Shamina Rao, CD(DONA), IBCLC, RYT Photo

Shamina Rao, CD(DONA), IBCLC, RYT

Labor, Birth & Lactation

Brooklyn, NY Serves families in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens

http://www.shaminarao.com/

Birth Fee

$3000

Birth Fee

$3000


Birth Doula Experience

10 years and 215 births attended


Doula Training

  • DONA International-Approved Workshop, July 2015

Type of practice: Solo practice

Clients per month: 1 to 3

Attends hospital births? All Hospitals
in-person

Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers
in-person

Attends home births? Any Home Birth


College Education

AA/AS

BA/BS


Special Services Offered

  • Abortion support
  • Acupressure
  • Antepartum doula support
  • Aromatherapy
  • Babywearing education
  • Cancer patients and survivors
  • Childbirth education services
  • Infant massage education
  • Lactation consultant/counselor services
  • LGBTQIA+ Support
  • Military families support
  • Miscarriage support
  • Photography - Birth
  • Prenatal & postpartum fitness services
  • Prenatal Yoga
  • Reduced rates for women considering adoption
  • Reiki
  • Satellite doula (for remote and rural clients)
  • TENS units rental
  • Therapeutic bodywork
  • Virtual and remote doula support

Relevant volunteer or advocacy work

Full Spectrum Doula and Coordinator at THE DOULA PROJECT, SAVE THE BIRTHING CENTER Advocacy Team, Metro Doula Group Covid-19 Response Team, Board Certified Lactation Consultant-IBCLC

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Hindi

Fee Details

Complimentary meet & greet session, 2 prenatal sessions, unlimited phone & email support throughout your pregnancy, Access to evidence-based information and resources; guidance in preparation of birth preference plan, prenatal yoga to prepare for labor & birth, continuous support throughout labor and delivery, Immediate postpartum care and breastfeeding support after the birth, in-home postpartum visit with a full lactation consultation, help with newborn care, additional follow up virtual visit

Service Area

Brooklyn, NY Serves families in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens

Client Testimonials for Shamina Rao, CD(DONA), IBCLC, RYT

Post a testimonial for Shamina Rao, CD(DONA), IBCLC, RYT

Talia

4/18/2023

I only have the most positive things to say about my experience with Shamina - her presence is grounded, warm, powerful. Her support before, during, and after my birth was exceptional. I felt informed and educated for an empowered birth, and during my labor her calming presence was something I didn't even know I needed. I am so grateful for Shamina and would reccomend anyone work with her! You would be lucky to.

Lindsey

4/12/2023

Last July I found out I was pregnant with my second child. My first birth experience was traumatic for me, so I knew that I wanted to do things differently. Navigating the space of maternal health as a black woman can be cumbersome, intimidating and down right frightening. My goal was simply to make it back home to my family, alive. Watching documentaries, seeing news segments, reading books and listening to patient experiences helped me understand how easy it could be for my life to “fall through the cracks” just because of how I look. As a result of this, I wanted to ensure that I utilized all of my resources to set myself up for a successful, positive birthing experience. One way I felt that I could fight for the birth that I wanted was to hire a doula. Prior to my first pregnancy I was never aware of doulas and the important job that they have during pregnancy and labor/delivery. Seeking out a doula of color was also important to me because I felt that there would be more of an understanding of what obstacles we could potentially face in a biased healthcare system. My wonderful Doula (Shamina) helped me accept and process the trauma from my first birth to not bring that negative experience into this new one that I was about to embark on. With my husband and doula by my side I felt confident going into the hospital knowing that I had “my team” and that they would advocate and fight for me during one of the most vulnerable times in my life. It was extremely important to me, as a woman of color, to make sure that I built my team so I wouldn’t get taken advantage of like my last experience. I am extremely happy to say that I was able to have the most redemptive labor and delivery experience. With my husband and doula by my side I was able to have my VBAC that I fought so hard for and made it back home to my family safely! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carme and Drew

2/17/2023

Choosing a doula to guide us through the birth of our first child was a very intuitive task for us.

Once we met Shamina we connected right away with our values and the way she approaches birth.

Everyone seems to agree that she has this talent for bringing peace into the room, not only in person but via phone or texts. 

She is knowledgeable about all those little details we didn't know about and answered every single question patiently.

I felt at ease knowing she was in my corner during pregnancy and navigating decisions when I needed an extra brain to think what was best, she explained the options without being pushy about a particular point of view which was empowering for me and my partner.

During the delivery, she was like family, felt very comfortable in this very intimate moment and she helped with the breastfeeding process which oh boy, did not come easy for me. 

The best investment you can make, especially if you are a first-time mom. But if I have another child I will hope to have Shamina as my doula again!

In the postpartum visits, I was glad to have someone I trusted to come into my home to help me bring me down to earth, she was especially helpful 2 days after birth when I needed her most for establishing breastfeeding, she is a phenomenal lactation consultant.

So glad I went with my gut when choosing her, forever grateful for what she provided for our family :)

 

Diana

1/4/2023

Shamina was an absolute gift in the weeks leading up to my son's birth, during the labor and delivery, and in the time that followed.

This was my second birthing experience. After giving birth the first time without doula support, I knew that I wanted this time to be different. I wanted someone who would get to know me and my partner well, and to guide us during the whole process. When questions arose during the birth, I wanted someone to take the time to explain my options to me, to help me understand pros and cons, and to respect and advocate for my autonomy.

Shamina was all that and more. I am so glad that we made the decision to make her part of my son's birth. In the weeks leading up to his birth, she took the time to get to know my partner and me, asking us questions that not only informed her understanding of us, but also helped us clarify our own thinking and needs. She was calm and knowledgeable, and helped me feel more stable in an overwhelming time.

During the birth, Shamina was calm, present, gracious, and helped us navigate the rhythms and rules of labor and delivery in the hospital. She knew when to be active and when to be still, and she was a great support to my partner as well.

And after my son was born, her visit to our home provided an incredible opportunity to decompress and debrief about the birthing experience. And she even brought tea! I will always be grateful that Shamina was part of the story of my son's birth.

Lori

12/31/2022

Words cannot adequately express how fortunate my husband and I feel to have had Shamina Rao in our corner before, during, and after the birth of our baby boy. Shamina worked with us as a birth and postpartum doula. As first-time parents, there was a lot we didn’t know. For that reason, we decided to enlist the help of a doula. Early in my pregnancy, we set out to find just the right person. We met with many prospects. However, we didn’t really click with any of them, causing us to conclude that a doula simply wasn’t the way to go. Sometime during the third trimester, we decided to give it one last try, on the off chance that just the right person for us was out there somewhere. And she was! This is where Shamina entered the scene. We loved everything about her, including her experience, common sense, balanced views, interpersonal, and technical skills. During pre-birth meetings, she consistently offered helpful insights and perspectives. We felt supported and empowered, not judged. During the birth, she was there every step of the way, helping to advocate for us without alienating hospital staff. Her presence and coaching smoothed the way. Afterwards, her support was invaluable. She listened, offering ideas and solutions, without pushing. There were some very challenging moments in the first weeks of parenthood. Shamina’s responsiveness, guidance, and know-how got us through those early days, including when breastfeeding wasn’t going so well. Thanks to Shamina’s intervention and all-around support, we overcame those hurdles. We gained peace of mind as well as the confidence and skills to move forward. Breastfeeding is now a breeze. I’m not sure we would or could have persisted without Shamina.

