Maternity care practices at present have reduced the availability of always attending nurses with the mother during labor. This results in the absence of someone at the bedside to offer continuous support throughout the birthing process. Support people, known as doulas, have gained prominence for providing physical, emotional, and informational support to women during labor, birth, or the immediate postpartum period. Numerous studies have documented the benefits of having a doula present during labor, especially for women who were socially disadvantaged, belonged to low-income groups, were unmarried, were giving birth in a hospital alone, or experiencing language/cultural barriers. Shanika King, a certified Labor Doula, and breastfeeding consultant are passionate about helping women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.
Educational Background
Shanika obtained an associate degree in Applied Science, with a specialization in medical assistance, and went on to get her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management. She started working in the medical, management, and customer service field and has more than two decades of experience in trauma-informed care, Ob/Gyn, and case management. Her passion for helping people and taking care of their needs prompted her to complete Doula Certification in 2021 from DONA International and is currently certified with ProDoula.
A Mother’s Love Incorporated
Shanika always nurtured an interest in pregnant women, besides her love for babies, and wanted to know more about how life was brought into this world. Her becoming a doula stemmed from this passion for taking care of people. A certified labor, postpartum, and infant care doula, Shanika co-founded A Mother’s Love Incorporated in 2018. But the leap into entrepreneurship took its own sweet time. Firstly, she quit her demanding day job and took up a part-time job (overnight) to put some time aside and set up her business along with taking care of her family. After that, she worked towards spreading the word in her community about the company and services offered, took up monthly doula clients, and other programs.
The pregnancy support agency provi des services for moms and babies, including doula services, case management, IMPACT Baskets, life skill training, community baby showers, meals, and transportation to moms in need. Shanika also helps women of color as they are more prone to pregnancy and childbirth complications and eliminate other concerns related to pregnancy. These include extending support during and after delivery and helping find resources for any life circumstances they face that cause stress to both the mother and the baby.
Holistic Support
Shanika also guides teenagers through their journey towards motherhood as she feels that such parents need to be empowered and educated about their situation to deal with it better. Keeping all judgment aside, Shanika treats teen parents like any other and is available to answer their questions in addition to providing them with essential tools to be successful parents. She believes babies are a blessing irrespective of who their parents are and deserve equal love and care.
Mental health among pregnant women and mothers cannot be undermined, and Shanika helps them by spreading awareness about the subject and placing herself “in their corner”. A study reveals that as many as 1 in 5 women have mental health problems during pregnancy or after birth, and around 20% of pregnant mothers experience anxiety or depression during pregnancy. Shanika is a strong advocate of self-care and self-love during this special time and keeps an eye on early signs of any kind of depression.
Follow Your Passion
A skilled doula, Shanika empowers women to communicate their needs and perceptions and actualize the dream of a healthy, positive birth experience. An entrepreneur who is spreading the light of positivity and happiness, she has hustled hard to reach where she is today and believes she still has a long way to go.
As a word of advice to women who want to start their own business, Shanika suggests they never give up. “There will be times when things might look bleak and impossible to get through. Just keep following your vision, and through perseverance and dedication, you will make it possible. Giving up should never be an option. Adversities are part and parcel of any business, and how you handle them sets you apart. Take the necessary steps, and everything will fall into place,” Shanika advises.
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