Dolphin Doula
- By Appointment Only:
- No
17 reviews for Dolphin Doula
17 reviews in English
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Review from thunderlizard a.
Oakland, CA
9/23/2011
Initially apprehensive to commit to a doula for my partner's pregnancy, mostly for cost reasons, as the date approached, I was getting less sure I would actually be any real help during my partner's labor...If teaching her how to snowboard was any indication, I would be much more a hindrance than help for the "xyz" number of hours till active labor.
As such, following a brief introduction to both Cindy Curry and Susan Cortez, at an informational meeting in the East Bay, I was pretty much sold on the utility of having professionals trained and experienced in the very aspect of labor for which I was increasing fearing; calming my partner in the pre-active throws of labor.
Cindy and Susan worked in tandem, meeting with us all together, and clearly having such a warm, welcoming demeanor that my partner was immediately at-ease and more comfortable with the idea. Since Susan and Cindy work as a team, we knew there would be someone available during our labor, and by spending time with both of them in advance of the date discussing workable stress/pain relieving methods; I know my partner and I felt much less nervous as the day of delivery approached.
On September 1st, 2011 when my wife went into labor, (1am) she called Susan, and she in turn organized with Cindy an early morning arrival, from the time Cindy arrived until the delivery of our (totally awesome daughter, Luxmi!) Cindy was by my partner's side, practicing many of the methods we had discussed in advance, and checking in on me periodically to make sure I was doing alright; and even more importantly was feeling involved in the process and given a participant role.
When we got to Kaiser, Cindy was an awesome advocate and worked wonderfully with the triage nurses, and medical staff to ensure my partner's experience was focused exclusively on the work of delivery and not the bureaucratic distractions that can arise.
Not to dismiss my role in the process, but Cindy's presence was EXACTLY what both my partner and I needed that day, she provided a calm and reassurance (she has been through many many births!) that we likely would have been too spazzy to reflect on without Cindy's methodologies and persistence.
The labor was 18hrs from first contractions to birth, and with Cindy's help we were able to stay in the comfort of our home until hour 13, before heading to the hospital. The birth was all natural, vaginal, and our girl came in face up, so it was quite a struggle in the last few minutes of delivery (and subsequent post-op), that again Cindy was indispensable in keeping the labor on track and my partner focused on the goal.
A couple weeks after the delivery Cindy and Susan, both came by the house so we could all catch-up on the events since, and that too was very nice and comforting to have some closure on the birth, as my partner even was reminded of things during the whole event that she didn't even remember had happened(!) It was great to share Luxmi with Cindy and Susan, since they will always have a special place in our heart for sharing in this experience.
Totally awesome Doulas, worth every single cent and many more!! If we are ever crazy enough to have another kid, we would not hesitate for a second in calling Dolphin Doula back up again. -
Review from Jamie M.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2011
I have nothing but great things to say about Dolphin Doula. My daughter was born in January, and several months prior to her birth, I started preparing with help from the Peninsula team at Dolphin Doula.
From our first visit with the Peninsula team, to the hour after Fiona's birth, my experiences with the Doulas could not have been any better. The three pre-birth visits really helped put my husband and I at ease in the months leading up to the big day. I loved that Katie, Melissa, and Kat were all so open minded, easy to talk to, and knowledgable.
On the day I went into labor, I had so many questions. It was after office hours, and my doctor had given me specific instructions about when to call etc. I loved that I had an extra resource to call and discuss the small concerns and questions in early labor. When we arrived at the hospital, Melissa was waiting to help me upstairs. She instinctively knew when my husband and I needed her to take over and just tell us what to do and when to step back and let us experience this huge, life changing event as a couple.
After my daughter was born and all the chaos had ended, the doctor and nurses were gone, but Melissa stayed and helped me get started with breastfeeding. (I should mention it's 1:30am at this point) We were so overwhelmed and exhausted at that point, so the extra support made a huge difference.
I could go on forever about my experience with Dolphin Doula. I highly recommend Kat, Katie, and Melissa from Dolphin Doula to any parents to be(regardless of your birth plan- natural childbirth, medicated birth, no idea what kind of birth)! -
Review from Skye C.
