Maria Marsh

About Me

I am a mother of two grown up children and live in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire with my husband and little mini–Dachshund Percy.

Having 20 years’ experience supporting families with new babies, I am passionate about delivering a high level of emotional, physical, and practical support, enabling you and your partner (if you have one) to focus on each other and the baby. I understand and respect that every woman’s birth journey is unique, and life changing and will put you and your family’s experience of pregnancy, labour, and birth at the heart of everything I do.

With all clients I strive to develop a strong connection through trust, empathy, and a non- judgmental perspective, understand that working together to meet your individual needs, whatever the birth setting (homebirth, or hospital) or type of birth (vaginal, VBAC or caesarean), helps make an already wonderful experience more empowering.

To ensure that you and your partner feel prepared, included, and supported, I look to provide evidence-base, un-bias information so that you can make your own informed decisions.  I am passionate that all women should feel that they have autonomy over their birth, support them and ensure their voices are heard and will advocate for both you and your partner to achieve this.

By helping to formulate your birth preferences, led by your hopes or past experiences and explore all options available, I aim to make your birth as empowering and fulfilling as it can be.

Supported with comfort and calmness throughout labour together we can create a safe and protected environment. Through guided breathing techniques, affirmations, massage, visualisation, and by using various labour and birth positions and techniques, I will help to maintain an oxytocin-fuelled sacred space and enable you to feel in control throughout labour and birth.

Once your new baby has arrived, I will be there to ensure that you feel settled and comfortable, will be on hand to help with achieving skin to skin, the first feed and provide any information on taking care of yourself and your baby as your postnatal journey into parenthood begins.

I will provide support by;

• Meeting with you and your partner (if you have one) three times before the birth to form a supportive relationship, discuss your birth preferences, talk over any concerns, and explore your birth options.
• Be available in the evenings and at weekends between meetings by text message or email.
• Be on call 24/7 for 10 days before your estimated due date and until your baby is born.
• Stay with you throughout your labour and birth and for a few hours after to ensure you and your family are comfortable and settled.
• Meet once during the first six weeks after the birth to reflect on your birth experience, answer any questions you may have and signpost you to additional services if required.

I cover Lister Hospital, Princess Alexandra, Barnet, Watford, The Rosie, North Middlesex and North London hospitals, and if you are planning a home birth will come to your home and support you throughout.

Qualifications

NNEB nursery Nurse

Foundation Degree in Birth and Beyond

NCT Antenatal teacher

NCT Yoga for Pregnancy instructor

NCT Birth Doula

Certified in Birth Practices with Spinning Babies

Certified in Pregnancy, birth and postnatal Rebozo with Sophie Messager

Certified in the Biomechanics for Birth with Optimal Birth

Testimonials

“As the partner and first-time father, I think the best decision we made was to include Maria as our Doula in our birth plan.I never felt overwhelmed because I knew we always had Maria there to help shepherd us if we needed it.

She was incredibly sensitive in giving us advice or just stepping back. She has a great intuition on when and what to suggest in the moment but also gave us space as well. This was important in retrospect, especially as dynamics can constantly shift between new midwives, being moved to new rooms and new Dr’s appearing and giving different information/suggestions. She was our constant while many other things changed, and her presence provided reassurance, so we felt that we weren’t getting lost or overwhelmed within the process.

As a partner my role was purely to support my wife and having Maria there meant I could be completely present to support my partner and her needs. Being our first time, it was invaluable having someone, who had much more experience, with us through the whole labour. Someone who could advocate for us, if we needed it, when we were our most tired, or even just allow me to sleep without worrying that there wouldn’t be support for my partner.

It takes a really special person to be able to go on this journey with a couple. Someone who is prepared for whatever may arise and be a constant calm presence, while providing support during the most delicate time of our lives. I truly appreciate the care in which Maria approaches her role as a Doula and I highly recommend her.”

Lucas, dad to baby Noah

Maria was always very responsive whenever I had any questions or concerns about my pregnancy. As soon as I went into labour, she was on her way to our home and did not leave our side until approximately 25 hours later once our son had been born and the three of us felt settled.

At home Maria helped with positions, breathing and movement suggestions and after a while she used the rebozo and some biomechanics positions as the contractions were not progressing. These really helped to speed things up and soon I was in established labour, and it was time to head for the hospital. Once we were in hospital, she helped make the birth room nice and comfortable, offered encouragement and helped protect the space from unwanted distractions.

One thing I really appreciated about my experience was that I never felt like Maria was pushing her opinions or agenda onto me. She is very kind, encouraging, supportive and knowledgeable. She is easy to talk to and listens to her clients wishes and concerns. She genuinely wanted to support me in fulfilling my birth plan in the best way possible. My labour journey ended up having some unexpected detours and during this time Maria was comfortable communicating with the midwives and doctors guiding use to advocate for ourselves and our wishes. I fully trusted her to help me, and my partner evaluate our options and to make informed decisions. I recommend Maria to any expectant mothers/couples who are looking for additional support and guidance in their pregnancy and birth journeys. I only wish she was offering postnatal doula services as well so we could keep her longer. Thanks, Maria, we love you!

Nikki, mum to baby Noah

“Maria was the most amazing birthing doula; my partner and I cannot imagine giving birth without her help and support. We decided to get a doula to support us both mentally and physically, as well as to provide advocacy throughout.

We met Maria early on in our pregnancy. She was super personable, helped us to shape our birth plan whilst being supportive and encouraging to my partner. We looked at positions for labour and birth and different breathing techniques and Maria signposted us to easy to access evidence-based information and guidance.

One thing I appreciated the most was the use of spinning babies to optimally position the baby and initiate labour: this was particularly important as we were 2 weeks overdue and keen to avoid induction! Maria walked us through the circuit and encouraged us to try it ourselves. It really worked! I went into labour! Maria stayed with us for over 24h and did everything to make sure that the birthing environment was as calm as possible including candles and low-level lighting, suggested many different positions, breathing and visualisation techniques, both at home and on the consultant lead unit. She was always there for us and went above and beyond, her energy and passion was infectious, even when things started to slow down. She was personable and friendly with the midwives which was helpful in establishing the best decision-making processes and atmosphere.

At all stages Maria was the best advocate for us as a couple. She remained calm and comforting. I highly recommend Maria as a doula, and greatly appreciated her help, guidance, presence, and support throughout. Thank you so much!”

Harriet and Laurie – Baby Dougie

“Maria is highly professional, calm and kind doula. As a nanny, NCT course leader and a mum of two she really knows her stuff. I really enjoyed our pre-birth sessions with Maria, she’s extremely knowledgeable and everything felt very positive and exciting. We trusted her immediately. I had a precipitous labour (less than 2 hours) and struggled to process what was happening. I felt really afraid. She took the lead with breathing techniques, eye contact and reassurance and made me feel much safer when I needed it the most.  It was 3am but that didn’t keep her from answering her phone immediately and arriving at the hospital only 20 minutes later.  She really is a star”.

Gemma and Jonathan – Baby Max