About
About Shalene Massie:
I am a wife, mother of 2 girls, certified Doula and Childbirth/ Postpartum Educator. I have been mentoring parents since 2012 along their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys.
I am an advanced certified mentor through Birthing From Within®, owner of Rhythm of Birth Doula Services and Childbirth Education, creator of Postpartum Journey e-course, and lead coordinator of the NRV Birth Collective.
My experience living in the primitive culture of South Sudan gave me valuable insight into a woman's natural instinct to give birth and nurture her baby through the postpartum transition. Reflecting on taking my young baby to Sudan motivated me to create Postpartum Journey e-course.
Through the postpartum transition, I help parents cultivate their inner knowing as they nurture and guide their newborn.
Training:
- Birthing From Within® Mentor and Doula Certification
- Birthing From Within® Advanced Mentor Certification
- Birthing From Within® Certification Retreat
- Postpartum Depression Training
- Birth Story Listening Training
- Breast Feeding Workshop
- Claire Marie Miller, "Nurturing the Mother" Certification
More about my journey to mentor parents:
I began to hear my call to mentor couples in their birth and postpartum journey when I became pregnant with my daughter Abigail in 2008. I met a Doula and hired her to assist in my birth. As I was pregnant, I thought about the women I met living in South Sudan. I reflected upon the many women who give birth in Africa and other developing countries without the option of medicine or the care of a doctor. I am amazed by their primordial, instinctual, knowing and awareness of their bodies, moment to moment. As I support women in birth, I help to cultivate this knowing and awareness.
I received amazing support from my Doulas and my husband during both my births. As a Doula and childbirth educator, during my second pregnancy with Sierra, I embodied the pain coping practices I teach. In active labor, in the car through a blizzard, I remained deeply present and mindful. My Doula/massage therapist supported me as my husband guided us through the snow to our home where my daughter was born in a birth pool. Through their support, both my birth experiences were beautiful and empowering. I truly felt like a strong warrior in each moment.
I believe every woman has the strength and knowledge within herself, and with the help of her birth team, to give birth mindfully and beautifully.
