Mama-ness
Vanessa Young, Birth Doula
About Vanessa
Vanessa is a birth doula in Maryland who strives for inclusivity and connection to the primal power within all birthing people. She was called into birth work after her first was premature leading to a traumatic postpartum despite an incredible birth and began working toward becoming a doula after the healing experience of her second child's birth, and all confirmed this is one of many passions after a deeply powerful birth of her last (a surprise breech!).
Vanessa has supported many birthing families from birth center to hospital births and adjusting to parenthood amidst the ups and downs of postpartum. In addition to doula-ing, she is a yoga instructor specializing in pre- and post-natal yoga, as well as a professional harpist. She likes to think the creativity necessary for her other fields of interest and work aid in the creativity needed to support each individual family during this transformative time in their lives.
When not doing all the things she can be found enjoying time outside with her husband, 3 kids and rescue pug, working on some crafty thing, reading or talking & learning about social justice.
Black & White Photo by Ash Luna for 4th Trimester Bodies Project
Packages
Prenatal Yoga
$80 for an hour prenatal yoga session, which includes poses beneficial for labor
Birth Doula
$1,000 for birth doula services which include 2 prenatal sessions, labor & birth support, and 1 postpartum visit
The Whole Birther
$1,300 includes all of the birth doula services, plus 3 prenatal yoga sessions (or 2 prenatal and 1 postpartum yoga session)
The Community
Sliding scale $5 - 20 for community connection, doula support around prenatal, birth, postpartum and parenthood questions. *50% of these funds will go right back into the community supporting Mamatoto Village
10% discount for military families
Testimonials
Why Hire Vanessa >
I had Vanessa as a yoga instructor at Merritt and she was amazing! She has such a calmness and positive energy about her that is very contagious! Even though they didn’t have prenatal yoga there, she went above and beyond and would always help me modify the poses so they were safe for me to do being pregnant. Yoga really helped me through a rough pregnancy. I was able to take the techniques that she taught me and use them with other yoga classes when she wasn’t teaching. I will forever be grateful for all her help!
~ L. C.
I don’t even know where to begin. I can’t imagine going through this process without Vanessa. I started looking into having a doula as an added support due to restrictions of visitors due to COVID19 and I’m so glad I did. We met virtually multiple times prior to going into labor and they were always so helpful and she helped me come up with great questions for the OB that I wouldn’t have thought of without her help. She helped explain so many things to my husband and I and helped problem solve when issues came up. I was initially worried about my husband being my only physical support person during labor (due to COVID19) but Vanessa helped coach both of us virtually the whole entire time and I can’t imagine not having that added support. She was so reassuring and a calm “presence” throughout the whole process. She was also supportive of my decisions the entire time. She helped refer me to the best chiropractor when I had back issues during pregnancy. She also referred me to the best lactation consultant and dentist (to fix tongue and lip ties) when I was having issues with breastfeeding. She provided breastfeeding help as well during the postpartum visit and even brought over some lactation goodies. She also helped me find ways to process the labor/birth process at the postpartum visit. My husband was slightly skeptical about the need for a doula but after our first prenatal virtual visit he was so thankful that we hired her. I was also worried about not being able to have her support physically when at the hospital but the virtual support was so incredibly helpful. We both can’t thank her enough for all of the support she has provided and she is worth every penny! If we have another baby, we are definitely going to give her a call.
~ K. D.
Photo credit: Alyssa Dwayer
Thank you so much for everything. I know I've said it a million times but you are truly such a blessing to all of us and we love you!! ~M.B.