Cat and Shalin are exactly who you want to support your pregnancy and birth. They are so knowledgeable, invested, and loving. They deeply care about their clients well being. Shalin was my doula for the birth of my second child and I could not be more grateful for her care. Cat offers movements and techniques to help you feel comfortable and strong during pregnancy. Their prenatal visits help you appreciate and be present with your amazing pregnant body. They offer education, emotional support, and physical support during labor. They are truly the best. read more

Cat and Shalin are the dream team!! 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for doula support! They are both incredibly gifted at what they do and pour their heart into everything. Their care went far beyond anything we expected when we first started looking for a doula. At each appointment, they met us exactly where we were and tailored their support to what we needed most in that moment. Because of them, I went into labor feeling so much more confident, calm, and prepared. Their authenticity made it easy to build a genuine connection, and by the time Cat arrived to support us in labor, she felt like a close friend or family member. Cat was the most amazing support during labor! She was such a natural fit into the flow of everything and I was so impressed with how much she was able to hold while still being fully present. She created space for my husband and I to stay connected, guided different labor positions, helped communicate with the nurses, kept me hydrated and nourished, offered massage and physical comfort, held my hand, provided encouragement and words of affirmation, took detailed notes, captured photos, and so much more. Her gentle touch and calming presence made me feel so safe and reassured every step of the way. It was so special to receive so much care and love from both Cat and Shalin throughout pregnancy and labor. We are forever grateful they were part of our son's journey into the world! read more

These women are amazing. If I had sat down and imagined the best care possible for my birthing journey, it would've been them, and they were so much more. Their genuine care for me was really something else. Not to mention their wealth of knowledge and easy communication. Consider yourself so lucky if you get to work with them! read more

Cat and Shalin are exactly the people you want in your corner throughout your pregnancy and birth journey. As a first-time mom navigating a challenging pregnancy, I had a lot of nerves, questions, and unexpected challenges to overcome. Cat and Shalin brought a sense of calm to the entire experience, providing just the right amount of information and guidance while serving as an incredible support system for both my husband and me. They are the perfect team and complement each other so well, truly covering all the bases of what you could hope for in a doula. With their support, I was able to have a birth experience that was even better than I could have imagined, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with them and get to know them. I could not recommend Cat and Shalin more highly, and I am already looking forward to having them by my side for future pregnancies! read more

I don't know how to put into words what having Shalin as my doula meant to me but I'll try. I started this pregnancy planning a hospital birth. That was the plan, the "safe" choice, what I thought I was supposed to do. But somewhere along the way, something in me started longing for something different, a birth at home, surrounded by peace instead of fluorescent lights and unfamiliar hands. I didn't know how to get there, or if I even had permission to want it. Shalin didn't push me. She asked me questions, gentle, patient, searching questions, that helped me find what I actually wanted, underneath all the "supposed to's." Slowly, through her encouragement and her steady belief in me and the birth process, I went through a complete 180. I chose a home birth. And I chose it because for the first time, I felt like I could trust my own body and my own desires, with her and my birth team walking beside me the whole way. Throughout my pregnancy she was a calm, grounding presence I could call on whenever fear crept in. And when it came time for the birth itself, that same calm confidence held me through every wave, every moment of doubt, every ounce of strength I didn't know I had. I had the birth of my dreams thanks to Shalin. And I know with everything in me that I could not have gotten there without her, her care, her patience, her unwavering presence, and her belief in me when I didn't yet believe in myself. I will be grateful to her for the rest of my life. You will not be disappointed to have her as your doula for your birth. read more

I cannot recommend Kindred Birth Collective highly enough. My husband and I were taking Shalin's accelerated birthing classes and feel so grateful to have both Shalin and Cat as our doulas supporting us throughout our pregnancy. Being part of the KBC community has been an incredible resource. There's so much to navigate as a mom to be and KBC has made it incredibly easy for me as well as my husband to access additional resources such as a lactation consultant, postpartum doulas, dad groups etc. Shalin and Cat have a beautiful gift for holding space for your unique journey and wishes. They are deeply knowledgeable and endlessly resourceful when it comes to comfort measures and everything pregnancy- and birth-related. I feel so held, seen, and supported every step of the way. If you're looking for doulas who will walk beside you with wisdom, intuition, warmth, and genuine care, I highly recommend Shalin and Cat. They are truly exceptional and I wouldn't want any other doula by my side besides them. read more

