We were lucky to catch up with Shea Raybell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Shea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents have nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. As a kid, I started a baking business, with my mom happily taking on the role of Sous Chef Pâtissier. Every Friday, I’d sell cookies, pies, and bread around town, building a loyal customer base—especially at my dad’s office, where pre-orders became a weekly tradition. Networking is effortless when you’re a charming kid with baked goods in hand!
As an adult, my career path hasn’t been linear—life rarely is. But in times of uncertainty, I’ve always found grounding in knowing my parents are behind me. They’ve instilled in me the confidence to trust my instincts and embrace the unknown.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a mother and postpartum doula based in Los Angeles. It’s hard to say whether I found this path, or it found me. Either way, it’s a sincere calling and one that is deeply personal to me. My journey into motherhood began with a shattering loss after finding out my first pregnancy was ectopic. It was through navigating this experience that I saw the many cracks in our maternal health system and felt a tug toward pursuing work that centered itself around caring for women.
I began learning more about holistic nutrition, as this was a cornerstone in my hormonal healing and fertility journey. I became intrigued by how food is used for healing after birth, which has been exemplified throughout time in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.
Honoring women through nourishing their bodies, as well as their hearts, was work that felt incredibly aligned for me. and from there, the idea of Sorella started to bud.
As a postpartum doula, my role is to serve as an anchor of support, helping families ease into this profound time of transition through the provision of nourishing meals, herbal remedies, emotional care and evidence-based guidance. By tending to mothers in the delicate weeks after birth, my hope is to create a foundation for them to nurture their baby from a grounded and abundant place. Not only does such a foundation consider their immediate wellbeing but ripples out, creating lasting benefits for years to come.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Presence is essential to doula work. You could have the most impressive credentials but it would not translate without presence. While new moms most definitely need intentional nourishment, rest and care, someone to simply sit with them, bear witness to them, and hold them makes the most impact.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Yes! Doula work is incredibly rewarding and brings me to life in a way no other professional role has. I’m grateful to be on this path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sorella.care
- Instagram: sorella.care
