Eileen Joyce

Bartlett, Illinois

Eileen Joyce

16 years of experience
Accepts insurances

For as long as I can remember, I yearned to be a mother. Unfortunately, when faced with multiple medical conditions, I realized that getting pregnant was not going to be easy—even though it seemed like everyone around me was having babies. Eventually, I was fortunate enough to become pregnant-- but why didn’t I feel the effortless joy that seemed to encompass all the mothers on my social media feed? Why was this so hard? It’s often said that no one really prepares you for becoming a parent, but I feel passionately that our society could do a better job. I hold a feminist perspective and challenge societal expectations of how things “should be.” You don’t need to do it all and you don’t need to do it alone. I’ve worked in multiple different settings including crisis home based work with children and their families, partial hospitalization programs with adults, and most recently in a pediatric medical clinic supporting families with children with medical conditions. I have been trained in perinatal mood disorders by Postpartum Support International (PSI).

Tiffany Gorman

Chicago, Illinois

Tiffany Gorman

6 years of experience

Meet Tiffany Evidence Based Birth© Instructor, SMC Certified Doula, Certified Lactation Specialist, 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher in Kemetic and Vinyasa yoga, 100 hr Certified Meditation Teacher and a French Intensive aromatherapy practitioner. Since getting her Master in Early Childhood Development degree in 2020, Tiffany has been to several births during the pandemic and serviced scores of families as a postpartum doula. In her capacity as a doula, she believes in providing families with evidence-based answers to their questions. She offers meditations and affirmations for parents to build confidence in their abilities. Along with her book Mindful Minutes for Mothers, she uses tonics and oils to aid in healing. Tiffany is President of the Board of Directors for the Chicago South Side Birth Center. A center helping address inequities in birth outcomes by providing culturally centered midwifery care alongside families and within the community to promote wellness and abundance in whole health. She is also an active member of the Chicago Black Doula Alliance Becoming an Evidence Based Birth© Instructor was the next logical step for Tiffany. Wanting to get information into parents' hands so they can make informed decisions, Tiffany utilizes group and private workshops to get this message out.

KARA ALEXANDER

Chicago, Illinois

KARA ALEXANDER

9 years of experience

My name is Kara, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as an Advanced Newborn Care Specialist, CAPPA trained Labor and Postpartum Doula, Lactation Educator, Baby-wearing Educator, and Certified Childbirth Educator. With over two decades of dedicated experience nurturing children, I've found immense joy in providing exceptional care to families like yours. My approach revolves around delivering not just outstanding care, but also fostering a supportive, judgment-free environment. My goal is to empower and guide parents, ensuring they feel refreshed and confident as they embark on the early stages of parenthood. Knowing your newborn is in safe hands allows for a sense of ease and security during this precious time. Before specializing in newborn care, I spent thirteen years in daycares and as a nanny, caring for infants to school-age children. This diverse background has equipped me to handle a wide spectrum of needs, including preemies, singletons, and multiples. It's a privilege to support families as they navigate the exciting journey of new parenthood, always tailoring my approach to meet individual needs and expectations.

Jenny Mills

Chicago, Illinois

Jenny Mills

4 years of experience

I help women navigate every season of life — from infertility to pregnancy and childbirth to postpartum parenting to peri-menopause and menopause — with compassionate and personalized support. I am a Bebo Mia Certified Maternal Support Practitioner who's a fierce advocate for a woman's right to decide what they want for their body. That includes deciding what's right for you regarding your birth plan.

Carolyn Andrew

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (3 reviews)

Carolyn Andrew

9 years of experience

Since 2016, I have been a doula, childbirth educator and maternal child health specialist supporting families in their journeys to growing their families. I am a care giver and a learner at my core and I strive to provide each family that I work with access to all the support and knowledge they need to become empowered, confident parents.

