Doulas
BNoMC doulas serve Monterey County and many also serve Santa Cruz County and other neighboring counties. We host regular events where you can meet and learn about our local doulas.
Click here to learn more about what a doula is and click here for a list of questions to ask birth or postpartum doulas as you’re getting to know them.
Click to jump to a section:
Birth Doulas | Birth & Postpartum Doulas | Postpartum Doulas
Birth Doulas
Inner Rythyms
Ashley Dahlem, CMT
Childbirth Educator
Spinning Babies
Massage Therapist
innerrhythms massagetherapy.com
innerrhythms.massage@gmail.com
831.205.1411
1084 Cass Street. Upstairs Unit B, Monterey
**Parking on Carmelo**
I have always been someone who finds great joy in supporting others. As a child I was drawn towards helping those in need and aspired to be a part of something bigger. As a mother of three, becoming a Doula was such a natural evolution and rewarding experience. Now I am able to provide support and empower expecting mothers to trust their bodies and learn about the amazing birth process.
Together, we can personalize your prenatal and postpartum plan, drawing on my years of experience as a Doula, massage therapist, and mother. When it’s time for the big day, I will be there to provide emotional and physical support and to remind you to be strong, birth with inner wisdom and with intuition.
Through my own adventures, I’ve honed my natural intuition as a healer and learned to understand what people need by observing, listening, and connecting with them. I personalize every birth, allowing others to feel heard and to impart the knowledge I’ve gained onto others so it can be part of their journey.
Primavera Birth Services
Jamiee De Pompeo
Certified Lamaze Childbirth Education Instructor
Certified Lactation Counselor
Placenta Encapsulation Practitioner
primaverabirthservices.com
primaverabirthservices@gmail.com
631.513.3661
Jaimee is a Certified Lamaze Childbirth Education Instructor, Certified Lactation Counselor and Placenta Encapsulation Practitioner who provides childbirth preparation, lactation education and support, and placenta encapsulation services to Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. Jaimee believes that knowledge is the key to transformative and powerful pregnancy, birth, and parenting and aims to guide all families in having the birth experience they deserve.
Servicios en español
Tummy Temple Doula
Kelli Rosenbloom
tummytempledoula.com
klrosenbloom@gmail.com
831.901.5503
I strongly feel that every woman deserves the opportunity to embrace her innate power as she transforms from Maiden to Mother. Each individual and every family experiences this transformation of birth in their own unique way. As your Doula, it is my intention to bring a gentle, compassionate, nurturing, and respectful energy to your birth experience.
I also teach Sacred Pregnancy classes which hold space for pregnant women to connect with one another and their pregnancy experiences in meaningful and personal ways.
Vitality & Waves
Kaleena Opdyke Hurlburt
Certified GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Trainer
Certified Saltwater Birth Doula
vitalityandwaves.com
415.200.7605
It was after the ecstatic home births of both of her children that Kaleena furthered her curiosity into Birth and the depths of Pre and Post Natal movement studies. As a Certified Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator, Kaleena is passionate about sharing all she knows about movement and birth with her clients. With the Pre and Post Natal Applications of The Gyrotonic® Method movers can enhance their understanding of their pelvic floor anatomy and function, create space in their ever-changing bodies, understand birth biomechanics to encourage optimal fetal positioning, develop strength where needed, and learn how to create an elasticity that helps them move through their pregnancy and postpartum with strength and grace. Comprehensive Doula Packages include Pre and Postnatal training in The Gyrotonic® Method, along with traditional Doula Support.
GYROTONIC® and GYROTONIC® & Logo are registered trademarks of Gyrotonic Sales Corp.
Mum’s the Word
Michele Nizza, LM, CPM, CLEC, LCCE
Licensed Midwife & Certified Professional Midwife
Certified Lactation Educator & Counselor
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
mumstheword.biz
michele@mumstheword.biz
831.238.0655
1010 Cass Street, Suite C-3, Monterey
Equitable, accessible, and respectful midwifery care.
