top of page

My Goal: To Provide Attentive Support To Families As They Navigate Pregnancy & Childbirth 

Congratulations! It’s time to prepare yourself, your family, and your body for bringing your bundle of love into the world. As you prepare, I know that there are millions of questions that may come up like:

  • What’s a birth plan? What do you include in a birth plan?

  • How can I prepare my body for birth?

  • How can my partner/support person learn more about birth?

  • How can I ensure my doctors/birth team has my best interest at heart?

  • What are some comfort measures I can use during labor to ease the pain?

  • Are there methods that I can use to induce my labor naturally?

  • If I want a medicated birth, how can I lessen the odds of a c-section?

  • How can I prepare for a csection and prepare for recovery afterward?

  • What exercises are safe during pregnancy?

I’m sure these are only half the questions you have, and as a Birth Doula I have the evidence-based answers for you. 

 

So what is a Birth Doula? The ancient Greek meaning of “Doula,” is “a woman who serves.” Today, a Doula is defined as a professional who is trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support for the birthing person and their partner during pregnancy, labor, and after birth. Though we are childbirth companions, we are not there to take the place of your partner or licensed doctor. As a Doula, I believe that knowledge is power! Knowing your rights, knowing how to advocate for yourself, knowing what foods can help you during pregnancy and beyond, knowing how to ease discomforts (physically and emotionally), and more is vital for having the best experience possible. I provide continuous, one on one care from the time you start working with me to months after you come home from the hospital. In addition, I am on call for you at 37 weeks. 

According to Evidence Based Birth (2019), here are some stats when you hire a Doula:

  • 39% decrease in the risk of a c-section 

  • 15% increase of a spontaneous vaginal birth 

  • 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief

  • Shorter labor by 41 minutes 

  • 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low APGAR score

  • 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with their birth experience

IMG_4308.jpg

My philosophy is that I support you in the ways in which you need support. I am flexible, resourceful and a calming, reassuring presence within the birth space. I believe in helping my clients feel empowered and informed. When we are in the birth space, we are a team! Lets do this! 

​

My services provide families with education and support for: 

  • Pregnancy nutrition with food and menu plan 

  • Lifestyle practices 

  • Mindfulness 

  • Exercise and fitness 

  • Body Balancing 

  • The birth process 

  • Comfort measures 

  • Advocating in the birth space 

  • Helpful herbs and supplements 

  • Preparing for parenting 

  • Postpartum food planning with food and menu plans 

  • Newborn care

Virtual + In Person Packages:

Virtual Support Package: $1100

 

  • (3) prenatal sessions:

    • Virtual session to assess your needs and desires for birth, define and understand our expectations of one another, and provide you with useful tips, knowledge, and tools for labor and birth.

    • Virtual comfort measures session to teach you and your support person(s) different comforting techniques to use during labor.

    • Postpartum Planning Session

  • Body Balancing Recommendations: Daily movement recommendations to relieve "normal" pregnancy discomfort, align your body and baby, and relieve tension in preparation for birth.

  • On call from 37 weeks

  • Unlimited text and email support to answer any questions and/or offer suggestions and support throughout pregnancy and labor.

  • Unlimited virtual birth support.

  • Virtual breastfeeding support immediately after birth to help with first latch and to establish feeding.

  • (1) Virtual Postpartum Check In 

Loves Package: $1750

 

Everything in Labor Day Support Plus The Following:

  • 1 Virtual Postpartum Planning Session: This session will help you to plan for postpartum. We will discussion building your support team, what to expect (what's normal and what is not normal), food preparation and what to eat, healing and what to expect, feeding your baby, and so much more.

  • Birth Plan creation.

  • 2 hour postpartum visit within the first 1 month after birth

  • Body Balancing Recommendations + 2 Follow Ups 

Labor Day Support Package: $1500

​

  • (2) prenatal sessions:

    • Virtual session to assess your needs and desires for birth, define and understand our expectations of one another, and provide you with useful tips, knowledge, and tools for labor and birth.

