What is a Doula?
Birth can be an uncertain time; we don't know when labor will start, how long it will last or how our labor will progress. Birth doulas support you and your partner by helping you prepare for labor during prenatal visits, being on-call to answer your questions in early labor and join you in active labor to support you physically and emotionally. We will teach you comfort measures to manage the waves of labor, make sure you and your partner remember to eat and rest, guide you in different positions for labor and delivery. We will support you so you can focus on bringing your baby into the world.
The key to finding the right doula is finding the right match. Being welcomed into your birth space is an honor and we want you to be comfortable with our presence. We each have specific areas of expertise and collaborate to make sure you get the care you need and we are happy to help you find the doula that is just right for you. We do not share on call time, but we do back-up for one another if more than one client goes into labor at the same time. We operate our own individual businesses and you will work directly with the doula you choose to hire. You can utilize the other doulas as extra resources if you need them.
Get to know us below, find more info on our personal websites or hop over to the Doula Support tab to learn more about our additional services!
Shannon Bacus
Shannon grew up right here in the heart of Central IL but hasn't always stayed put. From Indiana to Africa to Missouri, she has planted roots as she's moved. She is the best of both worlds - a dreamer who loves to get stuff done. She spends her days engaging her active kids and loves spending time with her husband, laughing and drinking delicious craft beers. Her home is a place of warmth, beauty and comfort which reflects her personality and care. Empowering women with options through one-on-one consults, educating families on their choices for birth and supporting women during their birth and postpartum brings her great fulfillment!
Marcia Mattern
Marcia is a country girl at heart who loves to spend time exploring the outdoors with her six kiddos. Her home is filled with music and art and she always has a stack of books on her nightstand. She is always teaching whether its homeschooling her tribe, using her Dietetics degree to help people take care of themselves or working with her clients to prepare for birth. Marcia truly loves people, wants to see them thrive and pours her heart and soul into the families she serves. She also provides a safe place for women to share their birth stories as the host of the Birth Circle at Peoria's OSF St. Francis Breastfeeding Resource Center on the first Thursday of every month.
Sheri Zobrist
Sheri is a mom to 2 young adults and wife to her high school sweetheart for 22 years. She lives in a small Central Illinois town, where she provides Doula services to the surrounding areas. In her spare time, you can find her going to modern Bed & Breakfasts and antiquing with her husband. This always includes checking out the local cupcake bakery, even if that means going way out of the way. She has a huge sweet tooth; she loves to bake and gift her sweets to others. She grew up in a large family, worked as a nanny, and has spent the last decade in health care. Her heart is most happy when she is serving others. This is only part of what makes her job as a Doula so fulfilling. Sheri offers personalized birthing support and providing support to families during their journey gives her such joy. Her goal is to give you and your family the attention and knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your pregnancy and labor process.
Charity Jeffs
Charity is a Midwest girl, born and raised in Central Indiana. She loves experiencing all four seasons, and the lush green landscapes we are so blessed with in this neck of the woods. She also loves to travel and see the beauty of the world, especially National Parks! Along with traveling, Charity and her husband Rick enjoy running and biking together, including participating in various races including triathlons and Ragnar relays. Charity also loves trivia, to bake and to laugh! She has five children, who arrived in various ways (epidural, no epidural, C-section, VBAC), which gives her a unique perspective as she supports women in their birth choices and all that can and does happen on the amazing journey of pregnancy, labor and delivery. Charity also volunteers with expectant teens, educating and supporting them throughout their pregnancy.
Laura Thorp
Laura grew up in central Illinois and lives in Bloomington with her husband and children. Most days she is found homeschooling and included in her bunch are two kiddos on the autism spectrum so homeschool days are sometimes a bit loud & chaotic, but always filled with laughter & joy! Her love of birth began when she was privileged to attend the birth of her little brother when she was only five years old. Since then she has birthed seven of her own children and attended dozens of client's births. She has had one hospital birth, one emergency birth with an EMT crew, and five of them at home with a midwife. She loves to garden, exercise and would have backyard chickens if possible (they were the hardest thing to leave on the farm). She loves puzzles and playing table top games with her family. Laura also enjoys serving with a local food pantry she began in 2017 called Redeeming Manna. She has taught natural childbirth classes for many years along with providing birth doula services at dozens of births. She believes that natural childbirth is not something for the extraordinary woman, but something that is achievable for most women with the right education, preparation and support.
