Meet The Windy City Doulas
Samantha's profile can be viewed here
Desiree Y-Birth and Postpartum Doula
Desiree spent the first 15 years of her career working with families via social services before making the transition to doula work in 2013, since then she's had the joy of working with dozens of new families on their journey to parenthood.
Her approach to supporting families is to meet them where they're at for both birth and postpartum support. This means that Dez provides unbiased support to help her clients achieve their ideal birth experience in all situations whenever possible and making sure the client feels supported in all outcomes. In addition to hands on support for families Desiree prides herself in being a professional support resource as well.
In her spare time she enjoys embracing time and being active with her children and husband in the Chicago suburbs.
Holly R- Educator, Birth and Postpartum Doula
Holly has been supporting families in the Windy City since 2006. She brings compassion, wisdom and unbiased support to help parents find their own way and establish their unique family unit.
Holly not only focuses on hands on support, but has a strong education background. She runs ongoing Birthing From Within classes (KickAss birth!), with an emphasis on birth as a Rite of Passage both at the Windy City office and in the northern burbs.
Holly has three children, all born in Chicago. When she's not waiting on babies, you can find her painting in her art in her studio or enjoying the nature she and her family moved to the northern burbs for!
Jessie V-Postpartum Doula
After working as a newborn care specialist for many families over the years Jessie had the honor to attend the births of some of her soon-to-be clients and it was life changing for her. Now as a birth doula Jessie hopes to help new families achieve a rewarding and positive birth experience while feeling confident in any choices they make.
Jessie also has a passion for helping families prepare appropriately for their postpartum period. While birth is such an important experience and deserves focus and support, the postpartum period is huge as well. Jessie loves to help families have realistic expectations for their newborns and plan around those needs.
In her personally time Jessie enjoys explore the city with her husband and young two girls. Now that Jessie’s girls have gotten older, she’ has started her career path to become a home-birth Midwife. Jess loves being a working and mom feels it helps her connect to clients in those early months when they feel pulled in so many directions.
Tiffany G- Birth and Postpartum Doula
Tiffany Gorman has been working with families, infants and young children for over 10 years. She is an experienced doula and received her training from SMC Full Circle Doulas. Tiffany also has a Master of Science in Child Development from Erikson Institute.
Her passion for young children started when she was a teenager babysitting. She is a mother of one, wife, yoga instructor and aromatherapy practitioner. Tiffany is committed to helping whole families be whole families.
Tiffany has continued her passion for supporting postpartum families by attending multiple new trainings included becoming a certified lactation counselor.
Sydney G- Postpartum Doula
Sydney is a DONA International certified postpartum doula. She also helps Samantha run Windy City Doulas’s New Parents Support Group.
Prior to being a postpartum doula, Sydney was a nanny, and before that, an infant teacher at a child development center. While working as an infant teacher, Sydney supervised a class of up to 8 infants, ranging in age from 6 weeks to 15 months old. She was directly responsible for 4 infants at any given time. Sydney has her bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Education and is continuously doing continuing education to receive new certifications and training.
Sydney is a night owl, making her a natural for overnight care. Sydney loves being a doula, because she loves helping families bond and connect with their little one and helping them through the early days of postpartum. Seeing parents find their voices and find their ways as parents is so wonderful. She is constantly proud of how far her clients have come and loves to see them and their babies thrive. Families have described her as thoughtful, supportive, kind, knowledgeable, organized, with a heart of gold. She is also experienced in feeding issues.
When she’s not working, Sydney likes spending time with family and friends, volunteering, and exploring the city..
Lauren H-Postpartum Doula
Lauren is a DTI-trained full-spectrum doula serving the Chicago area. She offers care for any reproductive health event, including birth, postpartum, fertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. Lauren believes everyone deserves a doula, and is dedicated to empowering all birthing people.
