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Why a postpartum doula?

As a Postpartum Doula, I support parents & families after a baby is born. It makes a huge difference during that transition time when you're making the baby feel welcome at home. 

 

Studies show that postpartum support results in better outcomes and fewer complications in those special first months.

 

Depending on your needs, I offer various kinds of support:

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  • Emotional and mental health support

  • Information about caring for a newborn

  • Support for siblings and partners

  • Help with self-care

  • Breastfeeding and lactation assistance

  • Light housework & simple meal prep

Sleeping Baby

LifeFire Doula

ANNIE GOGLIA

What do you need?

Concerned about being overwhelmed by the challenges of caring for your new baby 24/7? Worried about sleep deprivation? Need someone to show you the ropes before the baby arrives?


Maybe you're wondering how to handle going back to work after the baby's born. Or maybe you’ve heard that getting a postpartum doula is a good idea, and you're not quite sure how you'd like to be supported yet.

You’re in the right place!

I’m here to help. 

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With a strong background in the human services profession, I enjoy supporting families to make the most of this precious time in a sustainable way.

We care & nourish you.

We're here with you and baby through the fire of parenthood.

 

At LifeFire Doula, we help you keep your fires lit and stay as present as possible in this amazing but challenging time in your little one’s life.

Why folks love Annie ...

Postpartum Services

About
Annie Goglia

Need a good, empathetic listener and willing helping hand? Someone who has people smarts? Who is comfortable around the many moods of newborns and their parents? Who can offer a fresh perspective when you’re feeling down or bad about yourself as a parent? Who also knows how to bring laughter and fun to the situation when needed? Who can support you at discerning what’s really important to focus on and let go of the rest? 

That’s me! 

With over 25 years in the human services profession, I delight in giving parents emotional support and aiding with self-care. My experience as a life coach, peer counselor and Laughter Yoga Teacher give me unique strengths to bring to this work.

I welcome working with LGBTQ+ families.

Emotional Support

  • listening to concerns, feelings of overwhelm or sadness

  • listening to birth story

  • providing perspective

  • giving positive feedback

  • given real limitations of time and energy, helping parents figure out their priorities and let go of the rest

Info Services

  • newborn care needs

  • diaper changes

  • feeding (including basic breastfeeding support with referral to lactation consultants, as needed)

  • bathing baby

  • parent-child bonding

  • postpartum recovery

  • local referrals to various professionals

Practical Services

  • spending time with baby so parents can nap, shower, go to appointments

  • helping with older siblings so parents can focus on baby 

  • preparing a simple, nourishing meal

  • helping organize spaces in your home to optimize for baby

  • help plan diapering, nursing, bottle washing stations

  • help plan storage, organizing clothes by age

  • light house cleaning

  • doing dishes

How does it work?

We’ll make an appointment to talk before the baby is born, and check in to see how you're doing. We can go over what needs to be done to prepare the home for the baby’s arrival. If needed,  I can help with that.

 

Once the baby has arrived, we can set up a schedule of visits customized to your needs.

 

Depending on what you need that day, we might talk about how you are doing emotionally, what you need for support and how to get it, or I might offer some guidance on those random baby questions that pop up ("My baby keeps doing this thing. Is that normal?").

 

Other days you might want to hand off the little one to me so you can nap or shower.

 

And sometimes you may want to just talk about how this whole parenting thing is landing for you.

 

I’ll provide empathetic listening, and suggestions for self-care, as needed. It can even include a foot rub, if that feels right!

Areas Served

Oakland and nearby East Bay, including Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito.

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Will consider Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Richmond, San Leandro.

After a grueling prepartum experience and a baby in NICU, I was too overwhelmed to manage all the home/nursery setup, new daily feeding/diapering schedule, baby gear—much less feed myself to keep up breastfeeding demands by myself.

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Annie was my beacon of sanity, my grounding anchor as I navigated countless anxieties as a first-time mom. She helped me keep my sense of humor and humanity through the most challenging moments so that my baby could become the happy, well-adjusted, healthy child everyone loves to be around.
 

She was a great support to  our family, and I can't imagine how we would've gotten this far without her.

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V. L.

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First-time mom

Berkeley, CA

With the onset of the Corona virus, I was on a roller coaster of emotions. Annie helped me “get a grip” and have a lighter perspective. I can now relax, rest and rejuvenate—and accept what is happening with more compassion.

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I so enjoy laughing with Annie and trying out her techniques! It would have been so much more challenging to go through this without her.

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Juliette J

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Interior Designer

Monterey, CA

Annie set me on the right track to a life that balances my spirituality, work, and family.

 

She helped me stop and take a serious—but loving and gentle—look at myself in order to understand how and why I need to make changes in order to achieve that wonderful balance.

 

I have made decisions that have already made a dramatic positive impact on the quality of my life.

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Jennie Mulqueen

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Former Director, Early Childhood Programs at the South Shore Conservatory

Boston, MA

I learned a great deal from Annie.

 

She taught me to use laughter and mindfulness techniques to overcome my mental blocks and deep seated fears.

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Yichuan Li

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CitiBank

Beverly Hills, CA

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Contact Annie

Date baby is due or was born

Doula

  • Postpartum Doula training, Sierra Childbirth Institute  |  September 2023

  • Red Cross Infant, Child & Adult CPR Certification  |  February 2024

  • DONA Member 2024 (Doulas of North America)

All up-to-date vaccinations

  • Tdap

  • Flu

  • COVID-19

Leadership

  • Laughter Yoga Teacher Training, Dr. Kataria School of Laughter | 2007

  • InterPlay Leadership Training | 2009

Coaching

  • Life Coach Training, New Ventures West, San Francisco, CA | 2007

Certifications

Annie has a very caring spirit, and the ability to bring both calmness and joy into the home during such a major and potentially stressful family transition.
 
She knows the importance of nourishing new parents—with food, rest, and emotional care.
She is truly excellent at it!

ANANDA LOWE

Director, Boston Doula Circle

Co-author of "The Doula Guide to Birth" 

Birth & Postpartum Doula

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