Shannon-Tara Ames Photo

Shannon-Tara Ames

Great Beginnings Doula Services

Westbank, BC Service range 35 miles Nil

250-801-6575

http://greatbeginningsdoula.ca

Birth Fee

$1300 to $1400

Birth Fee

$1300 to $1400


Birth Doula Experience

11 years and 180 births attended


Doula Training

Not Specified

Type of practice: Solo practice

Clients per month: 1 to 3

Attends hospital births? All Hospitals
Am available to be with you throughout labour & a couple of hours after birth to assist with breastfeeding. Will come back to hospital within 24 hrs to assist with breastfeeding and anything else you may need.

Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers

Attends home births? Any Home Birth


Special Services Offered

  • Babywearing education
  • Birth pool rental
  • Childbirth education services
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Infant massage education
  • Lactation consultant/counselor services
  • Military families support
  • Miscarriage support
  • Reduced rates for women considering adoption
  • Satellite doula (for remote and rural clients)
  • Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)
  • Surrogates and intended parents
  • TENS units rental
  • Virtual and remote doula support

Languages Spoken

  • English

Fee Details

I like to meet potential clients and work out a fee that is agreeable for all of us.

Service Area

Westbank, BC Service range 35 miles Nil

Client Testimonials for Shannon-Tara Ames

Post a testimonial for Shannon-Tara Ames

Tatiana

8/29/2022

Shannon-Tara was such a blessing throughout the pregnancy and birth of our daughter. She was such a reassurance and library of knowledge and experience that put both my husband and myself at ease. She was available whenever we needed and was more than accommodating and thoughtful throughout the whole process. Our pregnancy and birth story would have been very different without her care and support. 

Kelly Delp

6/3/2022

My husband and I had our first baby in 2021 and chose to work with Shannon-Tara. From first contact, Shannon-Tara was responsive, sensitive, and professional. She was so knowledgeable about not only birth, but about our local hospital policies and procedures as well as what to expect postpartum. Her classes during our pregnancy were immensely helpful in preparing our family for the birth and arrival home of our baby. 
Our birth experience did not go as planned (whose does?) but Shannon-Tara was supportive and responsive throughout. She was at the hospital at a moment's notice and from the moment she arrived she took over and helped us have a wonderful birth experience. After baby was out, Shannon-Tara remained present with me (the mom) and provided incredible support. 

Shannon-Tara's sensitivity, knowledge, and flexibility made both me and my husband feel prepared and cared for. 

Dana B

4/26/2017

Hiring Shannon-Tara as our doula played an integral part in creating the birth that my husband and I both hoped for. She was knowledgeable, calm, and supportive to us both and provided us with tools and strategies to use before, during and after the birth of our son. She helped me feel confident and in control during the entire process, which was extremely empowering. I would happily hire Shannon-Tara to be my doula again!

Miranda Holly

3/28/2017

My husband wasn't on board with hiring a doula for our first child, as he didn't understand their role, and assumed the midwife would play a bigger part during labour.  After meeting Shannon-Tara, he was totally on board!!  She was understanding and compassionate, as well as professional and educated.  She went out of her way to explain things, and answer our questions.

My birth was pre-term, and we debated calling Shannon-Tara right away.  But we are glad we did!  If it wasn't for Shannon-Tara, we would have been in labour and delivery alone, with only nurses checking in every 15mins!  She took control of the situation when I was 9cm, and requested the nurses call the Dr and Midwife back.  And even while I had to wait 45mins for everyone to show up before delivering, she was calm, kept me and my husband focused, and reassured us.

She stayed with us after the baby's birth and helped with breastfeeding, as well as returning the next day to ensure we were doing ok in the NICU.  She was able to answer questions in the days following via text messages.  She also was vital in helping me recover PPD by explaining all the things my body was going through, and that it was totally normal!

I am currently pregnant again and would hire Shannon-Tara in a heartbeat, except we moved 12 hours away!!  We have another doula for this birth planned, as I felt she was the greatest comfort during labour for both my husband and I.

sheena dionne-irwin

3/27/2017

Shannon-Tara was an amazing doula. She connected with us right away and created a comfortable and open environment. She helped us through our first pregnancy and if I hadn't moved, no questions asked I would have begged her to be there for my second as well. Shannon-Tara is compassionate, empathetic and very professional. I went through an induced birth with 20+ hours of labour and ended up with an emergency c-section, which was my biggest fear but my partner and I talked everything through with Shannon-Tara and I went in feeling completely calm. We then had some complications to deal with and also had major latch issues. Shannon-Tara made sure I knew she was there to give me support, guidance, educated answers and suggestions without swaying me any one way. We will forever be grateful for our amazing experience with Shannon-Tara. I would recommend her to anyone in any birthing situation!

Elsa Wellwood

10/10/2016

From the very beginning when my husband and I first met Shannon-Tara near the end of my first trimester, we immediately had a good vibe about her and could easily tell that she was very experienced, professional, knowledgeable and had a wonderful passion for her work as a doula.

As my pregnancy progressed, Shannon-Tara met with us regularily and was a wonderful source of information and support throughout.  Shannon-Tara took the time to get to know the fine details and philosophy of our birthing wishes.  She went well above and beyond our expectations, taking the initiative to join us while we took a series of hypnobirthing classes which further demonstrated her total dedication and commitment to ensuring that our birthing wishes were respected and upheld and that we were all on the same page going into the birth of our baby girl.

Once in labour, Shannon-Tara was present as a steady and calm voice of reassurance, love, and compassion.  She assisted both my husband and I tirelessly by helping me to feel comfortable, nourished and hydrated as well as providing moral support to my husband and I while we ventured through our labour as a solid team.  Post-partum, she visited us in the hospital and at home and provided support and assistance with breast-feeding as well as some invaluable tips to assist us in our transition to parenthood.

We would recommend Shannon-Tara with the highest of regard to anyone who is looking for that special person to support them during such an important transition in their lives.  It was truly an honour for us to work with her and we would hire her again in a heartbeat!

Love from Elsa, Chad and Naomi

Bria Young

9/20/2016

Shannon-Tara was great. She gave us lots of suggestions for dealing with early labour and back labour. Her help with breathing made contractions significantly easier. Being able to call on her in the middle on the night to come to our home was invaluable. We ended up having a c-section, and Shannon-Tara was there to support us before and after.

Birth Availability for Shannon-Tara Ames

= Available. Calendar last updated: 01-15-2023