On June 11th 2022 Shaina passed away after a two year battle with breast cancer. Two months before she left us, The Conscious Birth Deck finally arrived from the printers. This deck is the culmination of years of study, practice and experiencing childbirth first-hand. Shaina wanted to create a tool to help guide the way for new mothers. The idea first came to her after our son Finnian came into the world in the winter of 2014. At the time we were living on a piece of land in southwestern Washington. She knew she wanted to have a natural birth at home and had just completed her doula training the year before at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, OR. Before formalizing her training as a doula, she had attended many births and taken multiple midwifery workshops dating back to when she was 18. As a massage therapist and yoga instructor, she also worked as a prenatal and infant massage therapist and taught prenatal yoga classes. In 2010-2011, she spent time working as an assistant to a midwife near Cusco, Peru. Even with all her knowledge, training and personal life experiences at that point, giving birth was still a huge  and scary journey into the unknown. After 18 hours of labor under the guidance of our midwife, our baby boy finally splashed into the tub with us. A little over three years later our little girl Simone joined us with a much shorter and easier birth. 

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After having these experiences, Shaina knew she wanted to create a guide for other new mamas. Something informative, organized and accessible, so that you have everything you need in one spot to refer to when you need it. As with everything she created, the deck needed to be esthetically beautiful as well. 

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Shaina was a healer and giver in life. This is evident in her vast community. She was the kind of person you go to when things get hard, so it's fitting that she created this deck. This is her legacy, her way to continue being the guide that she was in her life. I am honored to have spent the time I had with her and to help in getting the word out about this wonderful birth deck! 

 

Jason O'Neill-Butler