Meet Shelley

“My husband and I really enjoyed working with Chicago Family Doulas for labor support. Shelley was very knowledgeable calm, and thoughtful! I would have no hesitation recommending them for doula support!”

“Shelley guided us through the birth of our first child this past April. From the moment I first met with her over the phone, she provided a sense of calm and a wealth of knowledge on all things birth and babies! Shelley connected well with my husband too, who at times can be a tough customer. They quickly developed a trusted relationship, where she encouraged him to place an important role and yet seamlessly lead us towards an amazing birth experience. I highly recommended Shelley as your birth partner and advocate! Can’t wait for her to help us again when we hopefully welcome baby #2!”

“This is a rare comment as my wife and I seldom post anything online. But our doula Shelley was so amazing and instrumental in helping deliver our baby girl we just had to let it be known. Shelley came to our home and walked us through what to expect and made us feel calm and at ease about the pregnancy. She answered my wife’s questions via texts and phone throughout the process. During labor, she helped massage my wife and made her feel comfortable, hung up string lights in the delivery room, dimmed the lights, placed candles (fake), and made the room smell good. The space felt so intimate and personal, even though it was a normal hospital delivery room. All the nurses and physicians commented that they loved the vibes. In the chaos right after birth, Shelley gave us our space and took amazing pictures behind the scenes. THEN she helped my wife with her first breastfeeding while still the delivery bed, which likely helped in jumpstarting her breastfeeding journey. We consider Shelley FAMILY.”

“When my husband and I found out that we were pregnant with our first child here in Chicago with our family long distance, we knew that we needed to tap the incredible team of chicago family doulas. From start to finish, we worked with anna who was instrumental in providing us with the best fit for our family for labor support and postpartum services. We cannot say enough, incredible things about anna and the team that she has built. All of the doulas that work for this organization, are a true reflection of Anna and the talent that she attracts. For our labor support we were matched with Shelley who was perfect for what we needed. Our labor was not for the faint of heart as it was just about 30 hours with shelley there every single step of the way before during and after. She turned an extensive labor that was very overwhelming into a beautiful experience. Shelley’s calm demeanor helped us push through and we truly do not know what we would’ve done without her. Cannot recommend her enough for any and everything labor support! Not only with shelley an incredible asset to me during labor, but she was perfect for my husband who had no idea what was going on. She supported the entire family and we will never forget her role in our best day ever! Once we got home, we were excited but transparently nervous for postpartum overnight care. While the concept of support during some of the toughest Weeks sounded amazing – We were both a little reluctant to have a stranger in our home caring for our newborn. within the first 10 minutes of having carolyn in our home, we knew that we had found the perfect fit. Over the past eight weeks carolyn has truly been an angel. she has helped our daughter get acclimated to life at home and overnight we know that our daughter is in the best hands with carolyn who is a accommodating to her every need and helping us establish routines that will set us up for success. Beyond how wonderful she is with our daughter and taking care of her, Carolyn has proven to be an extension of my husband and I, as we figure out navigating life as parents. Morning, noon and night carolyn is available for encouragement, support questions and really anything that we need. While we understand overnight care is a true privilege, We do not know how we would’ve made it through without carolyn and her irreplaceable support. her approach, personality, and everything else that makes carolyn, carolyn. she has been a true gift to our family and we will never forget her or the impact she had on our first three months as a family. We cannot say enough, good things about chicago family Doulas and would highly recommend to anyone in interested.”

“Shelley was my Doula for my first child birth at Prentice Women’s Hospital, Northwestern, in Chicago, IL. Our plan was for a natural birth, I had an emergent induction for preeclampsia. My husband and I could not have been more scared, Shelley was everything we needed in that moment. Her knowledge, her voice and her touch got us through. She is the definition of calm, nurturing and tough. I am a nurse and Shelley, not the hospital staff, truly supported me best. I cannot imagine what our son’s birth would have been like without Shelley, I am so happy she was apart of it. Thank you CFD!”

“We were looking for support throughout our entire pre-birth and birthing experience as it was our first baby and we didn’t know what to expect. Shelley was amazing, she understood and supported us and was a calm presence when we needed it most. She was extremely trustworthy and provided advice and insights whenever we needed it. My birth was an amazing and relaxed experience and me and my husband largely attribute this to Shelly and feeling very comfortable. Anna also checked in throughout the process which was another layer of support. I would highly recommend working with Chicago Family Doulas and finding the Doula that is right for you!”

“We were so fortunate to have worked with Shelley for the birth of our second child this past April. We were on the fence about whether or not to work with a doula again since I had a quick and uncomplicated delivery for our first child a few years ago but I am so glad that we had Shelley on our team for this delivery. I had a long and difficult labor this time around and Shelley was by my side for every minute of it, encouraging me and calmly (magically) anticipating so many of my needs at every point. Shelley made me feel so secure and supported; she really listened to me and was excellent at recognizing what was or wasn’t working for me and then adjusting as needed. She was also very keyed in to my partner’s needs – both emotionally (reassurance) and physically (“take a rest”) – and made sure that he felt fully supported as well. Her warmth, calm confidence, and consistent communication made such a difference. Shelley is truly meant to do this work and we are so grateful to have had her as a part of our birth experience. Apart from the delivery, our experience working with Anna to get matched with a doula was great. The process was quick and Anna took great care to ensure that we found someone who was the right fit for our family.”