Offering homebirth, waterbirth, VBAC (for those who qualify), monitrice services (midwifery care but delivering in the hospital), well-person care, and breastfeeding support. A sliding scale and extended payment plans are available.
Erika Monet Doula Services
Erika Ledin
Doula
erikaledin1@gmail.com
831.242.0211
I Love Helping People.
Becoming a doula feels like my personal calling. It is a work of the heart. Since I was a small child, I repeatedly watched the BBC series, “Call The Midwives” with fascination over the miracle of birth with all its twists and turns, love and pain, culminating in the little bundle of baby crying, “Hello world!” I realize becoming a doula requires in-depth training, sensitivity and patience. You’re serving mothers with physical, emotional, and educational support. Essentially, you are a childbirth companion to the family concerned. That requires a calm person who can multitask and exude confidence in the process.
At my own birth I was separated from my biological mother and placed into foster care in Sacramento. Fortunately, I was adopted into a loving family. Perhaps my drive to be a doula has been charged by my passion to make the passage to life for the mother and child as lovely and healing as possible. I learned about the Sierra Childbirth Institute from one of your graduates, Michelle Nizza, who has a midwifery clinic in Monterey called “Mums the Word.” She is waiting for me to get the training I need so I can assist her in her work, attending live births, and participating in what goes on from start to finish with pregnancy and birth. I truly want to be a doula.
Mid Drift Movement
Angie Sonrode
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Lactation Support
Overnight Specialist
Extensive experience with multiples
middriftmovement.com
middriftmovement@gmail.com
612.481.2911
My drive is supporting families; helping them identify their needs while meeting them where they are at, then helping to guide them to where they want to be. My journey to birthwork started after my first was born in 2003 when I gave birth with the invaluable help of my doula. A spark was planted and shortly after my second was born I completed my doula training and found that I was where I was supposed to be. two more kids and 16 years later I still have the same passion for supporting families and I have added Postpartum support (I LOVE overnights), Lactation support, Tuck-In services (to make sure you are all settled in after the birth) and Parent Coaching to the list of ever-growing ways I can help serve families. Being a mother to 4 kiddos does not mean I have all the answers, but it does mean I can be creative in problem-solving, multi-tasking and provide a non-judgmental ear (and that while haven’t seen it all, I have seen a LOT). I believe in shared experiences and laughter and will help you process all of the emotions and feelings that come along with the territory. Even though parenting can be one of the most incredibly gratifying things you will ever do, it can also push you to limits you didn’t know you had. Additionally, along the way I discovered a deep-rooted passion for postpartum parents and together with my partner started a 501 c3 non-profit dedicated to changing the conversation around postpartum bodies and expectations, called Mid Drift Movement. We are one episode complete in our ongoing Docu-series that addresses things like body image, postpartum changes and society's expectation that people “bounce back” after having a baby. I have spent the last 4 years conducting workshops, holding screenings of the Episode and helping people to love their postpartum bodies. While I do not have a website for my own doula business, you can see what I do with my crew on our Mid Drift Movement pages. Being able to play a small role in a family’s journey is an incredible honor and one that I do not take lightly. I am here to support you whatever your path may look like and I look forward to connecting with you.
Joyfully serving families and people of all kinds: LQBTQIA, adoptive, surrogate, parents of multiples, and choice parents. All are welcome here.
Creating Klarity Hypnotherapy
Klarity Coleman, CCHT, CYT, CBW
Clinical Hypnotherapist, Birth Worker, Prenatal Yoga Instructor
She/They
creatingklarity.com
hypnotherapy@creatingklarity.com
831-293-9297
2347 17th Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062
My name is Klarity Coleman and I am a Clinical Hypnotherapist, practicing professionally since 2006. My pronouns are she/they. I completed my Clinical Hypnotherapy training at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, AZ. I am a CCHT (Clinically Certified Hypnotherapist) with the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) and a Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT). I have practiced Yoga since 2001 and became certified as an instructor in 2009. I teach a variety of classes in private practice and provide individual sessions that are custom for clients. I was a Professor of Hypnotherapy for the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts for 9 years. I am an educator at heart and will guide you to your highest good. I specialize in addiction, insomnia, chronic pain, mood disorders, PTSD, fears/phobias, behavioral changes, self-esteem issues, birth, fertility, prenatal yoga, and weight management.
