Are you worried about navigating pregnancy, birth, and the initial weeks with your newborn?

Expecting families often navigate a sea of emotions, with anticipation and concerns about birth, labor, and the postpartum period. Our Doulas are dedicated to alleviating these concerns, providing support and guidance every step of the way.

Our mission is to provide peace of mind, empowering you to embark on this journey with confidence. Our meticulous attention to detail, extensive experience, and unwavering commitment to families have established Doulas by the Bay as the premier and most trusted doula practice in both Northern and Southern California.

Baby & Mom Doula Care

Our Doula Services

We are a team of Birth, Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists who are dedicated to supporting families before, during and immediately after childbirth.

Postpartum Support Doula

Postpartum Support

Our Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists work with couples and single parents to identify what type of support they need.

Birth Support Doula

Birth Support

Our Birth Doulas remain current in evidence-based practices & work hard to protect & support each couple or single parent’s desires for birth.

Sibling Support

Sibling Support

Our sibling support is available to care for older brothers and sisters while their parents are focused on bringing the new baby into the world.

Proudly Serving the San Francisco Bay Area Since 2009

What makes Doulas by the Bay unique is our large, diverse team that has worked with thousands of parents and babies. Our team of professionals is trained and certified, fully Vetted, CPR certified, has Clear Background Screening, Bonded, Insured and have attended the company’s occupational Health and Safety Training. We also invest in our team’s continual professional education by offering monthly educational meetings.

Vision Statement

Doulas By The Bay’s vision is to offer exceptional doula services to families, while also empowering them with knowledge through the provision of evidence-based educational resources. Our aim is to help families feel confident throughout their pregnancy journey, postpartum journey, and beyond.

Our Commitments to Parents:

  • Connecting them with highly skilled professionals
  • Offering parenting education & resources
  • Top-notch customer service
  • Providing comfort and peace of mind
Shakila Marando, Founder of DOULAS by the BAY

Shakila Marando

Founder of DOULAS by the BAY

Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, Lactation Counselor & Certified Lactation Educator(CLE), DOULAS by the BAY Postpartum Doula Educator, New Parent Educator, Trained Infant Massage Educator, a Parent Coach and Infant Sleep Consultant.

Educational Videos & Resources

4.9
Based on 88 Reviews
Noveen Moinpour
August 13, 2025

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Cindy V. from DBB for 6 weeks after bringing our newborn home, and we cannot recommend her highly enough. From day one, she brought a level of warmth, calm, and capability that made an enormous difference for us as first-time parents—especially after our unexpected NICU stay. She was incredibly flexible in adjusting her schedule to accommodate our delayed start and quickly became an essential part of our baby’s care team. Her patience and gentle approach with our little one were remarkable. It was clear she truly cared about his well-being and took the time to get to know his needs and rhythms. Whether she was soothing him, helping with overnight feeds, washing pump parts and bottles, or folding loads of baby laundry, she handled every task with care and attention to detail. One of the greatest gifts she gave us was prioritizing rest for both parents. We could sleep knowing our son was in the most capable, loving hands. Her kindness, professionalism, and genuine investment in our family’s well-being made her feel less like a hired doula and more like a trusted partner in this tender stage of life. We are so grateful for Cindy and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any family looking for exceptional newborn care and compassionate overnight support. She is truly a gem.

Jenny
August 12, 2025

Doulas by the Bay has since reached out to resolve this issue, and I appreciate them taking my review seriously. I now feel confident in their services and look forward to working with them in the future/will send my doula friends their way. ***Previous Review*** Review for Doulas by the Bay I’m a certified postpartum doula with professional experience, and I was recently invited to apply to this agency. However, I was surprised to find that I was required to take a series of cognitive tests before even being considered. These were timed assessments that felt more aligned with corporate hiring than compassionate caregiving. As someone diagnosed with ADHD, I found these tests especially challenging. I disclosed my disability and concerns to the agency, but I never received a response or follow-up. That lack of engagement, especially after disclosing a disability, felt dismissive and disappointing. While I understand agencies have the right to screen candidates, I believe timed cognitive testing is an ableist and exclusionary practice in this context. I hope the agency reconsiders this practice in the future and works toward a more inclusive and equitable hiring process.

Jen
August 11, 2025
Kevin D'souza
July 27, 2025

We had a great experience working with all members of DBB. Right from the first introduction call, to selecting a postpartum Doula, to billing questions, and actually getting the care, everything was very smooth. We interviewed 2 Doulas and decided to choose Alejandra because our care timing matched better. Alejandra was always punctual, communicative, understanding, and provided great care for our son. Alejandra also shared her knowledge and tips on dealing with newborns! We would definitely recommend Alejandra and DBB!!

dsherid3
July 18, 2025

We worked with Sierra and Julie and both were fantastic ! They helped us get our 3 month old baby sleeping 6-8 hours a night consistently. Thank you Doulas by the Bay !

