I had the blessing to have Shelley as my doula on my second birth. My husband and I started taking Bradley classes with her where we got the opportunity to meet other like-minded couples and learn more about working together during birth, it made a huge difference for my husband to understand more what his role was and techniques on how to help me during labor.

Shelley's presence and energy during my active phase of labor absolutely touched me. I felt grounded, held and the tender of her loving, blessed words helped me during the harder transition of my birth experience. I still remember those sweet words while she was pouring warm water on my lower back, respecting my space while feeling so supported made my birth the most transformative experience of my life. Having the energy of another woman I think is very important during those times!

After our birth, she brought a delicious meal for us, made a beautiful imprint of the placenta and captured the moments of the birth with her camera. Pictures that mean the world to me!

Forever thankful for having Shelley being part of our family.

 — Paulina, mama from Mexico

Shelley's Bradley courses were incredibly helpful to us. When we first found out we were expecting, we were overwhelmed with, well, everything. A friend encouraged us to look into Bradley. The Bradley method, with Shelley's instruction, gave us the sense of being prepared, informed, and able to articulate and achieve our desire for a safe, natural pregnancy. Shelley is wonderful, and brought such calm and experience to the classes that we ultimately asked her to be our Doula too.

 — First time parents Ellie and Bryce

I knew I wanted an unmedicated hospital birth and am so thankful we chose to have Shelley as my doula. She was an incredible advocate for me with the hospital staff while I was in transition, as well as a calm and empowering coach. I always felt so comfortable around her and would choose to work with Shelley again for any future pregnancies.

 — Second time mom Eileen

As a naturopathic doctor, I deeply value approaches that align with the natural processes of the body, and Shelley’s guidance as a Bradley Method teacher was exceptional. Her knowledge allowed us to prepare for a natural and empowering birth experience and led us to a fast labor without pain medication. Shelley also gave my husband the tools and confidence to be an incredible birth coach, making him feel empowered and truly involved in the process. She not only equipped us with practical techniques but also fostered a sense of partnership that enriched our journey into parenthood. We’re so grateful for her expertise and care!

 — Dr. Megan Fortin

Having Shelley in my corner as a doula made all the difference during both of my pregnancies (2016 & 2018). I truly believe God sent her to help me - both pregnancies had some complications and Shelley’s steady and calm guidance was priceless. Her support during labor, in the moments after birth and again when she checked in postpartum also made all the difference. Bradley classes truly enabled me to have the best possible pregnancies and deliveries and Shelley is a naturally gifted teacher. Thank you, Shell!

 — Mother of 2 Bradley babies, Whitney West Chester, PA

I couldn’t have imagined my son’s birth story without Shelley and her support as our doula. Our baby boy was born in October 2023 at the FBC and as a FTM, I was nervous for labor - but Shelley was there encouraging and supporting me and my husband with her calming energy, her experience and knowledge of the labor process, and getting us through pushing and eventually an emergency c-section. Shelley is the best!

 — First time mom E. Chu

As a new mom I can wholeheartedly say meeting Shelley gave me all the information I needed to have a successful home birth and a labor without intervention or epidural. We had a small class with a few couples which allowed us time to ask questions and build a relationship with Shelley that will stay with us for years to come. Her class provided information on the labor process which delves into the psychological stages in which most women choose the epidural. Having the science behind the laboring process gave me all the information I needed to ground myself and successfully have a natural birth. Shelley is welcoming to those looking for different paths than mine as well, she is knowledgeable in home births and hospital births. She works through the Bradley Birth material in an effective manner focusing on the most important sections. Bradley Birth gave me confidence in myself and my biggest support person, my husband. Shelley has vast knowledge in birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and local providers which is something that cannot be overlooked. Most people take Bradley Birth classes after they experienced a traumatic labor, I am happy to say that because of this class, Shelley, and my midwives having my first baby was a much different experience than most women I have spoken to; in the best way possible.

 — First time mom, homebirther Joni

One of my biggest concerns with having a home birth were the days to follow. Since we would be at home and this was our first baby, I was concerned the exhaustion would be too much to bear without the help of the nurses most folks have with a hospital birth. I was also nervous that we would be thrown into parenthood alone on night one. We hired Shelley as our Postpartum Doula. Shelley was our angel. She stayed with us the first couple of nights, allowing us both to sleep while she watched over our newborn. This gave me and my husband the chance to catch up on sleep. She was also helpful with learning to breastfeed, my sore shoulders from labor, keeping up on meals, some household chores, and helping us learn how to be parents. We graciously had Shelley’s assistance once a week for a few weeks to help keep us on a good track. She listened to my victories and my woes with such compassion. She cared for me and my family as if we were her own. If I could, I would do it all over again with Shelley by our side.

 — Joni Ellington CT passionate supporter and advocate for Shelley's work in our community

Shelley's Bradley class opened my eyes to many parts of the birthing process that I was not aware of. She broke it all down throughout her courses to be easy to understand and absorb. Being able to use her as a Doula was fantastic because she was able to easily transition what we learned into practice. Shelley relieved a lot of stress that I would have otherwise had and made our daughter's birth a truly wonderful experience.

