Testimonial for Shamika Matos
I was initially on the fence about whether or not I should hire a doula for my first birth, I am so glad I did. Shamika walked me through every step of the pregnancy from the moment we agreed to work together. The OBs at my group practice were nice but I didn’t feel a warm or strong connection with the clinicians. I worried that my birth plan and preferences would not be fully understood or taken into consideration on the big day. Having Shamika as my doula made me feel more prepared for questions to ask my providers, helped me to solidify my birth plan, and feel secure about what I wanted for this birth.
Shamika was available when I needed her and was very responsive to any concern I had. And if I had a question she wasn't sure about, she referred to her community for resources to help me.
During labor, she was an advocate, soother, guide, and helped me through the most intense contractions with counter pressure. She also directed my partner to support me in ways I needed during my pregnancy and during labor as well, especially during times when my partner wasn’t sure of what he should be doing (like in the rush and chaos of labor). The hospital where I gave birth did not have peanut balls but thankfully Shamika brought hers and I was able to move even with the epidural which I believe really helped me to avoid further interventions. I had a vaginal birth with minimal interventions (besides an epidural) which was what I’d hoped for.
In our postpartum visit, Shamika came when I was struggling on day 5 with a sudden shift in baby’s feeding. She helped me set up my pump, walked through my feeding routine, and helped me build confidence to hold the baby in different positions to help with digestion. The visit made a big difference for me, my partner, and my baby.
I’m so grateful to Shamika and I would recommend her without reservations to anyone who is expecting in the future.
-Carol Cho
November 01, 2022
Shamika Matos
Coco’s M’brace Doula Services
Birth Fee: $2200 to $2600
Postpartum Rate: $40 to $50