Naomi Wheeler
July 16, 2025

We had a great experience with DBTB. Our postpartum doula Sally stayed over 3 nights/week for 4 weeks once my partner went back to work and was a tremendous help. We fully trusted our baby in her care and were able to both get more sleep and show up more rested during the days for baby care and work. Sally was comfortable and confident with our baby and quickly put him at ease even during fussy periods. Sally also provided lots of helpful advice and reassurance as to breastfeeding and bottle feeding, sleep routines, and general newborn care. We highly recommend Sally as a postpartum doula if she is available!

Simone Papapietro
July 11, 2025

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Sudarat from Doulas by the Bay, and I truly cannot recommend her enough. From the moment she stepped into our lives, her warmth, attentiveness, and care shone through in everything she did. She wasn’t just caring for my baby—who adored her and lit up every time she arrived—she was deeply supportive of me as well. Sudarat was a calm and reassuring presence, always ready with thoughtful insights and well-researched ideas—especially when my baby struggled with sleep. Her suggestions were practical, caring, and helped us explore different approaches with confidence. I asked her countless questions, and she never hesitated to help, always offering sincere advice and encouragement. Her dedication, empathy, and professionalism made a world of difference for our family. I feel incredibly lucky to have had her by our side, and I would absolutely work with her again in a heartbeat. If you're looking for someone who brings both heart and expertise to the work she does, Sudarat is the one.

Candace Greenlee
July 1, 2025

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Lani as our postpartum doula from the moment our baby was born until she was six weeks old, and we truly cannot say enough good things about her. From day one, she brought a calm, caring presence into our home that made an incredible difference during those early, often overwhelming weeks. She was not only amazing with our newborn—gentle, attentive, and loving—but also made a constant effort to check in on mom’s well-being and always on time. Her support was never intrusive but always exactly what we needed. What meant so much to us was how naturally she became a part of our little family, including our dog. She eased our initial worries about having someone else care for our brand-new baby, treating her with such tenderness and respect that we quickly felt at ease. We knew when we heard her humming / singing to our little gal the first night that we would be in good hands. Her presence gave us the gift of rest, confidence, and peace of mind, and for that, we are endlessly grateful. Saying goodbye after six weeks was truly bittersweet—we miss her dearly. If you're considering postpartum support, we cannot recommend Lani enough. She is a gem, and we feel lucky to have had her by our side during such a special time.

Karina Chan
May 24, 2025

We were recommended DBTB by a coworker and decided to hire a night doula for the first few weeks after our baby arrived. The whole process was super smooth. DBTB was incredibly responsive and quick to help us get started. We interviewed three doulas and chose Brenda Millan, and we’re so glad we did. As first-time parents, we were pretty overwhelmed and didn’t know what to expect. Brenda was amazing! She not only took great care of our newborn but also taught us how to care for our baby ourselves. She was a huge support for me during my breastfeeding journey, not just with the side of feeding, but emotionally as well. She gave mr confidence and peace of mind during those early, chaotic days. We’re so grateful for her help!

Liana Ogden
April 30, 2025

From the moment Lorena walked through our door, we didn’t just know that we had made the right choice — we felt like we had won the lottery! She instantly made us feel supported, empowered, and at ease. And as first time parents to a newborn, those feelings could be fleeting — but we always looked forward to “Lorena nights”, because we knew that all of us (myself, my partner, our baby and even our grizzled old dog) would be rested, and in caring and capable hands. Lorena was our overnight doula for several weeks, working with us two to three nights a week from just a few days after our baby’s birth. On our first night with her, our baby was crying and within minutes of walking through the door, Lorena sang to her and calmed her. It was amazing to watch. She also quickly figured out how to help me breastfeed despite a latch that even my lactation consultants had assumed would remain difficult. On countless occasions I was so grateful for Lorena’s incredibly proactive (yet never intrusive) approach. She anticipated our needs with intuition and empathy, then set about problem-solving with calm, good judgement. She shared invaluable tips and checked in with us even when she wasn’t with us. She sang to our baby, massaged her, and bonded with her. We felt cared for, holistically and completely. Lorena’s grounding, calming energy, her abundant passion for her work, and her outstanding ability to care make her an exceptional doula. Thanks to her, what could have been a very stressful time became something that we could weather and even enjoy. Her presence turned what could have been a chaotic and exhausting time into one of calm, healing, and connection. I can’t recommend Lorena highly enough. And I know that if we have another baby, the first thing I do will be to check if Lorena can be there!

