Maternal Health Focused Birth Support. Spontaneous unmedicated birth

Benefits to Mother & Baby

Having a doula present at your birth benefits not only you, but your baby too!

  • Birthing parents report decreased pain, stress, and levels

  • Decreased length of labor, fewer birth complications, and less need for assisted delivery via forceps or vacuum

  • Increased chance of having a spontaneous vaginal birth

  • Birthing person reports feeling more empowered to communicate their needs and wishes to their care team

  • Increased Newborn Apgar Scores

  • Decreased incidence of Low Birth Weight

  • Birthing person more likely to describe their birth experience with feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment

Postpartum support, Home Visits, Breastfeeding Support in Chicago

We’ll Be There For You

From the time we sign a contract, our priority is you. This means we are available to you via phone call, text, and email to answer any questions or concerns you may have throughout your pregnancy. Prenatal home visits provide us an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss your birth preferences, and practice comfort measures that can be used during labor. Postpartum visits allow your doula to make sure you are adjusting well, help guide you through your recovery, and offer additional resources that may be helpful in the postpartum period.

Amber Knowles utilizes movement in final weeks of pregnancy for labor prep

Support From Your Doulas

Preparing for childbirth can sometimes seem daunting. You can help ease uncertainties by forming a birth team that will support your wishes and travel with you through a safe laboring journey, while encouraging you and reminding you of your strength and ability.

Amber and Rebekkah want you to feel confident in decisions that will impact your birth. We want you to feel as prepared as possible by focusing on:

  • Body work and exercises to help physically balance your pelvis for labor, and help you achieve a more comfortable pregnancy.

  • Preparing the mind and body to surrender

  • Helping communicate your birth preferences to your provider prior to labor

  • Signs of labor, stages of labor, what to expect in your recovery

  • Laboring at home and knowing when it is time to go to the hospital or birth center

  • Practicing positions to labor in to help alleviate sensations of intensity, while promoting the descent and optimal position of your baby

  • Practicing comfort techniques, and guiding your birth partner through breathing and relaxation techniques, massage, counter pressure, meditation, visualization, vocalization, and the use of a TENs Unit and water therapy

  • Navigating decisions you need to make for your baby regarding feeding preferences, medications, and immunizations, and what to expect in the first days of life

What comes as a truly important aspect of this journey is the ability to lean on your doula for comfort and reassurance should you experience a deviation from the original plan. Your doula will remind you that a positive birth experience is still attainable while focusing on the health and safety of you and your tiny human.

Patient and family centered birth doula support in greater Chicagoland area

What to expect from us on the day

When the time comes, one of us will attend your birth and help you create a warm and loving atmosphere by using dim lights, essential oils, music, and any other comfort piece you bring to help promote mind and body relaxation. Together, we will focus on relaxation, rhythm, and ritual to facilitate managing the intense sensations of labor, while moving you through various laboring positions to encourage labor progress. Rebekkah and I pride ourselves in working well with your entire birth team, through collaborative, personalized care. We will guide your birth partner to comfort you and help them feel connected to the birth experience. Once baby is born, we will help you navigate the magic of the golden hour by encouraging skin to skin and assisting with feedings, handling baby, and family bonding. This level of support will help you feel your voice was heard, your wishes were respected, and with sense of great accomplishment.