Pregnancy & Birth
Birthways, Inc.
Pregnancy & Birth · Chicago, IL
Compiled from public sourcesPractice / clinic
About
Compiled from public web sources — unverified until claimed; please confirm details directly with the provider.
Focus
birth doula postpartum doula lactation childbirth education
Area
Chicago, IL
Description
A long-established Chicago doula service offering labor support, postpartum care, breastfeeding help, and childbirth education through a team of doulas and lactation specialists.
Website
What this pregnancy & birth offers
Summarized from their website — verify details directly with the pregnancy & birth.
Birthways, Inc. is a Chicago-based doula and childbirth education organization founded in 1997, providing labor support, postpartum care, lactation consulting, and childbirth education to families throughout the greater Chicago area.
Leadership
Karen Laing — Founder
Doulas & birth workers
Leah Lemelin — Community Leader
Ilana Kahn — International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Registered Nurse
Mary Sommers — Instructor, Certified Professional Midwife
Populations served
Pregnant individuals Families with newborns High-risk pregnancies Multiples (twins, etc.) Adoptive families Surrogacy families Individuals experiencing postpartum depression or perinatal mood disorders
Services
Labor doula support Postpartum doula support Lactation consulting (IBCLC) Breastfeeding support Childbirth education classes Newborn care Night and day postpartum assistance Sleep support Sibling care during labor Light housekeeping Meal preparation Errand assistance
Programs
Labor Support Program Postpartum Care Program Childbirth Education Classes Lactation & Breastfeeding Support Full-Spectrum Doula Support
Founded
1997
Accreditations & approvals
IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) on staff DONA-certified doulas on staff Staff trained to national postpartum doula certification standards (co-developed by founder)
Phone
888.506.0607
Highlights
22+ doulas and lactation specialists on staff; described as the most experienced doula service provider in the Chicago area; hires qualified employees rather than contractors; Karen Laing helped establish the first national postpartum doula certification standards as an early board member of the National Association of Postpartum Care Services; serves nine major Chicago-area healthcare systems including Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and University of Chicago Medicine.
Approach
Birthways operates under a PACT model — Presence (compassionate one-on-one relationships), Awareness (evidence-based care), Communication (coordinated care around client priorities and values), and Trustworthiness (integrity-centered service delivery).
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What to look for in a pregnancy & birth
- Birth vs. postpartum doula — many families want both
- Certification (DONA, CPM, or CNM for midwives)
- Birth-center or hospital affiliation
- Experience with high-risk (MFM) if you need it
- Insurance/Medicaid coverage or sliding scale