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

FAQ

We know that choosing a doula or preparing for birth comes with a lot of questions, and that’s completely normal!

Our job is to provide you with the best information about the risks and side effects of the epidural and to support whatever decision you make. We are not the epidural police — we want you to do what you need to do to have the birth that is right for you, whether or not that includes pain medication. We can help you get the epidural at the best time so that it doesn’t create a “cascade of interventions.”

The right doula for you is the one with whom you feel most comfortable. Ask yourself, “if I were stuck in an elevator with one of these doulas, which one would make me feel the safest and also keep me entertained in case we’re there for a long time?”

Yes! You are welcome to interview several doulas from the group, either by phone or in person. Because birth is unpredictable, there is no way to know for sure which doula would be available for backup, but in 29 years, I’ve needed backup fewer than 10 times, so it’s not likely that you will need a backup doula.

As I approach retirement, I am only attending 1 birth a month. That leaves room in my schedule for former clients who are having another baby and for last minute clients who suddenly find themselves in need of a doula.

There is a wide range of fees for doulas, depending on the number of births they’ve attended and the number and type of services they offer. The prices for services are listed on the Cost page. We are happy to help you find a doula who meets your price requirements. We can sometimes help you find a brand new doula who charges just enough to cover her expenses (gas, parking, childcare, etc.) Virtual support is always available at a reduced fee. Please see What Does a Doula Cost for more detailed information.

For a complete breakdown, please read the handout on a doula’s fees.

Yes! I prepare couples for birth by going over pregnancy tips, hospital protocols, how to advocate for yourself in a hospital setting, caring for your newborn baby, and more. In fact, my classes are virtual now, so you can attend from the comfort of your home! The only additional class you’ll need to take outside of my series is infant CPR.
These classes are included with our labor support services – or you can just sign up for the classes on their own. Head over to our Cost page for more info, or get in touch and we can go over your options together!

Yes. I have experienced pregnancy, labor, birth and raising children. Each of my birth experiences were as different from each other as they will be from yours.

My birth experiences took place a long, long time ago and have no effect on your birth or how I work with you. Each birth is unique and my job is to focus on your needs and your experience, not my own.

We have a list of hospitals posted at the bottom of our Contact Us page! If your hospital is not listed, let us know in the contact form and we’ll notify you if we have anyone in that area who can support you.

No, but many clients have been reimbursed for doula services, up to 70% of the fee paid. We will provide an invoice which you can submit to your insurance company after your birth. Some of the BoBW doulas accept insurance, including Medi-Cal, Carrot, and Kaiser.

No. I was a DONA certified birth doula for 18 years, but have allowed my certification to lapse. I am continuing my education on my own and have chosen not to be certified at this time, although I will continue to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of DONA International, CAPPA, and DASC (Doulas Association of Southern California).

When you hire any doula from B*E*S*T, you hire EVERY doula from B*E*S*T. We all back each other up so that no one ever has to give birth without a doula.

I will make every effort to provide the services described herein. If I fail to attend your birth due to my error and am unable to provide a backup doula, there will be no charge for my services beyond the retainer fee, which covers the cost of the prenatal visit(s), handouts, and my “on-call” availability. If it is due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control (for example, natural catastrophic events or an extremely rapid labor), we will split the agreed upon balance. If it is due to your failure to call me, I will keep, or you will owe me, the agreed upon full fee for service.

Your doula regularly attends c-sections and will provide support through that process as long as the hospital will allow it. If you are having a scheduled c-section and your hospital will not allow your doula to be there, B*E*S*T will give you a coupon for $400 toward your next birth or provide 4 hours of postpartum care to make up for lost support time. You are free to use this any time, whether in the hospital immediately following the birth or later, in your home. This only applies to scheduled c-sections where there has been no labor support or on-call time prior to surgery.

The fee for doula services covers the prenatal visits, on call time, limiting the number of additional clients, etc. You and your doula are both hoping for a birth that lasts a reasonable amount of time. If you are lucky enough to have a very short labor, everyone ‘wins’ and if you have a very long labor, your doula will be there for as long as you need her to be and not charge you any more money.

I believe that most women are able to give birth with little or no medical intervention and that any intervention should be that woman’s choice, assuming there is no legitimate medical need for the intervention.

My job is to help a birthing person achieve the birth they want and to support the their wishes and goals. I don’t make decisions for my clients or expect them to give birth in any particular way — I give my clients the information they need to make good birth choices and support their decisions.

During your pregnancy, I am always available for telephone and/or e-mail support. I am available to answer questions after your birth, but I’m not a postpartum doula and will refer you to someone more qualified to help with newborn care if I don’t have the answers you need.

I prefer that you call me when you think you are in labor or as soon as your bag of waters has released, even if you do not yet need me. Together we will decide if I should come right away or wait for further change. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We will also decide whether to meet at your home or the birth place.

That will depend on the circumstances at the time. I generally meet with clients at their home and we labor together before transporting to the hospital or birth center. If your labor is moving quickly and you go to the hospital before I can arrive at your home, I will meet you at the hospital.

I saw a segment on the Today Show in 1996 while getting ready to go to work. When I came home from work that day, I researched doulas and signed up for training. The next day, I gave notice at work, where I’d been happily working for 6 years! That was more than 29 years ago and I still love being a doula as much as I did when I saw my first birth.

If you think you might want to become a doula, please read What’s it Like to Be a Birth Doula?

It is likely that we have worked with your care provider, but if we have NOT worked with the one you’ve chosen, it does not necessarily mean that your doctor or midwife is not doula friendly. There are many wonderful doctors and midwives in the greater Los Angeles area, with new ones arriving and starting or joining existing practices all the time. If you have a care provider with whom we have not worked, we are happy to attend a prenatal visit with you to meet them.

