Maria Armstrong Birth Doula in Portland, OR

I’ve had the absolute privilege of having Maria by my side for the last three of my births, and I truly can’t imagine going through those experiences without her. I credit her for being able to have my VBAC with my second and subsequent two home births. From the very beginning, she has been an incredible advocate, source of comfort, and wealth of knowledge. Her calm presence and unwavering support helped me feel confident and empowered, even during the most intense moments. She always made sure my voice was heard and my wishes respected, and she worked seamlessly with my medical team and husband to create a positive, respectful birth environment. Maria is not only deeply knowledgeable about birth and postpartum care, but she also has a way of making you feel seen, safe, and cared for. I’m endlessly grateful for the role she played in bringing my babies into the world. If you’re looking for a doula who is compassionate, dependable, and incredibly skilled—look no further.

— Violetta Roberts

Maria is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate, and was really skilled at helping me uncover my hopes for my birth and then helping me achieve them. She's very generous with her time and knowledge, and she answered every question we had, ensuring we were as prepared as possible for birth. She is a tremendously experienced and knowledgeable doula and I highly recommend her. Without her, I would have needed an unplanned C Section. Instead, she was able to identify and fix the gap in my delivery care so I could have as low-intervention birth as possible. Thank you, Maria!

— Alex

I couldn't recommend Maria enough. Maria supported me during one of the hardest and happiest time in my life. After losing my husband unexpectedly and finding out 2 days later that I was expecting our second child, I needed help. I was looking to build a team of people I could trust during this emotional time, and that's exactly what I found in Maria. Even before the birth Maria met with me and talked me through so many things. Even though this was my second pregnancy, she brought up and suggested things I wouldn't have considered. She is a wealth of knowledge. When my due date was near and I was getting nurvous about some potential medical complications, Maria was there every step. She kept in constant contact with me. During the birth Maria was so helpful. I had my family (my mother, my 2 sisters and my sister-in-law) and Maria there. It ended up being so beautiful having all women in the room with me. Maria fit in perfectly, knowing exactly when to step in and when to let my family come to my aid. She gave gentle reminders about breathing, and reminded me that I didn't have to take any pitocin and that we could wait and see (when it was taking a little longer then the dr wanted me to progress). With her and my family's help I was able to have a positive birth experience- no pitocin and no pain meds. I couldn't ask for a better outcome. Maria was there every step of the way, and still is. I feel very blessed to have found Maria. I would reccomend her to anyone. She will listen to your hopes and fears and be your advocate.

— Heidi

From the first moment I talked to Maria I felt 100 times better. She helped me put together a birth plan. Went in depth of my options. She stood up for me when I needed it. Also spent the whole night with me. She's like having the best mom there helping without all the drama. Her calm demeanor and lovely voice is very calming and soothing. I'm so grateful I had her in the room with me. I just wish I would've had her for my Prior births. Maria is the best! We were all so grateful for her.

— Brittany Phemester

As first time parents we knew that we wanted to work with a doula. When we found Maria & read about her birth philosophy we knew we wanted to reach out. Maria listened earnestly to our goals, hesitations, & fears. We felt so comforted by her confidence, demeanor & expertise we knew we wanted to work with her before the meet and greet was over. I wanted to have an unmedicated labor & I knew that deciding to birth at a hospital might impact that goal. Maria took the time to make the (far!) drive out to our home before delivery to get to know us on a personal level and really helped us prepare, gave us the confidence to advocate for ourselves, ease our anxieties, & helped us feel excited and empowered to take on labor. ??I went into labor early at 36 weeks, & found myself in a situation I had not prepared for. Facing pressure to induce and a derailment of how I had envisioned labor, Maria was a grounding and calming voice responding to all of our frantic phone calls and texts & reminded us of our preparation as well as providing resources that helped us navigate the unexpected circumstances of premature labor. ? I ended up delivering our healthy baby girl unmedicated just as I had hoped. It all happened so fast, but Maria made it to the hospital within the hour at 3 AM ready to guide me through pushing. Her presence was grounding, reassuring & empowering. Not only for me, but for my partner as well. I truly feel like labor and delivery would have gone differently had we not had Maria on our team to help us navigate our options. Maria was an invaluable part of our team & would recommend her to any parents looking for a doula who takes an evidence based approach with a reverence for the power that women intrinsically have to handle labor with minimal intervention. I left the hospital feeling proud and content with my birth & Maria helped me get there. Thank you, Maria!