Prior to becoming a birth and postpartum doula, Lauren worked as a nanny for multiple families while she earned her master’s in economics. She is a warm, energetic self-starter who will bring a non-judgemental & compassionate attitude to your birth or postpartum experience.
In her free time, Lauren loves cuddling with her tortoiseshell kitties, rollerblading on the lakefront trail, caring for her house plants, and reading novels & feminist theory. She has lived in six US states and loves to travel.
Hannah M- Travel Doula, Sleep Training and Live-in Support
Hannah has always found joy in caring for others from a young age. Since completing her bachelors degree Hannah has worked in special education, elder care, as a nanny and finally settling on postpartum and travel doula.
Hannah enjoys traveling with WCD clients, both for vacations and business/family related trips. Her goal is to be an extra set of hands to makes the experience smoother and less stressful from the moment you leave your home, through the travel day, during your trip and back home again.
In addition to her travel work Hannah has a passion for live-in care. Those early days and weeks coming home with your little one can be filled with so many unknowns. With live-in support Hannah feels she can be a source of educational support through every step of day to day life when needed while also being able to slip away and allow you to have family bonding time when desired without the time constraints of a set night or daytime schedule:
When not working with new families or traveling (for work or fun) Hannah is at home in Arkansas with her three dogs and husband focusing on her gardening and home projects.
Corrina -Postpartum Doula
Corrina spent the last 8 years working as a travel postpartum nurse across the United States before settling in Chicago to start a doctorate program.
Corrina favorite part of her previous nursing job was helping families transition with confidence into this new phase of life and is so excited to continue that with at home postpartum care. Her experience enables her to assist -with breastfeeding, breast pumps, bottle feeding, infant safety, bonding, emotional support and educating parents about newborn care.
She is currently pursuing her DNP to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Corrina’s goal with this degree is to work with postpartum patients who have postpartum depression/anxiety. When she’s not studying, she enjoys being with her puppy, hosting her book club, cooking, and traveling!
Paris M - Birth and Postpartum
Paris has been working as a doula since 2018 after training with DONA. Paris used a doula for the birth of her 2nd child and was so inspired by the experience she decided it was a career she wanted for herself! In 2021 Paris decided to expand her skill set and has been training to become a home birth midwife and will be sitting for boards soon.
After experiencing almost all birth choices with her own three children Paris is dedicated to helping families find the support and birth choices that align with their specific needs during their pregnancy.
In addition to birth support Paris has a passion for helping parents as the bring their baby(ies) home and adjust to life as a new family. Her goal is to help parents feel supported, educated and confident in their choices while also helping them rest and recover in those early weeks.
When not working with new families Paris resides in the suburbs with her young children and enjoys watching them explore new adventures.
Mia W - Birth and Postpartum Doula (on leave starting winter 2024)
Mia is a postpartum and birth doula who shares a passion for helping new and soon-to-be families. For the past 5 years she has supported families from a childcare role and as a medical assistant. In 2021 she formally received her doula training through the Black Wombman Doula Course.
Her journey to becoming a doula came with the birth of her daughter. An experience that left her with many questions. After a difficult gestational experience, Mia has a soft sport for other high risk expecting and new parents. Her goal is to bring calm to this season of life as you transition into parenthood.
Mia is the mother to one toddler and two puppies. When she is taking a break from being a doula, you can find her running to ballet practices with her little one, performing spoken word, finding a new recipe to master, cuddled on the couch enjoying movies with her husband.
Melly -Postpartum Doula
Melissa began working as a postpartum doula eight years ago after learning about doulas while pregnant with her youngest. She has always loved supporting families and was a nanny for 15 years prior to becoming a certified doula.
Melissa is certified with ProDoula and is trained in Happiest Baby on the Block, and twin support! Learning new ways to support families brings her a great deal of joy.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her two children and dogs as well as exploring different Chicago neighborhoods!
Jessica K-Birth, Postpartum Doula and Education
Jessica firmly believes that the saying "It takes a village" is one of the most important lessons of parenthood, and enjoys helping parents navigate their own individual journeys- discussing what is best for them specifically and recognizing that we all have our own unique sets of needs, hopes, and resources.
