'); printWindow.document.close(); // Open print dialog printWindow.print(); });
Free Consultation

Best of Both Worlds Doulas

The Best of Both Worlds (BoBW) program combines decades of hands-on experience with the enthusiasm and vitality of a newly trained doula.

Experience Meets Energy

One of Los Angeles’ most experienced doulas, tracy hartley, created the Best of Both Worlds (BoBW) program to combine decades of hands-on experience with the enthusiasm and vitality of a newly trained doula.

This unique program gives you:

Virtual access to tracy’s wisdom 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.

Get in touch

For Expecting Parents

Whether you bring your own doula or choose one from our BoBW team, you’ll receive:

  • Personalized childbirth education and preparation.
  • Continuous support throughout labor and delivery.
  • The confidence of having both hands-on support and expert guidance anytime you need it.
Let me know how i can help

For Doulas: Join the BoBW Program

Are you a doula looking to gain real-world experience while working under the guidance of a highly experienced mentor?

  • Attend births with the support of an expert doula.
  • Gain confidence and practical experience in labor support.
  • Connect with families seeking compassionate, hands-on care.
Sign Up for BoBW Training

Meet The Experienced Virtual Doulas

tracy hartley

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 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.

Tabare Depaep

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.

Margie Levy

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.

Meet The In-Person Doulas

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.

Monica Flores Plascencia

Doula

Fredi Weitzel

Doula

Isabel Flanders

Doula

Violet Szabo

Doula

Sarah McAdams

Doula

Natalia Quintana

Doula

Glory Tobiason

Doula