Tamra Mabanag PCD(DONA), PMH-C Photo

Tamra Mabanag PCD(DONA), PMH-C

Postpartum Doula Services by Tamra

San Jose, CA Service range 30 miles

http://doulatamra.com

Postpartum Rate

$70 to $75

Postpartum Rate

$70 to $75


Postpartum Doula Experience

7 years and 80 families served


Postpartum Doula Certifications

  • DONA International - Certified Postpartum Doula

Doula Training

  • DONA International-Approved Workshop, September 2016

Type of practice: Solo practice

Clients per month: 1 to 5


College Education

AA/AS

BA/BS


Special Services Offered

  • Abortion support
  • Cancer patients and survivors
  • First Aid and CPR
  • LGBTQIA+ Support
  • Newborn care specialist
  • Parenting consulting
  • Reduced rates for women considering adoption
  • Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)
  • Surrogates and intended parents
  • Virtual and remote doula support

Languages Spoken

  • English

Fee Details

My strength is in bringing confidence to new parents. I can help both parents feel confident and help your partner to feel helpful and supportive. I help with light cleaning, light meal prep, baby's laundry, assisting with proper nursing attachment, baby care, parent care and loving hands to assist the new family adjust. I have earned my Perinatal Mental Health certification and thrive when helping new moms through any Postpartum Mood Disorder. I would love to sit with you for a complimentary consultation to set the fee.

Service Area

San Jose, CA Service range 30 miles

Certifications for Tamra Mabanag PCD(DONA), PMH-C

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Certification

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Client Testimonials for Tamra Mabanag PCD(DONA), PMH-C

Post a testimonial for Tamra Mabanag PCD(DONA), PMH-C

Jessie Billups

1/21/2022

To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I was looking for in a postpartum doula, but it’s clear Tamra is it! I am beyond blessed to have come across her page and feel so grateful to have had her gentle guidance, expertise, and company during such a delicate time. Many unexpected circumstances were bound to arise in the fourth trimester, and I’m very glad I had prepared for this by hiring Tamra. Despite my challenge being vulnerable I ALWAYS felt comfortable, supported, and heard in our time together. I considered her a right hand in uncertain times, literally and figuratively, as she helped unclog many ducts through bouts of mastitis. It was great to be able to bounce ideas and worries off of someone who can provide trusted and valuable insights, as well as endless resources and support. The assistance with the laundry and dishes helped me get in a schedule for myself once our time together was over, not to mention was extremely helpful during those weeks of exhaustion and what-day-is-it’s. My husband was also appreciative of the support she gave him, helping him have the confidence to care for our little one equally. We’d also be remiss not mention her AMAZING cooking and baking skills. We cherished every delicious lactation cookie, omelet, muffin, and dinner. In fact, we’re still thriving off of gourmet freezer meals. Another plus was that our dog, the most spoiled member of our family, was in love with her. She was always excited to hear her arrival, and we felt so happy to know she was getting love from her during a time where we often were totally focused on the baby. We can’t recommend Tamra enough. If you’re thinking about it, just do it. You’ll be glad you did. 

Sidharth

12/13/2021

There is so much information our there for first time parents, very overwhelming amounts. It really helped having Tamra, a certified and experienced expert work with us when we welcomed our baby boy. She has undoubtedly transitioned us into better versions of ourselves as new parents.

Short version... Call Tamra, shes great!
Long version... read ahead, she is really great!

Tamra was with us from week one till about week ten
As first time parents, we didn’t know too much back then
Sleep hygiene, infant safety, baby milestones how or when
She answered all our questions and concerns over and over again.

Some nights with a new born can be very rough
She taught us so much, made us both very tough
Tamra is really amazing, we can’t say it enough
She shared parenting stories, suggested baby products, clothes, toys and more helpful stuff.

For anyone reading this, Tamra, we very highly recommend
She will help you, support you, guide you to no end
Our thanks and gratitude to her, we continue to extend
She is a through professional, and excellent doula and now a friend!

Congratulations to expectant parents reading this. Wish you all the very best. Get in touch with Tamra, right away :)

Anahita bhiwandiwalla

12/5/2021

One of the best decisions we made for our family postpartum is deciding to get Tamra on board! As first time parents, with no family around, we decided to have Tamra help us navigate and settle into parenthood. She’s a thorough professional, highly knowledgeable and full of compassion. She made sure she was there when we got home from the hospital, which really helped us get things set up most optimally at home to make our initial days as smooth as possible. Not just baby care, she made it a point to check in on me and my husband too - be it emotionally, putting together a breakfast for us, or getting my husband and I to have a meal together while she took care of the baby. She validated our concerns and emotions and always made us feel at ease. With the pandemic, we’ve been paranoid about letting people near our baby, but she’s been a thorough professional with masking and sanitation. I can say without a doubt that Tamra has helped me transition into a much more confident Mom! Thank you :)

 

Alla

10/11/2021

Tamra is an absolutely wonderful and loving person. She has been a friend, teacher, and shoulder to cry on.  Whether it was, it was the emergency rush to the hospital for an early birth, the first days as new parents, or an unfortunate return to the hospital for overnight jaundice treatment. She was there for our new family every step of the way.

