Lynn Morley - Birth Doula - North Chicago, IL

Q: how do I hire you?

Start with a Consultation Diving deeper into who I am, who you are, if what I offer fits your needs, and get a sense of our vibe together. For doula services I recommend that if you interview with me that you interview at least one additional person.

Q: what about covid?

I am vaccinated and boosted, and take recommended precautions to prevent getting COVID. I offer virtual, back up, and rescheduling options in the case that I or a client gets sick.

Q: what are my payment options?

most folks book with a partial deposit and pay in full a month before the session or by 34 weeks I also have a sliding scale, financing options, and can do payment plans and bartering on a limited basis. don't let $ stress you out — let's talk it out instead :)

Q: when should I book?

For the most part, anytime is fine within reason, but if you’re a planner here are my recommendations: Doula + Birth Photography In your first or second trimester. Pregnancy Portraits In your second trimester. I’m usually booked 1-2 months out, and I typically take your photos at the beginning-middle of your third trimester Babies In your second or third trimester. We’ll book a tentative date, and I’ll adjust my schedule to accommodate when your baby is born. Families Preferably at least 1 month before your ideal session day. I offer pop sessions as my schedule allows for folks who need to sneak in.

Q: what is your availability?

I only work with four doula families a year — one per season. My bookings can be limited so reach out as soon as you're interested in a consultation. ♥︎ Depending on the time of year and length of sessions I have on my schedule, I usually have open spots. Fall and Spring tend to be busiest so if you're wanting photos around then, sooner is always better than later.

Q: How much does Lynn charge?

Lynn's pregnancy / newborn / family portraits package is $650 USD, flat rate. Lynn lists 3 packages in all.

Q: Does Lynn accept insurance?

Lynn lists Medicaid as accepted insurance. Message Lynn to confirm coverage for your plan.

About Lynn

Lynn began her indie doula and photography practice in 2018. Her background is in reproductive health and non profits as an educator, direct care professional, and in state policy and project management. She has a BA in Gender Studies, is a certified birth, postpartum, and full spectrum doula, a childbirth educator, and a member of the Queer Doula Network. She hangs her fanny pack in Andersonville where she lives with her wife Mercedes -- a deep-hearted middle school teacher she's spellbound by, and with whom she shares the creative practice called home. Weaving together modern and traditional approaches, her support with families focuses on body literacy and agency, trauma and healing, educating and preparing for birth and postpartum, collective care, caretaking and parenting, honoring transitions, and nurturing relationships (including sex and intimacy). Knowledge building is a collaborative mixture of education, experience, and intuition. At the heart of it: you belong to yourself and are the expert of your own experience. She is committed to trauma-informed practices and co-creating safer spaces by being body- and sex-positive, anti-racist, pro-choice, queer and gender affirming, and welcoming to solo, poly, blended, or communal families. Your care should be designed for your comfort, needs, and wants. It should see you in your full context – your stage of life, unique body, lived experience, culture, community, ability, desires, and dreams.

Birth Doula packages and pricing

birth photography

◇documenting your birth experience with tender honesty◇ before your baby is born we spend time together drinking tea in your kitchen or mine, maybe picking strawberries if they're in season, or maybe wandering on our way somewhere toward a coffee place -- a kind of "prenatal session" to connect before your birth i'm on call for your birth when you're 38 weeks pregnant, and i'll enter the sacred space you'll be giving birth in from active labor to about 2 hours after your baby is born. i follow up postpartum with every client whose birth i attend (doula or photographer) the next day via text or call, then visit: 3 days, 1 week, 1/3/6 months, and 1 year after. <3 when i visit you three months after your birth, i'll carry prints with me, and by then you'll have the digital album in your digital mailbox. $1,925

$1,900 USD · Flat rate

pregnancy / newborn / family portraits

Photographs are a particular kind of magic: living documents that catalog our histories and beckon the memories we hold inside of us. they transform into maps, keys, compasses, wandering sticks; inspire storytelling, invite reflection, allow us to grieve, offer paths healing, experience yesteryear layered beautifully with all that came after. And the best ones are when you were fully present, embracing the impermanence of that moment, letting it fill all of your senses, inviting all it can mean to be, become, and belong. sessions start at 1-2 hours, in and around home, framed print & digital album included, option for modem- style album

$650 USD · Flat rate

doula

◇ comprehensive and community care during your pregnancy ◇ a trusted guide while you find your path through labor and birth ◇ staying by your side for a year of ongoing care ◇ being in your body - body literacy: pregnancy, birth, postpartum, fertility, cervix [ties in trauma aware cervical exams, care, etc.] - safe and educated use of herbal medicine - nourishment — intuitive and mindful eating, nutrition, connection between food and community, safe and educated use of herbal medicine - intuitive movement (borrowing from yoga and somatic healing) - touch, accupressure, massage - positions, practices, and movement to make pregnancy more comfortable, good position for baby, for labor and birth, for postpartum - re-connecting with your body after birth - pleasure and sexuality during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum connecting with your inner self: - identity & grief - emotional intelligence — knowledge, regulation, intuition, communication - self love practice (setting intentions, meditation, visualization, breathing, and grounding exercises, journaling, creative/art practices) - mind-body connection nurturing your relationship - communication tools, managing life responsibilities, returning to work, sex, sleep, caregiving, parenting styles, self care (practice), relationship care, family dynamics, values & family manifesta, co-regulation - preparing your partnership for parenthood growing your village - roles and expectations - pregnancy and postpartum ceremony - nesting, caring for parents and baby, - needs - sharing birth plan, postpartum plan, and assigning roles/responsibiilites/expectations - values and decisions around parenthood honoring your transitions: - pregnancy, postpartum, and welcoming your baby - drawing from your heritage caring for your baby: - baby wearing - feeding - safer sleep - vaccination & newborn testing - trusted providers and collaboration preparing for your parenthood: - informed decision making (vs research) - emotional regulation and resilience - parenting styles - family history: what to let go, what to take with - calling on your community - what to expect the first year

