I could not imagine giving birth without Shauna's soothing voice and loving presence! I had some previous experience with Shauna at a restorative yoga workshop and her warm and gentle nature helped guide me into a deep relaxation. Additionally, three of my friends hired Shauna as their doula and had amazing things to say about her, so once I got pregnant I knew that I wanted her to be my doula too. She met with us a few times while I was pregnant to discuss birthing plans and lactation, as well as offering a folder of information and helpful books. I also got an incredible restorative yoga session!! But it was the day of my second daughter's birth that she exhibited her true gift as a doula. Shauna acted as a lighthouse and I looked to her for guidance. From the moment when the wave of contractions got closer and closer together, I messaged her and she was the one who called my love to let him know he needed to come home from work to take me to the hospital. To the middle of labor when I wanted to proverbially "jump ship", she was there reminding me of my inner and physical strength. Her voice was gentler yet louder than the voice in my head that was saying, "I can't". To the hand delivery of my placenta to her colleague who created pills and a tincture for postpartum. Shauna was an integral part of my incredible experience giving birth naturally. I would definitely hire her again!!! read more

Shauna Karine - Shauna with Lillia! - Lactation Services Near Me

Shauna is such a lovely human being, both inside and out. We knew right away when we met her that she would be the perfect doula for our pregnancy and birth. She's incredibly sweet, ridiculously funny, and is so comfortable to be around. She felt like family during all of our interactions with her. Thanks to the sessions that we had with her, I was able to have a pretty manageable birth experience. Our little one arrived early at 36 weeks. Everything happened so quickly that Shauna barely made it to the hospital before he was born about 30 minutes after her arrival. Due to some complications, things didn't exactly go as planned, but keeping the wisdom that she shared with us in mind, I was able to come out of the ordeal fairly unscathed with a healthy little preemie. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to have a positive and supportive pregnancy and birth. read more

Long before I was pregnant, I already knew that I wanted Shauna to be part of my birthing experience. She is an amazingly supportive, warm, and caring individual. She cheered me on during my many years of trying to conceive and provided loving support throughout my pregnancy. In the months leading up to delivery, Shauna provided my husband and I counseling on what to expect, helped us create our birthing plan, and offered practical advice on managing pain. In the delivery room, Shauna created a peaceful sanctuary for us, complete with candles and essential oils. She was there not just to support me, but also my husband (who had to endure my 40-hour labor ordeal). After Lawson was born, she was there to help us adjust to our new life as parents and provide breastfeeding tips and best-practices. I highly recommend Shauna as a doula. Give yourself a gift, and have her at your side at delivery! read more

Shauna Karine - Shauna with baby Lawson - Lactation Services Near Me

Let me start by saying I used to be a complete non believer in Doula services. We got introduced to Shauna through my wife's girlfriend. In the very beginning I was skeptical about getting one. But as I got more and more involved in her pregnancy, read baby books, took some baby classes it became pretty apparent that it might not be a bad idea to have a partner to help us through this journey. As the pregnancy went on through the months - we certainly were more glad that we got her. It became clear that she was a must-have and not good-to-have for us. She wasn't the first or the last doula we interviewed - but she certainly made a lasting impression from the very first meeting. She had this "Zen" aura about her which calmed our nerves, gave us confidence and helped us focus on the true value of this amazing time in our lives. Shauna was very calm, mellow, non invasive yet involved with every step of the pregnancy. We look at her (and still do) a close friend rather and confidant rather than a professional. My wife ended up having a C-section at the hospital in the end - so it was not the home-birth route that most others get a doula for. But even then, we were really glad we had her throughout the delivery. The expected part for me as a dad-to-be was that at times I felt I got so much help, advice, moral support from her than I could expect. To all first parents and skeptics out there -Getting a Doula was a one of the best decisions we made and Shauna is as good as they come. Thanks a lot Shauna!! read more

I was given Shauna's contact information from an old friend. At first, we werent sure we wanted a doula. We started researching and meeting doula's and I have to say, after my very first meeting with Shauna - I was sold. She has this amazing love nature about her that makes you feel so comfortable. That is very important when thinking of allowing a person to take part in one of the most amazing experiences of your life. I first started looking for a doula for my husband and I for the anxiety that we both had around labor. Shauna made me feel at ease and kept reminding me of the joy that I was going to experience with my son. She helped us come up with ways to cope with labor pain, physically and mentally. She made the time to come meet us at our home at our convenience. She always had a way to calm me down. I was so nervous that my doctor had given me a chance for a c section to relieve the stress of labor. Once Shauna became part of the game plan, my fears slowly started melting away. She was available at any time of the day to talk or to just listen. She was super helpful during the entire labor process. She kept both my husband and I calm during the labor process and reassured us that everything would be fine - even when I would start freaking out. She stayed with us through the entire time. During labor and after labor to make sure we were doing well as a family. I was so glad that I was able to meet Shauna and have her be a part of our family. I look forward to a lifetime of memories with Shauna and our growing family. If you have anxiety, fear or just any questions about the entire birthing process - I highly recommend getting in touch with Shauna. She works wonders and more than that, her loving caring energy calms you down to focus on the happy parts of labor. read more

