Find a Midwife Near Me in California

Ani-La Anat Phil-Golan is a certified Doula CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) , pre-natal yoga and baby yoga instructor in Southern California. Ani-La Anat graduated from Dona International / Bini Birth where she received her doula certification. She studied at the prestigious Adler Institute in Israel where she was a facilitator for new parents and she took Psychotherapy courses in Har Hatzofim University in Jerusalem. At the Wingate Institute, Israel's National Centre for Physical Education and Sport, Ani-La Anat studied Baby development, Hydrotherapy and gymnastics. She also specialized to work with kids with special needs. Ani-La Anat is the mother of three beautiful adult children. Ani-La Anat has a multi-layered life: she was born and raised in Jerusalem Israel and then met her husband while serving her country. She raised her children in Kibbutz Ein-Gedi in Israel, which is known for being the lowest place in the world. She moved to the city (Kohav Yair) for 9 years and then relocated with her family to the Los Angeles area in 2007 to expand her life and her practice of Doula, Reiki and Yoga. In this strong pursuit, Anat Ani-La has traveled to India to study, work with masters and to develop her own unique style, blending Yoga and nutrition, sensitivity and physiology and the teachings of the ages across many cultures to support women who bring life into this magical world. Her clients lovingly call her Ani-la, which means “I am here for her”/ "I am answering you” in Hebrew And in Hindu it means “Buddhist monk\nun.” Both of these definitions describe truly what Ani-La Anat does for women and their children. Anat Ani-La has additionally studied Pre-Natal Yoga, Baby Yoga and Indian Massage through studies in Nepal in the heart of the Himalayan Mountains. Anat Ani-La has brought into her spiritual journey the teachings of Yoga to provide a sensitive and beautiful experience for expecting mothers and their babies. She has also studied and practiced the many facets of Western, Eastern, and Far-Eastern culture throughout her life. Anat Ani-La is a 4th Degree Reiki Master and a Yogi, avidly embracing the “Heart Tibetan Yoga” method. Anat Ani-La works out of her own Agoura Hills, CA studio/Clinic where she offers Reiki treatments, tuning chakras, Sound Bowl healing and life coaching. She is integrating other techniques Additionally, and she leads Retreats and workshops with large groups of people for Yoga, guiding meditation, Reiki teaching Classes for Master, life skills and breathing. Anat Ani-La’s wisdom has been enhanced through her study of Jewish Kabbalah and Buddhism with many masters during the years. Giving of oneself with love and support has always been at the center of Anat Ani-La’s ethos. This involvement has given back to Anat Ani-La in the form of active training as a paramedic aide and ambulance driver with the renowned Magen David Adom emergency medical support in Israel and in many hospitals in India training in the labor room, the Surgery room for C-Section, and throughout the maternity department. Anat Ani-la is also an artist, a Blacksmith and brings her expertise in Feng-Shui into the birthing room to ensure that all aspects of physical, spiritual, and emotional elements are in harmony.

As a postpartum doula, I am part of your village! I am a mom too!I know how overwhelmed I felt at the idea of bringing a newborn home, recovering from birth, and trying to breastfeed. Since the birth of my daughter, I have worked with many families, helping them thrive during the early postpartum period.

Hi there! My name is Autumn Baker and I am a certified doula, childbirth educator, and certified lactation counselor based in Baldwin Park, CA. I am passionate about connecting families with the services, education and resources they need to attain their pregnancy, birth, and parenting goals. I have had the privilege of serving families in these ways since 2019 and find joy in engaging with the community in new ways through a variety of events and classes. When I'm not somewhere discussing birth, I'm homeschooling my three kiddos, connecting with church family, or laughing with my husband of 12 years.

I am a wife, mom of three and a certified doula. I trained to be a doula in 2016 with the International Center for Traditional Childbearing. I trained also with the National Black Doulas Association, I am certified and a member of this organization as well. I have been working full time as a doula since June of 2019. I love educating my clients, supporting and helping them to advocate for the births that they want. My philosophy around birth and working with clients is that it's your birth. I am here to educate you and support you in your decisions.

Hello, my name is Stephanie Reynolds and I am a Birth and Lactation Doula and a Naturopath in Redwood Valley, California. My passion is to help empower individuals to live their lives in a positive and impactful self-awareness and self-advocation. As a Doula and a Naturopath I believe in providing education that will empower the laboring person throughout the pregnancy and childbirth process enabling the pregnant person and their partner to focus on the birthing experience. I strive to create a positive environment without judgement for all in the birthing process by providing informational, emotional, and physical support.