“We moved to Chicago while I was pregnant (our first!) with no family or friends close, so we knew we needed to look for support. We loved working with Shelley from Chicago family doulas, from the moment we met she went above and beyond and was always available to answer any questions we had, which are many, if prenatal or now postpartum. She supported us every step of the way, knew exactly what we needed and made the laboring process less burdensome. I loved that she is also a lactation consultant and we are now working with her through our breastfeeding journey. We also took advantage of a lot of the free classes Chicago family doulas had to offer and made some new mom friends on the way. 10/10 would recommend :)!”

“I have nothing but excellent things to say about Chicago Family Doulas. I have used their services for both my pregnancies and received excellent care and service both times. In particular, my doula for my second pregnancy, Shelley McMahon, went above and beyond. Shelley provided a very thorough prenatal visit and was available to me by call or text any time I had a question. I choose to give birth without pain medication, but despite chiropractic care this time around, I have not been able to avoid back labor. Shelley can to our home in the middle of the night to tend to me while I labored. She stayed with us every step of the way at the hospital including squeezing my hips together to apply counter pressure during each contraction. I labored at the hospital in the shower and Shelley literally rolled up her sleeves and pant legs to continue doing whatever I needed to be comfortable. She didn’t miss a beat when baby was being born either and thanks to her I have pictures I will always treasure. If you’re thinking of reaching out to Chicago Family Doulas, don’t hesitate, call them. You will be thrilled you did.”

“We reached out to Chicago Family Doulas in the 34th week of my pregnancy and were worried that we wouldn’t be able to find someone with availability. But within 24 hours we had a response and were setting up interviews with doulas. A few days after our initial inquiry we met Shelley and instantly knew we wanted to work with her. She was completely focused on our goals for birth and for our family. During our first sessions she taught us so much about labor, postpartum, and caring for our baby. She honestly taught us more than my doctors. Her preparation and education helped me feel confident and empowered for labor and delivery. I actually had contractions intermittently for 2 weeks before going into labor. Shelley would check in with me every few days to see how I was doing. Her nurturing and encouraging messages were exactly what I needed to hear. When labor finally did start Shelley was the first person we called. It was 5 am and she still answered the phone! I had very little warning between early labor and pushing and was scared Shelley wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time. But, she has a 6th sense and was on her way to us before we even told her it was time. She arrived before I started pushing and was there to couch us through the whole thing. I am immensely grateful to have met and been able to work with Shelley. She is truly the most wonderful and nurturing person. If/when we have another baby we will absolutely be calling her!”

“Where to begin? Shelley M. helped my family immensely after a complicated cesarean delivery. My son was born prematurely and struggled with his latch but with Shelley’s guidance and support, he was exclusively breastfed for the first year and now into toddlerhood. She was very quick to respond to all my questions by call or text and happily able to make home visits as needed. Breastfeeding is a team sport and requires a village – I’d highly recommend Shelley for lactation care. We are so incredibly grateful!”

“Anna did a wonderful job of placing us with our spectacular doula Shelley! We could not have asked for a better experience. Shelley is experienced & knowledgeable and made our birthing experience with my daughter so much easier. My husband really appreciated having someone else to advocate for our family and as a support person for him as a father. From the in home education to the postpartum visit Shelley was one of the most valuable resources we had every step of the way. We were so fortunate to have found her and will be reaching out to her again when we decide to grow our family.”

“Shelley M. was an amazing labor and delivery doula! People called my labor and delivery “fairytale like” and even my OB said to “don’t tell people what your labor and delivery was like, they’ll get the wrong idea it’s that quick”! Even the nurses in the room commented on how calm I was! Shelley kept me calm throughout my pregnancy. We started texting when I was 20 weeks, and she prepped me more than any of the classes I took on how to have a relaxed, calm delivery. I was nervous about breastfeeding as no one in my family had really done it, but Shelley was also and IBCLC and came through with all the information I needed, even after the delivery I texted her whenever I had a question and she was so fast to respond. In the delivery room Shelley gave me great counter pressure, heat, and advocated for what I wanted – was infinitely positive and was a great friend through it all. She was instrumental in my super positive birth experience. Chicago Family Doulas (CFD) was great to work with as an agency as well. I got to interview and speak with Shelley beforehand, and CFD was also easy and prompt with answering emails and questions about admin and payment.”

“Shelley was unbelievable. She had unending knowledge on breastfeeding and postpartum as well as birth. I am a first time mom and she was so kind and patient with all my questions. I have already recommended her to all the soon to be mamas I know.”

