Availability: We checked the reliability of the doulas around a client’s due date. We also checked if they easily respond to their clients’ queries.
Partner support: We also considered whether the doula provides tips and support for the partners, not just the birthing parent.
Flexibility: We included doulas who offer services for both home births and hospital births. We also assessed whether they are flexible enough in case plans change at the last minute.
Emergency preparedness: We considered doulas who are reliable during emergencies or when unexpected situations happen. Plus points for those who are certified in First Aid.
Initially, we never really considered asking for help. We actually thought that we could handle all the classes, checklists, and preparations before my cousin’s due date.
But as the big day got closer, the list of tasks started to overwhelm us too. That’s when we decided to hire one of the best doulas in Vancouver, which also happened to be the best decision we made during this new chapter.
If you also need a breather before (and even after) your baby arrives, we’re sharing with you a list of the best doulas who helped us find our sleep during those overwhelming times.
In Vancouver, doulas under a birth contract typically charge from $950 to $1,200. However, if you require additional visits beyond those specified in the contract, postpartum doula services may incur a cost of at least $25 per hour.
Services: Birth & labour doula support ,Postpartum visits ,Newborn feeding education ,Car seat technician services ,Preparation for postpartum recovery and self-care,Private client portal with resources and referrals
Graceful Guidance Doula, led by Doula Lexi, provides compassionate and continuous support through labour, birth, and the early postpartum weeks. She emphasizes empowerment and emotional strength, helping birthing people feel confident and cared for.
Doula Lexi is on call from the moment of hire until six weeks postpartum, giving clients reliable guidance before, during, and after birth. She offers 2–3 prenatal meetings to discuss birth preferences, emotional preparation, and recovery planning.
Her birth support includes physical comfort measures, help with positioning, and encouragement during labour in a way that reflects the birthing person’s goals. Following birth, she stays for up to two hours to support recovery and early bonding.
After the baby arrives, Lexi provides 1–2 postpartum visits, assisting with newborn feeding, emotional well-being and transition into parenting. She also helps with planning for recovery, self-care, and the practical realities of early parent life.
In addition to birth and postpartum support, she is a certified Car Seat Technician and offers car seat education by donation — helping parents feel confident about infant transportation safety. Her training and certification speak to her technical knowledge and genuine concern for newborn welfare.
One possible drawback is that because of her thorough, personalized support and on-call availability, her services may come at a higher cost compared to more limited doula options. Also, her geographic service range may be limited to parts of Vancouver and nearby regions, so availability may vary.
Overall, Graceful Guidance Doula (Lexi) is a heartfelt, experienced option for anyone in Vancouver seeking deep, consistent doula support through birth and the crucial early weeks. Her holistic and evidence-based approach makes her a strong pick for families who value emotional safety, personalized care, and practical education.
Pros
Continuous support from pregnancy through six weeks postpartum
Evidence-based and compassionate care
Certified car seat technician service
In-depth feeding education
Highly personalized guidance
Cons
Advanced booking is recommended
Great support
“Lexi Vass was my AMAZING doula during my son’s pregnancy & birth in September of 2022. cannot recommend Lexi enough! She was an incredible support throughout my labor and delivery, helping me navigate the experience both physically and mentally. Her many tricks and tips, along with her soothing presence, made such a difference in keeping me focused and comfortable.
Lexi was truly my rock, empowering me to achieve an epidural-free birth with her guidance, encouragement, and hands-on care. She created a safe, thoughtful, and caring environment during such a vulnerable and beautiful time, and I felt so supported every step of the way.
If you’re looking for a doula who is not only skilled but also compassionate and deeply dedicated to her clients, Lexi is the one! 💛”
“Lexi was an incredible support for us through my pregnancy as well as postpartum. She is extremely knowledgeable which helped us make the best decisions for the birth of our son. Lexi came to our house before our son was born to talk about preferences, she helped us install our car seat, and set me up for huge success with breast feeding. Lexi was available whenever we needed her via text or phone call and she never made us feel like our decisions were anything but our own. She encouraged me to ask questions and advocate for myself during labor and was also a huge support for my husband. I’m grateful every day that I had her with me through it all. I tell every pregnant person I know that they need a doula and Lexi is one of the best! We were so lucky to have her on our team!”
We immediately contacted Doulas of Vancouver as soon as we needed help with my cousin’s breastfeeding. And since they’re good with post-partum and breastfeeding support, we decided to give it a go.
You can also tap them for home birth services, including planned caesarean services.
In fact, they’re one of the go-to doulas for single moms out there, ensuring they get the additional support during the early stage of motherhood. Liza, one of the trusted doulas in this center, served as the walking search engine—yes, she’s got all the answers.
She was always willing to answer all questions about the baby’s sleeping and feeding patterns. It actually felt like having a new friend, who was very reassuring every time.
You can also expect her to teach you how to change diapers (and know when to do so), how to hold the baby to make them burp, as well as how to use the stroller and car seat.
However, a few former clients reported that the contract terms were unreliable. Another thing to note is that they demand upfront payment.
