Sheilena Martinez Photo

Sheilena Martinez

Connected Beginnings Perinatal Support

Tacoma, WA Service range 50 miles No ferries

Birth Fee

$2100 to $2400

Postpartum Rate

$45 to $60

Birth Fee

$2100 to $2400

Postpartum Rate

$45 to $60


Birth Doula Experience

3 years and 47 births attended

Postpartum Doula Experience

3 years and 60 families served


Doula Training

  • DONA International-Approved Workshop, May 2020
  • Self-trained, January 2021

Type of practice: Partnership with 2 or more doulas

Clients per month: 1 to 4 births and 1 to 2 postpartum families

Attends hospital births? All Hospitals
My job as your doula to support you no matter the setting. In the hospital I work with your birth team to help you achieve your ideal birth, and in cases where that can't happen, I am additional support providing information, encouragement, and comfort during those intense moments.

Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers

Attends home births? Any Home Birth
I am happy to provide support for home births that are attended by a midwife. In your home I can help provide support for your children, help prepare the birth space, and the postpartum space for you and your baby.


College Education

AA/AS


Special Services Offered

  • Abortion support
  • Antepartum doula support
  • Aromatherapy
  • Babywearing education
  • Bereavement doula (pregnancy & infant loss)
  • Birth counseling for survivors of childhood sexual abuse
  • Childbirth education services
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Full spectrum doula services
  • LGBTQIA+ Support
  • Military families support
  • Miscarriage support
  • Newborn care and parenting classes
  • Photography - Birth
  • Satellite doula (for remote and rural clients)
  • Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)
  • Stillbirth and infant loss support
  • Surrogates and intended parents
  • TENS units rental
  • Virtual and remote doula support

Relevant volunteer or advocacy work

Alongside my doula career, I am actively pursuing becoming a midwife, and am currently attending classes. I also attend out of hospitals births as a midwife assistant when I am available.

Languages Spoken

  • English

Fee Details

As a trained birth doula, I offer a broad range of support and advocacy for pregnant people during the perinatal period. I aim to become a part of the village supporting the dyad/triad of baby and parent(s). I provide educational, physical, and emotional support that includes, but is not limited to comfort measures, labor progression, positioning, and affirming each client's wants/needs. Being that every birth is unique I do not have a specific set way of providing support, but rather meet every client where they are at to support them in a way that is best for them. My Birth Doula Package includes: *Initial consultation *1-2 Prenatal Visits *Continuous Labor and Delivery Support *2 Hours Immediate Postpartum Support *2-3 Postpartum Visits (if wanted) *Optional Photo documentation, delivered via private online album

Service Area

Tacoma, WA Service range 50 miles No ferries

Client Testimonials for Sheilena Martinez

Post a testimonial for Sheilena Martinez

Amy

2/13/2024

Like so many people, I didn’t get the birth I imagined, and I’m so grateful that Sheilena was there helping us through all of it. She camped out in the chair and was by our sides through one of the harder weeks of our lives.

She had great advice and helped create order out of what felt like chaos, and when it was clear that a vaginal birth wasn’t going to happen, she helped me see through the fog and move on to a C-section, which was completely for the best. She also supported my husband, which was so important as he watched me struggle.

Sheilena has a tremendous amount of knowledge and she has her own perspective, of course - and when it comes to your birth, she knows it’s your birth and she’s there to coach and empower you for what you need and want.

I left the hospital with a healthy baby and really hating the doctors — but so thankful that Sheilena was on our team. Doulas should be at every birth — and in a better world would be covered by health insurance, but that’s an aside!

The bottom line is, hiring Sheilena was one of the best decisions I made for our birth and I will absolutely hire her again if and when we have another baby.

Sharon Price

2/10/2024

Sheilena was an amazing doula for us. She is really friendly and has a great personality and is really attuned to your needs as a (laboring) mother. We had our daughter at a midwife clinic and Sheilena was there before we did. She was a great support during and after the birth. I would use her again if there is another pregnancy. I recommend her wholeheartedly!

Kyleigh Rohweder

2/10/2024

Sheilena was my doula when I was pregnant with my first and only baby so far. I was very nervous for labor and I had two pre birth sessions that helped ease my concerns significantly. During labor she even got to the hospital before my partner and I (and we live right next door to the hospital where I delivered). She helped with counter pressure during contractions and communicated effectively with the hospital team. She helped me try different positions and otherwise supported my birth plan. Sheilena is non judgmental- she is there to help you. She will answer any questions you may have and embrace the approach you’re hoping to take. She was also our post-partum doula where she helped with meal prep, light cleaning and of course baby! As first time parents, I cannot recommend pre through post-partum hours with Sheilena enough. 

