Meet Your Doula
Hi friends!
I’m Maddie, the face behind Cradle & Bloom. Born in Northern California and desert-raised in the Coachella Valley, my journey as a birth worker began before I even knew what a doula was. As a child, while other kids played teacher or veterinarian, I was busy "delivering" baby dolls with my little sister as my reluctant patient. I now know that this early fascination with birth wasn't just a phase – it was a calling.
At seventeen, I decided to pursue my dream of supporting pregnant and birthing families. I enrolled in a five-week birth doula training with DONA International, and I haven't looked back since. This isn't just a career for me , it's the fulfillment of that little girl's dream.
My journey has taken me from our sun-soaked desert to the bustling streets of Hong Kong, where I spent over a year as a travel nanny. During my time in Asia, I had the privilege of learning traditional Chinese prenatal and postpartum care practices, wisdom that now enriches the care I provide to my clients. Then I traded dim sum for evergreen trees in the Pacific Northwest, which totally stole my heart (don't be surprised if I end up there again someday!).
Now I'm back home in the desert, juggling life as a full-spectrum doula, student midwife at the Midwives College of Utah, professional nanny, and community organizer. Between 40-50 hours of weekly studying and being on-call for births, you could say I'm living and breathing this work - and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way!
When I'm not at a birth or buried in midwifery books, you might find me:
Hosting way-too-competitive game nights with my friends and family
Attempting to crochet (emphasis on attempting)
Racing down the slopes in Mammoth Lakes
Volunteering and organizing community events
Or, let's be real - planning my next travel adventure!
One word that describes my doula-practice is “open-minded.”
Nurturing and supporting birthing people and new parents is my passion. My purpose is to hold space for you to birth and bond with your baby, providing guidance through the challenges and choices that come with welcoming a new little one. I support both home and hospital births. I believe women are powerful creatures and that birth is primarily a natural event, and I also believe in the considered use of medical intervention and the compassionate use of epidurals. This means I support families seeking both natural and medicated births. I believe that for some, birth is a physical and raw experience; for others, it is spiritual and ecstatic. Most often, it encompasses a bit of both.
My foremost goal is to understand your wants and needs, ensuring you feel supported throughout the process. I strive to make your birth an empowering experience, regardless of the setting or circumstances. I believe in the power of open-mindedness; every person deserves to feel supported and empowered, no matter their birth goals or preferences. This philosophy makes me a present, non-judgmental, and compassionate doula—someone you can lean on unconditionally.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you!