Meet Alexandrea
Alex is an experienced and well-loved DTI (Doula Trainings International) certified birth and postpartum doula who has supported families for over 12 years. Alex values the relationship of the birthing team – your ob/midwife, your doula, your nurse, your partner/s, and you! She is rigorously committed to informed consent and wants to make sure that your voice is heard throughout your pregnancy and birth, whatever your choices are.
As a full-spectrum doula, Alex has supported families through loss, home birth, medicated and unmedicated hospital births, and c-sections. Alex brings an abiding sense of humor to pregnancy and birth, and her clients feel seen, valued, and supported. Birthing people and their families enjoy Alex’s quiet presence and her understanding of positioning and birth anatomy. With Alex, they feel like they have both a professional on their team and a friend on their side. Alex prioritizes slowing down and making room for the birthing person to hear their own voice and find their own way while knowing, whatever comes up, they will not be alone. She holds deep personal respect for the ritual of birth preparation, birth, and postpartum. Alex has trained with toLabor, Gena Kirby (rebozo training), the American Academy of Pediatricians, Red Cross CPR, and Doula Trainings International.
Alex shares five children ages 7 to 20 and a massive Bernadoodle with her spouse Abi (they/them). When not supporting births, Alex is pursuing a second degree in Biology. For fun, Alex reads (young adult fiction is a favorite), tries to master urban gardening on her city balcony, and talks about anatomy.
Emily
3/2024 via Google
Tessa
1/2024 via Yelp & Google
“Annamarie and her team are fantastic! Annamarie ensured we had a thoughtful intake and matched us with a doula that fit our preferences and birthing needs. I had the privilege of having Alex as my doula, and I can confidently say that she is an exceptional guide through the beautiful chaos of childbirth. From the moment we met, Alex exuded warmth, understanding, and a genuine commitment to supporting me in the way that felt right for me. One of Alex’s standout qualities is her active and non-judgmental support. I never felt pressured to conform to a particular birth plan or make decisions that weren’t aligned with my values. Alex listened attentively, helping me navigate the intricacies of crafting a birth plan that genuinely reflected my desires. Throughout the entire journey, Alex demonstrated an extraordinary level of emotional support. She seemed to have an innate ability to sense the emotional needs of both parents, providing comforting words exactly when they were needed – whether it was during the anxious anticipation before birth, the intensity of labor, or the challenging days of postpartum adjustment. What sets Alex apart is her unwavering availability. There were moments of complications, to which Alex was consistently responsive, offering reassurance and guidance. Knowing she was just a call or message away provided an invaluable sense of security during an emotionally charged and unpredictable time. Alex faces the challenging moments head-on. Her deep understanding of the complexities of pregnancy and labor and wealth of knowledge made her an indispensable partner on this journey. She didn’t shy away from difficult conversations or situations, providing a steadfast presence when needed. In our discussions, Alex emphasized the importance of informed consent. This wasn’t just a checkbox for her; it was a fundamental aspect of her doula practice. Alex served as a strong advocate, ensuring that I confidently made informed decisions. Her commitment to empowering me with knowledge gave me the strength to navigate the twists and turns of childbirth with a sense of agency. Alex is not just a doula; she is a compassionate, knowledgeable, and empowering presence throughout the entire childbirth experience. If you’re looking for someone who actively listens, supports without judgment, and walks beside you every step of the way, Alex is the doula you’ve been searching for. I am forever grateful for her role in making my childbirth journey an empowering and positive experience.”
Barb D.
3/2023 via Yelp
“Short version: I am so, so, so happy with our experience with Chicago Family Doulas and our specific Doula (Alexandrea) — I cannot imagine going through pregnancy/labor/postpartum without her support and would highly recommend her as well as Chicago Family Doulas
Chicago Family Doulas: The perfect blend of professional and warm, I loved working with their admins. The onboarding/interviewing process was easy and they were great with communication (quick to respond and shared helpful information). I interviewed two doulas — not because I disliked my first option, but because I’d never gone through this process before and my husband and I both thought it was a good idea to interview with at least two as a point of comparison and to feel sure about our choice. Anna didn’t make me needy and understood my wish to be thorough. I also really liked that they checked in via text along the way — it felt like a very personalized experience.
Alexandrea: I cannot recommend Alexandrea enough — I honestly struggle to put into words how much her guidance and support meant to me throughout my pregnancy through to postpartum. This was my first pregnancy so I had a LOT of questions along the way. Alex was not only thoughtful in her responses, but also timely. While I know she had a full workload of other clients, her feedback always felt personalized and considerate of my needs/preferences. I really appreciated that she wouldn’t lead with an opinion, but rather would share information/research so that I could ultimately make the decision about my care. I felt empowered and never judged. She helped me feel as ready as I possibly could be leading up to my labor, and when the day came she showed up like a super hero. Her calming presence and ability to read the room (coaching when I needed it, laughter when I needed it, etc.) were invaluable throughout the labor. She also helped my husband be the best partner/support he could be and he felt like he could truly be present because she took a lot of the worry/stress out of the situation. My labor wasn’t what I had pictured, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way — it felt true to me and I don’t think it would have been as positive/successful if it wasn’t for Alex ‘s support and guidance. Lastly, her postpartum visit was amazing and exactly what my family needed. She was super flexible (we needed to reschedule initially). She’s even continued to check in since that visit which has been really nice. Alex was the perfect fit for our needs — I am so, so glad the team at Chicago Family Doulas matched us with her.“
Kristin
9/2022
“Chicago Family Doula is just amazing! If it wasn’t for our doula Alexandrea I would have not been able to get through my labor! She was there every step of the way! From calling her and telling her I was in labor, to sending her pictures at home and for being their for my son’s birth and afterwards! Alexandrea is like family now and I told my husband she has to be there for all my births! Chicago Family Doula does such a wonderful job matching up doulas with couples! They come to your house to get you ready for birth and they come and do a at home visit when you’re back from the hospital with baby! Thank you again Chicago Family Doula for a wonderful labor experience! I was never scared with Alexandrea being by my side! If I could give 10 out of 10 stars I would!!”
Katherine
8/2022
“If I could give our Doula Alex ten stars out of five I would do it. I am in awe of the stamina, the care, the knowledge, and the emotional support Alex gave to my wife and I over the course of our 30 hour labor. We felt so cared for and I felt so empowered to help my partner through her toughest moments. As a queer couple, Alex was always affirming and supportive.”
Andrea
2/2021
“Alex was a doula at the birth of my youngest daughter, 7 years ago. I will never forget what a comforting presence she has. During my labor, Alex tended to me intuitively. She played music for me, and cared for me in a nurturing way. When the younger of my 2 girls came into the bathroom when I was in the transition phase of labor, Alex tended to her too, and helped her to feel calm. I have pictures of her with my girls at that birth and fond memories. Alex is nurturing and intuitive, with a calming presence. It was a blessing to have her on my birth team.”
Melissa
6/2022
“I could never thank Alex enough for her role as my doula. I would recommend her to anyone. From the start, she was kind, knowledgeable, and supportive. While pregnant, I had no doubt she would be there for me the minute I needed her. She would check in just the right amount and she always knew the right things to say to keep me positive and excited. During my labor, she was my rock. She stood by me through the many hours of labor with her encouraging words and dedication. She worked so hard at keeping me as comfortable as possible. I am sure she was hungry and exhausted but never let me know it. Having Alex at my birth was by far the best choice I made for my birth.”