Meet Celena

“My family and I were so delighted to work with Chicago Family Doulas and could not have been more happy with the care and support we received. We had our second baby in April 2020, at the height of the stay-at-home order and constantly changing policies around visitors/birth support at hospitals. I initially hesitated, thinking we didn’t need a doula for a second birth because we knew what to expect but quickly was reminded by friends and family that every birth is different, and everyone including (often especially) partners benefits from doula support. We actually weren’t able to have our incredible doula Celena present at the birth because of the COVID restrictions in place at the time- but even so, we were so very grateful for her support during our whole pregnancy and post-partum journey and it was completely worth the investment. Our baby was breech and throughout the final few weeks of my pregnancy, Celena was able to provide helpful tips and recommendations, including a referral to a chiropractor to help try to flip the baby, and so many other resources. Ultimately, when it looked like we were going to have a scheduled C-section instead of the unmedicated birth we hoped for, Celena was incredibly reassuring and helped us prepare/normalize C-sections and we felt much more at peace with everything. Our hospital was also making constant policy updates related to the pandemic, and Celena and Chicago Family Doulas really worked closely with all their clients to help prepare for the unknown/constant changes with as much evidence and information to have an empowered and safe birth experience. In the end, I tested negative for COVID and we had a vaginal breech delivery which was amazing and surreal. Celena was the first person my husband called from the delivery room (and was available by text/FaceTime throughout the labor) to help process and talk through the experience so we didn’t forget anything. Celena was so warm and caring during our post-partum visit and again provided a range of tips including for managing our very gassy newborn and painful breastfeeding and addressing my diastasis recti (all things that were different with my second than with my first, another plug for doulas with every pregnancy!). We felt Celena’s commitment to us throughout the whole process, at a time when there was so much stress and uncertainty, and she rolled with everything with the exact right energy and deep expertise we needed. Also, Anna was wonderful to work with and I really appreciate the warm and caring knowledge sharing community Chicago Family Doulas are cultivating online. They are a wonderful group all around! We are truly and eternally grateful.”

“My husband and I have nothing but absolute WONDERFUL things to say about Chicago Family Doulas! We made the decision at about 30 weeks to transition our care to a midwife with the support of a doula. I originally spoke with Anna, who was so supportive and a great resource in making the transition to a birth experience that we were looking for. We were matched with Celena and she truly was our angel throughout this process. Her energy was calming, her knowledge was truly power and her love for what she does was apparent throughout our entire process. Our birth story may not have gone as perfectly planned (they never do), but our son arrived after 39 hours and Celena never left our side. We had our son during this unfortunate pandemic, but Celena continued to check in (as well as Anna) post delivery. I would highly suggest Chicago Family Doulas to anyone – the support is unlike anything we would have ever imagined and our family is truly blessed and grateful that Celena was able to be a part of this journey. We love you!!”

“I had my dream birth thanks to Anna, Celena, and Alex at Chicago Family Doulas! I was going through a few different agencies to find the best match for our family and as soon as I got off the phone with Anna I knew Chicago Family Doulas was for us. Anna listened to all of my needs and understood exactly what I was looking for. She matched us up with the amazing Celena and we are so grateful!!! Celena walked into our home for our initial meeting and we instantly felt comfortable with having an unmedicated birth. She has the most beautiful, comforting, and compassionate energy – we learned so much in that time from different positions to help with pain to handling our emotions. We went to Alex for a few weeks for hypnobirthing and learned how to manage the intensity of labor. Chicago Family Doulas is made up of incredible women who make you feel empowered to giving you birth. We are so so so grateful for the experience we had – and can’t wait to do it again 😀”

“I had such a wonderful experience with Chicago Family Doulas! Celena helped with educating me about my body and learning that I could indeed do a VBAC and she could support me in getting there. She taught me a lot about how my body works in terms of baby positioning, and about natural methods to bring on childbirth. She labored with me for large parts of the day and helped distract me the whole time from the pain of the contractions. Her support and encouragement at the hospital being a calm presence during delivery was so calming! I ended up getting my unmedicated VBAC and felt in control of my body and experience the whole time, which is the opposite of what happened with my first pregnancy. I will be forever grateful for her support and care. CFD is lovely and everyone I worked with was delightful. I recommend to everyone to work with a doula now and would in a heartbeat recommend CFD!”

“My husband and I recently experienced the birth of our daughter  in January 2019. As this was our first child, we were both nervous about our birthing experience and wanted good outcomes for baby’s health and safe delivery. I was also nervous about the potential of pain during labor and delivery. Prior to my daughter’s birth, I researched that Doulas had been found to contribute to positive birth outcomes. I contacted Chicago Family Doulas and was connected to Celena. My husband and I knew that she was a good fit for our family and we hired her to be a part of our birthing experience. What I appreciated most about Celena’s advocacy was the fact that she encouraged us and reminded us of my strength as a mom and the value of my husband as my support partner. She reminded me to consider the birthing options that fit with my health and care plan. During labor, she helped coach me in natural pain management procedures, but was supportive if I chose to use medication. I felt so empowered in those moments. Also, the postpartum care we received from our doula was helpful too. I would recommend Celena and the use of a doula as a partner in the birthing care team.”

