Testimonial for Shamika Matos
My labor was days long and if I didn't have Shamika; it would have been a nerve wreaking, horrible experience. She was my advocate throughout my time in the hospital. When doctors or nurses come in to tell me something stressful, she was able to calm me down explain the situation clearly and made sure I had enough time to make a sound decision for myself and my baby. I am super grateful for all that she has done for my birth journey. My path towards a natural birth was set in my mind and I was mentally prepared for the pain of contractions but not prepared for the stress of doctors and nurses. When I got to the hospital I was only 2 cm dilated which was surprising and I was disappointed. Shamika came in right away and put me in a better mind set. She made sure I was comfortable. We labored together from 8am to 2:33am. She put me in all kinds of positions, gave me great tools to distract me from pain, slowed down and asked smart questions when the nurses and doctors wanted to progress my labor in a different way that was not in my birth preference page, explained and gave me time to make my own decisions. Overall, I felt like I would not have been satisfied with how my baby's birth turned out if I was rushed by my doctors. Shamika was able to stop them from making me decide right away and gave me some time to make a decision without pressure. She was there for my golden hour. She taught me how to let my baby latch on and start the processs of feeding. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have found her before going into labor. She held my hand through a very long and difficult labor without giving up on me or showing any type of weakness. She left at 5 am when she was sure that my baby and I were well taken care of. Not only do I feel like I made a friend that I can trust with my life, I felt like I met a special person that really cares about what she does for a living and believes in her work!
-Akari Voyticky
February 19, 2023
Shamika Matos
Coco’s M’brace Doula Services
Birth Fee: $2200 to $2600
Postpartum Rate: $40 to $50
