Mother Courage

I think all women are superheroes, and the process of becoming a mother makes this even more apparent. Hormones rush through the changing body and do exactly what they need to do to allow the baby to grow, to give birth to them and then subsequently to be able to feed them.

The vulnerable and transformative period of pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood brings worries and requires strength and self-confidence, Mother Courage!

As a birth and postpartum doula, I guide the parent(s) to be through this entire process, so that they can face their new parenthood with confidence and courage.

Birth Doula

As a birth doula, I am there throughout your pregnancy and help you prepare for the birth.

I provide you with information about the birthing process and help you draw up your birth plan. We practise breathing and massage techniques and work on different positions/exercises to help your baby get into the ideal position for birth.

During labour, I am there to provide continuous emotional, practical and informative support.

After the baby is born, I will visit you again for a follow-up discussion and to share the birth report and photos (if desired).

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Postpartum Doula

As a postpartum doula, I will work with you during your pregnancy to create a postpartum plan; what will the first weeks after the baby's birth look like and what will you need?

Postpartum support has many facets, ranging from cooking nutritious meals to helping with breastfeeding.

The role of Matrescence also plays an important part. The transformation from woman to mother is no small feat, and the raging postpartum hormones and chronic sleep deprivation do not make it any easier to get used to this new role. I will be by your side during this process and ensure that the transition to motherhood goes smoothly.

This also applies to fathers/partners; I am here for you too!

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The prices on my website include VAT; travel and parking costs will be invoiced afterward. These packages represent my basic offering. There is always room for customisation if you require a different form of guidance. We can discuss this during our no-obligation introductory meeting.

Gift Voucher

You can also surprise someone with one of my sessions or packages as an original pregnancy/maternity gift. Please contact me via the contact form or WhatsApp, and we will explore the possibilities together.

About Me

I am Suze, mother of Bob and Liesl, and have been with Joris for almost half my life. I have been living in Amsterdam since 2006, where I started studying European Studies at the University of Amsterdam after returning from a year in Italy. My master's thesis was about Lord Byron and his trip to Italy, and I obtained my master's degree in 2012. My love for language and culture grew enormously during my studies, and I also realised that working under a boss or within a large company was not my thing. It could not have been a coincidence that at the end of 2008, I met my boyfriend, who wanted to open his own café with a literary and European theme.

We have been running Café Brecht in Amsterdam since 2010. Running a café suits me perfectly. I am my own boss and the café welcomes guests from all over the world. Yet I began to feel increasingly restless and felt the need to deepen my knowledge, this time in the field of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

The births of my children in 2017 and 2020 sparked a burning passion in me for everything related to this. Through my own experiences and the stories of people around me, I felt a strong urge to guide others through this vulnerable time in life.

Now that both children are attending school, the time is right for me to focus on this passion, and so in 2025 I completed both the Postnatal Doula Training and the Doula Academy Training at the Doula Academie. Since 2025, I have been working as a birth and postpartum doula under the name Mother Courage - a reference to one of Bertolt Brecht's plays, “Mutter Courage und Ihre Kinder”. A nod to Café Brecht, but above all an ode to the Courageous Mother.

I speak Dutch, English, German, Italian and a little French. For practical reasons, I prefer Dutch or English as the working language during the birth so that everyone understands each other, including the healthcare providers

Education

2026
Training as a maternity nurse at the ROC in Amsterdam Internship at Maartje Kraamzorg

2025
Academie Doula Training at the Doula Academie in Monnickendam
Postpartum Doula Training at the Doula Academie in Monnickendam
First Aid training (both adults and children)
Medisch Bevallen Academy for professionals
Course on childbirth-related PTSD and trauma at Beval Beter
Masterclass 'Childbirth should not be a struggle' about cooperation in the delivery room

Working Area

My working area is Amsterdam and everything around that is accessible within 30 minutes.

Reviews

"I am very happy with the support I received from Suze as my doula during my delivery. It feels like having a good friend there, but one who makes sure you are properly prepared, asks all the right questions to the medical staff, and constantly suggests appropriate positions/exercises and makes comments to make giving birth more bearable.

She was there for the entire long process, from the first “hmmm, is this a contraction?” to the ultimately very undesirable but unavoidable emergency caesarean section for me. It was a marathon in the hospital that I could never have completed without her and the dear friend who was also there.

During my pregnancy, I had doubts about hiring a doula, mainly because the reimbursed pregnancy care with a midwife and maternity care already seemed quite comprehensive. But in hindsight, it was the best money I ever spent."

— Marlou

"Quite late in my second pregnancy, we met Suze. Because of my experiences during my first delivery, we wanted someone with us in the hospital outside of the hospital (medical delivery).

After my water broke spontaneously and I was allowed to go to the delivery room, I called Suze out of bed. Fortunately, she arrived fairly quickly, which put me at ease. She helped me think about positions that could induce contractions and what I should not do (e.g., getting into the bath too early). She gave me affirmations that I was doing well, which I really appreciated. When I asked the medical staff for time to think, I was able to discuss with her how I wanted to proceed. When I had to go to the operating room after giving birth, she stayed with my husband and the baby, and there too they worked together to protect my boundaries by trying to wait with weighing and other checks. They also waited until I was back before dressing the baby. She was a great support to my husband in this.

The photos and report she made are also extremely valuable. I (we) look back on a wonderful birth experience and have no regrets about the investment. It was totally worth it and I highly recommend Suze to everyone!"

— Yvette

"I connected with Suze as a postpartum doula after a difficult birth, following which I needed extra help with my physical recovery. It turned out to be a stroke of genius, allowing me to find peace not only physically but also mentally.

Suze is both warm and decisive; she was fantastic with my baby and brought me the best healthy comfort food to support my recovery. I can wholeheartedly recommend Suze—don’t be afraid to ask for help, because it’s 100% worth it during the vulnerable time when you’re transitioning into parenthood. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get some delicious gluten-free muffins too."

— Sophie

Contact

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