Hi there! My name is Maria.My arms are here to hold you, your baby & the space needed to get you through those first precious weeks after baby is born
I am passionate about helping families feel supported & listened to so you can adjust to life with your new baby feeling prepared & confident.
As a community focused doula, I host two, no-cost monthly circles to help bring mothers together during this transformative time. I believe that there is a unique comfort in knowing you’re not alone—that other mothers are right where you are, and that your baby is doing exactly what other babies do, too.
My goal is to help new mothers feel grounded, supported, and connected through my postpartum circles and in home support.
You’ll find me all across Richmond, Virginia—supporting new families, exploring the river with my husband and three kids, flipping chocolate chip pancakes, and getting lost in novels.
I am so happy you are here!
I am a mom of three with a goal of bridging the gap between pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. I am passionate about helping families feel supported and heard so they can adjust to life with their new baby feeling prepared and confident.
Wherever you are right now in your pregnancy, and parenting journey… I’ve been there! My arms are here to hold you, your baby and the space needed to get you through those first precious weeks after baby is born.
My approach to motherhood, parenting and postpartum in 3 words would be: Warm, Perceptive, Nurturing. I’m inspired by beautiful things – Color. Flowers. Texture. Sunlight. Most of my inspiration comes from within… holding my baby. Feeling her warmth on my chest. Listening to the rise and fall of her breath. Smelling her delicious milk smell. Kissing her cheeks and holding her just a bit longer.
These moments are so important.
The constant laundry list of things to do in your head: dishes, switching the laundry, replying to that email, figuring out what to give the kids for whatever holiday is coming up next, and preparing dinner…. All of that can wait. I am here to help you find and savor these special moments too.
Education & ExperienceMy education and experience set me apart
I’ve birthed and raised 3 kids personally.
Certified Postpartum Doula by DONA International
Birth trained doula with toLabor
Over 10 hours of breastfeeding classes
Equity in Birth Work training
Over 35+ clients across the Richmond area in the past four years
Postpartum Facilitator Training & Certification with postpartum support leader Kelsi Ludvigsen
Postpartum is Forever Training
This nine month long facilitator training shaped my approach as your postpartum doula with in-depth education including these topics:
The parental brain with Dr. Jodi Pawluski. Her work can be read here.
Matresence with Jessie Harold.
Biological baby sleep and temperament with Kaitlin Klimmer.
Motherhood studies with Dr. Sophie Brock how current social and cultural factors come into play during the postpartum period
Cesarcean Recovery with Kathleen Rowan Leigh.
Postpartum and the NICU with Hollis Wakefield. You can listen to her on the Evidence Based Birth podcast here.
Milk Feeding/Breastfeeding with Victoria Facelli, IBCLC. Her book can be found here.
Tending to families during Postpartum After Loss with Molly Dutton Kenny.
Other topics I studied in depth included, but not limited to: postpartum nutrition, pelvic floor and uterine health and the importance of rest, how to care for the whole family during postpartum, how to prepare partner for postpartum, the impact of social media on the postpartum phase, the anatomy of the postpartum body, and the postpartum nervous system.
My care provides insight into the parental brain, matrescence, the physical and psychological changes of the postpartum period, skills on how to help postpartum families navigate hurdles, triggers, boundaries and much more.
Richmond's Most Loved Postpartum Doula@betterbecause_postpartum
