IDESA DOULA
Hi, I'm doula Melanie
I’m a birth doula with a deep love for nature, intuition, and the raw power of birth. A mix of a dreamer and grounded thinker and with a background in biology and life experience in the Far East, I trust both evidence-based knowledge and the deep wisdom which we carry in our souls.
I trust in following our hearts. Every birth, like every life journey, is unique and I honor that. I offer unconditional love and support for your choices without judgment. Because we all have our own path in life, and that is the beauty of it. It is my calling to support women and their newborns as a doula, walking alongside you to hold space with calm and love so you can feel empowered through birth’s transformation.
Outside of birth work, you’ll find me drinking tea, getting lost in reading or writing a book, or crafting crystal jewelry. If you’re looking for a doula who brings both calm and depth to your birth journey, let’s connect!
Who am I?
I’m kind and open-minded and I value following your heart and growing through life’s lessons. I balance calm introspection with bursts of confident energy, especially when diving into topics I’m passionate about. I’m a good listener and believe in supporting others without judgment, recognizing that everyone has their own unique path to follow and lessons to learn.
A bit of a perfectionist, my curiosity fuels my many creative outlets: writing, reading, crafting, photography, painting, playing fiddle and banjo. Nature inspires me deeply—I love hiking, and I do so miss the mountains here in the Netherlands! Traveling in my cozy campervan is one of my favorite ways to recharge, as is spending a few hours in a thrift shop. Yoga and meditation keep me grounded, and I strive to bring calm, positive energy into everything I do.
My Journey as Doula
As a child, you could often find me playing with a pillow underneath my shirt or a baby doll in my arms. What began as playful childhood curiosity and a love for nature evolved into a deep interest in biology and the workings ​​of the human body and the world. This led me to study Biology at university. After my studies, I followed my heart on a journey of exploration, spending seven years in China. ​
​Through the years, I became deeply invested in women’s health and working with the feminine energy. I became inspired by how in the Far East both western and Chinese Traditional Medicine are naturally combined in daily life.
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In 2022 I left my life in China behind and returned to Europe. The career path I had in China did not speak to me in the Netherlands so I went on a search for a new purpose. In 2024, I took the next step in my calling by beginning my formal doula training with BIA Doula Training. This marked the start of my professional journey as a doula.
Today, as a doula, I am committed to helping women reconnect with their bodies, trust their instincts, and embrace the sacredness of not only childbirth, but also being a woman. ​​
My Vision
I believe that every woman carries within her an incredible force – the power to bring a soul into the material world. This energy, the divine feminine, is pure creative potential. It is the same energy that has guided women throughout the ages, from ancient times to modern day.
In our society, we have focused heavily on the scientific and medical aspects of childbirth, which has been essential for addressing complications and emergencies. However, by doing so, we’ve lost touch with the spiritual and natural side of birth. I am passionate about helping women find a harmonious balance between these two worlds. We live in a time where we can embrace both the wisdom of science and the ancient knowledge of our bodies. Birth, at its core, is a natural and sacred process, and I am here to help women rediscover that truth.
The doula's job is not to fix, control, or intervene, but to be a loving, supportive presence in the birthing space. We are not just birth companions; we help women reclaim the power and sacredness of the birthing process.
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What does Idesa mean?
When choosing a name for my doula business, I felt called to reconnect with my own roots. There is something deeply powerful about reclaiming our own ancestral heritage. In my research into the wise women of ancient Europe, I discovered the Idesa—a name that resonated with me deeply.
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The Idesa, also known as Idisi in Germanic regions or Disir in Norse regions, were ancestral female spirits or deities revered in pre-Christian Germanic and Nordic cultures. These powerful spirits played a central role in the life of the people, particularly in key life transitions such as childbirth, marriage, and death. They were believed to be closely connected to the land, the family, and the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
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The Idesa watched over and protected the clan, but also played an important role in healing and childbirth. They supported the women of their tribe with fertility, pregnancy, and birth, ensuring the safe passage of new souls into the world. They embodied both the physical and spiritual aspects of motherhood, guiding women from conception through to raising children and beyond.​
​The Idesa were honored by Germanic tribes likely long before we have written records of. As Roman influence spread into the Rhineland, these ancestral spirits became known as the Matrons. With the Romans documenting local customs and rituals, we have more written records from this period that tell us the Cult of the Matrons became a central part of the region's spiritual life, reflecting a deep reverence for feminine ancestral guardianship.
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As Christianity spread across Europe, many pagan beliefs, including those of the Idesa, were replaced by Christian practices, diminishing the role of women as spiritual leaders and protectors of birth. But while the Idesa’s stories have largely faded from memory, their presence lingers on in the folklore of the Norse Disir, who are associated with the goddess Freya and the Valkyries, but with a slightly different role.
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While these ancient traditions may be forgotten, they are not lost. I was deeply moved by the reverence these ancestral women received for their role in supporting women through life and birth. By choosing the name Idesa, I aim not only to embody the essence of what these wise women represented but also to honor and reclaim this lost heritage in my work as a doula. Through this, I hope to reconnect women with the strength, wisdom, and support that has always been part of our shared feminine legacy.
