Elle Mercado

Oak Park, Illinois

Elle Mercado

5 years of experience

hello birthing persons, i’m elle, a DONA certified birth doula, yoga instructor and social worker based in oak park, IL. I became a doula after four years of working in childhood education and fully understanding the impact birth has on everything—my pedagogies are rooted in epigenetics.

Naadirah Shapley-Wells

Skokie, Illinois

Naadirah Shapley-Wells

12 years of experience

Naadirah is professionally trained full spectrum doula with over a decade of experience in birth work. She has worked with families throughout Chicago and area suburbs. Naadirah comes to birthwork with a background in child development, family studies, social services, education and nursing. Naadirah is trained and certified in first aid, domestic violence support, CPR for healthcare workers, and mental health first aid.

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.

Tymeka Branch

Forest View, Illinois

Tymeka Branch

12 years of experience

I have been a nanny/ ncs for the last 12 years. During my career I have worked with all ages of children. To families I am known as the perfect helping hand. I have worked with children on the spectrum which has helped me further my education to help parents. Recently I have been working with newborns. With my experience with working with many children, I have compassion, empathy, respect and I am very responsible. From helping the mother breast feed to cleaning pump parts. I am a well rounded nanny.

Rachel Bolin

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (2 reviews)

Rachel Bolin

6 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hi, I’m Rachel — a doula, birth photographer, and placenta encapsulation specialist proudly serving the Chicagoland area. I grew up in small-town Kentucky and moved to Chicago five years ago. Since then, I’ve been deeply rooted in the birth world, supporting families through every stage of their journey. I’m a full-spectrum certified doula through Sokana’s Full Spectrum Birth Justice Training, with extensive education in lactation and over four years of personal breastfeeding experience. I’m also certified in First Aid and CPR. I accept Carrot clients and will soon be accepting Medicaid, because I believe everyone deserves access to compassionate, personalized support. That’s also why I offer sliding scale payment options for those in need. My approach blends evidence-based care with a holistic touch, holding space for whatever birth looks like for you. Outside of birth work, I’m chasing around my two toddlers, trying new recipes, camping, fishing, and checking out new restaurants — I never say no to a good steakhouse. Let’s schedule a consult and see if I am a great fit for your birth team!

Recent review

Having Rachel on my birth team was the best decision I could have made. She was a rock for me throughout, and was such a source of peace and calm for me. Rachel valued my preferences for my birth plan without judgment and held true to advocating for me at all times. My birth story had many unexpected turns, and Rachel stayed by my side, along with my husband, for the wild ride. I had Rachel with me in the birth center and at the hospital after a transfer was needed. She never missed a beat and took care of me so thoughtfully. From the first interview to prenatal appointments to the actual birth of my first baby, Rachel kept looking out for me and helped me feel empowered throughout my birth journey. She even took pictures and helped transport my placenta for encapsulation, which was so helpful because we remained at the hospital for longer than expected. I felt like Rachel was one of the best parts of my birth story, and I know she would be a wonderful addition to any birth team!

- Harmony Z.

Amanda Nelson

Chicago, Illinois

Amanda Nelson

3 years of experience

Hi! My name is Amanda, I am a DONA trained birth doula, and I am ready to support you on your journey to parenthood! Whether you're planning a home birth, a hospital birth, or anything in between, my goal is to empower you with information, encouragement, and advocacy every step of the way. I believe in honoring your unique journey and preferences, offering non-judgmental support that respects your decisions and desires. I would love to connect with you for a complimentary consultation! Let me buy you a cup of coffee/tea or we can schedule a zoom/phone call.Booking with me will include one in person pre-birth meeting around 36 weeks, on call birth support, and one in person postpartum visit. Text and phone support available starting at time of booking through postpartum visit.

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.

Zoe Nelson

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (1 review)

Zoe Nelson

2 years of experience

Hi! I’m a responsible and nurturing nanny with a background in Art Education and five years of experience as an elementary art teacher. For the past year, I’ve cared for a newborn and a four-year-old, supporting daily routines and early development. I’m now transitioning into overnight care, bringing a calm, attentive approach to help families get the rest they need. I’m CPR certified, comfortable with infant care and sleep routines, and open to additional training. References available upon request.

Recent review

I’m pleased to recommend Zoe Nelson as a night nanny. Over several months she cared for our newborn and three‑year‑old, allowing my husband and me to sleep soundly. Each morning we awoke refreshed to happy, well‑rested children. Zoe is caring, responsible, and knowledgeable in both infant and toddler routines. She maintained clear logs, anticipated needs, and communicated thoughtfully about each night’s events. Our kids quickly came to trust her gentle approach, and we always felt at ease. Any family would be lucky to have Zoe’s dependable support.