It is December 31st as I write. Reflecting on the past year, there is so much to be thankful for. Shamina Rao tops that list. She has a special place in our hearts, and we recommend her wholeheartedly. 

Cara

12/17/2022

While pregnant with our first child, I was nervous about both labor and whether or not I’d be able to breastfeed. A birth class teacher recommended we work with Shamina because she is both a doula and lactation consultant. Now, with memories of a beautiful birth and our 8-week-old baby thriving on breastmilk, we are so glad we did. 

Ahead of the birth, Shamina told us what to expect. She recommended various gear we should have on hand, suggestions that proved wise. During labor itself, she helped us through the contractions at our apartment as they got stronger. By the time we got to the hospital, I was close to fully dilated. Had we not been working with her, we know we would’ve gotten to the hospital much earlier and had a very different experience.

Once there, she was a calming presence to counteract the flurry of nurses and doctors coming in and out, and a trusted adviser to look to when we were faced with decisions. She made sure the baby was handed to us before any procedures and provided encouragement as I breastfed for the first time. In the following weeks, she was readily available over the phone and in person as we finetuned breastfeeding and added pumping. 

My goal going into birth was not to have a traumatic experience. In the end, we not only accomplished that but got so much more - a story we feel we had a hand in shaping and love to relive and share. We highly recommend Shamina!

Joanna

10/6/2022

My husband and I had a fantastic experience working with Shamina during my pregnancy, labor and delivery, and after. Her deep knowledge and calming presence both served me well throughout my pregnancy journey. The prenatal visits were very helpful for preparing mentally, physically, and with all the practical logistics. Shamina’s guidance and support during labor were game changers - thanks to her, I was able to labor at home for a significant chunk of my labor. I had really bad lower back pain during my contractions and Shamina’s counter pressure and other movement techniques eased that pain noticeably. Once I got to the hospital, Shamina continued to be a reassuring presence for me and my husband. She kept us updated on what we could expect next, seamlessly worked alongside the hospital staff, and provided much appreciated encouragement along the way. I’m so grateful that she thought of all the little things that would not have occurred to me and my husband in the moment, like grabbing lunch for my husband while I was resting, offering to take the now-treasured photos of us just after I gave birth, and many other details that she took care of over the course of labor and delivery. Her help with breastfeeding in the hour after I gave birth was instrumental in getting my baby and me off on the right foot as well as giving me a much needed confidence boost as I began my breastfeeding journey. The post-partum visit was also critical for my breastfeeding experience as Shamina observed and then provided really helpful feedback on technique. Lastly, Shamina has been very helpful with my post-partum questions. I wholeheartedly recommend Shamina as a birth doula! Thank you, Shamina!

Keren

9/21/2022

We loved working with Shamina before, during and after the birth of our baby. She was very organized and professional and sent us tons of resources. She was always available for emotional support and advice before the birth. I had several complications that were both scary and required a lot of medical care and Shamina stayed in touch and checked in for my entire third trimester. We ended up needing a c-section, so Shamina spent more time with us postpartum helping with lactation and emotional healing from a traumatic birth. I am proud to say my baby is happy, healthy and exclusively breastfed, not without a ton of work and emotional roller coasters that Shamina helped us get through. I also highly recommend if you're going to work with Shamina as your doula, and you're a Yogi, to consider her online prenatal yoga series. That was so helpful to me to prepare my body and soul for what was to come, as well as to ground myself emotionally before the huge change that was about to take place in my life and during the final months of my pregnancy. We would definitely hire Shamina again if the occasion arises, and recommend her whole heartedly to parents with a variety of needs. She is truly full spectrum. 

M&D

9/16/2022

Shamina is amazing. My husband and I started working with her when I was 16 weeks pregnant and came to rely on her as an ally, champion, and educator. She is someone who is so calm, thoughtful, funny, and truly available 24/7.

Her deep knowledge of all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum (including lactation support - she is an IBCLC), was always so reassuring. One of the first things she helped my husband and me navigate was listening to our gut around discomfort with my provider at the time - and quickly helped us change practices. I had a challenging pregnancy and Shamina was truly there every step of the way, whether it was advising us on how to approach conversations with my medical team, planning for care at the hospital, coming up with a birth plan (and backup plan), and just being a sounding board.

My labor was a several day process that ultimately ended in an emergency c-section. Although the birth wasn’t what I envisioned, we could not have navigated things without Shamina. She helped make a physically and emotionally difficult situation easier to manage, especially when it came to handling the various medical decisions - while honoring my values and hopes for the birthing process.

If we were to do this all over again, there are things we’d do differently - but we would 1000% choose Shamina as our birth doula again.

Nabiha R

8/11/2022

Shamina was the calm presence I needed before, during, and after the birth of my son. She is very knowledgeable about the prenatal and birthing process and was more supportive and forthcoming than my doctor. Shamina was constantly checking in on me during my induction process, which began in the middle of the night. During labor Shamina was always by my side – whether it was holding a bucket while I vomited or dabbing essential oils on my pillow to help me relax. She was instrumental in pushing back on aggressive hospital staff in advocating for bonding time between me and my son right after the birth. It was reassuring to know I had someone looking out for my best interest through the revolving hospital staff. After giving birth, I reached out to Shamina because I was having trouble breastfeeding. She made time for me and my son and came to see us in person right after a snowstorm. This to me speaks volumes of Shamina’s supportive nature and dedication to her work. I’m beyond grateful to have met Shamina and to have had her guide me through one of the most important events in my life.  

Nadia Manzoor

7/18/2022

Shamina is incredible. We couldn't have asked for a better support for my birth. From the day she joined us on this journey, I felt her clarity, intelligence and gentle nature. This was my second child, and I was trying for a Vbac. Shamina led us through the process with all the informaton we needed to feel informed and prepared. She helped us create a birthing plan that felt aligned with my intention for having a natural, no intervention birth. She is extremely up to date and informed on all things birth related, and this was a tremendous support and gave us a lot of confidence. 

When the time came for my delivery, Shamina was exactly the advocate we needed. She’s like a gentle warrior always by our side, communicatinng our needs to the medical team, while emotionally being present to my needs. A doula is an essential addition to your team in hospital, and Shamina is simply incredible. Her post partum support was also deeply nurturing, and we found a friend in her. In short, we love her and it was the best decision for our family and I had my vbac!

Sarita and Chris

6/1/2022

It's hard to put into words how grateful we are for our experience working with Shamina. It was our first pregnancy, later in life and after moving mid-pregnancy to a new city, new job, etc. From our first meeting she was knowledgeable, supportive, and a calming center to our otherwise chaotic lives. She provided excellent care during our pregnancy and provided us with great resources for planning for the big day- in a truly holistic and all encompassing fashion. During labor and delivery, she was every present, mindful and helped both of us when we needed it- whether it be helping words, touch, manipulating positions to help progression, or just being there. Our OB who has been practicing for over 50 years loved Shamina as well and she is a tough one to impress! The care did not stop after labor and delivery. Shamina checked in on us often and was the only person to truly help me feel like I could tackle breast-feeding and post- partum recovery. We could not have done this with her help and it was 1000x over the best decision we made to include her in our pregnancy/childbirthing journey. 

Lauren Wiseman

1/31/2022

We feel so lucky and thankful to have had Shamina as our birth doula.  From first meeting her, she made us feel comfortable and really listened to our wishes. Shamina was incredibly responsive, including at 3am when I started contractions. For a first time pregnancy, it was so reassuring to have a knowledgeable and warm partner to support our journey. In the hospital, Shamina helped me remember my priorities and desires when making decisions in the moment. She also advocated to make sure we got what we needed, simple things like getting a peanut ball in the room and getting the nurses attention. After our delivery, she continued to be very responsive as lactation questions came up...it was so helpful to already have a person i trusted to call as those questions arose, especially at highly emotional times. Shamina is a real professional and also such a special person who I would want by my and by husband's side again.