Over the last three months, Tamra has truly become part of our family. Our daughter loved her snuggle time with Tamra, and as first-time parents, it was a relief to have someone there to teach you everything from swaddling to sleep training.  I would never imagine that we'd be getting 6+ hours after only eight weeks.

Tamra provided tremendous lactation support as I was terrified to even think about breastfeeding. Without her help, I won't be able to breastfeed successfully and be miserable.

Thank you for your continued encouragement throughout this challenging time.   Tamra - we love you and miss you forever!! Best wishes to you and your family!! We are fortunate and grateful to have you in our lives. BIG thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Vandana A

6/14/2021

We hired Tamra to assist us during the postpartum period of my second child. The support she provided was so much more than being a doula in the initial weeks. Our little one was gassy and used to cry a lot during the first two weeks. Tamra gave us so many ideas to try out with the baby and used those tricks and learnt how to ease our little one.  Also, she saved us so much of time by recommending us what to buy right from nursing, bottles to all things required in the initial days.  We were definitely able to navigate issues with the baby so much quickly with her help. 

Her work ethic is impeccable and she went out of her way to make the family comfortable. As soon as she would come, she would make nice warm chai, breakfast for us and my son and ensure that our day started off smooth. There were days when we would wait for Tamra to come, hand over the baby and catch up on some quality sleep.  Tamra is also very accommodating to parents choices. We wanted to do combo feeding (bottle + nursing + formula).  She was supportive of the idea and worked with us on making it possible.

Overall, Tamra has definitely helped our family in have great a postpartum experience and definitely recommend her to any of the expectant mothers looking for help.

Johanna

6/12/2021

With no family or friends in the area, Tamra made it possible for me to survive the transition to unexpected single motherhood. She taught me everything I know about newborns and babies Even though my baby arrived a month early, Tamra was there to help out the day we came home from the hospital. She was sensitive and supportive as I worked through difficult personal issues. I do not think I would have made it through the two months she was with me without her help. Tamra was wonderful with my newborn and also helped take care of me by organizing my kitchen and preparing healthy meals. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Bhagyashree

5/2/2021

We had Tamra over as postpartum doula for our second child. And I can happily say that having her at home was really helpful in so many ways.

She would be there at 7am every day and that was the best nap time for me and hubby, knowing that Tamra would do the diaper change and bottle feed baby while we snooze.  LO is bottle fed, so she gave a lot of helpful tips for a good pumping session and took care of cleaning bottles and pumping parts. She was flexible and worked outside her regular schedule because we needed her couple of times on different time.

Besides she has great work ethics and was always on time and always willing to help however needed.

Martina

4/29/2021

We hired Tamra to be with us for the first few weeks after our second son was born. I was determined to have support during the newborn phase after feeling totally overwhelmed when my first son was born. I highly recommend Tamra for any new mom and any family needing support during those first intense weeks with a new child. Her willingness to help in the kitchen, fold laundry, hold the baby, whatever I needed, was such a relief. She is a seasoned mother and caretaker and nurturer at her core and full of knowledge and helpful advice as you navigate taking care of your wee one. Tamra is punctual, responsible, communicative and ultimately an invaluable resource as you embark into the land of motherhood. 

Melissa Winstead

2/15/2021

Tamra is an absolutely wonderful person top to bottom. We would not have survived those early months as new parents without her support. She worked with us for a little over three months and even met us at home the day we got home from the hospital. Her energy was just what our household needed and her expertise on all things babies was so appreciated in those sleepless and brain melting moments! She was great with my husband also, empowering him to be the best dad to our little one and also teaching him how to support me especially in those hormonal moments! As if all this weren’t enough-shes a fantastic cook! I’m a chef by trade and having someone else cook for me was so nurturing and wonderful. She would anticipate my needs before I even knew I had them-fill my water, make breakfast, lactation cookies (hers are THE BEST) and washing bottles/pump parts etc. Having her here to talk to, especially with the added isolation of the pandemic was one of the most important things for both our mental health. I would recommend Tamra to anyone having a baby-whether your first or your fifth-it’s a must for a smooth transition and self care. Thank you Tamra, we love you!

Karolina Buchner

1/18/2021

We LOVED Tamra!  We feel so fortunate that we got to work with her when we did.  We had planned on getting a postpartum doula to get us on our feet in the initial two months, but with COVID, it quickly became clear that this would be the only help we could get in our home (with all of our parents living in Canada).  Tamra and I clicked right away during our initial phone call, and I felt very confident in hiring her after getting a sense of her approach, and especially how careful she is about COVID.  It really gave me peace of mind.


Tamra was with us on our first day home, which was very comforting.  She helped me get started with a more ergonomic setup for breast feeding the baby, guided us through some basics of his care, and made us a meal to keep us going through that first night home, as well as lactation cookies which were our survival food during the nights.  When I was readmitted to the hospital due to complications, Tamra helped my husband figure out bottle-feeding while he was alone at home with our days-old baby.  Total life-saver.


Tamra is a font of information regarding baby feeding, sleep, and development, and helped us decide what works for us by sharing information and resources.  For example, when I needed more help with breast-feeding, she referred me to a lactation consultant who was able to (safely) visit us in person.  She looked up specific data regarding feeding recommendations, and shared apps she thought could be useful.  But beyond that, whenever offering these recommendations, I appreciated her open-mindedness and support when reminding us 'you get to decide how you raise your kid'.  This was really refreshing and helped our confidence as new parents.  She's also an incredibly warm person, easy to talk to, and was great with our baby.

