EVERGREEN
Doula Services
Evergreen Doula Services is the moniker of San Francisco-based Grace Shaver. Grace grew up on the East Coast as the eldest of three sisters and spent the majority of her summers working with children and families as a camp counselor and later a full-time nanny. Her interest in reproductive justice and birth work combined with her 10+ years of childcare experience encouraged her to pursue doula work as an extension of her body-based and community-centered practices. She is currently offering in-person postpartum doula services to Bay-area families and virtual consultations in postpartum planning and support.
Grace loves trees, but that isn’t the only reason she named her doula services evergreen. Grace spent much of her childhood living on a street named Evergreen Walk, and the moments she shared with family, friends, and a greater community on that block shaped her into the person she is today. Babysitting for her Evergreen neighbors is how Grace first learned that she enjoyed working with children and families. Her appreciation for Evergreen Walk, and the people there that raised her, led her to get a tattoo of an Evergreen tree when she was just 18 years old.
together, let us revere postpartum in its totality
Now evergreens have taken on an entirely new significance. As a freshman at Boston University, Grace learned that in journalism evergreen refers to content that is not time-sensitve. Rather than a breaking news story, evergreen journalism is something that will be relevant over-time. The idea that “evergreen is forever" is something Grace recalled when she was first diving into postpartum training and work because many birthworkers Grace admires believe that postpartum is forever. Grace agrees— the time after a new child is brought into a family is significantly different than the time before.
With this in mind, Evergreen Doula Services was born. Evergreen reminds Grace of her home and honors the work she is dedicated to— the work of making challenging transitions joyous and celebratory. Evergreen Doula Services understands that life in the wake of planning for and the arrival of a new child is significant and different than any other experience. Her goal is to make such significant moments sacred, and she does so by working closely with families for an extended period of time. Grace can tailor her services to fit you and your family’s needs, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or ideas.
Unlike a baby nurse, a postpartum doula does not solely focus on the care of the newborn. A postpartum doula takes care of and supports the entire family unit and may emphasize the needs of the birthing parent to ensure they are supported as they heal, process, and embark on the beginning of— or navigate changes to— their parenting journey. A postpartum doula’s role is versatile, and they may do everything from caring for the newborn while a parent naps to preparing a nutritious meal and folding laundry. Grace has a variety of skills that she can offer during your postpartum to adapt to your individual and unique experience. Her ultimate goal is to ensure that you feel cared for in a way that aligns with your values, needs, and desires.