• CPMC does allow doulas but some OB/GYN practices do not so check with your physician first.
• Start the search for a doula early as some of them get booked very early.
• Check www.dona.org
• The best way I found to meet doulas was to go to their introductions meetings at Day One in Laurel Village or Natural Resources in Noe Valley. that is how I met my doula and my post natal doula.

Day One
Center for New and Expectant Parents
(415) 440-3291
3490 California St.,
Suite 203
San Francisco

DONA - Doulas of North America
Offering certified birth doulas and post-partum support

Natural Resources
A Pregnancy, Childbirth and Early Parenting Center
(415) 550-2611
1367 Valencia St. (at 25th St.)
San Francisco 94110

Doula Recommendations:

Betsy Appell
We worked with Betsy Appell and we loved her. She also teaches a class on relaxation exercises for birth called Hypnobirthing, that I found helpful (the classes are open to people not using her as a doula, but if you do use her doula services the cost of the class is included). She has a lot of training and a fair amount of experience, and we also just really liked her as a person. I highly recommend her.

Auntie Jill
Postpartum and Newborn Homecare
(415) 928-0323

Bay Area Baby Nurses and Doulas
Kay Baker, agency owner
(800) 526-9996

Nicki Bonifilio
I highly recommend her.

Nancy Ducey
(415) 488-9316
She is very motherly without being granola - she supported my decision to have an epidural.

Kara Engelbrect
(415) 401-0148
I used Kara Engelbrect for both of my births at UCSF and she was amazing. She uses a variety of techniques including massage, pressure points, visualization and aromatherapy to help you work through the pain. The staff at UCSF really like her. I couldn't have done natural childbirth without her. At my last birth I had to negotiate with the staff to avoid using pitocin since my labor had kicked in (slowly). She worked with me for almost 12 hours trying to speed up my labor. She was also a great advocate and resource for me.

John Faucette
Midwife
(415) 668-1010

Britt Fohrman
I recently birthed with Britt. She is absolutely fabulous. I delivered at St. Lukes without meds. She not only provided amazing support--she also took beautiful digital pictures.

Esther Gallagher
Labor and Post-Partum Doula
www.esthergallagher.com
She is very knowledgable and is focused on what is right for you and your family. When we got home she guided us and taught us what we needed to do to transition to the post-partum experience, organized family members, helped with breast feeding, taught me how to pump and cooked for us.

Dixie Hauth
Labor Doula and Sleep Consultant
(415) 465-0442
dixiehauth@me.com
She's a mama of two herself, gentle, and was incredibly helpful to me! She's only worked w/babies + children for her entire career, and is passionate about what she does.

Ann Hayman
I gave birth at UCSF and she's a great doula. The nurses at UCSF loved her (Nurse Betty gave her a big hug after the birth and said she was really looking forward to working with her again). I know that my UCSF doctor (OB-Gyn Dr. Deborah Kamali) has recommended Ann to her patients. I found her independently 2 1/2 years ago. She was a fairly new doula then, but I believe has had a lot of experience since then. She is also a trained massage therapist (which was great for me during 3 days of back labor).

Melitta Hoder
If you’re looking for a post-partum doula, I’m currently using Melitta Hoder who is wonderful. I highly recommend Melitta for post-partum if you’re looking for that service as well.

Amy Hyams
(415) 206-0138
She's a great birthing doula. I delivered at CPMC sans any drugs. Amy was fantastic.

Katie Lauderback
(415) 871-7486
We worked with Katie Lauderback and she is absolutely fantastic... I gave birth at CPMC, so not sure of the answers to your questions, but I would suggest talking to her directly. I ended up getting an epidural after being stuck at 9cm after a long labor and Katie was a huge part of our amazing experience.

Nancy Myrick, CNM
Rites of Passage Midwifery
(415) 902-7969
I had a great pregnancy, an amazing birth, and a speedy recovery. And I owe it all to Nancy.

Angelika Nugent
*Our midwife is truly amazing-her back-up hospital is UCSF and she knows everyone there. She is very very experienced and very straightforward...not the flower power kind (nothing against that, just so that you know!).
*Angelika is trained as a mid-wife. She has 25 years experience, and has 5 children of her own. In addition to being a doula, she does home births. She is familiar with UCSF, and believes it is the best place to give birth in San Francisco. (I gave birth at Kaiser.) I would recommend her as highly as possible. You should know that her personality is very matter of fact. She has good bedside manner, but she is blunt, not fluffy. My mother thought her personality was difficult until she cured my mastistis with homeopathic remedies in 24 hours (when my son was 2 weeks old).

Julie Overton
Doula
(415) 847-1335
julieeo@hotmail.com

Pacific Birth Support
Offering certified birth doulas and post-partum support
cjarc@earthlink.net

Laura Pliska
Babyworks
Doula Services, Lactation Education and Childbirth Education
(415) 297-9258
laura@sfbabyworks.com

Germaine Reidy
Pregnancy massage and doula support
I run my business now from Ireland and travel to San Francisco during the year to work with particular clients.
I can't recommend Germaine Reidy highly enough. I have just had my second baby (9 days old) and having Germaine there made the whole experience completely different from my first baby. She is absolutely calming and supportive and is also a massage therapist, I went to her for regular massages whilst pregnant. I delivered at UCSF, but I know she has attended births at CPMC.

Felicia Roche, Certified Doula DONA
Approved Doula Trainer
President, Bay Area Birth Association
Lactation Counselor
Newborn Massage Instructor

Samantha Stormer
(415) 924-9096
She was my doula.

Katerina Wade
Trained as a nurse, lactation consultant, and doula
Katerina Wade is terrific. Knows her stuff about nursing and is easy to be around.

Nell Waters
* I used Nell and gave birth at UCSF. I wanted to try a natural birth, but was also open to an epidural if need be. Nell supported both scenarios and was an incredible presence and support throughout the birth. She also supported my husband alot, which is rare. The midwives at USCF LOVE Nell.
* While I did not use a doula, you may want to call Nell Waters, who is an excellent pre-natal massage therapist who has recently gotten certified to be a doula. I've had many pre and post natal massages with her, and her touch and awareness of the body are phenomenal.

Michelle Welborn
michelle@welborndoula.com
She's a great doula and I recommend her.

Cathy Wills
Labor Coach
(510) 530-5718
I worked with Cathy Wills when i had my baby at CPMC two and a half years ago and she was amazing. She is a trained labor nurse so worked very well with the nurses and doctors. You might check though as I had heard that after a couple of recent incidents they weren't allowing "doulas" and the like. Although she lives in Oakland, was never an issue and she is always on call... p.s. My friend who was with me for my birth thought so highly of Cathy that she had her for her baby's birth three months later. Cathy is very open to using drugs / not using drugs / whatever - I chose to, my friend did not... definitely something you want to explore ahead of time.

(Updated February 2009)