Shilpa D

10/13/2020

We absolutely love Tamra! I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful, passionate, caring and knowledgeable she is!

We were extremely apprehensive about hiring any Doula (Covid-19) but she was kind enough to let us know that she respects any decision we make and will not charge even a single penny if we decide to cancel her services (no penalties). She also advised us to wait until it's time and take the decision when the baby arrives and how we feel about it. She went over all the details (tiniest tidbits) about how careful she would be if we decide to hire her. And I am so glad to mention that we held off our decision till the baby arrived and finally decided to hire her. 

Tamra was my support system in the first two weeks! She took care of the baby, and let me and my husband catch on our sleep (oh yes, there will be sleepless nights the first two days for sure and that can really put you in depression). I was on the verge of breaking down, but Tamra really helped me get through my postpartum phase. She taught me coping strategies.

I struggled a lot with breastfeeding and she provided a lot of good information pertaining that. She also doesnt shy away from telling you what she knows vs what she does not know. Anything she doesnt know, she goes out of her way to get the right help and also keeps herself abreast with new info. 

What i really liked about Tamra that she is extremely observant. Based on how you handle baby in front of her, she will tell you the possible problems you will face in the future. For instance, based on how i fed my baby she had warned me about mom's wrist problem. At the time, i did not pay attention but now i am paying the price for the same. I was diagnosed with Tendonitis a month back. 

I can proudly say that she is part of my family now!

PS-Her cookies are to die for!

 

 

Shilpa D

10/13/2020

This was long pending on my to-do list!

We absolutely love Tamra! I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful, passionate, caring and knowledgeable she is!

We were extremely apprehensive about hiring any Doula (Covid-19) but she was kind enough to let us know that she respects any decision we make and will not charge even a single penny if we decide to cancel her services (no penalties). She also advised us to wait until it's time and take the decision when the baby arrives and how we feel about it. She went over all the details (tiniest tidbits) about how careful she would be if we decide to hire her. And I am so glad to mention that we held off our decision till the baby arrived and finally decided to hire her. 

Tamra was my support system in the first two weeks! She took care of the baby, and let me and my husband catch on our sleep (oh yes, there will be sleepless nights the first two days for sure and that can really put you in depression). I was on the verge of breaking down, but Tamra really helped me get through my postpartum phase. She taught me coping strategies.

I struggled a lot with breastfeeding and she provided a lot of good information pertaining that. She also doesnt shy away from telling you what she knows vs what she does not know. Anything she doesnt know, she goes out of her way to get the right help and also keeps herself abreast with new info. 

What i really liked about Tamra that she is extremely observant. Based on how you handle baby in front of her, she will tell you the possible problems you will face in the future. For instance, based on how i fed my baby she had warned me about mom's wrist problem. At the time, i did not pay attention but now i am paying the price for the same. I was diagnosed with Tendonitis a month back. 

I can proudly say that she is part of my family now!

PS-Her cookies are to die for!

 

 

Lauren

10/12/2020

Tamra has been an absolute lifesaver for us postpartum. Having our family in the east coast and southern California, we knew we couldn't rely on them for long periods of help once our daughter arrived. I contacted Tamra after meeting her briefly at Harmony in Campbell. I instantly felt comfortable and at ease with her. Our initial phone call lasted over an hour and I was amazed at how much information she knew about newborn care. Tamra helped us out for two months after our daughter was born. She made us yummy breakfast sandwiches, washed our dishes, gave me tips on how to breastfeed, showed me how to use the breastpump, held our daughter, rocked her to sleep (which allowed me to take a long hot shower), cooked dinners for us, folded our laundry, pet our two dogs (who desperately needed snuggles) and so much more. Mainly though, she was a great person to talk with. She always put me at ease and gave my husband and I the confidence to rock out this parent thing! I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for love, help and guidance once their little one comes Earthside. Thank you Tamra. You are family. We love you!

Christina

10/8/2020

Having Tamra with us for our first 2 months as parents was so helpful and calming for me. With the pandemic, we weren't able to take any classes and I felt very unprepared as a first time parent. Tamra swooped in and provided guidance and assurance every step of the way as we navigated through breastfeeding, pumping, engorgement, baby acne, cradle cap, nursery set up, etc. A lot of her guidance and tips were exactly what the lactation consultants and pediatrician recommended as well so I felt very reassured that she had the knowledge to help us be successful! On top of all that, she was a wonderful cook - always making sure we were fed with breakfast and lunch (with leftovers). During a time where I was unable to have family fly in to help and unable to hang out with others really, Tamra felt like a friend who I could trust and talk to during our times together to stay sane and to still feel human amidst the chaos of early parenthood. Finally, she also took the time to play with our dog who was also having to adjust to this new life and a new addition to the family. LOVE THAT!

Victoria and Daniel

10/6/2020

Tamra came into our family's life when we didn't think we would be able to have any help with our newborn. Our daughter was born right at the beginning of the pandemic and plans of having grandparents fly in were quickly canceled due to health concerns. We were hesitant to have anyone inside our home, but our concerns were quickly put to rest after speaking with Tamra about the precautions she would be taking before and during her visits. Our request ma around health safety were taken seriously and without issue. She was always open to our concerns and how best to handle them. 