Ileana & Xander Phoenix

1/23/2022

I love to study and when I was pregnant I read everything possible about the birthing process. But nothing could serve as a sufficient substitute for Shamina. This was my first pregnancy and I had a 30hr birth. I realized the guidelines explain the average birth, but mine was not average. I had a contraction pattern that I had never read about - my contractions rarely came closer than 8 minutes. If it wasn't for Shamina, I'm not sure when I would have gone to the hospital; the 4-1-1 never happened for me! Shamina had worked with me to create a birth plan, identifying facts from opinion and helping us follow an evidence based approach, and she advocated for it when we were in the hospital. She helped us understand when to stick firm to the plan and what the reasoning is at the moment. Shamina ensured we are surrounded by practitioners who believe in the advocacy of the plan, and provided good referrals. As Shamina warned me, the baby nurse came in following standard protocol to take the baby immediately for newborn testing and cleanup. Shamina intervened with consent and advocated for my plan to maximize skin to skin and mother daughter bonding. After our little girl was born, even though I had loads of colostrum, the pediatrician explained incorrectly that nursing is doing little because my milk has yet to come in; he left me feeling that it was pointless to breastfeed until the milk came in. I'm so grateful I had Shamina in my head to counter that view. A day later the hospital lactation consultant confirmed the first couple days are the most important because nursing helps the body turn on milk production, not to mention all the vital nutrients in the colostrum itself! In short, the professionals you'll encounter (OB, midwife, pediatrician, lactation, etc) all have different training but it doesn't stop them from telling you what to do when it's outside their scope. Having Shamina to help us navigate this unknown world was one of the smartest moves we made.

Erica

11/30/2021

When choosing a doula, I knew I wanted someone who was well educated/informed, compassionate, patient, and supportive. I know giving birth, especially in a NYC hospital can be crazy, unpredictable, and sometimes unpleasant. I wanted someone who would be on my side and advocate for what is best for me and my baby throughout my whole pregnancy and labor experience. I am so happy and grateful that I found exactly that in Shamina. From our very first meeting I felt her positive energy and had confidence in her expertise. Whether we met virtually or in person, she made sure all my questions were answered and that we discussed options for all potential plans. When my labor day came, Shamina was in constant communication with us until she arrived to the hospital. At the hospital, she made sure I was comfortable physically, mentally, and emotionally, that the doctors and nurses stayed true to my birth plan (with safety), and that I was well taken care of. She provided a very calm and cool energy while also standing strong with my wishes. After the birth of my daughter, Shamina stayed to help with our bonding and breastfeeding. She continued to maintain communication with me days after and provided additional support for breastfeeding. I cannot imagine my birthing experience without her assistance and presence. I would highly recommend Shamina as a doula!

Jen

10/19/2021

My wife and I are so pleased with our son’s birth story and we contribute a huge part of that to Shamina. From the moment we met Shamina, we felt a sense of assurance, calmness and stability. She is extremely knowledgeable, non-judgemental and supportive. She gracefully carried us while we processed potential scary information from our OB (thankfully our baby is healthy and well). She empowered us by teaching us all about the birthing process and answered all of our questions and concerns. In addition, she provided us with tips and a yoga routine to carry out a healthy pregnancy.

During labor, Shamina was calm and hands-on. She used acupressure and recommended positions to help ease the pain from contractions. Not only did she support myself to help birth our son, but she also supported my wife. She was a true advocate in the hospital and we are so grateful to her. 

During our final visit together, Shamina came to our home and answered all of our questions. She supported me with breastfeeding my son and taught me various feeding positions, which I still use today. 

Giving birth can be an unpredictable/nerve wracking experience but throughout the whole process, Shamina was a guiding and steadying force.  We can not imagine having a baby without her. We HIGHLY recommend her!

Briana

9/24/2021

Shamina was the beloved doula for the birth of our first child in March 2021 - I truly cannot recommend her enough.

Approaching your first birth is scary, exciting, confusing, shattering - we knew from the start that we wanted to have a doula present with us to help guide us through this experience.

In addition to the services leading up to birth that most doulas provide such as the prenatal appointment, birth exercises, etc., Shamina was generously available along the way. She explained things I was hearing at my doctors appointments that I didn't understand and shared countless recommendations for everything from acupuncturists to foods that would stimulate labor.

She was my first text when I thought I was in labor and then...when I actually was! Having that kind of love and support through such a sensitive time gave me the confidence I needed to head into delivery with a strong and determined attitude.

In the delivery room - Shamina was a force! She has a very unique ability to be incredibly calming while also being a STRONG advocate for your needs. Delivery can get pretty chaotic and when it's your first time, you don't always know what you NEED. That's where Shamina comes in. She was able to articulate and advocate for my needs where I otherwise wasn't able to.

Her presence made me feel truly SAFE, regardless of what was going on with labor at the time. My partner would say the same. Because we had the utmost confidence in Shamina, he was able to relax into the experience and we were able to focus on being the birth partners we prepared so much to be! I will be forever grateful to Shamina for being a part of our family story :)

Geeta Laud

7/29/2021

Shamina was an invaluable part of my birth experience. We had preparation sessions leading up to my due date in which she guided us through creating goals for labor and delivery and thoroughly went over very helpful comfort techniques and birthing positions that were useful to manage my pain during the early stages of labor. She made herself extremely accessible in the weeks leading up to my due date, following up with me after every doctor's visit and ultrasound and she when my physician proposed different options, she spent more time discussing the options than my provider. During my labor and delivery she was a true advocate and she made me feel cared for and more at ease, supporting me throughout my induction as well as pushing and delivery. She ensured my birthing team answered all of my questions and addressed all of my concerns. She made my comfort a priority during my induction. For example, after my water broke, she made me absorbent underwear using a pad and mesh underwear so that I would be more comfortable and wouldn't feel the liquid running down my leg. She supported me thoroughly and I whole heartedly can say she was an integral and invaluable part of the entire process and I highly recommend her services for anyone who is pregnant.

Emily Quan

5/1/2021

This was going to be my second labor and delivery and my husband and I had discussed maybe not using a doula this time...maybe we had enough experience to do it on our own. After a few seconds, I came to my senses and realized that I definitely wanted to have a doula with us, to guide us on our birth journey.  So, I started interviewing doulas. Shamina and I met in a cafe where she answered all of my questions and immediately put me at ease. Shamina was everything I was looking for in a doula.  She was supportive, knowledgeable, calming and honest. My husband and I will forever be grateful to her. 

Kelly Lin-Chau

4/1/2021

Shamina was our doula for the birth of our first child in November 2020, and we could not have been more grateful for her presence and support. From the time we hired Shamina, we could tell that she had an incredible amount of experience supporting birthing people and their partners. She provided so much helpful information, without making me feel pressured to make certain decisions. During labor and delivery, however, is when she really shone - she did not only provide hands on pain management for hours, but she helped my husband navigate the hospital/check-in procedures (and coached him on how to support me) and also helped me successfully advocate for my birth preferences (including different laboring positions, avoiding vacuums/forceps) in a hospital setting with my OB. Even while in labor, I could tell that she was firm but gentle in her support and communication to hospital staff, and her presence was so calming. When we returned home from the hospital and I was painfully engorged from my milk coming in, she came the next day to help me with my pain and breastfeeding challenges. I have only positive memories from my birth (even if things didn't go according to "plan"), and truly believe it would have been different if it wasn't for Shamina.