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, in a vibrant half-Italian, half-Irish family. My mother, a Lamaze instructor, taught childbirth classes in our home, immersing me in the world of pregnancy and childbirth from a young age. As the eldest of four siblings and 16 grandchildren, I was surrounded by babies, which fostered a deep sense of normalcy and wonder around the birthing process. When my husband and I decided to start our own family, we were eager to learn all we could about pregnancy and childbirth. We enthusiastically devoured books and resources on the subject and took childbirth classes. I was elated to have unmedicated births supported by a wonderful doula, and we welcomed our boys into the world in 2004 and 2006. Our family includes two rescue puppies and guinea pig. ​ After exploring various creative and administrative positions, I yearned for a more fulfilling career path. Inspired by my own positive birthing experiences, I became a doula and gained extensive experience supporting births in homes, birth centers, and hospitals throughout the greater Los Angeles area. My passion for this work blossomed, leading me to further my training, education and commitment to birthing families by answering the call to become a midwife. After years of dedication, study, apprenticeship, and skill development, I graduated from the MEAC-accredited National Midwifery Institute. I earned my Certified Professional Midwife credential with the North American Registry of Midwives and am a Licensed Midwife by the Medical Board of California.

My journey into the world of doula work is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and commitment to serving marginalized communities. As a Black Jamaican queer woman who has navigated the complexities of raising a family and building a career in diverse environments, I have come to understand the profound impact of culturally competent and empathetic support during the transformative experiences of reproductive care and justice framework, childbirth, lactation, postpartum, newborn care, bereavement and grief support. I began my career as a full-spectrum doula inspired by my own birthing challenges and experiences, I am a mother of 4 (twin daughter 33 and sons 25 and 22), however, what struck me harder than my own challenges, were the facts, stories, challenges and barriers that black mothers/birthers and their infants were experiencing. The Black maternal/prenatal and infant mortality rate in America is alarming and according to the CDC, “Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women/birthers was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is higher than the rates for White (19.0), Hispanic (16.9), and Asian (13.2) women/birthers. Some factors that contribute to these disparities include: Variation in quality healthcare, Underlying chronic conditions, Structural racism, Implicit bias, and lack of access to paid parental leave.” I wanted to be part of the solution, I began by becoming a newborn care specialist and now I've expanded my services to include full-spectrum doula, radical reproductive justice advocacy, death, grief, end-of-life doula and future IBCLC and midwife. Beginning with self, propelled me into what had been calling me for decades. Here I am, more ready than ever to expand my career and serve my community. Helping others understand the unique challenges black birthers face, is one of my goals, understanding the problems is the first step in working towards the solution. The realization I found is that many Black families do not receive the support they need to thrive. These realizations propelled me into expanding my career as a newborn care specialist to include full-spectrum doula, lactation educator, death and end-of-life doula and currently working towards becoming a childbirth educator, IBCLC and eventually a midwife. My work has always been centered around advocacy for BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, ensuring that all families, regardless of their background, receive the compassionate and personalized care they deserve. In my practice I center black and brown folks and prioritize a holistic approach that encompasses not only the physical aspects of reproductive health care but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of my clients, their partners and their family members. I believe that they all deserve to feel empowered, respected, and supported throughout the birthing person's journey and other reproductive health care scenarios. This belief drives me to provide comprehensive care that includes prenatal visits, continuous labor support, immediate postpartum lactation support, postpartum visits, newborn care and when needed abortion support, bereavement and grief support. My goal is to create a safer and nurturing environment where my clients, their partners, and family members, can feel heard, valued, and confident in the birthing person’s birth choices and beyond. Whatever their reproductive heath care needs may be. One of the core tenets of my philosophy is the importance of community and connection. I actively engage with support groups, and I'm looking forward to connecting with clinics, hospitals, community and faith-based organizations, and through social media, to support and advocate for reproductive health care rights and justice, recruiting clients and building a network of support. I understand that addressing the disproportionately high rates of Black/African American infant and maternal/prenatal/infant mortality rates in this country requires a collective effort. By fostering strong relationships within communities, I aim to raise awareness of the value of Black doula support and ensure that more Black families have access to these vital services. I am committed to continuous learning and professional development. Attending trainings on lactation, trauma-informed care, full spectrum doula support, newborn care, lactation education, bereavement and grief support, billing and including sliding scales to increase accessibility, and data collection allows me to provide the highest standard of care and to be inclusive to my clients and my community. Moreover, I value the opportunity to present my work and facilitate client support groups, as these activities help to amplify the voices of Black families and promote best practices and cultural traditions, within the doula community. What matters most to me when supporting clients and their families is their autonomy and dignity. EVERY birthing person should have the RIGHT to make informed decisions about their care, and it is my role to provide them with the information, resources, and emotional support they need to do so. I strive to be a compassionate advocate, a reliable partner, and a source of strength for my clients, their families and the communities I serve, by helping them navigate their unique paths to parenthood, reproductive health care, midlife care and through death/dying/end-of-life care, bereavement, and grief, with confidence and grace and to provide support to their folks and to communities in which they live.