Belmont, CA
9/21/2011
I can't say enough good things about this amazing team! We had our first baby in June 2011 and the peninsula Dolphin Doula team made it special and truly memorable for not only my husband and I, but for my family and friends who were at the hospital too. They helped me get through some scary moments and really empowered me to welcome our beautiful baby girl into this world. I can never thank them enough and will recommend them to all my friends who are expecting!
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Review from Jennifer H.
San Mateo, CA
4/10/2011
My first child was born in April 2010. I was nervous about the birth and I went to an informational session by Dolphin Doula. The presenters were Jennifer Wolfe, Cindy Curry and Susan Cortez. I knew, when they mentioned that between them they have seen hundreds of births, that having their help would make me a lot more comfortable.
Cindy and Susan both attended the birth of my son. They kept me so calm with massage and pressure (to ease what I later found out was back labor!) that by the time I got to the hospital, I was 7 cm dilated. I could never have achieved that on my own! Cindy and Susan were supportive of all my choices during the birth and, most importantly, they kept me in a very calm, relaxed mental state even in the stressful hospital environment. I have only wonderful memories of the birth and it's really thanks to them.
One thing I really like about Dolphin Doula is that they work as a team. I didn't want to hire one person as a doula and then find out they weren't available for any reason on the day of my labor. I also felt more relaxed knowing that if I had a long labor, the doulas would take shifts so that I would always have someone fresh and rested to support me.
I can't say enough good things about Dolphin Doula! -
Review from Karen B.
San Jose, CA
11/20/2011
Having the support of a Doula from Dolphin Doula made my 32 hour labor an experience filled with pleasant memories. I highly recommend the Dolphin Doula team for their compassion, competency and commitment to helping me have the birth experience I wanted. If it is your first birthing experience you should work with these awesome women.
I have included my experience below, for those who want to know more.
My husband was not thrilled by the idea of paying for a support person to be there for the birth of our daughter, but since he also had no inclination to learn about birthing or being an active "coach" I insisted that we hire a doula to be there to support us- it was an awesome decision. (My husband was a great support when it mattered, especially with Melissa, the doula's, help).
We went to the Peninsula "meet the doulas" night, and the OB and the Midwife from my clinic were there to endorse this excellent team, which helped me feel confident that these women would know what they were doing when my day came- and it was a good thing that we went, so that we were able to meet the whole team. I liked the idea that these women all work as a team, and that no matter when I went in to labor I would have a "fresh"(rested) doula, and that she would be with me for at least 24 hours, and then another "fresh" one would come.
Normally you get the chance to meet 1-1 with each doula on the team as you create your birth vision and do some self-hypnosis work. My daughter decided that she wanted to come three weeks early, the day before my second scheduled 1-1 meeting, so I didn't have the chance to do all of the self-hypnosis work, but I had done some practice listening to an exercise created by Jennifer Wolfe.
My water broke at about 11:30pm and was admitted to the hospital at 1:30am since my contractions were irregular and not strong my husband insisted that we wait until a decent hour to call Dolphin to let them know that someone needed to come. That was a good call on his part. I texted Kat at about 7 am, and by about 8:30 or 9 Melissa came.
It was so wonderful to have her there. She was able to give my husband gentle direction on ways to be supportive, and tips on massaging me, and mostly she was there guiding me through each contraction, helping me understand what was happening at differnet stages, answering most of my medical questions and giving me a sense of calm and confidence though the whole process, and walking with me for hours around the halls of the maternity ward.
I had intended to have a "natural" (no medical intervention) childbirth, but my contractions didn't progress enough after 24 hours and I "had to" have a Pitocin drip, a couple of hours later the contractions finally were almost strong enough but I was utterly exhausted and decided to go for a painkiller and an epidural. right then I was at 10cm, but I still wanted them, and was given them. I fell asleep for a couple of hours while my body kept working. Melissa was supportive of my choice and set herself up to doze and watch the contractions on the monitor. 2 hours later I woke up, pushed for about 30 minutes, not totally pain free, but
it was manageable. And then my baby was there. Melissa stayed with us for another hour while Grace was checked out and then once everything was calm and everyone was okay, she left. She had been with us for almost 24 hours, and I was so happy to have her be a part of my experience! -
Review from Theda E.
