Certified & Experienced Doula Services & Childbirth/ Postpartum Courses
Certified through Birthing From Within®
"Dancing to the Rhythm of Your Birth!"
Congratulations on your journey to birth and parenthood!
We partner to offer you experienced and passionate support throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.
They invite you to explore the services Rhythm of Birth offers as you embark on your journey.
Rhythm of Birth provides experienced local and virtual doula services, bodywork, and online childbirth preparation classes to pregnant couples and single moms in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, NRV, Roanoke, Salem, Floyd, Cana, Galax, & Hillsville, VA and Mount Airy & Pilot Mountain NC. Rhythm of Birth supports couples regardless of where (hospital, home, birth center) or how they plan to give birth.
"We believe every woman has the strength and knowledge within herself, and with the help of her birth team, to give birth mindfully and beautifully. Birth is an amazing and mysterious journey that a woman remembers the rest of her life. We would be honored to support you on this journey!" ~ Your Doulas
Images By: Laura Swift Photography
Main Services
Doula support, Childbirth Education, Prenatal Massage

Doula Support
The word "Doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period. We know that for centuries, women had the support and nurturing care of other experienced women to help them through their birth process. Birth Doulas provide this valuable service for the benefit of women and their partners.

Online Childbirth & Postpartum Education
I know you are excited about being pregnant and preparing for your birth! However you plan to birth, being prepared mentally for labor and the unexpected; exhaustion, medical interventions, and difficult decisions that arise is crucial to experiencing peace and embracing your birth and postpartum experience.
From the comfort of your home, you will feel 100% ready for your birth and transition with your baby. Explore the online Childbirth and Postpartum courses I offer.

Bodywork
"Nurturing the Mother" utilizes a comfortable, secure side-lying position to avoid undue pressure on a growing abdomen and the lower back. During the session, you will begin to learn my voice as one of comfort to help you relax during pregnancy and to release tension during labor to cope with contractions.
We would love to meet you!

Shalene Massie; CD, CBE
Shalene is a wife, mother of 2 girls, certified Doula and Childbirth/ Postpartum Educator. She has been mentoring parents since 2012 along their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys.
She is an advanced certified mentor through Birthing From Within®, owner of Rhythm of Birth, creator of Rhythm of Birth & Postpartum Journey e-courses, and lead coordinator of the NRV Birth Collective.

Lindsay Holbert; D
Lindsay is a wife, mother and doula. She has been supporting families during birth since 2018.
She is passionate about supporting women during pregnancy and birth and excited to offer support and knowledge to expectant families.

Kimberly Reese; CD
Kimberly is a wife, mother of 4, and doula. She been supporting couples during birth since 2015.
She is excited to partner with Rhythm of Birth to offer dedicated and compassionate care to growing families!

"As a midwife, it is my heartfelt wish that all women feel empowered, well-informed, and in control of their health and of the care they receive. Research shows having a doula with you during your childbirth improves outcomes and increases satisfaction with your birth. From my experience as a midwife, I completely agree: Having the support of a great doula really seems to elevate the childbirth experience for women and their families. I have had the pleasure of seeing Shalene at work with many families over the years, and I can say without hesitation that she is truly an exceptional doula. She is so kind, steadfast, and professional! She is truly dedicated to helping women and their partners have a positive birth experience. She values helping families make informed decisions and she creates a gentle space for the laboring mother to do the hard work required to give birth. I find it very easy to communicate with Shalene, and I respect her tireless work, careful preparation, strong knowledge base, and her whole-hearted dedication to her clients. She takes her role seriously and approaches this work, what I feel is her calling, with patience, grace, and a compassionate heart. She is a wonderful doula!" ~Kris Conrad, CNM
Kris Conrad, CNM, Rebecca White, CNM, WHNP, and Laura Gayton, CNM, IBCLC are currently seeing new patients in Salem, Radford, Daleville, and Floyd, including people who want to transfer-in to our practice for either pregnancy or annual exams.
Please feel free to call 540-772-3650 for an appointment.

"I have worked with many professionals over the years. I've worked with nurses, students, midwives, physicians and doulas. I have had the pleasure of working with those who get the beauty and sanctity of that space in that time. Unfortunately, I've also had the opposite experience. Shalene gets it. She is a creative coach, a loving comfort and a constant source of inspiration during the birth experience. Her singular focus in prenatal care, birth, and the postpartum period is her clients, their babies, and families. She is kind, supportive, gentle and respectful of the needs of the mom and family." ~Dr. Roberts, OB

"I felt completely safe & supported during my labor experience & had a successful VBAC! I would definitely recommend Shalene to any mother seeking out Doula support!" ~Andrea, Seasoned Mom

Miranda
The support Shalene provided for my husband and I during our second birth is beyond what we had imagined it would be.

Emily
Having Rhythm of Birth present at our birth and as a resource before and after pregnancy was extremely valuable and I would definitely recommend their services!

Crystal
We met with a few doulas, and chose Shalene because she was so easy to talk to and from the moment of meeting her, we both felt very comfortable with her.

"Pooping During Labor?"
Pooping in labor is not a topic at the top of your list to discuss at a dinner party or over coffee, but it is an anxiety many women bear alone when preparing for their birth. Read personal stories of pregnant women, their partners, and birth professionals of their anxiety of pooping during labor. Learn about the physiology of pushing, why pooping happens, and how it is managed during birth. This book will help relieve your anxiety, prepare you to completely let go of the fear of pooping, and add a little humor to your mind as you approach labor.