Testimonials

June 2023

From our initial meetings through my delivery and postpartum visit, working with Shelby during my first pregnancy was a wonderful experience. She helped me shape my birthing preferences while honoring my requests, adding input where I wanted or needed guidance and letting me take the lead when I did not. Her assistance of myself and my partner through labor and delivery was invaluable - again, knowing when to be a strong presence and knowing when to step back while providing a consistent calm, comfort, and reassuring vibe throughout the entire experience. I would highly recommend hiring Shelby for doula support through your birth, whether this is your first or any other pregnancy - we are already working with her again for support through the birth of our second child.

November 2024

Having Shelby by my side during my pregnancy and my labor with my daughter Marigold made such a difference. When we met beforehand, she not only made my husband and me feel comfortable, but had questions and suggestions to help get our minds thinking through what we might want during birth. She did a great job hearing our anxieties and giving us tools to work through them. It was Obvious to us she was familiar with different hospital systems, and the many ways a birth can go. It was also clear how special she holds her role and the privilege it is to see a baby come earthside, which was also important to us as we had had a long road to meeting our child.

When I was induced, she was on call and came to the hospital in the middle of the night, even when it felt like "nothing" was happening yet, so that my husband could rest and I wouldn't be on my own. It was comforting to have her there during checks, and during the wait.

During active labor, she was a calm and encouraging presence, helped me walk through decisions but didn't make the decisions for me, and gave incredible massage to help with the pain! Something else I am so thankful for when I think back on my labor was that Shelby helped coordinate a moment of connectedness and calm for my husband and I right before we started with pitocin. She knew he and I had brought a meditation we had practiced leading up to the birth and she set up candles and suggested he read through it with me before the next stage of my induction started. It was so grounding and I really think back on that with a lot of gratitude- it's one of the moments I remember most clearly!

If you're looking for a doula, I would highly recommend working with Shelby. She is down to earth, open hearted, and great at what she does!

November 2024

Working with Shelby was such a positive experience. We met several times over the course of our pregnancy and she provided the right mix of information (including external resources) and questions. Everything was framed so kindly and gracefully. Her support was paramount to our preparations, especially the specifics of our birth roadmap. When we went to the hospital, she was eager to join us, to help whenever and however she could. Again, her support made this process smooth. Hospital births have a reputation for being highly clinical, but Shelby's presence made it warm and familiar, in a setting not designed for that. One of the unexpected roles she took on was that of a communication coordinator with our loved ones outside the hospital. She fielded messages which let me, the non-birthing parent, be present with my wife and others in the room. Shelby was such a comfort during this long process that was totally uncharted territory for my family. In the days following the birth, Shelby checked in thoughtfully about how we were doing and our birth experience. I wholeheartedly recommend Shelby as a doula and know that your family will be as touched by her work as ours has been.