Thanks for stopping by!
I’m Ana, an expat and birth & postnatal doula based in Munich, Germany. I am a birth passionate on a mission to support parents as they step into this adventure, whether for the first time or not. I wish to see every parent and family feeling empowered and confident about the journey they’re on, and I made this my personal goal to enable as many families as possible to get there.
I come originally from Moldova and speak English, Romanian and Russian. I lived in the UK for 6 years, where I took my doula training with Developing Doulas, and graduated the course in early 2023. My recent move to Munich enabled me to pursue this path, which feels like a calling.
Everyone has a story about coming to this work, and here goes mine. In 2021 I got pregnant for the very first time, and all I could think about was how afraid I am to give birth. By that point I heard so many terrifying stories, that it was the only narrative I knew. I just wanted to be in a hospital, with lots of doctors that will take care of “it all”. But something felt off and I started my own research and discovered the land of doulas and birth workers that believe in women’s abilities to birth, that are supporting and empowering them. I discovered that birth can be beautiful and joyful. This lit a fire in me and I realised that I had to spread the word, and help women find their courage and trust their bodies, empower them to take the power back into their own hands. I made it a mission for myself to help people unlearn the negative and unhelpful narrative around birth and change it into something empowering for each of them. I recently realised that if I won the lottery, I would still continue doing this work, because it is important and fascinating to me.
Outside of my doula work, I love reading, dancing, cooking & eating. I enjoy a nice walk in the park, a hike or a bicycle ride on a sunny day. And I love spending time with people that I hold dear. I sometimes fall prey to binge-watching tv shows, and when I don’t – I quite enjoy spending Friday nights at home with a good movie and homemade popcorn.
When we work together, I want to get to really know you, understand and learn YOUR story and YOUR preferences. I take care of your needs while providing the support and information you need to make evidence-based, informed decisions, while keeping an open mind.
I have a strong belief that each family should have a positive and empowering birth experience, regardless of their choices and preferences. There isn’t just one path that everyone should follow, but rather each person should choose one that suits them best. And with the right support at their side at all times.
My objective is that you go courageously through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. If I can make a difference in your story – I’ll consider it an honour, and that my goal has been achieved.
The Starfish Story
And why it is so important to make a difference, even if it’s just for one person or family.
Once upon a time, there was an old man who had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one day, after a big storm had passed, he was walking along the shore and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.
Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often, and as he grew closer the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the water. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves.” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”
The old man replied “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”
The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
*adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)