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Embrace the journey, empower your birth!
Shelby Rathke
Owner of Cedar Valley Doula Services
Hi! I am Shelby Rathke, owner of Cedar Valley Doula Services. I am a Christian, Birth Doula and childbirth educator, serving Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas. As an enthusiast of natural living, I love learning about the many ways God has provided for us to thrive and be healthy. My faith is a huge part of who I am and when I am not attending births, I love to sing, cook and enjoy time outside in God’s creation.
I believe birth is a special and unforgettable event! As women, God has designed our bodies perfectly to birth our babies. I believe that every woman should have the freedom to labor and deliver in the place that she feels most comfortable, whether that be in a home, birth center or hospital. It is my desire to support you in your decision and empower you as you experience your own birth story!
If you are looking for a doula to encourage you, pray with you and be your advocate I would love to hear from you!
What is a birth doula?
A doula accompanies a woman in labor to provide physical, emotional and educational support for a more satisfying birth experience.
She does not perform clinical tasks such as fetal heart rate monitoring, nor does she make medical diagnoses.
A doula will help her clients make decisions by providing information and support but will not make
decisions for the client.
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Testimonials
Kayla L.
We loved working with Shelby! We recently had our fifth baby, first time having a doula, and I am SO thankful we had Shelby with us! She was so wonderful at taking time to meet with me and figure out my desires and goals for birth, while also practicing and preparing for some techniques to help with labor. Then, on labor day, when things were not going as I hoped, she was an amazing calming presence that helped me relax in the midst of the twists and turns, and helped things to go as smoothly as possible! As labor progressed, her labor techniques we practiced helped me have a nearly painless labor! I cannot thank Shelby enough, and highly recommend her services!