“Chicago Family Doulas gave me such peace of mind leading up to the birth of my child last year. They were great at pairing me with a doula who met my needs and made me feel comfortable and cared for. Right when I was paired with Shelley I knew she was the perfect fit for me. She’s calm, collected, knowledgeable, and incredibly comforting! She makes you feel at ease and knew exactly what I needed during the birthing process. I honestly wouldn’t have gotten through the birth of my daughter without her. I will definitely be using her for the birth of my next child!“

“I cannot say enough good things about Shelley from CFD. She was incredible at supporting me during my labor and postpartum. she is so knowledgeable on labor comfort techniques and I truly feel like I couldn’t have done it without her. she went above and beyond helping me with breastfeeding as well which was so kind and generous and truly made such a difference for me in my breastfeeding journey. I felt so lucky to have a doula that is also an IBCLC!“

“I am so thankful that we found Chicago Family Doulas and Shelley in particular she made a huge difference in our labor and pre/post experience. I chose Chicago Family Doulas because I liked that they paired you with a specific doula vs whoever was on call so you could form a relationship with whoever would support you for labor, especially when my midwife was going to vary by whoever was on call. I was looking for someone to support and empower me through the experience while advocating for my choices and to help me with breastfeeding. Shelley did all that and more. She is positive, calm and knowledgeable and put both my husband and I at ease. My labor was full of twists and turns and she was a big reason I was able to stay grounded mentally and physically. Shelley has also been so helpful answering all of my questions and helping me find ways to make breastfeeding more comfortable and effective. In short, I can’t recommend Chicago Family Doulas and Shelley enough – so worth it!”

“My husband and I were very thorough in researching and asking questions prior to selecting Chicago Family Doula services. As first time parents, we had several questions into the unknown of child birth, breastfeeding, and what to expect through it all. Shelley was carefully selected by the agency as our match. We are very grateful for Shelley’s presence both at my side during the delivery of our daughter and during the post-partum visit as our certified lactation consultant. She has been a wonderful support. She massaged my back and gave excellent emotional support through some difficult decisions I made during labor. She is a delight and positive energy in helping me feel comfortable through and through. During a time when formula has had shortages, her expertise and encouragement has been huge!”

“I had Shelley as my birthing doula and what a difference it had made!! Shelley is not only knowledgeable and experienced in what she offers but she has positive and uplifting persona which made every interaction self-affirming and valuable. She provided her calming presence and massaged my legs while I was having contractions in the hospital. Plus she is a lactation consultant which was immensely needed after the birth and I credit her for making my breastfeeding journey easier and launched me off to a great start by providing the support right after I delivered my daughter in the hospital. She even paid a visit within a week after the birth and put my mind to ease about breastfeeding experience. She was so responsive to my need and always present to answer any questions I had via text/call or a in-person visit.”

“As a first time mom with a high risk pregnancy, I couldn’t of asked for a better Doula to support me through everything. Shelley is amazing at what she does and has such a kind and sweet soul. She is a great communicator and has years of experience calming worried first time moms like myself. I was clueless about the labor & delivery process and Shelley not only helped me understand everything, but then also helped me come up with my birth preferences and then stick to them. She made sure my husband’s questions were answered and that he was included in everything. I didn’t always have the best prenatal checkups and Shelley was always there to take my calls after them to comfort me. When it came time for showtime, Shelley was invaluable. I can’t imagine going through any of that without her. My husband was also extremely grateful for all of her help and guidance. After baby girl came home from the hospital, Shelley came by to weigh her and help me breastfeed. She also helped me establish a feeding/pumping routine that works very well for our lives. I am very grateful to have her in my corner and can’t highly recommend her enough!”

“Following 8 rounds of IVF, we were committed to doing everything we could to ensure a successful pregnancy and delivery. Our doctor recommended Chicago Family Doulas to us, and we were soon paired with Shelley M. As Shelley kicked off her Chuck Taylors to settle on the couch with us for the first of many meaningful visits (both prenatal and postpartum), we could tell that engaging her to be our doula was one of the best decisions that we had made during our entire fertility journey to that point. Yes, she was a guide, a consultant, a sounding board, an educator, and everything you would imagine of someone in that role. Perhaps more importantly, however, she would almost immediately become a friend, a confidant, and a lifeline, sharing in the highs and lows of what was to come as though we were her greatest commitment and highest priority. Shelley filled in the blanks when we wanted to expand upon what we were learning in the virtual classes. She remained a text away, approving of our hospital bag checklist with a moment’s notice. In labor and delivery, she was indistinguishable from family members, providing bedside physical and emotional support and switching into photographer mode when our beautiful daughter came into the world. Her wonderful rapport with, and great respect for, our nursing staff made for a truly effective partnership when it mattered most. As if she hadn’t already proven her value, Shelley then held our hands as we struggled to breast feed in the weeks that followed, reminding us at every turn that we were making good, hard decisions. When Shelley met us, we were a family of two. With her love and support, we became a family of three. Chicago Family Doulas made that possible, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

Chicago Family Doulas was recommended to me by a friend, I am so glad that I had their support before and post delivery of my first baby. My husband and I don’t have family in the Chicago area, but CFD quickly became like family. Shelley was our labor Doula and was absolutely fantastic. I felt so supported leading up to labor. Having Shelley’s support left me informed and prepared for a fear free delivery. I delivered 12 hours after checking into the hospital, pushing for less than an hour without any complications. It was an amazing experience, one I attribute so much to CFD and Shelley. Post labor Shelley stayed in contact, checking in on my mental and physical health  as well as our baby’s. Such a great experience, I wouldn’t change a thing. I highly recommend this group!

“We decided to use Chicago Family Doulas at the recommendation of our ob/gyn office, and I’m so happy that we did! After a couple of zoom interviews, we felt that Shelley was the best fit for us. She and Anna provided excellent communication, always there asking us what we needed next. Our birthing experience happened sooner than expected after my preeclampsia diagnosis and hospital induction, but Shelley was there all the way! She was so comforting and warm, and helped us to feel so secure throughout the induction/birth. She made sure that we gathered my colostrum, since my daughter had to be in the NICU, and I couldn’t be with her. She also secured our postpartum home visit, and provided such warm and loving care for all of us. We are forever grateful to everyone at Chicago Family Doulas, and highly recommend them!”