Isabel

2/10/2021

Shamina was a wonderful resource and support throughout the last weeks of pregancy, during delivery, and post partum. She always had a positive attitude and a smile on her face. To help us feel prepared for labor and delivery, we scheduled two zoom meetings (due to COVID) to go step-by-step of what would happen the day of the birth, the role of my partner, logistics, and our birth plan. Whenever we had questions, she would answer clearly and would provide research-based resources (when available). In the last weeks of the pregnancy, Shamina touched base with me before and after every appointment and helped me digest the doctor's proposals once I went past my due date. 

The day of delivery, while I labored at home, she was in constant communication with my husband and guided us on what to do and when to go to the hospital. During delivery, she helped me through every contraction and always stayed calmed, even when there were complications. Not only did she help with the pain by massaging, and trying different positions and excercises, but she also strongly advocated for us when a nurse would not call the anesthesiologist after my epidoral was not working properly. 

Post partum, Shamina helped me with breastfeeding at the hospital and later at home. She continued to checkin weeks after the baby was born to make sure we were all doing well. I could not say enough good things about Shamina - she is kind, respectful, and knowledgable. I don't know what we would have done without her! 

Miriam Wolf

12/2/2020

I cannot recommend Shamina’s services as a doula highly enough.

From the beginning, while I was still

Pregnant, through labor, and into the first postpartum week she was attentive, compassionate, and never impatient with my many questions.

She is a lovely balance of grounded and holistic.

During labor, I was stuck in triage (this is during covid) without my partner, and she was the single force that supported me, guided me, and honestly, the reason I was able to make it through active labor without medication.

She also was a great communicator with my wife, which made a huge difference from start to finish, but mostly while I was pushing! I think my wife also felt seen, supported, and very confident in Shamina’s knowledge and abilities.

Shaminas post partum visit was especially generous and kind. She spent several hours with us and our new baby, just talking, offering gentle but very useful suggestion.

In all, I felt well taken care of from start to finish. Most importantly I felt empowered and held through labor.

I absolutely feel she (and having a doula) made a massive positive difference in my experience having a natural childbirth experience.

Dianne

11/16/2020

Working with Shamina was the best part of my birth story and the reason my #1 tip to expecting moms from now on will be to have a doula on your team.

Having done this work for years, Shamina has a vast knowledge of the different hospitals in NYC and of how to support any type of birth with the perfect mix of practicality and spirituality.  I was a first-time mom planning an unmedicated birth at the Brooklyn Birthing Center, so I really leaned on her for physical and emotional support before, during and after the labor.  She helped me stay sane and to make a plan when I didn't go into labor until 9 days after my due date.  Once I did go into labor, she came to my apartment in the middle of the night and immediately lowered my pain and anxiety by 1000%, sending my husband to bed, timing my contractions for me, helping me get comfortable on the sofa, creating a peaceful and calm environment, and guiding me through exercises to stimulate my contractions.  I actually went through the entire first stage of labor at home with her!

After we got to the birth center, though, it eventually became clear that the baby was not positioned to come out naturally.  So Shamina also rode in the ambulance with me to the hospital for emergency surgery and stayed until they kicked her out.  I was never scared or traumatized even during the emergency transfer because I felt so supported the whole time.

Shamina is also a lactation consultant and includes a postpartum visit in her fee, and really helped me get breastfeeding off to a great start with personalized, actionable advice (the hospital nurses and LCs also gave a lot of advice, but it was not very helpful for me).

In conclusion, I highly recommend working with Shamina no matter what your birth plan is and taking all of her advice.

J

9/16/2020

In the hours after our first baby was born and over the months since, my partner and I have said over and over to each other that we don't know what we would've done without Shamina. She made the experience perfect.

From the start of pregnancy, I knew I wanted a birth doula, because I was worried about feeling intimidated, confused, or uncomfortable when in the hospital. I'd heard stories from friends about getting overwhelmed in the medical setting. I really wanted to build a relationship with a firm, compassionate, supportive doula who would help me advocate for myself during this high-pressure moment. As soon as we met Shamina, we knew she was the one. She listened carefully and nonjudgmentally to our concerns and offered insights from her own experience. She was wonderful.

The coronavirus pandemic upended all my expectations about pregnancy and birth. But Shamina adapted her usual practice to fit the changing times. First, she offered virtual support and empowered us to learn more about the birthing process than we ever would've otherwise, so we felt confident and capable as my due date approached. Then, in the final days before the birth (and once NYC's cases were more under control), Shamina offered to come to our apartment in person while I was laboring. This was hugely generous of her. Her presence was calming and stabilizing, leaving me and my partner feeling great, truly, as labor progressed. When it was time to go to the hospital, Shamina assessed the risk of exposure at that moment and decided to accompany us into labor and delivery. We were over the moon. My experience in L&D turned out to be far from intimidating – the medical staff was fantastic – yet having Shamina there made all the difference in our progress. When I was pushing, she literally coached me into the position that got the baby out! She left us glowing about how positive it all was. We will be grateful to her forever.

Liz

7/29/2020

We delivered our baby at the peak of the surge in New York City. My partner and I weren't sure how Shamina was going to be able to support us if she was not going to be allowed in the delivery room due to COVID restrictions.  Although Shamina could not be there in person for us, she ended up providing tremendous support virtually. She coached my partner so he could better support me,  and helped us communicate our needs to the nurses and doctors.  I felt relief knowing Shamina was there as my advocate and ally in the difficult circumstances of my baby's delivery. Looking back, I can't imagine not having had Shamina's support, and it's for this reason I highly recommend every birthing person get a doula. 

Zoe

4/3/2020

Highly highly highly recommend Shamina. We interviewed multiple promising doulas and my intuition was that Shamina would be the best fit- based on our needs, her experience/expertise, and her pressence- and that could not have been more true. She was extremely supportive, flexible and knowledgable. We started working with Shamina pretty late into our pregnancy and she was unbothered by this- jumped right in. She helped us with the basics (we were pretty clueless) and also helped us manage our specfic needs as they came up. When our baby moved into breech position, she helped us address this with hands-on help, referrals, and emotional support. When baby flipped and then flipped back, she helped us manage our decisions and care. Shamina then provided essential postpartum care. This included lactation support- that magically improved our baby's latch and made it possible for me to continue breastfeeding. I feel fortunate that I can continue to stay in touch with Shamina for her support and expertise. I would recommend her to anyone.

Tanya

3/1/2020

Working with Shamina as a doula was the best decision I made for the birth of my son. I very much appreciated Shamina's knowledge and evidence-based approach before, during, and after labor and delivery. I was very anxious about the birth. I found Shamina to be calming and she greatly helped with my anxiety. She is very knowledgeable about all aspects of labor and delivery. She helped me make informed and empowered decisions about the birth, including in the weeks leading up to my induction. Most importantly, she helped me have a smooth vaginal delivery.  She was also extremely helpful afterwards with lactation. I highly recommend Shamina.