I’m a birth doula who finds uniqueness in each pregnancy and birth I support. I am honored to witness the beautiful transition into parenthood with my clients. My goal as a doula is to ensure my clients are truly informed about their options and feel empowered to make impactful decisions about their birth. I support all types of births and have witnessed unmedicated, vaginal births all the way to emergency c-sections and everything in between. I will support my clients in whatever decision they make for themselves and their families and give them the information needed along the way.

I am a birth doula with DONA International, a Lactation Educator and Counselor through U.C. San Diego and a E-RYT 200 and RPYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher) with the Yoga Alliance. During the perinatal period, I strive to help parents feel educated, supported and cared for through this transformational time in their lives. I combine evidence based information, yoga philosophy and trust in physiological birth to help parents feel empowered on their journey into parenthood.

Hi mama! I’m a birth doula who provides in person and virtual support and childbirth education. I have a deep passion for all things home birth. I’m honored to be here to get to hold space for you and your birth.

I spent the first six years of my career working in early childhood education. First working in a daycare, then moving onto preschool, and later working as a nanny. My time in early childhood gave me a great appreciation of mothers, children, and families. I found it incredibly rewarding to be welcomed into someone’s home and life to care for their most precious possession. As I worked in early childhood I simultaneously took certifications in my other passion, fitness. I began to learn about anatomy and how different perinatal bodies are to women who have not given birth. One of my trainings stated that 80% of women will be pregnant (and eventually postpartum) at some point in their lives. This special consideration stuck with me. It wasn’t until my husband and I decided to try for children that I fully understood the wonder of fertility, pregnancy, and birth. I became obsessed with devouring all the information I could on these topics and finally stumbled upon Ina May’s guide to childbirth. This book completely changed how I viewed birth and melted my fears of childbirth away. However, by the time I became pregnant navigating the often confusing OB and even midwifery world left me feeling dizzy. The entire process left me feeling disempowered and I knew I couldn’t go into giving birth from this space. This pushed me to train to be a birth doula to ensure I would have a positive pregnancy and birth experience. The training helped me to understand physiological birth, navigating the medical world, and what I wanted even in the event of an unplanned obstacle. I finally felt confident I could handle whatever labor could throw at me. My passion for birth was born out of necessity and I plan to use that same level of devotion to help other women. I truly believe my unique skill set and experiences have lead me to the field of birth work. I created Fit to Birth to combine all my knowledge and passions. I hope to provide resources, education, and support to pregnant women in Sacramento and beyond.

Nurturing growing families in our local community is our passion! We support women & families in our community throughout pregnancy, birth, & postpartum recovery. We offer childbirth education, body balancing for a smoother labor/birth & continuous birth doula services, including emotional, physical & educational support. Our 4th trimester postpartum doula services include breastfeeding support, newborn care & light housekeeping. Doula support improves birth outcomes, increases safety and satisfaction in the birth and postpartum experience, and helps mothers achieve successful breastfeeding; all of which increases confidence in new parents and lowers perinatal mental health disorders, such as postpartum depression.

