BIRTHWAYS - Key Persons
Alexis joined Birthways in August 2022. While new and fresh to the Birthways community she is not new to Chicago. After moving from her hometown of Washington, D.C. to study Cultural Studies at Columbia College Chicago, she decided to stay ...
Amber is a certified full-spectrum doula, supporting families during prenatal, labor and postpartum times. She is committed to creating a supportive environment for all her clients and their families. Amber understands pregnancy may be stressful, therefore it is her personal ...
Job Titles:
- Birth Worker and Owner of Smiley Bee Love
Brandi Gowder is a birth worker and owner of Smiley Bee Love. She is Certified with the National Black Doula Association and trained in fertility, birth, and postpartum birth work. She also does placenta encapsulation! Before she began her business in trusted birth and postpartum support work, she was once a newly pregnant soon-to-be mother with questions herself. After birthing three beautiful beings and experiencing traumatic experiences in a hospital setting, she realized the undoubted need of more nurturing support for expecting birthing parents.
Brandi offers a safe space with meditation and positive vibes so the birthing parent can talk, feel understood, and be heard in a "No Judgement Zone." The goal is to make sure the birthing parent and baby are safe. She provides information and resources to not only the Birthing Parent, but to whoever their support system is so they can be knowledgeable on how they can make the birthing parent feel supported through this amazing experience. When you become a Client, you become a Friend; Brandi loves on you and has got your back! Brandi goes the extra mile to blend her education with an earnest devotion to creating the most comfortable and seamless birthing experiences possible. She advocates for women of color when they are ignored, and she is a voice for those who can't speak for themselves.
Smiley Bee Love offers peace, love, support and understanding, and Brandi is committed to helping families from all walks of life. Smiley Bee Love does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or income. She works with the LGBTQ community, VBAC Births, individuals of all races and religions, birthing parents that are considered high risk, birth parents with disabilities and low-income families. Brandi works in hospital, birth center and home birth settings in the Chicago and surrounding areas of Illinois and Indiana.
Brit joined Birthways in 2014 as a Labor Support Doula and Perinatal/Lactation Educator, bringing years of experience and love for learning to this work as a certified doula. Brit's interest in women's health and perinatal studies began as part of ...
Carly Ann has been a doula for five years and attending over 50 births. Before she was a doula she worked in social justice education with teenagers. She began feeling dissatisfied with just talking shop about injustice, and found that ...
Chanel was a doula even before it had a name in her world. She loves what she does meeting so many families with many different backgrounds, learning from each one! Intuitively knowing what steps she needed to take to begin ...
Daisy is a holistic birth and postpartum doula, trained in Advanced Labor Support, Peer Lactation Support and Childbirth Education. She is currently pursuing her Associate's Degree in Midwifery from the Midwest Maternal Health Institute and expects to complete the program ...
Diana Sullivan joined Birthways in 2016 as a postpartum doula with a passion for supporting new families. She brings great care and professionalism to this work, as she earned her child development associate certification and is currently in the process of obtaining her DONA certification.
A graduate of Columbia College with a long professional career in production management, Diana brings sensitivity to balancing personal, family, and professional roles within a growing family. Having worked in Patient Services at Loyola University and volunteered at Rush University in their newborn nursery as an Infant "Cuddler" Diana works well as a part of your care team and will help you bring in your health care providers or additional referrals when needed as you settle in at home.
Since 2017, alongside postpartum doula work, Diana has worked part-time as an educator at an early education center and preschool, where she works with infants through Pre-K, encouraging language and reading, fine motor skills, math, art, dramatic play, science, and outdoor learning.
Diana has been a support person for pregnant friends and family, especially since the birth of her son in 2011. She was moved by the importance of her own support network and has made a commitment ever-since to be of service to others during the childbearing year. Diana is knowledgeable and experienced with fussy and colicky babies, support for the baby blues and perinatal mood disorders, and has worked with twin families. She is happy to meet the practical needs of the family, knowing that a nap, a clean kitchen, or delicious meal are just as important as the reassurance or guidance she has to offer.
Diana has been married to her amazing husband since 2005, and is a busy mom driving her son to baseball, basketball, and track. She enjoys yoga, meditation, exercising, traveling, fostering animals, being a senior caregiver, and trying new foods! References spoke to Diana's sense of humor, how reliable she is as a friend and colleague, as well as her organization skills and clear communication.
