Welcome here. 歡迎.

  • Gloved hands helping a baby emerge, the mother's hands are reaching down between the knees to catch her baby.

If you have found yourself here, I invite you to take a moment (or two, or three) to breathe deep, explore curiously, and get to know me–a trauma informed, LGTBQ+ affirming, and gentle birth doula and photographer. I believe that every person has the right to experience birth in a way that is empowering, transformational, self-trusting, and supported.

Changing the world starts with changing how births are experienced, talked about, and advocated for.

While you bring yourself, your fears, your hopes, and your desires, I bring with me a deep trust that you already have everything you need to birth your baby. My role is simply to support–physically, emotionally–and to offer information and to advocate for you and with you as you journey through some of the most mundane and sacred spaces in life. I can also capture your birth story or baby’s first hours and days, which is always an intense pleasure and honour.

  • A new born baby's foot, peaking out from behind a blanket.

Meet Me

Well, hello! My name is Maria (they/them) and I love birth. 

I’m a gentle, trauma informed birth doula based just off Commercial Drive (East Van). I serve and journey with birthing folks in Vancouver and surrounding cities. 

Since my initial training in August 2017, I’ve had the honour of journeying with a whole host of different families and individuals as they welcome their babes. Whether it be at home or in hospital, I’ve truly endeavoured to offer holistic, sensitive, and tender companionship and support throughout all stages of pregnancy, labour and delivery, and postpartum.

I hold fast to the truth that every birthing person has the right to feel heard and supported and respected in their time of deep vulnerability and transition. I believe that every pregnant person has exactly what they need to birth their baby and that cultivating deep trust in our bodies can be transformational and integral to the birthing process.

Apart from doula work, I’m currently a full time student at Capilano University. I’m working on research exploring queer/trans experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, specifically looking at how BC healthcare can do a better job of offering safe, accessible, and inclusive care–if you’re sensing a theme, that’s because I really care about people being able to have positive birth experiences (that’s the whole reason why I became a doula).

My approach to birth is informed by my own beliefs and life experience. The care and companionship I offer is BIPOC (black indigenous people of colour) and queer (LGBTQS2IA+) centred. This does not mean that I only work with queer and/or BIPOC clients. This simply means that my approach to birth and the medical system we find ourselves in is intersectional and deeply aware of the presence of white supremacy, patriarchy, and class/gender/racial disparities that birthing folks navigate every day. I am passionate about making space and opportunity for gentle births–births where the birthing parent is respected, informed, and supported instead of coerced, scared, or pressured into making decisions about their bodies and their babies.

If you are looking for a gentle, quiet, and deeply present doula and/or photographer to journey with you, that might be me. Being present at your birth, I can’t guarantee specific outcomes but I can guarantee that I will be there with you for as long as it takes to hold your hand (literally and figuratively), to offer that sweet double hip squeeze if you so desire and to capture the intense moments of transformation that you are bound to experience.. Please, take a look around and I look forward to hearing from you.

Birth Packages

  • A new born baby boy crying while laying on a blanket on a warming resuscitation table.

Basic Doula Support Package $800

Get the continuous labour support you want without the prenatal or postpartum visits.
–Continuous labour support from when you need me. This will include emotional support and encouragement, physical comfort measures, and positive encouragement to advocate for your preferences and needs to your medical care team. If you have a partner, they will also be encouraged to take part according to their comfort level and taught different comfort measures to help support you throughout labour.
-Up to 2 hours of immediate postpartum support. This may include chest-feeding initiation and observance of the golden hour.

-This package is for you if you feel confident in your needs and desires and simply want an extra and consistent presence with you in labour and delivery.
  • A naked mom and babe recline together in a tub where the birth just took place. A midwife's hand reaches out towards the placenta that is floating in a metal bowl, the umbilical chord outstretched and still connected to baby.

