Margarita Valbuena

Margarita is a bilingual and bicultural child development specialist. She has been supporting families of young children for over 15 years both in the classroom and in home visit settings. After a career in early childhood education and having her own two children, Margarita became a birth doula in 2014.

Margarita’s practical and theoretical knowledge about all things baby-related, coupled with compassion and a healthy dose of humor, make her a valuable resource to new families navigating the ins and outs of early parenhood. You can find her in our community center in Logan Square on Tuesdays and Thursdays facilitating support groups & playgroups.

Cait Sobotka

Cait Sobotka, former owner of Chicago Birth & Baby, has supported hundreds of families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum time since she began working as a birth doula in 2013.

As a mother and former nanny, Cait understands the needs of new parents and strives to make the transition to parenthood smooth and positive experience. Equally motivated as she is easy going, Cait is highly attuned to your family’s needs and can help you make a plan. Cait manages our postpartum support services.

Lauren Franzen

Lauren found a way to merge her education in social work and her love for birth work. After being inspired by Ina May Gaskin, and with the encouragement of a student midwife friend, she began her certification process. Lauren has worked as a doula & social worker for teen moms, as a volunteer doula, and also as a private, independent doula. She feels honored to be able to witness the immense uniqueness of each mama’s journey to meeting her baby.

Rachel Crompton

Rachel’s love for children and dedication to supporting others, led her to pursue a career as a postpartum doula. After working in an early learning center with infants from 6 weeks to 15 months old, she received my Master’s in Child Development with a specialization in Infancy. While in school she worked with young moms providing them with developmental information through home visits and community resources in addition to co-facilitating a newborn group alongside a lactation support group. It quickly became her passion to support parents in the ways the need most to allow their families to thrive. During this time, she also received my certification as an Infant Massage Educator, to help facilitate parent-baby bonding.

Lindsay Ambrose

Lindsay’s naturally calm and nurturing demeanor brings peace to the families she works with. She is a mother of 3 children and knew working with moms and children is what her soul was calling her to do.

She feels so grateful for the opportunity to join families during the challenging yet beautiful time of bringing home a new baby. She is excited to work with your family and give you the non judgmental, nurturing support, resources, and tools to create the motherhood experience you desire.

Jennie Meyer

As a former elementary school educator and current LLL breastfeeding support leader, Jennie is highly experienced in working with new mothers and their families to meet the needs of their little ones. She lives on the NW side of Chicago with her husband and two children. Jennie enjoys watching her children learn and grow, and spending time with friends over a cup of tea (or alone with a good book!)

Tara Keller

Tara grew up as the middle child in a large family and remembers her own twin brothers being born. Taking care of babies and their families has always been a natural fit for her and her passion for working with new families was ignited after becoming a mother herself. Tara brings a sense of calm to the uncertainties of life with a new baby. She lives the western suburbs and enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.