Emma G.

3/19/2024

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. 

Domini Sedaghaty

12/29/2023

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.  

Jenny, JB, and Milo

8/29/2023

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!

Kelly

7/14/2023

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!

Samiaya Hammick

7/13/2023

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! 

Matia Valenter

1/11/2023

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. 

Annie

10/21/2022

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.

Ida

10/17/2022

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!

Anna

6/9/2022

We had our first baby 3 weeks ago and we felt extremely lucky to have Maria by our side as our birth Doula.

Having moved from abroad and without family here to help us, Maria took that role. She prepared us very well through the pre partum visits, was always there for questions and on the D day she was 100% on the ball, making sure my voice was heard and providing invaluable emotional support throughout.

I would totally recommend Maria to anyone considering a birth Doula for such an important life changing event.

Kirstin

12/9/2021

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. 

Jill Cortese

8/26/2021

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!

Emily

7/8/2021

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.  

Samiaya Hammick

7/1/2021

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. 

Lizbet Miller

5/30/2021

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.

Alicia Halpern

2/25/2021

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! 

Jaime Hatch

2/8/2021

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.

Kelly Trendell Smith

1/2/2021

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.

Sera & Ben P.

11/16/2020

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! 

Jessica D.

5/13/2020

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. 

Anna Williams

4/29/2020

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!

Sandy & Nick Rutgers

4/2/2020

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. 

Libby and Thomas

8/1/2019

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!!  

Rebecca Gundle

7/18/2019

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! 

LQ Yang

4/20/2019

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.

Meredith Mesa

3/6/2019

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.

Deanna Toney

11/19/2018

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.

Janna Cash

9/29/2018

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!

Kaiti Davis

9/27/2018

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. :-)

Gillian Sim Sukachevin

7/6/2018

I had a list of doulas to interview but when my husband and I interviewed Maria, we both agreed that we wanted her to be part of our family’s birth experience. I wanted someone who had experience with birth trauma because I had anxiety from my first birth and some hospital related trauma. Maria provided evidence based information during our prenatal visits which helped me feel more confident about my choices for a more natural experience. I was able to go into labor and labor for a while naturally, which was my utmost desire. Maria anticipated things I would appreciate and was prepared to meet those needs during the labor. We had built so much trust that when things did not go as expected during the labor and I needed a c-section, I continued to feel confident and supported. I was given time and space to process and grieve throughout the delivery which helped with my recovery process, both physically and emotionally. I also appreciated how she was able to communicate with my husband, allowing him to know how to be so much more supportive and involved. I am so glad we chose Maria and I definitely recommend her as a doula. This birth ended up being more involved than my first birth but having Maria there made a world of difference in helping me be less anxious about everything and having the peace I need to enjoy motherhood all over again.

Cynthia Browne

6/7/2017

With Maria by my side, I was able to have the natural birth I had hoped for. Not only did she provide me with tons of information before the birth about my options and ways to cope, she encouraged me to keep going during labor and provided me with all of the things I needed to keep me comforatble. She was also able to help and encourage my husband and help him help me as well as give him breaks because the labor was so long. Because she was there for me, my birth experience was much easier. I would encourage anyone to seek her help for this very special moment.

Arielle Jungwirth

12/15/2016

I was planning a hospital birth after two planned homebirth and one that was born accidentally at home and then transferred to the hospital. I was very nervous about birthing in the hospital. I had also had a doula with a previous birth that, while she did advocate for me, I felt she was overly antagonistic toward the hospital staff after a transfer and it made me anxious. I chose Maria because I knew she was able to firmly advocate for me while still maintaining a good atmosphere with the staff. I was so glad I made this decision! My birth was fast, and Maria stayed right by my side and knew just how to help, with pressure points and cool cloths and support. I also had some post-birth complications and it was wonderful to have an extra set of hands, either helping with baby, with nursing, or helping me through procedures. She was kind and professional at all times. Maria made everything more comfortable, less stressful, and less scary, for both my husband and me, and I would certainly choose to have her with us again!