“Shelley is an incredible doula and a wonderful person. From day one, she always made herself available to answer my many questions and talk through my personal doubts and anxieties. Her genuine warmth and compassion was obvious from our first meeting in my early third trimester and that, coupled with her deep expertise gave my husband and me strength during labor/delivery and all the way through to our postnatal visit. I had a long, difficult labor and delivery and Shelley was by my side soothing and coaching me (and even holding me during pushes) every step of the way. Having an ICBLC as our doula was an added bonus. For the first week or so my baby would only latch with a nipple shield, but after Shelley’s postnatal consultation, we haven’t needed it since! Baby is now almost 3 weeks old and breastfeeding is going very well. I truly can’t recommend Chicago Family Doulas enough. Shelley is the kind of person that makes you feel capable of anything, and with her guidance and support, I’ve been able to be the mother I always wanted to be!”

“Our experience with Chicago Family Doulas–and Shelley in particular–was absolutely phenomenal. We took several of their classes, which prepared us so well for childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care. Our doula, Shelley, was INCREDIBLE. She was so responsive and helpful answering our questions before the birth, and when the time came she arrived at the hospital almost immediately after I texted her! She took care of me while my husband was able to get some much needed rest, bringing me water, massaging me, and helping me change positions. She was supportive of our decisions and helped advocate for us with our healthcare providers. I made it through our 40+ hour induction without an epidural and Shelley’s support is a huge reason for that. I am so grateful to her for guiding us through such a positive, empowering first birth experience, and I can’t recommend her enough!”

“Shelley’s support during the birth of our daughter and postpartum has been wonderful. She was calm, reassuring, encouraging and so helpful during my second unmedicated birth. The cold wash cloths on my neck for every contraction during transition were a lifesaver! Through each contraction she would calmly remind me to relax my shoulders and jaw as well as quietly cheer me on. Postpartum she has helped me with those first few weeks of finding our breastfeeding groove. She cares for our newborn for a few hours each week and it’s so comforting knowing she’s in good hands while I spend time with our toddler. My husband and I have been so happy with the support she’s given us!”

“I’m so happy we went with having a doula for the labor of our son Leo. Shelley was our doula and I can’t say enough wonderful things about her! This was our first, and we were so nervous going into labor (especially during covid and not being able to have my mom). Shelley came to our house before and answered all of our questions. We went over my hopes for our labor and birth plan. She was so supportive the weeks leading up to the big day. I was induced 2 days short of 42 weeks. It was a long process. It took two days to dilate enough to get pitocin. Shelley was checking in on me the whole time waiting for me to tell her when I needed her to come. Once I was given it, things started to accelerate and my husband called Shelley to the hospital. She came with a little care package (so sweet). I labored for about 8 hours before I got my epidural. Shelley helped me and my husband get through the contractions with suggestions on positions and just being so supportive to both of us. I asked for an epidural and Shelley stayed over night while I was getting a little rest before I was supposed to push.  My labor stalled another 8 hours and I started to run a fever and got an infection. I was pretty nervous and the midwives suggested I get a c section. Shelley was so supportive and helped calm me down. She stayed after in the recovery room and was just overall so supportive and warm. She was with us the entire time (around 24 hours). My husband said having her there to help guide and support him was invaluable. She checked in on me multiple times once we were home and came to our house after a few weeks. She held the baby (she’s a baby whisperer) just so I could get a break and answered a bunch of questions. When my son was sick at 6 weeks and we had to be admitted, Shelley helped calm me down and was supportive again. Not only would I recommend using her, I will definitely be asking for her in the future (God willing I’m able to have another baby). Thank you again for all the help.”

“At first my husband and I were undecided on whether we should use a doula as our birth plan was pretty conventional.  We definitely made the right choice in going with Chicago Family Doulas and we got really lucky to land on Shelley as our doula.  As we were some of the first of our social circle to take the plunge into parenthood, the numerous questions we had during our pregnancy were quickly and reassuringly answered.  She was available around the clock and often had more practical wisdom than the formal medical team. Further Shelley seems like she was made for the role of doula!  Her gentle optimism and profoundly calming energy were the perfect piece for our birth team, and helped usher our little boy into the world happily and healthily.”

“From the first virtual meeting with Shelley my husband and I felt a nurturing and warm presence from Shelley. We were looking for someone who would support us both emotionally and functionally with the birth of our first child. As we were pregnant during pandemic and living far from family, we wanted someone to be our go to that was knowledgeable, caring, calm and nurturing. We found all that with Shelley. My husband has white coat syndrome (afraid of doctors) and Shelley helped him stay present, attuned and confident throughout labor. Shelley constantly checked in with me prenatally and was always a quick text Away. During labor she pushed on my hips to help with contractions and then taught my husband how to too and they took turns. She was not at all judgmental and supported every decision I made. She encouraged me and helped me feel confident when I doubted myself. After birth she came over and held our baby girl for a few hours so I could have a glorious nap. She answered all my questions about nursing and baby noises and baby poops and she helped ease my anxieties. I always felt comfortable asking her about babies, nipples, healing- all of it. I totally recommend Shelley as a doula and think any parents will instantly feel comfortable around her.”