Phillip Calligan
March 19, 2025
Maribel Duran
March 12, 2025

We are beyond grateful for Cecilia. She was the best night time postpartum doula we could have ever asked for. As first time parents, we were comforted by Cecilia’s deep compassion, support, and caring spirit. Every night, the first thing she would do once she arrived was ask me how I was doing. Whether it was a postpartum issue or anything that was bothering me, she listened and offered support and guidance. Our baby girl loved seeing her and would immediately be soothed by her presence. My husband and I were so happy to see Cecilia because we knew our baby girl would be taken care of and we could get a good night’s sleep. Cecilia was always on time, would fold Olivia’s clothes ,and help keep her room organized. Bottles were always washed and she left us a detailed message letting us know how much she ate and how many diapers were changed. We will forever cherish the time our baby girl got to spend with Cecilia as a newborn. She is now a part of our family.

Morgane Guzman
February 3, 2025

We had the immense pleasure of having Desola as our night doula for the first couple of months with our daughter. During our interview process it was apparent to us that Desola was knowledgeable, genuinely cared for the wellbeing of the family and truly loved babies. To say she is a great doula is an understatement, she is a gem of a person who did an amazing job. We loved her so much that we extended our contract with her twice! While she worked with us she took great care of our newborn during the nights and provided amazing support to me (the tired and hormonal mom). She guided us and even introduced bottle feeding to our little one. She allowed me to rest during the nights which was an immense help to take care of our baby during the day. Desola always had good advice on how to handle various situations that arised from being first time parents taking care a newborn (witching hours, traveling with baby, pumping, mental health, doctors appointments). She would even always check in on us during the day to see how we were doing (and still does it to this day). She was always flexible with scheduling and was extremely reliable. If you have the chance to be able to work with Desola I think it is an honor and a privilege to be able to have her help you through this challenging time and I couldn’t recommend her more!

L Zhang
January 2, 2025

When I began my journey into motherhood, I knew I wanted the best support team possible, and Kassondra and Melissa truly exceeded all expectations. Kassondra came highly recommended by a dear friend who had recently had a baby, and after working with her, I completely understand why. From the start, Kassondra impressed me with her professionalism and vast knowledge. She has years of experience, and it shows in the way she approaches every detail with care and precision. Her postpartum support was nothing short of incredible—she anticipated needs I didn’t even know I had, offered invaluable advice, and created such a calm, reassuring environment during what can be a challenging transition. Melissa brought a wonderfully warm and supportive energy. She has a heart of gold and was always there with kind words, a listening ear, and a genuine eagerness to help in any way she could. Her emotional support made such a difference, especially on days when I felt overwhelmed. If you’re looking for doulas who will go above and beyond, look no further. I’m beyond grateful to have had their support during such an important time in my life. Thank you, Kassondra and Melissa, for making this experience so positive and empowering!

Leah Barsanti
December 13, 2024

Chris was amazing! Helped me maintain my sanity (and even get a little sleep) in those crucial first weeks.

Colin Krenitsky
October 20, 2024

Faith served as our post-partum doula for our newborn baby and she is amazing. She tirelessly provided comfort and care for him in his two months, while sharing lots of advice and insights from her extensive experience. Her help and coordination with Mom greatly helped with the breastfeeding process, while doing everything else for the baby the remainder of the night's to help the family get precious sleep. She is a very nice, caring, and respectful person, is always on time, and has a magic touch at getting the baby soothed. Additionally, she has been a huge help to the household in cleaning baby bottles and the kids' laundry. We give Faith the highest recommendation as doula and caretaker - 5/5! The administrative staff at Doulas by the Bay was 5/5. They were extremely responsive, answered questions / requests quickly and clearly, and did an excellent job in setting up interviews in a short window. Thanks Doulas by the Bay team!

Kimberly Lockwood
October 17, 2024

I cannot speak highly enough of our experience with Frances. We knew immediately after interviewing her that she was the right fit for our family. Her warm, calm energy was exactly what we needed after a difficult pregnancy - and ended up being even more important after a traumatic birth and with a colicky newborn. During an incredibly difficult postpartum, we looked forward to every day that Frances was coming. She is extremely knowledgeable about postpartum recovery and provided us with support in so many ways - from the basics of helping around the house and food preparation to showing us different nursing positions, infant bathing/massage, safe contact sleeping, and positions for gas/digestive relief for our little one. She also has extensive experience with newborns and was wonderful with our fussy boy, even during long bouts of inconsolable crying. Frances also has a special focus on maternal recovery - both physical and emotional. She spent time each day supporting me through processing the trauma of my son's birth. She also made sure I prioritized time for my physical recovery - including giving me massages during each visit and carving out time for me to shower and nap. She even set up a special "first bath" for me and my son, complete with lovely flowers from our garden. I am so grateful for the time we worked with her - she's truly a special human and went so far beyond what we expected from a postpartum doula.

