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    • About
    • Services & Packages
    • Birth Preparation
    • Do It With a Doula
    • Collaborations
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  • Home
  • About
  • Services & Packages
  • Birth Preparation
  • Do It With a Doula
  • Collaborations
  • Contact
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Birth Nest

Your Journey. Your Birth. Your Support.

Your Journey. Your Birth. Your Support.Your Journey. Your Birth. Your Support.Your Journey. Your Birth. Your Support.
Doula Services and Packages

Embrace Your Natural Power

Baby feet, baby care, motherhood support, postnatal support, postpartum care, doula

Birth is a profound rite of passage, a celebration of the incredible strength and resilience inherent in every woman. It’s a time to honor your body’s natural abilities and embrace the transformative power of bringing new life into the world. With the right support, you can navigate this journey with confidence and grace, unlocking the innate wisdom and power within you.

Doula for women in Hilversum & surrounding areas

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My Offerings

prenatal childbirth classes, preparation, confident and informed birth, fearless

Prenatal / Childbirth Preparation

Prenatal / Childbirth Preparation

Prenatal / Childbirth Preparation

Prepare for childbirth with tailored education, personalized birth planning, and emotional support for both you and your partner (and/or other family members). Birth Mindset Coaching.

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compassionate nurturing birth support, doula Hilversum, Bussum, Laren, Amersfoort, Utrecht,Amsterdam

Pregnancy & Birth Support

Prenatal / Childbirth Preparation

Prenatal / Childbirth Preparation

Continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and birth for a positive and empowered birthing experience.

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Postpartum Care

Sibling / Family Doula

Sibling / Family Doula

Postpartum Planning, "Mothering the Mother", guidance with newborn care and adjusting to parenthood, ensuring you feel confident and supported.

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sibling doula, family doula, sibling care during birth, sibling childbirth preparation

Sibling / Family Doula

Sibling / Family Doula

Sibling / Family Doula

Transform birth into a shared family celebration by preparing siblings to welcome a new baby and attend the birth. Full sibling-focused support during labor ensures a positive, empowering moment for the entire family. 

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"A mother's womb is the first nest of love, where new life stirs and begins its journey."

pregnant mother, bump, baby on the way, preparation for birth, pregnancy support

About Joanna

Holding space for birth — and for becoming

I’m Joanna Krolak, a birth and postpartum doula and birth coach based in Hilversum, supporting families across ’t Gooi, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and surrounding areas.


My work is rooted in calm presence, emotional safety, and trust in the natural rhythm of birth. As a doula, I don’t lead or direct — I walk beside you, helping you reconnect with your own inner strength and intuition.


I offer birth doula support, postpartum doula care, and mindset-based birth preparation, combining evidence-based information with gentle guidance, warmth, and nurturing presence. This kind of support creates space to slow down, exhale, and feel deeply supported — physically, emotionally, and mentally.


Alongside one-to-one support, I also facilitate community events for expectant and new parents, creating moments of connection, grounding, and shared experience during pregnancy and early parenthood.


Whether you’re preparing for your first birth or welcoming another child, my intention is to offer you tools, care, and guidance that help you feel informed, confident, and supported — not to control outcomes, but to strengthen trust in yourself.


As an expat myself, I understand how vulnerable pregnancy and postpartum can feel when you’re far from your familiar support system. I know the questions, the uncertainty, and the need to feel truly held. My role is to offer steady, compassionate support so you don’t have to navigate this chapter alone.

My approach is simple: every woman deserves to be seen, heard, and supported — fully.

Explore Doula Support Packages

Who Is a Doula — and What I Do

Doula - a Continuous Anchor

 A doula provides emotional, mental, and physical support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She's the only person in your birth team who's continuously focused fully on you and your partner.

I help you understand your options, give reassurance,  bridge communication with your care providers, and stay grounded — no matter what path your birth takes.


My support complements your midwife and kraamzorg — adding the missing piece of continuity and calm presence.

Discover Doula Care Packages

Doula Support That Makes a Difference – Client Stories

“Held in Calm, Presence, and Grace”

“Techniques, Intuition, and Indispensable Support”

“Healing Guidance and Empowering Support”

 I had the privilege of experiencing a home birth exactly as I had dreamed: beautiful, quick, and full of presence. And Joanna was an essential part of making everything flow with such grace and calm. She gave us thoughtful guidance on how to involve and support our older daughter in case she was awake and present during the birth. She offered us continuous support, with a calm, respectful, and nurturing presence. She knew when to give us space, but was also there for every detail: breathing with me, reminding me of my strength, and creating an atmosphere of safety and surrender.

Words aren’t enough to express my gratitude. I can only hope that more women have the chance to be supported by someone as present, respectful, and wholehearted as Joanna.

