Welcome and Hello!
I look forward to talking about how I can support you. With 9 years and over 275 families supported and countless additional years of lived experiences; Birth Matters NW celebrates each family and values your unique story. The services are always customized to your needs and I hold at the heart of my practice the value of supporting your vision with compassion and respect.
Birth matters, and I believe the way a child is brought into the world has an important impact on the rest of life. Helping with that transition is an honor. -Anjli Aurora Hinman, CNM
Birth Matters NW is the perfect match for you if:
|
|
|
|
What is Birth Matters NW?Birth Matters NW was 'born' in 2015, originally a collaboration between Mariah Falin and Ildi Sebestyen. These two built the strong foundation for partnership work and were honored to support families together until Ildi's family grew and ultimately she and her family relocated to the East Coast. In 2018 Birth Matters NW welcomed Gina Cantatore to the practice and together she and Mariah supported families. As of February of 2022, Birth Matters NW has been honored to have supported over 400 families!
In June of 2022 Mariah and Gina will be bridging out and scaling back as separate solo practices. If you are interested in connecting with Gina you can find her here.
Stay tuned for exciting news coming soon! |
Birth matters. It brings us into being on many levels. - Ananda Lowe
|
Mariah Falin, CD(PALS), PD, PESOwner | co-founder of Birth Matters NW
Location: Everett, WA Locations Served: Most area hospitals, all area birth centers and home births Training - DONA Birth Doula (2013) Seattle, WA - Big Belly Placenta Training (2014) Seattle, WA - Full Circle Placenta Training (2014) Seattle, WA - Sacred Pregnancy Belly Binding (2015) - DONA Postpartum Doula (2017) Seattle, WA - Birthing Advocacy Doula Training (Full-Spectrum) )2020 |
Philosophy: Birth is a normal, healthy process, and individuals should be supported with competent and compassionate care to achieve not only a healthy birth, but a good experience.
Mariah has always been drawn to the birth process, and began her studies in pursuit of maternal care from high school. She believes that regardless of how pregnancy happens, or how how a child comes into the world; all births are natural. And that with a knowledgeable and supportive team, every women can achieve an empowered and satisfying birth. She has a special place in her heart for first time mothers, clients pursuing a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC), and anyone looking to have a positive and supported experience. She is a PALS Certified doula and past president of PALS Doulas (the original NW doula certificaiton organization).
In a nutshell:
- Mom to 2 incredible young adults, wife/partner of 20 years, outdoor adventurer, SUP enthusiast (of almost any body of water EXCEPT Green Lake), avid book reader of multiple genres, and lifelong member of the why sleep when you can read under the covers at 4am club.
- Earliest memory: sushi rolls and the spice smell in my grandmother's import store
- Lived: Florida, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, and home sweet home Washington
- Favorite season: Fall (its that blue the sky turns, always takes my breath away)
- Love language: Sleep
- Unusual skill: Baby whisperer (the joke may make the rounds frequently that I secrete melatonin... amazing for newborn babies)
- Hobby: I Collect crafts and hobbies like some people collect Pokémon, or shoes. And apparently cookbooks too.
- Other tidbits: I shared a tiny living space for 6 years (340 sq/ft) with three humans, a ridiculously adorable black lab named Pippin and a cat named Zeddicus Zuul Zorander (btw, this also cured me of the fantasy of living in an actual tiny house. Nope, never again). I have a questionable number of chickens, and can lose hours staring at the Pacific Ocean, and believe that for every family vacation I take, I must take one by myself (it's about balance! and actual vacation).
- FAQs and continuing education, click here
- Mom to 2 incredible young adults, wife/partner of 20 years, outdoor adventurer, SUP enthusiast (of almost any body of water EXCEPT Green Lake), avid book reader of multiple genres, and lifelong member of the why sleep when you can read under the covers at 4am club.
- Earliest memory: sushi rolls and the spice smell in my grandmother's import store
- Lived: Florida, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, and home sweet home Washington
- Favorite season: Fall (its that blue the sky turns, always takes my breath away)
- Love language: Sleep
- Unusual skill: Baby whisperer (the joke may make the rounds frequently that I secrete melatonin... amazing for newborn babies)
- Hobby: I Collect crafts and hobbies like some people collect Pokémon, or shoes. And apparently cookbooks too.