$2,100 USD · Flat rate

Accepted insurance

Medicaid Message Lynn to confirm coverage for your plan.

What to expect

♡ photog & doula services ♡ DOULA — The care you receive through all reproductive transitions – whether it’s fertility, birth, or postpartum – should be designed for your comfort, needs, and wants. It should see you in your full context – your stage of life, unique body, lived experience, culture, community, ability, desires, and dreams. I provide full spectrum, innovative, comprehensive, and community-focused doula care. My birth & postpartum services encompass the entire pregnancy-birth-postpartum journey (sometimes the conception journey, too!) and I stay with families for a year after their birth. PHOTOG — I specialize in birth photography and long-form, in-home portraits of families, pregnancy, and people. My style is a mixture of narrative portraiture, and photojournalism. It is emotional, intimate, irreverent, nostalgic, poetic. As a long-form photographer, I spend a meaningful amount of time with folks — anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day. As a birth photographer, I spend time with families to build a trusting relationship, and provide postpartum support for a year after the birth. All photography options include a framed print, with the opportunity to include modern-style albums. MODEL OF CARE— The Kismet model of care is trauma aware, body-sex-kink positive, anti-racist, LGBTQ affirming, pro-choice, and affirming of all journeys and families; it is rooted in principles of slow living, somatic healing, common herbal medicine, cultural appreciation, and reproductive justice. It weaves together traditional and modern perspectives to nurture your well-being and mind-body-heart connection. photography can be added to doula support at a bundled discount.

Reviews for Lynn Morley

5.0 1 review

5.0

October 18, 2024

Liam is an extremely caring, intelligent and respectful doula. She sat with me in a lot of grief and anxiety in my fifth pregnancy, (my last one, following three miscarriages.) She rode through the dark moments with me and really helped me mentally prepare for giving birth to a living baby, which I had struggled to mentally accept as possibility. She made sure that I was comfortable enough to take my last birthing experience into my own hands. I truly couldn’t have done it without her experience, care and dedication.

— Amy R.

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Certifications, training, and specialties

Certification and training

Birth Doula (2018)
Postpartum Doula (2018)
Childbirth Educator (2020)
Full Spectrum Certification (2019)

Education

Gender Studies (2017)

Memberships and affiliations

Queer Doula Network

Languages

English

Credentials

BA CBE CD (DTI)

Specialties

Abortion Doula Care Advanced Maternal Age Babywearing Belly Binding Birth Doula Birth Photographer Birth Trauma Childbirth Education Contraception and Family Planning Family Photography Grief and Loss HAES (Health at Every Size) Approach High-Risk Pregnancy Home Birth Infant Care Infertility Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) LGBTQ+ Maternity Photography Newborn, Baby, & Birth Photography Newborn Care Parenting Support Perinatal Mood Disorders Postpartum Adjustment Postpartum Care Postpartum Photography Preconception Self-Compassion Sexual Health Somatic Techniques Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Water birth

Frequently asked questions

how do I hire you?

Start with a Consultation Diving deeper into who I am, who you are, if what I offer fits your needs, and get a sense of our vibe together. For doula services I recommend that if you interview with me that you interview at least one additional person.

what about covid?

I am vaccinated and boosted, and take recommended precautions to prevent getting COVID. I offer virtual, back up, and rescheduling options in the case that I or a client gets sick.

what are my payment options?

most folks book with a partial deposit and pay in full a month before the session or by 34 weeks I also have a sliding scale, financing options, and can do payment plans and bartering on a limited basis. don't let $ stress you out — let's talk it out instead :)

when should I book?

For the most part, anytime is fine within reason, but if you’re a planner here are my recommendations: Doula + Birth Photography In your first or second trimester. Pregnancy Portraits In your second trimester. I’m usually booked 1-2 months out, and I typically take your photos at the beginning-middle of your third trimester Babies In your second or third trimester. We’ll book a tentative date, and I’ll adjust my schedule to accommodate when your baby is born. Families Preferably at least 1 month before your ideal session day. I offer pop sessions as my schedule allows for folks who need to sneak in.

what is your availability?

I only work with four doula families a year — one per season. My bookings can be limited so reach out as soon as you're interested in a consultation. ♥︎ Depending on the time of year and length of sessions I have on my schedule, I usually have open spots. Fall and Spring tend to be busiest so if you're wanting photos around then, sooner is always better than later.