 - Amanda 

“Healing Guidance and Empowering Support”

“Techniques, Intuition, and Indispensable Support”

“Healing Guidance and Empowering Support”

 Joanna was an incredible support for me and my husband throughout the entire journey - before birth, during labor, and postpartum. Even though this was my third birth, I learned so much from her. She shared a lot of knowledge, helped me prepare emotionally by healing past traumas, and guided me towards a beautiful, empowering experience.

She was always there - listening, checking in, and offering guidance. Joanna’s pain relief techniques, special massages and emotional support made a huge difference during labor.

This birth and postpartum was truly healing and transformative. I’m so grateful for Joanna - she made all the difference ❤️

 - Kasia 

“Techniques, Intuition, and Indispensable Support”

“Techniques, Intuition, and Indispensable Support”

“More Than Medical Relief: Doula Support with Epidural”

 I was hoping for an epidural this time around because the last birth was brutal but it ended up going so fast I had a water birth instead. The whole thing was just 3.5 hours and I truly believe it went so fast from the technique Joanna used to move baby down. She knew exactly when to massage me or give me space. Pain was actually managed during this birth and I owe a tremendous amount of that to her. She worked in tandem with the midwife who found it to be a big relief that Joanna could help me through the pain while the midwife could prepare medical things.

Her quick thinking, Intuition, photography skills and massage techniques made my birth a best-case scenario. Joanna was indispensable. HIGHLY recommended. She is worth her weight in gold!

- Missy

“More Than Medical Relief: Doula Support with Epidural”

“More Than Medical Relief: Doula Support with Epidural”

“More Than Medical Relief: Doula Support with Epidural”

 Joanna's support meant a ton to me during my pregnancy, labor, and after the birth. From the moment I reached out to her, she was there, answering all my questions and guiding me through everything. Joanna was with me through every contraction during my 24-hour labor. She helped me cope with each contraction with a calming presence, guiding me through techniques to progress the labor, such as using the peanut ball and encouraging kneeling and standing positions to help turn the baby. Joanna knew exactly what to do and when, and that made everything feel much easier to handle. My partner also felt so much more involved and confident with Joanna there. Her care, support, and calm presence made my birth experience so much better than I could have hoped for. 

- Iryna

“A True Partner in Birth — For Mother and Family”

“More Than Medical Relief: Doula Support with Epidural”

“A True Partner in Birth — For Mother and Family”

 With Joanna, I could understand and accept care for myself. Throughout our journey she was close and kind, present but never intrusive, loving and respectful, a true partner to me and my family. As she was so lovingly taking care of me, my partner found a real ally for unconditional support. My home birth was perfect and Joanna played a crucial role in making it beautiful. She held my hands, talked words of encouragement and strength, kept me warm and present for my baby, listened to my partner needs to be of help, made me feel like I could let go. Like my midwife said, I had the best team. She is strong and kind, courageous and humble, she is the knowledge, the safety, and the energy you want around you and your baby during pregnancy and when giving birth. 

- Marialaura

“The Best Gift a New Mom Can Receive”

“More Than Medical Relief: Doula Support with Epidural”

“A True Partner in Birth — For Mother and Family”

 I had an amazing experience having Joanna as my postpartum Doula! She had a key role to take care only of me, while everyone else was busy with the baby and the house. Joanna helped me with the belly binding (my main ask), but also cooking healthy food for me (enough for almost 2 weeks), I had a very relaxing time with a feet massage too. Joanna also helped me with healing teas and baths (as I had some issues from labor). She helped to keep the house organized, helped to take care of my baby so I could do a couple of tasks at home and the most important she made me company and this was everything that I needed! Just like a friend. 

I think giving this experience to a mom, is the best gift you can give her!! I recommend her to all my friends!

 - Bia 

Curious if doula support is right for you?

Schedule a chat - no strings attached!

 

I am fully registered and recognized as a non-medical care professional within the Dutch healthcare system (AGB-code holder). Depending on your supplemental insurance, my services may be partially reimbursed. 

Contact

What's Happening Now

MASTERCLASS Birth Team Clarity: Who Supports You & When It Matters Most

  29 January 2026 

Online on Zoom 19:30 - 21:30, 

€25 tickets and registration via Eventbrite.


Get ready to dive deep into the world of birth teams and discover who's got your back when it truly counts!


Birth in the Netherlands comes with many moving parts: midwives, obstetricians, kraamzorg, consultants, therapists, and more. But how do they actually work together? And where does a doula truly fit in?

If you’ve ever wondered “Who does what… and when?”, this masterclass will change the way you see your birth team.

Sign Up

Affiliations & Certifications

Joanna Krolak

Phone: +31 (0) 642526531

Email: info@birthnest.nl

KvK: 82216649

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