Hi! I'm Marissa.
As an NYC based mom with my own birth stories, I understand how much your birth story matters. You can enter into labor feeling empowered, filled with joy, peace and presence. I'd love to help you experience that kind of birth!
becoming a mother to
"mothering the mother"
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Becoming a Mother:
As a Christian, I know God is the author of life. Knowing this doesn't always make the journey easy. My husband and I spent two years navigating infertility, seeking healing prayer, medical fertility assistance, and ultimately experiencing the miracle of becoming pregnant with twin boys. After a blessed 37-week pregnancy, a 12-hour labor, an unplanned C-section, and the birth of two healthy 6lb boys, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that they were safe and healthy. While the experience was beautiful, I couldn’t help but feel that with an advocate, I could have had a vaginal delivery. Breastfeeding was a steep learning curve, but after overcoming challenges such as tongue ties, lactation issues, thrush, mastitis, and supply problems, I was finally successful.
When we decided to try for a third child, we knew we wanted to hire a doula. My husband was just as eager as I was, especially after the intensity of our first birth. With the support of my doula, I had a beautiful labor and a successful VBAC, welcoming our third son into the world.
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Becoming a Doula:
Close friends of mine, after six years of trying to conceive, were miraculously pregnant. Seeing something in me, they asked if I would be their doula. I was overjoyed to join them on this voyage, but sadly, the pregnancy ended too early, with the traumatic birth and passing of their daughter. Despite the heartbreaking outcome, I stood by them, praying with and supporting them through it all.
Now, years later, heart full of miraculous birth stories, I’m overjoyed to say that I am, once again, the doula for my sweet friends. This is not the only difficult and miraculous story I have walked through with friends. Coming alongside couples, joining them in prayer, loss, more prayer, defiant hope and eventual miracle babies has been a gift to bear witness to. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to support couples as they transition into parenthood.
Training:
I am a DONA (Doulas Of North America) trained birth doula. My training was thorough (birth doula, infant care and lactation, continuing ed, etc.)! The real-life training of planning for my own birth, postpartum, breastfeeding and parenting (with my amazing husband) and helping many other families do the same has been invaluable. I am always asking God for wisdom and applying it as I assist and care for laboring women and their partners.
What a beautiful, messy transformation to get to participate in. I love being a doula and feel honored to walk alongside families during such a profound and life-changing time.
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