As first time parents we felt really supported along the way! we had the amazing opportunity to work with Shalin, Cat, and Amy. Amy was our primary doula. We cannot thank this team enough for walking us through this journey to meet out little girl. The whole team has a wealth of knowledge and shared amazing resources along the way. We felt so comfortable with them in our home and enjoyed getting to discuss, explore and learn about what our journey could look like. I did have an unexpected induction due to medical reasons! Everything went smoothly. Amy was amazing and was ready to be there with us when we reached out. My birth experience was a dream! my little one was out under 5 min about 3 pushes. I like to believe that Amy helped my little ones exit with repositioning me and massaging me during labor!. we cannot thank you enough! read more

Kindred was the best next step I took after my doula training. After months of getting trained and certified, once I was done, I wasn't sure what the next step should be. I also didn't know how to just go out and get clients on my own, or how to run my own doula business! I'm so glad I found Shalin online, we connected instantly and I knew I wanted her to be my mentor and guide me through my new doula journey. I was able to get hands on experience during this mentorship program, and build my community and network with other birth professionals. Not only did I gain valuable knowledge and lessons from our weekly Zoom classes, I got to experience my first birth and had Shalin and the other mentors to guide me with any questions I had. I finished the program feeling so much more confident, excited and motivated in my doula journey. read more

Great experience attending the accelerated birth prep class. Two sessions with ALOT of information and hands on practice. This was very helpful to practice and educate for my husband and I. read more

I don't even know where to begin sharing how wonderful my experience working with Cat and Shalin was! I'm a first-time mom and knew I wanted to have an unmedicated birth, so having the support of a doula was a non-negotiable for me. During our introduction call, I decided to pursue a homebirth after they helped me clarify what type of pregnancy and birth I wanted to have. That call alone was so invaluable, and I knew right away I wanted them on my birth team. I didn't know what to expect as a first-time mom, but was really drawn to how comprehensive their doula package was compared to what other doulas were offering. They overdelivered on what they promised, and I felt completely supported from our first interaction to our final postpartum visit. Together they are a dream team, and you can sense their wisdom and expertise in how they've structured the prenatal visits, what's covered, and their approach. It's well thought out and organized, but our time together was also so intuitively led and felt very personal, not like we were going through a checklist. For labor support, Cat was my doula on-call and I can truly say that she made my birth experience what it was. She guided my labor so beautifully. No matter how much prep work you do, somehow it all goes out the window once you're in labor! Her support allowed me to stay in my body and out of my head while she guided me through different laboring positions so I could just let go. Her ability to stay so present and attuned to me, but also keep notes, time contractions, communicate with my midwife, take pictures, and support my husband is a true gift she has. When I got too tired to keep laboring and the rest of my birth team left and waited for things to ramp up again, she didn't leave my side, and sat on the floor next to my bed holding my hand while I dozed in and out of sleep in between contractions. When I got to the point of "I can't do this anymore," she helped me decide my next steps with such a grounded, calm manner (when I was too exhausted to use my critical thinking skills). My sweet baby boy was born at home and I could NOT have done it without Doula Cat! I'm so proud of how my labor and birth went, and it was possible because of the support I received from her. If you are planning a homebirth, and deciding whether you need a doula, it should be a non-negotiable! Midwives play a very different role than doulas, so make sure you're clear on what kind of labor support your midwife offers before deciding you don't need a doula. While you're reading this and putting together a list of doulas to interview, the best recommendation I can give you is to pay attention to how you FEEL with that first email response, phone call, or video chat. Forget about the price, or what's included. During such a vulnerable time as pregnancy and birth, you want a team that makes you feel safe, seen, and instills confidence and trust. Your birth will be a transformative experience, and your doulas will play a HUGE part in that -- who do you want to be there as a permanent part of your story? I cannot recommend the Kindred Doula Team enough! read more