She aims to meet every family where they are at, and specializes in families coping with stressors such as anxiety, depression, and recovery from difficult labor and deliveries.
When she is not working, she enjoys making the most of the amazing food in Chicago, relaxing by the lake or in the forest, watching superhero movies with her teenage sons, and cuddling with her daughter.
Lynn-Postpartum Doula
Lynn began supporting families as a postpartum doula after the birth of her daughter. Having enjoyed a career as a Wall Street trader, she switched gears and began working as an evening doula so she could be home during the day with her kids.
With 14yrs of experience, Lynn has supported hundreds of families; half of which welcomed twins and triplets. In addition to multiples her experience includes special need babies, breast feeding support, nursery set-up, postpartum depression, and the unique sleep challenges of adoption.
A very proud native Chicagoan, when not working Lynn spends time with her two children and her husband at White Sox games, watching old movies, cooking, and adding to their ridiculously large record collection.
Crystal S- Postpartum Doula
At a young age, Crystal was fascinated with pregnancy and babies. This passion followed her into adulthood where she worked for an OBGYN office and on labor and delivery off and on for 17 years.
It was during Crystal’s own experiences as a new mother that she understood firsthand what suffering from inadequate postpartum care looked like and her drive to help new families blossomed from the medical field to birth and postpartum work.
Now that her own children are grown Crystal feels it is her time to be who she needed when she had her own babies. Outside of doula work, Crystal owns/runs an Airbnb in the northern suburbs and prides herself on hosting great events. In her free time Crystal loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.
Carly Ann B -Postpartum Doula
Carly Ann is passionate about continuing education and has finished a lactation education course as well as prenatal educator training. In addition to her focus around doula support she has completed a year of midwifery training. Through her different trainings Carly Ann has developed a passion for helping all families feel supported, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Carly Ann lives in Albany Park and loves gardening, cooking, biking, playing guitar, and her biggest hobby is playing roller derby for the Windy City Rollers.
Briana O- Birth and Postpartum Doula
Briana is a full spectrum doula who has a passion for helping new and expecting families. After supporting family & friends throughout their pregnancy & feeding journeys for the past 8 years Briana decided to make it official and certified as a birth and postpartum doula.
Briana prides herself in being patient, respectful, reliable & emotionally present for her clients. After experiencing her own traumatic birth in 2014 she made it her goal to help families have the appropriate knowledge & support surrounding pregnancy, birth, feeding & the postpartum period. She aims to help clients feel support and heard in all birthing scenarios and adjust to the changes that newborn life brings with as much rest and confidence as possible.
When not fighting for birth justice, Briana is homeschooling her two young boys (ages 6 & 8), being a soccer mom, & running her own handmade bath & body business, plus event space.
Pippin M-Birth(backup) and Postpartum Doula
Pippin (they/she) is a childbirth educator, lactation counselor, birth and postpartum doula, and student midwife who has worked with expectant folks from all walks of life for the past ten years.
Pippin is a lifelong Chicagoan and was privileged to grow up listening to stories of their mother’s birth stories. This led her into birthwork and has been the passion that’s fueled their desire to provide affirming, trauma-informed care as a doula, and in the future as a midwife.
Pippin is equally passionate about reproductive justice, which for them includes advocating for families in a way that allows folks to make the best choices for their unique circumstances. Pippin brings a calm, grounded energy to both birth and postpartum environments and aims above all to hold space in a nurturing way. Her goal for all families is that she leaves them feeling more informed, supported and confident in their choices as parents.
Additionally, as queer, single parent, they recognize that families come in a variety of forms, each beautiful and worthy of celebration and support.
Pippin lives with her daughter and their two orange cats in Rogers Park. When not occupied with birth, you can find them gardening, fermenting, sea glass searching at the beach, knitting, and hauling her kiddo around on their cargo bike.
