“Shana was with me during the birth of my firstborn. She was a present rock for me when I had to have an emergency C-section due to his breeched presentation. She also helped me with my second who would be born VBAC at Dominican. She stayed with me through the night coaching me and my husband and helping me figure out how to give birth! She checked in on our family after the birth of both children, helping with nursing and sleeping and coordinating community meal delivery for us. The only birth photos I have are from Shana!
I thank God for Shana’s presence then and now..”
Dr. Sarah Gerhart- PhD of Chemistry and professor at Cabrillo College and first woman to surf Mavericks
“Shana was there the day I was born. 26 years of friendship and wise counsel. Although I have yet to give birth myself, I cannot wait to have Shana right by my side in the future. I have watched Shana guide so many mothers through pregnancy and birth with a loving, patient, kind, presence. I am a prenatal and postpartum massage therapist and I recommend all my clients to have Shana as their Doula. I look up to her in every way and anyone would be so so fortunate to have her guide and support them through birth!”
Mairin Torr CMT
“I can’t recommend Shana as a doula more highly to an expecting mama! She was truly an angel and a life saver to my husband, baby boy and I through my tough 40 hours of labor. Shana volunteered to come to my birth and my husband and I don’t know what we would’ve done without her!
Shana is incredibly kind, encouraging, selfless, and in tune with a laboring mama’s needs, and the needs of her family. I’ll never forget how she advocated for me and made me feel safe, loved, encouraged, and cared for when I felt most vulnerable and exhausted. She encouraged me beyond words with her gentle and loving words and coaching through breathing. There were so many moments she knew just what I needed, even when I didn’t!
We are so thankful for the support she gave to my husband as well that enabled him to get the rest and encouragement he needed. I decided I wanted to have a natural, unmedicated birth and Shana was so supportive of my goals! I look back at my birth story as a positive and beautiful experience despite its length and challenges because of the love and support of my wonderful husband and doula. She has blessed me and my family more than we can ever say!
Sarah Kewley
“Back in November of 1999 and again in March of 2001, Shana Bartlett attended me at my two home births. She attended both as my friend and as One whose continuing education in birthing was a great comfort of confidence. I was so glad she was nearby to offer her quiet assistance and strength.
In my life, I have had the unique opportunity to have experienced a hospital birth both with my firstborn and my youngest of four. The contrast in my experiences, two in hospital and two at home, was dramatic. I was a mother who had diligently prepared for each of my births and knew what interventions I was willing to accept and what I was not. I learned these things in concert with Shana as we came up together in motherhood, friendship, and community.
In the hospital, I had to persist and insist on what I wanted and did NOT want. Several times over.
At home, surrounded by the calming presence to which Shana contributed in a big way, I made my wishes known once and was respected. That alone calmed me more than anything else. Calm equals inhibition of pain. My two home births were markedly lessened in the pain of childbirth. My hospital births were decidedly more painful.
Shana has a quiet nature that is so personable and attentive she creates a cloud of peace around her. Couple that with her willingness to do whatever is needed by a birthing mother, and her instinctive knowledge of how to do what needs doing, and any mother would be truly blessed and fortunate to have this doula in her corner. Birth changes us all in ways we cannot anticipate. Support like that which Shana supplies in abundance is irreplaceable and makes that change in the heart and mind of a birthing mother powerful and positive.”
Katie Burwell
"Shana was incredibly supportive and understanding throughout my pregnancy and birth experience. She gently guided me through each step and was a strong advocate for my needs. Her availability to answer my questions and her personal experience with five pregnancies made me trust her guidance and feedback completely."
Anna Garaway
Having Shana in the room during the birth of my second child brought an amazing calm and peace in a moment of fear. We were too late for an epidural and my wife had two seizures due to eclampsia giving birth to our first daughter. Both of us were nervous to go through the birth of our second child knowing all the things that can go wrong. She was beyond patient and steadfast when coaching my bride through a successful natural birth. I’m so grateful for Shana and the many gifts God has given her which she continually gives back to others.
Tim Marshall
Shana was my doula for the birth of my 3rd son. Upon meeting Shana, we immediately connected over the gratitude we felt about the privilege of giving birth. We also marveled together over God’s miraculous design from start to finish. It was comforting to know that Shana had given birth multiple times and attended many births of family and friends. It was important to me to have a Christian doula who could pray for me and remind me of God’s beautiful design.
Shana is incredibly passionate about birth and supporting families every step of the way. She took ample time to get to know my husband and I and met with us to practice techniques that she thought could be helpful during birth. She was respectful of our desires, responded to all correspondence in a timely fashion, and was available to answer questions along the way. She helped me to fine tune my birth plan in a manner that advocated for the unmedicated birth that I desired.
When the time came, Shana jumped into action and provided both physical and emotional support throughout my birth. Her strong yet nurturing presence was of great comfort throughout the entire process. She respectfully advocated for my wishes in a manner that was well received by hospital staff. She held me, swayed with me and even sang with me during my contractions, riding the “wave” alongside me.
All of my birth desires were met and I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Shana provided excellent postpartum care, staying with my husband and I for several hours as we recovered from a beautiful birthing experience. Shana came to my house a couple weeks after birth to provide support as well.
If you are looking for a passionate, caring, strong, and nurturing presence in your birth room, I highly recommend Shana!
Kailey Payne Hardwick
