skilled in terms of knowledge of babies, curiosity about how to get better and she was a wizard when it came to helping the baby with gas, burping and discomfort. I really felt she was an expert in babies and she truly has a deep passion for babies and constantly learning. She is reading about babies and in baby forums constantly. Patty was an executive assistant in Brazil at a major global pharmaceutical company. I am a CEO and my schedule is pretty high pressure and she was superbly adaptable and flexible with me if I was late on a call or needed to shift things real time. She is organized, energetic, quick, efficient and insanely reliable. You can set your watch by her. She worked 6 months straight without a day off and did 18 hours a day. I don’t know how, but she never was tired or grumpy or negative. She is like the energizer bunny. Once we had a really bad travel problem coming back from Hawaii with the whole family and she and I had to completely shift our travel and we went with the baby from Kona to Phoenix overnight, we checked into a hotel where she and the baby slept while I did a conference and 20 hours later we got on a flight and flew home. Patty was completely fine with this. This is just an example of how flexible and calm and collected she is. She is not fussy at all. I really wish I had had Patty with one of my older daughters who had really bad gas and belly issues as an infant. I know that if Patty had been there with us then, her expertise in burping and baby / GI massage would have lead to much less crying and a more pleasant infanthood for that baby. One of the things that was most important to me is that despite having had weak supply I really wanted to breastfeed through the first year. Patty was a complete and total partner to me in this and she is the only reason I made it to 9 months. Even though it made her job much harder having to wake me up every few hours, sit with me while I nursed and then bottle feed the baby while I pumped (plus dealing with all the pumping equipment!)— she was totally in, she was a wonderful cheerleader for me and she helped me never feel alone or discouraged. I cannot thank her enough for this and my guess is most baby nurses would never have been so committed, kind and self-sacrificial. I would be remiss not to mention why I picked Patty after interviewing over 30 baby nurses. The baby nurse business / industry is one I have a love / not love relationship with because when it’s your baby and your home, you want someone there who is working (it’s obviously a job) but also feels a real calling and spiritual connection with the sacredness and preciousness of babies. The first time I met Patty on video during the interview process I knew my search was over because her love for children— her own and others — was so deep and visceral. Lastly, I would note that although we never let my baby "cry it out" ever (I think that practice is super wrong), my baby was sleeping through the night when Patty left when she was 6 months old.

- K. T. R.

Angela & Kathryn Licensed Midwives

Pleasant Hill, California

5.0 (1 review)

Angela & Kathryn Licensed Midwives

6 years of experience

Choosing care with Aquarius Midwifery means choosing a pathway that prioritizes your autonomy and respects your choices. Whether you seek care from a midwife because you envision a serene home birth surrounded by loved ones or you desire more support in postpartum that extends beyond birth, we are dedicated to empowering you throughout this transformative journey. Together, let’s create a birth experience that is safe, joyful, and profoundly meaningful.

Recent review

We chose to hire Angela & Kathryn because it was clear they were passionate about what they do and have a lot of knowledge. The return on our investment in Kathryn and Angela was immeasurable. Money comes and goes. The birth of our son was the most awe inspiring moment of our lives and having Angela and Kathryn was priceless.

- Christine S.

James Dietrick, DC CCEP

Pleasant Hill, California

James Dietrick, DC CCEP

11 years of experience
Accepts insurances

We truly believe that no one deserves to live in pain, no matter what age they are. Dr. James treats many conditions, including neck pain, general back pain, extremity pain, and many others. He sees patients of all ages, starting as young as 6 weeks old. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our office!

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.

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.

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.

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 :)

Jaqueline Himelfarb

Concord, California

5.0 (1 review)

Jaqueline Himelfarb

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I’m Jaqueline, Full Spectrum Doula, Newborn Care Specialist and Sleep Consultant in the East Bay Area! I’m passionate about every parent receiving the support that they need. I believe that all parts of your journey matter equally, and that’s why I’m so excited to offer birth, postpartum, newborn care and sleep consulting! My journey began with a move from Brazil to the US, where I initially served families as a nanny. Feeling called to provide deeper support, I became a newborn care specialist and dual-certified sleep consultant. After having my own babies, my passion for holistic care grew, and I was inspired to get my birth and postpartum doula certifications. Now, I'm excited to combine my passion and years of expertise to serve families like yours holistically throughout the East Bay Area and San Francisco, guiding you from pregnancy through your child's early years.

Recent review

I am so grateful for my Newborn Care Specialist Jacqueline and the exceptional support she provided when my daughter was born. Her vast knowledge of newborn care is truly impressive, and her advice was invaluable. She is also an incredible communicator, always keeping me informed and reassured. Her attention to detail and genuine compassion were gamechangers and I felt incredibly supported every step of the way. She went above and beyond to ensure my daughter had everything she needed to thrive and that I had everything I needed to care for her. Jacqueline made this special time even more special for my family. I cannot recommend Jacqueline enough to any new parent(s) looking for outstanding care and support.

- Stacey F.

Marcia Barreto

Pittsburg, California

Marcia Barreto

8 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I was born in Brazil and has been living in the US since 2015. For over 14 years I worked as a nurse in different hospitals in her country specializing in ER and pediatrics. I decided to take a training to become a birth and postpartum doula and worked for several years before immigrating to US. While in Brazil, I completed additional training specializing in breastfeeding techniques, I'm also a pre-nursing student. I’m passionate about helping families successfully navigate through their birth and postpartum journey. I strives to provide empathetic and non-judgmental support to all families that she works with. I’m a mother of two beautiful children. Having experienced both a vaginal birth and cesarean birth, I’m well aware of how to help moms through their postpartum period. Im fluent in English and Portuguese.

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.

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.

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.

Natasha Pulliam

Pittsburg, California

Natasha Pulliam

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Community-Based Full-Spectrum Doula, CHW & CLE | Advocate | Mother | Grandmother Rooted in Love. Grounded in Service. Called to Birthwork. My name is Natasha Pulliam I am a San Francisco native, proud mother of five, and grandmother to two beautiful children both of whom I have had the honor of supporting as a doula during their births. My journey into birthwork is deeply personal, generational, and spirit-led. I am dedicated to supporting birthing people of color achieve the birth they desire through culturally-grounded, holistic, and empowering care. From a young age, I was immersed in the spirit of holistic healing and service, assisting my aunt in community organizing and witnessing my great grandmother heal many with herbs throughout San Francisco. My early exposure to advocacy, healing and grassroots support laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to uplifting and supporting as many people as I can.

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.