Alexa Buikema

Rockford, Illinois

5.0 (3 reviews)

Alexa Buikema

12 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I am Alexa, the founder and owner of Brighter Days Breastfeeding! 💛 As a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Certified NICU nurse, I’ve helped many moms feel confident and empowered in their breastfeeding journey. But my passion for this work comes from my own experience… the grief of undiagnosed tongue ties and exclusive pumping with my first son, the barriers out of my control leaving me feel completely unsupported with my second son (hello global pandemic) and the sweet healing my third baby brought of a successful breastfeeding journey. My goal is to make sure no mom feels alone, overwhelmed, or unsupported. I am here to empower you to feel confident in feeding your baby and encourage you there are still brighter days ahead ☀️💛

Recent review

I don’t have the “typical” testimonial…. Alexa was incredible for me postpartum, I unfortunately experienced a stillbirth of my son, Dallin at 37 wks. Alexa, helped me walk through the process of drying up my milk safely and making sure I was doing my best to care for myself and drinking plenty of water to avoid any problems in the process of drying up my milk. I will never forget her kindness in my darkest days & weeks. HIGHLY recommend Brighter Days Breastfeeding.

- Savannah B.

Rebecca Iverson

Rockford, Illinois

Rebecca Iverson

21 years of experience

Hello, I'm Rebecca, and I have nurtured and helped children aged six weeks through school-age succeed in learning for the past 20+ years. While working with infants exclusively for the past 13 years, I have found my passion. After raising two children, I am following my dream of caring for infants, newborns, and their parents. I'm also passionate about helping parents successfully return to work while breastfeeding. As a result, I created and implemented a training for daycare teachers entitled “Supporting Breastfeeding Parents in a Daycare Setting.” I believe empowering parents to be their child’s first teacher is essential for keeping children happy and healthy. I am a trained Newborn Care Specialist and a Postpartum Doula. I have taken a “Lactation for Doulas” class, a sleep conditioning class, and have attended a training on perinatal mood disorders. I look forward to supporting parents and other family members as they care for their new charges. Outside of work, I am a published author, and I enjoy writing about everything from infant care to Science Fiction. I love reading and have an extensive library of children’s books.

Mikala Books

Rockford, Illinois

5.0 (2 reviews)

Mikala Books

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Meet Mikala: Your Dedicated Birth Worker With five years of experience as a certified birth worker, Mikala has supported over 100 clients, guiding them through their unique birthing journeys. Her passion for this work shines through in every interaction, ensuring that you feel supported and heard every step of the way. Mikala believes in the importance of inclusivity and makes it a priority to involve everyone you wish to have as part of your birthing experience. She respects and advocates for your desires, helping to create a personalized and empowering birth environment. Mikala is well-versed in attending all types of births, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a calm presence to each situation. She understands the significance of listening to moms and honoring their individual needs and preferences. A Little About Mikala: Mikala is a mother of four, with children ranging in age from 4 to 13. Her personal birthing experiences include two medical hospital births and two free births, giving her a well-rounded perspective on different birthing options. This diverse background fuels her mission to ensure every mother feels validated in her choices and confident in their body’s capabilities. She has breastfed all of her children for a combined total of 9.5 years, an impressive milestone that speaks to her commitment and expertise. Mikala has navigated various parenting approaches, from using disposable and cloth diapers to using premade canned baby food to practicing baby-led weaning. When she's not supporting families, Mikala enjoys homeschooling her children and managing her homestead, embodying a holistic and nurturing lifestyle. Mikala’s Expertise Includes: Thriving in all birth settings Baby-Wearing Cloth Diapering Breastfeeding PLC Childbirth Education Postpartum Care Placenta Specialist Rebozo Techniques Bereavement PAILAdvocate LGBT+ Friendly Some Spanish Speaking Blessingway / MotherBlessing Neurodivergent Support Mikala is dedicated to providing comprehensive care and support, ensuring that every family she works with feels empowered and understood throughout their birthing and parenting journeys.

Recent review

Mikala was the doula for my induction. She was amazing. She was really encouraging, always available over text to answer my questions, and came at 2:00am. She was so helpful throughout the whole journey and she is really knowledgeable. She’s passionate about her work and very caring. I highly recommend her!

- Stefanie W.

