Shanika Granville Doula Photo

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Shanika Granville Doula Photo

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Shanika Granville Doula Photo, Pregnancy Care Center, Dayton, OR.

Certified Birth Doula, birth photographer, Certified Infant massage instructor [CIMI®️], and Certified Lactation Counselor [CLC]

Serving families in Portland, Vancouver, Yamhill County & surrounding areas.

01/31/2026

The very real and rawness of a normal physiological birth experience in the comfort of your home while baby is still attached to his old home which once helped to sustain their life while growing within you. What you see here is moments after baby's delivery, the amniotic sac attached to the placenta, that was once filled with amniotic fluid [bag of waters] that housed your baby within.

Some fun facts about the amniotic sac & amniotic fluid:

✨️Contains two layers, inner amnion and outer chorion

✨️Has antibacterial properties to help keep baby from infections

✨️Helps baby with practice "breathing" and swallowing as they
recirculate the fluid through breathing and peeing

✨️It's what helps cushion your baby and add protection from
outside bumps [like excited toddlers still learning boundaries]

✨️Temperature control to provide a warm space for baby

Did any of these facts come as new information to you? Did any surprise you?

01/18/2026

I just supported a couple in welcoming their first baby this last Wednesday and gosh was it beautiful! It always amazes me to see so much strength and resilience shine through in all that encompasses birth. I definitely shed a handful of tears at this last birth. I hold all of the births I join in my heart forever, but there are just some that stand out a little more. Forever thankful to all of the families that let me walk alongside you in your story.

Little side note, at every birth I always try to ask the parents what they think their baby's weight and length will be. I joined in on the guessing at this last birth and got it right on the money! 7lbs 4oz

Birth team:
Doula + photo:

01/04/2026

Birth photography includes knowing when to take a step back to document the whole moment, like in this photo where you can see big sister who sat down at the table to eat some food, also observing her dad while supporting her laboring mother. Family centered births introduce our kids to physiological birth and allow them a safe, calm space to understand birth and see it for what it can be with the right support system.

Were your kids present at your birth, how did they respond to the process?

Birth team .midwifery
Photographer .

01/03/2026

Forever grateful to all of the families that have trusted me and allowed me to be apart of their journey no matter if it was through doula support or by documenting it. In the birth space your comfort is always a top priority to me along with ensuring to the best of my abilities that you're being respected in your birth space, helping to keep that space feeling calm and safe for you. Physiological birth needs safety and calmness.

Reviews of your experience are a small, yet big way you can help me grow in my work but also by allowing other potential families to see what it can be like with me in their birth space.

I'm excited for the 2026 families I've got coming up ♡

01/02/2026

For first time mom's everything is new when it comes to labor. It's your first time experiencing contractions and all other very normal sensations that follow. This can include emotional feelings as well. Sometimes we need that reassurance from providers that everything is normal and looking ok, sometimes that means you have to go back home and wait it out more. Labor is a lot of things, but it's physiological, our bodies are meant for this. It's important that you get to chose the support you surround yourself with. That means inviting those who will sit and wait with you, one who can remind you that what you're feeling is normal, validate you, gently inform, and create a calm space. Safety is key so we can be fully intuitive to what our body is doing and needs.

Birth support
Doula + photographer

12/31/2025

It has come to my attention it's been a minute since I've shared an actual post here. I'll be honest trying to come up with the "right" words for a caption is a lot of work when you're a mother, homeschool, a wife and do birth work when it feels right. So I'll keep this one simple but relatable to the photo itself because it truly is a special moment captured. The separation from the living organ [plancenta] itself that literally helped sustain this baby's life!

That is BEAUTIFUL!

I'm curious, who cut your babies cord? Typically it's always known as a "dad" thing, but I know that's not always the case. Was it you, other family, a provider, your other child?

My first three kids their dad cut their cord. My last baby was a team effort between myself, my husband, my mom and our kids as we did cord burning.

Doula + photographer:

09/04/2025

It's not "just a photo." It's the moment your baby was brought over to the warmer so the nurse could do the baby exam and other things. This means separation, unfamiliarity, baby begins to cry, so maybe you begin talking to them, you touch their feet, or their hands to let them know you're near. To bring them that familiarity and calmness from something they recognize from the womb. They become familiar to certain touch, voices, sounds and warmth in their months of growing. They know who you are. It's a photo that shows the love you have for your baby, the moment you wanted to pick up and comfort your baby but comforted them in another way. It's one of the first moments of connection you share with them in the outside world.

Not everyone is looking to capture these moments for you, not even ourselves at times because we're too caught up on the moment. Taking it all in, so we miss the moments in photos. It's my job to watch and observe all of the big and little things so you can look back at all of those first moments you spent with your baby as you welcomed them into the world. You'll get to cherish and relieve these moments forever, which otherwise could've been "forgotten." We do it for our weddings. Why wouldn't you want to look back on bringing your baby into the world?

