Posts by Nikki Shaheed
The Trouble With "At Least"
Ahhh…at least. The Fruit Cake of human communication: endlessly doled out with the best of intentions, and absolutely horrible. “But what’s so bad about saying at least?” you may wonder. ‘I’m just trying to help people see the bright side.” The thing is, unless someone is asking for advice or cheering up, they don’t want…
Read MoreYour Birth Story is 30 Years Long
…Or 41 years or 16 years or however long you’ve been a resident of Planet Earth. And you thought your cousin’s 24 hour long birth story was brutal! 😉 In all seriousness, though…your birth is not an isolated event. It is the culmination of a lifetime full of stories, experiences, lessons, and beliefs. Have you…
Read MoreMy Birth Story, and Why I’m Telling It This Way
The story of Inanna’s Descent has been told in my Birthing from Within series since I became an Advanced Birthing from Within Mentor. This story is over 6000 years old, and relates to the universal human experience of going through a Rite of Passage. I believe it to be one of the most important elements…
Read MoreSurviving Postpartum
Three Tips to Help You Through the First Six Weeks After Birth There is so much build up, so much excitement at the end of pregnancy about meeting your new baby! The nursery is decorated, the onesies are organized, and the car seat is installed. The anticipation is palpable. Immediately after birth there is a…
Read MoreThe Greatest Birth Story Ever Told
What We Can Learn from Jesus’ Birth It may seem odd for a Muslim doula to be writing about the birth of Jesus, but believe it or not, Muslims share the Christian belief that Jesus was born to a virgin mother. In fact, Mary is one of the most beloved women in history…
Read MoreRepeat After Me: "I am Enough"
Hey you! Yes, you…the one who replays decisions you made during your birth over and over again. The one who ponders the “what if’s” when you’re alone in bed at night. The one who wants/wishes for a do-over birth so you could do it the “right” way this time… You are enough! The decisions you…
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