Dawne Herbert-Withers

Salem, Wisconsin

Dawne Herbert-Withers

15 years of experience

I believe every person has the right to informed care and the right to birth their baby with respect and dignity. I meet my clients where they are at, and walk alongside them, helping them to navigate through their journeys to parenthood. It is an honor and a blessing to hold space for the families I support during these pivotal moments in their lives.

Salma Huseini

Chicago, Illinois

Salma Huseini

10 years of experience

My name is Salma, and I am an experienced night nanny with a strong background in newborn care. I have hands-on experience with overnight routines, sleep training, and safely bathing newborns. I am calm, attentive, and highly reliable, and I prioritize creating a safe, soothing environment that supports both baby and parents during the early weeks. I work closely with families to follow their preferences while helping establish healthy sleep habits and routines. I am patient, detail-oriented, and committed to providing compassionate, consistent care so parents can rest with peace of mind.

Esmeralda Carrillo

Aurora, Illinois

Esmeralda Carrillo

5 years of experience

🌿 Homebirth Doula & Photographer 🌿 Here to inform & empower you during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum

Kelly Vida

Batavia, Illinois

5.0 (2 reviews)

Kelly Vida

7 years of experience

I founded Empowered Mama Fitness after finding a lack of pregnancy-focused fitness options in my pregnancy. I offer pre and postnatal fitness and strength training, as well as workshops for expectant parents.

Recent review

I took prenatal yoga classes weekly with Kelly during my second pregnancy, and it had such a positive impact on my physical and mental health. Kelly was incredibly knowledgeable about how yoga can help during pregnancy and birth. She also helped create a welcoming and supportive community during each class, so I was able to connect to other people who were also on their own pregnancy journeys. Plus, I appreciated all of her recommendations of pregnancy related resources and services in the area!

- Marybeth M.

Jessica Dzierzanowski

Naperville, Illinois

Jessica Dzierzanowski

5 years of experience

I am a CAPPA Certified birth doula. I am also a Birth Concierge. I love to serve my community. I have a passion for birth and helping women accomplish their goals of a happy and healthy birth. Everyone deserves the birth that they want and I am here to help you BIRTH YOUR WAY.

Sara Duran

Yorkville, Illinois

Sara Duran

5 years of experience

I am a Certified Birth Doula, a Pre and Post Natal Fitness Coach, and a Body Ready Birth Pro. I always knew that my calling would be to help people, but found my way to birth work through the birth of my first baby. I was uninsured and uncertain but found a midwife and doula team who made me feel completely at ease. Despite that birth not going anywhere near to plan, I felt supported, safe, and empowered through my entire pregnancy and delivery. This is the kind of consistent and well-informed support that I brings to my practice. Every baby will come into this world differently and every delivery will be different. I am here to help parents navigate their choices and help them bring about the positive experience that they envision. Sara received her coaching certification so she can combine her own passion for fitness with her passion for birth work. It is important to her that pregnant bodies be recognized as strong and capable. She helps to direct her clients on how best to move safely and with strength throughout pregnancy so that the body is ready for birth and beyond. Acquiring her Certified Birth Pro status with the Body Ready Method allows her to take that one step further by addressing movement patterns with gentle exercises to help alleviate the aches and pains that come with pregnancy. Sara is currently working on the path to become a Midwife.

Kelsey Haliti

Wheaton, Illinois

Kelsey Haliti

12 years of experience

I am a childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula and Owner of Cloud Nine Birth Services. My experience level (10 years and over 800 families supported) meets my level of passion and enthusiasm for this important work. I believe that every client and every birth is unique, that our bodies were made to welcome new life and that each family deserves true informed consent and proper physical and emotional care prenatally, during birth and in the postpartum period. My support is unwavering and unbiased. I am a calm presence, a wealth of knowledge on labor and birth, and not afraid to get my hands “dirty” by being physically active with every comfort measure you could dream of! ♥️

Clare VanderWeele

Wheaton, Illinois

Clare VanderWeele

Hi, I’m Clare VanderWeele, an ICEA-trained birth doula in Chicagoland's western suburbs. I believe in the beauty of birth and supporting families with calm, connected care. As your doula, I’m here to support you from pregnancy through postpartum with calm, encouraging care. I believe in your body’s wisdom and advocate for the birth experience you want, whether that’s at home, in a birth center, or hospital.

Destiny McGee

Plainfield, Illinois

5.0 (1 review)

Destiny McGee

2 years of experience

Hi, I’m Destiny, your nurturing and down-to-earth doula ✨ I support families with emotional, physical, and spiritual care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My goal? To help you feel seen, safe, and completely supported during your journey into motherhood. 💗 Reach out for a consult — I’d love to connect with you.

