Hello!
My name is Maria. I'm a postnatal doula, which means that I help new parents to find their feet.
The first weeks following your baby’s arrival are beautiful yet intense. As a postpartum doula I support families as they welcome a new baby. My support is built around you and what you need to feel safe, listened to, nourished and looked after as you step into the role of a mother for your new baby.
How I can help you
Together we will map out what your perfect postpartum might look like.
My support comes in many forms, and ranges from practical help through to emotional support.
Nourishment
Preparing postpartum-specific meals and snacks to nourish your body.
Recovery
Coming with practical steps to help you heal and recover from birth.
Emotional support
Providing a non-judgmental listening ear if you feel your emotional load is getting high.
Reassuring presence
Helping you to tune into your intuition to find what’s right for you and your family.
Feeding support
Including getting your breastfeeding journey off to a good start if you choose to breastfeed.
Time for you
Looking after the baby to give you time to rest, shower, or simply to recharge your batteries.
Household tasks
Taking care of some household tasks so you can spend the time getting to know and falling in love with your baby.
My support packages
My visits last a minimum of 3 hours per time, and are typically booked as packages, as detailed below. Each package begins with a 2 hour Postnatal Planning Session in which we will brainstorm and map out what your perfect postpartum might look like.
All packages can be tailored to your individual needs.
I cover Exeter, East and Mid Devon, West Somerset, and West Dorset. Prices are inclusive of travel within a 20 mile radius of Sidmouth. Where parking costs are applicable, these are to be paid by the client. I ask for a 50% deposit to guarantee my availability, with full payment made 7 days before due date or date of the first session.
About New Mother Doula
I live near Colyton in East Devon with my husband and two children.
I never fully appreciated how transformative the experience of having children would be. My own postpartum experiences came with different sets of challenges. They made me realise that whilst there is a wealth of resources to support pregnancy and birth, the postnatal period is widely neglected and undervalued.
I had a strong desire to take life slowly, to rest and cocoon with my baby. Yet society expected me to bounce back and I felt guilty for “doing nothing”. When I became aware of postpartum practices, I learned how new mothers in many other cultures around the world are celebrated and nourished, and their needs to rest and recover from pregnancy and birth, and bond with their new baby are recognised. These needs have been catered for by close-knit communities and extended family groups – support structures that have been largely lost in the modern day.
My role as a postnatal doula was bourne out of passion, desire and a strong belief that we need to rediscover that traditional approach of postpartum care. I made a leap into the world of perinatal support after having my children, as my previous career wouldn’t allow the space to prioritise my family’s needs.
I am also a mindfulness coach and a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, currently training as a Breastfeeding Counsellor. I love to see the impact that proper support can have on new parents. I love to witness how new parents grow in their confidence as parents, how their vulnerabilities turn into strengths, how their identities shift and adapt to family life.
Outside of mothering, I am a keen hiker, I also love Argentine tango and strong Italian coffee. I look forward to connecting with you soon.