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Specialty: Postpartum Care Overnight Newborn

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

Rhona Moore

Rhona is a certified Labor Support and Postpartum Doula at Birthways, Inc., serving the greater Chicago area. With over a decade of community-based doula work, Rhona has a deep and expansive source of knowledge, skills, and physical tools to offer expectant and new parents along their journey.

Committed to staying current and well-informed on the changing landscape of maternity care, Rhona has pursued training through various organizations. She is an incredible resource, and will have thoughtful and compassionate responses to your questions.

With her background as a massage therapist and infant massage instructor, Rhona has many physical and hands-on tools for comfort measures in labor, postpartum recovery comfort, and bonding with the baby. She also loves to cook for and with families, sharing a passion for simple, nutritious and delicious meals.

The combination of her personal experiences of motherhood, grand-motherhood, and professional work have supported Rhona’s warm, calming, and reassuring presence as a doula.

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I worked with Rhona prenatally and we talked a lot about what is going on with me and my baby. During the birth, she gave me lots of positions to try and massage. She is the very reason I didn’t get an epidural and I couldn’t have done it without her. She helped me make a massaging ball and helped my partner and godmother massage me during the whole birth. I had to be induced and didn’t know what to expect. I felt so confident having her there. She explained things, got me out of bed, and helped me create a birthing plan and talk to the doctor. Rhona was a godsend after the birth with all her knowledge.

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