We’re excited to introduce you to Shelby, one of our incredible postpartum doulas here in Berks County! As the oldest of 11 siblings, caring for little ones has been a natural part of her life from the very beginning. Before stepping into doula work, Shelby spent years as a nanny, pouring her heart into supporting families and helping them thrive. While she loved her time as a nanny, the bittersweet goodbyes after growing so close to each family inspired her to transition into doula care - where she could continue offering guidance, comfort , and consistency during such a transformative season.

With nearly 1,000 hours spent supporting families, Shelby brings both experience and genuine compassion to her work. This blog is just a little window into her life, why she chose this path and why she find so much joy in walking alongside families in their postpartum journey.

I met Shelby over 5 years ago while we were finishing up our contract with a family in Berks County. We had been supporting this family with overnight doulas support for close to 9 months when mom decided she was ready to switch over to a full-time daytime nanny. As happens quite often, she asked us if we had any recommendations for an easy, down-to-Earth, responsible candidate and one of our agency doulas had just one nanny in mind. I got to know Shelby a bit while this family transition from overnight doula support to daytime nanny support. I knew I liked Shelby from the moment I met her. She had such a warm and inviting personality and was a natural at hopping right in, connecting with mom and caring for her little one. Beyond her personality, what stood out most was her confidence and the way she naturally took charge, meeting every need without hesitation. Though young, she showed a maturity and steadiness that felt far beyond her years. (Little did I know at the time that she had plenty of practice as the oldest of 11 siblings.)

Nearly 5 years later, the family we’d connected her with reached out to me to say that Shelby was interested in becoming a postpartum doula. I immediately jumped at the opportunity to have her on our team! The experience she gained throughout her years as a nanny was evident when we reconnected and I immediately offered her a space in the agency!

Shelby has become one of our most requested doulas and every family she’s worked with has nothing but glowing words to share about their experience with her. Shelby not only cares for the family as a whole, but connects with new moms in a way that is so necessary during the early postpartum period. She builds connections that last far beyond her contracted time with her clients and continues to be a resource whenever they reach out.

Shelby shares her home with two orange tabby cats, Remus and Teddy - and if you know me, you know I have a soft spot for orange cats, too. (My boys Milo and Emmett make my life extra sweet!) So when I discovered Shelby shared the same love for all things orange and furry, I knew we’d get along right away. Her cats often make appearances on her social media, and not a week goes by that we don’t swap at least one silly or adorable photo of our tabbies.

That lighthearted connection reflects something deeper about our agency. We don’t just work side by side - we truly know and support one another. Each doulas brings her own strengths and experiences, and together we’ve built a network that families can count on. When you invite one of us into your home, you also gain the benefit of a whole team that shares knowledge, resources and encouragement every step of the way.

Lastly, I would like to share a video that Shelby created that expresses just why doula work is so important to her and the impact she makes in the lives of all the new moms she has supported.

Shelby on why she loves supporting new moms in the postpartum period.

I feel truly lucky to have someone like Shelby on our team at Doulas of Berks County. Her warmth, dedication and genuine care shines through in everything she does and families feel that from the very moment they meet her. We’re excited to see the many ways she’ll continue to leave her mark on Berks County families - bringing comfort, knowledge, and positivity to every family she supports.

Meet Shelby Rutherford