Pros
Expert post-partum and breastfeeding support
Home birth and planned C-section assistance
Great for single moms
Knowledgeable doulas
Hands-on guidance for baby care
Cons
Demands upfront payment
Reports of unreliable contract terms
Great prenatal yoga classes
“We found Liza through her excellent prenatal yoga classes. Liza was an incredible doula for the birth of our first child; she helped us so much in advance in determining exactly what we wanted from our birth and made sure we had considered all the possible decisions that might come up. During labour she was such a calm and supportive presence, offering words of affirmation, suggestions to keep me comfortable, and always a steady physical touch that helped make me feel ground. I wouldn’t have given birth any other way!”
“It was an absolute pleasure having Liza by our side in this truly amazing, yet testing moment. I thought Liza was great in all three phases of our time with her (pre-, peri-. and post-partum). We had a particularly long and difficult birth and Liza was there for close to 24 hours with us! What I appreciate most about our time together is that she took the time to understand our birth plans/wishes and became an advocate for us. This was our first birth and I would argue that everyone should think to include a Doula in there birth process. We’re very grateful for her.”
Emma from Brood Care has been one of the calmest doulas we’ve ever met here in Vancouver. From the moment we received her services, she has always been there to provide us with the support and knowledge we needed.
Even for a second child, she guided us throughout the process. In fact, we’ve learned several things that we wish we had applied when we had our firstborn.
She’s also known to handle complicated and risky pregnancies, and because of her calming nature, we always demanded her presence wherever we were.
You can also expect Emma to prepare a checklist of what you should do and buy as your due date gets nearer.
As soon as I gave birth, I was ready to be in a bad mood, but having Emma’s empathetic but lively energy was all we ever needed. We were able to clock in more hours of sleep because of her.
Meanwhile, if you want to take a deeper dive into parenting, especially during the early stages, you’ll love that Brood Care also offers prenatal classes and workshops.
And if you don’t have time to attend these onsite, there are online courses you can check on demand.
However, since Emma is in high demand, you will need to book months in advance.
Pros
Calm and knowledgeable doulas
Offers support for first-time and subsequent children
Handles complicated or high-risk pregnancies
Manages moon post-birth
Offers prenatal classes and online workshops
Cons
Requires advance booking
Can still be reliable even late at night
“We had the most wonderful experience working with Brood Care’s Postpartum Doulas. As first time parents bringing our little one home felt overwhelming, the days and particularly nights when we had care made all the difference to our strong start. I enjoyed the process of meeting our Doulas in advancing and sharing what was most important to us, and our style. We found a wonderful nighttime routine with Ash, and highly recommend them. I learned so much in the early days from late night chats we had while I was feeding our baby. As someone who was concerned about my mental health after giving birth, it felt like Brood was an extension of my team/community making sure I was looked after in such a vulnerable time.”
“The whole Brood team was amazing right from the start. Emma is such a pleasure and was super helpful getting everything planned and scheduled. They were incredible in helping me through labour and the arrival of my baby for which my husband and I are forever grateful. Emma continued to do night shifts, we were always to excited for them to arrive. We also had Doula’s Stacey, Terri-Lynn and Kristy- I can’t say enough great things about them! Truly incredible people and so very dedicated to their work.”
We first heard about Instinctive Birth from our sister. She got them when she had her first baby, and yes, they’re called “full spectrum” for a reason.
Here, you can expect them to give you support before, during, and after giving birth. Their services also cover neonatal resuscitation training and CPR-C First Aid.
In fact, Martha Lanphear from Instinctive Birth is certified in providing first aid for both infants and adults. This gives you more peace of mind.
It’s also great that they offer services related to miscarriage and pregnancy loss, which tells us how they value giving support to all the women out there.
If you’re not a first-time mom, you can expect her to ask you about your past experiences. This includes your anxieties, allowing her to make necessary adjustments if needed.
We’re also quite impressed that they ask for the partners’ feelings too, ensuring that even the dads are included and supported as well.
The best part is that Martha can also handle newborn and family photoshoots. You’d also feel very comfortable that Martha knows how to handle your baby.
But the problem is the limited availability due to high demand.
Pros
Full-spectrum support before, during, and after birth
Certified in neonatal and adult CPR/first aid
Support for miscarriage and pregnancy loss
Handles newborn and family photoshoots
Cons
Limited availability
Remains calm and compassionate even under stressful conditions
“I can’t say enough good things about Martha. I had the pleasure of working with her during my postpartum period, and she was truly incredible. In every way, she was the utmost professional – going above and beyond anything I could have imagined. The newborn stage was chaotic, and the atmosphere in our home wasn’t always easy, but Martha remained calm, kind, and compassionate throughout. She held space for us in exactly the way we needed, and her presence brought so much steadiness and support.”
“Martha came highly recommended as a birth doula. We met with her and started building a relationship very early on in our pregnancy. Martha was invaluable throughout, in terms of knowledge and support and especially in preparation for the birthing process. She scheduled a quick check-in chat every week with my husband and I to chat about anything on our minds and to offer information and support where needed – this fostered a very strong foundation and even a friendship. I can honestly say that I could not have made it though my very long labour at home intervention-free without Martha’s support by my side. Martha is professional, respectful and very kind-hearted. I would and will recommend her to anyone pregnant as an essential member of their birth team. Thank you Martha!”
