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Modesto Birth Doula
Your Dona-certified doula and catcher of details
Serving all cities within 20 miles of Modesto, CA. If you are out of this range and looking for a doula, please contact me! I can help you find one nearby!
Because I am present for your birth, many families choose to have me document it as well. Preserving this transition visually is something I deeply value, and it creates a full-circle experience from bellly to baby.
See my birth photography HERE.
birth stories
What do doula services look like?
Once you sign up, you have access to me via text/email/phone support throughout your pregnancy. You will be equipped with knowledge about pregnancy, preparing for birth, postpartum, and newborns. Typically, we start officially "meeting" on a weekly basis once you hit 32 weeks, via telehealth. (So yes, please keep those comfy sweatpants on! :)). When you are 38 weeks, I'm officially "on call" for your birth. If you want me in the birth room, great! If not, that's fine too! I just ask that at least you give me a phone call when you are heading to Labor & Delivery :) If you would like me in your birth space, I can offer hip squeezes and Spinning Babies techniques to help your labor process, I can give you sips of water, help to make your environment calm and dim, and I bring my little bag of doula tricks to help support you in a variety of ways. Partner's LOVE when I'm there, as we can tag-team each other and I can help you guys make decisions as they come up. Many of my clients also request that I take professional photos during their birth, because having a momento of these moments will mean the world to you as time goes by!
What knowledge will you carry into your birth space with Shayna as your doula?
- Pelvic Floor Preparation & Spinning Babies techniques
- Birth Education
- Understanding Inductions & Interventions
- Self-Advocacy & Decision-Making Skills
- How to Build a"Birth Plan"
- Infant Care & Postpartum Preparation
- Comfort-Measure Techniques
- Access to Mental Health Support As Needed
If you want your partner to know how to support you better both in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, if you want continuity of care (aka, at least one person you have regular contact with who can answer questions and be with you throughout your journey), if you want to learn all of your options, if you want to prepare your body and mind for birth and postpartum, if you want someone there to help maintain a calm birth space and help give your partner breaks...a doula might be right for you :)
Is having a doula right for YOU?
..Did you say "Birth Photos?"
I sure did. And I'll take it to my GRAVE that everyone needs them, even if you don't know it yet.
Birth photos are NOT about the crotch shot. Trust me.
Look at your partner right now. Are they talking to that baby every day? Look at yourself. Are you admiring that bump and wondering with every little twitch what this baby is going to be like? ...I thought so. Birth photos are about the moments you two come TOGETHER, to welcome this BRAND NEW LIFE into your family. They are the moments when you are FORGED as new parents. This day is even bigger than your wedding. (Your birth photos may even save your relationship when you are awake with the baby and angrily staring at your partner for still being asleep. You can go look at all that support they gave you in labor.....BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BUSY TAKING PICTURES ON THEIR PHONE :)) This is a BIG DEAL DAY. Don't skip the photos. And I promise not to share them (unless you are cool with it!)
My Philosophy:
There are many paths to becoming a parent, and no two journeys are exactly alike. I honor yours, whatever that may look like, and however it may twist and turn. I'll educate you on all your options. You own your body, and you get to decide however you want to birth. I'll just cheer you on!
Sutter Hospital, modesto, CA
Magical Moments
This sweet mom had a rough first birth experience. She went into labor during Covid, so she had to labor alone for several hours before her husband was allowed in the room.
The birth itself was also pretty rough.
We prepared for her 2nd birth by doing a lot of exercises to help open her pelvis, we did fear-releasing exercises, and even though she could still feel her contractions through her epidural, we were able to offer sacral compressions to help alleviate the pain. Only one hour of pushing with this one, and he came out beautifully healthy!
x. Close
From those first intense contractions to that first lusty newborn cry, to that post-birth oxytocin rush, hiring a professionally trained doula and birth photographer/videographer into your birth space to both support you and to artfully capture every moment is the kind of gift that only becomes more precious with time.
As a DONA-trained doula and BBY certified and experienced birth photographer, my aim is to help you feel comfortable and safe with me in your birth space, and to capture your birth in a way that tells its true story, in all of its rawness and beauty. We will chat about life and all the things, and I will be so incredibly excited for you and your family to welcome this new little one into the world, however that story unfolds. My job is to show up with an open heart, an open mind, and be PRESENT for you, so I can be whatever support you need and also fully showcase the emotions and experiences of this amazing day.
"It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever be dimmed."
- Doe Zantamata
insurances now accepted for doula services:
THAT'S RIGHT. Doula coverage can be completely free for you. Click each plan to see all the goodies that are covered under your insurance, with ZERO out-of-pocket costs for doula services!!
(Birth photography and/or videography can be added on for an additional cost)
Births & Individual Meetings are $0 out-of-pocket with all Kaiser & Medi-Cal Plans. Doula services start at $1800 for out-of-pocket clients.
I am here to NOTICE. I crawl out of bed at 3am, kiss my babies goodbye, and excitedly rush to your side to offer whatever support you may need, to be present for the micro-expressions, the loving movements and sounds and rhythms of birth.
Modesto birth Doula Pricing
I also take all major credit cards, Affirm, and personalized payment plans.
want to book an individual Session??
All 1:1 sessions for you and your partner are $150 for out-of-pocket clients and last about an hour. I also currently accept Kaiser & all Medi-Cal plans, which will cover these costs.