Tamra was a bountiful knowledge center for us as new parents. She guided us through feeding difficulties, advised on appropriate bottle/nipple sizes, gave swaddle recommendations for better sleep, and provided much need support through a particularly stubborn cases of Thrush. We were able to navigate issues much more quickly with her guiding us. 

We also felt supported as individuals as we adjusted to our new life while learning how to care for ourselves.  Tamra made sure we were always fed (both during her visits and with prepped food for long after she had left), that laundry was done and folded, that we had time to take showers, or most importantly sneak in a nap while baby was well cared for. 

We now have a happy and healthy 4 month daughter who eats and sleeps wonderfully. I credit Tamra's care and guidance for the success we've had with learning to care for our daughter! 

Tamra

10/4/2020

Ahhyun Ahn, this is the first time I have heard that you were unhappy. I thought everything was great as I left from my final shift with your family back in July 2020 because you told me I was going to be the first phone call you will make after you find out you are pregnant with baby number 2. You said you wanted to be sure I would be available to serve your family as your Postpartum Doula again.
 
I strived to nurture your instincts and offer support, to educate you on all things baby and self-care, to assess your needs and refer to outside resources as needed. I regret that I did not live up to your expectations. Ahhyun Ahn, if you would like to further discuss, I would be happy to do so. Please feel free to reach out.

Ahhyun Ahn

10/4/2020

I hated the experience with her. The 12 weeks were so stressful and I just wanted the contract to end. She was judgemental, telling us that she should not be working hard (she told me that she was just watching TV with another family and that was her work as she was giving them emotional support), and kept pushing me to let her make food that we didn't want her to.

She was constantly changing schedule, being late, and unprofessional in a way that she will complain about other families that she was with. Tamra was insisting that my husband had childhood trauma, threw a fit when we didn't listen to her advice, and ignored our way of feeding the baby - so whenever she fed my baby, she was throwing up the whole day.

 

She would discredit my doctor and my sleep consultant too.

Marisa Suarez

9/11/2020

I had the pleasure of having Tamra's help with my twin girls after they came home from the NICU for a couple months. She helped me feel so much more "with it" when she was around! She let me sleep, played with my 2.5 year-old, cooked for us (enough for a couple days!), baked lactation cookies (I'm ashamed how fast I went through those!).... she also could bottle feed the girls at the same time to keep them on the same schedule as I wanted, and gave me advice whenever I asked: for example how to calm the girls, recommendations for sleep preparation for them, ways to hold them, etc. Tamra also was a huge support in my goal to exclusively breastfeed my babes, which I so appreciated! I ended up extending her services past our contract because I couldn't let her go, and felt like I was losing a friend when I finally had to be on my own! (Though she's still been available for questions!). I am forever grateful for Tamra for helping us to start off on the right foot so we could maintain our sanity. I highly recommend her! (My son does too, always asking where she is!)

Lauren P

8/4/2020

I contacted Tamra in my 2nd Trimester, and I'm so glad I did. She provided helpful resources and advice on everything from baby gear to lactation consultants while we were still waiting for our son. After he arrived, her visits fortified us with the newborn care tricks we needed, as well as a chance to care for ourselves a bit. Tamra's expertise and support enabled us to start off our journey as parents with confidence, and we'd highly recommend her to any new parents!

Cat and Jim

7/1/2020

Tamra from the moment she walked in the door the first day, took so much pressure off me and my husband. We had a traumatic birth, and while Tamra was helping us care for our baby, and cook and clean for us, she was ALSO helping me work through some of that trauma. She is so warm and caring, with a lot of attention to detail, which is so important during this pandemic. She regularly sanitized our house, which was very comforting. She also was accepting of us at our most vulnerable, tired, emotional, messy, smelly selves. On top of all that, her cooking is amazing!!! And she'll use whatever you have, which was awesome since somehow we panic-bought too many apples, and she was able to make a delicious crumble out of them! We had a great experience with Tamra! Thank you for helping us through some of the toughest moments of our postpartum experience!!

Bea

5/21/2020

I had the pleasure of working with Tamra and she is wonderful. Not only is she a kind, good-natured person but also has so much experience with babies and has a ton of knowledge about newborns and all things leading up to it and after they arrive. She’s very responsive via email and text. It was wonderful to have someone not only take care of our baby while my husband and I napped but take care of us by preparing delicious food. I would highly recommend Tamra for any first time parent, or any parent looking for that extra help that is needed with a newborn.

Kristy Dalrymple

3/12/2020

Tamra was an incredible addition to our family when we became new parents.  I can’t imagine how we would have survived without her!  Tamra stood out to me as a postpartum doula with her valuable expertise on how to care for a newborn, recommendations on how to reorganize our home for the new addition, and her support as I navigated some serious breastfeeding challenges.  With her help, I quickly became confident as a mother and am proud to say that I’m still breastfeeding my 7 month old daughter.  Tamra is respectful, professional, and passionate about her work.  I simply couldn’t have asked for more.  It was a pleasure to work with her and I highly recommend her!

Michelle Chang

2/18/2020

Hiring Tamra as our postpartum doula was one of the best decisions my husband and I have made. We had her for the first ~3 months of our twin boys' lives, with the majority of that time being in the early weeks when we needed her the most.

