Empowered Birthwork Services - New Mother / New Baby Care

Services in a nutshell

Empowered Birthwork Services, LLC offers full-spectrum doula support to pregnant & newly postpartum parents in the Chicago area. We aim to provide clients with evidence-based, compassionate, non-assumptive & non-judgmental support.

More about us

We acknowledge the huge emotional & physical impact that pregnancy & birth has on a person or family, and are committed to providing dynamic support to families of all kinds. 

Empowered Birthwork Services aims to…​

  • Connect clients with relevant, evidence-based resources
  • Celebrate clients’ identity & autonomy
  • Provide culturally humble support to clients of all backgrounds
  • Expand doula accessibility for all
Postpartum Doula Support

Empowered offers compassionate, reliable support during the fourth trimester. We will work with you on scheduling & can customize a postpartum package to fit your family’s needs.

Postpartum support often includes:

  • Delivery recovery support
  • Infant feeding assistance (body or bottle feeding)
  • Meal or snack preparation
  • Dishes & kitchen cleanup
  • Bottle washing & sterilization
  • Sweeping or vacuuming
  • Sorting or organizing baby clothes & supplies
Our Team

TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen is a trained full-spectrum doula serving the Chicago area. She moved to Chicago in 2020 after earning her Master’s degree in economics, where she came across health economist Emily Oster’s book ‘Expecting Better, which documents the meaningful impact of continuous labor support for birthing people. She felt immediately drawn to birthwork, and began doula training after finishing graduate school.

Lauren is passionate about creating space for clients to express & process emotions, prioritizing personal autonomy & informed consent. She listens with an open mind and the goal of helping clients realize their true vision & confidence. Lauren is queer-identifying and loves working with clients of all identities & families of all structures.

Lauren has lived in six U.S. states and in her free time enjoys cuddling with her two tortoiseshell kitties, rollerblading on the lakefront trail, and tending to her indoor garden.

*Lauren is fully vaccinated & boosted against COVID-19*

Qualifications & Education:

DTI Full-Spectrum Doula Training, February 2021

Subject matter includes:​

  • Childbirth education
  • Body feeding support
  • Comfort measures & pain management
  • Navigating induction
  • Compassionate cesarean birth
  • Postpartum changes in the birthing person
  • Postpartum mood & anxiety disorders
  • Newborn behavior & care
  • Integrating baby into the family
  • Cycle awareness
  • Birth control options
  • Support through loss
  • Abortion support
  • Fertility support
  • Doulas as advocates
  • Cultural humility
  • Reproductive justice

​Chicago Volunteer Doula, August 2021

  • Birth & Postpartum Support training​
  • Birth Justice training

American Heart Association Basic Life Support Program, February 2022​

  • Infant, child & adult CPR/AED certifications

University of Chicago certificates

  • Labor preparation (September 2021)
  • Infant & child safety (October 2021)
  • Breastfeeding (February 2022)
Testimonials

Additional Locations
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