Diana believes in creating an environment of honesty and trust by communicating openly and authentically while respecting the opinions of others. She values listening to the needs and concerns of families she serves and responding with a sense of urgency and compassion, striving to always respect individuality and embrace diversity and inclusion.
Erika is very passionate about babies and families. She became a postpartum doula in April of 2019. At first, she did not have any plans on becoming a birth doula. She thought that being a single mother would be too difficult for her to attend births. It was during her postpartum training that she fell in love with everything doula. She decided to go for what she wanted and became a birth doula in August of 2019. Since then, Erika has attended many workshops, volunteered, and provided support for families during birth and the postpartum period. She has learned so much and is extremely proud to call herself a doula. As a birth doula, Erika provides different comfort measures. She has experience in vaginal, C-section, VBACS, and unmediated births in birth centers as well as hospitals.
Welcoming a new baby to your family can be overwhelming in so many different ways. As a postpartum doula, Erika can provide support in many different areas. She is knowledgeable about breastfeeding, healing, self care and caring for a new baby. She has experience in daytime care, night care and multiples.
She a mom to a 9 year old boy. If they are not at a baseball game, soccer game or swim class then they are most likely spending time with family. Erika's family is her biggest support system. Raising a child is not easy, this is why she does this type of work.
Harmony joined Birthways in 2021 as a Postpartum, Labor Support, and Sibling Care Doula, and is certified as a full-spectrum birth justice doula. Her passion, knowledge, and warmth are evident in her commitment to continuing to learn and grow in ...
Ilana joined the Birthways Lactation Team in 2017. Ilana's personal experiences, passion, and training have united her role as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She also maintains an active status as a Registered Nurse. Ilana looks forward to ...
Janina is a certified full-spectrum doula, including labor support and postpartum care. She is a certified Community Breastfeeding Educator and in her 5th year as a Midwifery student, Janina is a wife of 17 years, a mother to 9 children ...
Jeanine attended a Birthways training in 2001 and after a hiatus filled with great opportunities in her music career, returned to Birthways in 2014 as a postpartum doula. Focusing on daytime support, Jeanine brings a strong foundation and ever-deepening knowledge ...
Karen Laing is a mother, lactation consultant, midwife and educator. She was trained at Duke Integrative Medicine as an Integrative Health Coach, and is a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction instructor. As one of the early board members of the National Association of Postpartum Care Services, Karen helped establish the first national standards for postpartum doula certification. She has leveraged her decades of training and experience to develop unique models of care to support mothers with perinatal and postpartum mood disorders.
Karen has contributed a chapter to the book "Housecalls: Home based Interventions on the impact of doula care on postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders (PPMDs)" and co-presented on this subject to the American Psychological Association and the March of Dimes Conference.
Karen brings the benefits of mindfulness to parents through models of mindful caregiving, childbirth and parenting. Her heart feels most fulfilled when she sees the smiles and relief on new parents' faces as they know that they don't have to face the journey alone and can fully enjoy each precious moment of the beautiful experience of birthing and parenting.
Leah Lemelin joined Birthways in 2016 as a labor support and postpartum doula. As a mother of two, Leah has a great appreciation for the care she received on her personal journey in pregnancy and parenting, as well as an awareness of balancing self, family, and work. She aims to bring the same meaningful support to other women and families.
Leah's background includes a BFA in Visual Art & Leadership Skills from the University of Denver, studies in painting and sculpture at the Art Institute in Florence, Italy, and over 10 years in Sales, Management, and Regional Recruiter positions with Papersource. She also has experience with school-aged children as a Humanities teacher in a charter school. Leah very much enjoyed her past careers, but she is so very excited to be a doula full-time!
Leah is a natural caregiver and is attuned to supporting women in her community. She was involved in a mother's community as she herself became a new mother and was active in La Leche League. She also incorporates her many years of being an educator and trainer into her work as a doula. Leah knows how to share information in supportive and affirming ways. Her warm, kind presence puts one at ease and her willingness to be of service is coupled with her conscientious nature. She will pay good attention to the needs of all the family members.
Leah has a personal yoga and meditation practice that has been particularly impactful in her childbearing and parenting experiences - talk with her about supporting your own practices! Leah also loves to cook! She enjoys following recipes, as well as cooking simple, clean foods, and is familiar with Ayurveda and seasonal food benefits. Leah also has an interest in language and international travel and is proficient in Spanish and has basic skills in Italian.
Mary has been a part of Birthways since 1998 as a postpartum doula and lactation consultant. She brings decades of knowledge and experience to working with new families, with a focus on the breastfeeding relationship. With a Bachelor's degree in ...
