Where do you work?
I work across the whole San Francisco Bay Area, with my main focus on the South Bay — Santa Clara County, the heart of Silicon Valley: San Jose, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Santa Clara. I also serve San Francisco proper, the Peninsula (San Mateo County), including San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City and Hillsborough, and the East Bay (Alameda and Contra Costa counties), including Oakland and Fremont. Work outside the Bay Area is open to discussion — I have travelled for jobs in Los Angeles, Arizona and Missouri, and travel and accommodation costs are set out clearly in the quote.
How is a doula different from a nurse or a midwife?
Nurses and midwives do the clinical work — delivering, monitoring, medication, diagnosis. I do none of that. What I provide is non-medical care and support: looking after the baby, supporting feeding, helping the mother through recovery, cooking the confinement meals. I watch the jaundice, the cord, the diapers and the temperature closely, and if something looks wrong my job is to tell you to see a doctor immediately — not to handle it myself.
Have you cared for preterm babies and twins?
Several times. I have cared for twin boys, and for preterm twins on more than one occasion. Preterm babies need closer attention to feed volumes, temperature and routine; with twins the work is getting the two of them onto the same rhythm, because otherwise the adults never rest.
How do you work on sleep? Will you let the baby cry it out?
No. My approach is gentle: get the feeding steady first, then slowly separate day from night — light and interaction by day, quiet and dim at night. Bath, massage, feed, sleep in the same order every time, so the baby learns what comes next. A rhythm is drawn out patiently; it is not something you cry your way into.
Do you speak English?
Mandarin Chinese is my first language and my English is conversational. I have worked with American, Taiwanese-American and multicultural families, so day-to-day communication and handovers are not a problem. For more complex conversations with a doctor, I would suggest a family member or a hospital interpreter joins us.
Are you trained in first aid?
Yes. I hold American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid / CPR / AED certification, valid to August 2027 — you can verify it with the QR code on the card.
How far ahead should I book?
For live-in work or a long run of nights, two to three months before the due date is ideal. For birth support, get in touch around 28 weeks so we have time to meet beforehand. Last-minute enquiries are welcome too — if my calendar allows, I can start quickly.
What hours do you work?
Nights run 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM and days run 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM — eight-hour shifts either way. I can do three to six nights a week depending on what your family needs. Live-in arrangements are worked out separately.
How are your rates set?
I charge by the hour, and nights and days are priced differently. Twins cost more than a single baby, and babies born at 35 to 37 weeks carry a surcharge because the feeding and monitoring are much more intensive. I'll give you the actual figures when we talk — tell me your due date or the baby's age, your city, which shift you need and roughly how long, and I'll send a clear quote. The first conversation is free, and a video call to get acquainted is very welcome.