Laura Rayford
*available for due dates starting in November 2025
Hello! My name is Laura Rayford (she/her) and I am a double certified (DONA & Madriella Doula Network) birth doula and certified postpartum doula (Madriella Doula Network) serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Denver, Colorado. I am passionate about guiding birthing people with nurturing and empowering support; working together toward your ideal birthing experience. I have completed three birth doula trainings. First through Hospital Friendly Doulas (which has allowed me to work as a volunteer doula at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, CA) and then with Sierra Birth Institute (a training approved by DONA) and Madriella Doula Network. All have provided me with invaluable information and numerous tools which allow me to confidently support birthing people and their families.
Prior to working as a doula, I worked as a nanny for 15+ years. I have always been drawn to working closely with families and giving children the best possible care. For me, this naturally led me to doula work, helping new little people be brought into the world by their capable, brave and extraordinary birthing parent. I believe that everyone and every family deserves doula care if they want it and I have experience working with families of all kinds; single parent homes, teen parents, LGBTQ+ families, families with neurodiverse parents or siblings and BIPOC families.
In a birthing room I do my very best to bring calm, joy, laughter and patience to the process. I have experience supporting all kinds of birthing experiences; inductions, medicated and unmedicated, planned or unplanned cesarean births, vbac births and many of the variations that fall in between ☺
I grew up in the bay area of California as the oldest of 3 girls before spending 10 years in Oregon. I Moved back to California when my sisters began having their babies and am now beginning a new chapter of life in Colorado! In my free time you can find me exploring outside, reading, cooking or spending time playing games with friends and family. I am excited to explore all Colorado has to offer!
I am dedicated to and passionate about this work and deeply appreciate your considering inviting me into such a personal and powerful chapter of your life. Let’s work together and create a one of a kind, empowering and positive birthing experience for you and your growing family!
Meet Laura
Hear from Laura’s clients
“Laura was the best doula I could have asked for. Her support and understanding of what I needed without me even having to say anything was unmatched. She was an amazing advocate for my needs and baby’s needs when I wasn’t able to find the words or when my emotions were too high. I am beyond grateful for her support during that amazing yet vulnerable time!”
“ I had a birth doula for a previous experience and I wanted to have that again for my second baby. I’m so grateful to have found Laura – she was amazing! She helped me feel as ready as possible and emotionally grounded going into labor/birth. Overall, it was a very positive experience and I’d recommend Laura as a birth doula for anyone.”
“ I had a birth doula for a previous experience and I wanted to have that again for my second baby. I’m so grateful to have found Laura – she was amazing! She helped me feel as ready as possible and emotionally grounded going into labor/birth. Overall, it was a very positive experience and I’d recommend Laura as a birth doula for anyone.”
“We used Laura as our doula to support the birth of our first child. We initially chose Laura because we felt she was easy to talk to, friendly, and would be supportive of our goals... we were right! Laura was flexible and adapted to our needs and the labor/birth process as it became unpredictable at times. She served as our advocate, asked questions, had answers, and communicated well with the medical team in the hospital. We also found the pre/post visits helpful and informative to help us prepare. Overall we'd recommend Laura to anyone considering a doula.”
“Laura was amazing and ensured my husband and I were confident in the labor process. She not only helped us physically prep but also mentally get our minds into shape for how unpredictable labor can be. She also was an amazing, knowledgeable and calm presence at the time of our birth which helped immensely since I ended up having an unplanned C-section.”
“If you're looking for an empathetic, supportive yet easy going Doula who strives to make your birthing experience the best it can be - then go with Laura. My husband and I are first time parents and wanted someone who could help educate us on the birthing process (ie ask all the dumb questions without being judged) and be an informed, calming presence for us in the labor room. Laura was all of these things and more (the hospital nurses even raved about Laura in the recovery room). We clicked with Laura on the first zoom call consultation. She was kind, positive and totally accepting of our wishes. She guided us through the process and was always available to talk or text. We loved our experience with Laura SO much that she actually became our night doula :) Totally recommend her if you're searching for a doula”
“Thank you again for everything and all the support along the way. I’m sure you’re used to it all the time, but as new parents we we’ve had a gazillion questions and a lot of unknowns and we appreciate the support and help along the way! Also a special thanks supporting me and us through quite the birth ordeal! It’s definitely something I will never forget. I think if you were not there there could’ve been a different outcome!”
“We used Laura as our doula when having our first child. She was an amazing resource and helped us every step of the way from crafting a birth plan through labor and delivery. She always listened to what we wanted and made sure we were being supported. She helped us navigate pain management options and helped us communicate with the hospital staff. I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in using a doula.”