Kimberlee

8/16/2023

I was pregnant for the first time and planning to do a homebirth. Our midwives educated us on the benefits of having a Doula my husband was convinced we should add one to the birth team. I was a little hesitant partially to save money and partially to invite somebody else into my birth space, but I decided to listen to my husband. We had two wonderful prenatal visits with both Sharina and Haylee to help us prepare for this day and to get to know them better which I loved because one of the exercises we did made me realize how prepared I actually was, which was a fear of mine that I wasn’t. This helped me gain more confidence in myself at the end of my pregnancy. I was able to text them with any questions leading up to the birth which, as a first time mom is extremely helpful rather than going on Google. Four days after my due date at 12:30 AM my labor started with a bang and I texted our group chat and instantly got a response. I’m really speechless and feel such a gratitude for how Haylee walked into my birth space and was with me literally every second of my labor and stayed around for the post care. I was able to have a relatively textbook first labor just over 12 hours and I believe everything she did contributed to that. Then breast-feeding was a whole other experience I wasn’t prepared for. Having the lactation appointment included with their services with Sharina was so beyond helpful and a lifesaver. I reached out to Sharina just to ask a question, and instantly she said it would be best for her to come over and made a room in her schedule to accommodate me right away And help work through finding a good latch. I was able to text her after and she responded right away, and I just felt extremely supported on that front as well and never alone. Both Sharina and Haylee are amazing at what they do and if you’re thinking about hiring them, do not hesitate, it will take your birth experience to a whole other level.

Steffanie E

2/28/2023

Having Sharina with me throughout my delivery was an experience I will be forever grateful for!

It was my 6th pregnancy, and after two traumatic deliveries before, and a scheduled induction this time, knew I needed someone with me to share her calm and support me through this one last time. 

Sharina was the answer to my prayers.  She had so many different ways to help me cope with pain without needing pain meds, get me progressing, as well as keep me laughing the entire time.  

Don't get me wrong, my husband is the best, but there is just something about having someone there that gets it and has plenty of tricks up her sleeve to get you through the finish line. 

I was so worried about everything that could happen and she stayed with me and made everything so much better! 

I highly recommend having her with you! It's something you will never regret! 

Thank you,  Sharina, for helping me get my sweet baby here! We will love you forever for all that you did to support and help us get him here! 

Susie Williams

2/27/2023

I have so much to say and I'm so grateful to have found Boise Birth Village! When I got pregnant, my husband and I were new to the Treasure Valley and did not have any support system here. We felt overwhelmed so we decided to hire a doula. Haylee and Sharina were amazing in helping us plan for our birth and prepare for labor. Sharina attended my birth, which was an induction at 41 weeks. The pitocin contractions hit me really hard right away and Sharina was such an angel the entire day... which was basically a full 24 hours! She knew just how to support me and help with pain relief. After I got an epidural she helped me into different positions, which wasn't easy because my legs were numb! Even though I was in active labor for 18+ hours followed by a c-section, it was truly a wonderful and beautiful day and I loved hanging out with Sharina the whole time. I ended up needing a c-section, but Sharina was there right afterwards with continued support. She truly felt like part of the family and I can't wait for the next baby so we can use Boise Birth Village again ??
My baby and I had some trouble after birth and Sharina came over right away. She suspected a tongue tie and helped us get the support we needed. We made priceless connections through Haylee and Sharina - from IBCLCs, craniosacral therapy providers, chiropractic care, acupunture, milk donors, mom groups, new friends, and more.
My baby and I are doing great now and it's all because of Boise Birth Village! We found "our village" in our new town where we previously had no support. I will be forever grateful to Haylee and Sharina. Thank you both!!

Rachel

2/21/2023

Haylee and Sharina- where to begin with these two INCREDIBLE humans. They are both forever apart of our family. We felt connected with both before going into the big day with the two meetings before hand. Haylee was on call when I went in to labor- and it wouldn’t have been the home birth we dreamed of without her. Sharina came over when I reached out with some breastfeeding troubles and helped resolve them! I will forever tell anyone pregnant to get a doula and if they are local to reach out to Boise Birth Village! ??

