Britt Fohrman

5 stars does not begin to express how great Britt is — there should be a different category for someone who is involved in the most profound and beautiful experience of your life! I am 5-​weeks postpartum with my second child, and am so grateful that when I tell people about both of my births I can do so triumphantly. That is in large part because of Britt.
My husband and I were planning on a natural hospital birth 2 years ago with our first daughter, and Britt was our doula. As the pregnancy progressed, we started to get curious about home birth, but we couldn’t picture what it would actually be like. I will never forget the afternoon we sat in our living room and Britt explained to us how you do a home birth. And so at 34 weeks we switched our plan, found a homebirth midwife (Nile Nash, also an amazing lady!), and didn’t look back. That birth went great, and I was thrilled to have the chance to work with Britt again when we became pregnant with #2.
When you have Britt as a doula you get much more than someone who is present during the labor and birth. You get a deeply knowledgable yoga instructor, a partner who is available during the pregnancy and after the birth to answer questions and offer support, monthly gatherings with her other mamas (such a special thing to be with other ladies on the journey), a photographer, a dance buddy (yes, we had a Beyonce dance party 20 some hours into my first birth), a hearty laugher (the power of laughter is real!) and a wealth of wisdom around prenatal nutrition and health. She’s also a vibrant, playful person and so fun to be around.
I recommend Britt without hesitation. She rocks. To have her as part of my birth team was a true gift. Britt is committed to supporting women and their partners face birth with knowledge, confidence, and tools. The result? Birth can be a beautiful, positive experience.

In the beginning I wanted to work with a doula because I knew I wanted a natural birth and I read that having a doula is helpful in that respect. Because «women have been doing this for _​_​_​years» I thought I didn’t need birth classes or any other type of prep — I just knew I didn’t want epidural and figured doulas were the way to go. I’m tough, I can handle it, etc. etc.
I was referred to Britt by a friend of mine and decided to work with her and her partner Alexis (whom I also love!) after we met for our consult. Looking back, having Britt by my side was SO much more than being able to say «I have a doula». Keepin’ it 100 — I could not have done ANY OF «THIS» (pregnancy and birth) without Britt. From start to finish, working with her as my doula was an amazing and empowering experience. Britt was always super supportive and warm and encouraging. I had a tendency to doubt myself where impending motherhood was concerned and she had the ability to help me clear away a lot of that anxiety. She was super responsive and always able to point me in the right direction with my questions and concerns.
Specific to my pregnancy (this is all TMI), we decided around 5 months that we wanted to switch from hospital to home birth. I was SO psyched to have such a great doula and midwife on my birth team and I couldn’t WAIT to have a home birth. I learned late in the game (36 weeks) that my babe was breech and was devastated. My mind jumped right to «c-​section» and it really took the wind out of my sails. I spent the last 3 weeks doing everything to make the baby turn — chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathics, spinning babies techniques, yoga, standing on my head, and 2 external versions — nothing worked. In addition to being a very supportive sounding board and shoulder to cry on, Britt encouraged me to look into vaginal breech delivery, something I never thought was possible. We pushed on and this was our new plan — breech delivery in a hospital. When I went into labor (fast and furious, will spare you the details) Britt was by my side at the hospital at 5am and saw me through the entire thing and it was AMAZING. She helped me advocate for myself at the hospital when the doctors start doin’ their CYA doctor speak. I felt so knowledgable and strong, even in labor when I was fully dilated and things were super intense, I felt like a BOSS.
There are no words to express how thankful I am to have been a client of hers and I wholeheartedly recommend her to any mama looking to work with a doula. I loved the monthly mama groups and took advantage of Britt’s other yoga classes too which I thought were super helpful. Working with her is the ONLY thing I will miss about being pregnant! 10 stars!!!

I took Britt’s prenatal yoga classes for a bout 6 weeks before my boy was born, as suggested by my doula Sandra.
I whole-​heartedly believe her guiding breathwork and opening postures allowed me to relax into a seamless quick childbirth experiece I will never forget!
She is so good at what she does, I highly recommend to any expectant mother!

Britt was incredibly supportive for both me and my Wife. She gave me advice over the phone early on, and come over when we were ready and had a calm reassuring presence that helped us go a bit longer. In the hospital, St Lukes, she knew all the staff which was INCREDIBLY valuable and informative, as well as conducive to interacting with the staff while they did their hospital stuff.
We’re really glad we had her our doula and would absolutely hire her again!