Recent review

Carolyn was a pivotal person during our entire pregnancy and birthing experience. Carolyn was able to help me talk through a difficult experience with a care provider. Carolyn was able to provide with an open space for venting and helped to ultimately navigate away from a provider who was not the best fit for us. She was a calm force who was able to help us maintain our composure and think outside the box when our labor was not progressing. Carolyn was able to help us digest information about our birth and labor, so we could find our joy and love , even if the labor did not go as planned. I cannot begin to image our birth without Carolyn. We will be forever grateful and thankful for her helping us to bring our son into this world safely.

- Rachel Y.

Mia Willis, CMA

Chicago, Illinois

Mia Willis, CMA

5 years of experience

It’s great to have you here. Let me introduce myself. My name is Mia Willis, CMA and I have served as a Prenatal and Postnatal Doula and Childbirth and Infancy Care Educator. I am a Chicago native and Northside College Preparatory High School Alumna. Like most, I stumbled into my role. Enduring the gestational hardships of my pregnancy led to my passion for wanting to empower and educate others during this delicate transition into parenthood. This passion led me to pursue a comprehensive education in the field of maternal support. I hold a certification in Medical Assisting with a background in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 2021, I became a Certified Doula through the Black Womban Doula Course, ensuring that all of my sprouts receive the highest level of care and expertise. I am dedicated to continually expanding my knowledge and staying current with the latest evidence-based practices in maternal health and care.

Sarah Macaraeg

Chicago, Illinois

Sarah Macaraeg

14 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I'm a board certified pelvic and orthopaedic physical therapist specializing in prenatal and post-partum recovery for patients regardless of gender identity. I am also a certified doula which provides a unique perspective on labor and delivery for clients.

LaShanna Kimmons

Park Forest, Illinois

LaShanna Kimmons

20 years of experience
Accepts insurances

My name is LaShanna, I’m a IBCLC, I have been practicing lactation for over 17 years. It brings me joy helping parents provide milk for their little one. I have experience with breast pumps, preterm, late preterm and full term infants.

Ashley Lakin

Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Ashley Lakin

6 years of experience

I am an integrative nutritionist helping women in the Chicagoland area address hormones balances to feel their best! As a Certified Nutrition Specialist®, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, and RYT-200 certified yoga instructor, I use my blended education to address the root cause of your symptoms from various angles. I focus on utilizing whole foods, not just nutrients, to heal the body. My area of focus includes assisting women through all stages of life, including prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum.

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.

Joanna Russin

Des Plaines, Illinois

Joanna Russin

5 years of experience

Hi! I'm Joanna but everyone calls me Jo (she/her/hers). I am a Birth Doula, as well as a Children and Families Social Worker. I am also a wife and mother. I have ways been passionate about working with people and after having my son I was inspired to empower families during pregnancy and birth. I believe everyone should have a doula. Things I enjoy are drinking a good hot cup of tea, a good book, the smell of the fresh outdoors, finding new adventures to get lost in and just doing things that give me pure joy and adrenaline in life. In my free time you will find me learning new things, cooking, crafting, helping others out, dancing with my toddler and spending time with those I love.

Kristen Jones

Park Forest, Illinois

Kristen Jones

7 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Kristen Jones | Full-Spectrum Doula Faith-Based Birth & Postpartum Support | Serving Chicagoland & Beyond I’m a Christ-centered, full-spectrum doula devoted to walking with women through the sacred seasons of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and everything in between. My calling is to support families in a way that reflects the love, presence, and gentleness of our Savior—offering not only physical care but spiritual encouragement and emotional grounding. Whether you’re navigating your first birth or building your village again, I offer holistic, heartfelt support that honors your story, your body, and your faith. I create safe, prayer-filled spaces where miracles unfold and mothers are reminded that they are never alone—because the journey to new life should always be met with compassion, reverence, and God’s grace. 📍Based in Park Forest, IL | Virtual & Travel Support Available

Kemeera Nimahat

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (2 reviews)