Carmen Craven
October 17, 2024

I wholeheartedly recommend Cassilde as a night doula. She cared for my newborn for six weeks and consistently went above and beyond. Her reliability and expertise provided peace of mind, and she taught us invaluable skills along the way. As a first-time mom, I felt safe and supported in her presence. Trustworthy and compassionate, Cassilde is an exceptional choice! I had a great experience with Doulas by the bay. The customer support team was always available and responded in a timely manner. Brandi was so helpful in answering all my Questions about lactation as well. Highly recommend!

Alex Sha
September 16, 2024

We were matched with Desola from Doulas by the Bay, and she is a true saver for us. She came on time everytime and she certainly has some special skills for the babies, the nights she was not here we struggled a lot to put our daughter to sleep, but when she was here, baby became so calm immediately after being hold in her arm. She also helped keep detailed logs for nightly activities of the baby. Overall I highly recommend this organization and Desola!

Margaret Walsh Ramsey
September 13, 2024

We worked with our Doula KMO (they/them) for the first few weeks of our second son’s life. KMO is a solid communicator, a grounded presence, and a welcome help! We particularly chose KMO because they also have experience with early childhood education, so they were able to also support our 3 year old when mom and dad had our hands full with the newborn. the admin of Doulas by the Bay are also responsive and helpful. We also appreciated that we could pay with HSA funds.

Christy Huggins
September 11, 2024

Can't say enough good things about Desola. She was awesome - reliable, kind, and totally capable. We trusted her completely with our newborn. Would highly recommend her!

Cara C
September 6, 2024

We matched with Faith and he helped us on nights when my husband was traveling for work. Faith is so knowledgeable, reliable and timely. She always gave me tips and answered questions that came up - which is often as a first time mom. I have already learned so much from her.

Aisling Gallagher
June 24, 2024

We had a great experience with Sydney who was a sibling doula for our son. Our son had never been cared for by anyone other than his parents so this was a huge change for him. Sydney was so kind and caring towards him and provided us with regular updates. Our son loved playing and interacting with her. She made sure he felt secure and safe and did an outstanding job with his care. Sydney even accommodated an extra night of support at short notice and was very flexible in supporting our family. She is a very responsible and caring doula. We highly recommend her to anyone using this service.

Lorace Manalo
June 23, 2024

Agnes from Doulas By the Bay was a Godsend. I’m a second time mom and also a widow. This was my first time hiring any type of caregiver. I remember with my first child, taking care of a newborn during the nights was the hardest for me. My mom helped me out back then. Now five years later, I’m well into my 40s and my mom is getting older, I told myself I need to get some professional help for everyone’s sanity. Fortunately, I have benefits from work for postpartum care through Carrot. I reached out to DBB about a month before my daughter was born. It was cutting it close since doulas are usually booked months ahead. DBB was quick to respond and a consultation was setup within a couple days shortly followed by interviews with two doulas. Agnes took great care of my daughter. She came over the first night we were home from the hospital. I’m so glad she came over to take care of my baby the first night home. I was so exhausted from breastfeeding around the clock and looked forward to a couple hours of uninterrupted rest. I think the hours when Agnes was over helped me focus on rest and pumping which helped bring my milk supply up. Agnes brought my baby to me about every 2-3 hours to feed or provided a bottle. She did the best swaddles for my baby, changed her diapers, rocked her to sleep. I hardly heard my baby cry for the 6 weeks she was with us. There was a period when my baby refused breast feeding and preferred the bottle. Agnes said that it’s because I was making it too easy for my baby to feed from the bottle so she gave me tips on how to properly hold the bottle to make my baby work for the milk, similar to breast feeding. It worked and it saved me a trip to see a lactation consultant. Agnes is really good at pointing out anything on baby that’s concerning. For example in my case, my baby’s belly button didn’t look normal after the umbilical cord fell off and on another occasion, my baby’s congestion was getting bad. She suggested I see the doctor for both incidents. They were good calls because the doctor gave me next steps on treatment plans and gave me peace of mind on how to remedy the situation. Agnes also sent me a log on what time baby had breast milk and formula, how many ounces, when she changed diapers and if it was pee or poop. At the end of each shift, she helped me wash bottles and sanitize. We got along really well and we shared stories of our families. My 5 year old loved when she came over and was always excited to chat with her. Agnes truly helped me get through this newborn stage - I was less stressed, slept more which gave me more energy to tackle the day. We love Agnes and we highly recommend her!

Angela Li Wang
May 16, 2024

Very happy with my experience with Doulas by the Bay and my doula Nataly! Highly recommend 🙂

Michelle Hines
May 6, 2024

Wonderful company helped me with my baby I was able to get cleaning done, work stuff done, and rest. I highly appreciate there services.