I have listed these classes in the order I think would be good to take them, but feel free to choose what feels best for you! :)
Click on a session topic below to book!
Kaiser & Medi-Cal Plans Will Cover the Cost!
This can happen, as well! Birth is so unpredictable! I do have backup photographers and doulas that are on-call as well, and we cover each other for births if we are out-of-town, but if baby comes super quickly, I'll get there as soon as possible and document all of the events following the birth. There are definitely no guarantees, as I will do my very best. Ill offer you a complimentary Fresh 48 if this is the case! :)
What happens if baby comes quickly and you are unable to attend?
C-sections happen! We are grateful for the medical advancements that are available to keep everyone safe. Birth is birth, no matter how it occurs, and I absolutely can and have documented c-sections, as this can help you process your birth experience. If your OB will not allow me in the OR, I can grab the moments before and those precious moments after. If you know you are having a C-section, chat with your OB beforehand, let them know I have been certified and know how to handle myself in the sterile environment of the OR. You will most likely only be allowed one person in the room with you, so whether you want me there or your partner is totally up to you!
Absolutely. I expect them! I also take credit card payments. I do request your full total by 37 weeks, and once you are fully paid, I will start editing your photos/video. I also offer gift certificates that you can add to your baby registry.
Do you take payment plans?
What happens if I have a c-section?
Most clients book within 3-5 months before their due date, though you can book as early as you wish. The earlier, the better! Then we can get you more prepared for your birth!
When should I book?
Absolutely. When you book with me, you will sign a legally-binding contract that will allow you to choose the level of privacy that you wish to have. You will also have the option of reviewing your birth gallery and videos before I post anything so you can note what you are comfortable with/not comfortable with sharing.
Do you have a privacy guarantee?
Doula services start at $1800 and birth photos start at $1500. Most clients invest around $2700 (and that comes with a lot of goodies!). For more specific details, please send me a message! I try to tailor each individual experience.
What is the price?
FAQ
What kind of experience do you have?
I was certified and trained by the Birth Becomes You team, Jenn and Monet, in both birth photography AND videography, and I was trained by DONA, by the Sierra Childbirth Institute, and by Birth Becomes you as a Doula. I have attended and photographed home births, epidural births, c-section births, unmedicated & in-home breech births, surrogate births, unmedicated births in a birthing center, premature births, and births that happened exactly on their due date ;). I am also a DONA-certified doula.
Shoot me a message, letting me know you are interested, and include your due date and any questions you may have. If you'd like, we can also schedule a zoom call (or in-person, whatever you prefer) to chat. I accept up to two births per month, so slots are limited. The sooner you contact me, the better!
1. Say Hello
2. non-refundable Retainer + Contract
In order to save your spot, for all session types, I require a non-refundable retainer of 20% that will go towards the full price of your selected services. And for you to have all the nitty-gritty details, I also require all my clients to sign a contract. The contract, along with all the details, includes very specific "yes" and "no" sections that define what photos you are OK with making public and which you absolutely do not want seen. We willl go over every sensitive body part in your model release so that YOU can feel safe and confident that we now have a legally binding document that is designed to help protect your privacy.
The questionnaire is probably my favorite part. Here is where I will ask you questions that will help me understand your story and what kind of support you are hoping to receive. It will also give ME all the information that I will need leading up to your birth, such as phone numbers of those who will be calling me when its time, birthing location, and specific ideas you may have about the types of photos you want, among other things!
3. questionnaire
As you hit 38 weeks, I will be on-call, and ready to roll. I will not go on any trips (unless previously discussed, in which case I will have a backup assigned whom you will get the chance to know beforehand), I will keep your phone numbers on emergency override with a very specific ringtone that I assign to all my birth clients, and I'll anxiously await every text and every update and twinge you may feel as the days move forward. When the time comes, I will arrive when you are getting close to active labor (or during active labor, depending on how quickly your baby decides to come!), and we will make some BEAUTIFUL images. I'll be a fly on the wall, or a hands-on-help, whatever works best for YOU, and have been told many times that I was not even noticed once labor really got rolling!
4. Baby time!
About 3-5 days after birth, I'll be sure to check in on you. We can talk about how you are processing your birth, anything you are feeling proud of, and anything you may need some help with. I'll keep checking in for up to 8 weeks after birth.
You will also receive 3-5 digital sneak peaks within 48 hours, and the rest of your digital photos by 4 weeks if you booked birth photos.
If you wanted to order any photos or albums or cards, you can do that directly from your gallery once it is delivered.
5. After the Birth
"Shayna has a talent in the birth room. She brings a sense of calm along with pure joy for birth, and she's got a talent for birth photography!"
Modesto, CA
Anne, Dear Moon Midwifery
"You are so right for this job, exactly what I need, a person who calms me. I felt so relaxed with you, and your kind and very peaceful soul made my decision very easy. "
Modesto, CA
Tereza
"Shayna, you were made for this!!!"
Modesto, CA
Dominique
"She was unobtrusive yet present during such an intimate time"
Modesto, CA
Shelley
"I was honestly so glad you were not only a photographer, but a doula. If anyone else would have seen what you saw, I don't know if they would have been able to handle it!"
(Speaking of her precipitous breech birth that no one was expecting!)
Modesto, CA
Hailey