— Harriet Postlethwaite

Maria helped my partner and me through my first pregnancy and birth. She was truly a magnificent force who helped me through my unplanned induction. All of her visits were very thorough and well-organized. I received so much information from her that I continue to reference about pregnancy, delivery, coping, breastfeeding, infant care, etc. Her techniques and words of encouragement were top-notch, and I felt utterly supported throughout my entire labor and delivery process. The midwife who delivered my baby even ended up asking her questions about some of the techniques she used during my labor! I have already recommended Maria to multiple friends who are expecting babies. Her knowledge and skillset are simply unmatched.

— Sarah

Maria was absolutely wonderful & such an indispensable part of our labor team. My husband & mother agree that we felt her confidence was contagious & we found this to be especially helpful within a hospital setting in comparison with our past births. We’d previously felt information we’d been given during my labor process was incomplete or selective. Maria’s experience & knowledge base gave us an opportunity to question things that conflicted with our birth plan as well as reinforce ideas we had. We discussed everything together and collaborated with the doctors & nurses much more effectively & calmly with her there. She was concise, thoughtful & proactive in her craft. I didn’t feel I could control what my body was doing but I did feel in charge of my care much more than I had the past & Maria helped very much with this. Her presence was personalized, nurturing, calm and helped us feel more comfortable during such a vulnerable time. My husband & I joked after it was all over that we missed her once we were home because she felt like part of our family & we’d gotten so used to her being with us after our long labor. We will definitely be recommending her to friends & family in the future.

— The Stevens Family

Maria is the only reason I was able to have the birth that I wanted. I cannot thank her enough. I was a high-risk pregnancy and they tried to tell me that I needed to get induced, but Maria supported me and my birth plan and I was able to have an unmedicated, low intervention birth in the hospital. She advocated for me and was there for me in my highs and lows. I would not have been able to do it without her!

— Peniel Tovar

Maria was absolutely wonderful and a key part in helping me follow my birth plan! I highly recommend her if you're looking for a calming and competent doula. I really appreciated the time she spent prior to the actual birth to get to know me and my partner and formulate a plan that worked best for us. She was great! :)

— Nicole Reiss

Maria was amazing! She really helped me feel prepared before going into labor which helped ease my anxiety before the big day. She is very patient, kind and organized as well as a great advocate. My labor unexpected went really fast and I was happy to have her there, not only taking care of me, but my family too. It was super useful to have her at my side shortly after delivery too because I had an unexpected bleed that required repair and my Mom had already left and my partner was in the NICU with the baby. If it wasn't for Maria I would of been alone during a scary time for me. The nurses were busy arranging for my repair so Maria was able to help me readjust in bed and get comfortable. The small things really go a long way. Maria is amazing and I'm so grateful I had her for support. The next day the nursing staff was super busy so having her stop in help with breastfeeding and give me water and snacks was awesome.

— Stephanie Gardiner

Maria was absolutely wonderful. Not only did she help support and carry me through my first delivery, she empowered me to do it fully unmedicated and was a calming presence through every step of my pregnancy - affirming me and reminding me the capability and strength of my body. She helped me navigate high BP, breeched babies and strep tests throughout my pregnancy, and not to mention so many post delivery complications. She was always so informative and helpful with all the questions of a first time mom. She would thoroughly check in from the moment we decided to work together until even a couple months after my daughters birth. I am so thankful I found Maria, the support and advocacy she was for me during birth and PP was exactly what I needed as a young first time mom who had the dream to deliver naturally.

— Emma G.