We were lucky to have Tamra meet us at our house the day we came home from the hospital. Right away we benefited from Tamra’s advice and calm demeanor. She helped in so many different ways over those weeks, from helping me put my breast pump together for the first time, to cooking many delicious homemade meals and yummy lactation cookies, to allowing my husband and I to get naps and showers in, to offering tips on feeding, bottle cleaning, soothing the boys when they’re fussy -- and so much more. She even helped us figure out the best way to tandem bottle feed my boys, which is a huge deal for twins. 

On top of all that, Tamra is so easy to talk to. Being a new mom is hard! Tamra always checked in on me to see how I was doing both physically (I was recovering from a c-section) and mentally. I knew she was not only caring for my boys but making sure I was a priority as well. She's extremely observant, caring, and nonjudgmental - Exactly what you need when you're in a vulnerable state. 

Tamra became a part of our family. My husband and I can't recommend her enough.

Jenny B

2/5/2020

I had the pleasure of working with Tamra after delivering my first baby. It was a difficult time for me with multiple hospitalizations and Tamra stepped up to help take care of the baby and my husband. She helped me settle in when i was back home and really supported me as i navigated the transition into motherhood. She provided lots of support and resources. She also makes amazing breakfast sandwiches! Thank you Tamra for all you've done for us!

Jenny B

2/5/2020

I had the pleasure of working with Tamra after delivering my first baby. It was a difficult time for me with multiple hospitalizations and Tamra stepped up to help take care of the baby and my husband. She helped me settle in when i was back home and really supported me as i navigated the transition into motherhood. She provided lots of support and resources. She also makes amazing breakfast sandwiches! Thank you Tamra for all you've done for us!

Binaisha

2/4/2020

I loved Tamra from my first phone interaction with her. I had decided to hire her as my Postpartum Doula . However my son was a micro-preemie and had an 81 day stay in the NICU. I was all nervous about my son coming home even though I had family support. Having Tamra around was like a breath of fresh her. She was very punctual! She especially helped me with breastfeeding and my son now latches like a champ. My parents could focus on other tasks while she was around. She even made some delicious dinner when she came home on Friday's. Whenever I was fearful, she calmed me, showed me how to recognize my baby's communication and soon became like a member of the family for the time she was with us. 
Tamra organized our baby stuff, my closet and watched the baby while I caught up on much needed rest . I also loved how she captured some intimate moments that I had with the baby . The first few weeks with the baby are always a blur and I love having these pics to look back on now.

Every postpartum mom needs a doula like Tamra!

Thank you Tamra for holding my hand during my most vulnerable days. !

Lyndsey

1/27/2020

I cannot recommend Tamra enough to any new mom.  I had never heard of a postpartum doula and did not feel the need to have one for the birth, so naturally I was skeptical.  I had a rather traumatic birth experience and felt completely overwhelmed when I came home.  Tamra was a lifesaver, in every sense of the word.  She gave me some priceless suggestions during our consultation over the phone and met with us a few times a month.  She was able to give me so much insight into my newborn, and she helped me understand all the different things babies do that is not covered in any book.  But most importantly, she taught me to trust myself as a new mother and to trust my baby.  The support from her years of experience was priceless and I cannot imagine this journey without her.  If you're reading this Tamra, I don't thank you enough for all you have done and helping me become a more confident mother.  

Lauren

1/21/2020

Tamra started working with my family a few days after our daughter was born and I can't express how grateful I am that we were able to find her. She has a wonderfully down-to-earth demeanor that instantly put me at ease and really listened to my concerns--both of which are key because we ended up discussing a lot of sensitive issues in the immediate postpartum period.

My husband and I don't have family in the area and were nervous about our son's reaction to introducing a second child into our family. Tamara knew that this was important to us and really supported our *whole family*, giving my husband and I ideas about how to help our with our son's need for extra attention, providing bottle feeding tutorials to my husband, and giving me some space to spend quality time with my son. One of my favorite memories is the morning that Tamra arrived and took my daughter so I could sleep in a bit. I woke up two hours later to find my daughter sleeping in her crib and Tamra feeding my son home-made pancakes. How she managed to do all that, I still don't know.

Tamra also focused on caring for *me*, which was not only comforting to me, but also eased the burden on my husband. At minimum, she made sure that I was rested, fed, and showered every time she was at our house, but she also helped me with more sensitive things like unclogging my milk ducts. When I came down with a cold, Tamara made me soup from scratch (not to mention, she disinfected all surfaces in the house to help keep everyone healthy). Tamra's extensive knowledge and experience was also key in identifying that my daughter and I had thrush--something I would have never thought to ask the doctors about.

In short, we're so happy that Tamra was there to support us during this special (and hectic) time for our family. New babies and family transitions are hard, but having Tamra made it so much easier. 

Dianne

11/20/2019

Being with Tamra was the best investment for me and my family.   She was kind., supportive, and I instantly felt at ease with her.   I even told my OBGYN about her today, so she could pass Tamra's name on to other families in need.   At first, I thought I could care for my newborn without any help, and I was completely wrong.  With everything else going on in terms of recovery, breast feeding, and learning how to care for a little one it's nice to have someone who is experienced to help out.  I would HIGHLY recommend Tamra and encourage you to reach out to her.   Tamra thank you so much for being there when I called you last minute to come help out.   

