Shelley Scotka is a certified birth doula and childbirth educator who has been serving families since 1995. She currently teaches Prepared Childbirth classes at St Davids Medical Center and at Any Baby Can in Austin, Texas. She also offers private, in home childbirth preparation classes for those who prefer a more intimate setting.

 

As a birth doula, she helps women and their partners through labor and birth through education, physical comfort measures and suggestions, facilitating communication with medical staff, and encouraging families to make individual decisions regarding their care.

 

 As a postpartum doula, Shelley assists families with breastfeeding education, hands-on baby care techniques, general household duties, and gentle guidance.

 

 

A: When I had my daughter in 1993, I had a very empowering natural birth experience. At the same time, many of my friends were having very negative birth experiences that they described as "horrifying" and "scary". I became inspired to want to help other women have the best birth experience possible for them. I started becoming trained as a childbirth educator. In the process, I started attended births as part of my certification. I realized then that I loved both aspects of birth- helping families get educated and preparing for their birth, as well as actually assisting mothers through the process of labor and delivery.

 

Once both of my children were in school, I became more free to offer postpartum services as well, which seemed like a natural extension of the work I was already doing. Now I offer services to families before, during and after their baby is born.

 

 

A: I respect a woman's choice to birth the way she feels is best for her. As an educator, my role is to provide information to families so that they can make fully informed decisions regarding their labor and birth. As a doula, my role is to support a mother's preferences, and to help her and her partner through the process of labor and birth. Birth, in my opinion, is a normal and wonderful event, and should be treated with utmost respect and dignity. Each individual mother should have the right to receive care from those who will support and respect her wishes and desires for the best birth experience possible.

 

 

A: I was originally trained through ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association) but have taken trainings through Lamaze, DONA and ALACE. I don't subscribe to any one particular method for teaching childbirth preparation. I teach about the physical aspects and emotional journey of birth. I introduce a variety of techniques, including relaxation and breathing to cope with labor, using positions for comfort, and teaching the support person to take an active role in helping the mother through massage, and providing a soothing environment. I do discuss the risks and benefits of medical interventions and pain medications so that families can make educated decisions about their care. I emphasize that each mother instinctively knows how to give birth and to help her find that inner strength inside herself. I want to empower them.

 

My only true methodology is the use of humor-- I love making people laugh and enjoying  themselves in my classes! I also know as an educator that parents remember what I taught them if they are having fun while learning. So, we have a lot of fun.

 

 

A: I am currently serving as President of the Central Texas Doula Association. Very recently, doulas in Central Texas have joined together to promote community awareness of doulas and to strengthen ourselves professionally. I have been involved in the formation of the organization, which is very exciting. We will be providing education both to the general public and the medical community about doulas, as well as providing continuing education for doula members. We are working on a Hospital Liaison Project where hopefully soon every hospital and birth center in Austin will have their own personal connection to the doula community. This will help bridge doulas and medical professionals together so that we can all provide the best services available to mothers and babies.

 

While not at work helping bring babies into the world, Shelley works at home raising her two teenage children. 'I have an amazingly supportive husband and family. I could not do this work without their encouragement. Not every mom leaves in the middle of the night to go to work, not knowing when she'll return!"

 

For more information about Shelley and her doula services or classes, visit her website. Upcoming classes can also be found in the CTBN Community Calendar.

 

Return to Provider Directory