- Other tidbits: I shared a tiny living space for 6 years (340 sq/ft) with three humans, a ridiculously adorable black lab named Pippin and a cat named Zeddicus Zuul Zorander (btw, this also cured me of the fantasy of living in an actual tiny house. Nope, never again). I have a questionable number of chickens, and can lose hours staring at the Pacific Ocean, and believe that for every family vacation I take, I must take one by myself (it's about balance! and actual vacation).
- FAQs and continuing education, click here
Continuing Education & Community Work2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
|
|
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Mariah helped me stay calm and collected, helped me breathe through the contractions, and showed me things to help manage the pain that I never would have known or even thought to try. I can't imagine having gone through labor with any other doula. Mariah was by my side the entire way and I swear, she made it feel easier than I ever imagined possible.
Erin M.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Mariah was able to quiet my anxiety effortlessly... and after our daughter was born, she was still my biggest cheerleader. She encouraged me to advocate for my desires and helped me feel calm and confident in my decision-making as a new mom.
Deborah H.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Mariah was worth her weight in gold to my husband and I! She was enormously supportive during my pregnancy and during my birth. Mariah was calm, respectful, warm and re-assuring the entire time. She knew exactly when to step in and what to offer and worked seemlessly with the Midwives and staff at Swedish. During my C-Section she even told me fairy tales to help me stay calm--and it worked! We would recommend her in a heart-beat to anyone!
Wendy H.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
(Mariah was) innately maternal and has a very calming presence. (She) was an advocate for me when everyone else in the room (myself included) was focused on the baby arriving. It was good to have someone come over, hug you and say "all of this is very normal, you are doing great"; sometimes that's all you need to hear!
Heather B.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
The birth of my beautiful baby boy was a very intense and crazy 13 hour ride, and I don't want to think about what it would have been like without Mariah there. She labored with me at home, and (helped me gain a) feeling like I could control some sensation on my body. Mariah, Ildi, and the midwife helped me process what happened in the days after the birth. I am so grateful to have had these ladies by my side leading up to birth, during labor, and throughout early postpartum. I would hire them again in a heartbeat!
Alyssa R.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
When my labor started, they were there on call, coaching me through over the phone until it was time to do it in person. I started laboring two days before my water broke and they were texting me tips and affirming messages that kept me calm, relaxed, and made me feel supported. Mariah was my doula when active labor really kicked in. She was there with us through the end helping us with laboring positions, reminding us both to rest and drink water, coaching me through pushing & breastfeeding, and helping us get more help when we needed it. I am not sure I would have delivered naturally without having had her support.
Heather G
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Mariah an instant connection... Her presence grounded me and allowed my husband to be confident in his role as my support person. Her guidance empowered us to transition to the hospital smoothly, to make highly informed decisions during and we look back on the experience now with extreme gratitude. Mariah continued her magic with a post-partum visit on a difficult day where she reassured us that this phase is hard, but that we could get through it by prioritizing recovery and knowing that our baby was doing just fine.
Kelsey G.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
My husband and I had a fantastic experience with Mariah. She is warm, compassionate, and extremely knowledgeable. She was responsive to messages and available when we needed something. I was admitted to the hospital a few weeks before our son's birth, and Mariah even stopped in to say hello. I ended up having a scheduled c-section, and I worried that I might not "need" a doula for a c-section. I was so wrong! Leading up to the c-section, Mariah was instrumental in helping us with our birth plan, and she let us know about different things we could request during and after the birth. She was instrumental in the OR and I'm so glad that she was there with me and my husband. She had a huge role in making sure I had a great c-section experience, and she gave my husband and me peace of mind while in the hospital.
Marina
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
|
Pregnancy Support | Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula | Prenatal and Postnatal Massage | Placenta Encapsulation | Belly Binding
© Birth Matters NW Birth and Postpartum Services 2022
|
Birth Matters NW: Birth & Postpartum Services
Compassionate Care. Supported Families. t: | 425-835-3872 e: | birthmattersnw@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
Serving the following areas: Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Kirkland, Shoreline, Bothell, Woodinville, Brier, Kenmore, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Mill Creek, Everett, Mukilteo, Monroe, Snohomish, Ballard, Magnolia, Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake, Northgate, Ravenna, Madison Park, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Lake Forest Park, Marysville, Lake Stevens. Snohomish County, King County, Puget Sound, Washington, WA Swedish Hospitals, University Hospital, Evergreen, Providence, Sprout Birth Center, Center for Birth, Cascade Birthing Center, Puget Sound Birth Centers, Eastside Birth Center and all home births.