Childbirth Course Rotterdam

Madi van Tonder is a certified doula, childbirth educator, and aromatherapist, and the founder of Meraki Madi — a name drawn from the Greek word meaning soul, creativity, and love, which captures exactly how she approaches her work.

Originally from South Africa, Madi studied Human Life Sciences before spending years as a Biology and Mathematics teacher. That love of learning and explaining things in a way that actually makes sense never left her — it just found a new home in the world of pregnancy and birth. After a decade of living abroad, she has been based in Rotterdam for the past seven years and has built a deep understanding of the Dutch healthcare system along the way.

What makes Madi’s approach special is the combination of things she brings to the table. Her background in biology means she genuinely loves the science of it all — how your body works, what it’s capable of, and why. Her training as a doula means she knows how to hold space for the emotional side too. And essential oils are woven into her work too, offering an extra layer of care during pregnancy, birth, and those tender early weeks after.

Alongside her work as an educator and doula, Madi is also a birth and newborn photographer — because she believes that what happens in a birth room deserves to be remembered. Raw, powerful, full of love.

Fluent in English, Dutch, and Afrikaans, Madi has a particular heart for international and expat families. She understands what it feels like to be far from your village when you need it most and has made it her mission to be part of that village for others.

Her childbirth preparation is both evidence-based and deeply human — grounded in knowledge and delivered with warmth.