Belmont, CA
5/3/2008
I've been looking for a Yoga Studio on the Peninsula that is on par with the classes that I've taken in San Francisco. Up until I found Dolphin Yoga & Doula Center, all other classes didn't have enough "oomph". The pre-natal Vinyasa class, led by Jennifer, is much more challenging than the regular Yoga classes offered at the San Mateo Y. Jennifer will make modifications based on which trimester you're in. Don't expect to be babied though -- you'll stretch, flow, and sweat in this class. It's been great motivation for me to see women "due any day now" still going to class, downward-dogging and moving with ease into triangle, crescent moon, and pigeon poses. There is also a regular Vinyasa flow class offered.
The center offers a variety of services for during and after your pregnancy, including doula services, which I'll check out as I need them. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Oakland, CA
9/24/2007 2 photos
There are very few yoga studios & holistic childbirth services on the Peninsula and fewer that specialize in assisting women during and after childbirth.
DYDC is a great resource for expecting and postpartum mamas and their babies. The studio offers a variety of yoga classes (pre & post natal, vinyasa), pilates, mom & baby classes, boot camp and kids yoga. In addition the owners are both certified Doulas and have a ton of combined experience in areas such as Reiki, Hypnotherapy, Nutrition, personal training...you name it!
They offer class packages which are reasonably priced and doula packages as well. Check out their website for more info.
The studio is warm, inviting and a safe space in which to stretch your body, relax your mind and feed your soul. If you're on the Peninsula, stop by and check out a class (since I teach there, come visit MY class). Sorry for the shameless plug... -
Review from Alissa R.
San Mateo, CA
9/12/2008
Dolphin Yoga's prenatal vinyasa yoga classes are excellent (the vinyasa ensures you break a sweat, the prenatal ensures you do positions in a way that support your pregnant body).
Jennifer, the instructor, creates a great community space where you can get a good workout, advice on any pregnancy symptoms you're experiencing, as well as referrals to other local healthcare resources and products. Her prenatal yoga DVDs are great too; the newer one is broken out into 3 different class lengths (15, 30 and 45-minutes) which is awesome as you can really get some nice stretches in even if you're just on a (decaf) coffee break ;-)
Dolphin Yoga is also linked in with the Healthy Horizons Breastfeeding Center, a very nice partnership that supports holistic infant care and provides a support network for new moms and moms-to-be. -
Review from Shin H.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2008
I started with the Prenatal classes at Dolphin Yoga when I was pregnant and hoping that Yoga would help ease my pregnancy symptons. The results were great and I had a very smooth delivery. The instructor, Jennifer Wolfe, is also a certified Doula, and she is able to offer a lot of helpful advise.
After my baby was born, I was too overwhelmed with taking care of the baby and returning to my regular job. I didn't have time to go back to the class until my baby was 6 month old, at which point I still had problems returning to my normal weight. That's when I decided to go back to the classes on the weekends to take the Postnatal classes, regardless of how busy I was. The result was phenominal. The fat around my tummy dramatically decreased within 2 weeks! Do I need to say more?
Now I am taking the Vinyassa Flow class, which is very challanging but lots of FUN! I always feel recharged at the end of each class. I highly recommand this place to everyone! -
Review from Lisa J.
Redwood City, CA
10/21/2008
Jennifer Wolfe is amazing!! I starting taking her pre-natal classes in the hopes of having a natural child birth. I cannot thank her enough for her words of wisdom and yoga practice that I believe was a big part of my natural birthing experience.
My baby is now 5 months old and I have been taking her Vinyasa Flow class. It is tough and you will be sweating a lot but it is so rewarding. I have been doing yoga for many years in San Francisco and with many different instructors and I highly recommend Jennifer. -
Review from Danny C.
Millbrae, CA
6/26/2011
We had our first child in March 2011. My wife was having a very difficult pregnancy so we decided to hire a doula to assist us. A good friend had highly recommended Dolphin Doula and, in particular, Susan Cortez and Cindy Curry. Although we still checked out other doulas, we ultimately settled on Dolphin Doula even though they were a bit more expensive. We decided to go with the East Bay team even though we lived in the peninsula because of our friend's recommendation, the breadth of their experience, and our comfort level with them. And we are so glad that we did.