Demi & Iain

2/10/2020

My dream for many years had been to have a beautiful, unmedicated home birth. I didn't fear birth I was excited to finally experience it for myself. So I knew picking my birth team was very important as this could make or break my hopes. Before even interviewing doulas I had an entire checklist of what was important to me and Shamina met all of the boxes. Shamina was my first and only interview. After meeting her I knew instantly she was the doula I wanted at my side during my labor and birth. Through out my pregnancy Shamina checked in and was there to answer any questions we had. When I went in to labor late at night she was responsive immediately and offered to head over whenever we wanted. When we asked her to come over, she arrived shortly after. From the moment she arrived till the moment she left she was helpful, comforting, nurturing and resourceful. She made my labor in to a beautiful, calming and peaceful space. She was not only my doula but my husbands doula as well as she made him feel involved, up to date on what was going on, settled and cared for. She often reminded him to eat, drink and even shut his eyes to get some energy as it had been a long labor for him as well. After birth, Shamina continued checking in and was responsive to all my breastfeeding questions. I would recommend Shamina to anyone or everyone because I am sure that her personality can compliment any laboring woman and partner. I can never thank Shamina enough because I truly believe she was a huge part in getting me my dream birth. We will most defiantly hire Shamina for any future births!

Amanda

1/31/2020

Shamina was my doula for my second birth, and as my first birth experience was far from positive, she helped give me the birth experience I truly wanted. Having Shamina as our doula was a gamechanger. Shamina’s presence throughout labor and delivery was calming, reassuring, and gave me confidence when contractions and labor got tough. I ended up needing to be induced, and even before I got to the hospital Shamina was on the phone with me answering questions and telling me what I could expect. Once I was in labor, she continued to answer questions that came up along the way while also helping me stay comfortable with different labor positions and massage. Her ability to understand the symphony of machines I was hooked up to was so helpful. When she noticed my contractions were happening very close together for my stage of labor, she alerted the doctor and nurses who agreed with her and turned the Pitocin down. She also was key in getting my doctor and nurse in the room when I was ready to push long before the medical team anticipated. Additionally, the emotional support she provided was invaluable.  The way she helped me stay as comfortable as possible with massage or simply putting her hand on my leg or back was so reassuring and comforting, and it gave me emotional support I didn’t realize I very much needed. She also provided lactation support when the baby was born and in our postpartum visit at home. Breastfeeding was so important to me, but I was about ready to give up after excruciating latches from my son the first night and day at home. When Shamina visited, she helped me get my baby on without pain for the first time since leaving the hospital and gave me the confidence to keep going with breastfeeding. Shamina was such an amazing support and resource throughout this whole experience and I truly believe it would not have been even close to as good without her. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a doula!

Pauli

1/9/2020

Having Shamina as my doula was the very best decision I made about my pregnancy and birth. I could not imagine my birth without her. From my first interactions with her, Shamina was knowledgable, kind, and responsive. She listened to my wants, needs, and fears about birth. During labor and delivery she was a calm presence and was my adovcate with doctors and nurses in the hospital. She guided me through each phase of labor and helped me understand what was happening to my body. I wasn't scared during labor and birth and I can attribute that directly to her. Shamina also provided a lactation visit after birth which answered so many questions about breastfeeding. I am still breastfeeding well 2 months later thanks to the advice and support she gave me! I highly, highly recommend Shamina!

Melissa Di Pinto

9/2/2019

 

pt 1 of 2

 

Shamina is an exceptional doula and we are so grateful to have found her.  She is passionate about her work and this shows in all she does - from her willingness to call the hospital on your behalf to ensure they have resolved a water issue, to her ability to swiftly track down and retrieve birthing props from the labor and delivery floor that she intuitively knows will help you.  

We worked with Shamina during our second pregnancy, which was a challenging one from beginning to end.  We appreciated how she really took her time to understand the issues, listen to our concerns and respond with knowledge, compassion and support. Throughout the pregnancy and delivery Shamina created and held a safe and supportive space for my husband and myself.  We were thoroughly pleased with her care before, during and after the delivery of our son. Shamina provides comprehensive care and is deeply knowledgeable about pregnancy issues and complications, labor and delivery, postpartum care and breastfeeding.  She is also extremely generous with her time and resources. Shamina provided me with well-vetted referrals for acupuncture, physical therapy and pre natal massage at a time when I desperately needed relief.  She made herself available whenever we needed her and responded in truly thoughtful and helpful ways.  

Melissa Di Pinto

9/1/2019

pt 2 of 2

 

Shamina is a great listener and is patient.  She helped guide us through the induction process, offering advice for how to delay Pitocin use and helped us to find our voice and navigate this part of the process ourselves.  Once my labor started she continually checked in and offered advice but waited for us to let her know when we needed her there.  This empowered and provided us with some very memorable and precious time to labor alone as a couple.  There are things about Shamina that we believe are hard to find and set her apart from the rest.  One is her breadth of experience and passion for helping clients deliver naturally in a hospital setting.  This is not an easy thing to do and she is great at it.  Her skill and confidence really put me at ease, which in turn further supported us in achieving our goal of a natural delivery.   Shamina is a quiet but powerful force.  She has a gift for knowing just what you need while in labor and delivering it with confidence and calm.  During labor Shamina read the room and my body with ease.  She effectively applied counter pressure and massage without me even having to ask during the most trying parts of the labor.  Her skillful assistance was a big reason why I was able to stay the course of an unmedicated labor.  When postpartum complications with preeclampsia sent me back to the hospital, Shamina provided informed and calming support.  Her advice while establishing breastfeeding and help thinking ahead to my return to work were extremely helpful.  It is our belief that having the right doula by your side is essential.  We have no doubt that Shamina will be the right doula for you.  

Rachel Miller

7/27/2019

I went back and forth about hiring a doula because it was my third baby and my second labor was so short that my doula missed it. I am so grateful I decided to hire Shamina because this birth was so different from my second. It turns out that I don't think I could have had the medication-free birth I was hoping for without Shamina's help. 

Throughout my pregnancy Shamina was a constant source of support via text or email. She answered questions, gave suggestions and advice and pep talks as needed. After my experience with my second birth, I made sure to send Shamina updates often as my due date got closer. She never made me feel like I was a bother despite all the texts. 

When my labor finally happened (six days after my due date!) more of it took place in the hospital than I planned. The comfort that normally would have helped me cope at home was absent which is why Shamina was so vital. As soon as she walked into my hospital room, she took charge setting a calming atmosphere. She was a great sounding board when the doctor gave me a few options about how to get my labor to progress and I really trusted her opinion and expertise. When things finally started to get hard, Shamina gave me lots of suggestions of different positions to labor in but always followed my lead and allowed me the space to find what was most comfortable to me. She maintained a calm, positive energy when I started to lose my mojo and empowered me to trust my body.

Shamina, I can't thank you enough for helping me achieve the labor I wanted. 

Nicole Nemetz

7/25/2019

Shamina Rao is a fantastic doula! She assisted my husband and I with the birth of our second baby, and was worth her weight in gold. I had a C-section with my first, and really wanted to try for a VBAC. Thanks to Shamina's expertise, suggestions, and calming presence, I was successful! 

From the moment I met her, I liked her, and felt I was in capable hands. Besides knowledgeable, she is very professional and I felt grounded and at ease with her. She evaluated the reasons why I had a C-section with my first, and made suggestions for things I could do this time (exercises, yoga ball, prenatal chiropracter, etc) to increase my chances for the desired result of a VBAC. However, she was never pushy about any of this. She checked in lots towards the end of my pregnancy and was responsive with any questions I had.

On the day of delivery, I went into labor around 2:30am, and Shamina was available the moment I texted her (such a relief!). Since this was my second labor, it progressed much more quickly than my first and she quickly arrived at our house so we could go to the hospital together. This was amazing because her massage and acupressure really helped during the contractions I had in the cab!