R K

10/24/2019

From our 1st phone call, I knew Tamra would be an amazing support, and she more than delivered. She is the perfect combination of friend, sister, mom, and caregiver.

Initially, we thought timing wouldn't work, but she tried hard to be accommodating despite the completely valid reason she wouldn't be available. Since our LO came early, we were so grateful she got to be with us almost every day for the 1st week after our baby arrived. As terrified FTM parents, she guided us as we tried to survive the first few days. Those early newborn days are a blur, but I know we would have barely survived it without her.

Highlights of how she supported us:

1. Breastfeeding - We struggled w/ latch/tongue tie issues but she encouraged and supported me. The first two times my LO latched was with her help. We still struggled for a couple of months, but she kept encouraging me (not pushing at all) and helped calm me down when my anxiety would creep in.  

2. Demeanor - She is kind, fun, gentle, and non-judgmental. When you're emotionally & physically vulnerable, hormonal, sleep-deprived, and scared, you want someone like her. Someone to ask a bunch of dumb questions and be yourself around. She was so observant, attentive, and nurturing at the same time. 

3. Organization - We had nothing prepared for baby and our kitchen was stocked with so much expired food that we'd never touch. She helped us purge/sort everything and helped us determine what baby stuff we needed (and what we didn't need). It was nice having an emptier/cleaner kitchen, especially since we were rest of our life was in newborn chaos.

Note: She did ALL OF THE ABOVE while helping to watch our LO too. Amazing. 

If we're lucky to have another baby someday, I'd hire her right away. You're going to want that kind of support when you come home.

Katie Parker

5/20/2019

Tamra came highly recommended by our birth doula after challenges with my recovery landed me in the hospital for a week at 1 month postpartum.  I feel so grateful to have had her support from when returned home until about 14 weeks postpartum.  I came home exhausted, scared and overwhelmed with being a first time mom.  I desperately wanted to care for my baby but didn't know how I would balance this with my own recovery.  My mom and husband were overwhelmed also.  Tamra spent two days a week with us answering our many questions, helping with newborn care and other tasks around the house.  She was extremely sensitive to my needs and our family dynamic.  She reminded me to take naps and helped me prepare for visiting family always ensuring my health was the priority.  She is extremely knowledgable about infant development, maternal health and postpartum moods.  Tamra has become a treasured friend, but I am most grateful to her for helping me develop confidence in caring for my child.  She didn't step in and take over.  She helped support my developing instincts and the relationship that was building with my child.  I highly recommend Tamra!

Claire Judge

5/13/2019

I cannot express how greatful I am for Tamra’s support and guidance while I navigated the postpartum period after the birth of our daughter.  She was always on time, flexible, and took time to get to know our values and day to day routine.  She also was wonderful with our four year old son and gave a lot of tips on how to support him during this time of change.  She loved our daughter and I always felt at ease with her caring for her and it was wonderful to see our daughters eyes light up when she arrived.  Tamara also is very up to date and knowledgeable on safe sleep, nursing, baby care, health of mother and postpartum depression and anxiety.  I highly recommend her and feel I couldn’t have gotten through this time without her. 

Kate

4/6/2019

Tamra came to work with me a few months after my first baby was born. I was stressed about returning to work, and she helped get me organized at home in a number of ways so I felt more comfortable about going back to work, including advice about babyproofing, help clearing out the clutter to make room for baby stuff, and answering a million questions about my baby (breastfeeding, developmental activities, etc.). She was always a warm, knowledgable, and nonjudgmental presence, and I would recommend her to others in a heartbeat! 

Caitlin

3/13/2019

As first time parents, we did not really know what to expect when our child was born, but we knew we would need help caring for our little one and ourselves. We are so grateful for the postpartum support that Tamra gave us during the first weeks with our newborn. She clearly has a passion for, and a great deal of expertise with child development.  Tamra shared her knowledge with us constantly, especially in areas of promoting newborn safety, such as safe sleep practices. In particular, she was full of encouragement and support with breastfeeding. She was such a warm presence in our home. As a result of her influence, I believe that I became less anxious about my ability to meet the needs of my baby. Further, she helped us immensely with the tasks that were important to us, but that we now struggled to find time for, such as tidying the kitchen and cooking. Tamra prepared us some delicious and hearty meals that kept us well-fed, and introduced us to some new favorite recipes! She really makes herself available and always encouraged us to contact her with any questions and concerns. In short, we are so happy we had Tamra during this major transition in our lives. I definitely recommend her if you are looking for postpartum support that will help you feel well-cared for, and also more confident in your new role as a parent.

Anjuli

2/18/2019

Tamra helped make the overwhelming experience of having a newborn doable for me and my husband. As a first time mom, I didn't know anything about newborn care. I wasn't familiar with the concept of a post partum doula. The first morning Tamra arrived our son was four days old. We hadn't slept at all in 4 days, I couldn't get breast feeding down & my hormones were out of control. Tamra gave me a big hug, a warm, delicious meal, and watched my swaddled baby so I could get some rest. It was clear right away that Tamra takes care of much more than just the baby. She takes care of the whole family. I don't know how we could get through our son's first few months without her.