I first met Britt at a prenatal yoga class at The Mindful Body and loved her. Later on, when my husband and I are started looking around for a photographer to do a maternity shoot, Britt came highly recommended. Britt responded quickly to my email, and was clear and direct and so helpful with regard to everything from pricing, to wardrobe, to lighting, etc. She came to our house for the photo shoot and was just so wonderful and professional and calming. She put me at ease right away, and made the whole thing feel comfortable and natural. I am normally pretty skittish in front of the camera, but she made us both feel perfectly at ease. She got our proofs back to us within a week, and we love the images! It will be so special to have these going forward — to look back and remember this unique and exciting and ultimately brief stage of our lives. If you are looking for a photographer, hire Britt! I can’t recommend her highly enough.

We were delighted to have Britt as our birth doula. We met Britt during my first trimester for a consultation about our many pregnancy-​related questions: e.g. pro’s and cons of the different hospitals in SF, how to manage morning sickness, etc. We then signed up for Britt’s doula package with her partner, Alexis Cohen (who we also really liked).
From the moment we met Britt we knew she would be a great match for us as a birth doula. She is very knowledgeable about all things birth-​related, compassionate, non-​judgmental, and has an extremely calming vibe. She is a great communicator, always responded promptly to all of our questions, and was there for us in every possible way on the big day. She is also a great photographer, which is an extra bonus if you want to have photos of your labor. I also went to some of Britt’s restorative and prenatal yoga classes and loved them. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about Britt — she is amazing and if I have another baby I will definitely want her to be our doula again.

I went to Britt’s prenatal yoga classes at Yoga Tree (Valencia) during my whole pregnancy. Prenatal yoga is a great workout to stay active during pregnancy and to work on breathing, relaxation, birthing positions and optimization of fetal positions. Britt loves to share birth stories and to prepare women to handle pain by giving a theme or a question to work on during the session and further at home.
My preparation was very useful and I’m happy to share with you what I mostly used.
I explained to my husband after each class what was our theme and how we can use Britt’s tips. For the big day, I had a list of all the mantras and exercises we learned with Britt. My husband was able to pick up some sentences and helped me to focus on them (I’m so proud of you/​you can do it). My favorite positions during the contractions were the one face to the wall: squats and then horizontal flat back on straight legs. I focused on my breath (large deep breath), on positive energies (I’m opening for my baby/​my body and my baby know how to do it/I’m capable) and I vocalized loud sounds (open/​ma).
My favorite position between each contraction for relaxation was the polar bear one with exercises to relax the jaw (relief/​horse lips/​yes).

Our baby was born on June 8^th, almost a month ago, and we couldn’t have been luckier to have Britt as our Doula.
I met Britt during prenatal yoga, at Yoga Tree Valencia. I started going to prenatal yoga since the very beginning of my pregnancy, and started alternating classes in the beginning — mainly because of my work schedule, but also because I wanted to get to know different styles of teaching. From my third trimester on, I decided to stick with Britt’s classes. I really connected with her style and decided that it was her vibe that I wanted to shape and guide my mindset for my birth experience. Britt brings this «woman super power» from within, and made me feel that I could trust my body and my baby above all. She helped me feel connected to my motherhood on a very raw and intimate level. So yes, I decided that I wanted Britt as my doula too!
My preference was to have a natural birth experience — with no medical intervention or drugs at all. I obviously knew this was not under my control, but I wanted to prep myself to help this process as much as I could. My husband and I were very blessed and we were able to have or son’s birth exactly as we hoped. We did majority of our labor in our home, just the two of us, and called Britt over when we needed extra support to handle the surges (but we were in communication with her over phone and text since very early labor!). Britt came over, and helped us through the next hour, when we went to the hospital. Within 2 hours of being in the hospital, our son was born. Britt was essential in every step. I would probably have asked for drugs without her, and she was there to remind me of my strength and how far I had come, and help me connect with my body deeper and deeper. She was there to remind me of positions to ease the process. Although we had a hospital birth, it did feel like a home birth. Britt transformed the room with candle lights and aromatherapy. We were obviously lucky to have an amazing midwife and nurse on call at the hospital, but Britt was there to lead the way, as she knew I wanted it to be — so I could be 100% inwards and focusing on my surges.
Our son’s birth was the most beautiful experience I have ever been through. We couldn’t have done it as beautifully without Britt.

Britt is amazing. She is the doula you want by your side when you are giving birth. She arrived at the hospital shortly after I entered active labor. I was on pitocin but wanted to avoid pain medication. The contractions were intense, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. She gently led me through my breathing exercises and helped position me. She was wonderfully reassuring, encouraging, and calm. My husband was also wonderful but wouldn’t have known what to do – Britt had such an amazing depth of experience. The birth was an empowering experience for me, and I credit Britt with helping me achieve this.