Megan Trinter joined Birthways in 2003 and offers Labor Support and Private Education, as well as occasional Postpartum care. She has provided care to infants and older children and their families since 1999 and is a mother herself. After graduating ...
Michele joined Birthways in 2021 as a Labor Support and Postpartum Doula. She has a long history (almost 20 years!) of supporting families through birth and the postpartum period. Michele joined Birthways to focus on what she loves - working ...
Noshaba (they/she) is an experienced trauma-informed, healing- centered, and evidence-based fertility, birth, and postpartum doula. She has over fifteen years of experience providing trauma-informed, client-centered, queer and trans affirming direct services, advocacy, and education in various public health settings. A ...
Rhona joined Birthways in the spring of 2019, bringing over a decade of community-based doula work into her care. Rhona is a Certified Labor Support Doula through DONA and completing training as a Postpartum Doula through WisdomWay Institute. She is ...
Ruby Daniel joined Birthways in 2021 as a Postpartum Doula. A daughter of a former Labor & Delivery nurse and lactation consultant, Ruby has been learning about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting her whole life. With a Bachelor's degree in Theater Arts, Ruby brings her creativity, adaptability, and compassion into this work of serving new families.
Prior to becoming a postpartum doula at Birthways, Ruby had extensive experience with children of many ages - newborns to 16-year-olds - as a nanny, Arts Camp counselor, and toy store employee. This experience has translated to immediate warmth and comfort with older siblings of any age, and with first-time parents, she brings excitement to the newborn stage by having an understanding of what is to come along the journey of parenting.
Passionate about labor support, Ruby understands the importance of informing families of their care options in every situation so that every family member feels prepared and empowered to have an informed, safe, and intentional birth experience, while also celebrating the challenges and joys of pregnancy and welcoming a new family member.
Ruby is certified as a Birth Justice Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Wisdomway first year specialist. Alongside her professional qualifications, Ruby is a theater artist in Chicago, enjoys exploring the city and seeing live music, is an avid cook, loves to help take care of family pets, and is more than willing to keep your home tidy and clean. She will also be happy to share her personal experiences with holistic and alternative medicines, herbal remedies, yoga, breathwork, and holistic body practices.
Ruby is a warm, welcoming, and compassionate presence, ready to support the unique needs of each family.
Sadie is known to give herself fully in every field of her life. Whether that be caring for friends in time of need or falling into a rabbit hole of research after a glimpse of something that sparked her interest. ...
Severine has been a community labor support and postpartum doula for a few years. Additionally I am also a FANA trained professional, a BABY TALK trained professional, Mental Health Youth First Aid specialist, Spinning Babies trained professional. Her background as ...
Sonrisa Hansen Parker is a postpartum doula, focused on daytime support. She loves supporting families in their homes, whether it's coming in for a 90 minute lactation visit, or 4-8 hour postpartum doula care shift. Soft-spoken, Sonrisa will communicate thoughtfully and tune into your needs. She has a personal mindfulness meditation and yoga practice, which shows up in her care as a grounded, warm, and calming presence.
She provides individualized breastfeeding support and guidance as a lactation consultant. For new parents planning to breastfeed, Sonrisa is a knowledgeable, patient, and non-judgmental supporter as you discover what it is like to feed and nourish your baby. As a mother of three, she breastfed each of her own children well into their second year of life. Sonrisa has also been a La Leche League Leader for many years.
Sonrisa offers a broad scope of postpartum care that can tend to the needs of the newborn, older sibling, new parents, and the household. Ready for whatever may arise, Sonrisa is happy to help with laundry and dishes, organizing the home around your needs, and providing hands-on care for newborns and parents. She believes support is about the practical, the emotional, the physical, and the educational needs of growing families.
Sonrisa has a Bachelor's Degree in Family Studies and has also completed a postpartum doula certification through WisdomWay Institute. She has experience working in a daycare setting and has been caring for children of friends and family for as long as she can remember.
Sonrisa Hansen Parker enjoys deep one-on-one conversations, family time, and time alone to practice yoga, meditation, organize, create, read, and nap in a cozy blanket. She spent her childhood in Northern Utah and her adulthood in Chicagoland, where she resides with her husband of 20 years, and her three growing children.
Trini's doula work is about creating a safe and supportive environment where birthing people and their partners feel seen, heard, and valued. It's about advocating for their rights and providing care that is rooted in respect, compassion, and cultural humility. ...