Happy Mama

11/23/2022

Even trying to secure a doula early on in my pregnancy, I was having a hard time finding someone who was available and responsive, but I'm so glad I found Sharina! The prenatal appointments were both helpful and fun, and my husband and I felt very comfortable and supportive throughout all of our time with her.

It's hard to trust someone with one of the most important and vulnerable parts of your life, but we were very satisfied with the energy and skills that Sharina brought to our birth. We felt ready and expected to handle most of the work ourselves, but it was so great to have someone there with birthing experience dedicated to making me comfortable. Sharina seemed to know what I needed and everything felt as natural and smooth as it would if we had rehearsed it before. She really was a partner in our birth, and it was so helpful to have her taking care of certain things so that my husband could be present for me. I am a first-time mother and had the wonderful, unmedicated home birth that I was hoping for; Sharina was one of the reasons why I look back at that day feeling totally happy with how everything went!

What we really appreciated even more was the assistance we received after our birth. Sharina was very helpful very quickly when we suddenly needed resources and support after finding out our baby had tongue and lip ties that posed a serious challenge to our breastfeeding journey right away. We cannot say enough how grateful we are to Sharina for all that she did for our family. She was awesome!

Kacy

10/31/2022

My plan was an unmedicated birth in the hospital and having Sharina appart of my birth team made that possible. I can not thank her enough for guiding and supporting me through my first pregnency and birth. Labor was the hardest thing I'd ever done and my little one was faced towards my back making my experience very intence. Sharina was there for me over text during the night when I was having contractions and when I finally called her at 5am, she was over in no time helping me labor at home. Her confidnece and calm demeanor really reduced the stress I think I would have felt if I would have been on my own. Sharina was great with the hospital staff and they trusted her to lead my position changes and coach me. Above all, I was most impressed with her ability to instructed and incorrportate my husband in being a very active particapent through the whole process. Love, Love, Love her! AND she helped me with breastfeeding weeks aftr delievery when my son and i were struggling. She will always be apart of birth stroy and we are so grateful. 

Kevin P

9/21/2022

Amazing and incredible isn't enough to describe how awesome Sharina is! Sharina was nothing short of fantastic! My wife and I were expecting the birth of our first child and my wife wanted to have a doula to help make her first experience with childbirth was as postive as possible. Sharina met with us several times in our home, walked us through creating a birth plan and preferences that my wife had so that she could help advocate for us and make sure everyone was on the same page in the hospital. Sharina met us at the hospital and was there for the entirety of the birth. She helped me support my wife, advocated for her needs, and made sure the entire experience went as smoothly as possible for both of us. After the birth she went home to rest for a while and then revisited us in the hospital to make sure breastfeeding was going well and assist my wife to get that going a bit. Lastly, Sharina followed up with us in our home to again make sure that breasfeeding was going well, provide advice, and answer questions my wife and I had. We look forward to being able to have Sharina's help again when the time is right for another child. If Sharina is avaliable for your birth....do not hesistate to work with her, she is AMAZING! Thank you Sharina!!!!!

Christena Meier

7/19/2022

My first birth was not a positive experience. When I found out that I was expecting my second baby, my first thought was "oh no, this baby has to come out of me!". I immediately started looking for doulas. I nearly convinced myself that I didn't need a doula, until my 20 week ultrasound when I found out my son would be born with a birth difference. I felt like my world came crashing down. I needed support. Then came Sharina. I did not officially meet with Sharina until after 30 weeks, so we had limited time to get established. She was amazing. I got ahold of her and from our first interview, I knew she was "the" doula for me. I could tell she was caring, patient, and open to my ideas. From then on, she helped to guide us through the remainder of my pregnancy. She encouraged us to ask questions (especially given our situation) and provided the reassurance I needed. Whenever I would start to feel like I could not do it, Sharina was there. 

I opted to be induced, and Sharina was there shortly after the process began. I will never forget Sharina referencing my birth as a birthday party. It was such an awesome way to put it! I labored for a while, and then ended up with a turn of events. My son did not want to budge. Now comes my favorite  part. If you are anything like me, you might think that you don't need a doula if you have a c section. You NEED a Sharina. From the moment it was brought up, she helped to walk me through the thought and advocate for myself. She was immense help when it came time to decide if this option was best for me and my family. When my son was born, I struggled with the medication they gave me and she sat with me in recovery at 1am putting cold  towels on my head to cool me down. It doesn't matter what type of birth you have, Sharina will be there to help guide you and support you. She is the best and I don't think I would have the positive outlook on my birth that I do if it wasn't for her!

