Meet the Doula
Hi! My name is Nikki Poncio-Bock. I'm so glad you're here!
I'm a certified postpartum and birth doula and certified lactation counselor. I care for families during the most exciting but also most vulnerable time in their lives and leave them feeling better than when I arrived by providing emotional and physical support, education, information, and resources.
When I tell someone I'm a doula, their first reaction is usually confusion. When they ask what a doula is, I often say something along the lines of, "nurturing the nurturer". When a parent is pregnant, they're receiving an abundance of care and attention but, unfortunately, that all too frequently changes once baby is born. Parents commonly report feeling overlooked in the process of welcoming a baby. I created Queen of Cups to change that. My goal is for parents to feel supported, involved, cared for, confident, and capable. I take particular interest in helping LGBTQIA+ families, neurodivergent parents, and parents that have previously gone through infertility.
I completed my doula training through Bebo Mia in June 2024 and am a certified Maternal Support Practitioner. I've also completed training with the Healthy Children Project and in September 2024, I became a Certified Lactation Counselor with the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice.
I'm a California transplant born and raised in Houston, Texas. While I'm still a Texan at heart (Whataburger > In-N-Out), I've absolutely fallen in love with Los Angeles. I'm married to the best husband a birth worker could ask for and a fur mom to 2 cats and 2 dogs. When I'm not doula-ing, you can find probably find me watching an Astros game, knitting (or buying yet another skein of yarn I don't need...), playing video games, or at Disneyland
Why I'm a Doula
Ask anyone in my life what my favorite things are and one of the first answers will probably be "babies". For as long as I can remember, I've adored and been fascinated by these tiny humans! So it only makes sense that I planned to pursue a career as a NICU nurse. In the meantime, I worked as a nanny and spent a lot of time with new parents and fresh babies. I loved it! However, I'll never forget one shift I spent with a mom who was just a few weeks postpartum.
She was planning to go out and get her hair done for the first time since giving birth. This was also the first time she'd be leaving her newborn for more than a few minutes. Right before she left, she came out of the bathroom sobbing. She apologized for crying and told me that she was just so scared and anxious. My heart absolutely shattered for her. I couldn't believe that she felt the need to apologize to me and I was heartbroken that she felt so alone. I remember wanting to help but feeling so unequipped. That day changed my life forever.
What was only meant to be a placeholder while I went to school led me to my true calling. I realized that postpartum work is my passion. Within days, I started researching and discovered that I could make a career out of doing what I love. During my doula schooling, I developed a love for birth as well. I truly believe this is what I was always meant to do and I'm so glad I found my way here.
I'm so excited to be on this journey with you and I can't wait to support you through the whole process.