Maria was an integral member of my birth team for my recent successful unmedicated VBAC. She is knowledgeable and caring, and helped educate and empower me to make informed decisions about my birth plan that ultimately led to success with my goals. This alone would make her an invaluable member of any birth team, but she was so supportive during my labor and delivery that I fully intend to hire her again for help with pregnancy and birth for any more babies we are blessed with. We look forward to working with Maria again and can't recommend her highly enough for anyone even considering doula support.

— Domini Sedaghaty

Maria was exactly the doula we needed to have supporting us through the pregnancy(we wish we would have looked for a doula even sooner!) birth and early weeks! She was kind, understanding, and endlessly supportive of how we wanted our birth to go. We ended up having to move from the birthing center to the hospital where she advocated for all of us to have the birth still be as close to our plan as possible and took initiative to make sure we were all comfortable and cared for. She gave us space when my partner and I were rocking it on our own and her presence, words of support during the rest of the time, and for me the spikey balls during active labor was all irreplaceable. She was a pleasure to work with and it was an honor to have her be there helping bring our son into the world!

— Jenny, JB, and Milo

I am so honored to have Maria as my doula and I'd recommend her to everyone! From the moment I met her, I felt safe and comforted. I was very nervous about delivering my first child and she was the calm and stable presence I needed. During our prenatal visits, she took time to listen and fully understand how she could best support me and my partner during labor. When the time came, she stayed by my side while I labored at home until 10 cm. I chose to have an unmedicated labor at a birthing center. She helped to remind me of my inner strength and to breathe through the intense contractions. I could not have done it without her guidance! I'm forever grateful that she was a part of my journey. She is a true gem!

— Kelly

Words don't justify how amazing Maria truly is! From her down-to-earth soul to her genuine care for all of her clients and make sure delivery is beautiful and the best experience it can be. I was lucky enough to have Maria as my doula for both of my pregnancies and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Being a doula isn't just a job for Maria she goes above and beyond to build trust, love and so much more with you so if you're able to have her as a doula you're in the best of hands! Thank you Maria for everything that you do!

— Samiaya Hammick

Maria was absolutely amazing. This was our first baby and I truly don't believe I would have been able to stick to my unmedicated birth plan without her assistance. Her calming presence, and wonderful tool bag, got me through a very painful labor. (Back contractions are terrible.) my husband and I went back and forth on hiring a doula and we were so happy we did so! Maria also continued to support us after birth. As new parents it was just what we needed. We are so grateful for her and the amazing birth photos she captured.

— Matia Valenter

We loved working with Maria. I found her presence calming and felt comforted by her wealth of knowledge and experience, I knew we would be in good hands for the birth of our second son. My first labor and delivery experience was fast and intense and I had no idea what we were in store for the second time around. Maria helped prepare us for the myriad of possible outcomes and we felt super lucky to have her on our team when the time came. I would absolutely recommend Maria to anyone considering working with a doula.

— Annie

When doctors wrote me off that I could never give birth vaginally because of a small pelvis, I was disheartened. My first birthing experience was a traumatic one that ended up in a C-section. I remember telling my husband post surgery how much pain my body was in and that I don't want to give birth ever again!! But when I heard about the vbac option, it gave me a ray of hope. Pregnant at 32 weeks I decided to hire a doula because I wasn't very confident of a vbac with my care provider as my pregnancy progressed. At our first consultation Maria informed us a pelvis too small for a baby is actually incredibly rare and it's the position of the baby that matters. After our first prenatal visit, I knew I made the right choice. I felt as though a large weight was lifted off my shoulders! Maria is incredibly knowledgeable and has access to a plethora of tools and techniques to help her clients reach their goals. She accurately educated both me and my husband on our rights during delivery in a hospital setting that made us feel comfortable enough to advocate for ourselves. My husband and I learned so much about pregnancy, labor and ways to support ourselves during this time. I delivered my baby boy at 37 weeks, vaginally and unmedicated and it was truly a beautiful and healing experience! It was a joyful and peaceful birth and I couldn't stop myself from asking Maria how soon I can get pregnant again!!! We really wish we had Maria with us for the birth of our first child. Thank you Maria!! I am forever grateful that we have crossed paths!

