Kristin

10/23/2023

Shannon is wonderful!  She was with me for the birth of all three of my children.  My husband is not particularly comfortable with the medical and messy sides of childbirth, so Shannon's presence was invaluable for one long labor with an epidural and two natural births.  She helped me stay calm and was able to easily tell what I needed.  She was professional and worked well as a complement to the hospital staff, too.  I highly recommend Shannon as a doula and would definitely hire her again! 

Brooklyn

10/16/2023

My husband and I had a fantastic experience with Shannon as part of our birthing team. From our first interaction with Shannon, we knew we were in good hands. Each visit with her was full of helpful information and gave me the confidence that I could have a pleasant birth experience. The postpartum visit provided the sense of reasurrance we were looking for. Shannon is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, competent, and caring. We cannot recommend her enough!

Beth

9/30/2023

Shannon was a great asset when welcoming our first child into the world. Her calm and caring demenor really reduce the fear, anxiety, and stress that came with preparing for the birth of our little girl. Shannon provided many resources and guidance when preparing our birth plan, for the birthing process, and caring for our baby after birth. When the day finally came, Shannon was quick to community with us via phone, until we met her at the hospital. She didnt leave our side throughout the whole labor and delivery, and her words of encouragement throughout allowed me to deliver naturally, as planned. We love that Shannon allows us to remain in contact with her throughout the first year of our baby's life for guidance and to answer questions. We could not have found a better doula! 

Laura Thako

9/27/2023

Shannon was such an amazing part of our birth team. After delivering my first baby via C-section overseas, I was nervous about navigating the hospital system in the U.S. and advocating for the vaginal delivery I wanted. Shannon was a reassuring and calming presence throughout both of my subsequent pregnancies and during labor and delivery. She helped me to understand my options and what to expect. She also provided support when my second baby went two weeks past his due date. I cannot recommend her enough!

Emily B.

8/2/2023

Shannon has been the ultimate resource for us as we welcomed our first child! She was not only kind and warm, but super knowledgeable. We loved having someone we trusted to seek advice from, as well as guiding us through all the learning and decision making with preparing for a baby. Our birth ended up being a c section, but Shannon’s presence was comforting and very helpful as we navigated post birth care.  It was great to have someone like Shannon in our corner. 

Socorro & Joel Martinez

7/5/2023

We are so thankful for Shannon! 

We are first time parents and our birth experience was wonderful with Shannon as our duola and hypnobabies instructor. She gracefully shared her wisdom with us and was so compassionate during my birth. I remember during my transition she grabbed my hand, looked me in the eyes and said "you are doing so good" it was the right time to have received that reassurance. My husband and I are impressed how knowledgeable Shannon is. Such a gem! 

Rachel Maxey

7/2/2023

We hired Shannon for the birth of our second child. Shannon provided amazing support to me during my pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I only wish I had her support for the birth of our first baby as well. She provided me with valuable knowledge in those difficult weeks of prodromal labor leading up to my daughter's birth and of course during labor. I felt supported in every way. I am so thankful for all of the help that she provided and would absolutely hire her again if we have more babies. Definitely worth the investment! We love Shannon!

Danielle

4/27/2023

Hiring Shannon is the BEST investment I made for myself, my husband, and my baby! I only wish I had hired her for my first. I was on the fence about needing a doula for my second baby but knew I wanted things to go differently this time around. In our naivety my husband and I thought we had researched/educated ourselves enough for our first but it wasn't realistic to expect my husband to be a library of experience/knowledge while also supporting me and going through a life changing experience of becoming a father as well. We went with Shannon because she is knowledgeable and experienced and has a calm, gentle, but confident presence. She was so great to bounce ideas off of and incredibly supportive and patient with all of our questions. Hiring her for my second- I didn't think I would have so many questions but I absolutely did as each birth is as different as each baby is. She was encouraging when I was concerned about going past my due date, helpful while laboring (that first hip squeeze made her worth every penny), and made me feel confident with nursing. While laboring, she quietly and quickly did things that I didn't even realize I needed until after she did them. Having her with us freed my husband to be more a part of the laboring/birthing process. She is such a gem and we're forever grateful to have had her with us. 

Alyssa

3/22/2023

As someone with a phobia, I knew that having an experienced doula as part of my care team would be essential to managing my fear and anxiety. Shannon was extremely supportive, meeting me where I was at while I prepared for labor (and was a great resource for my husband, too!). Once in labor, Shannon's expertise, calm demeanor, and advocacy were a huge comfort. I am also grateful for her post-partum care - she was a wealth of advice and resources. I'd 100% book her again, and highly recommend her to anyone in Central Iowa looking for a doula. 

Rianna

2/15/2023

Having Shannon's support before, during, and after labor & delivery was essential to bringing our healthy baby girl into the world. When I was losing my confidence she would reassure me that I could do it in ways I didn't know I needed. She was always right there to answer my many questions & provide the support I needed. 