Britt is AWESOME!!! I had the pleasure of having a photo shoot done with myself and some other pregnant mammas which took place in Bodega Bay. She was so fun and energetic and a complete joy to work with. She really knows how to capture all of your beauty and energy in her photos. It was really a beautiful day overall and the surroundings she chose for the shoot were all gorgeous. i was so happy with the results and ended up with some great shots to have as keepsakes of my first pregnancy.

My baby girl arrived after 22 hours of pretty intense back labor but I made it through without any medication or interventions. All the strategies I used to get through transition I learned from yoga. I was literally mooing on all fours through my contractions, focusing on the number of ‘moos’ until the sensation was over. I don’t think I could have done it without Britt’s classes… they really were the perfect training for labor.
Baby Girl and Mama are doing wonderfully. My milk came in right away and my recovery was very fast. I strongly believe having her without medication contributed to how well she and I are doing now. I will always have so much gratitude for Britt and her classes. I would look forward to Monday evenings every week and am slightly mourning the loss of my sweet pregnancy where my baby and I were one.
I highly recommend Britt’s classes and look forward to practicing and training with her again during my next pregnancy!

Britt is an invaluable resource to growing families and to professionals in the birth community. Over the past four years, I have attended Britt’s prenatal, partner, and restorative yoga classes; hired her as a doula and photographer for the birth of our second child; and observed and participated in Britt’s prenatal classes as I complete my 200-​hour yoga teacher training.
*Doula Services & Birth Photography*
In the process of attending Britt’s prenatal yoga classes weekly throughout my second pregnancy, we built a foundation of trust and a solid rapport. By the time Britt arrived at our house for a prenatal visit in the capacity of our doula, she was already well aware of my birth preferences, concerns, and intentions.
Throughout labor I felt Britt’s strong yet unobtrusive presence. She expertly intuited exactly when and where I needed support, when to offer water, when to apply her hands, what to say and what not to say in a given moment.
Once our son was born and I regained the capacity to shift my focus outward, I watched Britt as she captured photos of my placenta, noticing the genuine awe and reverence Britt has for the entire process of birth. This brief moment in time encapsulated part of what makes Britt such an effective and compassionate birth worker. She arrives with full presence and an open heart, with expert knowledge and skill, yet with continued curiosity for this most sacred event.
*Yoga*
I am inspired by how easy teaching looks when Britt is at the helm. She very naturally and easily invites students into stillness; asks them to reflect on their journey in meaningful ways; responds to her students in a manner that communicates they are truly seen and heard; blends healthy alignment with concise cues, modifications, and adjustments; weaves birth preparation tools into asana and mediation practices; shares anecdotes from her personal journey and thereby exhibits an authentic interest in her own continued growth; and offers insights gleaned from her work as a doula. Witnessing and supporting women in those sacred hours brings an indescribably, raw quality to Britt’s work as a yoga teacher.
The many ways Britt serves families and birth professionals are infused with warmth, wisdom, and hearty laughter.

Britt’s prenatal and restorative yoga classes are the best in the bay. Her classes supported me through two pregnancies and soothed every fear that I had about labor and birth, and helped relax me into just being a happy human in general. I’ve often wished I had a little Britt in my pocket to hear her wisdom she shares in her gorgeous meditations. I’ve driven across the bay to take her classes and never been disappointed to have traveled so far to attend her class. She is a phenomenal yoga instructor.

Britt was our doula for the birth of our first child and we couldn’t have been happier to have her supporting us through this amazing experience!
Our goal was a natural hospital birth and we were a bit worried about achieving this in a hospital environment, which is why we decided to look for a doula. Britt was HIGHLY recommended from someone in the birthing community and supported us in a wonderful natural birthing experience at UCSF.
Britt is extremely knowledgeable on birthing in general, whether it be home birth, hospital, natural, medicated, vaginal, c-​section, but also navigating the San Francisco hospital environment which was really important to us. Most importantly, she is great at helping you hone in on what you want for your birth, and developing a birth plan /​prenatal prep that supports you in your birthing goals.
During the birth Britt was extremely helpful in helping me stay focused and cope through the most intense stages of labor. She highly values the active participation of your partner (if that is what you want) and I felt really helped ensure my husband had the tools to support me as well. Her positive, calm energy and constant reassurance throughout labor was invaluable.
From a personal standpoint, Britt has a wonderful positive, welcoming energy and we instantly felt comfortable discussing our excitement, questions and fears about the birthing process with her.
Throughout my pregnancy I also attended Britt’s prenatal classes at Mindful Body and they were great. They are a part of pregnancy I will miss so much! I loved that Britt incorporates lessons from her birth experiences into every class and exercises that help you prepare both physically AND mentally for labor. After attending her class, you will no doubt walk away with new tools for your birth and an increased sense of confidence as you approach your birth!
If you are a mama to be I would HIGHLY recommend Britt as a doula and attending her prenatal classes and workshops!