Kemeera Nimahat

10 years of experience

Hi Friends! I'm Kemeera, a radiant guide in maternal wellness. My brilliance lies in guiding mothers through practical steps toward their birth goals, fostering a deep self-trust that enables them to envision their pregnancy and birth in a new light and make confident choices aligned with their birth plans while gracefully surrendering to the unknown. My doula style seamlessly integrates mental and physical birth preparation and empowerment techniques and blends ancient principles with modern innovation to help moms claim their right to a dignified birth and avoid a W.T.F. birth story. I was called to birthwork before I ever heard the word “doula” and have nearly 10 years in the game and over 15 years as a dance instructor. I love learning and expanding my knowledge and training so that I can best serve you. Additionally, my own four births have taught me things that no doula training ever could and I bring my complete self to you while also honoring the fact that this is your journey, not mine. Your body, your baby, your choices. It is always an honor to support a family through one of life’s most precious and sacred transformations and I do not take that lightly. I look forward to meeting you.

Recent review

I gave birth to my beautiful now little toddler girl back in December of 2021. I had not been pregnant for 13 years and I knew for this pregnancy I wanted to hire a doula for pre and post-natal support. With this birth I was determined to have a natural, unmedicated birth. I knew this was going to be a big commitment, but I was so determined to do it with proper preparation and care. This is one of the main reasons I hired Kemeera to be my doula. I wanted a birthing experience where I could exhibit control over my experience and feel alert and connected to my body in ways I never felt before during labor. Kemeera helped me achieve these goals, helping me feel totally empowered about my ability to give birth naturally and overall feel strong and confident about the challenges in birth and becoming a mother again. From the moment I interviewed with Kemeera I felt a warm instant connection. She was welcoming, allowed me to talk about my prior birth experience and was attentive to my goals/needs. When I hired her, I did not think I would gain a permanent friend/ally in the birthing community, but I did. She helped me throughout my pregnancy with prenatal visits where we strategized about natural birth scenarios, pain techniques etc. We even had a dance session that was so fun, unique, and made me feel sexy 8 months pregnant big as ever lol! She incorporated my entire family, strategizing with my husband and older son about how they were going to support me during and after birth. It really felt like she cared and became committed to my entire family. She helped me create a birth plan that I was comfortable with and after birth she remained a constant. She helped provide lactation support when my milk was a little delayed in coming in and honestly, we still check in to this day from time to time. Not to mention she was my unofficial birth photographer and took the most memorable photos of myself, baby, and husband right after birth. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to hire a doula. She is really committed and passionate about this work. She cares immeasurably about her clients!

- Lesley D.

Chrissie Demarais

Chicago, Illinois

Chrissie Demarais

7 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hi there! I’m Chrissie, a Chicago based birth and postpartum doula, certified lactation counselor, and certified sleep consultant. I’m here to support you through the messy, beautiful, exhausting, and powerful parts of early parenthood. My approach is practical, non-judgmental, and deeply personalized. I don’t believe in one “right” way. I believe in your way, and my job is to help make that feel doable.

Darnicia Holt

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (2 reviews)

Darnicia Holt

9 years of experience

Hey! I’m Darnicia, a full-spectrum doula, birth mindset educator, and reproductive justice advocate. TL;DR From organizing protests and fighting for social justice to shutting down systemic abuse, violence, and oppression in the medicalized perinatal care system. My passion? Teaching incredible birthing people — like you — how to trust your intuition❤️‍🔥 and advocate for your autonomy,🗣️ so you feel ✨empowered to be the authority of all your reproductive experiences✨ — fertility to postpartum (or not being pregnant at all). 👀 A little more info… To me, birthwork is inherently linked to social justice and activism. Birthwork is advocacy, and advocacy follows you through every aspect of your life. Therefore, advocacy isn’t something you learn; it’s who you are. I’ve taken what I’ve learned in my years as a social justice organizer and have applied it to birthwork. Sometimes, the fight for my clients to have the reproductive outcomes they desire mirrors the intensity I’ve seen when organizing for human rights. When necessary, I use the same energy it takes to shut down streets and apply it to protect my clients’ experience. What does this mean for you? I have the heart and the skills to fight for your dream birth or whatever support you need. But no worries, I’ll only fight to whatever extent you need or are comfortable with. ☺️ The foundation of the doula role is about the person you are. I am an advocate. Fun facts: I’m a wife and Mom of two. I’m a HUGE Marvel/MCU fan. I L😍VE Thai Iced Tea and mushroom coffee 🍄☕.

