As a doula, my passion is to positively impact growing families in our community. I accomplish this by providing non judgmental support, and instilling confidence through pregnancy, birth, and life. I am a professional birth and postpartum doula whose primary goal is to overdeliver with compassion, enthusiasm, love, understanding and providing an uplifting fun stress-free environment that allows my clients to really relax and enjoy the moment in the little things that come with pregnancy and birth that I feel a lot of people forget because they're so stressed about the changes going on with there bodies or the changes going to happen with life once the baby gets here. I provide confidence in labor, birth, postpartum and parenting for every family I serve. I am supportive of all kinds of births! Home births, birthing center births, hospital births, natural births, medicated births, c-births - you name it! As long as the birthing person is comfortable in their choices then I'm a happy doula. To me, a positive birth experience can change a whole community; empowering new parents to create happy and healthy new families. While the journey of birth sparked my interest to explore this world, the bond parents create with their babies is my fuel!
As a certified Birth Doula, I feel honored to be able to share my expertise with women and families around Spokane Washington. I approach birth holistically. As well as physical support during labor, my role is also to act as an advocate for the birthing woman and her family. I have lived in Utah most of my life However, now happy to call Spokane Washington my home. There I live with my husband and our 7 chickens. I have 3 amazing children and 4 amazing step-children and we have a grand total of 12 wonderful grandchildren. My interest in birth work started with a desire to learn more about midwifery. As a natural caregiver, I wanted to explore options that allowed me to serve others during transformational periods of their lives. Rather than a drastic change from a career in the medical field, I decided that doula work would allow me the flexibility to explore the birth world while still sticking to my passion of taking care of others.
BIRTH SERVICES
My doula services are highly trained(DONA), skilled, and certified professional doula and I provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to you and your partner before, during and shortly after childbirth to help you achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
I know how important it is to trust your doula, so I always offers a free initial consultation interview. Afterward, I will meet with you, several times before the birth to get to know each other better and discuss your birth goals. You will have continuous support throughout your labor as soon as you decide you want me there. You’ll receive unlimited text, phone, and email support throughout your entire pregnancy and postpartum period. I will be on-call from the moment you sign the contract. I will meet with you again two to three times after the birth, usually two to three weeks postpartum. You are, however, free to contact me any time with questions or concerns.
**Birth Doula Package $700
I cater my services to the individual needs of each client. *Personalized Attention*
Clients are spaced as such so that no one else will be laboring when you are. You are not a number. You are my focus and priority.
Some of our tools available for you to use, if you desire
Basic childbirth education and preparation
Your birth goals
Preparation of an effective birth plan
Optimal fetal positioning (shaves hours off of labor)
Optimal labor and pushing positions
Guiding your birth partner in ways to be involved
Comfort techniques
Rebozo techniques- You will receive your very own rebozo and we will teach you how to use it for pregnancy and labor.
Tips and tricks to help get your baby(ies) here without a medical induction.
Basic Breastfeeding instruction and support
Preparation of a postpartum plan
Accompanying you to a prenatal visit with your care provider (midwife or doctor), if desired
Addressing any questions or concerns you may have
Photographing special moments during labor and delivery(This is provided secondary to our doula services. My doula services always come first.)
Up to 3 postpartum visits.
Meal Train: I can help arrange for dinners to be delivered from your friends and family for up to two weeks after delivery. Family can arrange to provide meals even if they don’t live close.
*Some of my comfort measures include, but are not limited to:
Counter pressure*Essential oils for aromatherapy*Light touch labor massage*Breathing techniques (partner-coached childbirth)*TENS unit Certified(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)Great for back labor!*Birth ball*LED candles/lights for custom birth lighting*Relaxing music*Heating pad*Honey sticks*Handheld massagers*Handheld fan*Kneeling pad for your partner.
For those who wish to breastfeed, I will be available along with your health care providers after the birth to help you get breastfeeding started.
PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION PACKAGE $250
Your Placenta & Placenta Encapsulation
Consuming one’s placenta is an ancient Chinese tradition that is quickly gaining popularity here in the United States. In many cultures and traditions, the placenta serves as a symbol of spirit energy and life. Along with its symbolism it has been said to have many positive effects in the postpartum period. The placenta is believed to contain components that are beneficial to the human body and rich in nutrients that the mother may need to recover after childbirth. This has been around for thousands of years and is still a thriving part of Traditional Chinese Medicine today. So much that placenta “medicine” is now used in the modern pharmaceutical industry as well as the beauty industry. Depending on your preferences or the circumstances of your health and birth, one option may be better suited for you.
Learn more about placenta encapsulation & its role in postpartum support below.
How your placenta can help you!
☆CRH (Corticotropin Releasing Hormone): help to reduce stress levels
☆Gammaglobulin: boosts the immune system to help protect you against postpartum infection
☆Hemoglobin: help to replenish iron thus preventing or helping with anemia
☆Oxytocin: the LOVE hormone (aids with bonding, pain relief and happiness), helps uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state and helps to facilitate the “let down” reflex (the flow of milk)
☆Prolactin: promotes lactation (aids with milk production) and helps with healthy mammary function
☆Prostaglandins: reduce inflammation
☆TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): help with an overall more thorough & quicker recovery and boosts energy
☆Vitamins B6: helps the body to make antibodies & hemoglobin and helps one to cope with stress
☆Vitamin E: aids in the healing of damaged skin and helps to reduce the pain from uterine cramps.
PERSONALIZED PLACENTAL PREPARATIONS
☆Placenta Tincture☆
A tincture is made from a piece of the mother’s raw placenta. It is steeped in alcohol making a very strong remedy over a 6 week period.
☆Beliefs behind a Placenta Tincture
☆A Placenta Tincture is to be used by the mother during times of illness or stress once the capsules have been consumes. Women have reported the tincture aiding them in times of PMS, depression and menopause.
Traditional Placenta Encapsulation
☆Traditional Chinese Method ☆
This is the most traditional form of placenta preparation. In this method the placenta is cleaned and steamed with warming herbs such as lemongrass, ginger or spicy peppers. After being steamed, it is then sliced and dehydrated at a low temperature (105-115 degrees Fahrenheit) for 8-10 hours. After the dehydration process the placenta is then ground up into a find powder and placed inside Vegetarian capsules. There is a wide range in the number of capsules a placenta can produce. Depending on the size, a placenta can produce anywhere from 80-200 capsules.
Contact me to learn more about all of the services that I offer.
POSTPARTUM SUPPORT PACKAGE $25 Hour
Pregnancy, birth and the early days of child rearing can be very scary and stressful. A postpartum doula is a key person to have in your support network — easing some stress and empowering you in other ways. Beyond that, a postpartum doula can also identify early signs of depression and give you resources so you get the help you need as soon as possible. My role with my Postpartum Support service is to ensure you get the best information and care possible. No matter when you need me, I will be there offering support anytime you need me.
Some of the duties that a Postpartum Doula will perform include:
The services I provide will vary from client to client, but typical postpartum & newborn care services include:
Breastfeeding, bottlefeeding, and pumping support and instruction.
Day and Overnight
Care
Baby soothing expertise.
Newborn
care
instruction
Meal preparation.
Baby equipment recommendations.
Safe sleeping
Help with the emotional and physical recovery after birth
Assistance with newborn care such as diapering, bathing, feeding and comforting
Referrals to local resources such as parenting classes, pediatricians, lactation support and support groups
Night time service to help the family transition more smoothly into the challenges of nighttime parenting.
providing evidence-based information on all things newborn/Postpartum
promoting self-
care
advocating for the mother.
helping siblings adjust.
Postpartum Doula services are:
$25 hour for up to 4 hours
$20 Hour for 5 or more hours
$25 Hour for overnight (minimum of 6 hours)
MELANIE SHAUL
Serving Spokane WA, Coeur d'Alene ID and the surrounding areas
509-720-6698
