Meet the village that keeps Golden Gate Doulas Running!
We carefully select local providers that we trust to care for the families we work with.
Ocean Berg
RN, Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Ocean Berg has been a perinatal nurse for over 20 years. She has a Masters Degree in Nursing and is certified as a Lactation Consultant through the International Board of Lactation Consultants and is a Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist. Ocean has worked as a nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum at Zuckerberg San Francisco General; as a breastfeeding, childbirth and newborn care educator with California Pacific Medical Center; and as a birth doula.
She has two wonderful daughters whom she breastfed for 2.5 years each. She enjoys gardening, snowboarding, biking and cooking healthy meals.
Ocean is passionate about supporting families in their breastfeeding journey and looks forward to working with clients to reach their lactation goals.
Ocean trains the GGDA Doulas, provides in-home visits and at the Golden Gate Doula Associates Center.
Dr. Den Bremond
Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Dr. Den is a California licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, having received her Master’s of Science and then her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in 2018. She has completed extensive coursework in the areas of women’s health and pediatrics. She is comfortable with and skilled at treating and supporting people with a wide variety of health concerns, including: psycho-emotional, digestive, women’s health, immune enhancement, acute and chronic pain and the general promotion of physical and emotional health.
Dr. Den has an office located in Noe Valley where she sees Golden Gate Doula Families.
Judy Kivowitz
Pediatric Registered Nurse, Published Author
Judy Kivowitz (AKA Nurse Judy) has worked as a pediatric nurse since 1981. Many local families know her as the beloved "Nurse Judy" at Noe Valley Pediatrics. She writes a popular pediatric nurse advice blog nursejudynvp.blogspot.com
Here goal is to offer a calm, common sense approach to common parenting issues ranging from illnesses, safety, starting solid foods. Check out her Newborn "Baby Boot Camp" at the GGDA office.
Judy teaches workshops at the Golden Gate Doula Associates center.
Dr. Charisse Balance
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Charisse specializes in treating the pelvic floor and chronic pain.
In 2004, she obtained her B.S. in Exercise Physiology with a Minor in Psychology from UC Davis. She continued on to the Azusa Pacific University and graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2009. After obtaining her doctorate, she began to focus her attention to yoga. Charisse obtained her yoga certification RYT-200 in 2015. With this training, she was introduced to the physiological benefits of the quiet, restful, supported practice of restorative yoga.
Dr. Charisse has an office located in Golden Gate Doula Center and hosts monthly "Vag Clinic" for our clients.
Kathryn Marie Rea
Registered Nurse, Certified Hypnobirthing Child Birth Educator
Kate is a Certified HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator and an experienced labor and delivery nurse of 16 years.
She started teaching HypnoBirthing®-The Marie Mongan Method after the hypnobirth of her first child. As a care provider and mother of two she has a lot of insight and wisdom to share with expectant mothers and partners.
Her greatest wish for her clients is for them to make informed decisions in their care and to have a calm and empowered birth experience.
Kathryn trains the GGDA Birth Doulas and teaches workshops privately and at the Golden Gate Doula Associates Center.
San Francisco Birth Center
Comprehensive Midwifery Care
The San Francisco Birth Center offers comprehensive midwifery care that is tailored to each family's needs in a safe, home-like environment.
They offer a comfortable place to bring your baby into the world under the hand of experienced midwives. They have private, in-suite bathrooms and large birth tubs.
Once you are back home, the midwives will do home visits to check on you and your new baby and be available to answer questions.
They also offer group prenatal care and other classes and events.
The SFBC offers midwifery care in a safe and comfortable space, ask about the discount to Golden Gate Doula Clients!
Origins Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
PT, MSPT, WCS
Our team of clinicians use their expert knowledge of women’s entire bodies to solve commonly overlooked health issues, from painful sex to postpartum recovery. We believe that treating women requires a safe space and a whole body approach (that means your vagina and pelvic floor, too). Our work is centered around individual goals and needs, and includes expert guidance, targeted exercise, strengthening, and hands-on work.
Origin is proud to support the families of the GGDA. They host informational workshops about pelvic floor health virtually and at the Golden Gate Doula Associates
center.
Anne Del Valle
Certified Sleep Consultant
Anne trains the GGDA Postpartum Doulas and teaches workshops at the Golden Gate Doula Associates
center.
