Dr. Sheila Phelan doesn’t just adjust braces — she reshapes expectations. As the owner of Phelan Orthodontics, with locations in Perrysburg and Oregon, she balances a thriving practice with the demands of motherhood. Now pregnant with her second child while raising her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, she continues to redefine what it means to be a working mom in healthcare.
Self-compassion is key
“This pregnancy feels different,” she said. “I’ve done it before, so I know what to expect. I have a few tricks up my sleeve this time.” Still, it isn’t easy. “I have the same body aches, the same to-do lists, the same doubts. But I’ve learned to be more compassionate with myself.”
That self-compassion didn’t come easily. During her first pregnancy, Phelan feared losing her identity. “I wanted to prove I was still me — that having a baby wouldn’t change that. But the truth is, I did change. You have to,” she reflects. “It took me a year to figure out who I was again. I was used to doing what I wanted, when I wanted. Suddenly, nothing was just mine anymore — and that was hard to process.”
What helped was community. “My husband’s support, and friends who checked in, made a difference,” she said. “I realized having kids opens doors you didn’t even know existed. I’m not the same person I was before, and that’s okay.”
Running a practice solo
In early 2021, while adjusting to new motherhood, Phelan bought her orthodontic practice from her mentor. Days later, the state shut down dental offices due to COVID-19.
“He (her mentor) was terminally ill and passed away just after we signed everything,” she recalls. “It was surreal. I was grieving, had a huge loan and no patients could come in.” Lockdown brought more challenges. Over 50 patients were ready to get their braces off, but only emergencies could be seen.
“It was frustrating,” she said. “Everything was on hold. But the second we reopened, my team and I were back — ready to work. That moment showed me just how committed and amazing my staff is.”
Now in her second pregnancy, Phelan still runs the practice solo. “I don’t have the luxury of traditional maternity leave,” she said. “If I’m not there, no one else can cover. I found my own way. I do phone consultations, come in once or twice a week after giving birth, and bring the baby with me.” With so much on her plate, self-care is sacred — and simple.
“I get really bad migraines,” she shared. “I’ve learned to put my phone in another room, turn off the lights and do 10 minutes of yoga. It’s one of the few things I do just for myself.” Her practice reflects that same care. “I want this place to feel warm and fun, like walking into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory,” she said. “That’s what I want kids to remember — that this was a place they loved coming to.”
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A role model for young girls
Being a woman running her own business makes her even more determined.
“I want to be a role model for my daughters. I want them to see that I worked hard, not because I had to, but because I chose to — and I’m proud of it.” She pauses, emotion rising. “Growing up, my parents made having children seem like a burden. They made me feel like they were working for us because they had to. I never want my daughters to feel like that. I want them to know it is my honor to support them and to do this for them.”
That perspective drives everything — from how she treats patients to how she builds a life her children can be proud of. She also understands the pressure to “do it all.”
“I used to think asking for help meant I was failing. Now I know better. Delegating isn’t weakness — it’s survival. My husband’s a physician too, so I rely on friends, mentors and colleagues who get it.”
Advice to parents
To new parents, her advice is simple: be kind to yourself.
“I remember the fog of new parenthood — thinking I needed every gadget and had to do everything perfectly. But it’s okay if nursing doesn’t work, as toddlers and kids all end up the same; eating chicken nuggets.”
At the end of the day, she hopes her daughters see every side of her — the orthodontist, the mother and the woman doing her best.
“When my daughter runs in after preschool to give me a hug, it’s the best part of my day,” she says. “I love what I do, but my soul is with my family.”