patricia blanchard

7/4/2012

I had an amazing experience with Maria as my doula. I looked into many doulas, but I wanted someone who was very experience not just attending births, but giving birth herself. I also, didnt think I'd feel comfortable with a doula of my own age (20's) for me a more experienced nuturing and maternal person was what I was looking for. Maria was incredibly flexible with our schedule and we liked her immediately at the meet and greet. She was very thoughtful and kind. We ended up having our baby 3 weeks early and she was able to shift her schedule to attend our birth even though it was unexpected. We were very impressed with her knowledge and resources. She gave us so much info we didn't feel the need of a birth class. She had hand outs on labor, labor positions, acupressure points etc. And came to the birth with herbs, aromatherapy, homeopathy, tens unit machine etc. She was incredibly supportive and helped my husband find massage and pressure points to support me. My baby ended up in a difficult position and I was stuck for hours in transition. Maria helped us through it and we did some homeopathy which ended up helping my body and the baby resolve the problem. I also felt incredibly supported after the birth with breastfeeding help, palcental encapsulation, sitz baths and lots of advice including recommendations of chirporactor, cranisacral practitioner and homeopathy to help with breastfeeding issues etc. I highly recommend maria and am happy to have her as a continuing source of support and resources.

Gabrielle Iversen

7/1/2011

Maria made sure that my hospital birth was the birth I wanted- she not only emotionally supported me and my husband throughout my 45 hour labor, she continously advocated for me with hospital staff and made sure that my birth plan was respected.  She also saved my stalled labor by calling in a skilled acupuncture provider who got my labor started back up right away!  I feel strongly that I would not have had the successful and positive water birth experience I had if not for Maria's amazing assistance.

Karli Zearley

8/15/2010

As first time parents determined to labor naturally, my husband and I decided to use a doula.  After interviewing multiple candidates, we decided on Maria.  Though she had attended a limited number of births, her personal experience with delivering her own four children naturally at home (one unassisted), her extensive knowledge and clear dedication and interest in the birth experience, and her even-keeled calming nature convinced us that she was the right choice.  

Maria was an invaluable resource throughout my pregnancy, and during my approximately 15 hour labor!  In the very early stages, she walked with me and provided support, allowing my husband to rest.  As labor progressed, I experienced a great deal of back pain, and for about 10 hours straight, she applied pressure to my lower back, freeing my husband to support me in other ways.  In addition to applying pressure, she made gentle suggestions about switching position, the use of water/the tub, and most importantly, provided a strong, comforting and knowledgable presence during the time I needed it most.  One of the most difficult things about labor for me, was not knowing what to expect, how much more intense the pain would get, and how much longer it would be.  Maria was able to provide exactly the kind of help and support I needed both emotionally and physically during each stage of labor, and both my husband and I positive that she greatly contributed my being able to have the amazing natural birth we were hoping for.  

Katie Tussing

6/14/2010

Maria Armstrong was such a huge help during the labor and birth of my son, just a little over three weeks ago.  My labor was fast, and I was worried no one from my birth team would make it in time for my son's arrival (we had a planned home birth).  Maria was the first one to arrive-- incredible!  For the rest of my labor, she proved to be just as responsive to my needs, even when they were non-verbally communicated. 

Clearly, birth is a passion of Maria's; she is an experienced "birther" herself, and really gleans a lot of intuitive knowledge and expertise from her own experiences, in addition to her own (extensive!) personal studies.  She is a joy to talk with, very personable and compassionate!  She is a wealth of wonderful information, and yet never ever pressures or forces anything on you.  I've learned so much from her, even during my third pregnancy! 

Maria's soothing touch during those tough, intense contractions were so very helpful.  She really made labor a lot easier!  She even showed my husband some pressure points so he could be help relieve some of my pain, too, which I thought was VERY generous of her! 

This was my first time using a doula.  During my first two births, I never felt I needed one (I did not know Maria at the time!).  But when Maria approached me about being my doula this time around, I thought I'd give it a shot!  I'm sure glad I did, too!  Her presence was calming and non-intrusive, yet she knew when to step in and help.  I'm so thankful that Maria was a part of our beautiful birth experience; I would use her again, without a doubt.  I sincerely hope you have a chance to meet Maria and see for yourself what a fabulous, friendly and lovely doula she is.