I am a labor support specialist—“doula”—who is with you during childbirth to help you stay calm and comfortable as you move through your birthing process, give you information about your care and help you achieve your goals.

My Background, Education and Philosophy

I am Imani Abdul-Zahir. I was born and raised in the inner city of Cleveland Ohio. I am a doula with 27  years of experience and was trained by Birthing Beautiful Communities (a 501c3 non-profit).

My philosophy about birth is that it is a normal bodily function governed by biological and psychological mechanisms, and is not a medical condition. Many communities of color have historically been built and maintained around the concept of “it takes a village”. Caring for mother and baby throughout pregnancy and during childbirth is essential for successful societies. Those with knowledge, experience and expertise have an obligation to educate, support and assist. My core values are commitment, compassion, & knowledge.

I have a strong commitment to serving the needs of pregnant people in our community through compassion and evidence-based practices.

My priorities as a doula are four, to ensure, educate, reassure & elevate.

1. to ensure that my clients receive the best hands-on care, comfort, and assistance during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and recovery.
2. to educate my clients regarding pregnancy, labor, delivery & recovery as well as what they may expect from hospitals and medical staff. Also to provide connections and access to other beneficial resources.
3. to reassure clients that their birth is their own and they have what they need, within themselves, and at their disposal to secure a healthy, safe and positive birth experience.
4. to help elevate clients above their fears, insecurities & expectations using positive encouragement and emotional support.

My goals are to help reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate, to help people to have the safest, healthiest birth possible, and to restore a sense of well being to those who are childbearing through careful postpartum care.

The first step in getting you the support you deserve is to schedule an intake meeting. During the intake meeting, I will answer any questions you might have, learn about your family needs and how I can best support you.

You may email calmlabor.cle@gmail.com or call 216-301-9272

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I am a mother of 7 and grandmother of 2. My husband and I raised a total of 13 children. I attended Kent State University majoring in Architecture & Design then after a short duration I resigned to being a stay-at-home mother. I began doula work in 1997 starting with the birth of my now daughter-in-law. I have been assisting women in labor throughout the years since then and became officially certified with Birthing Beautiful Communities in 2018.

In 2018, partnered with my youngest daughter, I started CALM Doula Services. In early 2020 I completed a 2nd more intense training with Birthing Beautiful Communities and became an independent contractor with the organization. I am one of the training coordinators for the Doula certification course. I am also a certified Community Health Worker, certified in phlebotomy, basic life support, and CPR.

In my spare time, I enjoy studying my religion (Islaam), teaching Arabic reading, traveling, strength training, hiking, graphic design, the Cavs and more traveling.

I am highly passionate about this work and I am looking forward to connecting with you!