Natural Childbirth Doula Service | Buffalo, NY

Our Doula Support Team

Shannon Johns CD(DONA), CLC, CBE Birth & Postpartum NYS Medicaid Provider Executive Director, Buffalo Breastfeeding Sisters Neonatal Resuscitation Certified Shannon@calmingnaturedoula.com

As the founder and Owner of Calming Nature Doula Center and Services, Shannon’s journey to becoming a Doula started well before her official DONA training. Mother to six children, all via natural births, Shannon learned a thing or two about what worked to reduce the perceptions of labor pain. Through her lived experience Shannon began helping the women in her circle as they navigated their own birth experiences. Encouraging and telling them what worked for her during labor could also work for them. It wasn't until 2014 that she officially trained with DONA and became a Certified Birth Doula. In addition to being a Certified Doula, Shannon has also taken numerous other trainings and certification, including becoming a Childbirth Educator and Certified Lactation Counselor, allowing her to present Evidence Based information and education to her community.
Shannon also founded the Breastfeeding Sisters Program. Breastfeeding Sisters is a breastfeeding peer support program, established to provide education, support and promotion of breastfeeding in the African American community. The program serves as cultural support for black women wanting to connect with other black women who are or plan to breastfeed. The goal of this program is to educate and truly support the mothers who would like to breastfeed.

Njeri Motley Birth & Postpartum Doula Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Neonatal Resuscitation Certified NYS Medicaid Provider Njeri@calmingnaturedoula.com

Njeri is a Birth Doula as well as a homemaker and provider. She is married and the mother of 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy. Njeri believes that the power and strength given to woman during childbirth is incomprehensible, honorable and supernatural. Njeri has assisted friends, family and complete strangers in child birthing and her passion in this profession matches her dedication. Njeri's objective is to give her clients the absolute best experience when welcoming their child into the world.

Rachel Tibold Birth & Postpartum Doula NYS Medicaid Provider Neonatal Resuscitation Certification Rachel@calmingnaturedoula.com

Rachel is a wife and mother of 5 daughters. She trained as a birth and postpartum doula through DONA International and has attended many birth conferences and workshops. She has experience in home births, hospital births, vaginal, cesarean and multiples. She supports and receives everyone who is birthing, including IVF and Birthing Centers. As a birth and postpartum doula, her goal for your birth journey is to foster an experience that offers you emotional, physical, and informational support, so that you feel empowered to make choices that meet the needs of you and your family.

Tiffany Blackmon CD(DONA) Birth & Postpartum Doula NYS Medicaid Provider Tiffany@calmingnaturedoula.com

Tiffany's birthing journey started before she became a Doula. She is a mother of 5, and each child's birth was a different experience! Tiffany spent 18 years serving her community as a dental assistant. Tiffany began her Doula career starting out in 2022 as a DONA Birth Doula, then later added Postpartum Doula and placenta encapsulator to her skills. Tiffany's goal is to not only to create a safe and comfortable environment for moms, but for mothers know they can have fun, create positive energy, all while educating mothers at the same time. Tiffany believes having a doula is like having Mary Poppins available when needed!

Valeria Brown CD(DONA) Birth & Postpartum Doula NYS Medicaid Provider Valerie@calmingnaturedoula.com

Valerie, who likes being referred to as "Auntie Val", is extremely compassionate about her work as a doula. She loves empowering women during the birth process, and encourages women to be vocal during their entire birth journey. She has BS in Social Work, and with over 20 years experience working in human services. She adores working with families to enhance their birthing outcomes. Her trainings include Postpartum Doula Training , Vaginal Birth after a C Section, Vbac, and Certified Lactation Consultant training .

Shawntay Respress Birth & Postpartum Doula NYS Medicaid Provider Shawntay@calmingnaturedoula.com

Shawntay is a mother of 3 whos served the community as a case manager for over 15 years. For the past 10 years Shawntay has worked with women who experience mental or substance abuse disorders while pregnant and parenting youth who are in the foster care system. Shawntay's work experience in providing support, guidance, and assistance in navigating challenging circumstances has equipped her to advocate for others' rights and facilitate access to essential services. Shawntay observed that many women lacked adequate support systems to guide them through pregnancy and childbirth. This realization motivated her to train as a birth doula, enabling her to support women and young mothers during their birth experience. Shawntay understands the importance of compassionate and knowledgeable support during childbirth, and she is committed to offering guidance to all women throughout their birthing journey. Her goal is to uplift and empower those she serves, striving to make a positive impact in their lives.

Sydney Littlejohn Birth & Postpartum Doula NYS Medicaid Provider Sydney@calmingnaturedoula.com

Sydney has been providing continuous support to women as a birth and postpartum doula for a little over a year. She developed a passion for birth work during her studies as an undergraduate student taking a women’s health course. She felt oblivious to the challenges women face during their birthing journey that ultimately led to poor birth outcomes and decided to become a part of the solution to change the narrative for childbearing women. She strives to educate, empower, and encourage women to make informed decisions for themselves and their baby. Sydney's goal is for every mom to experience birth the way she sees fit where she feels safe and supported.

Charnice McMillion-Martin Postpartum Doula NYS Medicaid Provider Charnice@calmingnatureoula.com

Charnice is a mother of one who breastfed for two years. She completed her Postpartum training in 2023 and holds a neonatal resuscitation certification. With a deep compassion for supporting women and families, she believes being a doula is her purpose. Her goal is to provide families with the support and guidance they need during the early weeks of parenthood. Charnice prioritizes fostering positivity and unity when working with families, and she is committed to educating and empowering her clients through their vulnerable and beautiful journey.

Zianne Zeigler Birth Doula Peer Lactation Sister Zianne@calmingnaturedoula.com

Zianne, a mother of two who's breastfed for 2 years now. Completed her birth doula training in 2020, Zianne has completed her Certified Lactation Consultant training.
She chose this path because she feels like this is her calling and has a passion to help support families to have a beautiful birth experience. Zianne finds joy in supporting and empowering women on their pregnancy and childbirth journeys.

Chinelle Smith, LPN, CLC Birth & Postpartum Doula Peer Lactation Assistant NYS Medicaid Provider Chinelle@calmingnaturedoula.com

Chinelle is a mother of 3 and a nurse by trade. Having spent the last 7+ years working as a nurse in the community and from her own birth experiences, Chinelle was inspired to begin seeking knowledge on doula work. She spent 4 years working with women recovering from substance use disorder and was astonished at the need for support these women don't have access to during pregnancy, birth and post partum phases.