About Emily S

Advanced Doula Designation, DONA International

Certified Birth Doula, DONA International

Certified Birth Doula Trainer, DONA International

Certified Postpartum Doula, DONA International

Certified in Infant, Child, and Adult CPR

Certified in TENS Unit Therapy

VBAC & Cesarean: Supporting Moms with Special Scars Training

Trained in Comfort Methods using Rebozo

Certified Hypnobirth Doula

Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Level 1 (45 hours Yoga Alliance-approved yoga training)

Lamaze International Trained Childbirth Educator

Spinning Babies® Trained

Trained Breastfeeding Champion

Master of Science, Education

Licensed Foster Parent

Placenta Encapsulation Specialist

“I believe a person’s experience with labor and birth has the potential to impact them throughout their lifespan.  I listen, guide, and empower the team while tending to the environment and energy of the space.  I am the quiet voice right behind you, the calm hands supporting you, but never an influence casting a shadow over you, your partner, or your baby.

I want to encourage you with the decisions you make, without judgment. I consider it the highest honor to support the work you’re capable of.”

-Emily

Testimonials:

"Emily Shier is the most wonderful person and doula. Emily was present for all four of my births and I could not have been happier with the care she provided. My favorite thing about Emily is her ability to make you feel like you are the only person in the room through the way she listens and the attention that she gives. It is hard to describe in words as it is more of a feeling that Emily is a perfect fit for us and was the one I needed to be there with me on the journey of becoming a new mama. She was there to answer all my questions, provided me with any information I needed, was open to my ideas, and supported the kind of birth I wanted to have (4 very different births, different ways). I would highly recommend Emily to any soon-to-be parents who may be looking for that extra special touch at the birth of your baby. "

-Alecia, Fin, Aven, Grace, & Hannah

"As I process our children's births, the first thing that stands out is the incredible amount of support and love that surrounded me. During the births of both my children, I have never felt a moment of fear or uncertainty about the space into which I was bringing my child. Thank you, Emily, for being a central part of that- for creating, again and again, an atmosphere of safety and acceptance in which I could that which my body already knew how to do. How lucky am I to have not only two beautiful children and a perfect husband, but also the world's best doula!."

-Sarah & Ed, Coraline & Nolan

“Emily was there every step of the way and I credit her for avoiding unnecessary medical interventions. My water broke 2 weeks early and my contractions would not start. Emily gently reminded me of my options and worked with me and my medical team to try some alternatives to Pitocin which I was trying to avoid. I used a breast pump and had contractions within 15 minutes- onset of labor with no drugs! Throughout the entire labor process Emily was a huge support to me and my husband. She respected our wishes and helped create a calm, serene environment around us. I will never forget some of her little touches...a warm compress for my back that was heaven, a flameless candle for the bathroom where I labored for hours, soft music for the birth, and beautiful photos.

Emily has many strengths. She is SUPER knowledgeable, experienced, flexible, supportive and well...just fun to be around! She has a great sense of humor...something that I use for stress relief and that helped throughout the whole process. I believe her support and guidance helped pave the way for a medication-free delivery although she never pushed natural birth as the only option. She worked really well with my husband who could easily have been described as a nervous wreck the whole pregnancy! She stayed out of his way when needed and eased his fears when needed.

Additionally, Emily was a great support postpartum. Although we didn't formally hire her for postpartum support, she frequently checked in on us to see how things were going. I had trouble breastfeeding and she quickly helped connect me with several great resources to resolve the issue.”

-Molly, Reed, & Baby Sam.............& pleased to update with a waterbirth of a baby sister, another amazing supported birth!

"I will begin by saying how grateful I was to have Emily Shier as our doula, helping to bring our son into this world. She was amazing and if it weren't for her, we are not sure how we would've gotten through the whole labor and delivery. Believe me, I thought I was prepared, having read numerous books, having a plan to not use medication and having taken childbirth classes.....you are never ready until you are in the moment and experiencing it full on! We met with Emily a few times before my birth and we knew right away we wanted her and that her personality clicked with ours; we were so impressed with her knowledge and love for the birthing process. She is warm, compassionate, and the most respectful person ever. She knows it is a gift to get to experience life entering the world and takes this seriously. She developed a relationship with us right away and I could call her with questions, etc. We didn't want extended family in the delivery room but I felt I needed more female support and she was the perfect fit as I felt comfortable with her. We did check-ins after my doctor appointments and it was nice sharing with her the progression of the pregnancy as it came near delivery.

My baby was a little more than 2 weeks early when I called Emily (from work) that my waters had broken. She was calm and happy, centering me to reality that it was time. I am a worrier and get anxious easily but my doula helped me enjoy the end of my pregnancy and even the delivery (especially the pushing part) and was encouraging and direct.

We had a hospital delivery with multiple nurses whom I didn't connect well with and a list of changing residents that were not helpful or encouraging during my labor. I had a very long, difficult back labor (20+ hours) that was (for lack of other describing words) HORRIBLE! I got no reflief during contractions and the pain was off the charts. The nurses did NOT tell me or advise me on how to handle things, positions, or comfort techniques. It was KEY having Emily; my husband was great, but it was very hard for him to see me in that kind of pain and he had a helpless feeling. Emily, on the other hand, was great at offering suggestions, keying into our birth plan with massage, darkness, and quiet when it was needed. She worked with the hospital staff that I was so annoyed and frustrated with. She was my focus and got me as far as I could go before I requested an epidural. As I made the decision to get meds, Emily was empathetic and nurturing with me on a deeply emotional level. I was disappointed to ask for an epidural but so relieved when everyone supported what I wanted and needed.

Emily helped coach me through the pushing and when the baby was born blue/grey with the cord around his neck, she went with the nurses into the side room and was the one giving us updates until we heard him cry for the first time. She was saying positive encouraging things and kept everyone calm; and she even took the video and first pictures of him, and encouraged the nurse to bring him to me as soon as possible for skin to skin bonding on my tummy. She then helped me with nursing and getting him to latch on and stayed with us for the first hours. She is, in our eyes, considered "family". After she left to give us our private family time, she called us later that evening to check up. She then followed up the first week and on."

-Allison, Ron & Baby Ace...& pleased to update with the birth of Baby Sister- Mama proud to have done it without medicine the 2nd time around, supported again by her husband and doula!

"Hi there magnificent doula you! Wow. What a trip! I don't know where to start in thanking you for everything, Emily. You were once again truly amazing. I can't imagine our birthing experience without you. And I get weepy when I remember your kind and soothing words. After achieving the birth of my dreams, so peaceful and just right, it was a shock to go into emergency mode with postpartum hemorrhage. Although I can't recollect much of what occurred in the moments of crisis, I have been hearing from my husband, mom, and sis-in-law about the many ways that you took such good care of everyone, updating a very nervous family, organizing, and taking charge of our barely 15 minute old baby girl...you will never know what that means to me, to us. I think that everyone who was present at Nola's birth was there for a very important reason, and I am grateful to each and every person for their role and how graciously they assumed it. I have never felt better attended to or cared for, both during Nola's birth and the crazier aftermath. I knew that I was in the best hands at that time and never for a second felt unsafe. It was too amazing to put into words.

Steph (a pediatric nurse), Seth, Big Sister Nida & Baby Nola