Calm Cradles Postpartum & Infant Care
Chesli Manzo
Postpartum & Infant Care Doula
http://www.calmcradles.com
cheslimanzo@gmail.com
(831) 275-0304
Hi! I’m Chesli Manzo, a certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula dedicated to supporting new families during this beautiful yet challenging time. My mission is to empower new mothers, helping them find confidence and peace as they navigate the early stages of parenthood. I provide compassionate in-home care that includes birth recovery support, nourishing meals, expert infant care, and emotional support tailored to each family's unique needs. Whether you’re seeking a helping hand with your new arrival or simply need someone to talk to who truly understands, I’m here to ensure your journey into motherhood is as serene and fulfilling as possible.
Modern Mama
Chelsea Freidenrich
Birth Doula
http://Modern-mama.co
hello@modern-mama.co
831-521-5800
Hey mama! I'm the founder of Modern Mama, birth doula trained by DTI, and I've got my CPR, AED, and First Aid certification from the American Heart Association. Plus, I'm mama to one amazing little boy. A little bit about me: You'll often find me championing women's rights and all things female empowerment. I'm a bit of an information junkie, totally hooked on books and always curious. I'm a proud Enneagram 2 with a wing 3, and yes, I'm all about gardening and whipping up some delicious, wholesome meals. Because let's face it, good health is pure gold, right? I'm a lefty, a bath enthusiast, and give me anything that smells like flowers, and I'm in heaven. Whether you’re looking for a full service birth doula or maybe just a little help creating a birth plan, I can be there for you every step of the way. I offer a free phone or video consultation to answer any questions and to see if we are a match. I’d love to meet you!
Birth & Postpartum Doulas
Ananda Doula Care
Ana Hernandez, CD, CPpD, IPCCP
Birth Doula
Postpartum Doula
anandadoula.com
ana@anandadoula.com
831.239.4893
Professional doula services that nurture and nourish your confidence, your innate wisdom and joy of birth and the mothering/parenting journey.
Now offering Certified Innate Traditions Postpartum Care that includes warming therapies, herbal steaming and sitz baths, belly binding, nutritional support, and more.
I am passionate about helping you design a fourth trimester of rest and renewal to support your (and your family’s) life long health, wellness and vitality.
Servicios en Español
Doula Cecily
Cecily Salazar
Certified Saltwater Birth Doula
Postpartum Doula
Certified BC Childbirth Educator
doulacecily.com
doulacecily@gmail.com
831.206.4465
My life philosophy is, there is no one right way to live and I take that with me in my birth work and believe there is no one right way to birth. Whether you are planning an all-natural physiologic birth, VBAC, planned induction or cesarean I can be there to help support you every step of the way.
Join me for an in-depth comprehensive childbirth education series. These classes are offered via zoom on a one-on-one basis with flexibility to schedule around your schedule.
This series is beneficial for families planning a hospital, birth center or home birth.
Servicios y clases disponibles en Español.
Doula Shauna
Shauna Worthington
doulashauna.com
doulashauna@gmail.com
707.799.5601
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Shauna is a locally trained Birth and Postpartum Doula offering support to families for hospital and out-of-hospital births. She is trained to mother the mother with Belly Binding, Postpartum Chef Services, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care.
Childbirth Education
Shauna is locally trained and certified by Lamaze International to provide Childbirth Education classes to those birthing in or out of the hospital. She will guide you through a personalized curriculum to fit your needs and educate you on what you need to know for Childbirth and Postpartum. You will come out of the class feeling confident, knowledgeable and prepared for your journey ahead.
