Hi, I’m Elly Hernandez.

I am a Birth Doula and Lactation Specialist serving the Chicagoland area. I have three kiddos ages 3, 6, and 7, and I have been married to my wonderful husband Eli for 8 years. I am a native Chicagoan and call the Northwest side of the city my home. I have a Bachelor’s in Health Science, hold two Birth Doula certifications from accredited certifying organizations, and have received specialized training in Lactation, Spinning Babies, and High-risk Pregnancy Support. Additionally, I am CPR certified and an Evidence-Based Birth® Professional.

With hundreds of hours of prenatal, birth, and postpartum support I have walked alongside over 100 families throughout the Chicagoland area preparing them for their birth and postpartum experience. My experience spans a wide variety of birth settings and situations. This includes unmedicated home births, medicated hospital births, elective inductions, medically necessary inductions (for preE, choleostasis, GDM, IUGR, etc.), planned cesareans, VBACs, and high-risk pregnancy births. I frequently attends births at Prentice, Evanston, Rush, Hinsdale, Masonic, and many other Chicago hospitals.

My heart is to meet each family exactly where they are, offering personalized resources, thoughtful guidance, and steady support through every ebb and flow of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I bring warmth, compassion, and evidence-based care to every family I serve.

When I’m not at a birth or meeting families for a prenatal visit, you can find me outdoors bopping around at the nearest forest preserve with my troops, visiting local farmers market on a Sunday morning, rollerskating not-so-gracefully around my neighborhood, or cozying up with a good read.

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My Approach

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My Approach *

What a fun day yesterday at the Spinning Babies Workshop in Naperville! It was also an extra bonus to be able to connect with some other doulas :)
Feeding yourself postpartum doesn’t have to be daunting or hard. Meal prep can look like home cooked meals in the freezer, or it can look like family and friends putting together a meal train. The main goal being that you are FED and have one l
Birth Tips: induction edition 💫 Birth looks different for everyone. Let’s get you ready for the possibility of an induction whether it be planned, unplanned, or elective. There’s still lots that you can do to make it your own. #inducti
Life lately 🤓 yall, I work A LOT. The last couple of months I’ve made more space for more fun and more rest and more time with family, and it’s been so worth it.
Some barriers to father-involvement in pregnancy and postpartum include but are not limited to: - competing commitments - workplace inflexibilities - healthcare systems focused on mothers That last one is huge because it largely alienates mothers a
Happy world breastfeeding week to all the moms that have used their body to feed their babies. It’s hard work! Let’s celebrate the climb out of the trenches (because while this is so natural it doesn’t come naturally to all of us, a
The last two slides are my favorite 😏 To provide the WHY to the 5 preferences I listed here will show you that these preferences are truly tailored to ME and my own history and needs. So let’s crack into them: 1. Laboring at home for as lon
Always grateful for being allowed into such vulnerable and raw moments in people’s lives 🫶🏼 #birth #birthdoula #doulasupport #chicagodoula #chicagobirth #pregnancy #postpartum #motherhood #maternalhealth

Honoring the ways birth has always been supported, while providing the knowledge and tools you need today.

From the moment you hire me, you’ll feel supported in a way that honors time-tested traditions while keeping you informed with today’s best research. You’ll have my call and text support whenever questions come up, along with weekly to bi-weekly check-ins to help you feel confident and cared for as you prepare for birth. I’ll share resources and handouts tailored to you -like natural comfort techniques, partner support tips, and evidence-based information about your options- so you can approach birth with both wisdom and knowledge.

At our prenatal visit, we’ll talk through your hopes and preferences, practice hands-on comfort measures, and discuss ways to make birth feel intentional and empowering for you and your partner.

When it’s time to welcome your baby, I’ll be by your side providing continuous support- using tools like massage, position changes, and breathing techniques, while also helping you navigate your options based on current best practices.

After birth, I’ll visit to support feeding, recovery, and the early transition into parenthood. Six weeks later, I’ll check in again for a mental health touchpoint- because healing and adjustment take time, and you deserve continued care long after birth.