Recent review

My experience with Destiny as my doula was absolutely wonderful. She is caring, loving, and incredibly thoughtful. Throughout my pregnancy, she created a safe and nurturing space where I felt truly seen and heard—not just as an expectant mother, but as a whole person. She guided me through yoga poses to help with my baby’s positioning and ease hip tightness, while also teaching me how to listen to and communicate with my body. Destiny educated me on pregnancy, labor, delivery, and even the benefits of placenta encapsulation, which has helped me avoid postpartum depression. She supported me in healing past traumas so I could better bond with my baby, and she was a strong advocate for me both during pregnancy and at my bedside while giving birth. Destiny’s kindness, attentiveness, and wisdom made this journey so much smoother and more empowering. I am beyond grateful for her services as both a healer and a doula, and I would recommend her to anyone without hesitation—10 out of 10.

- Ashley J.

Celeste Rosario

Shorewood, Illinois

5.0 (3 reviews)

Celeste Rosario

6 years of experience

Hello! My name is Celeste. My desire to become a doula started when I felt called to help and support women through their journey of birth before, during, and after. To this day, I believe my own experience of childbirth with my daughter would have been positively different if I had the opportunity of having a doula. Creating life and bringing it into this world is a superpower women have, and I want to empower other women from all walks of life through this physical, emotional, and spiritual process. Everyone’s childbirth story is different, and I enjoy hearing and learning from their experiences. I love working with babies and have many years of experience, as I worked at a daycare before, during, and after my daughter was born. I am naturally an empathetic and nurturing woman and find joy in making sure everyone around me is well and healthy. My partner and I have big families and we enjoy spending lots of quality time with everyone and creating new memories for my 5 year old daughter, Alayna. Although I love being surrounded by my family and friends, I also enjoy my alone time occasionally. I believe it is important to spend time with yourself to recharge and fill your own cup, so you can then help fill other’s cups. Dancing, reading, and enjoying a nice cup of coffee in the sun are some of my favorite things to do.

Recent review

I had my first born at a young age. I was afraid to go through the process alone and with a little research I came across blooming birth service by Celeste. One of the best decisions I ever made. She was amazing, anytime I needed her assistance she was present. Celeste would apply to my emails and messages quickly, I knew I was her priority at all times. My son will now be 4 months old and I still reach out with any questions, Celeste never fails to show her amazing commitment to all clients. I highly recommend all expecting Mommy's to service with blooming birth, as the experience is one of a kind.

- Lexxie P.

Danyale Washington

Bloomingdale, Illinois

5.0 (4 reviews)

Danyale Washington

5 years of experience

My name is Danyale Washington. I graduated with my B.S. in Psychology from Concordia University Chicago. After working for over a decade in various facets of childcare and education —as well as having two children of my own— I have seen countless times, as well as witnessed myself as a parent, the lack of support and resources. My passion for helping others and dedication to children and their families reaching their full potential has always been a big part of who I am. It has continuously fueled me to pursue a career in doing just that–offering my insight and expertise to help those I serve feel confident and well-equipped to foster healthy development in children. My philosophy is rooted in empowerment, positivism, and compassion. It is at the core of all my services. My approach is strength-based and client-centered. It focuses on being an aid to those I provide support to in using the tools and skills they already possess to foster optimal growth and development in children. I believe in empowering individuals as they navigate the more challenging components of childrearing. My role is to be in your corner—cheering you on—guiding and supporting you while utilizing your strengths to achieve your goals. You are the driver; I am simply the map!

Recent review

We started working with Danyale when our son was about 8 weeks old, and we’re so glad that we started so early! We learned ways to instill healthy sleep habits for our baby right from the start. We were amazed at how quickly he learned to put himself to sleep, and sleep through the night! Danyale was absolutely wonderful and it was extremely helpful to have someone to ask questions to weekly and guide us through the process. We are so thankful to have such a happy and well rested baby - thank you so much Danyale! You are amazing, and we are so grateful for you and Sweet Piece!

- Mariana C.