My husband and I attended Britt’s couples’ prenatal yoga workshop at Yoga Tree Valencia yesterday, and we are both still blown away by our experience. When thinking of being in one place for 3+ hours, my husband gets quite anxious. However, we were engaged the entire time that the time flew by!
Wanting a natural birthing experience, I loved Britt’s take on labor positions, breathing techniques, massage, and other coping mechanisms to use during the labor and delivery. Her knowledge from being a yoga instructor and a doula (for 15+ years) is evident as soon as she opens her mouth for an introduction.
If you are looking for a great prenatal class/​workshop to do with your partner, you HAVE to attend Britt’s workshop.

I hate to leave a less than positive review but I feel compelled to share my perception of Britt’s prenatal yoga class at Yoga Tree after being a regular for several months of my pregnancy. While I do hope to have an unmedicated labor in a hospital, I feel very put off by Britt’s open assumption that natural labor is the one and only way to deliver a baby. This comes across from the beginning to the end of her class. I’m going to prenatal yoga to connect with my baby, my body, and to learn some tips and tricks to help alleviate some back and wrist pain. Jane Austin’s classes are perfect for this and the medical information she offers in her class is backed up by her experience having studied and worked as a midwife. I’m completely uninterested in Britt’s preaching about how the medical professionals in hospitals have «an agenda» that works against a mama’s own intuition. Perhaps this is the case in more rural or suburban areas but this is not always the case in San Francisco as there are some VERY pro-​natural birth physicians and nurses all over the city. This narrow thinking will no doubt put off many first time mamas from attending prenatal yoga classes and hurt their confidence if they don’t ascribe to this natural-​is-​the-​only-​way ideal. Britt is a very nice woman and the class is excellent if you take it all with a grain of salt and just do the physical and emotional work. I think she has the best intentions for her students but I would hope that any prenatal yoga practice is accepting of all mamas, regardless of how they choose to birth their children.

Britt is an amazing teacher!
I met Britt in the prenatal yoga class. The class was in the middle of the day, so I had to make a special work arrangement to be able to go. The days that I went were always my good days. I was grounded, focused and cheerful. It was such a treat! I wish I could do it all the time! But schedules get busy and other things take over. Fortunately, there’re workshops, and I do try to make it to those every so often.

I am writing to recommend Britt for her photography services.
In addition to being an excellent doula and prenatal yoga specialist, Britt is also a professionally trained and highly talented photographer. I felt at ease with her immediately when she came into my home for a photo session. Although we had just met, I felt comfortable taking a wide range of belly shots with her, from nudes to more artistic photographs. Near the end of the session she invited my husband to be in the photographs and he was equally at ease. We both adore all the photographs that were a product of this session. Britt is professional and generous with her time. Moreover, her deep knowledge of birth and the woman’s body makes her uniquely well suited to take beautiful intimate photos of you during your pregnancy.

Britt was recently our doula for the birth of our third baby and was an essential part of our highly positive and special birth. She is such an experienced doula and well-​known at St. Luke’s where we delivered-​it was great to have our midwife and nurse collaborate with Britt and I believe that we had such a fantastic birth due to this collaboration.
Britt is so calm and warm-​she set the tone for both my husband and I-​I highly recommend her doula services!

Britt was our doula for the birth of our first child. We knew the baby would be born at Kaiser but it was important to us to labor at home as long as made sense and to bring a sense of calm and focus to the experience. Britt helped us so much in preparing for what we hoped would an uncomplicated, natural childbirth. In our prep sessions with her, we touched on everything from the emotional to the practical. We attended her partner prenatal yoga workshop, and I attended a number of her prenatal yoga classes as well. It was great to have the opportunity to build a rapport with her over the course of our private meetings and in the yoga studio.
When labor started, Britt was on hand by phone and by our side the minute we felt we needed her. My labor was long, spanning days, and Britt brought patience, knowledge, calm, and energy to the experience, ensuring that we had all the support we needed not only to get through the physical experience but also to make decisions along the way. While she supported our hope for a natural birth, she was understanding and nonjudgmental when circumstances moved us towards medical intervention. Her support definitely helped us to have a empowering birth experience as we welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world.
My husband and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to our closest friends.