— Ida

Maria was such an amazing support for my husband and me throughout my entire 36+ hour labor. I was able to have a successful VBAC and I honestly believe that a major reason that I was successful was because Maria was there. She was on call for advice when I started having contractions and questions about my labor. She came to my house and helped me labor in the earlier stages and helped me to make the decision to head to the hospital. Throughout my entire labor, Maria was right there helping me to eat and drink enough, trying out different pain management tactics, and trying out different positions to help the baby get in a good position for labor. She stayed with me so that my husband could take a much needed nap. Maria helped to make my wishes known to the hospital staff and helped me work through decision making. I was planning on having an unmedicated birth but after many, many hours of labor, we finally made the decision to have pitocin and get an epidural. She helped me to still feel powerful and strong and that I was making the right decision. Even after my epidural, she helped me to feel comfortable and celebrated with us during the pushing stage. I really could not have done what I did without her. Maria has a wealth of knowledge about birth and even just having her there made me feel more confident and comfortable about the whole process especially since I was doing a VBAC. She has such a huge toolbox of things to try and they made all the difference for my labor. We really can't thank Maria enough for helping us have such a positive birth experience.

— Kirstin

I had my heart set on working with a midwife and having an intervention free birth, but it became clear early on that was not going to happen for me. It was hard for me to accept this, and I suddenly realized that I needed to find a doula to help me navigate the process and feel I had an advocate. We found Maria and I went from crying at every doctor’s appointment, to feeling like I understood what was happening and knowing that it would all be okay. My favorite thing about working with Maria is she was always so open minded and caring. I never felt judged for asking about options that can be controversial, like an epidural or circumcision. I was given all of the facts and that helped me make great decisions for our family. I ended up having a very difficult birth and I feel good about how everything went, which I absolutely don’t think would have been the case without Maria. I am so thankful that she was able to help me make the best out of a hard situation, and safely welcome our baby boy into the world. Hiring her was the best decision we made!

— Jill Cortese

Doula Maria was totally amazing and don’t think I would have had the same experience without her encouragement and support. We could have done without the Drs and their lack of belief in ones ability to go natural at an “advanced age” and following a previous c-section, but woman power prevails. Even the man power side of our birth team trio felt more empowered when she encouraged him to help and how to help. If you can get Maria, or any good doula in your area, it is so worth it.

— Emily

Let me start by saying this thank you so much, Maria! With the pandemic happening and this being my first pregnancy and only being able to have one person in the room you were a big help! She made me feel safe, gave me a clear mind, and informed me so much about giving birth and much more. And given that we met the day before I gave birth due to the short notice on my end at the end of our visit my daughter said you know what I want to be born tomorrow lol. But once again thank you Maria you really are the best at what you do! And anyone will be so lucky to have you as a doula.

— Samiaya Hammick

I hired Maria because we didn't know if we were going to be able to find childcare for our other kids during the pandemic and I didn't want to be alone. Every meeting was filled with so much good information/resources, lots of reassurance, and answers to many questions and concerns I had. I was carrying trauma from other births and she helped me to move pass those. With her help I felt confident in my decisions and had a successful VBA2C. She helped with many coping skills during labor and delivery as well as allowed me to feel my decisions were ok. She allowed my husband to focus on me and the birth and not with coaching me through pain. She captured some great photos as well. After birth she followed up many times via text/email. I felt so thoroughly supported. I am so grateful for her help and would definitely hire her again.

— Lizbet Miller

Maria was such an amazing addition to our birth team! We could not have done it without her - she was so helpful, knowledgeable and kind. We knew after our interview with her that she was going to be the perfect teammate to help us bring our baby girl earthside. Maria took so much time with us, never rushing through appointments. She genuinely wanted to get to know us and our vision for our birth. My husband was especially grateful to her for all the support on the day I went into labor. She provided the calmest presence and was so helpful! We love Maria and hope she is still a doula when we have our second child! She is a blessing and an amazing soul!

