As a doula, I’m an intuitive care taker. I think that’s part of the magic sauce — reading your energy (and the energy in the room) and trying to anticipate needs. I’m a strong believer that there’s a beautiful meeting point (and even overlap) between the spiritual and the scientific. You can have an evidence-based birthing experience that is also deeply transformational. I believe that birth is not inherently a medical event — it’s a physiological one, for which we have medical care options available. Part of working through the lens of Birth Justice is lifting you up to not only recognize your own power, but also helping you to navigate systems in such a way that your autonomy and power is recognized by your whole care team. Whether you have a medicated, unmedicated, vaginal or surgical birth — I want you to feel empowered, informed and supported in decisions that feel like yours.

All about Bumblebee Birthing

Welcome to my cozy little corner of the internet! My name is Abby Shifriss and I’m a full spectrum doula and childbirth educator. What is a full spectrum doula? To me, it is a doula who supports the broad spectrum of reproductive experiences. From pre-conception to postpartum and including pregnancy loss and abortion. It also means inclusive to all. Here at Bumblebee Birthing, my core values include accessibility, inclusivity, trauma-informed and gender-affirming care. Before moving to California, I was one of the first 10 doulas in Colorado to be approved for coverage by the state Medicaid program. I intend to become Medi-CAL approved soon as well!

I’ve felt a calling to reproductive support from a very young age. Whether it was a fascination with sex education, babysitting, wanting to be near pregnant people or going with friends to Planned Parenthood as a teenager—it’s always been a part of me. I attended my first doula training in Bloomington, Indiana in 2016 just to dip my toes in. I was enthralled, but it would be a few years before my birth work really began. Over the next few years, I would find myself dabbling and diving into several care professions from working with disabled adults to nannying to behavioral health to nearly 5 years at a Waldorf preschool, which I loved deeply.

The very first birth I ever supported was my sister’s birth of her twins in 2019. The calling was already very strong and after that, I was hooked! In 2021, I partnered with 2 other doulas and joined Peaceful Birth Company in Fort Collins, CO. Over the next few years, we built an incredible collective of 17 doulas and started teaching doula trainings of our own. I left my teaching position at the Waldorf school in 2022 to become a full-time birth worker and have been teaching birth classes, co-instructing doula trainings and providing birth doula support full-time for the last 3+ years. It’s honestly a dream come true.

A bit more about me…

If you hire me as your doula, you’ll be inviting me into one of the most vulnerable experiences of your life! I think it’s only fair you know a bit more about me. So here goes…

  • I’m originally from Bloomington, Indiana where I also went to Indiana University

  • I have a BS in Human Development and Family Studies with minors in Psychology and Counseling

  • I lived in Colorado from 2016-2025

  • I now live in Sacramento, CA with my partner, Aaron and our sweet dog, Jack

  • I’m very close with my family and have two nieces and two nephews who I adore!

  • I grew up surrounded by forest and nature is my happy place

  • I love to hike, kayak, camp, snowshoe etc.

  • I love traveling

  • I’ve done doula trainings with multiple organizations including Birthing Advocacy and Peaceful Birth Company

  • I’m Jewish and l love supporting Jewish families (fun fact: I’ve had the honor and joy of officiating two Jewish wedding ceremonies!)

  • I consider myself to be spiritual, but not religious in the traditional sense of the word

  • I’m a meditation guide and love using guided meditation with my clients

  • I love to laugh and have a good sense of humor!

  • I also love to hold space and am very comfortable in the reverence of silence

  • I’m neurodivergent and love normalizing that

  • I’m a physical touch-oriented gal, but totally respect if you aren’t!

  • I love music and dance and arts and crafts

    ….You’ll have to meet me if you want to know more! ;)