Tamra is an expert in all things baby. She taught us about safe sleep practices, newborn care, and child development. We used her help regularly throughout our son's first few months. It's an intimate time where emotions run high. But she something in her nature made her presence unobtrusive. She felt like part of the family.

Tamra's the reason I'm still breastfeeding. I have a history of breast cancer and really struggled with a low supply & a jaundiced baby who was a slow eater with a tongue tie. With the help of a lactation consultant, Tamra advised and supported us through the first couple of frustrating months. I would have quit had it not been for her support.

Tamra’s also an incredible cook. I didn’t realize how much I would appreciate sharing a warm meal with my husband during those non-stop days. She somehow cooked for us regularlyl while still caring for our newborn. We are still trying to mimic some of the amazing things she made.

I wish we could’ve used Tamra for longer! But she truly specializes in making life easier during the newborn phase. She helps parents learn the tools they need to become more confident in their care taking abilities. If we have another kid, Tamra will be our first phone call. 

Shannan

2/17/2019

Tamra was a miracle blessing for me and my baby when we were struggling with our new life together.  Nurturing a new baby with lack of sleep, low milk production, and the stresses that come with the chronic cycling of breast feeding, bottle feeding, pumping, and then turn around and repeat.  Add to that a husband who was working long hours and who had not yet caught on the demands of fatherhood.  In stepped Tamra on very short notice.  She was able to provide not only a wonderful, loving and knowledgable helping hand for us, but also some wise and experienced emotional support.  Tamra provided an invaluable service for us.  She clearly loves her job, and I remember her saying so on numerous ocassions!  She comes with highest recommendations from our family.

Regina

2/17/2019

Tamra cane to help our family in a great time of need. I am so thankful I was able to connect with such a compassionate soul who truly loves what she does. Tamra helped me in every possible area of life that she was able. She calmed every fear and worry I had, reinforced all the positives, and took care of all the things that I hadn’t had time for, like cooking AMAZING meals and cleaning up the kitchen, which was a huge relief. She was wonderful with my little one, helped to get him learning to take a bottle and helped me and my husband learn what we needed to do. She took the time to get to know me on a personal level and help me see that I was fully capable of being the best mom I could be to my family. I would highly recommend her to anyone needing this type of support and I would reach out to her over and over again if I ever need anything. She makes herself readily available and truly cares about each family and person she works with. She’s a wonderful soul who I am so grateful to have had the chance to connect with. Thank you Tamra for all you do!

Audra Schlaupitz

1/3/2019

Tamra was an amazing help during the first two weeks postpartum, as they went by in a chaotic sleep-deprived blur. Being a first time mom is challenging because you have no idea what to expect (even with reading books and taking classes). I was having a hard time with latching/position/extremely sore nipples during breastfeeding so Tamra observed and gave me a lot of advice and suggestions to help. She brought a wealth of knowledge for every question/concern we could think of and also gave us many tips for things we hadn’t thought of yet. She helped both my husband and I feel confident in our ability to take care of our daughter. She was and still is always a text or call away if I have any questions- she is an amazing support person.

Sarah Ou

10/16/2018

Tamra has been a true gift to our family. NY Times recently published an article, “If Only Everyone Had a Postpartum Doula” and if you are undecided about hiring a doula, it is a must read. The only thing I would change is the title--to be “If Only Everyone Had Tamra as Their Postpartum Doula”.

From awesome recipes (bone broth and oatmeal lactation cookies FTW) to critical infant parenting tips (we probably would have discovered safe sleeping eventually), Tamra brought a wealth of knowledge and perspective to our newly expanded family. Equally important, she provided knowledge and care in a way that made us feel both supported and confident in our own parenting abilities.

We were truly lucky to have Tamra with us for the first chapter in parenting adventures. She left a lasting impression on us and will forever be an important person to our family.

-The Ou Family

Mima Takemoto

10/8/2018

Tamra is wonderful!  She helped me and my family when we needed it most.  She was awesome at helping my baby Meg with naps, feedings, walks, and playtime.  (It was because of her guidance that I was able to exclusively breastfeed for as long as I did!)  She also prepared absolutely delicious meals and did a great job of straightening up the kitchen and living spaces.  I especially loved it when she took candid photos of my baby with me.  She is totally professional, always arriving on time and immediately responding to phone calls/texts/emails.  I highly recommend her!

Susan Feinberg

8/9/2018

Tamra really cares about her clients and it radiates through her service. She took care of my family in my first month postpartum and I am amazed at how experienced and reliable she is. Tamra is an expert on newborn and mommy care, and gives unbiased advice and professional guidance for all new parent needs such as postpartum anxiety, breastfeeding, newborn sleep, and so much more. She is a great listener and very down to earth, she can calm her clients even through their most stressful times. My husband and I learned so much from her, and have become more confident parents. We are so grateful for all her help and support through our new parent journey.

Liliana Cabral

4/12/2018

Before the birth of our first baby, my husband and I met Tamra.Thanks to her warm personality and professionalism we immediately connected. Once our first daughter was born, she helped us in many different ways. From the simple -but not less important- tasks such as preparing breakfast for mom, making sure I always had my lactation tea to her valuable advice when my daughter was not gaining weight. Tamra directed us to a wonderful lactation support group and a new pediatrician that were instrumental to solve our problem. Her expertise and connections were key during those first weeks. My baby is now steadily gaining weight and I am still breastfeeding.

