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Each birth holds the potential to be truly transformative. What an amazing gift to walk

alongside families, helping to protect that sacred and intimate space. As a doula, I am

here to help you tap into the strength that lies in each of us, uniquely supporting your

family through the journey of meeting your baby. I hope to be a calm and anchoring

presence, supporting your process without judgment. This is your journey and you

should feel empowered, informed, and safe.

Shontee’s Approach to Doula Work

Birth is power and vulnerability all wrapped up into one experience. In her work as a doula, Shontee strives to support families so they can experience that moment for all it can be, honored to witness every single birth she’s invited into. Shontee brings years of experience to care for and comfort families in these deeply personal times. She believes that the purpose of a birth doula is to empower people and uniquely support each family through the journey of meeting their baby. Shontee believes that each experience ought to be validated. As a birth and postpartum doula, she has been providing support for over 8 years and is certified through DONA International and continues to learn more ways that she can support her clients through continuing education.

Shontee believes that it is essential to help families navigate numerous transitions and support them during and after the birth. Her goal is to be one of the strongest tools in the toolbox, helping clients refocus and be drawn back into their ritual (whatever that may be). Perhaps her greatest quality is her ability to be flexible and calm under pressure. Childbirth is completely unpredictable and as much as we’d like to put a box around what is within the range of “normal”, our physiology, life experience, and especially the tiny individuals waiting to come earthside, all influence the experience. Shontee is an anchor, a calm presence that grounds and focuses. She believes that each individual has their own unique needs to create a safe and loving space for meeting their baby. She works alongside families to identify their dreams and needs by connecting prenatally through meetings and thoughtful information gathering.

Shontee helps families navigate their birth setting whether it be in a medical or home setting. That comes through information, support, and working to understand the goals for each birth. She has been very successful at working collaboratively with midwives, OB’s and nurses. Shontee has a tremendous respect for their processes and always strives to be helpful and create a cohesive atmosphere. She draws on her professional training, knowledge, and experience to connect with each client and the birth setting they have chosen. Having the freedom to explore options and make informed decisions in the birthing process is essential, Shontee acts as a guide in the process.

Shontee’s Background

Shontee is a Portland native and lives with her husband and 2 kiddos. She loves good coffee and enjoys gardening. A lot of her time is adventuring with her 9 and 6 year olds around the city. Shontee is a total anatomy and physiology nerd and recently completed a rigorous 5 month continuing education program and is now a Body Ready Method Birth Professional. This program focused on taking a deeper dive into the body mechanics and physiology of pregnancy, birth & beyond. Shontee is very excited to share this information with the families she supports! Equity and access to doula support is very important to Shontee which is why she’s in the process of becoming a Traditional Health Worker for the State of Oregon.

Services

Certification, Training, & Education

• Certified Body Ready Method Professional

• Certified Birth Doula, DONA International

• Gilligan’s Guide for Doula’s, Ann Gilligan

• Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss, The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death

• Evidence Based Birth Savvy Birth Pro Workshop

• Postpartum Doula Training, Mother Tree Doula Services

• Spinning Babies Workshop with Gail Tully

• Breastfeeding for Doulas, Bastyr University

• Adopting Trauma Informed Care for Birth Professionals with Jesse Remer & Astrid Castro

• Collaborative Practice and Professionalism Training, PDX Doulas

• Peer Counselor Training, Nursing Mothers Counsel of Oregon

• Massage & Acupressure for Birth with Leslie Stager

• Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education

Testimonials

  • Where do I start…?! Having Shontee as our doula was hands down the BEST decision my husband and I made as we prepared for the birth of our first child. As I look back on our birth story, I cannot imagine not having Shontee with us. Thinking about it, brings a tear to my eye. She was the support and glue that helped me mentally and physically through labor and delivery. I had a long induction process and at every step of the way, Shontee helped my husband and I ask questions and explore our options. She provided us with the resources to know our options and the space to make the decisions that best suited us. Shontee is collaborative in nature and several nurses commented to me saying how lucky I was to have Shontee has my doula. I could not agree more. The labor and delivery unit was really busy the weekend of our delivery, and I was SO grateful to have Shontee’s presence there to give me piece of mind. She provided the comfort and knowledge that I needed in between the nurses check-in’s. It was important for us to have my husband involved in the labor and delivery process and Shontee provided him with comfort tactics to help me. My husband really appreciated having go-to tools to help me when I was in pain. Our baby’s position was sunnyside up, and I attribute Shontee staying up with me ALL night (seriously, all night) positioning me on the peanut ball and turning me side-to-side that finally got him to turn just before delivery. I was SO thankful for this as it made an easier delivery! During delivery, we asked Shontee to take some photos and the candid, beautiful photos she took are now keepsakes that we cherish. Shontee was incredibly resourceful when it came to breastfeeding. She helped me understand a correct latch and helped me breastfeed right away after delivery. She also made herself available for breastfeeding questions postpartum. I cannot say enough good things about Shontee. She was made for this work, and I count myself lucky that she was our doula.

    – Mother

  • Shontee is a pillar of strength in the birthing room. In my time of great vulnerability and moments of weakness, I pulled much of my strength from her. Her dynamic style also makes her one of the most caring and empathic people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. She intuitively knew what I needed even when I was unable to express it. Her wealth of knowledge regarding pregnancy, labor, and postpartum has been an invaluable resource for me and my family.

    – Mother

  • Shontee attended the births of both of my sons. She is confident and collaborative. My birth experiences were very different from one another and yet Shontee’s approach provided a sense of continuity, care and peace. I value her ability to involve all members of the birth experience without ever being passive or overbearing. Shontee is knowledgeable and offers so many solutions in the prenatal experience as well as the birthing process. I felt really heard and cared for by Shontee and I credit her for my sense of ease and confidence in the welcoming of my two precious boys.

    – Mother

Find out if Shontee is available for your due time.

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