About Me | Ima's Alchemy

Ima means mother in Hebrew—the name my children call me, a name I cherish deeply. It connects me to them, to the culture they were born into, and to the legacy of motherhood. It is a name that honors the sacred role of mother in its timeless, ancestral essence. It is also a name that reflects the journey of transformation, both for me as a mother and for the women I am honored to support through birth.

Ima's Alchemy is a reflection of my own metamorphosis, as well as the work I offer to others. To me, birth is a sacred portal—a rite of passage where a woman is transformed, much like the process of alchemy itself. The act of becoming a mother is one of the most profound changes a person can undergo. I have lived this transformation deeply in my own life, and it is this wisdom, this knowing, that I bring to my work.

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Ima's Alchemy is not just a name; it is the embodiment of who I am—a mother, a healer, a guide, and a witness to the profound alchemy of life. It is my way of honoring both my personal transformation and the incredible transformations I support others through.


About me | Why I do this work

Hi, I'm Maria. I'm a doula, herbalist, and space-holder for life's thresholds - birth, loss, postpartum, and everything in between. 

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My work is rooted in deep listening, ancestral care, and the quiet knowing that transformation doesn't always look dramatic - it often looks like tears on the kitchen floor, a body relearning how to rest, a breath finally let go. 

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I offer this work because I believe in slow care. In care that remembers. In care that touches the body and the soul. My path has been shaped by herbalism, by ancestral ways of tending, by the stories passed down through blood and bone. And by my own lived experience—of transformation, loss, becoming, and return.​​

Whether you're preparing to give birth, releasing a pregnancy, or navigating the strange and sacred space of postpartum, I offer care that is slow, spacious, and centred on you. My hope is that our work together leaves you feeling more resourced, more connected, and more yourself. 

 

Whenever you need a place to land, a hand to hold, or a quiet space to just be—I am here.

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Your story, your body, your rhythm - all are welcome

The heart of this work lives in the quiet moments we share.
Here are a few reflections from those who have walked with me through their own alchemy.

Words from the threshold

  • Maria's skillful, intuitive, and thorough tending to my pregnancy and birth likely kept me from delivering my baby by c-section and certainly provided immeasurable relief to my husband and I during a somewhat complicated delivery. Her familiarity with the birthing process, consistent reassurance, compassion, and deep awareness of nuance and timing gave me strength throughout three days of labour which involved multiple transfers. She went to extraordinary lengths to make sure that I had as much safety, comfort, and agency as possible, always providing context which helped me weigh my options along the way and holding me in moments of uncertainty or strain with great tenderness. I can look back joyfully on my tricky but beautiful delivery in large part thanks to Maria and how she safeguarded our family's experience so that we could bring our beautiful son into the world.

    Amy Baumann

  • I am so very grateful that Maria was my Doula. She was an absolutely integral part of my birth journey and every step of the way I felt listened to, seen, and supported by Maria. I can be very sensitive to energies, so it was of utmost importance to me to have someone that is very present and pure in their energy during my birth experience. Maria absolutely always showed up grounded and full of warmth and ease, which allowed me to feel more calm as well. Even though my homebirth ended up at the hospital, she was with me every step of the way and by my side for over sixteen hours straight, I never once felt judged by her or like she didn't have my back.

    Ace Hicks

  • Maria entered my world as a knowledge keeper, birth keeper, sister, friend, and light. Her presence was exactly what I needed as I prepared to welcome my second child. Even as a nurse, I struggled to relate to the institutionalize birth world. As an Indigenous mother, I felt the pressure to conform to a structured view of birth that didn’t align with my inner wisdom. Maria held space for all of that—supporting me to reflect, reclaim my power, and plan care that felt true and safe for both me and my baby. Though I’m still processing my birth story, I know I was held with the most loving, steady hands. Maria’s energy was gentle and fierce. Her grounded support helped me feel deeply seen and heard—something I hadn’t felt in the birth world before. She met me in the depths of my becoming, honoring me as a water bearer and staying fully attuned to how I needed to be cared for. Her postpartum care was sacred. She brought bath salts and herbs from her garden, nourishing teas and tinctures, bone broth, and homemade baked goods. She supported my healing and vulnerability with love and zero judgment. In a tender and raw time, her presence was medicine for my spirit. Maria became more than a doula—she became part of my story. I felt safe, nourished, and honored as both a woman and a mother. I carry that feeling forward with the hope that I can offer the same compassion to someone else, so they too may feel as seen, heard, and supported as I did in Maria’s care.

    Marlee Brown

  • Maria's gentle, intuituve, and rocksteady support empowered me to trust my body and my baby, which supported the space for a beautiful home birth experience. Throughout my labor, I felt Maria's peaceful presence in the room and in moments when sensation became almost overwhelming, her physical strength (from a hand-hold or placing pressure on my hips) grounded me again in my own breath and intention. She intuited when I needed touch, or a sip of water, or a fresh cloth on the back of my neck. She was an angel in the room that day. Her post-partum care is above and beyond. As a deeply sensitive and empathetic person - and, perhaps above all, as a mother herself - Maria just... KNOWS. She knows how to nourish your heart, body, and soul in a way that is so incredibly loving and intimate, while at the same time being completely unintrusive. Maria is one of the best people I know and I am forever grateful that she is an integral part of our birth stories. I'm honored to call her my doula and friend.

    Ari Miller

  • We met Maria towards the end of my pregnancy. We were looking for extra support at home and during birth and Maria came highly recommended by two other women in the birth world. Instantly, she gave me the feeling that she was the right person for this pregnancy. She was warm with my wild twins, she listened to all my concerns, asked the right questions, and was a source of support to my husband. She held on to all of our wishes like they were her own, and used her voice when we needed it. She is reliable, soft spoken, and an amazing listener. She also makes the most delicious food. Her intuition runs so deep that she connected to parts of me I didn't have access to at the time. Overall, I can't say enough good things about Maria. If you want to feel held, heard and have an amazing birth support experience, Maria is your woman. 10/10 recommend her to everyone.

    Danielle Rodriguez

  • Maria's support is a blessing for any mama and family she works with. Her approach is soft, grounded and very supportive. She is very attuned to her clients' needs and hopes from the start. I worked with Maria during my first pregnancy and she helped me feel confident and empowered leading to birth, and she also held a most special postpartum ceremony for me to close my fourth trimester and help me step into my new mothering role fully. Her expertise with herbal medicine also adds a valuable layer to her services, her herbal mama tea was essential through the first months postpartum! I highly recommend Maria to anyone looking for holistic prenatal and postnatal support - she is truly one of a kind <3

    Laura Moldovan