Nikki Avila

Hands That Hold, Voices That Advocate. 

Hi, I’m Nikki Avila—Certified Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Founder of Three Moons Doula Collective.
My work is rooted in the belief that birth is sacred, transformative, and deeply personal. As a Latina birth worker, I’ve spent the last 16 years walking alongside families during one of life’s most vulnerable and powerful seasons—offering care grounded in compassion, cultural wisdom, and advocacy.

Three Moons Doula Collective is not just a training program—it’s a movement. A space where doulas of color rise in their power, find their voice, and reclaim the knowledge that lives in their lineage. Our mission is to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and Latino families have access to skilled, culturally conscious birth support—because our communities deserve nothing less.

Birth work has always lived in my spirit. Even before I had the language for it, I was holding space for pregnant friends as a teenager—offering a supportive hand to hold and an open heart to listen. That calling was modeled by my mother, who was a constant presence of strength and care in our family and community. I learned early on that showing up for others is powerful—and that’s where my passion was born.

In 2018, I began formal training with Doula Trainings International and went on to earn certifications through Cornerstone Doula Training in birth and postpartum care. In 2021, I became a Certified Hypnobabies Instructor and Hypno-Doula, offering tools for calm, confident birthing experiences rooted in the power of the mind-body connection.

I’ve also trained with Herbal Doula, Spinning Babies®, and La Mujer de Tierra’s Ceremony of Birth—blending evidence-based knowledge with traditional and ancestral practices. From belly binding to Reiki, my care is holistic and intentional, honoring the entire person—not just the process.

In 2019, I founded the Bakersfield Doula Circle to unite birth workers in sisterhood and solidarity through monthly gatherings where doulas come together to share, learn, and lead with collective wisdom.

I actively collaborate with community partners like Save a Mom, Save a Family, Inc. and the Perinatal Resource Collaboration, supporting events like the Latina Maternal Health Fair to ensure local families have access to critical, culturally relevant care and education.

In May 2024, I traveled to Ecuador for a Doula Immersion with Wombs of the World, learning directly from Indigenous midwives and healers. That experience reshaped me. It reminded me that ancestral knowledge and modern medicine are not separate—they are stronger together.

As a Certified VBAC Link Educator and Medi-Cal Doula, I’ve supported over 130 births, including more than 28 Medi-Cal births in 2024 alone. Each one is a powerful reminder of how informed, respectful care can transform outcomes and empower families.

Through Three Moons Doula Collective, I’m committed to shifting the paradigm. This work is about more than teaching skills—it’s about nurturing leaders. Doulas who are deeply rooted in their culture, confident in their knowledge, and ready to create generational change.

I hope every person who trains with us feels seen, held, and empowered—and that every birthing person they support feels the same.
 

This is the legacy I’m building: one of advocacy, ancestral remembering, and powerful community care. We are creating a future where birth is safer, more just, and deeply sacred.

Nikki Avila
Certified Childbirth Educator & Birth Doula
Co-Founder, Three Moons Doula Collective
Founder, Bakersfield Doula Circle
doulanikkiavila@gmail.com