Birth Doula. Postpartum Doula. Birth Coach.
Supporting not only the birth of your baby, but the birth of your family.
Hi, I'm Joanna!
Support shouldn't be a luxury. Every family deserves to feel seen, heard, and deeply held through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period.
Mother of two wonderful (and wonderfully energetic!) boys, wife to my Brazilian soulmate, and the woman behind Birth Nest.
Originally from Poland, life has taken us on quite an adventure. Together we've called Ireland, New York, and Amsterdam home before settling in Hilversum, where we're now raising our multilingual and multicultural family.
Living abroad taught me how much courage it takes to build a life far from your village... and how deeply we all need connection, especially during life's biggest transitions.
But before I ever supported another family, I became a mother myself.
My boys were both born in the Netherlands. I experienced both a home birth and a hospital birth - two very different and complex journeys, which I look back on with gratitude despite the challenges they brought. My own path into motherhood sparked a deep fascination with birth, the incredible wisdom of the body, and the quiet strength women carry within them. But it was postpartum that truly changed me. It opened my eyes to how deeply mothers need to be cared for, nourished, and held while they themselves are learning to hold someone else.
That realization became the beginning of Birth Nest.
Holding space for birth — and for becoming
I honour birth in all its forms. Whether your journey leads to a home birth, a hospital birth, a VBAC, an induction, an epidural, or a caesarean, what matters most is that you feel informed, respected, and deeply supported throughout your experience.
Every family arrives with a different, unique story. I want to know it all. Your hopes, fears, beliefs, experiences, and dreams for welcoming your baby.
That's why I don't believe in one "right" way to give birth. I believe in your birth.
My role is to walk beside you. To listen deeply. To ask thoughtful questions. To offer evidence-based information, practical tools, and gentle guidance while always honoring your choices.
I don't make decisions for you. I don't replace your intuition. Instead, I help you reconnect with it.
Throughout our time together, I get to know you, your partner, and your family. Together we prepare not only for the birth itself, but for the transition into parenthood - building confidence, understanding your options, preparing older siblings when needed, and creating space for whatever this journey brings.
Because birth isn't just about bringing a baby into the world.
It's about becoming. It's about transforming.
Birth is the beginning.
Birth changes us.
It isn't just the beginning of a baby's life.
It's the beginning of a new version of yours.
When families first reach out to me, they're often thinking about the birth itself.
But birth is so much more than labor. So much more than one day.
It's the months of wondering, of waiting, of creating.
The hopes.
The questions.
The excitement.
The fears.
The surrender.
The first cry.
The first night.
The quiet moments no one prepares you for.
And then... the weeks and months that follow.
Birth isn't simply the day your baby arrives.
It's the beginning of a completely new chapter. A new version of you. A new relationship. A new family.
That's why I care deeply not only about how your baby is born, but also about how you feel throughout the entire journey... and about the memories, confidence, and sense of self you carry for a lifetime after the birth.
Because birth stays with us.
Working with your body, not against it
Understanding birth physiology has taught me one thing above all: profound respect for the intelligence of the birthing body.
One of the most transformative parts of my journey has been becoming a Spinning Babies® Certified Birth Professional. It deepened not only my understanding of birth physiology, but also my respect for the incredible intelligence of the pregnant body and the unique story every body carries.
Birth isn't just one event! It is many pieces coming together. Your baby's position, your body's balance, movement, gravity, your environment, and the space available for your baby all influence how labor unfolds.
I love helping families put these pieces together. Sometimes it's not about doing more, but about understanding what the body is already trying to do and finding ways to support it.
This perspective has become an integral part of how I prepare families for birth and how I support them during labour...
always working with the body, never against it.
Learning never stops
I believe that supporting families well means never stopping learning.
Every birth, every family, and every professional I meet continues to shape the doula I become. Alongside my practical experience, I regularly invest in evidence-based education and advanced training so I can bring thoughtful, up-to-date, and compassionate support to every family I walk alongside.
Beyond Birth Nest
Supporting families doesn't end when a birth does.
One thing became very clear to me after becoming a mother far from home: we were never meant to do this alone.
The longing for a village stayed with me long after my own postpartum. It became one of the reasons I founded Raising the Village - a growing community for mothers, mothers-to-be, and local birth professionals here in the region. I pour my heart into creating walks, coffee mornings, workshops, circles, and simple opportunities to connect. It's a non-profit initiative, built from a genuine desire to offer other mothers the sense of belonging and support that I once craved myself.
I believe community is one of the greatest gifts we can give one another, and I'm honoured to help create those connections.
Outside of my doula work, I'm happiest when life slows down. You'll usually find me exploring nature with my family, cooking and baking something delicious, sharing good food around the table, dancing in the kitchen with my boys, reconnecting with myself through yoga or pilates, or enjoying the simple luxury of a massage or a quiet spa day. Those moments help fill my own cup so I can continue holding space for others.
A note to you
If you've found yourself here, perhaps you're expecting a baby.
Or perhaps you're quietly wondering who you'll become once they arrive.
Maybe you're feeling excited. Maybe overwhelmed.
Maybe deeply connected. Maybe carrying fears you've never spoken aloud.
Whatever your story looks like today, I hope you know this.
There is no perfect way to become a parent.
There is only your way.
Your birth.
Your postpartum.
Your family.
Your story.
It doesn't need to look like anyone else's.
I hope you feel informed enough to make your own decisions.
Safe enough to trust your instincts.
Supported enough to soften into the unknown.
And held enough to remember that you were never meant to carry it all alone.
Because while your baby is being born...
...so are you.
And that deserves to be witnessed with tenderness, respect, and love.
If our paths are meant to cross, it would be an honour to walk beside you.
With warmth and love,
Joanna
Birth Nest
Birth Nest is where I share everyday moments from life as a birth doula, postpartum doula, birth coach, and Spinning Babies® Certified Birth Professional. You'll find birth preparation tips, postpartum care, reflections from the birth room, community events, and honest glimpses into motherhood. I support families across Hilversum, 't Gooi, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Amersfoort, and surrounding areas, and I'd love to welcome you into this growing community.
Community
Get connected and follow me on social media
Copyright © 2026 Birth Nest - All Rights Reserved.