    • In Person Comfort Measures Session to teach you and your support person(s) different comforting techniques to use during labor.​

  • Body Balancing Recommendations: Initial body alignment assessment and assessment of discomforts. Then, daily movement recommendations to relieve "normal" pregnancy discomfort, align your body and baby, and relieve tension in preparation for birth.

    • + 1 Follow Up Session + Recommendations​

  • 1 hour in person postpartum follow up visit within the first 2 weeks after birth.

  • On call from 37 weeks

  • Unlimited text and email support to answer any questions and/or offer suggestions and support throughout pregnancy and labor.

  • Breastfeeding support immediately after birth to help with first latch and to establish feeding.

  • Unlimited in person birth support or virtual birth support if not admitted into the hospital

Admire Package: $2050

​

Everything in Loves Package Plus The Following:​​

  • 1 in person Prepare Your Mind and Body for Childbirth session: This session will go over the ways to get your body prepare for labor (foods, movements, and more), and ways to get your mind prepare (debunking subconscious thoughts, journal prompts, and more)

  • Pregnancy Nutrition Information Guide

  • 4 hours in person or virtual postpartum follow up visit within the first 4 weeks after birth.

  • Body Balancing Recommendations + 3 Follow Ups 

Lotus Package: $2250

​

Everything in the Admire Package Plus The Following:​

  • 2 Week sample menu plan

  • 2 Hour Newborn Care Class

  • Body Balancing Recommendations + 4 Follow Ups 

  • Birth Ball that can be used to prepare for birth, used during labor, and used after birth.

  • 6 hours in person postpartum follow up visit within the first 4 weeks after birth.

**Book a free consult today!

Love Note

Smiling Pregnant Woman

"I was really really pleased with Shaniqua’s Doula services. Not only did she make me feel super comfortable and confident in myself during our meetings before having my baby, but she gave me and my boyfriend more than enough information to know what to do and how to advocate for myself and my unborn son. 

During my labor, Shaniqua was fully present the entire time and not just physically. Shaniqua showed my boyfriend different techniques to help me through my natural birth. She came fully prepared and kept a calm presence, in the midst of me losing it. I appreciate how knowledgeable and firm Shaniqua was. I also loved the constant affirmation of “you can do this and you are doing it” when I second guessed myself. 

If I do have another baby, I will hands down gave Shaniqua by my side for the ride! ☺️ thank you so much.."
     -R.H. Family  Crofton, MD
 

FAQ:

Due to COVID a lot of hospitals only allow one support person into the birth space. Does it make sense to still hire a Doula? The short answer is YES of course you should still hire a Doula. As a Doula, if I am unable to come in the birth space with you and your partner, I provide labor support via Zoom or Facetime and I ensure that you all are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to advocate in the birth space, to understand the risk and benefits of certain procedures/medications, to understand informed consent,  to know multiples ways to soothe and comfort the birthing person during labor, and so much more. In addition, I provide my clients with virtual meetings, classes, and consults. 

​

Will my partner feel left out if I hire a Doula? Absolutely not! My goal is always to empower and educate your partner to work through their fears, advocate for you in the birth space when you cannot, understand the birth process, know the signs for each stage of labor and what to do, know multiple pain management techniques, and much more. 

​

Can you promise that I will not have a c-section? I cannot promise that you will not have a csection, but I can promise that I will do everything in my power to help you get your ideal birth. As we all know, birth is unpredictable and there are things out of everyone's control that could lead to a c-section. In some cases a c-section is needed for the survival of you and your unborn child. 

​

Can I hire you for a home birth? Yes! You can hire me for your home, birth center, or hospital birth. I am able to work alongside midwives and doctors. 

​

Are there any differences from you and a midwife? Yes! Midwives are medical professionals that perform procedures like cervical checks, blood pressure checks, fetal heart rate monitoring, delivering/catching the baby. The Midwives goal is to deliver a healthy baby. As a Doula, I cannot perform those procedures. My role is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support for the birther and their support person. 

​

When should I hire a Doula? You should try to hire a Doula by week 20 of pregnancy, but I love to work with clients as early as I can since I provide pregnancy nutrition and exercise information as well.

bottom of page