My Journey to You

Hi, I'm Abrye Redeker, the heart and hands behind Doula Chef SF. Thank you so much for your curiosity and for taking the time to get to know me better.

Throughout high school and college, I worked as a nanny, caring for children aged birth to eight years old. Though I initially pursued a professional career in marketing and advertising—gaining nine years of experience across LA, Sydney, and New York—I eventually realized that my values no longer aligned with the clients I was serving.

Trusting my intuition and lifelong passion for cooking, I took a bold leap and became a private chef aboard sailing catamarans in New Zealand, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. Over seven years of running the galley on luxury sailing experiences, I honed my culinary skills and developed the refined cooking expertise I embody today.

It was during a break between sailing seasons that my journey into the world of doula work truly began. One of my dearest friends was expecting her first child, so naturally, I positioned myself in Sydney to offer a helping hand. Unexpected health complications arose for her and she learned that she’d be needing to have a double mastectomy shortly after birth. My role quickly evolved from helping hand to all hands on deck!

Without realizing it at the time, I was stepping into a calling—offering emotional, physical, and nutritional support to my friend and her growing family during an intensely vulnerable period. Over two beautiful months, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact that dedicated, compassionate care can have in those sacred early days of parenthood. Not to mention what a difference wholesome, nutrient packed & beautifully presented meals can make in your recovery process! 

Another pivotal moment that guided me toward birth work was my introduction to breathwork in 2019. While working as a chef at a writer's retreat, I experienced a holotropic breathwork session that completely transformed my understanding of self-regulation. I was amazed by the power of breath to help us manage pain, regulate emotions, and restore balance within our nervous systems.

Birth givers have been harnessing breathwork techniques for millennia to manage labor pain, and I couldn't help but think—if we can equip parents with not only pain relieving tactics, but also energizing and decompressing tools for self-regulation, they can, in turn, foster a calmer, more grounded environment for their children.

As I transitioned out of my role as a yacht chef, everything started to align—my passion for nourishing others through food, my experience in caregiving, and my deepening knowledge of breathwork. The vision of supporting birthing families with both doula care and nutritious, healing meals felt like the perfect synthesis of my skills and passions.

I trained with Doula School International and further deepened my expertise by becoming a certified Perinatal Nutrition Expert through The Professional Perinatal Nutrition Program. Today, I am so grateful to be rooted in beautiful San Francisco, ready to support mothers and families here in the Bay Area with a holistic blend of doula and chef services.

I'm Abrye Redeker with Doula Chef SF, and I can't wait to support you and your family on this journey.