“We are so lucky to have Shelley in our lives, we didn’t know how good it could be and then we didn’t know what we would do without her! Shelley is incredibly patient, caring and reliable. She is an excellent communicator and truly has a gift when working with a family and their new baby. Our daughter benefitted greatly from the care she received from Shelley and we all learned from the routine she helped us create too. We have a well fed sleeping baby thanks to Shelley’s guidance and care. I learned so much from Shelley and feel I recovered well thanks to her assistance and help, especially at 2am! Please share our gratitude with anyone who may benefit from having Shelley in their lives.”

“I can’t say enough wonderful things about our doula Shelley! We hired her as both a labor and postpartum doula. She was incredible in both roles. From the moment we hired her she was available to help me and answer any questions I had during my pregnancy. Being a first time mom I had a lot of questions. Shelley was very knowledgeable and supportive. I was so greatful to have her to support me during my birth. After birth she supported my husband and I overnight. She is so kind and working with infants comes naturally to her. She took wonderful care of our daughter and I was able to get uninterrupted sleep during those first nights when I was  recovering but my baby needed to be fed round the clock. Each night she was here I woke up to a clean kitchen, washed and folded laundry, and yummy snacks she made for me to eat while pumping! I feel like she’s become part of the family and I will definitely be hiring her to support me during my next pregnancy. Anyone would be lucky to work with Shelley!”

“My wife and I had never worked with a doula previously and we felt blessed to be matched with Shelley. For months before the birth, Shelley was a fantastic resource as we prepared for the birth and her assistance throughout the birth was invaluable. Shelley seamlessly stepped in when I needed to rest and my wife always had support throughout the entire labor. She removed all anxieties my wife had about my lack of knowledge of childbirth and knowing we were working with her made my wife confident abour our birth plan. The entire birth experience was so much more positive because of her. We were also fortunate to work with Shelley during the post birth experience and she was literally our savior. There were many sleepless nights with our daughter in the first month and Shelley was the only reason we got any sleep. With our daughter, Shelley showed so much caring and compassion it was as if our daughter were her own. In addition to being an incredible caregiver, Shelley surprised us every time she was over by preparing snacks and even doing our laundry. I cannot speak highly enough of the care and support we received from Shelley as she was an essential part of making our daughter’s first days incredibly positive. Thank you, Shelley! You’re the best.”

“Shelley was my birthing doula and it was great having her on our side at the hospital. We were waiting for 3 hours in the triage having contractions and she was knowledgeable in positions to help ease pain and comfort”

“Our experience with Chicago Family Doulas was far beyond anything we expected. We knew the immense benefit of having a doula, but we truly felt like we were loved, cared for, and supported. Anna is so gifted at finding you the perfect doula, and for us that was Shelley. She gave us so much peace of mind and with each worry, she heard us out and encouraged us. During such an odd and difficult time with COVID and so many unknowns, it was a huge blessing to have her. For several weeks, we went to her with any and every question after delivering our son (not to mention the endless support from her while I was pregnant) and she was ready to respond at the drop of a hat. Not only that, but when she visits she will cook, clean, and snuggle with your little one so you can rest and nap. I simply can not say enough good things about Anna, Shelley, and Chicago Family Doulas. I wish I could gift them to all of my pregnant friends, such a blessing!”

“This review is long overdue. We had an opportunity to work with Chicago Family Doulas for their postpartum services for our second child who arrived during the onset of the pandemic. From the very beginning Anna was so supportive, understanding, and flexible. There was literally no surprise that could be thrown at her that she was not already well experienced and prepared to handle. Her reassurance, experience, adaptability, and willingness to take on any obstacle (our pregnancy had many) helped in so many ways during out pregnancy and when it was finally time for our family to come home. Anna made the process for selecting our postpartum doula fun, seamless, and worry/frustration free. She took into account our laundry list of requirements for our Doula and carefully and thoughtfully matched us with our wonderful postpartum doula Shelley. We instantly became attached to Shelley, including our 2 year old. We all fell in love with Shelley from our first meeting. Shelley, like Anna, had an immediately warm disposition. She has a magic to her that just made us all feel comfortable and supported. She made sure to keep in contact with our family throughout my pregnancy right up through delivery day to the first day we came home. Despite all the changes we had to make in regards to our services due to pregnancy, delivery complications, having a premie in the nicu, and the Covid pandemic both Anna and Shelley moved mountains to make sure they could provide the support that we needed when we needed it. When we finally made it home having Shelley in our house supporting us was like welcoming a family member into our home who already knew where everything was and everything we needed help with. The physical and emotional support Shelley provided our family during our postpartum period was priceless. Shelley was able to anticipate every one of our needs whether it was caring for our toddler, or our newborn so we could rest and get back on track, to cleaning and cooking all while providing us with a safe space to just emotionally be ourselves with everything going on with our lives and the world. Shelley formed a forever bond with our children which speaks volumes for itself. As for myself and my husband, we would not have been able to navigate through our postpartum transition of parents to two during a pandemic without Shelley. Her presence and her services have been missed everyday since. Even after our services ended Shelley continued and still continues to keep in touch with our family. Chicago Family Doulas is not a company that will just do their job and move on. They will happily go above and beyond, they will stay with you even after their job is done, all while helping to create great memories and giving families the priceless opportunity to care for themselves during their most challenging times. Without question, we would highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas for any Doula service.”

