Gayle Gilman, Birth Doula

I’m Gayle Gilman, a birth doula based in Los Angeles, dedicated to helping women have positive birth experiences—no matter what kind of birth they choose. From scheduled cesareans to natural home births, my goal is simple: for you to walk away feeling happy with the choices you had and confident in the decisions you made.

I’ve seen women experience stressful births that could have been avoided with the right preparation and support. As your doula, I’ll be your advocate—helping you feel heard and supported at every step of the journey.

As a longtime practitioner of meditation, it has always been the place I turned to help me find a calm space to navigate life’s challenges. After raising four kids, including a set of twins, I can say that I have experienced the chaos, beauty and transformation of birth firsthand. I’m now trained as a Birth Doula through Bini Birth, a DONA certified birth educator, and I believe that I bring a lifetime of experience to the doula profession. 

Before becoming a doula, I worked as a documentary and non-fiction filmmaker and podcast producer, telling stories of real people’s lives. Now, I bring that same passion for authentic storytelling into my work with families, helping you write your own birth story—one rooted in intuition and trust in your body.

Originally from Maine, I now call Southern California home, where I reside with my husband, a filmmaker and professor, who is also an amazing dad.

Services Include:

Prenatal Support

  • Prenatal visits (60–90 minutes each; additional visits available)

  • Guidance to create your birth plan and prepare for early parenting

  • On-call phone and text support starting at 37 weeks

Birth Support

  • Continuous labor support in your home, birth center, or hospital

  • Comfort measures, i.e.,  massage, breathwork, and meditation techniques during labor

  • Partner support and environment-setting for comfort and calm

Postpartum

  • Two postpartum visits over the first six weeks (additional visits optional)

  • Emotional processing and integration after birth

  • Support with nursing, pumping, or bottle-feeding routines

  • Gentle guidance for rest, recovery, and newborn care

Training & Affiliations

  • Birth Doula Workshop (2025)

  • Introduction to Childbirth for Doulas (2025)

  • Trauma-Informed Birth Care Workshop (2025)

  • Lactation for Doulas (2025)

  • Member of DONA International, DASC, and Joy in Birthing

Contact Me

gayle@calmbirthalliance.com