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Childbirth Education

Holistic Family Doulas is proud to offer mothers and families affordable and accessible options for childbirth education.  Throughout the year, we offer group workshops in the western suburbs of Chicago so we can prepare you for both before and after birth. In addition we can customize individual options in the comfort of your own home.

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Holistic Childbirth Immersion

We are offering an all new experience for childbirth education: Holistic Childbirth Immersion! Including the Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spirtual aspects of birth. Our first class will be  July 29th from 10:00 to 5:00. Please click the box below for more information! 

More Info, Please!

Birthworks Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care Class

2 Part Group Class

Take a deep dive into accessing your inner knowledge of how to give birth and your transition to postpartum in this 2-part childbirth class. You’ll learn from doula and childbirth educator, Jenny Showalter-Miller, as she share information to prepare you for your big day, leaving you confident and ready to make decisions for your birth. Make new parent friends!

Here are some of the topics:

  • Understand how your baby, body, and hormones are working for you
  • Trust that your body was meant to do this through an integrated approach of mind, body, and spirit
  • Learn extremely helpful exercises to do daily in pregnancy
  • Practice hands-on coping/comfort mechanisms to work through labor waves
  • Learn all the stages of labor and what to expect
  • Practice meditation and breathing
  • Bond over similar fears and how we can overcome them
  • How to navigate the hospital and birth centers through informed consent
  • Natural and Medical Pain relief options
  • Breastfeeding
  • Postpartum Preparation
  • Newborn Care

Cost: $295 per couple/$270 per couple for birth clients
Next Workshop:
Wednesday, October 11th 6:30-9:00pm AND Friday, October 13th 5:30-8:30pm Hanson Family Chiropractic, Batavia, IL

Register Now!

Group Class
Let’s Talk about Birth, Baby!
This 4.5 hour workshop is designed specifically for the mother and her labor partner to help them enjoy their pregnancy and prepare for labor and delivery.

Through education, discussion and hands-on demonstration, parents will gain confidence about what to expect and how to cope with the birthing process. Topics include: Pregnancy exercises and stretches for comfort and optimal fetal positioning, common pregnancy symptoms and what to do, stages of labor and what to expect at each stage; when to go to the hospital, use of tools like a Rebozo and birthing ball for comfort positioning. meditation and affirmations, bag of tricks (aromatherapy, hot and cold, etc,) , communication skills and positioning for delivery.

Cost: $200 per couple
Next Workshop:
July 21st, 2023 12-4:30 PM, St. Charles, IL

Customized Childbirth Class

4 hour, private, in-person workshop
Are you looking for a class on childbirth that is comprehensive and conveniently fits in your schedule? Parents love this option because they can fill in gaps that may have been missing from their own education or classes and you name the time, place, and topics we discuss.
Holistic Family Doulas will customize a childbirth education class based on your needs and interests. You will be given a list of topics to rank and a course will be put together just for you.

During these courses, parents will receive education on the pregnant body, physiology and comfort measures, informed consent, how to have a physiologic birth, hands-on work that go over positions and comfort techniques for labor, breastfeeding tips, birth hormones, creating birth affirmations, and postpartum and newborn care.
This class is conducted either in downtown St. Charles or in the comfort of your own home.

Cost: $225 per couple

Your Safety is Our Priority

We host CDC compliant workshops; our class size is super limited, masks are required, we provide frequent sanitizing, and the class is held outdoors (weather permitting). Ready to enroll in a childbirth education class?

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It Takes a Village

In previous eras, pregnant women and their families had the support of their entire communities. Today, we are often geographically separated from our families and disconnected from our communities. At Holistic Family Doulas we want to create a bridge between the conveniences of the modern world and the interpersonal connections of forgotten eras. We seek to provide a safe, relaxing, and nurturing experience for women and their families. Whether you’re pregnant and preparing for birth or navigating the challenges of infertility, we’ll be your village.

