Our Community

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You’ll meet Karen Laing when you call to learn more about Birthways’ services.  She will remain available to you for support throughout your relationship with Birthways.  She trains and mentors Birthways doula providers and heads up our advanced lactation program as well as our labor support apprenticeship program.  She has limited availability to offer home visits as a lactation consultant.

Karen Laing is a mother, lactation consultant, midwife and educator and the founder and president of Birthways.  As a clinician and educator, her attention to the emotional wellbeing of families permeates her work.

Birthways was founded in 1997 by Karen Laing, who was previously the director of Illinois’ first fledging doula group, Dana Mothercare (DM).  DM was owned and founded by Nancy Newton and Bill Brauer, groundbreaking professionals whose approach integrated mindfulness in home-based care.  When DM’s founders moved on to other projects and closed the organization, Karen gathered the doulas and founded a new company.  Some of the original DM’s doulas are still a part of Birthways today!

When you hire a Birthways doula, you also gain the support of the Birthways administrative team, including:

Experts at finding the right match for you.  Birthways administrators have years of experience helping families find doulas that have the combination of skills, personality, and availability that you need.

24/7 emergency support.  An administrator is always on call for emergencies and other calls that cannot wait until the next business day.

We’re glad you are interested in becoming a Birthways doula!

Since 1997, Birthways has been nurturing our doula community.  Birthways is the Chicago area’s largest and oldest community of doulas, providing labor support and postpartum doula services.   We currently work with more than 30 providers meeting the needs of approximately 250-300 families per year.  We have found that by working collectively we are able to solve some of the challenges of working as doulas.  Some of the benefits that come from being a staff member at Birthways include:

You’ll meet Karen Laing when you call to learn more about Birthways doula care.  She will remain available to you for support throughout your relationship with Birthways.  She trains and mentors Birthways doula providers and heads up our advanced lactation program as well as our labor support apprenticeship program.  She has limited availability to offer home visits as a lactation consultant.

Meet our team here.

Birthways has been helping families find the right doula “fit” since 1997. Our training, professional development, and experience – all exceeding any national doula certification guidelines – ensure the support that best meets your unique needs.

Birthways is not a referral agency, and all Birthways doulas are our employees. We aren’t just calling through a list of doulas who have registered with us. Instead, our intensive hiring, screening, training, and ongoing support system ensure the highest quality, evidence-based care for your family.

Birthways has been building and nurturing our doula community since 1997. Thanks to our efforts to help our group’s members build professional skills and sustainable careers, Birthways is the Chicago area's oldest and largest community of doulas.