In Loving Memory of Maddie: Founder, Visionary, Friend, Mother, Advocate, Pioneer, Nurturer, A Shining Light.

Some people carry a light so strong that it changes everything it touches. Maddie was one of those rare souls. Her vision, courage, and compassion are woven into every part of Maddie’s Miracle —and into every life it reaches.

We wish to celebrate and honour Maddie, her achievements and her light. Maddie was a rare human who had the capacity to nurture those around her, inspire and bring out the best in people – while also being real, human, laughing about it all, withstanding icy sea water swims and composing beautiful poetry that connected people.

Maddie raised a beautiful family as a dedicated wife and mother with children Sean, Danny, Libby and husband Chris. Amongst Maddie’s achievements she founded Developing Doulas, Maddie’s Miracle, co-founded Cambridge Breastfeeding Alliance, March with Midwives and sat on editorial board of Practising Midwife Magazine.

Maddie was a catalyst in Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) creating the foundation breastfeeding course to make it accessible to doulas and other practitioners due to her helping bridge the gaps.

Maddie was Chair of the MSLC of Rosie Maternity Hospital for 14 years in Cambridgeshire. The Rosie Hospital’s Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC).

She was working on supporting The Birth Tribunal, advocating for supported physiological birth and accuracy around birth discussions and reporting.

Maddie supported refugees in Calais with breastfeeding support, saving lives of babies.

Maddie was a writer and a talented poet. She authored two books, ‘Why Doulas Matter’ and ‘Why Mothering Matters’.

Maddie was a prolific writer and poet, publishing works on her blog.

Amongst Maddie’s key impact on our lives was her nurturing love that emanated from her, harbouring deep care and compassion, with a wish for peace and harmony for all.

Maddie was a highly skilled and empathetic breastfeeding counsellor. She mentored Breastfeeding Counsellors and Lactation Consultants, midwives, nurses and other professionals.

Maddie was a Doula, holding space and love for many babies, mothers, parents and families. Maddie was a Doula Trainer, nurturing women and people into becoming well-trained and loving birth supporters.

Maddie taught us so many skills from learning about evidence-based research, to the concept of intelligent tea-drinking as part of the art of listening, to her favourite: laid back breastfeeding position, to holding space with compassion and love.

As we write this, today, we learned that Maddie has successfully been nominated for the BBC Radio Norfolk Make A Difference Awards 2026.

While Maddie’s body surrendered to the realities of her illness, we know that her spirit lives on strongly within us and the many people she supported and loved.

We will continue Maddie’s vision of bringing light into the world through nurturing mothers, babies, parents, families; as well as the many birth, breastfeeding and perinatal workers alongside them.

While there are many words and many stories about Maddie, to sum her up in one single word, that word would undeniably be: Love.

Maddie was all about love.

That love was expressed in uplifting, nurturing, empowerment and gentle honesty imbedded within deep human connections.

You can leave a message for Maddie’s family here: https://www.ivanfisher.co.uk/funerals/maddie-mcmahon/#comment-1789