Natalie Miller

Elgin, Illinois

Natalie Miller

4 years of experience

My name is Natalie Miller, and I’m thrilled to have you here! Allow me to share a bit about myself. I’m a Christian, a devoted wife, a mother of four, a nurse, a photographer, and a certified doula. With 10 years of experience in obstetric nursing and my own personal journey through childbirth, I bring a wealth of knowledge and compassion to the care I provide. Since 2014, I’ve also worked as a professional photographer, capturing cherished memories ranging from weddings and family portraits to maternity, birth, and newborn photography. My passion lies in supporting women during one of the most transformative times in their lives. That’s why I’ve dedicated myself to providing comprehensive prenatal, birth, and postpartum care, paired with the opportunity to document these unforgettable moments for families to treasure forever. My mission is to empower women and their partners throughout pregnancy, labor, and early parenthood. I aim to equip you with the resources, education, and confidence you need to navigate these life-changing experiences while celebrating the incredible capabilities of your body. I am honored to walk alongside you on this amazing journey, providing guidance, support, and encouragement every step of the way.

Rebekkah Carney

Hoffman Estates, Illinois

5.0 (1 review)

Rebekkah Carney

7 years of experience

Hello! I’m a birth doula serving Chicago and surrounding areas. I specify in supporting clients through unmedicated births at birth centers, home births, and midwife-led hospital births. I am also a VBAC certified doula.

Recent review

I cannot recommend Rebekkah enough. She was my doula for my 2019 baby, and I knew that I had to rehire her for my second birth. My goal with my second was to have an unmedicated birth and knowing that is something Rebekkah specializes in helped give me the confidence that I could do it. When my labor started, she was readily available to answer any questions and confirm when it was time to head to the hospital. She had techniques to help ease the pain such as the use of her TENS unit (which helped tremendously) and using counter pressure. She coached me and encouraged me the entire time, even when I was completely ready to give up, which I completely believe helped me achieve my unmedicated birth goal. After going through PPA/PPD with my first, I knew that I wanted to have my placenta encapsulated, which Rebekkah was able to do and made the entire process seamless. She worked with the hospital to make sure that my placenta was stored and ready to take home, and once she finished encapsulating it, she delivered it to my home (along with a keepsake from the cord). I truly believe that it made a huge difference in my recovery. Rebekkah was an asset to my family during my pregnancy, delivery, and post partum. She is a wealth of knowledge and truly helped me reach my goals and deliver a healthy and happy baby exactly how I wanted to.

- Amber D.

Angie Runyan

Brookfield, Illinois

Angie Runyan

22 years of experience

As a mother myself, I know first hand the value of kind and informed assistant in the days following the birth of a baby. I was blessed to have experienced support following the births of my now grown three children and know how valuable it is. I have provided support as a lactation consultant, doula and postpartum doula to many families. It is an honor to provide new parents with the help they need while adjusting to parenting a new born.

Brittany Hourston

Broadview, Illinois

Brittany Hourston

2 years of experience

Hello Friend, my name is Brittany Hourston. I am a Postpartum Doula located in the Chicagoland area. The facets of encouraging, educating, and caring for newborns and their moms. I'm always curious to learn more about how I can be a great asset to the pair. Coming from an educational and nonprofit background, I believe the growth of a child starts at the beginning stages of early childhood, and establishing a positive atmosphere with great strategies will help to get there. My agency works to establish a judgment-free zone for all parents seeking informational and emotional support.

Becca Tilton

New Lenox, Illinois

Becca Tilton

3 years of experience

Hi there! I'm Becca, your new postpartum sister wishing to support all moms in their blooming season of motherhood. I am a proud girl momma x3 with over ten years of community health experience. A postpartum doula in training who 's primary focus is on: resiliency strategies, nourishment, movement, and finding your village. Let's bloom together!🌸

Kristen Walles

Riverside, Illinois

Kristen Walles

12 years of experience

Hi! I'm Kristen. I am a graduate of Chamberlain University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My nursing degree has taken me down a path I was destined to be on. I always knew I wanted to work with mothers and babies, and after graduation, I began working as a private nurse for postpartum families. I would be their support system during their personal postpartum journey while educating their entire family on how to navigate the new territory of bringing their baby (or babies!) home. It was during this time I learned how motherhood is such a beautiful experience, yet also one of the most difficult without the proper support system. I began to specialize in infant sleep and obtained my Pediatric Sleep Consultant certification through the Family Sleep Institute. I have worked with countless families in Chicago, as well as virtually, to help them find the rest their whole family needs in a way that works for them. I had a baby of my own last year, and being a mother myself has brought even more empathy and compassion into my work.