Shauna Karine - Lactation Services Near Me

My husband and I are so happy that we chose to experience pregnancy and birth alongside Shauna. From start to finish, our time with Shauna was a delightful process; having her by our side was comforting, helpful, sweet, and fun. When we are pregnant with our next baby, she will be the first person we call! Our pregnancy was filled with surprises, some really scary, and some fun or light. At every step of the way, Shauna would patiently redirect us back to our intention. For us, our intention was to have a memorable, warm, connected experience, particularly during the birth. And we got just that! Of course, our birth experience was nothing like we had concocted in our minds - but it was better! It was memorable, warm, and connected. Before, during, and after our sweet son's birth, Shauna held our hands, breathed with us, and coached us through what will always be our most incredible and special day. We absolutely loved working with her and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone! read more

We chose Shauna to attend our birth because her presence completely encapsulates the reverence and magic that we were hoping for with our home birth for our second child. Shauna mindful and sacred. She is a gift among us women and truly here to do this work. When Shauna listens, she listens with her whole body and understands beyond an intellectual knowing. While we knew what we were going to have do, we also knew that the intensity of birth was going to make it challenging to remember who we had to be to welcome in our baby girl with the presence we were intending. That's where Shauna came in. Shauna has an exceptional talent to read people. She knew exactly what to do and say (and not do and not say!) to facilitate exactly the vision we had for our birth. She was able to immediately put us at ease and deliver exactly what we needed in each moment. In our case she was right there for me to provide the loving touch I needed to keep me not only present, but in a state of bliss. Though we definitely don't want another kid, I'd seriously consider having a third just to have her there to radiate the love and joy she exudes while in her truly extraordinary role as doula. read more

In my search to better my mind and body, I found Shauna's Restorative Yoga class a bright light in a dark week. I walked into her studio, nervous and anxious about whether or not I'd feel comfortable enough to be still and calm in order to let myself meditate and allow my body to begin healing. Her voice is calming and she is well educated on what the needs are of both the body and mind. I had a wonderful experience and was greatly moved by the practice. I highly recommend her class, and look forward to the possibility of hiring her as my doula someday. read more

We loved working with Shauna! We met her midway through my second pregnancy and immediately felt connected with her. Our prenatal sessions were informative, supportive, and helped us to get to know each other (and included some fabulous restorative yoga, which was just what this tired mama needed). When I went into labor, Shauna quickly appeared with her bag of tricks. She was encouraging and positive throughout my labor, massaging just the right places and helping me laugh and let go between contractions. Her support was invaluable and I feel so lucky my husband and son got to have her with us during such a magical time. As a bonus, I feel like I made a lifelong friend! read more

The last few days have been a whirlwind, adjusting to all the changes that take place shortly after giving birth. I've been trying to find the best way in my head to describe how much love, admiration, and gratitude I have for the support I received from my doula, Shauna, and I can't quite find words deep and profound enough to quantity how much i love her and value the support I received from her during my pregnancy and childbirth. This love will be in my heart and soul for the rest of my life, for she truly is one of the most beautiful women I have come to know. How grateful I am to have met her all those years ago, and to have been able to be supported by her during my own first childbirth. Without her guidance, I would not have been able to find the strength within myself to labor for the length of time I did without medication, and to follow through with what I set out to do. My determination was strong, but the surges and waves of labor were stronger- and each time I struggled and become unfocused on my goal, she gently guided me back to my intention and kept me present. I was committed to birthing naturally, and it was absolutely the most powerful, rewarding experience of my life. As a doula myself I foolishly expected it was somehow going to be a little easier for me because of my own personal knowledge and experience with labor and the fact I've seen and supported other women in that space before. I couldn't have been more wrong, and how surprising it truly was to be on the other side experiencing what a vast landscape of emotions and feelings that labor pulls us through. She was so calm, supportive, and helped me to remember that I could do this, that we are all capable of giving birth. She has a very soft and nurturing side to her that was so warm, during my contractions she would guide me through each one and time after time I thought I couldn't go any further, she gently brought me back to my intention of birthing naturally and because of her support,I was able to accomplish the greatest and proudest moment of my life, birthing my sweet Amena into this world with an intention of strength. Once she was born I felt like I could do anything. And the truth is that Shauna played an enormous role in that. I couldn't have done it without her and I can't speak highly enough about her. She is one of the best doulas out there, I highly recommend her for all mamas out there looking for a loving and supportive labor. And before I burst into uncontrollable tears, I'll stop there. What an amazing woman you are, Shauna. Thank you for being the support I needed. Thank you for so gently guiding me through my journey, so that I could find my find my inner strength. A skeptic from the gate, thank you for showing my husband how amazing doulas really are. He is so grateful for your support as well. I will never forget that experience. My heart is so deep, and so full of love for you, Shauna. read more