Anne, a Californian, is a lover of life, family, food, and sleep! Anne is a wife and a mother to a fun-loving toddler boy.
In coaching her own baby boy, Anne was amazed at how quickly her son learned to sleep on his own and how well rested he became. Formerly sleepless nights had turned into healthy sleep for her family, and ultimately, she was left with a newfound confidence in motherhood.
That is what motivated Anne and she has been helping sleepy families locally and around the globe since 2017.
Anne believes that motherhood is not meant to be survived, but to be spent thriving. She takes a compassionate, educated, thorough and parent-supportive approach with families. She is a passionate mama with a love for children and she is committed to helping parents. When it comes to sleep, Anne’s motto is “Do not suffer in silence”, you and your baby deserve to sleep, and Anne is here to help!
Lorena Sanchez
Certified Massage Therapist,
Licensed Esthetician
Twenty years ago, Lorena began her massage therapy practice. She has worked at many reputable spas in San Francisco, New York City and Palo Alto. Most recently, she was working at Nob Hill Spa.
In the beginning of her career she specialized primary in Deep Tissue massages. Once she became pregnant she found herself needing prenatal massages and discovered incredible relief from her prenatal massage therapist. It was priceless and she couldn't be more thankful to her services.
After having her baby, she also experienced the physical demands of caring for her baby and her empathy grew with each passing day. Parenting is such an amazing experience and yet can take a toll on our bodies. Massage therapy has proven to help manage these physical challenges.
Lorena will provide you with a highly skilled massage along with lots of empathy and the desire to provide you with great experience. She welcomes any questions you may have.
Lorena offers massage services at Golden Gate Doula Associates
center Mondays 10am-6pm
Esperanza Fitoussi
Registered Nurse, Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Esperanza, Espe for short, was born and raised in France and moved to California to pursue nursing. Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, she has been a perinatal nurse for over 5 years in the UC system. Espe, received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Cal State LA and is also a certified lactation consultant through the International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). She currently works as an RN at UCSF and has been involved in many projects to improve lactation support at the hospital. She loves supporting new parents in their breast/chest feeding journey because she believes everyone will experience it a little bit differently.
On her days off, you can find her walking around the city, creating and cooking new recipes in her kitchen, traveling and listening to music.
Espe teaches breastfeeding clinics at Golden Gate Doula Associates
center.
Farrell Topham
Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Farrell is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and certified postpartum doula.
As a lactation consultant, she gives parents the practical guidance and care they need to achieve their feeding goals and thrive! She supports the entire family’s physical and emotional needs so that the path into parenthood is a smooth and joyful transition. As a native San Franciscan, she is proud to work with a diverse group of mothers and support our LGBTQ families!
Farrell teaches breastfeeding classes at Golden Gate Doula Associates center.
Jenn Kiatta
Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Jen lives in Potrero Hill with her husband and son. She has worked with 500+ new and expectant families over 14 years and had her fair share of breastfeeding, sleep and emotional challenges throughout her own postpartum experience. She has witnessed and personally lived the knotted ball of yarn that this remarkable phase of life offers and uses that to help other families navigate through their breastfeeding journey.
Jenn provides in home visits, trains the GGDA Postpartum Doulas and teaches Latch Clinic at the Golden Gate Doula Associates
center.
GGDA Dream Team
Jennifer Darwin is the Owner/Director of Golden Gate Doula Associates. She recognized that many families where becoming overwhelmed trying to find their "Village" to support them through pregnancy and into parenthood. She wanted to be able to provide professional birth workers, doulas and providers that empowered people through this journey.
Laura Koch is the GGDA Virtual Office Coordinator who helps coordinate the needs of the couples we support. She has years of experience in executive office management and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Sara Comden is the GGDA Operations Manager, she is our "match maker" and runs the business side of the company. She will put you in touch with a doula who has available around your due date and answer any questions about the services we offer at GGDA.
ottobie
Sustainable Baby Gear Rental
ottobie provides sustainable subscription rentals for high-end baby gear and furniture for the modern family. The product collection has been expertly curated and researched to provide new parents with eco-friendly, well-designed options for the modern home. Bassinets, strollers and other essentials can be rented on a monthly basis for any duration of time. Membership is free and includes complimentary white-glove services like free delivery, free assembly and free pickup. To reduce impact on the environment, products are refurbished after each rental and recirculated.
ottobie is proud to be working with the families of Golden Gate. Ask about a special offer to our families!