— Alicia Halpern

My husband and I decided we wanted a doula pretty late into my pregnancy. It was our first time getting pregnant and, as my belly grew bigger, we realized that we were a bit in over our heads with the whole birthing process and it being physically possible for this baby to come out of me. With our families unable to support us, we decided to hire Maria to provide both of us more support, advice, and insight during this scary, intense and unknown experience and time in our lives. It was the best decision we made and exceeded our expectations of what we thought we needed. Maria is kind, gentle, and patient yet confident and empowering in her skill. Her life experience and education with labor, birth, babies and motherhood provided the support, reassurance and confidence that I so desperately needed before, during and after the birth of my beautiful baby. Maria is responsive, knowledgeable and empathetic, timely answering all my anxious questions/concerns, encouraging/supporting me with consideration and validation of my life experiences and how those impact my process of labor, birth and motherhood. Her ability to see me and connect with my womanhood, perhaps connect me to my womanhood, empowered me to have the labor/birth/postpartum experience I hoped for. She was present and tuned in during our meetings before and after birth providing the knowledge and resources my husband and I needed to feel prepared; and she was carefully by my side during active labor and delivery offering her expertise that eased my, and baby’s, way in ways I couldn’t have prepared for. I am so grateful for Maria. Her service meant so much to me and helped me through the most transformative moments of my life thus far. She is wonderful.

— Jaime Hatch

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Maria to give her the credit she deserves. If we learned one thing during our labor and delivery it's that you must advocate for yourself and Maria taught us how and helped us in the hospital to advocate for the best labor and delivery we could possible have in a tough circumstance that we were faced. She sat with me to give me husband time to step away and reset. She gave us the courage and knowledge to allow us to push back and ensure we got the experience we wanted and consoled us when our plan didn't go the way we thought it would. In a short period of time she became so close to us and understood our separate personalities to make sure she could guide us appropriately. We are so happy we decided to get a doula for and even happier our doula was Maria.

— Kelly Trendell Smith

My husband and I could not be happier that we found Maria! She was my dream doula and if we decide to have any more children, we would definitely want her to be there by our side again. She was so supportive for not only me, but for my husband as well. She made my husband feel so confident as my support person, and she made me feel confident in my abilities to go through the birthing process as a strong and empowered woman. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for the perfect doula to have by their side on such an important day. We feel like we gained a friend in Maria through the whole process and her presence really made for a pleasant experience. 10 stars for Maria! Thank you so much for everything!

— Sera & Ben P.

We had such a wonderful experience working with Maria for the birth of our first child. As transplants to the PNW, we didn't have much of a support system here and decided early in our pregnancy to hire a doula. From our first meeting, Maria was such a valuable resource and trusted friend to us guiding us through all of the decisions we would have to make. She always provided thoughtful perspective and gave us with information to do our own research to make the best decisions for our family. We felt so prepared going into the hospital once my water broke because of all of the preparation work we did with Maria and her counterpart Sherilee. Unfortunately, we went into labor at the same time as another one of Maria's clients. While she was already actively working with them, she was texting us and supporting us constantly until she could make it to the hospital. She even sent her Doula back up to keep us company and be our advocate while we waited for her arrival. When she walked into the hospital room, both of us felt so relieved to have her by our side. She was in integral part of our birth team and had magical ways of helping us through the pain and tough contractions. When our labor presented unforseen issues, Maria was the first calming voice helping us make decisions along the way. Having the reassurance of her there with us, knowing she only had our best interests in mind was so incredible. She continued to support us virtually after the birth due to COVID19 restrictions. Having her to facetime / text / call with all of our new parent questions and concerns was a deep relief as we tried to navigate our new life. She is a wonderful Doula and I would recommend her services to anyone regardless of your birth plan or situation. If we decide to expand our family, our first call would be to Maria to make sure she's part of our birth team again.

— Jessica D.