Shauna Karine - Shauna providing me with relief from all the painful back labor I was experiencing. - Lactation Services Near Me

Shauna is an amazing doula! At first we weren't even sure we wanted or needed a doula, but after having her with us for the birth of our little girl I now know that having her there is a MUST not a "nice to have".  Prior to our actual birth day she helped us by providing information about what was happening to me and baby as the weeks went on.  Shauna has a huge network that she can tap into which helped us find our home birth midwife and also our emergency tub rental since our little one came 3 weeks early! When the baby was on the way she helped my husband setup the birthing tub, made sure I was as comfortable as possible and took care of every little that I might worry about.  It's funny the things you can worry about when having a baby, like "is my kitchen clean?". "Did I do the dishes?" These were a few things that we had joked about during the interview, and Shauna said to me that "Doula" is another word for slave so whatever I would need her to do would be done, including cleaning my kitchen should I want that and if it helped ease my mind during birth. Sure enough I thought about my kitchen during birth and I couldn't believe it but she actually cleaned my kitchen and made my first after-baby meal!  Talk about service! I can't just speak about her amazing cleaning skills because she obviously did so much more for us.  All throughout my birth Shauna was there to support me with encouraging words, soothing massages, her warm energy and smile.  She was there to pull back my hair, make sure I stay hydrated, and helped me get as comfortable as possible.  I had horrible back labor and Shauna came to the rescue with a heated pillow that she would reheat for me every 45 minutes.  When our little girl finally entered the world, it was Shauna who was at the ready to help capture those precious memories. She may explain to you that the word doula means slave, but after having her present at our birth I can assure you that doula really means caretaker and friend and we definitely plan to ask Shauna to attend all the births of our children! read more

Shauna was a critical part of our homebirthing team -- we can't imagine having gone through such a beautiful and natural experience without her there as our doula. She is wise, patient, nurturing and was always there by my wife's side, one step ahead of her requests and needs. She worked in complete harmony with our midwife and was on top of all the details throughout the laboring process. Shauna also strives to continuously learn complementary skills, and is always evolving as a provider. read more

My wife and I could not have imagined going through the birth process without Shauna's help. She gave us lots of good tips that proved very valuable for both me and my wife while labor was taking place. The birth process went much smoother than expected, and Shauna's help was one of the main reasons for this. read more

I am so so grateful for Shauna. From the first moment meeting her, both my husband and I felt at ease with her. She has this calm and loving vibe about her. She helped us get ourselves ready for labor and voicing what we wanted to happen and not happen during labor. She also gave me a restorative yoga session, lovely when you're all pregnant and uncomfortable! Labor did not quite go as expected. 3 days labor, a lot of it at the hospital, but Shauna had a really good sense as to when to step in and when to leave us, and was a very calming presence for me but also for my husband. And she was right there with the nurses encouraging me making it through in the final hours before the munchkin was born. She stayed with us after, had the presence of taking pictures when we both totally zoned out on it, and left just at the right time somehow. I also really appreciated the visit after and her narrating to us our birth story (which was a blur to me), helping us reflect on how magical it was despite how hard and scary it felt in the moment. so so grateful! read more

Shauna is so wonderful! My husband and I decided to work with Shauna during the second trimester of our first pregnancy, and she was a great help before, during, and after the birth of our son. During all our prenatal sessions I just felt like Shauna and I were speaking the same language, and I knew she would be great at anticipating my needs and advocating for me through labor. She also led my mom and me through a restorative yoga session ahead of time, which was great for getting my mom used to the kinds of things I wanted during labor, since she would be in the room. That was totally out of my mom's comfort zone, but she thought Shauna was great and felt really comfortable with her. I ended up having both of my parents in the room during labor, as well as my husband, and Shauna kept everyone calm and supportive of me. My husband was the person I leaned on most for support, and Shauna is the one who enabled him to do that. I have a few very specific memories of points in my labor when I thought I was past the point of being able to relax, but then I would sort of "wake up" between contractions and realize that I was so relaxed and restful. For example, I remember her asking me if I wanted music on, and me thinking "it is too late, I don't care about music!" but then I found myself totally relaxed with soft music in the background, feeling like I was in a yoga studio doing shivasana, and I was so happy that Shauna was there to maintain that atmosphere. Labor went well, though not exactly as planned (but when does it?), and Shauna helped me process the whole experience over the following days and weeks and feel really good about everything. I was so thankful to have her around afterwards to talk about everything I was feeling. Right after delivery, my dad was maybe the most excited out of everyone, and he couldn't stop raving about how amazing Shauna was! I love sharing photos of my baby's progress with her and I'm looking forward to having her at my next birth :) read more

