Welcome, I’m Mary

I’m a postpartum doula and the creator of First Steps Postpartum Care.

I have been working with children for over thirty years and am the mother of three grown children of my own. My husband and I recently returned to Maine after twenty years raising our family in the Pacific NorthWest.

Soon after we moved home I began volunteering at the Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine. While my focus was working with children, I frequently found myself interacting with new mothers who were looking for a connection and some support. It brought me joy watching those young mothers leave feeling seen, heard and valued. Those experiences prompted me to become a postpartum Doula.

I am DONA-trained and am currently working on my certification. A discount is offered to families who are willing to be part of my certification process.

The first weeks as new parents are hard.

I’m there as a guide to nurture and care for you until you are ready to go it alone.

I will help with newborn care, offer infant feeding support, find ways to soothe your newborn, and talk about sleeping strategies.

While you care for your newborn, I will care for you. I will listen and help you process the birth. I will focus on your nutrition and sleep needs. I will prep meals and help with light household tasks so you can rest and bond with your baby.

My goal is to help parents build a caring and connected family from day one. I can offer safe and age-appropriate ways to include older siblings in “taking care of baby” to help build those sibling bonds. Besides helping the birthing parent recover, I also consider how this new dynamic affects your partner and will check in with them as well.

I can’t wait to meet you and your family!