I am devoted to serving newborn babies and their parent/s to have a peaceful, easeful, well supported start to their lives together. My offering is a unique, exquisite, well rounded holistic postpartum care package that provides a smooth transition for everyone through the first newborn days. 


​Now accepting clients with mid/late November and early December due dates!
          Start out Well Nourished and Thriving!

24/7 live-in newborn family support for home birth, hospital birth, adoptive and single parents.
I support LBTQ+, Polycules/Poly-fams, multiples and any family constellations!

So many new parents feel overwhelmed and anxious about how to take care of their newborn baby while trying to recover from birth, take care of the house, eat enough, and have some time and energy to bond with and enjoy their new family.

When you are facing feeding challenges, surgery recovery, trauma recovery, not having family nearby to help, having other children or when you are adoptive parents starting this new path, you need extra support. Not knowing what kind of support you might need, you could choose to wait and see, power through, or you could front load your support with a short term live-in 24/7 helper who helps you get through the first waves and settle into your new life.

As a doula, midwife, mother and bodyworker of two decades, I have supported hundreds of new families through the initiation of pregnancy, birth and postpartum and I have come to realize that the first week is the most crucial in laying the foundation for a successful and satisfying postpartum experience for both baby and the parents.

Start your new life with your baby thriving! 
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My 24/7 live-in support packages include: 3-7 days of continuous presence and support. Getting the right support early and around the clock can prevent a host of difficulties later. My gentle presence will increase your time and ability to enjoy your intimate love bubble with your family. My days with you will include:

Postpartum day and night doula services: 

  • Birth story processing- counseling, navigating the emotional adjustment 
  • newborn care, teaching you all the baby hacks and tricks I know
  • caring for the mother / birthing person: making sure food and drinks are always available, changing of bedding as needed while sweating, comfort measures
  • breast/ chest feeding, lactation support and troubleshooting 
  • bottle feeding when needed
  • Belly binding
  • Mother roasting
  • perineum care, wound care, sitz baths
  • meal preparation
  • doing essential housework such as laundry, dishes, folding clothes, organizing, tidying..etc.
  • running errands, shopping
  • supporting the parents in bonding with the baby and giving parents a break to sleep/shower...etc., baby wearing
  • Night care for the baby so parents can maximize sleep
  • Setting up, organizing and guiding support people - friends, family members, postpartum doulas, setting everyone up for the next few weeks of postpartum so your support network is in place, ready to go and know what to do
  • Sharing a written document of how to support your family - based on my days with you and forecasting what you will need - with the incoming support people for a seamless transition

Cranio-Sacral Therapy for the baby:

Gentle, hands-on bodywork plays a crucial role in aiding babies in the integration of their birth experience. The stresses associated with birth and the adjustment to life outside the womb can manifest as tension in a baby's body, potentially impeding their overall development and optimal functioning. Receiving bodywork contributes to a thriving start in life for infants, fostering a gentle introduction to the world.
Babies exhibit a profound and immediate response to this specialized touch. A skilled practitioner can assist in the completion of their reflexes, promote a calm and regulated nervous system, alleviate muscle tension to support healthy movement and brain development, facilitate proper latching and sucking, and encourage healthy sleep habits.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy and expert massage for the parents

Going through birth is hard work. Caring for a baby is hard work. I will provide healing and restorative massage for parents as needed. I am trained in many massage modalities and Somatic Movement Therapies, and I offer a holistic and deeply tuned-in touch experience.

​I bring all of my skills and all of my heart to the families I serve. I have excellent communication skills, and I am very mindful of the delicate and strong emotions this life transition holds. My offering is based in the midwifery model of care. Evidence based information, holistic, loving, personalized attention.
My goal is to blend in and provide support to the whole family, hold everyone’s experience as sacred and respect the family unit. I take on the role of the village, auntie, best friend, momma, therapist and assistant without any baggage or strings attached. I am able to go with the flow and what is needed and take care of myself in the process.

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My packages/ fees:
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For 3 days of Live-in support: $5400
​For 5 days of Live-in support: $8900
For 7 days of Live-in support: $12400
My requirements/ needs: 
- One 4-6 hrs of uninterrupted sleep in every 24hr period. 
- My own bed or room - comfortable sleeping space with blackout curtains
- Two one hour breaks during the day to eat, shower, take care of myself
- Respectful, honest, direct communication
" Ilka's early postpartum care was nothing less than exquisite!  She is a very attuned and gifted caregiver: her attention to detail combined with making everything look effortless meant that I, as someone who usually takes care of everyone else, could really let go and be taken care of when I needed it most.  Our early postpartum days were so gentle, well-nourished and joyful, in great part due to Ilka's support.  I literally did not change a diaper for the first four days of my baby's life.  She changed my sweaty sheets (many, many times!), kept me hydrated and fed around the clock, coordinated food drop-offs from friends and family, and soothed my baby in the day and night when I couldn't get up and walk around the house as I was still healing physically from the birth.  I had a straightforward vaginal birth, but as a birth worker myself, I believe everyone should do bedrest for at least a few weeks after birthing a human from their body.)  I credit my very healthy postpartum healing experience and robust sense of emotional and physical well-being many weeks later in part to this deep rest that was facilitated by Ilka in those early days.  As a solo parent and very independent first-time parent to a newborn, I especially appreciated the balance she struck between letting me do my thing and experience my own learning curve, while offering pro-tips about diaper changing, "elimination communication," newborn and infant sleep, core strength recovery and so much more.  She also did craniosacral bodywork on my baby!  I could really go on and on.  You must at least speak with her and see if this is the right fit for you, I couldn't recommend her more highly."  -MB

​I offer my services in the Greater Bay Area: East Bay, San Francisco, North Bay, South Bay, Silicone Valley and surrounding areas.

Fly me to you: for 5 day or longer contracts, you can fly me to you anywhere in the world. All travel expenses and a travel stipend depending on length of travel are paid by the client.