Meet Lauren Shields
Peace, I’m Lauren!
Lauren Shields (she/her) is a biracial, queer woman hailing from Central Illinois, whose diverse background and passions have culminated in a vibrant career dedicated to supporting modern mothers and birthing people. With a Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Lauren combines her academic expertise with her lifelong love of movement, having studied ballet and begun teaching yoga in 2004 at just 22 years old. Her journey into the world of perinatal care began in earnest in 2016 when she founded the Meraki Mama Collective—a yoga and wellness business that emphasizes the sacred journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
With experience as a birth doula since 2016, Lauren has offered compassionate support at more than 90 births and has guided hundreds of birthing students throughout thousands of hours of prenatal and postpartum yoga classes. She brings a unique combination of mindfulness and movement to families during one of the most transformative periods of their lives.
In 2020, she expanded her impact by launching a perinatal yoga teacher training program, Intentionally Embodied Birth, through which she has trained 27 dedicated teachers to carry on her mission.
Lauren is an E-RYT200, RPYT, and has certifications with Peak Pilates, and Upledger CranioSacral Therapy.
Currently residing in Decatur, GA, Lauren balances her work as a Speech Pathologist in acute rehab with teaching prenatal yoga and various workshops, all while being the proud mother to three remarkable children. Her commitment to empowering birthing people with the tools of mindfulness and movement continues to inspire and nurture those she works with, creating communities rooted in strength, wisdom, and compassion.
My birth philosophy:
Birth is sacred, it is a rite of passage for both parents and the baby(ies). Birth is the ceremony, postpartum the integration. The goal is not to merely survive the birth experience, but to witness deeply, who we are, and what we are capable of as women, as humans. I approach birth utilizing mindfulness and movement as tools to prepare, process and heal though this journey. We must not only connect deeply to the body, but truly embody the wisdom of the divine feminine surrendering, flowing, and maturing into the wise mother.
My credentials:
Founder/CEO of Meraki Mama Collective
Master’s in Communication Sciences & Disorders
Speech language therapist in medical setting, 10+ years
CranioSacral Therapy Practioner (Upledger Institute)
Certified birth doula (DONA International), 6+ years
Postpartum doula training, Birdsong Brooklyn
Certified yoga instructor (Yoga Alliance since 2017)
Creator, Intentional Embodied Birth Coach training curriculum (Yoga Alliance accredited 2020)
Peak Pilates certified instructor
Reiki healing practitioner
Certified spiritual life coach
Certified barre instructor
LGBTQ Cultural Competency training for healthcare providers
Let’s Chat
Doula Services
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Let’s meet up virtually so you can ask me all your questions and determine if we’re a good fit. It’s important that as your doula, we have a harmonious vibe, and you feel that you can be supported by me. The fee for consultation goes directly towards your deposit.
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This is time for me to get to know the culture of your family/home, and the better understand the vision of your birth. We’ll go through potential scenarios, discuss options, and I’ll write up a professional birth plan any provider will not only read, but will rely upon to become familiar with your preferences.
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In this session in my home studio, we’ll learn breath, meditation, movement, and connecting to yourself and your partner energetically. We’ll discuss anything coming up, holding space to process and/or build affirmations best support you.
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As a client, you’ll have my personal cell number, and have access throughout your pregnancy. At 38 weeks, I go on call for your birth. Yes, I’ve had plenty of moms give birth before the on call period, and I made it to all of them. We’ll set up a group chat to share updates.
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I will support you and your partner via text, phone calls and/or FacTime until you are in an active labor. At that time, I will come to meet you in person. I offer gentle massage, reiki, guided meditation + breath work, pacing, position changes, assistance positioning baby, supporting the partner, navigating medical professionals and care providers in real time, and processing every step. I stay with you until after the first latch (1-2 hours post birth).
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Within your first week post birth, I will visit you and your new baby in home. This visit is whatever you would like for it to be or feel that you need in that moment. The postpartum visit may include: breastfeeding support, processing the birth, newborn care education, postpartum healing education, preparation of site bath, gentle movement and breath, and more.