At the hospital, she was fantastic about continuing the massage and pressure during contractions, along with suggesting different positions and offering any advice if my husband and I had questions. She, the doctor, and the nurses all had a wonderful repoir (despite it being the first time they had all met), and really worked together to support me. The L&D team even commented afterwards about how wonderful Shamina was. She helped me dig deep when I was losing faith, and was crucial when I was pushing...holding my hand, counting out, cheering me on. And we did it!

I can't say enough good things about Shamina and highly recommend her to anyone consdering a doula. I will definitely work with her again if we go for a third!

Jeanette Wallace

7/20/2019

We hired Shamina again for the birth of our second child - laboring without Shamina’s guidance was too daunting of a prospect to risk alone. We were able to labor mostly at home, with the comfort of pets and music. Shamina kept me on my hands and knees to weather the contractions, which were fast and powerful. Once we made it to the hospital, she helped communicate with nurses and doctors, who were otherwise unfamiliar with how fast my active labor becomes. With her coaching, I was able to labor and deliver for the second time without an epidural as well. I highly recommend her and hope to hire her again in the future! 

Jane Katz

7/11/2019

My experience with Shamina was fantastic, for so many reasons. First off, Shamina has the perfect combination of holistic and evidence-based knowledge. She never recommends anything that she cannot back up with fact, which is reassuring during the birth process. Shamina is also a yoga instructor, and has a calming energy to her at all times. This comes in handy in a hospital setting at 4am when contractions are through the roof. 

Shamina is able to walk you through all your options, carefully describing every possible scenario and outcome. This made me feel confident and informed when my birth took a turn in a different direction. While I was planning an un-medicated birth, I ended up with an induction and needing epidural. I felt that these were the right decisions in the moment and with Shamina by my side, I had no doubts. 

I would wholeheartedly recommend you hire Shamina as your birth doula, with complete faith that she will support you no matter what! 

Sincerely,

Jane + Brandon

Emily & Alex

7/8/2019

We knew Shamina before deciding to ask her to be our doula, having practiced yoga with her. She helps me stay centered in my body and focused on meditating and breathing through physical challenges in my yoga practice, thus she was an obvious choice as a support person through the experience of childbirth.

I didn't want a birth plan, knowing that investing in a "plan" meant it would go right out the window (foreshadowing!). I completely trusted both Shamina and my partner, Alex, to help me make decisions about the labor experience while it was happening.

On the day of our baby's birth, I labored briefly before getting to the hospital (water broke, and I was GBS+). Upon arriving, we learned our baby had turned breech since my last appointment 5 days prior. Given how far dilated I was, a C-section was the best option for keeping both me and the baby safe. I only cared about us both ending up on the other side of the birth healthy and safe, but we had done very minimal thinking about C-sections and didn't know what questions to be considering.

During this time Shamina joined us, helping me get through contractions by encouraging movement, breathing, massaging my back and applying counterpressure on my hips. She calmly helped us prep for the C-section, coaching us on what to expect, in between intense contractions. The five hours from water breaking to our baby's birth included active, rapid labor and unexpected major surgery. Shamina's directness and equanimity helped us get through the whirlwind of it all, feeling as confident as we could. She joined me and the baby in the recovery room right after surgery to guide our first nursing experience, and with her help we were feeding successfully right away.

Shamina's guidance got us through a very surreal journey, on the other side of which we now have our beautiful son. I'd recommend her highly as a steady presence on a wild ride. 

Becky

6/29/2019

We had a truly amazing experience with Shamina. 
 
The highlights: Shamina is very kind, professional, reassuring, and calm. When we first got to the hospital they only allowed 1 person in the room, so my husband toughed it out with me. It was awful- very painful, and nothing I was doing helped me cope. The Dr. told us that I wasn't very dilated and the baby's heart rate decelerations were very concerning, so they'd likely need to accelerate the labor- read: Pitocin, pain, and a higher likelihood of c-section.

Then Shamina came in and everything changed. She had me stand, sway my hips, put counterpressure on my back, and gently, and repeatedly, coached me on how to breath to get through each contraction. It went from pure agony to really Zen. I could tolerate the contractions so much better. I was almost falling asleep between each 1. Even better, the fetal decelerations went away and I dilated considerably fairly quickly. Truly, not only did Shamina help me tolerate labor better, everything she was doing helped the baby tolerate labor better. I was amazed.

In the delivery room, we continued what had been working before, and added in a birthing ball. I ultimately requested an epidural. Shamina talked me through the decision and made sure it’s what I really wanted then we moved forward.
The epidural helped a ton. Shamina encouraged me to take a nap. When I woke up, I surprised myself by starting to cry and confess my fears about pushing and about being a parent. Shamina was incredibly calming, and helped me talk through everything, and helped me release all those fears.


Shortly after I delivered after 10 minutes of pushing. Shamina helped guide us through the 1st hour after birth. She was like a shadow, there but not there at the same time.


In the short amount of time we spent with her I came to trust her completely. Her judgment is right on and her demeanor is perfect.

Katie

6/17/2019

I give my highest recommendation for Shamina! From the minute I met her, I knew I wanted her as my doula. She has amazing, calming energy. I felt reassured that all would be fine as soon as she came into my life. My labor wound up being an induction and the baby was, unexpectedly, 9 lbs (note, I'm a petite 5'1''). Shamina made all the difference in my ability to have a successful vaginal birth. She has an unbelievable gift of touch. It was the counterpressure that she provided during the contractions that enabled me to breathe through the pain. Also, Shamina worked beautifully with my doctors to get me through the pushing part of the labor. Words really can not express my gratitude to Shamina! Again, I give her my highest recommendation!

Lisa Meng

6/17/2019

When we found out we were pregnant with our first child, we knew that we wanted to have a doula support us through the journey. Shamina was reccomended to me, and from our first conversation I knew she was the perfect fit. She was matter of fact, gentle, calm, and knew the NYC landscape inside and out. We began working with Shamina when I was around 20 weeks and her advice and guidance was invaluable. From helping us select a provider we trusted, to being available with suggestions on how to manage pregancy aches and pains, it really felt like we had a partner walking us through every step. She met with us for many hours as my due date got closer and sent us everything from hospital packing lists to a prenatal yoga sequence to make us feel truly prepared. When labor actually began, Shamina was there for us. She was available on call at all hours of the day and night and really championed us through some tough moments and decisions. In the hospital there was so much happening at once, and it felt reassuring to know we had someone in the room who was giving us the advice that we needed to hear and in line with what was truly best for us. After the baby was born, we were busy experiencing a rush of emotions and it was Shamina who reccomended when we tried to get the baby to latch during our skin to skin time. I truly feel like having her in those moments helped us have a smooth transition to breastfeeding, and given her expertise with lactation, I never worried once about breastfeeding because I knew I would have help on hand if I needed it. I've sent her name around to all my pregnant friends and can't reccomend her enough for anyone who is looking for a solid friend, partner, confidante through all the experiences of pregnancy, labor, and motherhood! 

Shreya Patel

5/8/2019

I was looking for someone who could help us navigate the hospital setting and be an advocate / consultant if we had to make decisions in the process. My main goal was avoiding a C-section and I thought Shamina was really good at listening to what we were focused on and helping us work through the process. I didn’t want anyone that would be too “holistic care” as I wanted to work with the hospital system and get an epidural (and not get judged for that) and Shamina was great. Our OB actually recommended her and she helped us navigate a very long labor: she spent a night in the hospital with us, would give us a second opinion and propose an alternative on medical recommendations if she thought there was another way and she even helped me do yoga in bed AFTER getting the epidural to get the baby in position... all things that were super helpful in my case.  For anyone looking for an advocate in the medical system, I would highly recommend working with Shamina. 

