Kristin Maresca, MA

Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500, CPYT)

I am a mother of 2 amazing girls, an experienced Certified Professional Doula, a Certified Childbirth Educator, and an experienced yoga teacher. I consider myself a birthkeeper: a guardian and protector of the sacred passage of childbirth. I have been a doula and childbirth educator since 2009, after the home water births of my own two daughters. The profound process of birth and the strength I found in myself through the birth of my first daughter sparked within me a deep passion for helping to empower women and their partners, as they became parents. Over the years, the dozens of powerfully vulnerable and courageous births I have witnessed have reinforced my view that pregnancy and childbirth are natural and creative processes that have the potential to empower, enlighten, and transform.

Prior to becoming a birthworker, I received my Master’s Degree in International Development and Conflict Resolution from American University. I spent several years developing programs that empowered youth and women as agents of change in a variety of complex and fragile contexts, before embarking on the journeys of motherhood and birthwork.

How I Work

When I first began working as a doula, I thought the key to supporting birthing women was to break out all of the tools and gadgets that could possibly make her more comfortable. My marketing strategy was based on my offerings of yummy massage techniques, neat rebozo tricks, the use of a TENS machine, and knowledge of fancy acupressure points. My experience, however, has shown me that it is as important to know when hands-on support – including comfort, nourishment, and hydration – is needed, and when it would be best to ensure that the birthing environment and those present in it allow the mother space to listen to her bodily instincts and inner wisdom.

In my work with birthing families, I focus on making certain you have the information you need to make informed choices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The families I work with have proprietary, unlimited access to an online repository of evidence-based resources, as well as a selection of books, DVDs, and mp3s to help support you.

The magic around birth is how you are made to feel, and how you are cared for in the process. I want you to look back on your birth as being nothing short of a beautiful and sacred experience during which you fully understood your options, were listened to and respected, and were able to make informed decisions that were best for you and your child. There is no one “right” way to birth, but every birth has the potential to be a life-transforming and positive experience.