What we liked most about Home Body Holistic Birth is its comprehensive package. If you simply don’t have the time and energy to research multiple vendors before giving birth, then this doula center is worth considering.
What impressed us the most was how much they emphasized home. And we’re not just talking about home birth here, but the way these doulas would help you be comfortable and feel at home in your own body during your pregnancy.
We didn’t even realize how helpful the basic breathing and stretching exercises were until we incorporated them into our daily routines, especially as we entered the last trimester.
Aside from the prenatal visits and weekly check-ins as soon as you hit your 39th week, you can also expect to receive a holistic postpartum care package. It’s a herbal blend to help with hormonal changes, and even a placenta print keepsake.
You can also take advantage of their unlimited support through text or calls, making it easier for you if you have questions. Of course, two postpartum visits are also part of this package.
But there is a downside, though, and that is the limited roster of doulas.
Pros
Comprehensive package
Emphasises comfort and feeling “at home”
Provides helpful breathing exercises
Holistic post-partum care
Cons
Limited roster of doulas
Helps clients in making good decisions
“Carissa was a phenomenal Doula. She came shortly after I was admitted to the hospital. Was an amazing support person, I had my husband but he had never been through this birthing business before. Carissa provides support and techniques to help manage pain. If I have another child I would definitely choose Carissa to be my doula again. I had a rough birth but she made it feel more comfortable. During the period I had to wait in labour and delivery she stayed with me while my baby was in the NICU with my husband. She advocates for you and helps you make good decisions.
She is definitely someone you would want in your birthing room.
“Carissa is a highly recommended Doula that I was to consult and meet with before we made our final decision on a birth attendant. Although we initially met virtually, her depth of care, wealth of knowledge and incredible warmth was felt and appreciated! During a sensitive time in which I was feeling adrift with the medical care I was receiving, Carissa gave me incredible support and invaluable confidence I carried through my pregnancy journey. It was one of the first times I felt heard and that my values aligned with an experienced professional. Thank you Carissa for making a lasting positive impression!”
Jessica Medrea may look very chill to you, but you know what they say—never judge a book by its cover. The closer my cousin got to her due date for her third child, the more we realized how much we needed Jessica’s calm and steady energy to balance out my cousin’s anxiety.
If you’d like to test the waters first, we suggest booking a free consultation online or in person. Don’t worry, because if you don’t wish to continue with their services, you can simply decline after the meeting.
The package includes two-hour prenatal visits, which are longer than the standard ones. Jessica takes the time to educate you and your partner about the process of childbirth, labor expectations, and basic newborn care.
For first-time moms, you’ll love that you can also get breastfeeding education classes, ensuring you know how to feed your baby if that’s part of your plan.
What’s great about this doula is that you can borrow their books about pregnancy, and other useful references you can use as you take care of your baby.
And if it’s your second time availing her doula services, you can expect her to extend a great discount.
But it’s a bit disappointing that there are no backup doulas.
Pros
Calm and steady presence
Free consultation
Extended two-hour prenatal visits
Provides access to pregnancy and parenting reference books
Offers discounts for returning clients
Cons
No backup doulas
Engaging and eye-opening sessions
“Jessica was our childbirth educator for the sessions we participated in leading up to the birth of our first child. We felt so well informed, well supported and safe throughout our pregnancy and home birth, there is no doubt that the practical, caring and evidence-based approach Jessica takes to birth education was the foundation for our confidence. Her sessions were often eye-opening and always engaging, and framed everything to do with pregnancy and birth as human and accessible (as opposed to how pregnancy and birth are sometimes portrayed in media). A huge thank you to Jessica for allowing us to understand the choices we wanted to make for ourselves and for being such an important part of making the birth we hoped for a reality.”
“Mike and I couldn’t have and wouldn’t have wanted to do this without Jessica. She was relatable and anticipated my needs throughout the entire home birth process. She was so comfortable in our home, with my parents, partner and as a professional. She told it how it is and biologically explained the bodies reactions and capabilities along the way. She validated the pain rather than masked it, which normalized it and made me feel safe till the last push. She’s smart and cool. We were so happy we had her here. I’ll continue to go to her drop in classes because I don’t want to say bye!”
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
While a midwife focuses on delivering the baby, monitoring the baby’s heartbeat, and the medical aspects of giving birth, a doula focuses on providing comfort and encouragement. They also offer the emotional support needed from prenatal to postpartum.
Am I allowed to hire a doula if I’m planning a hospital birth?
Yes, you can hire doulas for hospital births as well. In fact, most of the first-time mothers prefer hiring doulas to help them calm their nerves in a busy hospital setting.
Are doulas covered by insurance?
In general, doula services aren’t covered by insurance. However, we recommend checking for extended health benefits, especially in your workplace, if they allow reimbursements.
What are the limitations of a doula’s role?
Doulas aren’t allowed to make medical decisions as they don’t have prior medical training. They’re also not allowed to administer medicines.
Tianna Clarke
