pregnant San Francisco woman holding belly at home

Welcome to the Parenting Club and Adventure of a Lifetime.

All are welcome. Come as you are.

My Doula Philosophy

I believe there are as many ways to give birth as there are individuals in the world, and that a doula’s role is to encourage and unfold your distinct birthing style while offering helpful suggestions and information.

I believe in supporting pregnancy, labor and birth with information and evidenced based care.

I believe support (partners, friends, family, professional help) play a very important role in the birth and postpartum journey.

About My Services

New parents with newborn baby in hospital, supported by experienced San Francisco birth doula 
BIRTH DOULA SUPPORT

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San Francisco postpartum doula caring for newborn baby in family home 
POSTPARTUM DOULA SUPPORT

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San Francisco placenta encapsulation service with encapsulation pills 
placenta encapsulation

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Birth doula supports home birth with oxygen for laboring woman in San Francisco
San Francisco husband assists pregnant wife laboring in tub during home birth

Birth Photography

One of my favorite roles in the birth world is taking photos and video with my phone and capturing magical birth moments.

Heather Charmatz, certified birth doula in San Francisco

Meet Heather

Mother, certified birth doula, certified medical assistant, yoga teacher, and placenta nerd.

It’s an honor to have served families at home with a homebirth midwife and in all San Francisco locations: UCSF, CPMC, Kaiser, SFGH, Marin Health and the San Francisco Birth Center. I’ve been in full time doula practice since 2012 and have supported over 250 families as a birth doula and over 800 placenta clients as an encapsulator.

  • "My wife and I highly recommend Heather for doula services!

    Heather was with us for the full labor process and was incredibly calm, supportive, and knowledgeable. This is our third baby, and the first two births we did not have a doula, and what a huge difference it made! From my perspective (the partner), it was so great having an extra support person for my wife. She knew my wife’s birth preferences, helped recommend different comfort measures, and helped communicate effectively with the hospital staff. Lastly, Heather was very helpful during pregnancy and was always available for advice.” -Ryan

  • "Heather and Kristina both have vast experience as doulas...

    as well as a deep knowledge about all things birth and baby which was very helpful as a first time mom. Not only did they plan check-ins throughout my pregnancy to ensure we covered all the details for my dream birth, but they also provided educational group zooms on a variety of topics. During my labor, Heather came during the AM and Kristina during the PM which meant we had a well-rested doula to support me through the entire labor. They were both encouraging and had no judgment about anything I was doing. I felt so comfortable with them–it felt natural to have them by my side. I have endless gratitude towards both of them for their support. Do not hesitate to add them to your team!” - Emily

  • "Doulas Heather and Kristina are the birth support team every mom and family deserves!

    They were with my husband and I every step of the way. The emotional support they provided even before the birth was special. This team just goes above and beyond. And I particularly enjoyed the peer group meetups and birth education classes they provided. And they still followed up and checked in on us even a month after our baby was born. I’m so incredibly grateful for their support. My delivery was calm and controlled because of their help.” - Tamar

  • "We wanted doulas who would support us as we worked with our trusted medical team.

    Another reason I immediately liked Heather is how she described supporting the mother's partner during the birth, which is something I was looking for. Heather came over to our home and helped teach my husband lots of comfort and support techniques that came in handy when it was go time! Finally, Heather and Chelsey held regular meetings with all of their expecting clients on a wide variety of topics, providing additional birth education and resources. It was a great added bonus, and we really enjoyed these workshops and the opportunity to hear from other expectant parents.” - Lauren

  • "I used Heather for placenta pills after my 4th baby.

    I highly recommend her services and would use her again in a heartbeat. I also highly recommend placenta pills in general if you're considering- I used them for baby 3 and 4 and noticed a difference in myself. Heather was easy to work with, sent clear instructions and was easy to communicate with. The package that we received with our pills was also so special and something that I will always treasure.” - Bryanne

  • "I was looking to find someone who would listen to my wants and needs and be supportive of that.

    And that's exactly what Heather and Meleah did. One of the best things that I got from them was all the education. They suggested wonderful books, a terrific birthing class, and offered free classes each month which were very helpful. Another great part of working with them was the home visits. The two visits before the birth helped us get clear on our birthing plan and how my husband and I can work as a team during the birthing practice. The postpartum visit was so incredible as well. After leaving the hospital it can feel like you are totally on your own. But having the support and a visit from Heather and Meleah made a world of difference.” - Kimberly

  • "So happy we worked with Heather...

    and Kristina at SF Birth Doula for the arrival of our second child. They’re both knowledgeable, kind and supportive. Highly recommend!” - Zona

Frequently Asked Questions

  • As a birth support specialist, my goal is to assist you and your family through the remarkable journey of labor and birth by offering ongoing emotional and physical support, providing useful information, illuminating advocacy education, and suggesting labor techniques to help navigate the experience of pregnancy and birth with greater ease and confidence. You can learn more about my services here.

  • Yes, placenta encapsulation is safe when done by a trained professional. I use only EPA-compliant disinfecting supplies and process one placenta at a time. Food-grade materials are used throughout, and I wear full personal protection equipment, including a face shield, K95/N95 mask, gloves, and a disposable gown. I’m insured, registered, and always on-call for your birth. More information can be found here.

  • Full birth doula support is $3,085. We offer discounted packages for daytime support at $1,535 and birth prep sessions starting at $400. Placenta encapsulation services are available starting at $210. You can learn more about my services here.

Woman in hospital resting between contractions, supported by San Francisco doula

Get in Contact

Please contact me with questions, curiosities, or to chat. I look forward to hearing from you!