Ashley B - Birth Doula
Ashley is a CAPPA, and Spinning Babies trained doula. Ashley specializes in first time births, high risk pregnancies, and previous traumatic births.
Ashley’s passion for birth support started after her own traumatic birth, which led to a c-section, and a daughter in the NICU.
From medicated, to natural birth Ashley has experiences with many birthing preferences. Ashley seeks to empower every birthing person, and partner on their newfound journey in parenthood.
Aimee P - Postpartum Doula
Aimee is registered nurse, certified lactation counselor, and postpartum doula. Before transitioning to be a labor nurse Aimee worked with hundreds of families as a birth and postpartum doula. While nursing is is main career now she loved postpartum work so much she decided to stay on 1-2 nights a week.
After being a birth doula for many years postpartum support was a natural addition to her doula role. Prior to her doula career Aimee worked in daycare centers and home daycares caring for instants and young toddlers. As well as nonprofit aiding teen parents as a home visitor, parent educator and group facilitator.
Aimee’s style is meeting families “where they are” and supporting the transition into parenthood by providing information, gentle guidance and compassion. She enjoys watching new parents grow and gain confidence in their abilities to care for their newborns.
In her time outside of nursing and doula work Aimee lives in the close suburbs, loves to travel with her children and is embracing life as a new grandma!
Debbie L- Postpartum, Educator and Sleep Training
Debbie Lillig is a certified postpartum doula, lactation counselor (CLC), and childbirth educator (Informed Beginnings). Debbie started her career in lactation support 15 years ago working as a LLL leader and expanded her training over the years to include birth and postpartum support.
Before moving to private practice Debbie previously worked in both birth and postpartum roles for a suburban health department educating and supporting new families. Debbie has attended over 200 births and served approximately 100 postpartum families in her 8 years working as a doula.
Debbie lives in the Western burbs with her husband and 3 older children and in her free time is involved with local theater and voice work.
Rebekkah C -Birth Doula
Rebekkah Carney is a DONA certified birth and postpartum doula. Rebekkah loves to be the calm in the room, helping families make the choices best for their individual care. Rebekkah feels a sense of community is important for new families and facilitates a Pregnancy and Postpartum Virtual Community Group to create connections with other expecting families.
As a birth doula, Rebekkah helps families consider all their options when decisions need to be made during labor. She provides comfort and alternative pain relief options when necessary. She really enjoys meeting families during prenatal visits and helping them with creating and discussing birth preferences prior to the delivery. Rebekkah is a professional member of Evidence Based Birth and trained as a GentleBirth Childbirth Educator.
Rebekkah decided to follow her heart to pursue her dream job as a doula after a first career in engineering, she has a BS in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University, and uses her science mind and quick analytical focus to provide the best evidence and help with decision making for her clients.
Rebekkah has two children of her own that she loves going on adventures with and getting outside. She also enjoys planning for her next travel adventure, running, and enjoying delicious meals.
Megan P - Postpartum Doula and Educator
Megan has been a licensed massage therapist for almost two decades, specializing in prenatal massage since 2007. She received Birth Doula training through Health Connect One in 2008, and since, she has had extensive experience supporting families from all walks of life before, during and after birth.
Megan is now focusing her attention exclusively on the postpartum period and loves working with twins families. Whether it's navigating breastfeeding challenges or getting babies to sleep through the night, she intuitively guides parents to find the way right for them. Megan strives to leave families feeling nurtured, supported and empowered, reaching from her past experience and knowledge as a Childbirth Educator and Basic Lactation Educator.
Lindsey B - Birth and Postpartum Doua
Lindsey is a mom of three, the oldest sibling of five, and a former nanny with a background in early childhood and infant care. She is also a registered yoga teacher.
Lindsey’s fascination with the beauty of the birthing process began with the birth of her first child, 13 years ago. Since that time, she has supported countless friends and family members through pregnancy and labor. In 2022, she decided to pursue her passion full time and completed her birth doula training.