I live in OC with my three amazing children! If I’m not at a birth, you will find us at the beach surfing, playing, and enjoying the outdoors. I fell in love with all things birth when I became pregnant with my 1st child in 2008. As an avid reader and researcher, I made it my goal to learn everything I possibly could about the biology and physiology of birth, and how to have optimal health during and after pregnancy for both me and my baby. Like many first-time moms I have worked with, I had hesitations about giving birth to my 1st baby outside of a hospital setting. After all my research, classes, and conversations with midwives, I gained confidence in aiming for an unmedicated birthing experience. I found some lovely midwifes who had a midwifery ward in a hospital and gave birth to my 1st son unmedicated. Twenty-four hours of intense back labor from a posterior-positioned baby …but, I did it! My body actually did it! After birthing my first, statistically knowing it was the most challenging and longest labor, gave me confidence to choose home births for my second and third children. I had a successful home water birth with my second child and wanted to repeat that with my third. However, while laboring on the toilet with him, I suddenly dropped to my knees when he began to crown, and he became known as my bathroom floor “butter birth” baby :). Though I chose unmedicated births for myself, I do know it is not for everyone, which is more than OK! I quickly learned from my role as a doula that every woman’s body, medical history, and background are uniquely different. Many factors play into choosing the right birth for you. I am here to come alongside you, help you make an informed decision, and then support you every step of the way. I offer very personable and compassionate care. My approach is non-agenda-based, trauma-informed, and holistic-minded. No matter your history or past experiences, I am here to be a safe place for you. I will help educate, support, and advocate for you and your personal wishes. I look forward getting to know you and building a trusting relationship to where you feel 100% comfortable having me by your side for one of the biggest days of your life. 🙂 I am here for you! Lauren

Hello there! My name is Sharon Jensen-Cody, and I'm thrilled to connect with you here. In my world, I share my life with my wonderful husband and our incredible little boy who fills our days with joy and surprises. My journey into the world of birth-work stems from a deep-rooted passion for pregnancy and childbirth that took hold of me at a young age. The pivotal moment came when I witnessed my sister giving birth when I was just 17. The duality of the experience, both challenging and profoundly beautiful, left an indelible mark on me. My mission as a DONA trained Birth Doula is rooted in empowering women to shape their birth experiences according to their desires. I am dedicated to championing maternal-fetal health and providing unwavering support to women as they embark on one of life's most incredible journeys. I am here to walk alongside you, offering mental, emotional, and physical guidance to make your birth journey a truly empowering and memorable one. I look forward to the privilege of being a part of your birth story and helping you navigate this extraordinary time in your life.

At a Birthing Bees, I am dedicated to providing comprehensive support services, through an evidence-based approach for pregnant women throughout San Diego County. My goal is to help woman feel informed, supported, and empowered, before, during and after childbirth.

Hello Everyone ! My name is Destiny and I am a Doula in the San Diego community. Since I’ve become a doula I have never felt more aligned in my life! The military brought me here to San Diego but birth work is keeping me here. I’ve wanted to deliver babies my entire life and I knew that was the path I needed to go down to lead me to the road I want to drive on. My end goal is midwifery. But the short term goal is full spectrum doula. Can’t wait to meet you wonderful people and I can’t wait to work with you to make your birth one of the best moment that you’ll always remember !

I've been a childcare provider for 8 years. Worked as a pediatric medical assistant, postpartum doula, newborn care specialist, and a nanny. I have a diverse background in childcare. I'm passionate, patient and dedicated to assisting your family in the best way possible. I support your parenting philosophy and your home to the fullest. I also provide help around the home whether that be cooking, cleaning or any light household chores. In terms of my achievements, I have had the privilege of helping numerous families navigate the wonderful yet challenging journey of welcoming a new baby into their lives. Through my work as a Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Specialist. I have been able to support new mothers in their physical and emotional recovery while providing essential care for their newborns. By implementing effective sleep and feeding routines, I have helped establish a sense of calm and stability during the critical postpartum period.

I am a birth doula and childbirth mentor/educator located in Orange County, CA. The primary focus of my work is to improve birth outcomes for marginalized communities and to reduce (ideally eradicate) birth trauma. My training is mostly through an organization called Birthing From Within and I highly recommend their reading materials for individuals at any stage, from pre-conception to postpartum. My philosophy is that you, the pregnant person, have all of the wisdom and ability within you and we can work together to awaken that within you.

I am a birth doula and a Spinning Babies Parent Educator. It is a great honor to hold space for women and support families throughout pregnancy and birth. I love to educate couples and witness the empowerment that happens as they realized that they can trust birth and their bodies. Knowing your options and making decisions based on understanding not fear is powerful! Women are amazing and I love my job!

Birth Doula & Placenta Encapsulation specialist providing support to families throughout the Central Valley and East Bay