ABOUT MARTHA

zenmamalove headshot

Ever since I was a very young age I felt I was different, didn’t quite fit in. A lot of that has to do with being a highly sensitive person (which I wish I would have known growing up!). I have been interested and studied all things pertaining to metaphysics (energy work, meditation, visualization, crystals, chakras, auras, dreams), inner-reflection/mindfulness, relationships, world religions, mythology, and psychology since I was about 8 years old.  I have been a teacher for as long as I can remember, professionally for over 25 years.  I have taught everything from Social Studies, to Spanish, to all forms of music, dance and theatre. My students have ranged from ages 3 to 83.  It’s safe to say I have worked with ALL types of students and parents.

Because of that I feel blessed to have had so many opportunities to learn and grow from those around me.  In my previous career as a middle school/high school teacher, I have seen firsthand the importance of learning to communicate and parent through connection and respect. We live in a different world now, way different then when we were growing up, or our parents or grandparents were growing up.  We live in a digital age where communication breakdown is very common despite the technological advances that would make it otherwise.  As parents, we need to step up our game and teach and connect with our children from the very beginning (meaning babyhood/toddlerhood/preschool age).  I believe this generation would benefit from less controlling, “do as I say, not as I do”, punitive, fear-based parenting, and more connection-based, “get to the root of the need instead of just addressing the current behavior” style parenting. Just as computer operating systems need constant updates and improvements, so do our parent operating systems, or we too will be antiquated and outdated.

This of course requires a lot of patience, support, sense of humor, and self-reflection.  We can’t be successful adults and citizens and parents if we haven’t worked out our own “dramas” and found some sense of inner peace.  Before we help others, we must be honest with ourselves and where we are in our own evolution.  So, to me, inner peace is the beginning and end of it all, of this journey we are all on.  Without peace, we have nothing.  We can’t have healthy relationships with anyone until with have one with ourselves. And of course, our unresolved personal conflicts also impact and affect our birthing experience!

zenmamalove homebirth doula

About 25 years ago, I was called to learning everything I could about birth. Even before I was remotely ready to have a child, I began taking classes, becoming friends with midwives (thank you, Corina Fitch!), and reading up or watching anything birth related.  I later found out I come from a long line of midwives on my father’s side in Cuba.  To me, birth always seemed like a natural thing women did, in most cases, without the need for many medical interventions. When I finally became pregnant, and then had a child, nothing went “according to plan”.  Birth, and parenting in my situation was far from easy. I had to overcome many challenges and had very little support in the early days. Because I had lost my Mom at a young age, and had no other family around that could help me, I was flying by the seat of my pants. A lot. So, I had to educate myself, create and seek our resources and support, and just do it. 

It was during my pregnancy that I was fortunate to meet and work with my own extremely caring and compassionate doula, Katie DeCicco. I learned I had a calling in birthwork to help women, to support women on their birth journeys before, during and beyond. I never wanted another woman to feel as lost and alone as I did during those early stages of motherhood. And thus began my journey into doulahood and birthwork.

 photographer doula

Since I have started doing this full time in 2015, I have now served over 200 families. I am now an Internationally Acclaimed photographer, winning 5 international awards so far for my work in the genres of birth and motherhood photography. I am also now a Midwife’s Assistant, working with the best Midwives in South Florida to help empower Moms and educate our community that this is a safe, natural option for birth.  I have recently become a best-selling published author (a dream of mine!) for a multi-author book about VBACs where I contributed my chapter as well as my artwork. This is my life, my job, my world, my family.  This is “what I do”. And I’d be honored to walk alongside you down your path to an empowered birth, and beyond.

Martha's Highlights:

  • CAPPA certified Doula
  • Professional Birth Photographer
  • Certified Birth Assistant
  • Has served over 200 families since 2015
  • Equally comfortable in hospital/out of hospital births
  • Proud Member of ICAN, serving VBAC families
  • Member of the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers
  • Internationally acclaimed photographer
  • Childbirth Educator
  • Published & bestselling author

Featured In:

 

CanvasRebel – Stories & Insights
April 2022 Interview

 

The ICAN Newsletter
June 2019

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