Li

10/1/2023

Sheilena was our night doula for our first baby boy's first two months. After the two months, she also helped us for a few nights. She was clean, tidy, on-time, communicative, experienced and thoughtful.  She taught us, and showed us everything about how to handle the newborn, like feeding, changing diaper, or handling fuzzy baby. For us as first time parents, she was extremely helpful. She was knowledgeable about baby stuff, like different formula brands. She gave advices, like various practical solutions, her personal way, or things like FDA suggestions. She supports our opinion and lifestyle. For my postpartum experience, she was very understanding, gave me support and advices. I feel safe to ask any thing and no pressure to do things a certain way. She kept notes during the night, so we know when baby feeds/pees/poops, and whether the baby was fuzzy or slepts well. Our parents doesn't speak English. When we were not at home, sheilena was understanding, and was able to interact with our parents via Google translate (there was very little necessary communication).

Karla

9/1/2023

I am beyond grateful to have Sheilena as our Doula. During labor/birth she was calm, caring & skilled. In a time of vulnerability & unpredictability, I felt safe under her care. She knew how to navigate between the nurses, doctors, my husband & myself. Her guidance & knowledge was more than I could ask for. Sheilena is truly one of the top reasons for my positive birth experience.

Kulwinder Attar

8/20/2023

Words cannot express our gratitude for having you there with us through the birth of our baby . My water broke just before midnight ; and even as a back up  doula, Sheliena was able to come immediately to support us at 3am!

It was a blessing to have her with us during our long, hard labor and birth. She was warm, welcoming, encouraging, and all over human in her approach to my anxiety and in making it her mission that I have an empowering first birth. She endured nearly 34 hours next to us in the hospital. She lifted a cloud of worry from us because I knew that she would tell us what was normal or not and she could also anticipate how I was feeling at any given stage of labor.

Besides being my labor coach (using all sorts of pain management and calming techniques) she was a team player in working alongside the midwife and nurses at the hospital to determine next steps and assisting in all the childbirthing demands. She also advocated for me with the medical staff about some decisions she knew weren’t in my best interests based on how my labor was going and in understanding my wishes.

She was awesome and overall  we had a great experience having her as our back up doula.

Jennifer L.

7/24/2023

Sheilena was such a wonderful doula for the birth of our first child in June. We interviewed 3 doulas before finding and choosing to work with her. We loved how kind, patient, easy to work with, and communicative she is. She has a really calming presence and took as much time as was needed to answer questions and go over things with us.

One of the unexpected and best parts of working with her was checking in with her when we were going into the hospital and feeling pressured by the doctors into certain courses of action. She helped us to manage the stress with informed answers. She has also been so helpful postpartum with checking in regularly and helping with any questions we have with our newborn (we have many!). 

I can't say enough nice things and would recommend her highly. 
 

Alex Farris

7/20/2023

Sheilena is currently helping my husband and I postpartum and we couldn't manage without her-she's such a lifesaver. She has years of experience as a prior nanny and caregiving and that really comes through. She has an amazing ability to calm our baby (and us!) when we're still figuring it out and gives us complete peace of mind when she's watching the baby so we can rest. She sincerely listens to whtat our problems are and gives knowledgable and pratical solutionshat work with our lifestyle/wants. For example, she went out of her way to grab me a haakaa when I was leaking as a low-stress solution and couldn't leave the house, and suggested recipes/helped prep when I was still healing and overwhelmed.  She obviously cares and does whatever possible to make your postpartum experience a positive transition to parenthood. Definitely will be reaching out again when we add to our family.

Linda

1/30/2023

Sheilena was our doula for the birth of our first baby boy. She was warm and caring and everything my partner and I needed to get through birth. She gave us amazing information and educated us on all the things we needed to know to prepare for my upcoming labor.  Since I wanted a non medicated birth and wanting to go natural. 

In addition to being one of the most wonderful, supportive, and caring people, Sheilena  is a knowledgeable and fantastic doula! She helped make the birth of my son as smooth as possible, allowing me to enjoy every minute of it- including the really difficult painful parts!


I am so happy she was there every step of the way on guiding me and advocating for me,  when needed . She also knew just what I needed every second (whether it was a drink of water, a snack, a back rub, a different position, or breathing control techniques).

I can truly say my birth would not have been as wonderful as it was without Sheilena there!
After bringing my son home, Sheilena was able to still keep in touch to check up on us . Thank you for an amazing experience as a first time mommy . I am so shocked on how well my labor and delivery had went. Definitely couldn't do it without her help . Blessed to have a healthy boy . Thank you for all that you do. 