Anais Carpio
April 9, 2024

Where do I begin?! I am currently 3.5 months PP and still think about how helpful our doula was. We matched with Agnes as she helped us 4 nights a week for 6 weeks. I cannot express how patient, well informed and reliable she is. I honestly could have not picked anyone better and we were able to learn SO much from her. She answered my million questions and was so gentle with our little girl. Agnes truly became a part of our family and we cannot wait to have baby #2 so she can help us again! Most notably, we loved her honesty as becoming a first time parent can be difficult she always guided us. I think 3-4 nights a week is perfect as it allowed us to practice what she taught us on her off nights. Thank you so much Agnes!! We miss you!!

Amanda Mu
March 25, 2024

I am writing to wholeheartedly recommend Margaret Thaiya for her exceptional night time doula service. Since the arrival of our first baby, Margaret has been an absolute blessing to our family. As first-time parents, navigating the world of newborn care was daunting, but Margaret stepped in as our guiding light. Margaret’s support has been invaluable. Not only does she provide much-needed assistance during the night, allowing both my partner and I to rest, but she also brings a wealth of knowledge on baby care. She patiently teaches us everything from recognizing feeding cues to mastering the art of swaddling and ensuring optimal safety measures are in place for our little one. She also records meticulously about each feeding and diaper change during the night so that we can easily take the records and log into our trackings to monitor the baby’s progress and routine. Margaret’s warm demeanor and genuine care for our baby and family have made her an indispensable part of our journey into parenthood. I highly recommend Margaret for any families seeking compassionate and knowledgeable doula support. We are super grateful for her assistance and will undoubtedly turn to her service again in the future.

Betsabe Dianne Castro Escobar
March 12, 2024

Outstanding Doula Services!! "Doulas by the Bay" provided us with exceptional doula services, connecting us with two amazing doulas (Sydney and Ayugi) who offered invaluable day and night support. Their care, expertise, and warmth were transformative, helping us navigate parenthood with confidence. From establishing a sleep routine for our baby to providing emotional and practical support, soothing techniques, and much more, their impact was profound. I was struggling with breastfeeding and feeling confident as a new mom, the reassurance from my doulas and community have helped me so much. We're deeply grateful for the attentive service from the organization and the personalized care from our doulas. Highly recommend "Doulas by the Bay" to any new parents in the Bay Area looking for top-notch doula care.

Lauryn Lesher
February 24, 2024

I cannot recommend Doulas by the Bay and Esther I (our night doula) more highly. Before our baby came, I was unsure of whether or not we needed a night doula but heard from friends that it would be the best money we've ever spent. I can now confidently say that working with Esther and DBB is the best decision we've made so far postpartum and I cannot imagine the last 8 weeks without Esther by our side. Esther joined our family as soon as we came home from the hospital and has been instrumental in setting our family up for success. From her nursery visit before the baby came, to being there on our first night home together and helping us transition from breastfeeding only to introducing bottles and formula, Esther's help has been invaluable. By the time she finished her contract with us, our baby was starting to get several longer stretches at night, only waking once or twice (which is great for 8 weeks!). She is kind, calming, loving and beyond fantastic with our son. He recognized her when she arrived and was instantly soothed by her presence (as was I). I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate we were to have found Esther and I would work with her/DBB again in a heartbeat. We miss her already. I also found the DBB free resources/ trainings and Lactation Consultant (Brandi) to be incredibly helpful and a great perk of working with DBB.

Daniel O'Neel
February 23, 2024

We were connected with Desola Amos as and I cannot recommend her highly enough. In addition to being reliable and flexible, Desola went above and beyond in caring for our newborn and in supporting us first time parents. I was personally hesitant to have someone I didn't know come into home at first, but from the first time we met her, Desola was a comforting presence. She was always warm, enthusiastic about our newborn, and proactively looks for ways to be helpful. She strikes a helpful balance of encouragement and also sharing lessons from her experience in a way that was understanding and constructive. We had read the sleep training classes & books, but Desola's practical tips & context were a much needed addition. She could point out potential pitfalls to look out for before they happened and had actionable suggestions when our newborn had trouble sleeping. Would highly recommend her to new parents- a wonderful doula and a wonderful woman.

Michelle Aroko
February 6, 2024

Highly recommend for pp, birth and sibling doulas. The doulas are amazing. I’ve had a great experience working with dbb. The entire team is a dream in the birth world. So grateful for them all!

Ana Tobkin
November 18, 2023

I had the pleasure of working with two post-partum day doulas through Doulas by the bay, Leah Hartog and Emily Pulsfus. Both were fantastic, and I am so grateful to have had them support me and my family during the first six weeks postapartum. Leah was my postpartum doula for the first three and a half weeks after the birth of my third child. She was warm, nurturing, and caring. It felt amazing to have someone so focused on the well being of myself and the baby. For example, she made sure I was well fed with whole some and nutritious lunches, and made tasty and healthy snack plates so I'd have something to eat in middle of the night while I was breast feeding. She always encouraged me to get the rest that I needed (especially as I was recovering from a c-section), and was so great with the baby! We also worked with Emily for about 2 weeks - she was equally amazing. She was incredible with the baby, and was always willing to pitch in and help to make our lives so much easier during the hectic days with a newborn and two toddlers.

