Maria Fechtmuller PCD(DONA)
Postpartum Doula
Certified Lactation Counselor
Newborn Care Specialist
There is no journey quite as heroic as parenthood.
It can be overwhelming…
Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, life with a new baby can be hard. Time gets swallowed up by worry and anticipation. If you are a first-time parent you may be feeling intimidated and questioning your capabilities. If you have older children you may be fretting over how you will manage to juggle everything. The support and assistance of a postpartum doula restores order and creates a sense of peace as you get to know your baby and everyone adjusts to the new family dynamic.
My little Moo, power napping after an exhausting birth.
A Postpartum Doula is…
a non-medical, empathic and unbiased teacher, nurturer, guide and stuff doer who supports families during the first twelve weeks of their baby’s life.
a skilled professional armed with evidence-based information who can provide solutions to the typical challenges of newborn care while also keeping focus on the parent through emotional and practical support.
a caregiver to assist with birth recovery and nutritional needs.
a companion to older siblings who will make sure they feel seen and included.
someone who has a cache of resources to help parents broaden their knowledge and connect to their community.
someone who genuinely wants to help all types of families, new or seasoned, find their footing and watch them succeed.
It’s ok to have fun.
Sometimes approaching the frenzy of parenthood with a sense of lightheartedness puts everything into perspective. A bit of humor is grounding and music is good for the soul. A postpartum doula is there to give you that chance to step back and breathe so you can reconnect with the little things that bring you joy. My mission is to steer you towards your innate capabilities as a parent, but I want to make sure you’re having a little fun while getting there.
“Maria’s knowledge about infant care was crucial when we brought home our adopted daughter! She helped get these two brand new (and maybe slightly terrified) dads on track with feeding, sleeping, teeny tiny toenail clipping, and a million other things we weren’t thinking of yet. She is a bottomless source of information, warmth, humor, intuition, and compassion - she got our growing family off to the right start and became an indispensable part of it at the same time.” Chris and Andrew M.C.