Brit Brackins

Brit (she/her) joined Birthways in 2014 as a Labor Support Doula and Perinatal/Lactation Educator, bringing years of experience and love for learning to this work as a certified doula.

Brit’s interest in women’s health and perinatal studies began as part of her Bachelors in Applied Sciences at Indiana University; she interned at the Bloomington Area Birthing Services as a Childbirth Education Assistant and also volunteered at a domestic violence program. She worked as a community-based doula for a number of years with a non-profit organization for young mothers and received extensive training through the Ounce of Prevention, and also attended March of Dimes Perinatal Conferences over the years.

Brit has training and experience with emotional health and perinatal mood disorders and has been able to work closely with various allied health professionals to meet the needs of mothers and families. In addition to caring for the many newborns and parents in her work as a doula, Brit has childcare experience that spans from infant care as an au pair to preschool settings and works with children impacted by domestic violence.

As a labor support doula, Brit has supported hundreds of clients and still approaches each birth as its own unique experience. With a wealth of knowledge and information about maternity care, evidence-based practices, and area providers/birth locations, Brit will support you in navigating your own preferences and priority for your birth experience through prenatal preparation, day-of support for labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum time.

Brit has supported first-time parents, growing families, those preparing for VBAC or twin arrivals, and brings her calm and skillful presence to whatever may arise. Warm and passionate about this work of caring for new families, she exhibits a deep commitment to helping families find what is appropriate for them.

Brit is also a parent herself, and welcomed her second child in the fall of 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, woodworking, gardening, and puzzles. She loves creating art in a variety of ways, especially using nature for inspiration.

Birth and expanding our families is such a tremendous time for growth. Having support and creating community during those moments is immensely important. I want my clients to feel what a calm and supportive presence feels like during such a transformative moment in their lives. Pregnancy and birth are just the beginning of our parenting journeys, and my goal is to help families develop a foundation of trust in themselves to handle big and small moments ahead. To ask the questions, to tap into their intuition, and to find balance in their roles as new parents or as their families expand and grow.

 

Testimonials

“Brit’s presence was exactly what we needed to eliminate fear and help us focus on bringing our sweet baby into the world.”

“I cannot overstate how valuable Brit’s support was as we ramped up to the labor and for the delivery itself. It was so great to be able to call her up and get her perspective [in the last week of the pregnancy]. At the birth itself, her physical and emotional support to both me and my partner was so important.”

“Brit was fantastic [as an educator] – she was warm, knowledgeable, and provided a fun (and very helpful) session. We definitely feel more prepared and reassured.”

023376CA-B30F-41FF-96FB-7E6D060BEC6A - Brit Brackins (2)
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Training + Education

  • Bachelors in Applied Sciences – Indiana University
  • DONA Labor Support certification: 2016
  • Doula Foundation Training through the Ounce of Prevention 1/11
  • Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, ALPP: 11/13
  • Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI): 2/11
  • Moods and Mothering: The Ups and Downs of the Perinatal Period: 8/10
  • Lamaze’s “Encouraging Breastfeeding in a Hospital Environment”: 12/10
  • The Impact of Culture on Parenting: 3/11
  • Postpartum Depression and Medications During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: 12/11
  • Early Life Trauma and Childbirth: 9/11
  • Linden Oaks trainings: Bipolar Disorder: 10/11; Anxiety: 11/11; Eating disorders and self injury: 2/12
  • Innovative and Exciting prenatal activities: 5/12
  • GOLD Neonatal Conference: 8/2018
  • Infant CPR: American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS): current
  • Sokana doula training: January 2023-2028
  • Full Spectrum Labor Support and Post Partum Doula: February 2023-2028

Experience

  • Hundreds of births
  • Prior Childbirth Education Assistant
  • Training and experience with emotional health and perinatal mood disorders
  • Childcare experience from infant care to au pair to preschool settings
  • Special focus on children impacted by domestic violence

Information

  • National criminal background check completed with no adverse information
  • Birthways Reference Checks: Completed references with no adverse information and excellent feedback
  • Covid vaccinated
Founded in 1997

Not just another doula or childbirth education provider...

When you work with Birthways, you benefit from partnering with nationally recognized experts and the most experienced doula service provider in the Chicago area.