Kelsey Dunn
November 3, 2023

I cannot say enough good things about Doulas by the Bay, and specifically Raychel, our AMAZING postpartum doula. The entire process was done in an efficient and professional manner, from receiving initial package information to interviews to the actual postpartum care. It's clear that the entire DBB team are experts in their field and take great pride in their product. We immediately clicked with Raychel, and felt super comfortable with her integrating into our lives + our baby's life. Her knowledge, keen intuition, and kindness while she was caring for us was so appreciated, especially during a very vulnerable time. She taught us about caring for our little one, and offered options so we never felt like there was only one way to steer the ship. We are very grateful for Raychel and for all of her love + care. I would highly recommend DBB to any friend, family, or acquaintance.

Kimberly Garcia
August 18, 2023

Our journey through pregnancy, induction, labor, and postpartum was made incredibly special and comforting, all thanks to the remarkable support provided by our doula, Pontsho Tsiane. From the very beginning, she enveloped us with tenderness and care, making our experience truly unforgettable. As first-time parents, my husband and I were navigating uncharted waters, and having Pontsho by our side was an absolute blessing. During the induction process, she was a calming presence, offering guidance and encouragement that helped ease our worries. Her expertise was evident as she walked us through each step, ensuring we were informed and empowered to make the best decisions for our family. What stood out most was Pontsho's genuine compassion. Her unwavering support and dedication went above and beyond our expectations. Throughout labor, she was a source of strength, providing comfort techniques and emotional reassurance that carried us through the toughest moments. Her presence allowed my husband and me to focus on each other and the new life we were bringing into the world. After the birth, Pontsho continued to demonstrate her remarkable commitment. She intuitively understood the importance of giving us time to rest and connect as a family. Her thoughtful visits provided us with the opportunity to recharge, knowing that our precious newborn was in capable hands. Her postpartum check-ins were a lifeline, offering guidance, reassurance, and a listening ear during those early weeks of parenthood. My husband and I can't thank Pontsho enough for her instrumental role in our journey. Her tenderness, care, and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on our hearts. If you're seeking a doula who will support you with kindness, expertise, and genuine care, Pontsho is an absolute gem. Our gratitude knows no bounds, and we wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone embarking on the beautiful journey of parenthood. I also had the opportunity to meet with Brandi for a lactation consultation beforehand. Her session was incredibly informative and helpful in understand the feeding journey and expectations. Her session is informative without being overwhelming and provides you with all the information you need.

Justin Gorrell
August 10, 2023

I cannot recommend DBB more highly! We used them to find an outstanding postpartum doula who spent 18 nights with us over ~6 weeks. DBB was super communicative throughout the process and provided us several doulas for us to interview with. We settled on Cassilde who could not have been more amazing and became one of our family over those early week of our son's life. She provided my wife and I invaluable overnight relief and insights into how to handle our son and his early development. Additionally, DBB provided outstanding resources on birthing and the early life of our child.

Hiral Shah
June 13, 2023

This review is for Desola, a night doula with Doulas by the Bay. The agency is really great at lining up doulas, after speaking to a few I immediately connected with Desola. She was so nurturing and caring right from the beginning even before I signed up. Once our baby came, she was simply amazing...I don't know how she does it staying up all night and giving care and love to a newborn baby. She was flexible about the days and we did not have to schedule ahead of time, some days if I needed a few extra hours, she would be there for me. As a recovering mom with another toddler in the house, having Desola was the perfect thing. My husband did not need to help much and got his sleep which helped made our days much better. Additionally she went above and beyond to take care of not just baby but us, be it rock and hold the baby for hours so mom could get sleep or helping cut some fruits so mom is well fed while breastfeeding. She also acted as a great support if the days were going harder. I have recommended her to friends now and they all love her. Please ask for Desola when you talk to the agency 🙂

Krisztina Lazar
June 12, 2023

I worked with Genevieve as my postpartum doula and she was absolutely incredible. She was amazing with my baby, was super knowledgeable about every question i could think of asking her and was an incredibly huge help to me when she was with us. I cannot recommend her enough. Doulas by the bay is a great company, easy to work with and even better that they have women like Genevieve in their ranks.

Kelly Peters
June 6, 2023

Words can't express our gratitude for having Esther by our side for the first 12 weeks of our baby's life. Esther was absolutely amazing and we couldn't have asked for anything better in a night doula. Esther is patient, kind, knowledgeable, loving, and has a good sense of humor. Her years of experience as a mother and breastfeeding helped earn my trust quickly to take care of my baby during a very new and delicate time. Thank you Esther for all that you do. Any family would be lucky to have her.