 — First time Bradley dad Matt

We had Shelley as our doula and birth photographer and we are so happy with our experience! She helped my husband to help me throughout our labor, especially when we had trouble contacting our midwife. Shelley helped us stay calm, informed, encouraged and to stick to our birth plan. She also was able to capture the story of our daughter’s all natural water birth through photos which is so special to us (and she was very discreet I didn’t even notice her taking photos). We had a wonderful experience with Shelley!

 — First time mom & videographer, Kendra

Shelley is one of a kind! From the moment we reached out to learn more about taking a birthing class, she was more than accommodating and the most perfect coach and Doula we could ever wish for. The original class we signed up for through the hospital was actually cancelled (nothing to do with Shelley, from lack of sign ups) and Shelley was able to host us and several other families in her own home. Shelley went above and beyond in every aspect of this experience.

My wife and I had our first child who was due in December of 2024. We were completely overwhelmed with all the information we could find online. The birthing class with Shelley was so incredibly valuable. I wasn’t sure what to expect when we attended the first of several classes but it only took a minute to realize we made the best decision we could. Shelley is so very detailed in her birthing class! I was impressed and took so many notes. She was answering questions that I wouldn’t even have known to ask. And for the questions I did have but was hesitant to ask, she answered them and explained everything so easily for us to understand. We knew what to do to prepare the baby, both physically and mentally. Our baby’s due date was supposed to be on Shelley’s birthday and she wasn’t originally available to be our doula. Shelley once again impressed us with her dedication and passion for what she does. She told us she would be honored to be our doula! We had a rush of relief come over us! We were so very grateful for her selflessness! After the in-person classes (which included birthing education, relaxation techniques, what to expect, what questions to ask the hospital, how to write a birth plan, recommendations for pediatricians and other specialists, etc) - my wife went into labor about 9 days before our due date at 11pm. I freaked out and immediately texted and called Shelley. The phone must not have even rung once before she answered! She was on top of it! Another huge sigh of relief for us! She asked us questions and advised us exactly what to do. About an hour later (midnight) she met us at the hospital and came with so many items to make the experience 100x better (calming lights for ambiance for example). Shelley was so helpful in coordinating our birthing wishes to the doctors and nurses as well, based on our birth plan. She had the nurses get the birthing tub set up for us, reiterated to the nurses that we didn’t want XYZ done but we preferred ABC instead. We expected Shelley to leave us and go home to sleep but it was about 5am and 6 hours into labor when I went to lay down on the foldout chair. Shelley took out a small mat and slept right next to us to ensure our peace of mind. We were once again blown away by her kindness. Several hours later, our baby was born! We didn’t know it at the time but besides coaching us through the pushing too, Shelley was capturing the once in a lifetime moments through photos and videos which she sent later! I swear she might have had a twin - she was doing so much! Even after the hospital stay (which she again visited us the next day after the birth!) she offered to come to our house and help us out! To sum everything up, Shelley’s value to the birth of our baby boy is immeasurable. From the coaching class, to being our guide and advocate in the hospital, to checking in on us a month after the birth, Shelley truly has cared about us and our family since day 1. We are so thankful and grateful to her and words do not do it justice. Thank you, Shelley!

 — Nate Pryzbek

Taking Shelley's Bradley Birth class was potentially one of the most influential decisions my wife and I made throughout pregnancy. Shelley welcomes a small group into her home for an intimate, in-depth, and generally eye-opening class about every stage of pregnancy and labor. As a first-time father, modern culture would lead you to believe that labor is something your wife has to go through as you sit on the hospital chair. Shelley taught me that there is so much more us husbands can do to prepare for birth and ultimately play an integral role in the labor process. The class and the pregnancy/birth experience has brought my wife and I closer together as a result of what we learned in Shelley's class.

 — First time Bradley dad, Derek

Using Shelley as a postpartum doula was an excellent choice. My wife and I had a planned home birth and Shelley's support during night one and two allowed us peace of mind since we did not have access to nurses or hospital staff. Shelley kept telling us "I want to mother you while you focus on the baby" and that couldn't have been more true. My wife and I's attention was directed at the baby and Shelley directed all of her attention on caring for us by assisting with meals and helping keep our house in order to maintain our sanity. Shelley also provided attention and care for the baby so we could take a moment for ourselves to get some sleep, breath, shower, and even step out of the house for a couple of hours.

 — First time Bradley dad, Derek

Working with Shelley was an incredible experience! From the beginning, she was informative and easy-going, making us feel confident and at ease every step of the way. Her thoughtful, caring approach ensured our needs were always prioritized, and her professionalism shown through in every interaction. Shelly has a true gift for nurturing and supporting families, and we feel so fortunate to have had her guidance during this special time. We highly recommend her services to anyone seeking compassionate and expert care.

 — First time parents Hannah & Yannick

Working with Shelley was a blessing from the start. She was always so encouraging and her presence helped us to feel calm and safe. From the first home visit to the last, Shelley’s warm nature and expertise was appreciated and helpful. During labor, Shelley encouraged me by creating a calming environment and softly reading my birth affirmation cards. She also helped my husband keep his focus on supporting me by taking care of other things that would have taken his focus, such as making sure we had food and drinks, my fan, and guiding him in ways to support me. She helped us to achieve our goal-hope in having a beautiful natural water birth! She stayed after the birth to get our bags from our car and had food waiting for us back at our room, and created the most beautiful keepsake artwork with my placenta. We are so thankful that God placed Shelley in our lives as our doula and hope to work with her again in the future!

 — Second time mom, Kirsten