Recent review

Darnicia helped us with postpartum care for our newborn and we are grateful beyond measure for her support and expertise. She is very kind, calming, and has a high degree of knowledge. She is such a warm person and we felt well cared for alongside our baby. In the matter of a few weeks, we went from frazzled new parents to having a baby who sleeps through the night multiple nights per week. I highly recommend Darnicia for postpartum care for anyone who is looking to establish healthy routines for their baby and wants to feel very supported in the process.

- Katie J.

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.

Dana Marion

Chicago, Illinois

Dana Marion

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

I am Full Spectrum Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Lactation Counselor that has been serving families for several years. My practice is rooted in core values of empowering mothers during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, by providing healthy resources after birth and educating mothers on how to build a supportive community to keep both mother and baby healthy & happy.

Mayra Buitron

Chicago, Illinois

Mayra Buitron

12 years of experience

Compassionate birth and postpartum doula hoping to provide holistic culturally sensitive and evidence-based support. Spanish and English speaking.

Elly Hernandez

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (4 reviews)

Elly Hernandez

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hey there! My name is Elly and I am a certified full spectrum doula and a mama to three littles. I offer fertility, birth and postpartum support. I'm located in Jefferson Park and I'm a born and raised Chicagoan. I am a nursing student with a Bachelors in Health Science, and I bring my background knowledge in maternal health disparities into this work by working on a sliding fee scale for families with a tight budget. I am passionate about serving moms and dads in whatever way they need. I strive to provide high quality, compassionate and personalized care to families. No two families needs are the same and through great communication and a never-ending willingness to learn, I do my best to provide a fully curated experience. When I'm not busy at a birth or educating families at a prenatal, I am chasing after my three little gremlins be it at a forest preserve or around the toy section at target, haha. I love being active and cooking. Don't be surprised if I show up with a tin of cookies or a pot full of soup at your prenatal or postpartum visit. I love feeding my families! Thanks for taking the time to read a little about me, and I can't wait to serve you and your family in your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Recent review

Elly was an absolutely integral part of my successful natural VBAC labor and delivery. Through active labor, she suggested movement patterns and positions that were not only helpful for pain management but also helped improve the baby’s position and descent. She explained everything and always offered it in a helpful way rather than being pushy or demanding. I felt like she anticipated many of my needs and wants during labor before I even needed to ask. I also really appreciated the amount of involvement she encouraged from my partner. He really wanted to be supportive and the tactics that Elly provided allowed him to be so much more purposeful and helpful. Overall, Elly was truly supportive of my birth plan and did everything she could to ensure it became a reality. I would recommend her to absolutely anyone looking for a positive, empowered birthing experience, but in particular I would highly recommend her to mamas who want to go natural!

- Hannah V.

Sydney Gelb

Chicago, Illinois

Sydney Gelb

5 years of experience

Hi! My name is Sydney, and I am That Doula! I am DONA certified and have my bachelor’s degree in child development and education. I am also infant CPR, AED, and child CPR certified. Prior to being a postpartum doula, I was a nanny for more than 3 years. It was a transition from being an infant teacher at a child development center. When I worked as an infant teacher, I had a class of 8 infants, ranging in age from 6 weeks to 15 months old. I took care of the infants basic care needs, while also teaching them sign language, performing baby yoga, and creating developmentally appropriate activities to help them meet milestones. All students were on eating and sleeping schedules as it is impossible to feed 8 infants at once!! I was also a major support system for my students' families and often babysat when I wasn’t at the school. The parents of my students could always count on me for ideas to help their littles ones sleep better, eat better and be on a good schedule. As a nanny, I had all the responsibilities of my teaching days and more. Helping a family raise children involves so many moving parts and I have tackled them all. I became a doula because I love helping people. More importantly, my previous experience makes me ideally suited to assist with older siblings as they adjust to their growing family.