Stefanie Bassler
June 6, 2023

I absolutely loved my time working with Damaris and Martha. As a new mom, they were very supportive in teaching me about motherhood (how to use my breast pumps, different feeding positions, if a certain behavior is normal, etc.). They both were very nurturing to me during a time that was new and scary and for that I will always be grateful! I highly recommend working with them.

S N
June 5, 2023

Doulas by the Bay helped me create an amazing home birth experience! It was a completely restorative, supportive, loving experience. I delivered (successful VBAC) my beautiful 8lb 9oz baby boy in a calm environment where I felt empowered and in control. I highly recommend Doulas by the Bay. My Doulas were Samsarah and Priscilla and they were my dream team!! I can't rave enough about Brandi, my lactation coach from Doulas by the Bay. She really helped me with overcoming breastfeeding challenges in a way that made me feel good about myself. If you need/ desire lactation support, do not hesitate to hire Brandi. She's absolutely amazing!

Natalie Nelkin
March 12, 2023

Overall we are very happy with Doulas By The Bay and the services we received. Definitely recommend! We hired a night doula, Bose to help us with our 1st child. She was great with the baby. He grew very fond of her. She also helped me figure out nursing techniques, answered my new mom questions, and was a caring support person for me (helping with laundry, nighttime snacks, etc.). We looked forward to the nights she was with us. I also worked with Brandi for lactation support. She met with me before the baby came and was an ongoing support throughout nursing. She made a home visit during the first couple of weeks and was on call via email and phone for any additional support/questions. I had a ton of nursing and pumping questions and she patiently answered them all. She helped my nursing journey get off to a great start. Thank you DBTB! So glad we found you.

Jenna Mukuno
March 8, 2023

We have had a really positive experience working with Bose for postpartum nighttime support for our daughter. From the interview process to welcoming her to our home, Bose has been very prompt, professional, and invested in caring for our daughter. Bose was quickly able to get our daughter acclimated to her crib and into a sleep routine (5-hour stretches, yay!) as a newborn. My husband and I were able to get abundant sleep while feeling secure that our daughter was getting the best care. We also feel like we have a solid sleep/feed foundation so that when our contract is up and we return to work, we can easily transition to full-time night care ourselves. I would recommend Bose to anyone seeking a doula, especially those with newborns and premise.

Dan Bress
January 18, 2023

We had Damaris caring for our baby for 3 blissful months, 3 times a week. It was amazing! She was enthusiastic, kind and very reliable. She always showed up 10 minutes early and genuinely seemed to care about our baby. She helped us at the 4 month mark teach our baby how to sleep through the night. Could not recommend Damaris more highly!! You would not regret having her help at night. Also we were very Covid careful and she was as well. She always wore a mask in our home. Doulas by the Bay was also great about checking in to make sure things were going smoothly. And they provided several people to interview so that we could find the right fit for us. We are so happy we picked Damaris but all the options seemed good.

Sana Arain
January 17, 2023

I had a fantastic time working with Doulas by the Bay and absolutely loved my experience with our night doula, Desola Amos -- Desola was instrumental in our baby's first milestones and I'd highly recommend working with her as she's extremely caring and reliable. DBB introduced me to three doulas and I immediately felt a strong connection with Desola. She was amazing throughout the care process, including prior to giving birth, during the birth, and for postpartum support. For example, Desola regularly and proactively checked-in with me in the weeks leading up to birth, providing helpful stretches and techniques for relaxation. Post-partum, she showed great care not only for the baby once he was born, but for all family members, including checking-in with our elder son on how he was adjusting to being a new brother -- we thought her approach was very considerate and another example of how she always went above and beyond. Desola brought solid experience and expertise in newborn/infant care and provided various levels of support: this ranged from providing guidance on breastfeeding/pumping, helping me navigate postpartum challenges, training our baby to sleep, and establishing a schedule for sleeping with our baby. She always brought high-energy, a positive demeanor, and demonstrated genuine care for our baby -- she provided us with comfort that she was fully invested in detecting and monitoring our baby's cues for feedings, sleep, and any discomfort (e.g., reflux). Finally, Desola not only provided exceptional care for our son, but also helped us with bottle prep, laundry, and other care items for our boy -- this saved us a lot of time. We are grateful to Desola for helping us peacefully sleep at night and would highly recommend her as anyone would be beyond lucky to have her support!