“Celena was the perfect match for me. I wanted to stick to the most natural pregnancy I could, and she was able to provide suggestions for herbs and remedies to try before resorting to pharmaceuticals – I found them so effective that I still use them today! I can’t imagine what my labor would’ve been like without Celena. Her massage with each contraction made the pain I was having in my back and hips much more bearable. She gently advocated for me when I had difficulty making decisions and couldn’t speak up for myself. Her calm demeanor and deep perception of the birth process helped to remove many of my doubts and fears. This also helped me to process my birth experience after I got home. She made sure to follow up with me and provided the insight I was looking for.”

“Celena was incredibly knowledgeable in all things birth and baby! She would answer all my text messages promptly, no matter how ridiculous my questions. We had a few meet ups before I delivered, which was great because I got to know her even better and connect with her before my labor and delivery. On the day-of she came over right when I needed her and helped make my labor smooth as possible. She calmed me and helped with my labor pains with her AMAZING massage. I am not one for massage normally, but for an unmedicated labor it SUPER helped! The other thing I loved, is she did not overshadow the experience with my husband. Once concern I had was how intimate this moment would be for my husband and I, but she made the experience better and was there for both me and him.”

“CFD was amazing to work with! I had interviewed a couple of doulas in the area and when I spoke to Anna, I just knew it was a good fit. She is a very warm and compassionate person and we were lucky to be matched with Celena who is a rockstar doula. My husband and I felt comfortable with her from our first meeting. She has a lot of experience as a doula and is very knowledgeable. She helped me with my diet, supplements and even recommended herbs. CFD took me on as a client at 7 weeks and Celena was always there for me through the whole pregnancy. She was a blessing to have at the birth. Celena was comforting and calm through it all and put me at ease through the labor and delivery. I couldn’t imagine the birth without her and if we choose to have more kids I would definitely want her to be my doula again. Also, she encapsulated my placenta to help with post-partem. The process was easy and I think it made a huge difference with my recovery. All in all, I highly recommend CFD!”

“I’m not one to post reviews, but I thought I’d be doing future mamas a service by praising the work of Celena and Chicago Family Doulas. My acupuncturist had recommended CFD during a prenatal treatment. It was suggested that I try placenta encapsulation after my complaints of sever night sweats, mood swings and slight blues with my first daughter. I understood that the science wasn’t proven, but if this treatment eased the postpartum experience even slightly, it would be a blessing. Well, I’m a believer! My daughter is four-months old and I have been amazed at how different this experience has been. I have so much more energy, slept more soundly, and feel so much better…even while chasing my two-year old. The process was incredibly easy. Celena arrived to the hospital a few hours following delivery, my husband passed on the placenta for Celena to process, then she delivered the capsules the very next evening (at the hospital). Celena and the entire CFD team was incredibly responsive, and I would definitely recommend their services to future mamas!”

“I have only wonderful things to say about Celena and Chicago Family Doulas.  I decided quite late in my pregnancy, 7 months along, that I would like the extra support of a trained labor companion. Upon the first meeting with Celena from CFD, I completely felt a sense of relief, as I was getting quite apprehensive about giving birth.  Celena is so calming and comforting.  She eased all my fears and offered a wealth of knowledge.  Prior to D Day, she was immediate in her responses to me via text, answering any questions I had.  When the day finally arrived, she came to my home and helped me labor before we went to Hinsdale Hospital.  She was AMAZING!  Helping me in every way- breathing, massage, water therapy and moving around.  She gave me total physical and mental support.  She helped me all the way to the finish line, and even stayed after the birth to help with the first latch.  She kept in contact with me over the next few days/weeks.  She is an herbalist (BONUS!) and she encapsulated my placenta and brought me a healing salve, sitz bath, and red raspberry leaf tea for my post partum visit.  If you are unsure if you want your placenta encapsulated, JUST DO IT!  It was one of the best decisions I made.  I never had even the tiniest twinge of baby blues.  I felt amazing, full of energy, and I think it helped my body heal faster.  I am able to contact her, even now, if I have questions or issues with anything related to baby, and she gives me tips and advice.  I had some nursing trouble, and baby weight gain issues, after being home and she helped me through that.  She’s such an amazing source of knowledge and supportive help.  I could not imagine how we would have gotten through it all without her!  I would absolutely recommend Celena and CFD, and I will be hiring her again for my next pregnancy and birth. Chicago Family Doulas is an absolutely wonderful group to work with.  Superb care, very professional!  A++++++”

“I made a last minute decision to have a doula, I thought I had left it too late but as Anna reassured me “as long as the baby is still inside you it’s never too late!” And she was right, we met with Celena and I immediately knew I wanted her at the birth of my baby. The birth was rather tricky towards the end and Celena held my hand and kissed my face like a mother would with her own child, I remember crying and holding her hand so tightly, I am so glad she was there, I’ll never forget that moment. I was so happy to see her the next day when she had encapsulated my placenta, I honestly think it aided in my quick recovery and definitely my mood postpartum.”