Meraki Madi

Have you read the books, listened to the podcasts, and saved all the birth posts... but still don't feel truly prepared?
You can know everything about birth and still not know what to do when labor begins.

Information doesn’t automatically become preparation.

When everything stays in your head, it's hard to make unexpected decisions during labour, or remember what you’ve read when you are exhausted three days postpartum. That is not the moment you want to be sorting through everything you’ve learned.

That's where I come in.
I help you connect the dots between everything you’ve learned so you know what matters to you, and that you can walk into labour and postpartum with a plan that reflects your values and your priorities. Together, we create practical tools, build habits you'll actually use, and make intentional decisions before labour begins, so you don't have to figure it all out in the moment.

Birth will never be completely predictable, but you can walk into labour feeling confident do take action and make the right decisions for you and your baby.

If this sounds like exactly what you've been looking for, DM INFO, and I'll send you all the details. 🤍

If you've read the books, saved the posts, and listened to the podcasts but still aren't sure how it all applies to your birth and postpartum journey, I'd love to help.

Together, we'll create a personalised plan so you can make informed decisions, prepare your body and mind for the unexpected, and step into birth with confidence.

If this sounds like you, comment READY below or send me a DM. 🤍

Carrying the Songs.

I did something different today. Went to the Hague with a group of amazing women to experience some art inspired by the Irish poem "Carrying the Songs".

Thank you to the Irish ambassador Ann Derwin for being an amazing host.

Thank you Female Ventures 🇳🇱 The Netherlands for creating these kinds of opportunities.

Swipe to see a few of my favourite pieces.

Know your B.R.A.I.Ns

A simple tool to remember whenever you have to make a decision during pregnancy, labour or birth.

B - Benefits
What would the benefits be to you and your baby if you make this decision?

R - Risks
What possible risks could come with this decision?

A - Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to the current recommendation. Something else you can try.

I - Intuition
What is your intuition saying about this. Does it feel like something you want to do.

N - Nothing
If you are still not sure, ask if you can wait, do nothing for now and come back to the discussion later.

Going through these steps gives you the time to think a decision over, and to make sure you are really happy with what is happening.

My next Childbirth Course in Rotterdam will be taking place on the 13th of June. In collaboration with ACCESS.

You can have a look on my website if you would like to see what it's all about. In a nutshell - it's an intensive 1 day course that covers the ins and outs of birth in general, and also goes into detail into the Dutch birth system, so you can be fully prepared and know what to expect.

Childbirth Classes Rotterdam — Meraki Madi In-person childbirth classes in Rotterdam that blend evidence-based knowledge with heartfelt support—perfect for expats and curious first-time parents.

I'm not here to make you feel guilty.

I'm here to ask the question nobody else is asking.

Because I've been in that room. I've seen what prepared looks like. And I've seen what unprepared feels like.

You get to choose which woman shows up.

All 📸: .photography

📅 Hardly any babies actually arrive on their due date. In fact, only around 5% do. And for first time mothers, around 70% give birth after that date. So really, it's less of a due date and more of a guess date.

And if you're pregnant and living far from home, that day of waiting can carry a particular kind of weight. The people you'd normally lean on are a timezone away, and the silence can feel loud.

So here's a gentle invitation: when that day arrives, make it yours.
☕ Linger over coffee somewhere you love.
📚 Lose yourself in a bookshop.
🎬 Sit in a dark cinema and eat too much popcorn.
🫶 Spend time with people who make you laugh.
😴 Declare it a full, unapologetic me-day.

Every single one of these things nudges your oxytocin in the right direction, which also happens to be your body's favourite hormone for birth. So you're not just enjoying yourself. You're preparing.
Your baby will come when your baby is ready. 💛