Meal Services
Shauna has taken her love of cooking, background in culinary arts, and passion for the birthing community to offer you personalized chef services. Specially curating nourishing meals for you during your prenatal and postpartum transitions. Nutrient-dense food is important for physical, mental, and emotional recovery and stability during the transitional journey to and through parenthood.
Magnolia Dream Doula Services
Vanessa Ortega
Advocate Doula
Birth Doula
Full Spectrum Doula
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Doula
Postpartum Doula
Overnight Support
magnoliadreamdoula@gmail.com
831.975.3442
Hello, I am an Indigenous mother of two daughters and a birth and postpartum doula serving Monterey & Santa Cruz families. I started my journey with birth work after I gave birth to my first daughter. My experience with my Doula was incredibly sacred, and I believe all birthing people deserve this. I aim to reciprocate this energy I had with my pregnancy & healing. I understand the complexities & trauma that come along with BIPOC parents and their journey to bring in a new life into this world. I want to be a voice & advocate in whichever my clients wishes are.
Mid Drift Movement
Angie Sonrode
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Lactation Support
Overnight Specialist
Extensive experience with multiples
middriftmovement.com
middriftmovement@gmail.com
612.481.2911
My drive is supporting families; helping them identify their needs while meeting them where they are at, then helping to guide them to where they want to be. My journey to birthwork started after my first was born in 2003 when I gave birth with the invaluable help of my doula. A spark was planted and shortly after my second was born I completed my doula training and found that I was where I was supposed to be. two more kids and 16 years later I still have the same passion for supporting families and I have added Postpartum support (I LOVE overnights), Lactation support, Tuck-In services (to make sure you are all settled in after the birth) and Parent Coaching to the list of ever-growing ways I can help serve families. Being a mother to 4 kiddos does not mean I have all the answers, but it does mean I can be creative in problem-solving, multi-tasking and provide a non-judgmental ear (and that while haven’t seen it all, I have seen a LOT). I believe in shared experiences and laughter and will help you process all of the emotions and feelings that come along with the territory. Even though parenting can be one of the most incredibly gratifying things you will ever do, it can also push you to limits you didn’t know you had. Additionally, along the way I discovered a deep-rooted passion for postpartum parents and together with my partner started a 501 c3 non-profit dedicated to changing the conversation around postpartum bodies and expectations, called Mid Drift Movement. We are one episode complete in our ongoing Docu-series that addresses things like body image, postpartum changes and society's expectation that people “bounce back” after having a baby. I have spent the last 4 years conducting workshops, holding screenings of the Episode and helping people to love their postpartum bodies. While I do not have a website for my own doula business, you can see what I do with my crew on our Mid Drift Movement pages. Being able to play a small role in a family’s journey is an incredible honor and one that I do not take lightly. I am here to support you whatever your path may look like and I look forward to connecting with you.
Joyfully serving families and people of all kinds: LQBTQIA, adoptive, surrogate, parents of multiples, and choice parents. All are welcome here.
MOJA Yoga & Wellness
Megan Cassamas
Certified Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Instructor
Birth Doula & Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula
moja.yoga
megan@moja.yoga
Facebook Instagram
831.747.4547
Megan offers a holistic, nurturing and effective approach to supporting women and families. Megan has been teaching yoga since 2013 and is trained extensively in prenatal & postnatal yoga as well as mindfulness for kids. Megan is a certified Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula and Birth Doula offering full circle care from preconception, during pregnancy, labor/birth, the postpartum period and beyond! She works with women around the world as a conduit for health and wellness in the field of Yoga and Ayurveda. Her mission is to create safe spaces for women to return to themselves and witness their potential through women’s circles, retreats, ceremony & ritual. A resonant blend of science, spirit and nature infuse her life and her work.
Maryssa Hernandez
Doula Services
Loss, Birth, Postpartum Doula
Lactation Education Counselor
maryssahernandez.com
doulamaryssa@gmail.com
442-286-2870
Above all else, I believe every person deserves care that is aware and inclusive of their values, lifestyle, and environment. I also fully trust that you already know what's best. As a doula, I'm here to provide the care, support, evidence-based resources, and tools to make navigating all of this a little easier on you. My goal is to empower you to advocate for yourself in order to have the experience that you want. I'm here to meet you wherever you are in each moment.