Caroline

1/17/2023

Sheilena was my overnight postpartum doula for two months after my first baby was born. She took fantastic care of my son, was a thoughtful support system for my husband and myself, and a knowledgeable resource as we navigated parenthood for the first time. I always knew my son was taken care of when Sheilena was over- she bottle-fed him, burped him, changed him, rocked him to sleep, and cleaned the (what seemed like endless) supply of dirty bottles and breast pump parts. Further, Sheilena was a great listener and sounding board whenever we had questions about my son's health or development. She put us at ease so we could get rest knowing she was in charge. The extra sleep allowed me and my husband to be better parents and gave my body the rest it needed to heal after birth. We are so grateful for everything Sheilena did for us!!

Moeller Family

1/14/2023

Sheilena took wonderful care of us throughout an anxiety-ridden pregnancy. She was available to talk and reassure us every step of the way. We had a very positive birth experience and I believe Sheilena helped us achieve the goal of an unmedicated birth. Sheilena has the added advantage of assisting with births frequently outside of her doula practice, so she has tons of experience and knowledge. She made us feel very cared for and helped me believe in my body and myself.

Maggie

4/17/2022

Sheilena is a gift to familes and to babies! She worked with my family for 10 weeks -- through the dark winter with twins.  My kids weren't easy, but she made it look effortless.  The gassy baby was able to sleep and the reflux baby was able to eat (held vertical all the time).  The two parents were then able to sleep and be rested for the next day with twins and toddler!

 

Sasha

4/10/2022

My partner and I hired Sheilena as our night doula after our second baby was born. She helped us get through the first month, allowing us to get more sleep and feel less overwhelmed with parenting a newborn and a toddler. Sheilena is an ideal combination of calm and laid-back and extremely competent. She is a warm and caring person who has tons of knowledge about babies and kids. She did a great job with the light housework we asked her to do, and knowing that someone so reliable was taking care of my home and baby at night allowed me to get some much-needed rest in the first few weeks. I highly recommend working with Sheilena!

Mayson

12/19/2021

Sheilena was an awesome doula. From the start, she checked in with me to see how I was doing regularly for about a month before my due date (Nov 14th). She is always on her A-game it seems when talking labor, birth or anything pregnancy. She asks all the right questions and sticks to her word for two prenatal visits as well as anything you need from her in between and postpartum. Sheilena is patient. Even with a young child at home, she always solidified she would be there whenever I needed her to. My labor was long, a whole three days, and finally born early Saturday mornging (Nov. 27th). Sheilena impressed me when she stayed by my side all three days, did not even go home once, she slept on my couch even. She will get snacks for you at the store if your labor is anything like mine. It was a pleaseure to share my birth experience with her. Great around family and friends. Thank you Sheilena! You got this future momma

Malisha

6/1/2021

Sheilena was my doula when I was pregnant with my first and only child so far. She was very supportive and there for me throughout my pregnancy and still is till this day my daughter is almost 8 months now. Honestly I was scared I didn't know what to expect the thought of labor freaked me out and I wanted to go all natural in the tub I didn't think I could do it all the horror stories I heard about the pain but Sheilena reassured me that I could and my body was made to give birth but she made sure I knew she would support me with whatever choice I chose to make. I personally am a very shy individual but she made me comfortable and supplied me with plenty of resources I was pretty prepared before my daughter arrived and was able to do that all natural water birth I dreamed of doing one day she's amazing. I would recommend her if you want support but want to be in complete control she's a great choice she stood by me and respected my wishes another plus is she was pretty much available she didn't take too long to get back to me when I'd text or call I appreciated that as well she is good at what she does and has a lot of technics and resources under her belt 

Kaitlyn Johnson

5/29/2021

My name is Kaitlyn Johnson and Sheilena helped me through my pregnancy from beginning to birth and beyond. She went over and above what I had expected. Whenever I had a question, even about something small she was just a call or a text away. Regurdless of the fact that she had just had a baby shortly before I got pregnant she gave me her undivided attention and helped me feel safe and secure during a time of constant change and worry.

During my birth she kept me moving and reminded me to breathe when she could tell I was wavering. Her help and guidance was always positive and uplifting. Even after the birth she stayed in contact and made sure I was taking care of both myself and the baby. I continued to seek out her advice and counsel about both baby and family matters. She has always given me sound counsel. She is passionate about what she does, you can tell this is more than just a job for her. It's a calling. Anyone who finds themselves with Sheilena as their doula is truly lucky and will receive the best of care. During my next pregnancy I hope to have her by my side once again. 

Birth Availability for Sheilena Martinez

= Available. Calendar last updated: 04-16-2024

Postpartum Availability for Sheilena Martinez

= Available. Calendar last updated: 04-16-2024