welcome + bem vindo!

Illustration of a mango with two green leaves against a transparent background.

i’m larissa, a certified birth doula based in philadelphia.

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A curly-haired pregnant woman standing outdoors in a field with lush green plants and banana trees, softly illuminated by sunlight.

my mission is to

help usher birthing people of all identities across the threshold of new life beginnings with compassion, confidence, and trust in their body.

my work is rooted in

bodily autonomy

community

whole-person care

evidence-based information

intuition

joyful movement

nourishment

kindness and respect

A pregnant woman smiling as a partner kisses her on the cheek, both holding her belly, in a cozy home setting.
A woman with curly brown hair smiling outdoors in sunlight, wearing a sleeveless green top, with a green field and trees in the background.

olá! i’m larissa

I am a queer Latina certified perinatal doula serving Philly and surrounding areas.

I was first called to the work of supporting birthing people a decade ago. After working with survivors of domestic abuse as a social worker, and later helping to publish authors as a literary agent, I chose to answer that call.

What fills my cup is the act of holding others as they cross the threshold into new, transformative periods of their lives.

Due in part to my lived experiences—being queer, mixed-race, Brazilian, plus-size, the daughter of immigrants, a survivor—my practice is rooted in the beliefs that birth has the power to heal ancestral traumas, that all birthing people hold innate wisdom in their bodies, that community care is self-care, and that we all deserve safe, affirming, size- and gender-inclusive healthcare.

Também falo português e adoraria trabalhar com famílias brasileiras. 🇧🇷

A woman in a hospital bed holding a newborn baby, with a man leaning over and looking at the baby, in a hospital room.
A woman in her underwear kneeling while in a birthing tub, her arms resting on the side and her head bowed, in a dimly lit room.
A plus-size woman holding a baby and gently kissing the baby's forehead while kneeling on a blue mat in front of a plain white wall.
A mother breastfeeding her newborn while her older son gently touches the baby's head, sitting on a bed in a softly lit room.
A person using a massage ball on a pregnant person's back, with a third person observing, in a home setting.
Black and white photo of a person giving birth while kneeling against the side of a birthing tub.
A newborn baby snuggled against a man's bare chest, sleeping peacefully, wrapped in a white blanket.
A woman is holding a newborn baby. The woman has a tattoo on her forearm that reads 'Breathe' and her stretch marks are visible. The photo is in black and white.
A happy baby with a wide smile sitting on a blanket, with two male partners smiling and playing with the baby indoors.
A woman with curly hair and a tattoo on her arm in a bathtub giving birth with the help of a partner in a black T-shirt, pressing her forehead together during labor.

get in touch

I would love to get to know you and your birth partner(s) and learn if we’ll be a good fit.

Schedule a free call with me to discuss your vision, needs, and expectations for doula support.

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faq

  • A doula is a trained, nonmedical birth worker who provides continuous physical, emotional, informational, and advocacy support before, during, and after labor and delivery.

    I’d also like to echo Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings (BADT)’s perspective on doula work: “A doula’s job is to respect and support the values, beliefs, and autonomy of the birthing person and/or family they are supporting. Rather than having an agenda, a doula offers nonjudgmental space for the client to process, share wishes, preferences, and needs, seek additional information, and establish rapport and trust. In other words, a doula honors and centers their client’s bodily autonomy and sense of safety.”

  • According to Evidence-Based Birth, having continuous doula support during birth can lead to a:

    • 39% decrease in the risk of having a C-section;

    • 15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth;

    • 10% decrease in the use of medications for pain relief;

    • shorter labors by 41 minutes on average;

    • 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score; and

    • 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience.

    Statistics aside, I find the most meaning in my work as a doula when I get to help clients peacefully and confidently navigate a healthcare system whose oppressive practices and policies often lead to more harm than help. By equipping birthing people with the information, support, advocacy tools, and space to slow down, maintain agency, and make informed decisions while feeling nurtured and safe in their own autonomy, doulas can help preserve the sacred nature of birth.

  • As a doula, I’m there for your partner(s) and birth support as much I’m there for you! Whether it’s to relieve them while they eat a hot meal and take a nap, support them in their own emotional journey, or help them figure out how to most effectively support you through labor, together we can make an incredible team.

  • I do offer payment plans, and I’m happy to offer sliding scale rates. Feel free to get in touch so I can share my latest package guide with you and we can discuss further.

  • I’m based in Northeast Philadelphia. I serve the following communities:

    Southeast Pennsylvania:

    • Philadelphia

    • Montgomery County

    • Chester County

    • Delaware County

    • Parts of Bucks County

    South Jersey:

    • Camden County

    • Gloucester County

    • Parts of Burlington County

    ***I’m also open to discussing virtual support at a discounted rate for birthing people outside of a one-hour radius from Philadelphia, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.