The Best of Both Worlds (BoBW) program offers a low-cost doula option that combines decades of hands-on experience with the enthusiasm and energy of a newly trained doula.
After attending more than 700 hospital births, doula and author, tracy hartley, created the Best of Both Worlds (BoBW) program to give expectant parents something rare: the wisdom of a highly experienced doula combined with the enthusiasm and availability of a trained, newer, in-person doula. The result is affordable, personalized support without sacrificing expert guidance.
Virtual access to tracy’s wisdom in hospital birth preparation gained from hundreds of births.
In-person support from a highly trained, energetic doula attending your birth.
Affordable, comprehensive care that blends experience, support, and personal attention.
Whether you bring your own doula or choose one from our BoBW team, you’ll receive:
Are you a doula looking to gain real-world experience while working under the guidance of a highly experienced mentor?
Tracy has owned and operated B*E*S*T (Birth Empowerment Support Team) Doula Service since 1996 and has supported more than 700 babies and families during pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum. She is the author of 700 Babies: Expectant Parent’s Survival Guide to Hospital Births (2nd Edition), the book that will help you understand and navigate hospital policies, procedures, and protocols safely and with confidence. She has also written a book for doulas: 700 Births: A Doula’s Survival Guide to Hospital Births)
She was awarded Doula of the Year in 2004 and Doula Mentor of the Year in 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2015 by the Doulas Association of Southern California (DASC), and she received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Taba has been a doula since 2008
What “non-doula” skills or talents do you bring to your doula work?
Negotiation/Advocacy training is what sets me apart, and I’m a great educator so my clients know how and when to peacefully advocate for their choices. I hold space non-judgementally, so any change of plans is fine with me. And, some people even think I’m funny!What’s your favorite “fun fact” about birth?
That grandma’s had the egg from which the baby grew inside HER, when she was pregnant with the baby’s mama! I love that!Describe your dream client.
She has chosen a careprovider she trusts, she has a birthplace where she feels safe, a partner who is attuned and supportive, she has taken the time to educate herself about what she’s curious about, and she values the support a doula can provide.How do you enjoy spending free time?
I make upcycled cashmere quilts from thrifted sweaters! I stock a Free Little (children’s) Library so I hit thrift stores looking for board books and cashmere sweaters with holes.
What “non-doula” skills or talents do you bring to your doula work?
I’m an insomniac! I am used to being up in the middle of the night, which makes me a great doula. I’m a curious person. I want to know how things work and why. I’m big on research and finding evidence based solutions to any concern, and particularly birth related concerns.What’s your favorite “fun fact” about birth?
Once the baby is born, the birthing person’s chest acts as a thermostatically controlled warmer for the baby. If the baby is cold, the birthing person’s chest heats up and if the baby is too warm, their chest cools down. Freakin’ amazing!Describe your dream client.
Anyone who’s pregnant! I’ve had so many different clients with different experiences in life and I’ve learned from all of them. The only client that might not be right for me is one with an overbearing partner that wants to make all the decisions. Bodily autonomy belongs to the birthing person and while I completely respect the couple as a decision-making team, it is ultimately the birthing person‘s decision on what happens to their body.How do you enjoy spending free time?
As a mom of adult children, I love taking time off to go visit them where they live in New York. I’m also a wife to a wonderful husband and I love spending time with him. He’s a musician and I love to go hear him play at clubs or going out together to see other bands play. I really enjoy my many pets. I have three dogs, two cats, and I’m a chicken farmer. They all provide a lot of amusement and joy.Our team of compassionate, skilled doulas is the heart of B*E*S*T Doula Service. Each doula brings a unique blend of experience, training, and passion to support families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
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