willow offers birth doula services:

grounded in evidence-based birth practices and holistic family care.

we believe doulas are essential! we make ourselves accessible for queer and low-income families. now accepting Medi–Cal and all major insurances!

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offerings

learn more about our standard package below. our services can be mixed and matched to meet your needs!

  • 1-3 in-home prenatal visits lasting 2 hours. we focus on designing a birth plan, building trust and confidence, and preparing the body for labor. partners and birth support team members welcome!

  • we meet at home or the hospital, beginning in active labor, until 1-2 hours after your baby is born. offerings include comfort measures, alignment techniques, partner support, and consistency of care. NOTE — compassionate labor and delivery support is also offered through stillbirth, miscarriage, and abortion.

  • we meet a few days or weeks after your baby is born. we check in about breastfeeding, sleep, and integrate your birth story together. post partum services include relaxing herbal bath, newborn care, child support, and in-home love (dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning, meal prep, etc) are also offered at an additional rate.

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Colorful garden scene with a clay pot filled with purple, yellow, and pink flowers, surrounded by orange and pink flowers, including nasturtiums and sweet peas, with gardening tools and small decorative objects nearby.

willow (they/she) is a queer, oakland-based birthworker and land steward. they connect their work with birthing families to the political and spiritual defense of mama earth and all of her peoples. they are dedicated to cultivating safe, empowering space for the incredible ceremony that is birth!

meet willow

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why work with a doula?

“I already have a midwife, OBGYN, nurse, etc…”

(1) less unwanted medical intervention with doula support:

  • 39% less likely to have a c-section

  • 31% less likely to use pitocin to speed up labor

  • 12% less likely to have an epidural (2017 Cochrane Review)

(2) better maternal outcomes with continuity of doula care in a hospital setting with a rotating care team

  • 15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth

  • 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief;

  • Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average

  • 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score

  • 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; (Evidence Based Birth, Bohren et al., 2017)

(3) increased sense of agency, autonomy, advocacy, and culturally competent care