Hope

4/1/2019

Shamina assisted with the birth of my third child. I had two previous vaginal deliveries that did not require medical intervention, and I hoped for the same experience with the third birth. Upon meeting Shamina, I knew she was an excellent match for us. She listened to my prior experiences and validated my concerns while bolstering my confidence for labor. I felt that Shamina would be able to coach me through an unmedicated labor, if all went well, while also being able to support me through any unexpected/unfortunate complications requiring interventions. Shamina met with me ahread of the birth and recommended appropriate care to address pelvic/groin pain (prenatal chiropractor) while also providing me with exercises to prepare and strengthen my body for labor. She provided support and advice when my water broke but labor did not begin. She encouraged low intervention options to promote contractions which helped me avoid use of pitocin, thereby enabling me to move freely throughout the labor. She helped during labor with various positions to ease pain and effective use of the room and birthing tools. Most importantly, Shamina was the voice I needed during transition and pushing the baby out. When fear crept in, I could look at her face and listen to her voice - finding the confidence I needed to endure a bit more. While my husband provided loving encouragement and the midwife provided technical expertise, Shamina provided calm confidence. Her presence was critical to my birthing team! Following the birth, Shamina helped position the baby for easy and immediate nursing. She continued to help me manage my pain while I delivered the placenta and while the midwife removed blood clots and adminstered stiches. A few days after returning home, it was a pleasure to have Shamina visit and hold our sweet baby while also helping me process the birth verbally and emotionally. I can't imagine the birth without her support - I'm so very glad we had her with us! 

Katherine F.

3/21/2019

My husband and I had a wonderful experience working with Shamina and would strongly recommend her as a birth doula. I was very comfortable with Shamina from our first meeting through delivery. She is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. She also has a clear, precise communication style while being empathetic and a good listener. Throughout my pregnancy and the birth, Shamina was extremely helpful, supportive, and never judgemental (including with respect to our decision to use an epidural). Knowing that Shamina would be with us during labor and delivery significantly reduced the anxiety we had around the birth of our first child. Her presence also allowed my husband to focus on being emotionally supportive and present for our son’s birth rather than being a labor coach. We would definitely love to work with Shamina again if we have another child. 

Tara

3/4/2019

I gave birth to my first and only child in November. Shamina’s support before, during and after my delivery were indispensable.  As a 40 year old, single, first-time mom I was a little anxious, and being of “advanced maternal age” the medical world only added my anxiety.

From our first meeting it was clear that Shamina was knowledgeable, resourceful, sensitive and kind and was available and communicative after our meeting.  At our 8 month visit she met with myself and my mom.  That visit is a bit of a blur, but I do remember feeling comfortable and confident that Shamina would represent my best interests, advocate for my birth plan and help me navigate what ever complication or issue I may run into.  

At 38 weeks, after a non stress test, my doctor sent me to deliver.  Although my wish was a natural birth, I knew this didn’t forebode well.  After I paged my midwife and called my mom, I reached out to Shamina.  

Shamina arrived to the hospital shortly after I was admitted.  At this point I was anticipating a Caesarian so we discussed my options around that. We didn’t get to that point, in fact a balloon induction is all I needed, but talking to Shamina helped me feel comfortable with whatever course my labor and delivery was going to take.  Throughout my experience Shamina was a strong, reassuring, sensitive presence.  Along with my friend and midwife I was secure that I had everything I needed and could focus purely on giving birth to my daughter. 

I did not know how challenging the postpartum period would be and Shamina continued to provide me with critical support as I recovered emotionally and helped me keep a clear head around what my daughter needed.

I can not recommend Shamina more as a doula.  She exemplifies what it means to provide support and guidance in such a critical time in a woman’s life.  

 

Kathleen Bowling

1/29/2019

If I have any additional children, I will definitely hire Shamina as my doula again.  I have also been recommending her to all of my pregnant friends.  Shamina was so compassionate and professional throughout the entire process: prenatal, labor/delivery, and postpartum.  She always listened closely to my concerns and questions and drew on her extensive experience and knowledge to address my personal needs.  Her presence during my labor and delivery was indispensable: strong, maternal, grounded, encouraging.  She knew what types of touch would best address my pain while I labored, and with her calming voice she guided me to use my own body and voice to progress through each contraction.  Even my husband recognized how special Shamina is: after we parted ways from our initial consultation, he said, "Hire her.  We don't want to pass her up."

I highly recommend Shamina as a doula.  She is experienced, thoughtful, compassionate, and effective in her practice.

Seo Park

11/21/2018

From the very beginning Shamina has always been responsive and available to discuss all the questions and concerns we had. We’re first time parents, so we were nervous about labor and the postpartum period and Shamina really made us feel at ease even starting with our first phone call. During the first prenatal visit, Shamina had helpful and thoughtful advice, feedback and resources which helped us prepare for labor and for the baby. It was also helpful to be able to keep in touch with Shamina leading up to birth with additional questions and her thoughts on what my OB recommended. Our baby was breeched, and Shamina had a lot of resources and exercises on how to help flip the baby. Our baby did flip, thank goodness. No matter what concerns came up, Shamina was always able to provide advice and feedback that made us feel less alone and confused, especially with all the information on the internet. My labor was a bit complicated and ended up having to do a c section, but Shamina was helpful throughout the whole process and we felt really supported during this trying time. Her postpartum visit was super helpful going over my postpartum care as well as the baby’s and answering our many questions. She helped with breastfeeding positioning, which was more helpful than what the hospital showed me, and she helped my baby successfully latch on my left side which he hasn’t been able to do!

Overall, I couldn’t recommend Shamina more! We felt really supported and it was great having someone in our corner that we trusted during a confusing and scary time. She really helped us feel more prepared for the baby and labor!

Anna Curtis

8/19/2018

Shamina is PHENOMENAL! My husband and I welcomed our first child in June and we are so thankful that Shamina was by our side. From the initial prenatal meeting to our postpartum visit Shamina was attentive, kind, thoughtful, informative, and supportive. I was worried about working with someone who had their own agenda and would try to sway me towards their preferred practices but Shamina really got to know us and fully supported our decisions and empowered us to have the birth we wanted. She listened to us and simply wanted to be our advocate towards the experience we envisioned.

During labor, Shamina not only knew all of the pressure points and was helpful physically but she was so encouraging both to me and my husband. I felt empowered and safe with her helping us through such an intense experience. Also, once our daughter arrived, Shamina took sweet photos and captured the beautiful moment so my husband and I could focus on our new family of three.

After the delivery, she came to our home and helped guide me with different tips for breastfeeding. It was wonderful seeing her again.

We honestly can't say enough wonderful things about our experience working with Shamina. Although our time with her was, in the grand scheme of things, brief, she feels like a part of the family. Having such a strong, informed, experienced and supportive professional by our side alleviated so much stress and anxiety and allowed my husband and me to focus on the experience of welcoming our daughter into the world knowing we had her by our side.

Jennifer Conway

7/6/2018

Shamina’s caring and thoughtful approach came through from the start. During prenatal meetings and conversations she took the time to really get to know me and my husband and our expectations, needs, and concerns. Shamina made us feel incredibly comfortable which is so important since a doula sees you at a time when you’re most vulnerable and the doula/client relationship is so intimate.