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The total investment for this package is $1800. A 50% nonrefundable deposit is due upon booking. Your consultation fee goes directly towards your fee for service. HSA and FSA cards may be used with Medical Necessity document signed by doctor. Balance is due at 36 weeks or at onset of labor, whichever should occur first.
READY TO HIRE YOUR DOULA?
Prenatal Energy Session
Prenatal Energy Session: 90 min
Birth Visualization & Breath Work: Visualization is a mental technique that involves imagining yourself in a certain situation to help yourself actually get there in real life. It helps you reduce anxiety, make progress towards achieving your goals, and achieve mental clarity so you can make smart decisions. Using guided meditation and breath work, we'll visualize your birth to build confidence and prepare you for your big day.
Leaning Into The Shadow of Birth: The journey of pregnancy and birth stirs up and brings to the surface our fears, insecuritites and old emotional wounding. We'll talk through whats coming up for you now, and build birth affirmations and a home practice to support your transformation from Maiden to Mother.
Reiki Energy Clearing & Balancing: Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of directing energy to help facilitate the person's own healing response. It's based on an Eastern belief in an energy that supports the body's innate or natural healing abilities. During this portion, you'll lay down, relax, and receive.
Movement for Birth: Although birth is a natural process, we as modern humans need specific movement to assist our bodies in opening, softening, and releasing our sweet babies. You'll learn simple, but effective movements you can take home to practice as you prepare for birth.
Tea Ceremony: We'll close the session with a hot cup of tea, setting intentions, and an open space to ask any questions about the birth and postpartum process.
Postpartum Energy Session
Postpartum Energy Session: 90 min
Birth Story Listening & Release: The magnitude of having a baby is often minimized by society, so when we struggle with aspects of it (or all of it), we can feel alone with those feelings. Telling your story allows you to process your journey, from first finding out that you’re pregnant, to meeting your baby for the first time. It is an opening for deep self-reflection, release, and being seen and heard.
Leaning Into The Shadow of Birth: The postpartum journey stirs up and brings to the surface our fears, insecuritites and old emotional wounding. We'll talk through whats coming up for you now, and build birth affirmations and a home practice to support your transformation from Maiden to Mother.
Reiki Energy Clearing & Balancing: Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of directing energy to help facilitate the person's own healing response. It's based on an Eastern belief in an energy that supports the body's innate or natural healing abilities. During this portion, you'll lay down, relax, receive, and be warmed as any stagnant energy from pregnancy, birth or your postpartum rest is released..
Movement for Post Birth Body: Pregnancy and Birth can leave you feeling disconnected, tighht, and lacking strength. We'll move through gentle stretched, core exercises, and invigorating breath practices to reconnect you to your body, build confidence, and ease post birth aches and pains. You'll learn simple, but effective movements you can take home to practice as you heal and recover.
Cacao Ceremony: We'll close the session with a hot cup of ceremonial cacao, or raw chocolate, setting intentions, and an open space to ask any questions about the postpartum process. Cacao is feminine and nourishing plant medicine that nurtures the heart and warms the womb.
mother Blessing
Pregnancy and birth are a sacred rite of passage. Mother Blessings are ceremonious celebrations to honor the birthing mothers transformation into a mother by circling with the women in her life. The tradition of Mother Blessings arise from ancient Navajo tradition, the Blessing Way. In an effort to be inspired by, but not culturally appropriate, my ceremonies are a modified version of the tradition. Each ceremony is created to support the birthing woman spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Mother Blessings are different from a traditional baby shower as the ceremony focuses more on the mother to-be and less on opening gifts, and playing baby shower games.
During a Mother Blessing, the circle of women offer love, support and nourishment to the expecting mother in the form of sharing ceremonial cacao, offering her an herbal foot bath, gentle massage, belly painting, creating affirmation flags for birth and postpartum, and speaking prayers over her in circle. The ceremony can be an emotional release, clearing space for the mother to journey towards her birth, and deeply healing for all the participants.
Booking a Mother Blessing includes:
Phone conversation to discuss the vibe, plan and specific rituals you would like to include
Follow up email detailing all materials required for the ceremony; it's your shopping or delegation list!
Travel to the ceremony location (within 25 miles of 30033)
Hosting of a 3 hour ceremony
Investment: $300