All prenatal classes are virtual, but ​I can do them in person. I charge more for in-person meetings to cover the travel time and gas. For meetings at my office, $25 will be added to the cost. For meetings at your home or a public space, $75 will be added per meeting, if less than 15 miles from my home and $100 will be added per meeting, if 15 or more miles from my office.

I’m interested in hiring a doula — what’s the next step?

It’s always a good idea to meet with more than one doula before deciding who feels right for you. You can start by booking a free 30-minute virtual consultation to ask questions and see if we’re a good fit.

If you’d like a deeper dive into everything doula support includes, you can also schedule a 90-minute educational session that walks you through all the essentials of birth preparation. Simply fill out the contact form, and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours (unless I’m attending a birth!).

book a 30 min call
Contact for Introductory Class

Our Experience Is Your Advantage

Hear what our incredible customers have to say!

Thanks Goodness tracy was there. All I can say, I couldn’t have done it without her help, support and guidance. She was a guiding light for me, someone I trusted and could turn to when I found myself freaking out. She is very cool, calm and collected and puts you at ease, even in the throws of labor. She does her absolute best to make you feel comfortable and knows her way around a hospital setting. Worth every penny.

Sheena R.

Tracy is super supportive and comforting. Having Tracy next to me during my daughter’s labor gave me the strength and confidence I needed during L&D. With the expansive knowledge Tracy has she was able to provide me with guidance to make my labor more relaxed and enjoyable! Beautiful Soul!!!

Zorina P.

Tracy was the most caring and compassionate doula. She helped me tremendously throughout my pregnancy and helped me make the best decision for both me and my baby.

Natalia G

I had no idea she took so many pictures and detailed notes of everything such a wonderful surprise to look back!

Rebecca B

First of all, I love that Tracy took “notes” along the way, so when all was said & done, we had a clear picture of what happened when. Otherwise, it would have been a blur! Tracy was so easy to “be” around. I never felt uncomfortable, even at my most vulnerable state. She was the “safe place” and made us confident in our decisions.

Kristin B

Tracy’s support prepared me exceptionally well for my birth. My husband and I felt her one-on-one teachings were invaluable. Her presence, support and excellent encouragement helped me feel powerful as a life-giving woman. The presence of a doula is indispensable for us for our 1st birth and future ones! Also, tracy helped us navigate the hospital process, which helped make our experience simply amazing.

Caroline W

As soon as tracy arrived next to me and gave that warm reassurance, I knew I was in good hands and that it was going to be okay. When the monitors lost my baby’s heartbeat for 4 minutes, tracy calmed me and talked me through it without her I would have lost it with worry. It kept me present and focused on the task at hand, and overall let me know everything was normal and ok, one step at a time.

Brooke D

Having tracy there at our baby’s birth gave me an ease of mind. I had a lot of anxiety due to my baby’s breech position. Tracy knows her way around the hospital and even knows the medical staff, which created a very positive atmosphere at our birthing room. She was calm and encouraging, which helped me tremendously during contractions.

Ruby Y

She was essential. Sometimes she was more helpful than my husband, and I wanted to have her support more than his.

Carolina L

I simply could not have gone through my labor and delivery without Tracy by my side, hand on my back, guiding my husband with her wisdom and experience on how they could work together to best care for me. Her attitude was remarkable through the grueling labor and her endurance spectacular.

Rebecca T

Tracy quickly became a friend. She listened to us and shaped the experience on our wishes and always made us feel confident and comfortable. Her warmth and kindness helped every step of the way. Her conversations with both my mom and our OBGYN were enormously helpful at a scary time.

Christina B

Tracy was amazing and was able to calm Sheena down when she was very worried and afraid. I cannot imagine doing this without her.

McDonald R

The 3 meetings prior to delivery date were extremely helpful. Following the handouts and explanations for contractions (411) helped us achieve a natural birth with no epidural/drugs. Watching the birthing videos helped calm my fears and negate any “horror” stories told to me by family/friends.

Daisy M

Tracy is a very calming presence. Her experience in the birthing process is so reassuring.

Lysandra P

Tracy gave us fantastic support before, during, and after our birth. I feel like Tracy educated us really well, so I don’t feel like there was anything I didn’t know.

Allison R

Tracy is a valuable resource to the community of birthing women and all that are involved in the birth process. It is important to have a doula who is experienced and well-educated and who will act as an advocate for you and your pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum care.

Anna S

Great support before the birth with a lot of helpful information in the info sessions. Very prompt in showing up for triage.

Alexandra M

Thank you so very, very much for the photos – they are priceless. Before the birth, I didn’t think I would want/need pictures of the birthday (besides a newborn pic) . But when I look at these now it’s overwhelming and I am so thankful that you captured these moments THANK YOU!!! I wish I had hired you for my first baby’s birth too!

Cathy O

Tracy’s knowledge about preparing for birth, the birth process, and preparing for life with a new baby was invaluable. Much of the process is shrouded with mystery and tracy helps remove the mystery and help you feel ready and at ease.

Monica T

Tracy support before, during, and after our daughter’s birth helped us achieve a perfect outcome despite of having to make several tough decisions along the way. When we needed caring and knowledge, she exuded these qualities in abundance. We felt cared for, protected, and safe with Tracy.

Jessica W

With Tracy’s help I was able to accomplish my goal of an unmedicated natural childbirth. She helped me to trust my body’s ability to give birth. She gave me encouragement when I had doubt. She also provided me with all of the information and learning material to be mentally prepared. Without her help, I’m not sure the goal would have been reached.

Jennifer H