I feel incredibly lucky to have had Shalin and Cat by my side throughout my pregnancy and birth journey. After a precipitous first birth, I decided later on in my second pregnancy to seek the support of a doula. Within minutes of our introductory call, I knew I wanted Shalin and Cat on my team. They made me feel so comfortable, heard, and genuinely supported from the very beginning. The knowledge, support, and preparation Shalin and Cat offer go above and beyond and are truly invaluable. All of our home visits and even text communication felt so personal and genuine. They are both incredibly kind and compassionate. I truly enjoyed the time we spent together and my husband also felt comfortable, which speaks volumes. The entire process from prenatal through postpartum was organized so well and they offer so much knowledge and resources to help prepare for birth. Shalin was my doula on call and simply having her present in the room helped me so much mentally and emotionally. I had specific goals for this birth compared to my first birth. She honored my wishes, anticipated my needs, and supported both myself and my husband perfectly. One of my goals for this birth was to get out of my head and feel calm and more in control than my rapid first birth. I wanted somebody to be my brain so I could focus on my body. Shalin allowed me to do just that and I am very grateful for that. While supporting me during labor, Shalin also took detailed notes and pictures that I will be forever grateful to have. Shalin and Cat are a dynamic duo and I am so grateful I had their support. I would recommend them time and time again and will absolutely seek their support again if we have another baby. Shalin and Cat, thank you both for playing a huge part in my story. I can't thank you enough for your kindness, knowledge, and support. read more

We absolutely loved our experience working with Cat and Shalin during our pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. The support and resources they provided to us throughout our journey helped us to feel as prepared and confident as possible leading up to and on the day of our baby's birth, and we are so grateful for that. Not only are they incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, but they are also extremely genuine, thoughtful, caring, and warm people, and we truly enjoyed all of the time we spent with both of them. During labor, my partner and I felt so comfortable and reassured knowing that they were by our side, helping us to navigate through the phases of labor. I knew that I didn't want to get an epidural if possible, and their support and guidance during the visits in pregnancy and their labor support helped immensely in being able to achieve that for myself and my baby. They supported us so intuitively and in the best way in each moment, which really helped us to see the intentions we had for our birth become a reality. We were so happy to have them there to be part of such an incredible day in our lives as we welcomed our baby into the world, and we can't thank them enough for the level of care they provided to us throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for doula support! read more

As first-time moms, my wife and I didn't really know what a doula was going into this whole birth thing, but wow--we cannot imagine having done it without the Kindred Birth Collective. From the very beginning, Amy and Shalin were incredible. Their education and prep sessions not only gave us the tools we needed, but also calmed so much of the anxiety we were feeling. When the big day came, Amy was absolutely clutch. She was so present and in tune with me the entire time--making sure I felt seen, supported, and cared for. She advocated for our birth plan, suggested the most helpful labor positions (which made a huge difference during my very fast labor), and just had this way of keeping me grounded through it all. I honestly don't know how I would have done it without her. Shalin's education and support leading up to the birth were equally amazing, and we're so grateful to both of them for making us feel empowered and ready. If you're on the fence about hiring a doula, take this as your sign--Kindred Birth Collective was truly the best support team we could've asked for. read more

Shalin is very knowledgeable and brings a wealth of experience and passion to her work. We took her 2 week accelerated birth prepared series and are feeling confident going into labor at home. We highly recommend working with Shalin. read more

Joining the Kindred Mentorship program was meant to be. In a time where I was a newly certified doula and seeking community- Shalin and her team of mentors far exceeded anything I expected. Not only did I learn valuable, up to date, and evidence- based information but gained a wealth of knowledge to grow a compassionate practice that aligned with my values. I was given the space to explore who I wanted to be as a doula and how to curate a practice that felt 100% authentic to me. I was supported in the ups and downs of gaining clients, navigating prenatal visits, and beginning a new business. I feel so much more confident heading into birth work now that I have joined a network of amazing birth professionals; as well as a community of supportive, genuine, authentic women that all have something special to offer. I cannot recommend Kindred enough! read more