Emily Liske

2/7/2023

My husband and I used Shannon as our doula twice and we are so grateful for the support she provided throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Shannon is a wealth of knowledge - we took her hypnobabies course and utilized her for nutrition advice and how to prepare for labor and postpartum. Because of this, we felt totally confident going into both births. Her calming nature was invaluable during labor and birth. She even took photos, which we are so happy to have! Her breastfeeding knowledge was helpful immediately postpartum and beyond. She also created a custom sleep plan for one of our sons which helped the whole family get better sleep. We cannot recommend Shannon enough! 

Rebekah

10/15/2022

Shannon was a great doula! She was very helpful and happy to answer any questions I had leading up to delivery. During labor, she was such a support and stayed in contact as my contractions started and then stopped many times. She also walked me through several movement circuts to make sure the baby was in the best postion. Overall, Shannon was such a great support, both practically and emotionally. I highly reccomend her! 

Katherine Taylor

8/31/2022

Shannon gave us the comfort and care we were looking for from day one! Upon meeting her, her responsiveness and willingness to walk us through each step of our pregnancy gave us the sense we were in great hands. We not only enjoyed the birthing classes we took with her, but also greatly appreciated all the incredibly researched based and trusted resources we suggested we look into as well. Questions were answered honestly and her immense experience allowed us to deeply trust in her guidance. We loved having her help us design a birth plan that respected our experiences while also educating us on what choices we have for our daughter and how to find answers that felt most comfortable to us as new parents. When it came to the birthing experience, it was her reassurance, strength and calm presence that made all the difference! We trusted in her guidance, felt her passion for new life, and truly enjoyed having her be a part of our daughters birth! We feel so blessed to have had her as our doula and now as a dear friend! ??

Shana Patrick

11/26/2017

Shannon Lee is one of the kindest and most knowledgeable Doulas in Des Moines. She’s also a hypno Doula which is huge where I’m from in Chicago, but people are just catching on to Des Moines. Hypnobabies was such an amazing program for me to release fear, cope with pain, connect with baby, and w/a change of plans. Shannon is reliable and caring & I would definitely work with her again!

Melissa Sabic

9/18/2017

After experiencing difficulties with an epidural with my first birth, I knew I wanted a natural birth with my second child. I am so grateful that I found Shannon!  She is so kind, knowledgeble, and professional! She explained to us the services she provides as a Doula and helped us to think of so many things we wouldn't have been aware of or thought to ask prior to our delivery.  She answered all our questions along the way and made us feel so comfortable having her in the labor/delivery room with us!  She was able to help keep me calm in such a gentle way and my husband was right there by my side the whole time too.  Her support was absoutely essential to help me through a natural birth and I am so glad she was there!  She is such a lovely person and if we decide to have another child, I will definitely be calling Shannon again!

Susan DeBlieck

4/24/2017

Shannon is a wonderfully positive person. She provided me with resources throughout the pregnancy. We couldn't have made it through labor without her. Shannon is a great resource after birth as well with support particularly for breastfeeding. I am happy to recommend her to anyone seeking a doula!

Liz Sweers

3/27/2017

Finding out I was pregnant with my first and knowing I wanted a natural birth, a doula was an absolute must. I met Shannon by chance, and I can't say enough how lucky I was to have met her. Her knowledge and experience truly showed. She was fantastic throughout the pregnancy and even more so during labor, delivery and the following few days after. She was invaluable to my husband and me, keeping us calm and feeling confident in our decisions. She always made herself available for questions and had the best advice. I would recommend her a thousand times over. I had a very successful drug-free birth that I couldn't have done without her!

Leslie Noble

11/29/2016

We had a wonderful experience with Shannon for the preparation of the birth of our daughter. Shannon was knowledgable, kind, encouraging and helpful when we met before the birth, as well as during my labor and birth. She was also very helpful post-birth, especially with nursing. We are so happy that we had the chance to get to know her, and for her support!

Natalie Wood

11/4/2016

When my husband and I found out we were expecting out first, we knew we wanted to work with a doula. When we sat down to talk with Shannon, we knew she was the right fit for us. She immediately understood both our concerns with labor and delivery and understood the type of experience we wanted to have. We knew we wanted to have the most natural birth possible, Shannon brought a sense of calm to our labor process and encouraged me to trust my body to do what it was made to do.

When I was hospitalized for complications a few weeks before delivering, Shannon was available to reassure me that everything would be alright. She continued to be available for us in the weeks and days leading up to our delivery date, and never made me feel like my questions or concerns weren't important. The day I went into labor, Shannon arrived as soon as we asked for her assistance. She stuck with us as labor progressed and helped me labor at home as long as possible. My husband and I relied on her immensely throughout the process. She kept track of my contractions so my husband was able to help me get through them. She offered suggestions on ways to ease the pain from the contractions and make me as comfortable as I could be. Once we were at the hospital, Shannon was an advocate for my husband and I to make sure our birth plan was followed. During our prolonged pushing, Shannon was right by my side with peppermint oil to help with my nausea and cold compresses to help keep me cool. Shannon also took beautiful photos of our delivery to help us remember the day.

