Maria is currently a student NCT doula. An important part of training for this role is that Maria is required to support a woman or couple through birth with the support of the NCT doula tutors. Your baby needs to be due between mid-February and mid-April for you to be able to consider asking Maria to be your birth doula. The fee for Maria to support you has been appropriately set to recognise the fact that she is a student.
Would you like Maria to be your doula?
Email: maria.marsh.nct@gmail.com
Call: 07500 776632 or 01707 876374
About Maria
Maria lives in South Hertfordshire with her husband, two young adult children of 23 and 25 and mini Dachshund Percy. Her location places her within easy drive to Barnet, Finchley, and Enfield as well as St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, Potters Bar and surrounding areas.
Maria started her NCT journey over 25 years ago when she attended her first antenatal class. An NNEB nursery nurse and nanny of 30 years she has a passion for families, babies, and children. Having experienced both hospital and home birth, encouraged and empowered by the knowledge she had gained from the classes, Maria’s dream was to become an antenatal teacher herself, which she achieved in September 2021.
From her own experiences and training she has realised that she enjoys supporting women and their families through their journey to becoming new parents and to help make this already wonderful experience even better. She would like to ensure they feel prepared and supported in their decisions, enabling their voices to be heard.
Maria will support women and their birth partners (if you have one) with comfort and calmness through labour and birth. She will guide you through various breathing techniques, affirmations, massage, visualisation and labour and birth positions. She will help formulate your birth preferences and explore all options available to make your birth experience as empowering and fulfilling as it can be. Maria is a friendly, reliable, and open person who will be an advocate for mothers and their families wishes.
Qualifications
- NNEB Nursery Nurse.
- NCT Antenatal Teacher.
Practicalities
Maria 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 phone, email or text message.
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Be on call 24/7 for 2 weeks 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.
