We had the good fortune of connecting with Shai James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shai, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
The end goal for me is to be a successful midwife, assisting the BIPOC community with safer birthing experiences, decreasing maternal and infant death rates, and providing proper newborn and postpartum care. I also want my future nonprofit organization to be successful in its efforts of providing maternity, postpartum, and infant materials to families in need.

What should our readers know about your business?
Intimate Birthing LLC, was created because of my own traumatic birthing
experiences. What I believe sets me apart from others is my desire to cater to the wants and needs of my clients, making sure their experience with me is one of trust, integrity, and comfortability. I am most proud of my ability to provide my clients with evidence based knowledge and holistic care in efforts of steering them away from unnecessary medical intervention. I got where I am in my business by listening to the concerns and complaints of pregnant women and birthing mothers, and deciding that I wanted to be a part of the solution to these issues. This has not been an easy task, especially in a world that still likes to consider birth workers, especially doulas ‘non essential’, but I have always been known as the type to break barriers, so I see no need to stop now! My mission is to assist women in having the births they DESIRE and DESERVE!

A few lessons that I’ve learned along the way is that: 1. Finding your target audience is monumental in establishing the foundation and growth of your business. It is a waste of time and energy promoting to those who see no value in or have no need for what you have to offer. 2. The claps you give yourself are more important than the claps you expect to receive from others. In other words, you have to continue to believe in yourself even if others don’t!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?​If my best friend was visiting the area, we would go down to my hometown Galveston, TX to visit the beach! We would also go to Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe for great  food, Pur Noire for some amazing wine tasting, Fun City Skate for some skating, find a poetry event, and Richmond Ave for the bars!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?​I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband and biggest supporter, my children who are my greatest motivators, my family, friends, and my Doulas of Discernment group founded and led by doula and student midwife DeShaun Desrosiers! I would also like to give a special shoutout to Bri Joli for not only referring me, but for also being my best friend and business bestie!

Website: www.intimatebirthing.com

Instagram: @intimate_birthing

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.