Evelyn Bello-Schrag

Libertyville, Illinois

5.0 (1 review)

Evelyn Bello-Schrag

3 years of experience

Hi, I'm Evelyn – a mama to two beautiful kids, a nature lover, and an advocate for women. While I didn’t plan to become a doula or childbirth educator, I now know that it’s my true calling. Growing up in a close-knit Mexican household, I was always drawn to community and mentorship, especially for girls. After earning my degrees in psychology and Spanish, I worked with survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. Becoming a mom ignited my deep curiosity about pregnancy and birth. I became fascinated by the process, eager to learn everything about labor and advocate for my own birth experience. After having profoundly empowering births, I realized that every woman deserves a birth that is powerful and free from trauma. This curiosity soon grew into a passion for supporting other women in my community. In my journey as a home visitor, working with Spanish-speaking moms, I saw firsthand the lack of resources and perinatal education available to them. It fueled my desire to help these women advocate for themselves, find their voice, and feel empowered in their birth experiences. After the birth of my daughter, I took a step back to reflect on my passions, and that’s when I discovered the amazing combination of doula and childbirth educator. And so, La Vid was born – a community for mothers to feel rooted and empowered, from pregnancy through motherhood. I believe in the strength and connection of women, and my mission is to empower you through your entire journey, so you never have to walk alone.

Recent review

One of the things that I loved the most was that Evelyn offered online birthing classes on Saturdays. This was my 3rd pregnancy and I had never attended any birthing class. Knowing what to expect for birth, I was amazed at how much she goes over in her classes that the content is real and raw. Before my birth she set time to get to know my birth stories, know me, and discuss her role as my doula. I really appreciated that she listened without any judgement. Evelyn always listened to my concerns and actually validated them. In the last weeks of pregnancy, she would check on me and give me tips to be ready for when it was time to head to the hospital. Her words and knowledge would always calm my nerves and anxiety. During my birth, she was ready to help me voice out my needs and was not afraid to roll up her sleeves to help. She provides so many words of affirmation and was part of my successful birth. I would definitely recommend Evelyn to any mom looking for a doula. She is also so kind, humble, and really knows what it takes for a mama to birth.

- Melissa C.

Lynn Morley

North Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (1 review)

Lynn Morley

9 years of experience
Accepts insurances

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.

Recent review

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.

Shauna Davis

Woodstock, Illinois

Shauna Davis

3 years of experience

Hi! My name is Shauna and I am a DONA International certified birth doula located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago - Woodstock to be exact. It is my honor to support families that are giving birth in home, birth center and hospital settings. I have five years of experience working in obstetrics and gynecology, which facilitated my love for all things pregnancy related. While I thoroughly enjoyed supporting my patients in a clinical setting during their prenatal and postpartum phases, I truly wanted to be more involved in supporting women throughout the birthing process. I 100% believe all women should be supported and have the right to birth as they want, whatever that looks like for them. I believe women's bodies are remarkable and amazing. As a mom of three myself, I know first hand the power a woman's body has, from growing a baby, to delivering that baby, and then to be able to nourish that baby. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks with my husband and our two dogs. I also enjoy reading and staying up-to-date on all things pregnancy, birth and lactation related.

Clarissa Mesquita

Riverwoods, Illinois

Clarissa Mesquita

3 years of experience

Hello, My name is Clarissa Mesquita and I'm a mother and doula. Olá! Meu nome é Clarissa Mesquita e eu sou mãe e doula.

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.

Elisha Mason

Alsip, Illinois

Elisha Mason

8 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Lissah is the Co-Founder of (Re)Birth Society. She serves as a Full Spectrum Doula, specializing in Home Birthing, Spontaneous Physiological Birthing and Afro-Indigenous Birth Practices. Lissah completed the Doula Training International (DTI) program in 2018 and has since trained under elder and with peer midwives, doulas, and birth assistants, receiving traditional hands-on trainings and skills. Lissah is an initiated Root Worker of the Ingram-Seay & Lipscomb/Pruitt-Williams lineages of North & Central Alabama and is on the path of Grand Midwifery & Root Doctoring within the Hoodoo Tradition. With over 7 years of education and experience in the field of plant-spirit medicine, she is a certified herbalist and current student at Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. In addition to her wellness work, Lissah is a scholar, educator & journalist with a focus on African-Indigenous cultural history and heritage. Over the past 10 years she has been active in community service and social justice work, volunteering for grassroots orgs in North Alabama, Tuskegee, Chicago and San Diego. In extension of her role within the (Re)Birth Society, she serves on the board of Nature's Garden for Victory & Peace. Lissah is a devoted Mama, family member, teacher, friend, and #ancestorsbaby, committed to total liberation for the Earth, the Spirits, and the People.

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.

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.

Daisy Johnson

Markham, Illinois

Daisy Johnson

8 years of experience

Safety and Peace!

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.

Deshaunna Washington

Chicago, Illinois

Deshaunna Washington

3 years of experience

My name is Deshaunna Washington and I am A certified Birth and Postpartum Doula based in Chicago, Illinois. As a mother to a teenager born in 2011, my journey into motherhood ignited a deep passion for supporting families, particularly mothers and their babies, propelling me to pursue a degree in social work. This academic path has opened doors for me to provide valuable support to families as a home visitor, ultimately leading me to specialize in Birth Work. My unwavering commitment to aiding others is exemplified in the dedication and effort I invest in each family from the prenatal to postnatal stage. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to guide and support you during this pivotal and exciting journey.

Sherica Blakey

Chicago, Illinois

5.0 (1 review)

Sherica Blakey

11 years of experience

Welcome to RBLL DOULA SERVICES RICA B'S LABOR OF LOVE LLC WHERE PASSION&PURPOSE INTERTWINES B. RBLL offers compassionate support to expectant families, regardless of whether it is their first or tenth child, Rica provides personalized care tailored to individual needs, including prenatal consultations, labor support, and postpartum guidance once you are back home with your newborn. Rica B. is committed to ensuring that every birth is a positive and empowering experience. NOW OFFERING FULL SPECTRUM DOULA SERVICES.SELF PAY & PRIVATE PAY ASK ME ABOUT MEDICAID ELGIBILITY!! PHONE: (708)477-2227 RICABLABOROFLOVE@GMAIL.COM

Recent review

Rica B the Doula was amazing She was there for me my entire birthing experience and made this journey so much easier for me to navigate. I Would hire her again and I recommend her 10 out of 10

- Briana Y.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!