We are so grateful to have had Maria as our doula for the birth of our first. I started out completely uneducated about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and had no idea the extensive education a doula could offer, nor the support and friendship we'd receive in the postpartum period either. For our prenatal sessions, she sat with us for HOURS as we asked questions and I processed my needs for trauma-informed care, and she really helped me find confidence in my ability to give birth. I ended up really refining my desires for birth, eventually opting for an out of hospital, natural plan, but when complications arose before delivery and I had to be induced, Maria was by our side for four days until my son was successfully born vaginally (that could not have happened without her support--I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did). Maria has been a vital resource for finding lactation support when my son wouldn't latch and struggled with weight gain, as well as helping me connect with other new moms through a virtual support group. We love her, are SO grateful for her, and really hope she can be there for the next baby too!

— Anna Williams

Maria was essential to the gentle birth of our 2nd son. My husband and I can both attest to Maria's expertise and ability to provide wonderful support during my pregnancy, labor, and post partum. For this pregnancy I wanted someone to provide calming guidance to facilitate another unmedicated birth. I was especially anxious about the transition and pushing stages, which caused me the most difficulty during my first birth. After sharing my fears with Maria, she was able to help me process the past birth and illuminate me on why I experienced certain things during transition. Maria's instruction was invaluable in educating us with the stages of labor, childbirth, and postpartum. She also provided numerous resources that I found useful for preparing myself physically, mentally and spiritually. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19 hospital restrictions, Maria was limited to a virtual presence. When my water broke and labor began in the middle of the night, Maria was immediately available via FaceTime. At first, I was worried about the virtual experience, but it worked out wonderfully. She listened closely to my contractions and provided the necessary support between the surges to give me confidence. At the hospital, my husband set up his iPad and Maria was present for the entire birth. I still felt her presence and she was able to offer guidance. I had a dream labor and delivery. After the birth, Maria continued to offer suggestions and advocate for our birth plan. Since the birth, Maria has checked in every day to see how we are doing, answer any questions, and continue to provide support. We are so happy with hiring Maria as our doula, and would highly recommend her as a virtual doula. During the unprecedented times surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, pregnant mothers need the extra support to navigate the unknowns. Maria played a vital role in helping us stay calm, reassured, and prepared for our new healthy baby boy.

— Sandy & Nick Rutgers

My husband and I hired Maria for help with the birth of our first son. We had recently moved to Portland and the idea of using a doula was new to us, but we quickly realized how valuable someone like Maria could be for us since we didn't have any family in the area. The first three meetings with Maria were very informative and helpful in making us feel prepared. It was nice to have all of the data and information to make informed decisions. She also had a plethora of books and materials that we were able to borrow from. We had a hospital birth that ended up taking 60+ hours. Maria stayed by our side to help ensure our comfort and confidence throughout the unfamiliar experience. When things got uncomfortable, she instructed new positions and techniques, used her TENS unit, and provided words of encouragement and confidence. I truly believe that without Maria, during the 60-hour labor I would have been pressured into having an undesired c-section. We will be forever grateful to Maria for her kindness and knowledge during that scary time in our lives. Maria also came by the hospital post-birth to check-in and provide breastfeeding support. Overall, we highly recommend Maria as a doula!!

— Libby and Thomas

Maria was invaluable to me and my partner in preparing for our hospital birth and helping us to stick to an unmedicated birth plan. Her experience and knowledge were what we initially appreciated most and it shined through our 15 hour labor and birth (plus my water breaking 20 hours before the onset of labor). I most appreciated her hands on style and calm presence through active labor. She also helped my partner to take breaks and modeled supports he could help with. When my baby had turned posterior during labor, she led the team of nurses along with the midwife to use spinning babies positions and techniques to turn him and it worked!! Maria is so wise and knowledgeable, we felt we were in good hands the entire time. I recommend everyone hire a doula, and Maria if you can!

