With 13 years of experience and attending more than 350 births, Shannon is equipped to support the unique needs of your family.
As a DONA Certified birth doula, Shannon has been professionally trained and educated to assist mothers and their families in physical and emotional aspects of labor. She has been serving Central Illinois families for over a decade. She is your expert guide in helping you navigate your labor and birth experience.
She believes in Healthy. Educated. Desirable Birth.
What do Shannon's doula services include?
Initial Consultation with mother and partner. *This should only be scheduled after you’ve determined you have a serious interest in hiring Shannon as your doula. You’ve done your research, you’ve talked with your partner and you are almost certain you’re ready to invest in your best birth experience, but you’d love to chat and make sure she’s the exact right fit. Be sure you’re comfortable with her fee and confident in your ability to commit financially!
Online Client Education Portal which provides comprehensive prenatal education and resources compiled over 13 years of experience in the Maternal Health field.
2 Prenatal Visits (25wks and 36wks), each an hour long, to get to know your family and your wishes. She will assist you in establishing a birth plan, will help you talk through your desire for your partner's role, go through a list of decisions you'll make after baby is born and help answer any questions or fears you may have about your impending birth. This includes a hands on in-person visit to teach you and your partner comfort techniques to aid you throughout the labor.
Phone/Email/Texting Support beginning at signing of the contract through the first two weeks postpartum.
On call Availability for your birth two weeks before your due date until your baby is born.
Uninterrupted support during ACTIVE labor, the birth and continuing up to 2 hours after birth. A backup doula will be present if an unforeseen circumstance should arise and she cannot attend your labor and birth.
Follow up postpartum visit in your home within 3-4 days after baby is born, 2 weeks of ongoing texting support postpartum.
Doula Support: $1500
Packages are also available
Meet with her conveniently over Google Meet. She would love to hear your heart desires for your birth and allow you to determine if she would best serve your needs for your upcoming birth. After the consultation, Shannon will hold your due date spot on her calendar for five days, allowing you time to process the conversation.
From positioning to counter pressure, from encouraging words to empowering your partner, Shannon will guide you every step of the way to help you welcome your baby into this world, the way you desire!
Affordable Doula Services: What You Need to Know
Shannon understands the cost of doula services can be a barrier for some families. If you find that her fees are outside of your budget, there are other area doulas who offer services at comparable or lower rates. When choosing a doula, it’s important to consider your priorities. While budget-friendly options are available, Shannon brings 13 years and 350+ births of experience, invaluable knowledge, instinctual comfort, and guides you expertly through one of life’s most transformative moments.
Shannon’s goal is that you’ll feel supported and empowered.
Before we schedule a consultation, Shannon wants to make sure everyone’s on the same page. Investing in her doula support is a big decision, and one you’ll only make once, twice, or possibly a handful of times. Please take a moment to reflect on the following:
Affordability: Having a doula supported birth is an investment in your birth experience. No, you’re not walking away with a product (think: TV, new phone, fashionable clothes, etc.), but you’ll be walking through the rest of your life with memories of your birth experience. Let’s make them empowering ones. Shannon is transparent with her fees. Be confident in your ability to commit financially to her care and expertise.
Serious Interest: Before we meet, please ensure you’re genuinely interested in hiring Shannon as your doula. She values your time and her own. Please be sure you’re ready to take the next step in working with her when scheduling a consultation.
If you’re ready to get started, Shannon would love to connect with you and learn more about how she can support you during this special time.
Want to see Shannon in action? Check out her client’s homebirth! More than 1.5 MILLION views!
Please note that in this video, Shannon is assisting the Certified Nurse Midwife in a separate role. Any clinical tasks Shannon is performing are outside her scope of practice as a doula, but are within her scope as a Midwife Assistant. She often fills both roles at homebirths.
Thoughts from previous clients
"Shannon was recommended to us by our doula from our first birth as she could not guarantee availability this time. Shannon slipped into our birth team so seamlessly. We wanted my husband to be my first line of support, and she knew when to watch, when to make suggestions, and when to take a more active role. There were a few times my husband had to leave my side, and she slipped in, holding my hand, or massaging my back. I was so comfortable with her throughout, and I so appreciate that after only meeting a few times. We learned so much from her resources, both in person and on her website. Some of our favorite moments in birth wouldn’t have happened without her! She carries scripture cards for her clients who desire them, which inspired us to write out our own scriptures and meditate on them during pregnancy. My husband was able to read them to me during labor when she suggested it, and the words kept coming back to me when things got hard. A bonus is that we now have amazing pictures from our labor and delivery - a beautiful gift she have given us. Shannon is intuitive, knowledgable, wise and compassionate, and we are thankful for her role in the birth of our son! NOTE to husbands: My husband was very skeptical about hiring a doula for our first pregnancy. He was unsure because of the cost and because we had taken an in depth class, and he wanted to be very involved. But in both of our births, we realized that there are unexpected moments, and when I needed reassuring, he could reassure me as our doula reassured him while still letting him take the lead. He was completely on board for hiring a doula this time, and now he is convinced and supportive of hiring a doula for any future pregnancies. We’ve been blessed to have 2 natural births, and we attribute a large part of that to the doulas who supported us!" - Tara P.
"Shannon was there for us in ways I didn't know I needed her for my son's birth. She seemed to be able to anticipate my needs during my labor. She knew exactly what to ask the nurses when I was I was too exhausted to speak anymore. Her presence brought peace into the delivery room. There were times I was so overwhelmed with pain and exhaustion that I was wasting energy cyring and screaming, but Shannon was able to gently but firmly help me get a grip and keep going. Shannon was also a huge support for my husband during the birth. Shannon provided direction and encouragement for him when he had no idea what to do to support me. There was a moment early on during my labor that Shannon had to step out of the room to get something, and while she was gone my nurse said, "She's one of the good ones." My nurse went on to tell me she has worked with many doulas, and she has not typically been impressed with other doulas. She found she didn't have much to do because Shannon was doing so much. Even after the delivery nurses commented that Shannon stayed and continued to provide support." - Ashley R.
"She praised me on things I was doing well during the process (breathing, moving, relaxing, etc). As I moved to transition and pushing, I began to rely on her more for physical support. She reminded me to drink, take in fluids, and try optimal positions to keep things progressing. Her physical and emotional support continued even after birth as she kept me comfortable during suturing and establishing breastfeeding. My husband is a great birthing partner and wonderful at "coaching", but having Shannon was extremely valuable; especially since this was our first homebirth. She was able to support me in ways that I think only a female birthing professional could, and she did a wonderful job doing so!" - Megan S.