Full Doula Support Package $1200

Get the continuous labour support in addition to 2 prenatal visits and a postpartum visit.
–Prenatal visits include educational support where we go through the stages of labour, possible medical interventions, and non-medical comfort measures so that you can hone in on what you want and what you don’t want. The creation of a physical birth plan can be included in these visits, if desired.
–Phone, text, and email support will be available to you from time of hire. Guaranteed replies from 8am to 8pm until you reach 38 weeks at which point this support will switch to 24/7 availability.
–Continuous labour support from when you need me. This will include emotional support and encouragement, physical comfort measures, and positive encouragement to advocate for your preferences and needs to your medical care team. If you have a partner, they will also be encouraged to take part according to their comfort level and taught different comfort measures to help support you throughout labour.
-Up to 2 hours of immediate postpartum support. This may include chest-feeding initiation and observance of the golden hour.
–Closing postpartum visit within 6 weeks of birth. This visit may include help with feeding, debriefing your experience, and answering any questions you have up to that point.

-This package offers all the perks of hiring a doula: from prenatal education and planning, to continuous labour support, to a postpartum debrief.
  • A mother reclined in a hospital bed with new born baby on chest.

Photography Services

  • A naked woman pulling on a piece of patterned linen with her legs spread wide. A pregnant belly has a fetal monitor attached, a nurse's hand is helping to guide a baby being born.

Capturing moments is a passion of mine. I believe that photography can help pregnant people and birthers process their experiences in a truly surreal and beautiful way. I love capturing the details of a birth day and look forward to discussing how you would like your beautiful body and birth day captured.

  • A backlit photograph of a woman holding her pregnant belly and looking down in a tight black dress. She is in a forest and the setting sun is shining through the trees in the background.

Pregnancy Photography Session $500

Capturing your beautiful body before baby arrives.
-Between 32 and 36 weeks, we will spend 60-90 minutes shooting at a location of your choice with partner and children (if desired).
-30 digital photographs [edited and available within 4 weeks of the shoot]
  • A newborn baby laying on a weigh scale with arms outstretched.

The Golden Hour Package $700

Capturing the immediate moments after babe is born. I am on call for your birth from 38 weeks gestation and will join you at your birth location once you have reached full dilation and will photograph the moment of birth as well as up to 2 hours postpartum.
-40 digital photographs [edited and available within 4 weeks of the birth]
-A handful of baby announcement photographs [edited and available within 24 hours of the birth]

When added to doula support, this package’s price will be reduced by 30%.
  • A 5 month baby in brown linen dress laying on a sheet looking up at the camera.

The Fresh 48 Package $500

An intimate way to capture your first days with baby. Within 48 hours of arriving home with babe, I will come to your home to capture intimate images of you and babe with partner and/or siblings.
-30 digital photographs [edited and available within 4 weeks]
-A handful of baby announcement photographs [edited and available within 24 hours]

When added to doula support, this package’s price will be reduced by 30%.
  • A pregnant belly and legs sitting on a grey birth ball with a purple TENS unit hanging, wires attached and laying across one thigh.

The Birth Story Package $1200

A visual representation of your active labour and delivery. I will be on call for your birth from 38 weeks gestation and will join you from the start of active labour until 2 hours after the birth.
-110 digital photographs [edited and available within 4 weeks]
-A handful of baby announcement photographs [edited and available within 24 hours]

When added to doula support, this package’s price will be reduced by 30%.
  • A baby's first exam on a warming table. Two sets of gloved hands--one holding baby's legs and one holding a stethoscope.

The Whole Story Package $1500

Capturing your story from active labour and delivery to the first 48. I will be on call for your birth from 38 weeks gestation and will join you from the start of active labour until 2 hours after the birth. Within 48 hours of you arriving home with babe, I will join you to photograph an intimate look at your first days with babe alongside partner and/or siblings.
-140 digital photographs [edited and available within 4 weeks]
-A handful of baby announcement photographs [edited and available within 24 hours of the birth]

When added to doula support, this package’s price will be reduced by 30%.

Portfolio

Gloved hands of a doctor hold up a baby emerging from the womb. A mother's hands reach between her legs to grab her baby.