MJ Montoya
founder
It’s an interesting path that has led me to birth work & yoga. Oddly, I took the scenic route through more traditional pursuits - I studied Biology & Spanish and worked in several research labs at The University in New Mexico after moving to Albuquerque from my hometown in northern NM. A handful of other jobs, leadership positions, & opportunities later, I found myself in a place where I really wanted to question what I was doing with my life. I made a pact with myself to only pursue things that truly make me happy - my only goal was to wake up and be genuinely excited about the day that was ahead of me. It was that shift that slowly led me to read Spiritual Midwifery, by Ina May Gaskin. Shortly after that pivotal point I found my mentors, trained like crazy, & before I knew it, not only was I a doula, but New Life (est 2013) was alive & well. With my first back-up doula, Mija, I supported 35 births in the first year; home births, cesarean births & everything in between. Since then, New Life has blossomed into the beautiful organization it is today that many birth professionals call their home. It's by no means something I could've or would've done alone. A combination of huge support from the midwives at Dar a Luz Birth & Health Center and the physicians and staff at UNM Hospital + the camaraderie & friendship between the amazing people that I work with, has led to everything you see here today. At the heart of what we do is a genuine devotion to the families and babies we serve. It’s only with them that we are able to do this work.
In 2017, I moved from Albuquerque, with my husband (Josh), our Italian Greyhound (Pinkerton), and our Maine Coon (Mister), to San Diego to pursue an MBA at the UCSD Rady School of Management. Thankfully, this is a big goal that I’ve finished as of March 2020. I’m so incredibly humbled by the fact that New Life has been sustained by our community and grown with love during that time, even through tumultuous change. I remain dedicated to this team and to our community as seeing expecting families thrive is at the heart of every passion I have in life.
I’m here for you, as an extended part of your care team, to offer you any support possible and to help ensure that you’re satisfied with your New Life Birth Services experience. Please reach out to me and let me know how I can help!