Lindsey is kind and warm; her patience and ability to remain steadfast under pressure will help you to feel empowered and at ease. Lindsey believes that all birthing people are deserving of a beautiful experience, and will help you to find yours.
Karin D - Postpartum Doula
Karin has been working in the childcare industry for the last 15 years and loved every second of it. After working with multiple families from Newborn through toddlerhood Karin decided the newborn phase was her passion and wanted to continuously help families to focus on recovery, engagement, teaching milestones, and helping them with emotional, and social growth.
Karin has taken training in lactation support, sleep shaping (and training for older babies) and is working on additional postpartum support trainings through multiple training orgs. Additionally she is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Her goal is for all her clients and their babies to feel comforted, supported and help this transition to be a positive and not scary one.
In her spare time Karin is working on her studies in lactation and birth support, spending time with her family in the city and enjoying all chicago has to offer.
Natalie E- Postpartum Doula
Natalie has been a childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula for over 20 years. She feels lucky to have spent many years working with expectant families. She loves helping and supporting new parents with encouragement, patience and information as they figure out their own parenting approach.
Natalie approaches her postpartum support by meeting families where they’re at in this journey. Need a good night of rest? She’s got you. Want to learn more about your baby and what to expect next developmentally? She’s ready to teach. Need a helping hand during the day she ready to take over the household tasks while you soak in your baby.
In addition to supporting families Natalie is also a wild edible foods instructor and teaches strength and mobility classes for the pregnant and postpartum body. Natalie has two grown children and in her spare time she loves traveling with her adult kids, working on a community land restoration project in McHenry county and spending time cuddling with her partner and pets.
Sydney R - Postpartum Doula (Backup Birth Doula)
Sydney is a Chicago based postpartum doula with a wealth of experience supporting both couples and solo parents on this exciting and new season in life. Sydney's empowering approach ensures that each family feels supported and confident as they navigate parenthood for the first (or 5th) time.
Sydney is a Master of Public Health student who believes that knowledge is the key to ensuring parents feel informed and supported throughout their journey. Her academic background enhances her ability to provide evidence-based information and resources to her clients without judgment.
When she's not immersed in her work or studies, Sydney enjoys quality time with her son. Her other interests include working on her family’s farm, exploring new hiking paths and spending time with friends.
Shantel - Birth and Postpartum
Shantel is a full spectrum doula trained through Doula Training International. In addition to her doula trainings she also a certified lactation counselor, and trained in Spinning babies. Prior to becoming a doula, Shantel worked with children for almost a decade as a nanny, daycare teacher and camp setting.
As a postpartum doula, she has experience supporting families with both daytime and overnight care. Shantel enjoys helping with cooking, cleaning, running errands, and sibling care during daytimes shifts and helping families feel more confident while allowing them to get much needed rest during her night time support shifts.
While studying abroad in England, Shantel learned how common doulas were, specifically in Europe and upon returning home began her focus on doula support. Her mission is to help birthing and postpartum families to feel safe and have autonomy over their bodies and babies as they give birth and welcome their baby(s) home.
Ashli K - Postpartum and Placenta
Ashli is a certified postpartum doula through CAPPA who has been working with new families as a doula for the last 4 years both in an overnight role as well as daytime support. Ashli has experience working with twins, children with Down syndrome, babies experiencing colic, acid reflux, allergies and many other newborn struggles. In addition to being a certified postpartum doula Ashli has also trained as a birth doula and has an in-depth understanding of the birth and recovery process.
Before training to work as a doula Ashli worked in the early childhood education field for over 10 years as a nanny and Head Start teacher. Additionally she is registered as a foster parent in the state of IL. She takes pride in helping families from every background to have the best start on the road to new parent life.
Ashli resides with her family in the south suburbs. She’s active in volunteering with different local organizations in her community and spending my time with her large family.