Birthing Brilliance: How Felicia Roche and Bay Area Birth Education Are Changing the Narrative for Modern Families

There’s something magical about the moment a new life enters the world. But behind that magic? There’s often a guide—steady, strong, quietly powerful. And in the Bay Area, that guide has a name whispered in birth circles, written with reverence in doula journals, and spoken with heartfelt gratitude in thousands of homes: Felicia Roche.

She’s not just a doula. She’s not just a teacher. Felicia is a movement.

Step into the world of Bay Area Birth Education (BABE), and you’ll understand why. This isn’t your standard, dusty-binder childbirth class. No, BABE is more like a warm hug from a wise older sister who also happens to have the credentials of a childbirth encyclopedia, the energy of a motivational coach, and the humor of your favorite aunt.

And it all starts with one woman’s relentless passion for giving birth—and life—differently.

Birth Is Not Just a Moment, It’s a Movement

Felicia Roche’s journey didn’t begin with a stethoscope or a stack of birthing books. It started, as most extraordinary stories do, with something deeply personal: her birth experience. That raw, transformative moment sparked a fire in her—a calling. One she couldn’t ignore.

But Felicia’s path to becoming a powerhouse in the birth world took some winding, worthy detours. Before she was comforting women through contractions, she was standing beside them in moments of trauma. As a rape crisis counselor, she learned what it meant to hold space for women—real space, sacred space.

Later, as a sex educator and life skills coach for Planned Parenthood, Felicia brought real talk to classrooms, helping teens in the inner city claim their voices and their agency. She taught them the language of respect, the vocabulary of consent, and the importance of choice.

So by the time she entered the birthing space as a DONA Certified Birth Doula in 1998, Felicia wasn’t just trained—she was seasoned. Grounded. Fierce in her compassion. And wildly committed to reshaping how people think about childbirth.

Meet BABE: Where Evidence-Based Meets Energy and Empathy

In 2016, Felicia launched Bay Area Birth Education—BABE for short. And yes, it’s as bold and beautiful as the name suggests.

BABE was born out of a simple truth: expectant families deserve better. Better information. Better support. Better preparation. And they deserve it in a way that doesn’t bore them to tears or overwhelm them with fear.

At BABE, childbirth education is neither clinical nor condescending. It’s immersive. It’s empowering. It’s fun (yes, fun!). It’s taught by people who have been there—seasoned doulas, birth workers, and educators who speak fluent baby bump, understand the midnight anxieties of soon-to-be parents, and aren’t afraid to get real about what happens in the delivery room (and what happens after).

Whether it’s the BABE Online Childbirth Class or the Live In-Person Series, every course is crafted with evidence-based rigor, wrapped in compassion, and delivered with a big, joyful exhale of you’ve got this.

And for Felicia’s doula clients? The online class is included—no added cost, just added value. Because when she says she’s got your back, she means it.

Childbirth for the 21st Century: Online, In-Person, On Your Terms

BABE’s two signature offerings—the online course and the live in-person class—aren’t just check-the-box types of birth prep. They are curated experiences.

The online class is a go-at-your-own-pace buffet of information and empowerment. Perfect for parents balancing work, appointments, and the ever-looming question of “Are we ready for this?”

This isn’t a series of dry PowerPoints or droning voiceovers. BABE’s online platform is packed with engaging videos, interactive content, and real-world tools. It’s designed to meet parents where they are—in their pajamas, on their couch, with a bowl of ice cream balanced on a bump.

The live, in-person class is where BABE truly shines. These gatherings are part childbirth education, part community-building, and part birth pep rally. Felicia and her team have created a space where nervous laughter turns into confident calm, where strangers become support networks, and where fear gets replaced by knowledge, trust, and power.

The Doula Who Trained a Nation

Felicia’s impact doesn’t stop at families. Since 2002, she’s been running DONA-approved Birth Doula Trainings, helping birth workers find their voice, their rhythm, and their purpose.

And she’s not just training people—she’s transforming them. Women fly in from all over the country, even the world, to learn from her. Why? Because Felicia brings more than curriculum. She brings legacy. Integrity. Soul.

And she brings something rare in professional training: access. Felicia offers a “no questions asked” 55% BIPOC scholarship to her birth doula workshops. It’s her way of opening doors that have been closed for too long. It’s not charity—it’s justice. It’s not performative—it’s reparative. And it’s one of the many ways she’s building a more equitable, inclusive birth community.

Beyond Birth: Felicia the Author, Activist, and Woman of Many Lives  

Just when you think Felicia couldn’t possibly do more—she writes a book.

Her debut, Nefertiti’s Sister, is a fierce, lyrical deep dive into the royal women of ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. It’s historical fiction soaked in feminist fire. A celebration of voices long silenced. A reclaiming of lineage, power, and womanhood.

This is not just a doula who trains, educates, and supports—this is a woman who creates. Who weaves her own story into everything she does, and then hands that story over to others like a torch.

Felicia doesn’t just talk about empowerment. She lives it. And it radiates through every offering BABE provides.

A Community Builder, A Trust Builder, A Birth Keeper

Over the course of her career, Felicia has supported over 2,000 births. That’s not a typo. Two thousand families have had her steady hand, calming voice, and birth wisdom guiding them through one of life’s most powerful transitions.

And she’s not just showing up at the hospital and clocking out. She’s forging relationships—with families, with nurses, with care providers. Her name carries weight in delivery rooms because she’s built trust and one respectful, empowering interaction at a time.

As a former executive director and publications coordinator for Birthways, a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to pregnancy and childbirth support, Felicia’s work has always lived at the intersection of service and leadership.

In 2004, the Learning Annex tapped her to teach “How to Start a Career as a Birth Doula.” It was such a hit that she expanded to Sacramento the following year. She didn’t just teach doulas how to find clients—she taught them how to find themselves in this work.

Birth with a Side of Holistic Hedonism

But let’s not forget the other side of Felicia: the woman who believes in holistic hedonism—that delightful blend of caring for others while deeply savoring life herself.

Felicia lives in Northern California with her blended family and her beloved dogs, where she balances her powerful birth work with downtime, laughter, and joy. She is, at her core, a woman who walks the talk and believes you can be grounded in service and still dance in the kitchen. Who understands that self-care is not a buzzword—it’s a birthright.

The BABE Effect

So, what’s the secret sauce behind BABE? It’s this: Birth is not just about babies. It’s about people. Power. Possibility.

Every class, every training, and every birth Felicia attends is rooted in this truth.

Expecting a baby? BABE welcomes you with warmth and wisdom.

Curious about becoming a doula? Felicia’s training is your launchpad.

Looking to read something fierce and feminist? Nefertiti’s Sister is your new favorite book.

From the delivery room to the classroom to the bookshelf, Felicia Roche is delivering more than education. She’s birthing a legacy.

Whether you’re a pregnant parent looking for guidance, a birth worker looking for your path, or just a curious soul wanting to witness the beautiful intersection of expertise and empathy—you’ll find it at BABE.

Because at BABE, they don’t just prepare you for birth.

They prepare you for its power.

Visit Bay Area Birth Education to explore upcoming classes, doula training, and more.

Watch Felicia’s introduction video, sign up for a course, or dive in—you’re in brilliant hands.