If you are looking for generous support and candid guidance, we highly recommend Tamra. She is a great listener and a lovely companion for those first weeks when little makes sense. Her knowledge and expertise will be a great asset to any mom. Until today, I feel I could always trust her advice and my baby to her. We are very thankful for all her help and feel fortunate to have found her. She became close to our family very rapidly and we hope she will continue to touch our daughter’s life as she grows older.

Alma Diaz Parra

4/11/2018

I met Tamra during a Meet the Doulas event and I liked her sincerity and down to earth personality. We were not initially planning on having a post partum doula, but after not sleeping during baby’s first week, we decided to get help. Tamra is very professional, always on time and is sensitive to mom’s emotional well being. She taught us how to make organic chicken bone broth, which has many healing benefits. Our baby was not breastfeeding too well and I had to pump and supplement with baby formula and Tamra encouraged me to go to my hospital’s Lactation Support group. Tamra also helped me remind my 3 yr old and 6 yr old to be gentle with baby sister. Thank you Tamra for all your help!

Vera Gin

4/6/2018


Tamra was my friend's postpartum doula and I got to know her well. I've been super impressed with her kindness, professionalism and going above and beyond in caring for my friend and her children. I'd recommend her to an expectant mother in a heartbeat! In challenging situation with postpartum mood issues, Tamra's care was essential an super helpful. I really wish I had her as a doula after my baby.

Nathalie Bize

4/6/2018

I knew it will be a big adjustment to welcome a third baby in our family and I wanted a extra help to enjoy this time the best way possible. I am so glad that Tamra was there during the first weeks until baby was one month old. Tamra is very friendly, open minded, respectful, professional, trustworthy! She helped a lot from holding the baby to running errands with all in between. She was always looking for something to do around the house when I was nursing. She helped in the kitchen and made delicious dishes. She took care of my 2 older kids too, they adopted her from day one ! She took care of my little one. That gave me some time to relax, take a bath or a nap. It was also a good way for me to spend quality time with the two oldest without being interrupted! I highly recommend her to every parents of a newborn !

Mandi Halverson

8/23/2017

Being a first time mom is hard. The things you researched that you never pictured doing or getting all the unsolicited advice to help. In the end makes your question more like, wait my little one does do that or does this instead Is that okay? In a nutshell it's exhausting.  But sorting through it with Tamra, my concerns, questions, and her development steps was a breathe of fresh air! We discussed what I really needed to know for both me and my daughter.  Example, getting her to take the bottle at 2.5 months after only getting me and bottle maybe a handful in the very beginning was the HARDEST thing for me. Hearing her cry and not being able to console her. It tore me up inside but I knew she was starting daycare soon and I couldn't go with her. She had to take the bottle. She worked with me on different feeding positions, bottles, temperament and dreamfeeding. (Which I had no idea what dream feeding was!). Having her there and her understanding how much it hurt me she always found a way to make me feel I wasn't a bad mom.  It's okay if she crlies when trying something new (which isn't harming her) like the bottle. Since then life had been so much easier! She takes the bottle from me, now daycare, and sleeps in her own crib all by 3.5 months! I know I couldn't have gotten there without Tamra!

Jihyun Divya Na

8/20/2017

Tamra is amazing. She is professional, friendly, positve, punctual, responsible and knowledgeable. I was struggling with my first baby boy; she gave a lot of tips on how to take care of newborns as well as reasons behind babies' behavior and the steps of babies' development so that I had a better understanding of what was going on with my boy without added frustration. She took good care of my son and she was always talking and singing to him and sharing details about my boy's responses. I could see her also loving him. She was willing to do anything I needed and even though I didnt ask, she would easily find something to help me with. She is a very delightful person and always listens carefully so I also enjoyed talking with her and that helped me with some postpartum depression feelings I had. I am very happy that I had her help for my postpartum care.

Megan Meyer

7/20/2017

I am so happy I decided to have Tamra come and assist me after the recent arrival of my third baby. My older children are barely 2 and 4 years old, and my hands are very full! While nursing and baby care were going smoothly for me, I was struggling to balance everything else on my plate. Tamra's presence was an absolute blessing. She made meals, washed dishes, cleaned my kitchen, and more. She helped me feel like I could take time for myself and my new baby. My kids absolutely adore Tamra, and it was so wonderful to see them getting additional attention. Her demeanor is calm, warm, and encouraging. She is a wonderful listener, which I greatly appreciated as being a stay-at-home mom of young children can feel isolating. Tamra's presence helped to smooth the transition from family of four to family of five. I highly recommend Tamra to anyone who is welcoming a new baby into their family!

Samantha Miller

10/29/2016

Tamra was a complete miracle for me with my first born! She is so knowledgeable and encouraging and very loving. Even when I was completely overwhelmed and in tears she just had a way to put things in perspective for me and let me know I was doing a great job. One of the biggest things that Tamra was able to help with was nursing. The first few weeks of nursing sucks, it truly does but she was full of tips and tricks and helped me make it the most comfortable it could be. She is one of the main reasons I am still nursing! I would recommend Tamra to any new mom. The benefit of having someone like her on your side when you bring home a new little one is truly insurmountable.

Postpartum Availability for Tamra Mabanag PCD(DONA), PMH-C

= Available. Calendar last updated: 12-30-2023