- Suzanne C.

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.

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.

Hephzibah Egoro

Chicago, Illinois

Hephzibah Egoro

10 years of experience

Hello! My name is Hephzibah Egoro, and I am a caring, reliable, and patient childcare provider based in Chicago with 9 years of childcare experience. I am also a mother of three, which has given me strong hands-on experience caring for children of different ages and understanding their needs, routines, and emotional development. I am CPR certified and place a strong focus on safety, comfort, and attentive care—especially during overnight and night-time hours. I am calm, responsible, and dependable, and I am comfortable with bedtime routines, overnight supervision, feeding support, diaper changes, and providing reassurance throughout the night. As a parent and experienced caregiver, I understand how important trust, communication, and consistency are. I treat every child with patience, respect, and the same level of care I give my own children. My goal is to provide families with peace of mind while ensuring their children are safe, secure, and well cared for. I would be happy to support your family with overnight or night-time childcare needs.

Colette Semenas

Chicago, Illinois

Colette Semenas

8 years of experience

I’ve been in the world of nannying, infant night nursing, and extended stays for the previous 7 years. I have a passion for the early newborn stages, helping create healthy sleep routines that create easy night time transitions for baby, mom, and family! I have advanced training in SIDS Prevention, Infant Safe Sleep, CPR, and Basic First Aid. I use my degree in Childhood Psychology and my experience working on Labor and Delivery as well as volunteering in the NICU at Children’s Hospital to guide my approach to provide research based care. Excited to meet you and your little!

Hamdi Hersi

Chicago Ridge, Illinois

Hamdi Hersi

27 years of experience

Doula Service, Newborn Care Specialist & Breastfeeding Consultant and Sleep training. With over 25 years of experience in newborn care, I am a British educated maternity nurse recently relocated to Chicago, Illinois. My career spans both medical settings and private households, including 20 years in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), two years of midwifery training, and extensive work across hospitals on multiple continents. As a certified newborn care specialist and breastfeeding consultant, I offer expertise in: • Doula support, birth support, and postpartum care. • Sleep training for babies as young as six weeks, helping parents establish healthy routines. • Supporting families with newborn care, including feeding challenges, reflux, intolerances, and tongue-tie management. • Providing hands-on assistance or virtual consultations tailored to your family’s needs. I specialize in teaching foundational parenting skills to ensure a confident and positive start to your parenting journey. While I have worked with agencies in London, I am currently seeking local families in Chicago to support directly as I establish my business in the area. If you are preparing for delivery, navigating early newborn care, or facing challenges with your little one, I’d be delighted to assist.

Dede Ajavon

Chicago, Illinois

Dede Ajavon

6 years of experience

My name is Dede Ajavon, I am 24 years old and I am currently a Montessori assistant infant teacher. I am a compassionate and experienced childcare provider with over 5 years of hands-on experience caring for infants in daycare and private home settings. I recently completed a Newborn Care Specialist Training Workshop(NCTA), strengthening knowledge in newborn development, feeding, sleep conditioning, and family support. I am dedicated to creating a nurturing, safe, and structured environment that promotes healthy growth and development. I am passionate about helping families transition confidently into parenthood while providing the highest level of newborn care.

Maggie Guindon

Chicago, Illinois

Maggie Guindon

3 years of experience

Hi I am Maggie, a registered nurse with NICU experience for last two years! I love working with newborns and their families to help them with their journey in parenthood!

Seyi Akinwale

Chicago, Illinois

Seyi Akinwale

3 years of experience

I’m Seyi. I have over 15 years of childcare experience in a variety of settings such as a babysitter, nanny, teacher, and now birth and postpartum doula. I am passionate about the field of birth work. After witnessing and hearing about many of the difficulties and abuse of power in hospital settings, my passion for helping people navigate these settings was ignited. It is impossible to guarantee a “perfect birth” but I believe that you should have the opportunity to be prepared for whatever may or may not happen. This includes being aware of medical interventions, having the best people for you in your birthing space, establishing and enforcing necessary boundaries, and ultimately doing the best for you! Childbirth is a beautiful process that is both natural and spiritual.