As someone with lived-experience as a biracial individual (second-generation Mexican-American) raised in a multicultural & blended family, I'm especially passionate about providing support to those that identify as members of historically resilient communities.
I understand that receiving care from someone we feel connected to can be invaluable. I offer a free consultation to provide a space to talk through your unique hopes, fears, and needs so that you feel good about moving forward with me being a part of your support crew.
Nanyotlzin Birth Postpartum Services
Reyna Toledo
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Theta Therapist
www.a-ama.com
nanyotlwomb@gmail.com
831.776.8328
Nanyotlzin Birth and Postpartum Services began when I gave birth to my first child. I became aware of the immense vulnerability a woman experiences while bringing a child into this world, sparking a passion to change the lives of birthing mothers and their families for the better. In my doula practice, I provide empathy, empowerment, and support. Weaving my Indigenous and contemporary Healing practices.
One of the most cherished and divine ceremonies in humanity is the birthing of a child. Being present through this journey is an honor. First, I assist you and your relatives with hands on support. Second, I provide personalized guidance and substance at four different levels — mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. Third, I utilize Theta therapy technique to help you navigate past, present, and future birth related experiences and I also work with cranial vagus nerve therapy to assist both mother and father to be prepare for their precious Jewel!
Portal Birthwork
Clara Miller
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Perinatal Yoga Instructor
portalbirthwork.com
portalbirthwork@gmail.com
415.244.8352
Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
As a certified birth and postpartum doula I work with families to facilitate empowered and easeful transitions into parenthood. I offer grounded and nourishing whole family care with the ultimate goal of protecting the sacredness of the birth and postpartum time. I am also a certified yoga teacher with perinatal classes held at The Circle in Aptos, a meditation instructor, avid home cook, and amateur folk herbalist.
I offer a sliding scale and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
3 Elders
Postpartum Doula
https://www.3-elders.com/
carly@3-elders.com
925-330-3354
My name is Carly Riley and my journey into this work began after the births of my two beautiful daughters. Experiencing firsthand the challenges and gaps in postpartum support, I felt a deep calling to help other Mothers and families navigate this delicate and transformational time. As a result, I dove into various workshops and training sessions which resulted in my Postpartum Doula Certification. In my practice, I draw upon universal principles of postpartum support found in many traditions that focus on: nourishment, warmth, support, loving touch and rest.
I believe that "it takes a village" to nurture and empower mothers and families. If a Mother is properly tended to in the first few weeks after giving birth, she will emerge with a body that is vibrant, a mind that is clear, and a relationship with baby/family that are deepened.
My goal is to create a nurturing space where Mothers & the family unit feel empowered and validated in their journey through early parenthood.
Postpartum care for a Mother should not be viewed as a luxury but a necessity so families and future generations can flourish.
I look forward to connecting with you and being a part of your village during this incredible chapter of your life.
I speak English and use she/her pronouns.
Sarah Denton
Doula Services
Full Spectrum Doula
www.SarahDentonDoulaServices.com
sarahdentondoulaservices@gmail.com
408.687.9171
I am a full-spectrum doula trained by Doula Trainings International (DTI) and hold a Bachelor's degree from San Jose State University. After experiencing the challenges new parents face firsthand with the arrival of my own two children, I dedicated myself to improving support for families during this transformative time. I firmly believe in the power of community, as captured by the phrase “it takes a village.” I am committed to being that supportive presence for your family, guiding you through every aspect of the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.
Postpartum Doulas
Earth Milk Moon, Inc.