— Rebecca Gundle

Our experience with Maria Armstrong as Doula We were first time parents, and chose to use a doula, as one of our friends had a good experience. After looking at several candidate resumes, we narrowed down to 3 that we would interview. Maria came across as a very strong candidate, both because she seemed caring, and had the experience of raising several children. In the end, we chose Maria, because we felt comfortable working with her the most. Before the birth, Maria came to our house 3 times. It was very reassuring to review the upcoming steps we would have to go through with someone with experience, and Maria was both patient and good at explaining. She also lent us training materials, which came in handy. When the birth started, at 1am in the morning, Maria answered the phone immediately, and met us at the hospital about the same time we were admitted. During the birth process, Maria was extremely helpful in terms of helping me (the future mom) to manage pain, helping both of us navigate through the birth plan, and most importantly helping us manage the really stressful process of having prolonged “pushing” process during the labor. Without Maria, I would have relented to using pain killer/deviating from my birth plan. Throughout the entire birth process, Maria was at our side, filled with energy, and was caring and professional. After the birth was finished, she provided some pictures and explained in details what had been happening. During the postpartum recovery, Maria visited our house once more to check upon us including our newborn; very thoughtfully, she brought useful handouts, tons of advice about breastfeeding/postpartum exercises etc., as well as blends of herbs to speed up my recovery. All in all, we would strongly recommend Maria to anyone giving birth.

— LQ Yang

I hired Maria for the birth of my second baby. The labor and delivery for my first baby was very long, challenging, exhausting, and ended in an unplanned cesarean that left me feeling disappointed and defeated to say the least. I didn't realize going into it just how unprepared I was until after my baby was born. I knew once I was pregnant again that I'd greatly benefit from hiring someone with experience and expertise- a source of support that I didn't have the first time around. In other words, hiring a doula would be the best resource if I wanted to have the successful VBAC I'd been longing for since my previous birth. I attended ICAN meetings and heard about Baby Nest's doulas here in Vancouver. Immediately upon meeting Maria, I knew I didn't need to look any further. She has a calm, understanding, and kind presence while also being confident and assertive- exactly what I needed! It was so reassuring to have her guidance throughout pregnancy, and she was truly a miracle worker during my labor. She advocated for me as if she could read my mind- knowing exactly what I needed (including my husband!). I credit my successful and empowering unmedicated VBAC to Maria's support, wisdom, and beautiful way of instilling of confidence in me. I found strength I didn't know I have, and Maria is the reason why.

— Meredith Mesa

I enlisted the help of a Doula for my third child. My first two were c-sections, so my hope was to get as much support as possible for the Pregnancy leading up to labor and through the labor experience. There’s no guarantee for Tolac‘s, so a Doula that is more supportive on the front end of labor is extremely important, since the largest hurdle starts there for profiles like mine. Although my labor experience did not result in a vaginal birth, when present, Maria was most helpful and skilled during the intense pain of labor. Maria’s personality and calm disposition is a pleasure to be around. Maria is also very knowledgable in her craft, so seeking a deeper understanding of labor concerns was always addressed.

— Deanna Toney

Maria is a fantastic doula. We decided to have her at our birth because of her warm, yet direct personality. I respond well to direction in a caring environment. Maria guided us through the whole birth process beforehand. We talked about different scenarios and how we could work positively together. She not only included my husband, but gave him the confidence to be a solid birth partner. I called her at 11:00pm the night my water broke and she met us at the hospital when we arrived. She was able to explain everything that happened during my 6 hour birth to put me and my husband at ease and normalize feelings. She reminded my husband to take a break and take care of himself. And while he did, she stepped in to care for me. Her communication is clear and constant. Her kind and respectful heart was exactly what I needed to feel safe and comfortable. Absolutely, I’d hire her again!

— Janna Cash

Maria is truly a unicorn! She is a friend, mother, and professional all in one lovely package. I had one of those pregnancies that seemed like one issue after another, and Maria was always ready with an answer, a solution, and/or lots of support. She was amazing during my labor, which ultimately resulted in a cesarean. Maria made sure I tried absolutely everything before agreeing to surgery, and when I finally was ready to agree to cesarean, she reassured me that it was the safest and best option at that point. Bonus points- every single nurse and doctor I had said that Maria was the best doula they had ever met! They literally could not stop talking about how much they all loved her, and of course we agree. :-)

— Kaiti Davis