Meet Your Doula

Testimonials

“Lara and Cote came to our apartment for a beautiful postpartum ceremony. I felt so nourished by the belly binding, reiki, and time for reflection with my husband--it felt like a perfect way to close out the birth of my daughter!”
Laura Geller
“Working with Lara was the best decision I made for my delivery. As last minute as I was(SUPER LAST MINUTE), she made it all work with me. I'm so happy she was there, as soon as she was, I felt more at ease and more comfortable. I turned to her for knowledge and solace. It was my first baby and I had no idea what to expect and my anxiety was through the roof. She was extremely patient with me and was there every step of the way. She made sure to look out for my best interests in labor and delivery, my golden hour with my babe and helped me with latching and breastfeeding. After delivery, she came to check on us and always sent a text every now and again to see how we were and if we needed anything. I've recommended her to family and friends whenever anyone has asked for a doula. And I will continue to recommend her and her business to anyone! Thank you to this wonderful practice!”
Nicolette Gleespen
“Go to their workshops. I learned so much from Cote and Lara. They truly carry a wealth of knowledge between them and have a genuine passion for supporting families. The postpartum workshop I attended was great because it was specific, covered important topics, and gave us hands-on activities for great postpartum care. Looking forward to future workshops by Holistic Family Doulas!”
Isabel Gonzalez-Smith
“If you’re looking for a doula, get Lara!! It’s almost a month after my delivery and I still think about my experience and her help and support throughout my pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. I had a successful VBac solely because of her. She helped me prepare beforehand mentally and physically. Her role was monumental in not only mentally supporting me but also respecting and following through with my wishes for the birth until the end. This had become a bit of a challenge because on the day of the delivery I had a precipitous labor and had to call 911. Nothing was the same, not even the hospital and Lara made it just in time to be with me to advocate for me and help me with the pain (no epidural). Lara went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable, all my needs were met and I was supported in every way possible which would have been impossible had she not been there and I’m not exaggerating. No one can replace a doula, I wish I knew this for my first birth. Thanks for the successful Vbac Lara!!”
Hapden Fam
“I can't recommend Lara enough—if you’re looking for a doula, get Lara!! It’s almost a month after my delivery and I still think about my experience and her help and support throughout my pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. I had a successful VBac solely because of her. She helped me prepare beforehand, both mentally and physically. Her role was monumental in not only mentally supporting me but also respecting and following through with my wishes for the birth until the end. Lara went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable, all my needs were met and I was supported in every way possible which would have been impossible had she not been there. No one can replace a doula, I wish I knew this for my first birth. Thanks for the successful Vbac Lara!!”
Ritu via Doulamatch
“Lara is a fantastic doula, I am so thankful we worked with her during the birth of my daughter. She was extremely helpful throughout the third trimester, being available to answer all my questions, giving helpful suggestions and insight as we made decisions throughout the pregnancy. I can't imagine getting through such a long labor without her being present. She was a huge advocate and support physically and emotionally for me throughout the process. I would absolutely recommend her!”
Michelle Sidney
“My husband and I are indebted to Lara and Cote for the love and support they gave us before, during and after the birth of our son. Lara led us through a very thorough prenatal session where we learned relaxation and pain management techniques for those later, uncomfortable weeks of pregnancy as well as for during labor. And she was our sense of calm during my 28-hour labor. I was able to labor at home for 17 hours. Their line of holistic products (tea, lotion, balm, etc) were nice additions for extra relief both before and after birth. It’s so nice to have trusted guidance from experts during such a sacred time.”
Kristen Guzzardo
“Lara was such a wonderful helper during my labor with my daughter. She was a wonderful advocate for me and provided much needed support and encouragement. I'm so grateful that we had her as part of my delivery support team.”
Jessica Mojica
“Lara and Cote are the best... their calming energy was the first thing my husband and I noticed and appreciated when we met for our consultation. And I would say that was the constant theme throughout prenatal, birth and postnatal support with Lara... she brought so much calm to an otherwise stressful and chaotic situation. Lara took us through a thorough prenatal session, which was amazing as a first time mom who hadn't read every book out there. And I was able to labor at home for 17 hours with Lara's help with pain management techniques and tactics to progress the labor. They have a line of holistic products that brought a lot of calm and relief before and after pregnancy. I trust these women to support my and my child's well-being.”
Kristen G.
“These women are so fantastic and nurturing, you'd be hard pressed to find better doulas and better post-care anywhere in the west suburbs. Lara and Cote are amazing.”
Erin D.

Our Gift to You

Affirmations for Fertility, Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum. Feel better with our curated collection of affirmations to help ease pain, calm stress, and promote wellness. Every once in a while, you’ll also receive helpful insight and information to help you along your motherhood journey.