Krista Tarantino RN, IBCLC
Postpartum Wellness Provider
International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant
Earth Milk Moon was consciously created with the intention of supporting women and their partners through the physical, emotional and spiritual transitions that come with conception, birth and parenthood. Our method is grounded in teaching and encouraging women to connect to their intuition through evidence-based education, empowerment and connection to their foundations of culture and spirituality. Guided by experienced and specialty-trained Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, our focus is on helping women stay connected, informed and conscious from conception to pregnancy, postpartum, miscarriages, loss, adoption and all experiences in between. We recognize that life shifts can feel lonely and we believe in the power of support. We work to instill in you the knowledge and connection to your intuition that you need when it comes to navigating the complex healthcare system and the transition into motherhood.
Coastal Doula & Lactation
Vanessa Wennstrom
Postpartum Doula
Lactation Counselor, CLC
coastaldoulaandlactation.com
scprimroseandlace@gmail.com
831.325.5030
Offering nursing bra fittings in the comfort of your own home and at select venues/events (see website for our collection of bras and event updates). In addition, as a Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counselor, CLC, I am honored to support our local families as they transition through each new journey.
Anne Jensen
Empowered Infant Feeding
Certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula
Certified Infant Feeding Educator
empoweredinfantfeeding.com
anne@empoweredinfantfeeding.com
Services Offered: Postpartum Planning Sessions Formula Feeding Consultations (in-home & virtual)
You may have heard of a birth-plan, and those are important and so helpful! I also believe that just as much attention, and intention, should be spent planning the days and weeks after you welcome your baby home.
Becoming a parent is a form of culture shock! Discussing plans and expectations with your partner or other support network can help smooth out some of the bumps along the journey. We’ll tailor your Postpartum Plan around your family’s unique circumstances, but some topics we may cover include: early plans and education for postpartum healing, New Parent Leave decisions for you and your partner, car seat safety resources, delegating housekeeping tasks, plans for feeding (both you and the baby!), sleep preferences, communicating boundaries to family and friends, identifying your support network, signs of Postpartum Mood & Anxiety disorders, and more.
Additionally, as a Certified Infant Feeding Educator, I can also help navigate discussions about feeding choices for your baby. We have many wonderful IBCLCs and other lactation professionals if breastfeeding is your goal. Due to my experience and journey as a new mom, I became an IFE because I needed professional education and support for including formula feeding in my feeding plans, and there wasn’t anyone in our community who did that! So if you find yourself needing to supplement with formula a bit in that first week or two, or you want to discuss combo feeding long-term, or switch exclusively to formula, I can come to you and provide education and support to help you do that safely, without any judgment. You'll learn how to prepare formula properly, feed in a way that supports your baby’s digestion and also protects your breastfeeding relationship (if that’s important to you), choose the right formula, troubleshoot, and simply feel supported and confident in your feeding decisions for your family.
Pomegranate Birth Companion
Julianne Bellin
Postpartum Doula - They/Them
www.pomegranatebirthcompanion.com
831.291.3620
pomegranatebirthcompanion@gmail.com
I am a queer, neurodivergent, mixed race nonbinary person. I support you prenatally and postpartum with information, questions, rituals, and baked goods and teas to nourish your body and spirit. I am a Mayyim Hayyim-trained mikveh guide and available for nondenominational rituals to mark the points important to you in your perinatal period. We'll plan together so you are empowered through all your decisions and any surprises, with a cup of herbal tea and a slice of homemade bread with magical jam.
Crows Nest Doula Services
Lindsey Crow
Postpartum Doula
crowsnestdoulacare@gmail.com
Hi there, my name is Lindsey. I am a long time local of Pacific Grove where I currently live with my husband and our two kids. I enjoy beach walks with our dogs and spending time with family!
A little bit about my background, I grew up as the town nanny/babysitter. I went the early childhood development route in college and became a preschool teacher. I then opened a small in home daycare and ran that before the pandemic. Realizing the newborn stage is my niche I got my training to become a postpartum doula through CAPPA.
As a postpartum doula, I am very passionate about keeping the household as a whole, running smoothly! My services are catered to each families specific needs. The postpartum period is a very treasured and intimate time and I take pride in connecting with each family uniquely.