“Let me begin by saying, Shelley is an amazing, knowledgable, and experienced doula and an incredibly warm, honest, kind, and caring person. You WANT Shelley as your doula! Being pregnant, laboring and delivering, and raising a newborn in the thick of the COVID19 pandemic was and continues to be extremely challenging, and Shelley’s support and guidance was invaluable. We first met Shelley way before COVID had changed any hospital protocols or birthing support rules, so we planned on having her come to our home for the regular prenatal appointment as well as be present during my labor and delivery. As it happened, and due to the rapid lock down in Chicago and limited support allowed at hospitals during labor and delivery, we conducted our prenatal video on zoom and Shelley wasn’t able to be present at the hospital with me — only one support person was allowed so my husband was there. However, at no time during all this craziness did I ever feel alone or without her support. Between her texting me to check in regularly, being available for phone calls, video chats, zoom meetings, sending resources, knowing exactly where I was in my pregnancy, and on the big day — texting with my husband to share tips, ideas, and advice on how to keep me as comfortable as possible while I labored; I never felt alone or without her. Even though we both obviously would have preferred to work together in person, Shelley made every effort to be there for me with genuine concern, care, and wisdom. When she could finally come to my home to meet my son for our postnatal visit, I felt that she already knew him from all our communication during my pregnancy. I highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas for your pregnancy and postnatal care, Anna is of course wonderful as well — also checked in regularly with me and made a wonderful recommendation to our family by matching us with Shelley. We are so happy to have met and worked with Shelley during my pregnancy and birth of my first child.”

“After speaking with Annamarie Rodney over the phone I was confident that she was someone I could trust to pick the best postpartum doulas to help make the postpartum transition easier for my family and I. Katharine, Ashley, Andrea, Shelley and Alex did an exceptional job taking care of my 3 kids 5 and under, newborn and I that I couldn’t of asked for a better experience. My husband and I are very grateful for all the support they have given our family. They went above and beyond our expectations and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for postpartum care. They love what they do and are dedicated to providing the best care for families. Thank you Chicago Family Doulas”

“I looked into getting a doula for labor support with my first baby and interviewed two from Chicago Family Doulas, which is a great organization for anyone looking for help with pre- or postpartum care. While I didn’t hire anyone for labor (a mistake, in hindsight!) I did end up hiring Shelley for postpartum help. Shelley is absolutely wonderful – so sweet and caring, and so easy to be around. She is incredible with babies and provided so much assurance for myself and my husband as first-time parents. She came to our home and helped us clean/organize, give our baby her first bath, assured us that feeding was going fine, and was a much-needed extra set of hands. I’m already planning to use her if we have another baby. I highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas!”

“Working in Labor & Delivery, I had questioned whether or not I wanted to pay for a doula. I had seen quite a few live births and had supported a few friends through their labors. But being in Public Health, I knew all the statistics that were pro-Doula and with my goal of an unmedicated birth, I decided to start the search process for a doula just to see what my options were. Discovering Chicago Family Doulas was such a gift. Anna was so friendly and I could have talked to her for hours about pregnancy, birth, and family. After our phone call, she suggested I meet Shelley. During our initial meeting, I knew she would be great supporting me through my labor. She understood all of my concerns (whether they were rational or not) and validated every single one of my feelings regarding labor and birth. She made me feel empowered immediately that I could have the unmedicated birth that I desired and made me excited to have this baby! Her love for supporting women through birth was so evident and it was so helpful! Fast forward to my 37 week appointment – I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and needed to be induced. This was such scary news just with the risks of the diagnosis along with all of my hopes for this labor being ripped away. I texted Shelley and with a simple text conversation, I was reassured that I could still do this with a few curveballs thrown my way. My induction when very quickly which was unexpected since this was my first baby. When Shelley showed up, I had already broke my water and was in active labor. But goodness she showed up at just the right time. I was tired and feeling a little beat down. My husband was running out of ways to help me get comfortable and I was practically nonverbal. Shelley was a breath of fresh air and got down to business helping me do anything I could to stay comfortable. My husband loved having Shelley help him help me. He was able to stay involved in the process when everything started moving quickly. While Shelley was so amazing during my labor, the biggest reason that I would recommend her is the support she gave me directly after. My baby was jaundice so we had to have her admitted to the hospital 3 days postpartum. Shelley helped me figure out breastfeeding throughout this time while the baby was in phototherapy. Since then, she has answered my breastfeeding questions and I truly believe I have had such a great breastfeeding experience so far because of her. Not only that, she has checked in with me and supported me through all the new mom guilt and stress that has come. I would consider Shelley a friend and look forward to working with her again in a future pregnancy!”

