In-Person
Birth Doula
Prenatal and Birth support no matter where you plan to birth.
ABOUT
I’m Lauren Shields - a yogic and Ayurvedic full spectrum doula and mother of three.
I’ve supported hundreds of families as a birth and postpartum doula and taught prenatal and postpartum yoga since 2016. In my decade of doula work, I’ve attended births at every Metro Atlanta hospital, Atlanta Birth Center, and home births, including my own!
I’m not here to tell you how to birth, I’m at your service to facilitate your birth vision, help you gather resources, prioritize your voice, and nurture your body along the way. I have served mothers and birthing folks through unmedicated, medicated, inductions, and surgical births.
My goal is to help you in seeing your power and witness this moment as an incredible initiation of the spirit. I’m available during your pregnancy via unlimited text and phone call support.
My care is based in yoga and Ayurvedic traditions and infused with my own personal touch. Your care is intentional, personalized, and designed to support you and your growing family every step of the way.
Birth Doula Care
I approach birth from the belief that YOU are the expert, and I am the facilitator. There is no right way to birth, only opportunity for every mother/parent to find her voice and use it. You care is specialized to your needs wherever you choose to birth, however you choose to birth. My practice is meditative, and I invite you in to be present on this journey, whether that be with you joy or discomfort.
*Unlimited text and phone support in included throughout care.
Prenatal Visits
Birth Planning: In this session, I will meet with you and your partner in your home to get to know you, learn your preferences, role play navigating challenges, address your specific fears and concerns, and develop your birth plan. We’ll briefly talk through postpartum planning as well, including older siblings and pet care.
Couples Energy Session: This session is a moment to reconnect emotionally and energetically as a couple before moving into the birth portal. We’ll practice meditative relaxation techniques for birth and postpartum, hip squeezes, sacral pressure, labor positions, and move through any stagnant energy to get you feeling excited and confident for your birth. This session ends with tantra yoga practice of building oxytocin and flowing through your energy as a couple.
Labor Support
At 38 weeks, I will go on call for your birth. If you happen to go into labor early, I will attend your birth just the same.
I provided text and phone support until you get to your birth location, or you are in active labor.
Once in-person, I assist with creating a safe, peaceful environment with lighting, music, and aromatherapy.
I offer assistance with pacing the birth, changing positions, making decisions, and support your partner to support you.
I offer comfort measures including, but not limited to nurturing touch, hands on maneuvers, rebozo work, aromatherapy, guided meditation and breath work, heat and cold packs, encouragement.
My job is to help you to feel protected, heard, supported, grounded, and confident so you can bring your sweet baby home.
Postpartum Visit
After birth, I will stay with you up to two hours to reorganize your birth space, ensure you are fed, and assist with baby’s first latch.
Once you are home, I will text/call you to set up a time during the first week after your birth.
This visit is personalized and guided by your specific needs which may include breastfeeding support, organization, birth story listening/processing, preparing herbal sitz bath, supporting baby’s first bath, and more.
This visit lasts 60-90 minutes. If you would like more postpartum support, I encourage you to explore my postpartum doula care options below.
The full cost of birth doula services is $2400, with a non-refundable 50% balance due at booking.
*You have the option to book only birth doula services or bundle to combine with postpartum doula services. We can talk through your options and prices during your consultation.
BOOK A CONSULTATION
Schedule a 30-minute call to discuss your needs and learn more about the services.
Client Reviews
“I knew I wanted Lauren to be there to support me during my birth.
My husband was hesitant at first because he thought Lauren was going to “take his role” in the process. But after meeting her, he realized how women need wise women to support them during birth. It was so great having Lauren as a reference in the weeks before my birth.During my labor,
Lauren knew exactly what to do to help with pain. It was a very calm environment and Lauren had everything to do with that. She knew exactly what to do at the right time. I am forever grateful to have had Lauren as my doula. I know I was able to have the birth that I wanted because of her support and knowledge. She will always hold a very special place in my heart.”
— Taylor“My wife and I were fortunate to have Lauren as a part of our team in preparing for the birth of our daughter. She was reliable, professional and accommodating with respect to our busy schedules. Lauren was incredibly knowledgeable about the entire birth process and highlighted many important aspects of the pregnancy and delivery that we would have never known otherwise. I appreciated that she was only a phone call away to offer support and guidance or answer any questions we had. Lauren’s council and expertise reduced our stress level and turned what could have been a hectic experience into a great one. It was obvious from the beginning Lauren truly cared about my wife’s desired birth plan and I am grateful for that.”
— Zach“Her calm presence was essential when it came time to push, she let me know it was OK to get through it in the way I needed to. Lauren provided soft music, aromatherapy, touch/massage, pranayama, and positive affirmations. You won't get any of this from hospital staff! Furthermore, a postpartum visit was included. It was amazing to have her at my home to help with the sitz bath and discussions regarding breastfeeding, care for myself and family. I highly recommend hiring Lauren to be your doula."
— Sandy