There are many misconceptions about the roles of midwives and doulas in regards to birth. 

Doulas and midwives play VERY different roles and MANY who are under the care of midwives choose to also have the support of a doula.  

Both midwives and doctors may encourage families to reach out to a doula. Especially when families are hoping to have an un-medicated birth and/or trying to avoid medical interventions.  That being said, doulas do support families with all of their birth choices including epidural and cesarean births.

Doulas are certified professionals but, we are not medically trained healthcare professionals. Although we may understand medical options and choices we are not able to provide medical treatment. Using evidence based research we help families understand their choices both before birth and during birth.  We also provide emotional and physical support and do our very best to keep families calm and comfortable throughout labor and birth. 

Myth: Midwifery is just for home births.

Truth: actually 94.9% of all CNM-attended births occur in hospitals.*

A Certified Nurse-Midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in women’s reproductive health and childbirth. In addition to attending births, they perform annual exams, give counseling, and write prescriptions.  Approximately 82% of CNMs hold master’s degrees and 4.8% have doctoral degrees*. Midwives can support the average birthing person that is low risk, but when a person becomes high risk the CNM will work closely with an OBGYN. They are often covered by insurance. You can call each group to see which insurance they accept and which doctor they bill under. In the Chicagoland area we have many options for midwives. You can give birth in the hospital, at a birth center, or at home.  Check out our list below of the many beloved midwives that we have worked with.

Chicago Based Midwife Groups

• Midwives at Swedish Covenant Health (Lincoln Square)
• St. Joseph Midwives (Lincoln Park)
• University of Chicago (Hyde Park)
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Midwifery (Lakeview)
• Little Company of Mary Midwives (Evergreen Park)
• Northwestern Medical Group (Streeterville)
• University of Illinois -Chicago Midwifery

Oak Park Based Midwife Groups

• West Suburban Midwife Associates, Ltd (Oak Park)
• PCC Community Wellness Center & Free Standing Birth Center at PCC (Berwyn)

Western Suburbs Based Midwife Groups

• OMG Women’s Healthcare (Hinsdale)
• Edward-Elmhurst Nurse Midwives (Elmhurst)
• Rush Copely (Aurora)

North Shore Based Midwife Groups

• North Shore Associates in Gynecology and Obstetrics (Glenview, Wilmette, Evanston)
• Midwest Center for Women’s Healthcare (Glenview, Evanston and Vernon Hills)

Home Birth Option Midwife Groups

• Gentle Birth Care  Oak Park, Wheaton and  Chicago(Ravenswood) offices
• Debbie Boucher APN CNM Childbirth the Way Nature Intended
• Isabelle Guillou, CNM My Mindful Birth, LLC
• Sarah Simmons CNM New Life Midwifery
• Midwives Care serving Illinois and Northwestern Indiana

*Statistics taken from nursepractionerschools.com