Salaha Ahma Birth Services Welcomes You
"Where we value the mother"
Birth is a life changing event, but with my nurturing support, you will learn to be comfortable with the idea of giving birth. As your Birth Worker, you can count on me to ensure you feel confident throughout the entire process.
Meet the Doula
Shanaya Ahyashah
The Most High made me a birth worker. I am a Full Spectrum Doula, Monitrice, Mohel, and Birth Assistant. The services I offer include childbirth education, breastfeeding education, birth doula support in person and virtually, and bereavement doula services. As a monitrice, I have additional medical education and am qualified to attend home births. Additionally, I am a Mohel, certified to circumcise infants (up to 2 months) under religious practice. I support pregnant mothers both physically and emotionally throughout their pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. It's important to shed light on birth work and what it entails, especially for women in Israel who may not realize there are people here willing to support, nurture, and educate them throughout their pregnancy journey. Birth is a sacred and special experience, and often women are robbed of the intimacy and spiritual journey they are going through.
Our Services
As a birth doula and monitrice, I provide expectant mothers and families with a unique and holistic approach to childbirth that incorporates physical, emotional, and spiritual support. By offering personalized care rooted in prayer, scripture, and a faith-based perspective on childbirth, I strive to empower my clients to make informed decisions about their care and feel confident and at peace throughout the birthing process. My monitrice role allows me to provide additional support during labor by monitoring fetal heart rate and other vital signs, ensuring a safe and healthy birth for both mother and baby.
Labour and Birth Support, Doula/Monitrice
As a postpartum doula, I provide personalized and compassionate support to families during both the joyous and difficult times of life. As a postpartum doula, I offer practical and emotional assistance to new mothers and families during the postpartum period, helping them navigate the challenges and joys of early parenthood. And as a bereavement doula, I provide empathetic care and support to families who have experienced the loss of a baby or loved one, helping them process their grief and navigate the healing process with grace and hope. My goal in both roles is to help families feel supported, nurtured, and empowered as they navigate the transitions and challenges of life.
Postpartum Support, Bereavement Support
As a childbirth and breastfeeding educator, I teach parents the knowledge and skills they need for a healthy pregnancy, positive childbirth experience, and successful breastfeeding journey. I cover topics such as prenatal nutrition, labor and delivery, pain management, and breastfeeding positions/latch. My aim is to create a supportive learning environment where parents can ask questions, share concerns, and learn from each other's experiences. My goal is to empower parents with the knowledge and skills they need to feel confident and prepared for this exciting new chapter in their lives, including accurate information on breastfeeding benefits, establishing a good milk supply, overcoming common challenges, and ensuring their baby gets enough milk.
Childbirth and Breastfeeding Education
As a Mohel, I perform circumcisions in accordance with the Abrahamic covenant. The covenant requires that infant boys be circumcised on the eighth day of life as a sign of their covenant with God. During the circumcision, I remove the foreskin from the penis and recite a blessing over the baby. This ritual is typically performed in a ceremony known as a brit milah, which is attended by family and friends. By performing the circumcision on the eighth day, I am fulfilling the requirements of the covenant and helping the child to enter into a special relationship with God.
Mohel
FAQs
What is a doula, and its different types?
A doula is a professionally trained support person or coach to an expectant mother. Birth and Labor doula provides assistance during labor and childbirth. Often times birth/labor doula supplies childbirth education, continuous care, emotional and physical support and encouragement. Postpartum doulas give assistance after the baby is born. Postpartum doulas foster mothers into greater independence; often times they will reinforce recovery from childbirth, infant feeding, light housework.
What can't doulas do?
Doulas are not medical professionals. Doulas do not perform clinicals tasks such as vaginal exams or fetal heart monitoring. They do not give medical advice or diagnose conditions. Doulas do not make decisions for the client.
What is a monitrice?
A monitrice is a professional who provides support and guidance to pregnant mothers and their families during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. They offer prenatal education, emotional support, and assist with birth planning. During labor, they provide continuous physical and emotional support, monitor maternal and fetal well-being, and act as an advocate for the birthing person's birth preferences. After birth, they may offer assistance with breastfeeding, newborn care, and emotional support during the early postpartum period.
What is the difference between a doula and a monitrice?
A monitrice differs from a doula in that they provide not only emotional and physical support but also possess clinical skills. While doulas primarily offer emotional and physical assistance during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, monitrices combine these supportive aspects with the ability to perform certain medical tasks. This includes monitoring the mother's vital signs, assessing labor progress, and monitoring the baby's heart rate. The inclusion of these clinical skills allows monitrices to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the mother and baby's well-being during labor, making them an attractive option for individuals seeking additional medical oversight while receiving continuous support.
What is a Mohel and the benefits?
A Mohel possesses specialized skills in performing circumcision, ensuring a procedure that is both safe and precise. Their involvement adds a cultural dimension to the ceremony, enhancing its significance and authenticity. Opting for a Hebrew Israelite Mohel enables families to actively preserve their faith-based traditions, fostering continuity for generations to come. Moreover, Mohels offer emotional support, ensuring a comforting and positive experience for both parents and the child throughout the ceremony.
If my husband or partner is there with me, what are the benefits of a doula?
Having a doula and/or monitrice present when your husband or partner is by your side during childbirth can bring several benefits. It's important to note that a doula does not replace your partner; rather, they complement their support. A doula offers continuous emotional support, guidance, and reassurance throughout the labor process, ensuring that both you and your partner feel supported and informed. They can provide comfort measures, such as massage or breathing techniques, and help create a calm and positive birthing environment. A monitrice, in addition to emotional support, brings a clinical aspect to the role by offering monitoring of vital signs, fetal heart rate, and labor progression. Their expertise can provide an extra layer of knowledge and confidence for both you and your partner, helping to navigate any potential challenges and making the birthing experience more empowering and fulfilling.