Labor & delivery turned out to be very tough for my wife because she ended up suffering from back labor. Both Susan and Cindy took turns coming to our home to help my wife stay calm and deal with the pain. The pain lasted for almost 24 hrs. Cindy first came during the afternoon. Later that evening around 1 am when it looked like my wife would need to go to the hospital, Susan arrived. A few hours later, Cindy relieved her and went with us to the hospital at around 5:00 am. During that time, they did an amazing job keeping my wife calm and helping her manage the pain. She really wanted to deliver vaginally so we wanted to delay going to the hospital as late as possible. Because of Susan and Cindy, we got to the hospital after she was already 5-6 cm dilated. Cindy stayed with us at the hospital and was amazing in helping my wife through the stage of labor and delivery. She was also incredibly supportive as we made decisions about her treatment. Thanks in large part to Cindy and Susan, my wife was able to deliver vaginally with no complications. We will be eternally grateful for their help and would highly recommend them to any soon-to-be parents, especially if it's your first child. -
Review from Angela N.
Belmont, CA
9/26/2008
I recently started taking Vinyasa yoga classes at Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center and what a fun class! I'm a yoga novice and certainly not in the best shape I have ever been, but Jennifer Wolfe's class is dynamic and has a great pace/flow that every level of physical ability can participate in. Even though I'm not able to do all the poses yet (strength wise), I feel motivated and inspired to keep going because the group is so friendly and puts me at ease. Be prepared to sweat! Jennifer is a very encouraging instructor, but she will push you hard. This class is a great find!
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Review from Christine P.
Berkeley, CA
8/15/2009
Best instructor is Jennifer. Make sure to take her class. She's a doula at the same time, so she knows which yoga poses are optimal for birthing. The yoga poses are great--not too mellow, but active enough to get a good stretch and workout. The music is relaxing and the atmosphere is quiet. Not a place for socializing, but just great yoga and flow.
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Review from L D.
San Carlos, CA
10/4/2008
I LOVE DDYC- I started going to prenatal Vinyasa when I was about 7 months pregnant with my first. I was reluctant to try prenatal classes because I was afraid I wouldn't break a sweat but it turned out to be a great workout. In addition to a great network, the instructor Jennifer and the other pregnant women were a great resource and I cherished the time spent discussing the various issues.
Post-baby I took the Mommy and Me Pilates with Tracy and Mommy and Me bootcamp with Karen- both great workouts in addition to being great resources for a first time mom. My son was usually the crankiest kid in class and they were both great about holding/ rocking him to let me get through the workout.
I'm now back to Jennifer's Vinyasa class (though not as often as I'd like) and its an amazing workout. -
Review from Andrea D.
San Carlos, CA
9/26/2008
I have been taking classes from Jennifer for about 5 years now and it has changed my body! I play various sports but vinyasa yoga has allowed my muscles to be less bulky and more lean. I've never had this kind of definition in my arms and back before. The regular vinyasa flow class is very challenging but Jennifer explains how to do the poses at all levels so you are allowed to practice at your own level and pace. I've also gone to the prenatal and postnatal classes during my pregnancy and found it just as difficult or easy as you are comfortable in doing. I liked it because I still want a good workout while I'm pregnant but obviously with a knowledgable instructor that is familiar with what is safe in my condition. I've tried other yoga classes in this area and they just aren't the same.
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Review from Mara S.
San Mateo, CA
7/6/2009
Before I became pregnant I had never set foot in a yoga class. After giving up my usual running routine for comfort reasons in the start of my second trimester I started investigating yoga as an option for physical activity. I have been attending Dolphin yoga and taking the prenatal Vinyasa Flow classes ever since. Jennifer is a wonderful and knowledgable instructor and Rebecca and Aileen's classes are equally enjoyable. These classes make for a challenging workout but I also feel a sense of calm and a deeper connection between my baby and I every time I attend a class.
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Review from Shannon C.
Redwood City, CA
9/23/2008
this place is the best for vinyasa flow yoga! until i found dolphin yoga i was pretty disappointed with the vinyasa classes offered at studios on the peninsula. they were just not vigorous enough. i love dolphin yoga! jennifer is a fantastic teacher. i always leave the yoga session feeling stretched out, and invigorated! i'm almost a little reluctant to leave this review because I feel like this place is my little secret!