Amelia Petrovic
January 15, 2023

In advance of the birth of our second son, we knew we would need some extra support and sought out Doulas by the Bay for part-time night and day support in the first few months of his life. This was one of the best decisions and made all the difference in easing the transition from 1 to 2 children and reducing stress for me and my husband. We got to know a few different doulas very well so I'll take this opportunity to sing their praises individually: - Genevieve helped us out a few days a week for the first couple of months and she is an absolute pro baby whisperer angel helper. We were so sad when it was her last day, every time she came over we breathed a sigh of relief. She had so much wisdom to impart about baby development, feeding, napping, etc. She helped us troubleshoot issues, helped get our baby to take long naps in his Snoo, and generally was a kind listening ear for a tired, somewhat anxious new mom of two. When baby was sleeping she anticipated so many of our needs whether it was folding laundry, organizing pump parts, helping out sometimes with our toddler (who also loved her). I cannot recommend her enough, she has the best gentle kind energy and is SO amazing, reliable and hard-working at her job. Thank you thank you Genevieve! - Rufina helped us with night support for the first few months and is also amazing. Similar to the above, whenever Rufina arrived we were so happy. She has a kind, warm energy and took such great care of our baby during the nights - making sure he was warm, fed, and happy. She is steady, reliable, and has a quiet, calm confidence that makes her perfect for this work. We would highly recommend her to anyone. - Damaris - we only had her for a few days but she had the same great energy and loving care that we experienced with the other doulas. Highly recommend all of them! Doulas by the Bay is a great service that takes the guesswork out of finding help when you can least afford to be spending time endlessly researching and reference checking. I felt a lot of confidence and peace of mind using their services and highly recommend to any postpartum mama or family wanting extra support -- it is so worth it.

Lauren Jackson
January 1, 2023

As a first time mom I was very nervous regarding labor as well as the entire pregnancy experience. My amazing doula Coral Jeanne Smith was instrumental in providing emotional support as well as recommendations for everything from nutrition to exercises to turn a sub-optimally positioned baby. Coral is well versed in Hypnobirthing, Spinning Babies, massage, and other nonpharmacological interventions that contribute to a more comfortable birthing experience. Coral is supportive and nonjudgmental. She makes recommendations, but does not push an agenda onto her clients. Thanks to Coral's calm presence and advocacy, I was able to cope with the stages of active labor, transition, and ultimately safely pushing out a sunny side up baby, which can be challenging to say the least! The transition from pregnancy to postpartum has been tough due to sleep deprivation, but Coral has provided consistent guidance and reassurance with breastfeeding and other aspects of newborn care.

Elisabeth Carr
November 20, 2022

Munira was our night doula for three months and boy is she a treasure! Before our son was born, we were on the fence about hiring a doula. But from the very first night that Munira spent with us, we knew it was the right decision. Her warm, kind and calm personality made it easy to welcome her into our home and trust her with our son. As new parents, we were anxious and exhausted. Munira taught us so much about caring for a newborn and gave us expert advice on things like nursing, bathing, swaddling, bottle feeding and diapering. Her guidance was exactly what we needed and we quickly became more at ease and confident with her help. Our baby was especially gassy during the first couple of months and the massages Munira gave him were the only thing that comforted him. She also took the time to teach my husband and I how to massage him. Munira allowed us and our son to get more and more sleep with each passing week. Our baby became a great sleeper, and at 3 months he was already sleeping up to nine hours a night. Any family who gets to work with Munira will be very, very lucky!

Amy Cagulada Sandberg
November 13, 2022

A great experience from start to finish: Shakila listened to my needs, gave me the opportunity to interview several doulas, and made payments and contracts extremely easy to complete. We chose Maria Rivera as our birth and postpartum doula, whose expert, nonjudgmental, holistic and caring support before, during, and after labor has felt crucial to our positive birth and postpartum experience. Can't sing high enough praises for our experience with DBB and Maria!

Basil Chidi
November 12, 2022

Shakila is worth her weight in gold! Shakila has the most calm and sweet demeanor and walked us through every question we had as first time parents. Shakila has our son sleeping through the night in 2 1/2 months and continued to give us support through some of the tough months after her assignment was over. Our first months of being new Dads were better than we could have imagined. Our son is now 15 months old and has been taught to self soothe and continues to sleep through the night because of Shakila. The education and peace of mind that has come from having in our home is priceless. I can't say enough good about Shakila and her group!

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Helping families flourish with their newborn is our passion. Contact DOULAS by the BAY today to learn how we can help your growing family.

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    About Us

    DOULAS by the BAY is a collective of Birth and Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists who are dedicated to supporting families before, during and immediately after the birth of their baby. We accept the following payments: HSA/FSA, Insurance, Fertility Payments (Carrot, etc.)

     

    Vision Statement

    Doulas By The Bay’s vision is to offer exceptional doula services to families, while also empowering them with knowledge through the provision of evidence-based educational resources. Our aim is to help families feel confident throughout their pregnancy journey, postpartum journey, and beyond.

     

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