We loved every minute of working with Shauna. My husband and I knew from the get go that we will not want the assistance of a doula at out birth since we had close friends and family attending. Yet we knew that Shauna's prenatal counseling would be of great help in getting us ready for the big adventure. My husband and my sister were ready to learn some labor coaching techniques! We met with Shauna twice in our home in the last month of my pregnancy. Our sessions were wonderful! Prior to the meetings she would send out a detailed outline about all the topics we would cover that day ( Birth envisioning, Anatomy of labor pain, Fear's Effect on Labor & the Parasympathetic Nervous System, Sensation Coping Practices, etc). Our sessions were about two hours long and we learned from her so much! We also did some exercises to learn how to cope with pain. Shauna was knowledgeable, reassuring, understanding, kind and excited for us. Our baby girl's arrival wouldn't have been the same experience without Shauna's invaluable help. Her techniques and her advice actually works! I would highly recommend Shauna to every birthing mama! read more

Shauna was not my Doula but also my dear friend & years ago when she chose this path (and before I knew I would ever had kids) I told her she & only she would be my Doula. I could not have imagined going through the birth process without Shauna's help. Evan her Restorative Yoga class was a big plus for me. Shauna's "Zen" aura was very calming to me. She helped me focus on where my energy should be & that was bringing my son into this world. Unfortunately after his arrival he was taken to the NICU immediately due to some complications - Shauna stayed with my family & I through all this - we were very much grateful. She's not only my friend but now a big part of my son's life. I want Evan to know his Aunty Doula Shauna. Thank you my dear friend for all you have done for me & my son - you are such a blessing in our lives. read more

I've been taking restorative yoga classes with Shauna for the past few years, and I think she is the most nurturing, caring, thoughtful instructor I have ever had. She has such a calming, grounding presence, which makes it very easy to slip into a restorative pose, even after my very stressful workday. I have followed her to wherever she is teaching and am always greeted warmly. I love restorative yoga and I think Shauna is the best and really love taking her class!! read more

Shauna has a real gift for supporting mother's through their pregnancy journey. I knew I wanted to include a doula in my birth experience but I was also looking for the right "fit" for me and my family. We initially met over coffee and I felt a strong connection with her, especially since she was also a restorative yoga teacher and could call on that additional training and perspective. We met through the introduction of a mutual yoga teacher friend. We shared the philosophy about the importance of mindfulness in every aspect of our lives but particularly for accepting the challenges of pregnancy without fear or judgement. My labor was full of it's own unique challenges and Shauna supported me physically and emotionally through it's entirety. She was never far from my bed side, always offering a comforting touch, massage, whiff of essential oil, ice chips, cold rag on my forehead, chap stick, constant support. She helped pull me back to a grounded place when I became so overwhelmed and wanted to give up. Her encouragement and support helped redirect my effort so I could find the energy to get through the next contraction. (She's not a doula who would ever consider bringing any sort of judgement or agenda different from your own to the table). I was so touched and blessed to have found a doula who worked so HARD and passionately to give me the peaceful, grounded birth experience I wanted. By staying grounded and not giving in to fear, I felt capable of making decisions when needed and was able to allow my instincts to lead me. Shauna and I my husband collaborated beautifully, my dream team. Together they were able to give me just what I needed at all times, and when he needed his own support she was right there for him too. Her strong reassuring presence enhanced my labor & delivery, even when circumstances required an emergency c-section. I was never fearful or scared during the long, arduous process and she was a BIG part of the reason why. We owe Shauna a great debt of gratitude and love that she is our son's Auntie who will tell him all about his birth day when he's big enough! read more

Shauna's prenatal coaching sessions were a key ingredient to my successful labor and delivery. I was planning to receive an epidural, but labor progressed too quickly. Using the pain management strategies that Shauna taught me, I was able to get through natural labor and delivery with minimal stress. My husband, who also participated in Shauna's prenatal counseling sessions, was extremely well prepped to be a support system for me. When other soon-to-be mothers ask me about my birth experience, I am delighted to share it, and that is in large part due to Shauna. I should also take time to compliment Shauna's calm and open-hearted demeanor. She listened to fears and hopes and navigated us through strategies to minimize the former and maximize latter. She also took time to research and connect me with additional service providers when I was experiencing month nine pregnancy pains. Highly recommend. read more