Nkanyezi Star Mngadi

Chicago, Illinois

Nkanyezi Star Mngadi

24 years of experience

Certified Infant Sleep Specialist | Professional Night Nanny Nkanyezi (“Star”) | 23 Years of Experience | Chicago & Surrounding Suburbs My Philosophy: Helping infants sleep safely and soundly is both a science and an art. With 23 years of experience and certifications in Safe Sleep Infant Training and Child Development: Sleep Training, I bring a structured, nurturing approach to overnight care—ensuring babies rest well and parents wake up reassured. My methods are lasting, gentle, and tailored to each baby’s unique rhythm. How I Support Your Family Overnight: For Your Baby: • Certified Safe Sleep Practices: My training in Safe Sleep Infant Training focuses on SIDS/SUID prevention, ensuring every detail of your baby’s sleep environment aligns with medical safety guidelines. • Developmentally Sound Sleep Plans: My Child Development: Sleep Training certification equips me to understand infant sleep from birth to age 4—including behavioral, medical, and emotional factors that disrupt it—and how to gently correct them. • Consistency & Comfort: Babies thrive with structure and consistency. I maintain and support your baby’s existing routine, so the day flows smoothly after a restful night. From feeding intervals to soothing techniques, I ensure each night supports developmental milestones. • Hands-On Monitoring: I never sleep while the baby sleeps. I observe sleep patterns closely throughout the night, helping identify disruptions and reinforce healthy, lasting sleep habits. • Prepared for the Day Ahead: I prepare bottles for the next day and keep detailed written notes on sleep, feeding, and behavior so parents wake up informed and at ease. If mom is pumping overnight, I label, store, and wash the parts—so she can rest and wake up to clean, ready-to-use equipment. Why Families Trust Me: • Proven Results: My methods are effective through regressions, teething, and transitions—building strong sleep foundations that last. • Trusted by Parents: I have an extensive list of references from families whose babies now sleep soundly thanks to my support. • Professional & Personable: I collaborate closely with parents, respect household values, and always bring a calm, caring presence to the home. Let’s Chat! If you’re seeking a knowledgeable, highly experienced night nanny and Infant Sleep Specialist who leads with care and precision, I’d be honored to support your family. Warmly, Nkanyezi (“Star”)

Damiana Andonova

Chicago, Illinois

Damiana Andonova

14 years of experience
Accepts insurances

J’adore Mon Bébé was founded by a first-generation female immigrant and proud second-generation doula with one very simple mission, to give every baby an equal welcome. Our mother-daughter founders bring a combined 45 years of experience, and provide services across the care continuum, including preconception care, fertility doula services, childbirth education, high-risk birth doula care for medically and socially complex birthing people, perinatal loss doula services, and a full suite of postpartum care such as daytime and overnight care, lactation support, and healthy sleep rituals training. Our care approach is highly collaborative, and we empower our patients to develop deep, strong, honest relationships with their medical care providers (OBs and midwives) . We believe that we all need to work together in aid of birthing people and their families to make births safer, more respectful, and empowerful. We are also proud to provide a selection of concierge care services including healthy materials nursery design, baby event planning, travel doula services, healthy home consults, and babymoon planning. Many of our families have leveraged these services and found our proprietary GOTS-certified organic cotton swaddles, sustainable wallpaper, nursery art, and baby carriers to be very helpful as well. Our team have supported clients in three cities and have worked in a variety of birth settings. We hold certifications from Birthing from Within, DONA International, PAILAdvocate, Healthy Material Lab, and many others. Some of us have master’s degrees, are CNAs, IBCLCs, and more. We invite you to explore your wellness in our care at www.jadoremonbebe.com.

Antonia Speranza

Chicago, Illinois

Antonia Speranza

5 years of experience

Antonia brings a calm and caring presence to family’s homes and is passionate about providing evidence-based, empathetic, and non-judgmental support to growing families in the Chicago area. With her extensive background in child development (MS Child Development, Infancy), she leaves each family feeling confident in not only caring for their new baby, but in supporting their development as they continue grow!

Michelle Humbert

Chicago, Illinois

Michelle Humbert

3 years of experience

Heyy Yall, I'm Michelle social worker by day and certified birth doula by passion located in Chicago. My main focus as a doula is make sure I'm supporting your goals and interests. Within my business mental and nutritional health are pillars in the structure and embedded in all that I do since it impacts all part of your life especially in birth. My goal as a doula is reinforce your desires and educate you with warmth and compassion. There's so many things in life that are hard childbirth shouldn't be one of them. In my free time I'm a proud auntie, reader, sometimes chef/baker, I love watching Golden Girls every night and picking a new hobby every season to try out!