Hidden Gems: Meet Shai Syrah of Pink Noodle Doula Care and Birth Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shai Syrah.

Hi Shai, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My doula journey began in 2019 during a major spiritual awakening. I was deep in the process of trying to figure out who I was, why I was sent here, and what I was really meant to do in this life. Along the way it became clear to me: I was put on this Earth to support women and children. I just wasn’t sure how that would look. I got certified in Kemetic Reiki in 2022, and launched a business focused on energy healing, but something still felt incomplete. I kept asking myself, Who am I really here to serve? While brainstorming an idea came to me. Pain relief is a key benefit of energy work. Managing pain and comfort during labor is a major concern for women seeking a natural unmedicated birth. I realized that I could use my gift to bring comfort to black women in labor. That realization was like a lightbulb moment. The very next day, I found a doula training course and signed up. Not long after beginning doula work, life threw me a curveball. I went through deeply traumatic experiences that made me pause and take a step back for two years. Dealing with extreme trauma changed everything for me. It broke me in ways I wasn’t expecting, but it also gave me clarity. I knew then that I wanted to offer more than just support during birth. I wanted to provide trauma-informed care—the kind of care I wish I had when I needed it the most.
That’s how Pink Noodle Doula Care & Birth Services was reborn..from my own pain and trauma. Today, my doula business focuses on guiding survivors of trauma through their childbirth journey with compassion, real understanding, and a whole lot of love. This work is personal. It’s powerful, and it’s my purpose.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey to get to where I am today has been anything but smooth or straight. It has come with its fair share of challenges, detours, and tough lessons. I learned that reaching your goals isn’t always a straight shot; it’s more like a winding path with unexpected turns. At one point, I took a detour into the world of professional nannying to gain hands-on experience and strengthen my resume. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of childcare and family dynamics which became invaluable to my doula work. I also dove into the world of lactation with a goal of bringing even more value to the mothers I support during postpartum. While working full-time as a nanny, I pushed myself to become a Certified Lactation Counselor. Working full-time as a nanny and studying for my certification was physically demanding and emotionally draining, but in the end it was worth it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

Pink Noodle Doula Care & Birth Services Mission Statement

At Pink Noodle Doula Care & Birth Services, we provide trauma-informed doula care that honors the unique journey of each mother. We are guided by our core values of empowerment, trauma-informed care, safety and trust, community collaboration, and cultural sensitivity. We pledge to accompany mothers
through their childbirth experience with unwavering support, empathy, and understanding.

We encourage mothers to navigate their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum journey with confidence by providing evidence-based
information, education, and trauma-focused birth and postpartum plans. We are committed to recognizing the impact of trauma on pregnancy and postpartum outcomes. We approach evidence-based practices with sensitivity and cultivate environments that prioritize healing and recovery while avoiding re-traumatization.

Our dedication to safety and trust ensures that mothers feel respected, heard, and valued throughout every stage of their childbirth experience.We create safe spaces built on transparency, confidentiality, and mutual respect.We embrace collaboration and partnership by working hand in hand with healthcare providers, community, and peer support networks to provide comprehensive care that addresses the psychosocial needs of each mother. This results in a supportive network of care that extends beyond the delivery room.

We understand the importance of social, cultural, and historical considerations in maternal health outcomes, and strive to provide inclusive care that honors and respects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the mothers we serve. Our mission is to empower mothers to navigate their childbirth journey with support, empowerment, resilience, dignity, and confidence.

Services we provide:
Birth and postpartum doula services (overnights included)
Virtual birth doula services
Virtual and in-person lactation counseling
Lactation education
Childbirth education
Newborn care

We are excited to announce that we have a FREE Facebook group for black new and expecting mothers in the Atlanta-metro area. Members of our facebook group have access to a FREE LACTATION SUPPORT HOTLINE available to them on the weekends to get any questions answered or concerns addressed.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I definitely consider myself a risk taker. I wouldn’t be in birth work now if I didn’t take major risks. The first major risk I ever took was leaving my hometown of Arlington, Texas, and my close-knit family to attend Spelman College back in 2008. That move set the tone for how I approach life: with courage and curiosity. After college, I took another bold step leaving my entry-level retail management job to move to Germany for a year and a half. I went for better pay and new experiences. I came back fluent in a new language with stamps from 21+ countries in my passport. The largest and scariest risk I took was leaving that cushy job to become an entrepreneur. I’ve tried multiple businesses, and none of them worked out, but every single one brought me closer to my purpose. I never really saw those decisions as “risks” at the time. I always felt like I had a sharp eye for spotting opportunities. Plus, I had the kind of support system that makes you believe anything is possible. My late father and my mother have always been my biggest cheerleaders, and their belief in me carried me through every leap I took.
I don’t believe that everyone is built to take big risks the way I did, but if you’re thinking about making a bold move, here’s my advice: focus on your vision. Write it down and let that be your guide. Pay attention to how you feel when a new opportunity shows up, or when you feel you’re being pulled in a direction that doesn’t look “safe” or traditional. That feeling might just be your intuition nudging you closer to your vision. Instead of focusing on what you might lose, ask yourself: What could I gain? If it brings you closer to the life you want then it’s not a risk…it’s alignment.

My next big move (and one I’m really excited about) is the launch of my personal website www.Osunyamilojuifakemi.com and my Patreon
Blood + Honey: A Creative Almanac. Both are launching this month, and I can’t wait to share it with the world!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pinknoodledoula.com
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/PinkNoodle_Doula/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579371506337
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/768570818867329
• Other: https://bloodandhoneyalmanac.com/