“Using Chicago Family Doulas for birth and postpartum was one of the best decisions of my pregnancy. Shelley helped me and my husband feel at ease and supported during a long and difficult labor, providing tips on pain reduction, emotional support, and the knowledge to understand what is/isn’t normal during childbirth. She supported us in whatever decision we wanted to make, while providing helpful info. During postpartum, Shelley checked in on me and the baby (and was also immediately loved by our dog!) and took initiative to do things around the house to help me out (washing bottles, baby laundry) and make my day a bit easier. She also gave me tips on breastfeeding and soothing and interacting with my baby. Mostly, just helping me to understand that what I was experiencing was normal and to be expected. Annemarie did a great job of matching us with doulas and she is very responsive and easy to work with. I would recommend Chicago Family Doula’s to anyone looking for birth or postpartum support.”

“I can’t say enough good things about CFD. I called Anna when I was only 15 weeks pregnant, both excited and nervous as heck. She talked me through all their different services and continued to follow up with me throughout my pregnancy. Eventually we decided to do postpartum care a few days a week once my husband went back to work. We worked with Shelley and she was fantastic. She was both super knowledgeable but also so much like a friend. I felt lonely at home, and having her there made a huge difference in my mood and ability to be emotionally present with my little guy. She was so good with the baby and also would do little things around the house to help out when he was sleeping. It allowed me to get out of the house solo from time to time- which I have to say really helped with my transition back to work. An unexpected perk! I would highly recommend this team to people looking for postpartum care.”

“From the first time I met Anna on the phone, I felt comfortable with her and knew that CFD would be a fit for my needs Postpartum doula services were my saving grace.  I don’t have family nearby; all my friends work; and my husband went back to work full-time a week after my baby was born.  I was able to nap and do other tasks.  The doulas helped with laundry and dishes and bathing and playing with the baby.  Shelley was my regular, and she was very accommodating and easy to work with.  I had a couple other doulas who were also extremely knowledgeable and helpful, including assisting with getting me and my baby to doctors’ appointments.  CFD even helped me out in a bind when my nanny had to take a sick day a few weeks after I went back to work.  They were able to send someone on short notice to stay with my 5 month old for 11 hours!  Don’t hesitate to book with CFD.  They are very flexible and accommodating.”

“My doula helped me as well as my support people so much. If it wasn’t for her, even with the pain meds I don’t know if I would of been able to deliver Emerick without a c-section. He was in posterior position and my doctor was talking to the surgeon right before I finally delivered him. Can’t believe next Sunday will be 2 years since we met him. Thank you Shelley Grove McMahon.”

“I had the pleasure of having Shelley’s support for postpartum care when I had my son in the fall. She started supporting me the day I gave birth, throughout my stay at the hospital, then came to our home for 8 weeks after.  Imagine your mother and best friend wrapped into one, and you have Shelley.  There are so many wonderful traits to describe Shelley and how lovely it was to have her support.  She is extremely caring, knowledgable and passionate about what she does, she was incredibly soothing and loving with my son, she was encouraging and helpful with nursing as it was important to me, she took care of me with my recovery, and was always offering to help around the house and cook!  My four year old daughter adored her and ended up calling her ‘Aunt Shelley!’ She was always on-time coming to our home, and very communicative and supportive at all times even between visits.  I would highly recommend Shelley to anyone looking for a doula for any of the support services they offer.  She made my postpartum experience a very comforting and pleasurable one.   I know Shelley and I will stay in touch and continue a friendship.”

“After having my 1st born on 2005 I decided this time around I needed a doula. Shelley went above and beyond for us. She stayed with us during my entire labor/delivery (20 hrs). She was so loving and supportive the entire time keeping us calm.  I highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas and Shelley.”

“I am so grateful to Chicago Family Doulas!  They are wonderful!  Adriana and Shelley helped our family after the birth of our son.  One of them would come in mornings to hold and play with our son so we could nap and get a hot shower.  This was so important in the first few weeks after our baby was born.  They were also able to help answer the million questions we had as new parents about how to best care for our son.  Things like – how should we bathe him? How do I cut his fingernails? Should I be worried about [fill in the blank here]?  They were kind, thoughtful, and really helped us become more confident parents.”

“I was fortunate enough to work with CFD during my recent labor and postpartum. Anna, Alex and Shelley treated my family like their own. Starting with the very first phone call when I didn’t even really understand what a doula could bring to the table for my personal situation, Anna talked to me for over an hour and matched me with two amazing doulas. Alex was my labor and delivery doula, and without her I don’t know that my husband or I could have made it through the 20+ hour labor feeling as supported, able to breathe through every awful contraction, and giving us the time and space to make in-the-moment decisions. Shelley and Alex helped us postpartum. They gave incredible insight regarding breastfeeding, pumping, creating an overnight childcare schedule for my husband and I, and they even helped us with laundry, cleaning, and playing with our dogs. Those extra moments of support and sleep were worth every dollar, especially during the first challenging and unknown moments of infant life. I would recommend them to anyone and hope to utilize their services for any future children I am lucky enough to have!”