Going into the birth and during it Shamina made me feel supported, secure, and confident about decisions in my control and out of it. For example I went 10 days past my due date and ultimately had to be induced. This was not part of my birth plan - I was hoping for as little intervention as possible - and I was so anxious! Shamina called or texted almost ever day during the 10 day waiting period, keeping me calm and recommending different techniques to help bring on labor.

As a doula and a mother Shamina has tons of knowledge and experience that’s invaluable and she cares deeply. She could help me anticipate, understand, and plan. For example she walked me through the induction process in detail so I would know what questions to ask and what to expect.

Shamina was with us at the hospital through the entire birth (18+ hours), supporting and caring every step of the way. Her expertise, positive attitude and calm demeanor allowed us to be truly present and at ease during and after our son’s birth. If you plan to breastfeed, having support and guidance in the beginning is critical. Shamina patiently helped me through early breastfeeding issues in the days right after the birth when I was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed and got me and my son off to a solid start.

We had a wonderful experience with Shamina - I’m so grateful that we had the opportunity to work with her. I couldn’t imagine my son’s birth without her as part of it and I highly reccommend her.

Rita Leduc

7/1/2018

After having a first birth that was far from my ideal vision, Shamina took on a challenge with me. I was putting unreasonable pressure on making this second birth happen naturally and I had a lot of trauma to work through. Shamina not only supported me in my pregnancy journey as I sifted through these feelings - offering accompanying practices to help clear and prepare my body and mind - but was the perfect balance of gentle and confident when labor finally began. She helped me access my own inner strength while offering external support as needed. In short, Shamina escorted me through one of my proudest, strongest, most successful experiences and helped gift me the birth that I wanted so, so badly. I am forever grateful to her and recommend her with all 8lb 6oz of this new little nugget!

Carolina Carvalho-Cross

5/26/2018

Shamina was present for our third daughter‘s birth. Having given birth twice before (once with a doula and once without - I would never ever recommend going without a doula!), I knew exactly what I wanted from a doula - and Shamina was easily able to provide that and more. My labor was intense as I had to be put on pitocin and without Shamina I 100% for sure would not have been able to achieve my goal of giving birth without pain medication. From suggesting different positions to providing counter pressure and helping my husband and sister help me, she was able to navigate me through the pain and provided me with the experience I had always wanted during childbirth, but had not yet been able to achieve. And yet I knew at the same time that should I not have succeeded she would have provided me with nothing but support for an epidural or anything else I might have required. She was such a calm and soothing presence and kept me calm and collected through what could have easily been a very stressful experience as my daughter came 5.5 weeks early. We are ever so grateful to her and recommend her without hesitation. I am sad we will not be having any more children as I would have loved to have hired her again for another birth.

Lily Antflick

4/22/2018

As I reflect back on my birth experience, I can't imagine going through it without Shamina. Having her by our side throughout my labor was incredibly helpful. She is a strong, calming, and knowledgeable force, and gracefully guided us through this new and intense experience. Her dedication and encouragement helped me find the confidence to get through the day. Shamina's expertise in yoga and reiki was comforting throughout my pregnancy, keeping me physically and emotionally at ease. I was very fortunate having Shamina by my side during this monumental experience. Shamina continues to be a positive presence in our lives.

Neela Vaswani

3/11/2018

I can’t imagine giving birth without Shamina. Even before going into labor, she was instrumental as a guiding, calm presence. She helped us with gentle third trimester yoga that relieved my back and hip pain; she answered a thousand questions, assisted with our birth plan, made key nutritional suggestions. She dealt with us as individuals, really listened to our family story (both emotional and physical), and, moving forward, took everything we said into account .

I had a difficult labor (after developing preeclampsia) and ultimately had to have an emergency C-section. The decisions we made were urgent and Shamina helped us to make wise choices. She worked well with the nurses and doctors, speaking their language, but also humanized the “medical experience” by demystifying everything and alleviating our fears.

Initially, my husband was skeptical about having a doula but once we met with Shamina, he was fully on board; throughout the difficult labor, the two of them worked as a seamless team to relieve my pain with acupressure and massage. With Shamina by our side, we felt held and safe and comforted and informed. It was a privilege to have her at our daughter’s birth. It’s amazing to me how one person could support three very different members of a family, simultaneously (in our case, mother, father, and baby) while also navigating the medical bureaucracy. Thank you, Shamina, for your grace, calm, knowledge, and straightforward practicality. You’re a life saver.

Leah Steiner

3/11/2018

Shamina was the perfect fit for our birth experience. From the moment we met her my husband and I felt her confidence and compassion. We couldn’t be more right. She was tremendously helpful when making decisions and easing the pain of labor. Her knowledge and nonjudgmental attitude left me feeling fully prepared to make the best decisions during labor. Shamina continued to check in on me for days after the birth and left me feeling secure and supported. I highly recommend Shamina!

Aleza Summit

2/18/2018

Shamina's grounding presence was invaluable during my labor. Both at home and at the hospital, her calm and supportive energy helped me a lot. Particularly when I felt frustrated that things were not going how I might have liked, her experienced advice and hands-on support (including some reiki!) were key in helping me and my partner shift that energy towards calmer acceptance of the situation, which ended up culminating in a birth experience I felt really good about.

Sarah Bogucki

12/8/2017

Our experience with Shamina as our doula was wonderful and everything we hoped it would be. As first time parents, we wanted an experienced professional who was both warm and knowledgeable. Shamina exceeded our expectations. During our long labor, Shamina provided hands-on tips and techniques for mom as well as moral support for dad. She helped us to advocate to the medical staff, while respecting the connection of the birth partner and mom-to-be. We would wholeheartedly recommend Shamina to others who are looking for an exceptionally competent and compassionate doula on their birth journey.

Uchenna Itam

10/23/2017

Shamina provided invaluable support during my pregnancy and labor. When I was expecting, she encouraged me to trust my intuition when I had reservations about my doctor and advised me on switching midwifery practices. She also helped me devise a birth plan and coached me and my husband on active labor positions. For months, Shamina was always just a text or phone call away, whether I needed advice on which birthing classes to take, selecting a breast pump, or finding an acupuncture practice to help relieve my anxiety. When I went into labor, Shamina came to my house and accompanied us on the hour long drive to the hospital, holding my hand the entire time. Her calm energy and gentle touch complimented my husband's strong presence perfectly; she never overstepped. After 12 hours of labor, I delivered my son just how I had hoped: naturally. A few days later, Shamina visited to help me process the birth and check in on breastfeeding, bringing tea and snacks with her. I can say without a doubt that Shamina played an integral role in making my birth story a happy one. I cannot thank her enough.

Jeanette Wallace

10/13/2017

Shamina is a wonderful doula. She is confident and sensitive -- qualities I think all doulas should possess in such a life changing experience. My labor and delivery was very fast, with subpar care at my local hospital. Shamina made me feel at ease at home and the hospital, especially when the hospital told me there were no rooms and I would be sequestered in labor triage where I could not receive pain medication because I was not technically "admitted." Shamina, who kept a close eye on my husband as well, eased me through each contraction - which were unrelenting. I dilated from 4cm to 9cm in half an hour. Without her guidance, hands on approach, and knowledge of the hospital itself, I don't think I would have had such a smooth labor. My husband was also grateful for her presence -- as first time parents, we were anxious to have someone experienced in the room. I highly recommend Shamina and would be happy to share my experience with mothers to be who are curious about her.

Birth Availability for Shamina Rao, CD(DONA), IBCLC, RYT

= Available. Calendar last updated: 04-13-2023