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Specialty: Postpartum Care Overnight Newborn

Karina Rodrigues Pascoal

Karina was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, where her early exposure to caregiving began as the oldest of three sisters and daughter of a career nanny. After relocating to the U.S. and becoming a parent herself, she discovered firsthand how transformative early support can be in the parenting journey. That experience inspired her to pursue work as a doula—work she calls “a calling of the heart.”

Currently pursuing a degree in psychology, Karina is deeply interested in the emotional side of postpartum care. She brings a gentle, grounded presence to the families she supports, with a belief that the right care in early parenthood can ease emotional distress and create lasting change.

Outside of her doula work, Karina finds calm through playing piano, walking in nature, and collecting vintage treasures.

Amy DeLorenzo

Amy’s passion for caregiving started early and grew through years of supporting families as a babysitter, nanny, and now as a postpartum doula. Her journey into birth work deepened as she watched close friends navigate the early days of parenting—experiences that inspired her to become a steady, supportive presence for others during that tender time.

Amy brings a grounding, calm energy to her work, supported by a personal mindfulness practice and bi-weekly work with a meditation coach. She is committed to holding space for new parents with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for the transformative experience of bringing home a baby.

Before becoming a doula, Amy worked in sustainability and volunteer coordination across Chicago, with a strong focus on food systems and community connection. She’s a proud aunt, avid reader, puzzle-lover, and passionate home cook who believes deeply in the power of nourishment—both emotional and physical.

Sarah Munoz

Sarah is a certified birth doula with over 3 years of experience providing emotional, physical, and informational support to families during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

As a calm and nurturing presence, Sarah empowers mothers through evidence-based education and continuous compassionate care. Her strengths lie in creating a safe, comfortable birth environment and facilitating open communication between families and medical staff. She has attended over 50 births and is highly skilled in pain management techniques like breathing exercises, massage, and labor positioning. 

Clients benefit from Sarah’s background in yoga and movement as well as mindfulness and meditation. She brings a wealth of knowledge of chronic pain and pregnancy, pelvic floor physical therapies, symphysis pubis dysfunction, and postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation. 

Sarah is truly passionate about advocating for her clients’ birthing wishes while providing reassurance every step of the way. With a depth of knowledge and a warm, patient demeanor, she helps new parents embrace the birthing journey with confidence, support families through infertility treatments, and hold space for those suffering from pregnancy and childbirth trauma.

Ebony Johnson

Ebony is a certified Postpartum Doula at Birthways, Inc., providing daytime and overnight support for families in the greater Chicago area. Ebony is a certified full-spectrum traditional birth worker with intention to become a midwife.

With kindness and a nonjudgmental approach, Ebony is dedicated to providing personalized, holistic postpartum care that is focused on both maternal and infant wellbeing. Ebony is happy to share her expertise in West African traditional belly binding, baby soothing techniques, sleep training, self care, meal preparation, and more!

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I wholeheartedly believe that the work of a birth worker is truly divine. It brings me immense joy to witness the incredible transformations and the abundant love that surrounds the miracle of birth.

Emylee Shultz

Emylee is a Labor Support and Postpartum Doula at Birthways, Inc., serving the greater Chicago area. Her passion for doula work was truly awoken from her own pregnancy and postpartum experience. She believes the new normal for postpartum families includes support, resources, and rest, and she is honored to be part of that reality.

Emylee supports families during this transitional phase in their lives, helping to lay the postpartum foundation that leads to better outcomes for the entire family unit. In pursuit of obtaining her BSN, Emylee continues supporting local families during the postpartum period with a holistic approach to care.

Joy Yama

Joy is a Labor Support and Postpartum Doula at Birthways, Inc., serving the greater Chicago area. Joy has extensive experience with infants and children, as well as supporting mothers through labor and the postpartum period. Joy is passionate about coaching women through labor and supporting mothers learn to breastfeed, care for their body after birth, and build confidence in caring for their newborn.

In addition to doula work, Joy owns a licensed home daycare business. Joy is honored to be a listening ear, wealth of knowledge for new parents, and an overall support during the labor and postpartum period. Doula work brings Joy peace and happiness, as she understands the love and help needed through the journey of early parenthood.

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It is my passion to help mothers feel safe, loved, and most of all to get through that tough time before and after labor. It is my passion to be there for families that need my help and to respect their home culture, doing what they need to feel safe, confident, and rested to get their body and mind back.

Francine Kazmierski

Francine is a Labor Support and overnight Postpartum Doula at Birthways, Inc., serving the greater Chicago area. Francine specializes in working with twins, and strives to help moms feel supported and educated through their postpartum journey.

In addition to her work as a doula, Francine is currently pursuing her nursing degree to work in the NICU. She enjoys providing her knowledge to families so that they feel educated, empowered, and confident as parents.

Maia Díaz

Maia is a certified Birth Doula and Breastfeeding counselor at Birthways, serving the Chicago area. Maia has a love of infant care and passion for child rearing. She has witnessed first hand the profound physical, mental and emotional changes that take place for the mother and family during the postpartum period.

Her experience giving birth to her own daughter in late 2022 only intensified her passion, and she feels a profound connection to, respect for, and obligation to support all birthing people every step of their journey.

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My passion for labor support comes from a place of absolute wonderment and awe at what our bodies are capable of, and my belief that pregnancy and childbirth can and should be an incredibly empowering experience. Whether via c-section, induction, medicated, unmedicated, no two birthing experiences will be exactly the same, and at the end of the day, to help bring babies into the world and empower birthing people to do so confidently is both a privilege and an honor.

Akiwele Burayidi

Aki serves the Chicago area as a certified labor support and postpartum doula at Birthways, while also being a certified childbirth educator and yoga instructor. Aki is passionate about maternal health, and has a unique ability to keep people calm and make people feel cared for, even in stressful situations.

In addition to her birth work, Aki is a certified yoga instructor who teaches classes weekly. Her personal yoga practice has taught her so much about mindfulness and somatic awareness. These give her a unique perspective on coaching people through their births and helping birthing people and their partners to deepen connection to their own bodies and needs during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum time.

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My intention is to support people through the perinatal period as they grieve, celebrate, endure, and love. I hope to be one part of a community that uplifts each other to be the best version of ourselves possible, especially in the turbulence of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Chanel Washington

Chanel is a Labor Support and Postpartum Doula at Birthways, Inc., serving the greater Chicago area. Chanel has supported over 400 births in the past 5 years, and is currently a student midwife. Chanel loves meeting families from different backgrounds, and enjoys learning from each one.

As she deepens her calling in this work, Chanel strives to advocate for all her clients, and works to strengthen BIPOC communities in their bodies and births. Chanel understands the importance of unconditional support and encouragement during what can be an emotional and scary time. She recognizes that teaming with the right energies and professionals makes all the difference for you and your baby.

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The mental and emotional support I received during, before, and after birth were more than she guaranteed and truly made my time with her unforgettable. –R Nails

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