After our daughter was born, Shannon offered instruction and support with breastfeeding while we were in the hospital as well as once we were discharged and I was struggling with breastfeeding. My husband and I look forward to working with Shannon again if we have another child in the future.

Erin Gingrich

10/10/2016

Shannon provided calm, knowledgeable support and presence at our son's birth in July. This was our first birth experience and we wanted help staying as calm as possible to allow my body to do its work. With Shannon's support the intensity of labor was more manageable and therefore wonder-filled. And she did so quietly. I'm grateful that while Shannon is knowledgeable, she doesn't seek to prove it or talk all of the time. This allowed the experience to be guided by us and be the sacred moment that birth is.

I was afraid that having a stranger at my bedside during labor would make it less special and it might have if someone had a different way of being than Shannon. She was gentle, present, focused, willing, knowledgeable and kind. She provided information without overwhelming us. She allowed my husband to be the primary coach for me, and the experience brought us closer still. She offered verbal support and guidance as needed, as well as physical support.  She pushed on my sacrum for HOURS. It was pain relieving for me, though doubtlessly challenging for her. I kept worrying she might stop, but she didn't. Though I was a new person in her life, she was completely present and focused on my process. Her support alongside my husband helped me feel safe and calm during a vulnerable experience. We shared a birth experience that I feel proud of and treasure. Thank you, Shannon!

heidi gruca

1/6/2016

My first birth experience was rather difficult for me to process - an unexpected c-section under general anesthesia. But the hardest part was that no one at the hospital could really talk me through what happened. Shifts changed, doctors were busy, and questions were passed on to the next person. I never seemed to get answers. So when I got pregnant again, I decided to really try to take charge of my experience and attempt a VBAC. A major way that was accomplished was by hiring Shannon as our doula. From early on, she responded quickly and thoughtfully to any questions or concerns. She never seemed like we were burdening her or asking stupid questions. She was comforting and ready to help. I called Shannon when I was experiencing early labor, and she made herself available to us all day. My first call was around 8-9 AM and our son was born at 12:53 the next morning! She stuck with us the whole time and didn't leave until things were all settled in the wee hours of the morning. Even though I knew my husband would be a good support, it was so valuable to have someone else there with experience in labor and the hospital - someone always there but just involved when needed. I felt more confident requesting things or refusing things when she was present. The nurses were great, but it really felt like we had someone "on our side" that knew us - and knew what I was like when I wasn't in pain - HA! She was able to explain what was going on when nurses weren't there. She took pictures right after the birth. And finally, she was able to provide what I personally needed - someone to talk through what happened and help me process things after we brought our boy home. I would highly recommend having a doula present - and Shannon was a great fit for us!

Kristen Hoiberg

10/6/2015

Shannon added so much calm and comfort to our birthing experience. She was very much available for prenatal questions, during the onset of early labor and for postpartum/breastfeeding support. We were truly blessed to have her there. Her massage techniques were extremely nurturing and effective during contractions and her use of the Rebozo was invaluable in helping reposition the baby and relieve my back labor. She helped to keep me grounded and informed as labor progressed. She was a great advocate in the delivery room by making sure the staff we needed was present. To top it off, she took beautiful photographs that perfectly capture the moment of our son's birth. We could never thank her enough for being a part of our ideal birth experience.

Kristen Curran

7/21/2015

Shannon was our doula for the birth of our son a few months ago. We decided early on that we wanted a doula present for the birth of our first child. We interviewed a few people and right away we connected with Shannon. Her personality was a great match for what we were looking for. We met with her a few times before the delivery which helped us prepare for what to expect and create a birth plan, etc. She answerd our questions and put us at ease. My delivery ended up being very long and difficult and Shannon was there with us the entire time. She helped my husband and I to feel comfortable. She got along great with my doctor and the hospital staff. She came to visit us in the hospital after the birth as I had an extended hospital stay and then came to visit us once more when got home. We can't thank her enough for all that she did. She truly made our experience so much better under the circumstances. We would absolutely recommend her to anyone wanting a doula.

Emily Sparks

7/24/2014

My husband and I were blessed to have Shannon as our doula. This was my first baby, and Shannon was there before, during, and after the birth to educate and encourage me. She helped me develop a birth plan and provided tips on how to keep myself comfortable and get the baby positioned correctly in my last weeks of pregnancy, including stretches, aromatherapy, and relaxation techniques. During labor, she was invaluable. She worked really well with the nursing staff to get me what I needed, and she was prepared with a lot of tricks to ease labor (like hot/cold packs and peppermint aromatherapy that really helped my nausea!). My husband was able to be there to support me and offer encouragement and we both felt relaxed knowing that Shannon was there as our birth expert when we had questions or needed advice. After we got home from the hospital, she visited to make sure we were doing well (both me and the baby) and help with breastfeeding. Overall, the birth of our first baby was a great experience, thanks in large part to Shannon.