My Journey:
From Midwife to Birthkeeper
Hello and Welcome!
My name is Maike. Born and raised in the lakeside warmth of Lugano, Switzerland, my fascination for birth began with a desire to understand the human mind and body and in which ways my own birth affects the person I have become today. I studied in Geneva, earning my Bachelor’s in Psychology alongside my Degree in Midwifery. From the very start, I knew my place belonged to protecting and creating space for physiological birth.
Following my four years of intensive studies and internship periods as a student midwife in hospitals, I spent 13 years practicing entirely outside the clinical walls of traditional hospitals. I dedicated my midwifery career to the rhythm of homebirths and birth centers - holding space at Geburtshaus Delphys in Zürich, and later, at Casa Maternità e Nascita lediecilune in Lugano. In these incredible spaces, I witnessed the immense power of women when they are left to cross the threshold of labor in absolute safety, privacy, and peace.
My understanding was deeply shaped by the books of Dr. Michel Odent, the numerous Paramanadoula sessions with Michel himself and Liliana Lammers, and my close contact with Clara Scropetta. Her book, Accanto alla madre, and her teachings molded my understanding of what it means to step back and protect the physiological process of birth. Today I also participate in and host monthly online gatherings together with Clara, Da Donna A Donna, Da Doula A Doula, bringing together women from the most diverse backgrounds to talk about the nature of life's beginnings.
Immersing myself in these teachings gave me a deep understanding of the basic needs of a laboring woman. When I became a mother, giving birth to my own children was a powerful, beautiful confirmation of everything I had already come to understand about this transformative journey.
Now, life has brought me to the Netherlands, my father's homeland (and a place my heart has long leaned toward), and I am beginning a new chapter right here in Utrecht. I bring to your doorstep all that I have learned and lived.
Because communication during birth should feel as comfortable as home, I am happy to be there for you in English, Dutch, German, Italian, French, or Portuguese.
Want to know me a bit more and see if I'm the right person to protect your space?
Beyond my life as a birthkeeper, I am a mother navigating the lively rhythms of family life here in Utrecht. I am the mother of two young boys, four years old and one-and-a-half, and I absolutely adore watching them grow. My partner Diego is a Brazilian musician and producer. For ten years, our life together has been a beautiful and exciting journey exploring everything life has gifted us, between Switzerland, Portugal, Brazil and now the Netherlands.
I love connecting with people, spending time in nature, and immersing myself in the vibrant city I live in. You will almost certainly see me with yarn in my hands: at home, outside or at a birth. Knitting is my daily meditation, a quiet space where I slow down, ground my mind, and take care of myself. I love to sing and dance, and share this love with my husband and our kids. At home you can usually find me listening to an audiobook, blending essential oils, drawing, baking in the kitchen, and of course knitting!
My heart is deeply rooted in authentic connection, community and cozy spaces. It is this love for slow, handmade comfort that flows into the little surprise extras I weave into my care for you.