“If I would of know what I know now I definitely would of had my doula with me for all 3 of my baby’s deliveries. Shelley was our Doula and she is Amazing! She helped not only myself but also my support people My hubby and my mom were in the room with me. Shelley did a fantastic job of not interfering with either of their parts in the delivery or the doctors and nurses. She was there whenever we needed anything, she was another person cheering me on and giving me encouragement. After changing positions for what felt like the 100th time I didn’t know if I could do much more. Honestly if it wasn’t for her, even with pain meds I don’t know if I would of been able to deliver Emerick without a c-section. He was in posterior position. I did it and shortly after delivery my doctor told me I was a rock star; only 10% of women or less who start to deliver babies in posterior position end up having a vaginal birth. I was also informed that my doctor was talking to the surgeon right before I was finally able to deliver him. I was at the hospital at 6am and he was born at 539 pm. 9lbs, 2 Oz & 22 inches long. Thank you Shelley {(hugs)}”

“Shelley was my doula when I had my daughter Poppy and she was fantastic! She had a very calming presence about her. Even before my birth she offered me so much support and was there to talk when I needed someone to talk too. She arrived at the hospital as soon as I told her I was ready for her extra support. She was ready to get me anything I needed at any time to make my experience a positive one. She was on my team and supported every decision I made completely. During contractions she would rub my back while I leaned on my husband. I highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas and more specifically Shelley. You won’t regret bringing her into your life.”

“What a wonderful organization!  After my son was born I worked with Chicago Family Doulas for postpartum support.  Adriana and Shelley alternated days and supported my son and I for five hours a day each weekday.  They are wonderful!  Five hours each day was enough time for me to get a nap, take a hot shower, and get some errands accomplished to help me feel human again.  My son was in very capable hands.  It was Adriana and Shelley who helped me feel comfortable to go out while they watched my son and get some sunshine and fresh air.  They were also able to answer all of my first time mom questions and help me feel comfortable that I was doing right by my son.  As I head back to work, I will miss them.  I can’t recommend them strongly enough – they are fantastic!”

“If you are a new or expecting parent and are considering hiring help, especially in the first days home with your new baby, you will not be disappointed with the services provided by Chicago Family Doulas. My husband and I welcomed twins in August of 2017. Although I was familiar with caring for infants, brining home two small babies was totally overwhelming. My husband, who had never held a baby, much less changed a diaper before was thrown into the deep end without a life vest. Recovering from birth and learning how to do so many new things (like breastfeeding!) I was barely treading the waters of parenthood next to him. We quickly realized we needed professional help. Chicago Family Doulas was not the first company from which we sought help. We worked with an individual and another agency and were very disappointed in the quality of care. Based on a recommendation from our Lactation consultant, we reached out to Anna. The speed with which she responded and the amazing doula that was sent our way (Shelley), set the tone for a wonderful experience. In the following months, we worked with Shelley on a regular basis for overnight and daytime care. Shelley is warm, compassionate, loving to both mothers and babies, and knowledgeable and passionate about newborn care. It was extremely easy to communicate with both Anna and Shelley. Not only were we were able to quickly schedule services and make payments, but both Anna and Shelley would check in with us regularly to see how we were doing, which made my husband and I feel as if they truly cared! Having Shelley and Anna’s support those first months home with our twins allowed my husband and I to stop treading the deep waters of uncertainty and feel confident and comfortable caring for our girls. So, as you undertake the most important job in your life and are seeking warm and loving professional support,I can confidently recommend hiring Chicago Family Doulas.”

“Anna and Shelley are incredible! Both went above and beyond to help my family and me during my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period. They were absolute lifesavers. My labor was very difficult and didn’t at all turn out how I had planned.  Shelley was there with me the entire time making sure I was ok and helping me stay calm. I can’t say enough about Chicago Family Doulas. I will use them again in a heartbeat!”

“Shelley was my labor doula and was so wonderful before, after, and most importantly during my first birth. I was so nervous that my husband wouldn’t be enough support during labor (he ended up being amazing) and just knowing Shelley would be there to help both of us was such a weight off my shoulders, leading up to the big day. She was so helpful with any question or concern I had, and spent a very long night-in-to-day supporting us both throughout my delivery. She was a wonderful comfort and cheerleader, and I am SO glad she was with us to welcome our baby boy! Anyone would be lucky to have her in the delivery room! (Also, my OB really liked her and has recommended her to patients.)”

“We moved to Chicagoland a few weeks before my daughter was born. I needed someone who could be on call to watch my older son when we delivered and I also needed postpartum support. Anna understood exactly what I needed and set my family up with Shelley, who was AMAZING!! She was literally down to meet whatever need we had. She was oncall 24/7, stayed with my son when I went to the hospital, stayed with me at the hospital when my husband got sick the day after our birth, stayed with my family when my husband was traveling for work. I am so, so happy we invested in the support of Chicago Family Doulas.”

I can’t say enough great things about Shelley! We connected with Shelley when I was in my second trimester. We immediately felt at ease and comfortable with her, and she continued to be a great resource for us throughout the rest of my pregnancy. Two days before my due date, I tested positive for COVID. I am so grateful for Shelley’s support during this very scary experience. I went into labor on day 4 of my symptoms, so Shelley wasn’t able to attend the birth in person, but she remained in contact with my husband throughout a very long labor and our stay in the hospital. Shelley coached my husband via phone and text to support me during early labor at home. When we arrived at the hospital, Shelley helped us make decisions about my care. I truly believe that following her advice is the reason why I had a very smooth recovery after the birth. Shelley also provided lactation support for us. She helped me establish a strong breastfeeding relationship with my daughter, even in a situation where my daughter was initially struggling to get enough milk during nursing. Shelley’s advice and guidance helped me to establish my milk supply early on and 5 months later my daughter and I still have a great breastfeeding relationship. I highly recommend working with Shelley both as a doula and a lactation consultant. Thank you so much Shelley!