Samantha

12/2/2021

Sharina was such a valuable part of my birth team. I had a very fast labor and my baby came over a month early. It is was so comforting to my partner and I to have her expertise and reassurance during the process. She helped turn what could have been a very stressful and scary experience into an empowering and beautiful birth. She was was a calming presence and helped my partner support me in the best way possible. I'm so grateful for her. Her support postpartum has been exceptional as well as she has helped me problem solve lactation issues. I cannot recommend her enough!

Makala Knutson

11/8/2021

There is no experience more intimate and vulnerable than pregnancy and birth, and we cannot imagine our journey without Sharina by our side! Her presence as our doula was incredibly grounding and her expertise was invaluable. We had some special circumstances during our pregnancy, and she helped us learn exercises to support our baby in preparing for birth. She supported us in advocating for ourselves, and ultimately helped us achieve a birth that felt truly empowered. We had taken multiple birth classes and practiced a wealth of techniques- feeling confident in our plan- only to realize that much of what we’d imagined would work well for us during labor wasn’t quite what we needed. Sharina was able to guide us through techniques and anticipate mom’s needs with the calming energy that we needed. We gave birth in a hospital, and her professionalism and warmth was clearly appreciated by the whole medical team. Sharina’s expertise as a lactation consultant was huge for us, and her willingness to share an impromptu visit by phone after a particularly confusing and rough night for two first time parents was a precious gift. When dad describes his experience with Sharina during our birth, “hiring Sharina as our doula was like flying first class. She was there to support all three of us when we needed it most!”

Our hope is that every birthing person will have the opportunity to find their Sharina!

Elizabeth Abernathy

10/29/2021

Sharina attended our second baby's delivery and we loved her so much we asked her to be our Doula for our third baby! She is caring, fun, professional, passionate about her job, experienced, and a wealth of knowledge. I attempted a VBAC in the hospital for our second baby so of course we were nervous and honestly still had barely any idea of what we were doing. Sharina did so much during the labor which helped me progress and I'm sure contributed to a successful delivery. Calm, ready, and supportive, she was my advocate with the hospital staff and also kept an eye out to support my husband the entire time. Our third baby was in a birthing center and Sharina was just as great! My husband took the main role of labor support since we were much more confident this time around, but Sharina was still invaluable because of her experience and expertise. She made wonderful suggestions, supported my husband so he could better support me, and helped keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable (which really helps me have a better experience overall). As long as we keep having babies, Sharina will always be our choice for a Doula!

Jennifer

10/29/2021

Sharina is the most amazing, supportive person we could have possibly asked for from pregnancy to postpartum. She is so knowledgeable and kind; she spent so much time getting to know us and educating us prior to delivery on everything from birth to breastfeeding and postpartum mental health. She educated my husband on support techniques just as much as she did me, which was so helpful in labor. I truly felt prepared for any outcome knowing that she would be there to support us through delivery. Her support stretched into postpartum as well, when she helped us with lactation needs and even mental/emotional needs for me. She will be our forever doula, without a doubt. I could never thank her enough for the role she played in our pregnancy/postpartum journey! We love her! 

Krysta Ann Lowry

12/8/2018

I chose Sharina as my doula for the natural birth of my second baby. From the start she was so helpful. She worked with me to come up with a payment plan that fit our current circumstances. On our first visit we talked about all the things I wanted out of my birth experience and what didn’t work for me last time. I loved how she remembered all of this and really put it into practice. We had a few visits before delivery and I always felt really comfortable to text her and ask any questions along the way. When I went into labor she met us at the hospital and I can honestly say I wouldnt have been able to go through my natural delivery without her by my side. She applied pressure to my back during every contraction, breathed with me, help me adjust the sounds I was making to encourage baby to move down. She also helped everyone else in the room know what to do. Besides my husband, she was seriously my rock! I would recommend her to anyone who wants a doula by their side, natural delivery or not.