I've yet to hear anyone say they regret hiring a birth photographer but have heard the regret of not hiring one. I am one of those people. I regret not hiring one for my first three births.

Attending Doula + photographer: Shanika Granville

06/17/2025

I tell my kids it's ok to cry, and tonight I tell myself it's ok to cry. Tonight I cry because I'm overwhelmed in life. Tonight I cry because I'm a mother, a mother who has everything but also what feels like nothing at the same time. Motherhood is all that I envisioned and all that I didn't. I cry tonight for the support I don't have and the support I do. I cry for the breaks I need and don't get enough of. I cry for the village I thought I'd have when I dreamed of entering motherhood one day. Here I am wondering where is that village? The family I have is not what it was when I was younger. My grandparents only growing older, family with health issues and some leaving us on this earth with nothing but memories and grieving over the what could've been if they were still here. I have family but at the same time I don't. Cousins, aunts and uncles I was once so close with in childhood, almost feels like nothing but a distant memory. Who are they? We know of one another but we really don't know one another anymore. Family drama, keeping others away. There's just not enough time in the day. As a child I used to dream of becoming an adult, but no one could prepare you enough for all the trials you have to walk through, often what feels like alone. I'm a woman, a mother, wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, a dreamer, a listener, I'm an empath and so much more. I'm tired and tonight I cry to release a bit because life is heavy, it's not what I envisioned it to be and I'm grieving so many things in life. I'm working on myself in all the ways, trying to be a better mother, wife and all else. I'm just doing my best to get through the days of every day life while trying to stay up, trust myself, work on my health and relationships, further grow my faith in God and hoping for peace and happiness within. I'm only human and tonight I cried and I'm sure there will be more nights.

06/07/2025

Happy International Homebirth Day!

Did you choose homebirth, If so what was your why?

I chose homebirth because I wasn't heard in the hospital setting.

I chose homebirth because I wanted to feel heard and be in control.

I chose homebirth because I wanted to avoid unnecessary interventions.

I chose homebirth because I felt safe in my home with midwives I picked to come into my space.

I chose homebirth because my kids could be involved.

I chose homebirth because I trusted myself.

I chose homebirth because it's what our ancestors did before hospital birth was a thing and because homebirth is SAFE for low risk pregnancies.

📸

06/05/2025

As a mother of four and doula, I could sit here and tell you how I chose to birth my babies and what I think you should do but that's NOT what I do in our time together. I actually do the opposite, much of how my birth went and choices I made I keep private if asked prenatally. I don't want to influence your choice or experience based on mine. I absolutely will NOT tell you what to do because that is not my place. I might share what was helpful in coping through my labor if I feel it might help you, but it's not my experience it's yours.

That means it's my goal to make sure your wants are heard and you are being informed about all of your choices. I will share resources with you so you can make informed decisions. I will advocate for you by extending your voice when providers aren't listening to you or respecting things you want. I want you to walk into your birth knowing you're capable and leave your birth feeling empowered because you just did that! I believe in you!

05/20/2025

We move through different waves of labor needing different kinds of support. There are times when all we need is the quiet presence of a sister nearby, a midwife observing from a distance, or the grounding touch of someone offering hands on care. Being surrounded by the people we've chosen, those we feel safe with, creates a space where we can stay connected to ourselves and move through each wave with intention and trust. This is what labor support can look like, and it's the kind of support we deserve in our experience. Don't settle for less.

Birth team
Doula Photographer

05/14/2025

Family centered births, what did you decide was best for your family, and what was your experience?

For my second birth, I had planned to have my first child be handed off to her Grandma in the waiting area because she was 1.5yrs old, and I thought it would be too much for her or a distraction for myself. Well, my son had other plans and decided to come a lot faster than we had prepared for and so my daughter ended up being in room for it all.

Afterward, I looked back at videos and photos to see her reaction as her baby brother was born. That was when I realized it wasn't too much for her. In fact, it only sparked curiosity and excitement for this real-life baby we now had. That moment shifted something in me. I knew then that I wanted my future kids to be a part of the experience as much as they wanted, and that is exactly what happened with my next two home births.

I wanted my kids to not fear birth in regards to the unknown, I wanted them to see with their own eyes how birth can be. When we surround ourselves with trained midwives, people we feel safe with, the real and rawness of birth and what it's like to fully trust in yourself in the process. It's not like the movies, and I want to normalize what's real in my family.

Birth team .midwifery
Photographer

Address

Dayton, OR
97114

Telephone

+15039356862

Website

http://shanikagranvilledoulaphoto.mypixieset.com/

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