Doula Lab — Bringing Birth Equity to Southern Illinois & the St. Louis Metro
The Doula Lab: A Birth Justice Hub for Southern Illinois & the St. Louis Metro.
Doulas, lactation, childbirth education, and care coordination on both sides of the river, from pregnancy through baby's first year. Covered by Illinois Medicaid.
The Doula Hub
Get matched with a certified community doula at no cost if you have Illinois Medicaid. Our Hub coordinates your care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and connects you to lactation, mental health, and community resources.
For healthcare providers and office staff referring a patient for doula services.
How Can We Help You?
For Families
Get matched with a certified doula, enroll in childbirth education classes, and access lactation support — all in one place.
- Get a doula covered by Illinois Medicaid
- Childbirth education classes
- Lactation support & resources
For Birth Workers
Grow your skills, earn your certification, and connect with a community of doulas and birth professionals across the region.
- Doula training & certification
- Professional development
- Join our care team
For Partners & Funders
We work with hospitals, health plans, sponsors, and donors to expand access to birth equity care across Southern Illinois.
- Hospital & health plan partnerships
- Sponsorship opportunities
- Donate to the Lab
Why The Doula Lab?
We are your pregnancy resource hub for evidence-based support, compassionate care, and professional doula training. From first trimester to first birthday, we're here with you.
Culturally competent care
We center the lived experiences of Black and Brown families, providing care that honors your culture and identity.
Support for the entire family
From partners to siblings, we believe birth is a family event. Our services wrap around your whole support system.
Serving Southern Illinois & STL Metro
Rooted in our community, we provide local, accessible doula services and training across the region.
News from The Doula Lab
Exciting partnerships and investments helping us grow our impact.
Big News: The Doula Lab Joins a National Movement for Maternal Mental Health
The Doula Lab is proud to be a member of the National Maternal Mental Health Accelerator — launched by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, bringing together more than 100 national, state, and local organizations to address critical gaps in maternal mental health care and work toward measurable systems change by 2030.
Together, We're Working to Change Maternal Mental Health Care
As a community-based Birth Justice Hub serving Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro East, The Doula Lab is honored to bring the experiences, needs, and voices of the families we serve into this national collaboration. The Accelerator is aligning organizations around priorities that include:
- Training more providers and eliminating care deserts
- Expanding postpartum care through 12 months after birth
- Increasing access to no- and low-cost maternal mental health care
- Advancing paid leave for families
- Elevating patient stories and lived experiences
- Advancing state and federal policy and research for lasting systems change
Why This Matters to The Doula Lab
At The Doula Lab, we believe maternal mental health is an essential part of maternal health and birth justice. Our work extends beyond the birth itself — through doulas, perinatal health workers, childbirth education, maternal wellness programming, fatherhood engagement, workforce development, community-clinical partnerships, and family support.
Participation in the Accelerator allows us to connect that local work to a broader national effort — while ensuring that community voices from Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro East are represented in conversations about how maternal mental health systems are strengthened.
From Local Impact to National Systems Change
National partners include
American College of Nurse-Midwives, March of Dimes, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Shades of Blue Project, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, ZERO TO THREE, and more.
State & community partners include
Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative, EleVATE Collaborative, Mamatoto Village, Birth In Color, and others.
"We are proud to have a seat at this table — and even more committed to using it to help build systems where birthing people and families are heard, supported, connected to care, and given the opportunity to thrive."
Local work. National collaboration. Systems change.
Learn More About the Accelerator
Walmart Awards The Doula Lab $5,000 to Support Expecting and Growing Families
The Doula Lab is proud to recognize Walmart for a generous $5,000 grant supporting our community-based maternal and family health work.
How It Happened
Representatives of Walmart's East St. Louis-area teams reached out to The Doula Lab and invited our organization to apply for a $5,000 grant in support of programming for expecting families. We are grateful to announce that The Doula Lab received the award.
What This Supports
As a community-based Birth Justice Hub, The Doula Lab works to ensure families have access to education, resources, culturally responsive support, trained birth workers, and community connections throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. Walmart's investment will help us continue strengthening that work and expanding the support available to families in the communities we serve.
Community Investment Makes Community Impact
Creating healthier outcomes for birthing people, babies, and families requires more than individual programs. It requires businesses, healthcare organizations, community leaders, funders, birth workers, and families working together. A $5,000 investment provides tangible resources that help community organizations like The Doula Lab continue doing this work where families live.
To Walmart and the East St. Louis-area teams who recognized our work and invited us to apply: thank you for investing in our mission. Thank you for investing in families. Thank you for investing in community-based solutions.
Walmart Helped Fund the Lab. Will You Join Them?
Walmart's $5,000 investment is helping The Doula Lab continue building community-based support for expecting and growing families — but sustaining this work takes all of us.
Individuals, businesses, organizations, and community partners can join Walmart in investing in the future of The Doula Lab. Every gift moves the work forward.
Fund the Lab — Make a DonationTogether, we can build the community infrastructure families deserve.
The Doula Lab | Birth Justice Hub
Building stronger systems of support for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond.
www.doulalab.orgUpcoming Events
Ready, Set, Birth! — Childbirth Education Series
This series has concluded. Stay tuned for the next Ready, Set, Birth! series — announcements coming soon.
Five-week in-person Saturday series · Sept. 12 – Oct. 10 · 5pm–7pm · 6608 W. Main St., Belleville, IL 62223 · Dinner provided · $325 individual / $450 per couple · Medicaid accepted
Illinois
MomInBus
Introducing the
Illinois MomInBus
A mobile maternal health initiative bringing doula support, birth equity education, and community resources directly to families across Illinois — no matter where they live.
The MomInBus is a Doula Lab initiative designed to close the gap in maternal health access for Black and underserved families across Illinois. Details coming soon.
Upcoming Classes
Small-group, evidence-based classes for expecting families. Limited to 10 couples per session.
Nursing with Confidence
Breastfeeding Preparation Class
Learn, connect, and thrive together.
This free, drop-in class covers the basics of latch, positioning, building supply, and what to expect in the early weeks — plus real talk with other parents in your community. No registration required, but a heads-up helps us prepare.
Expert breastfeeding support
for every family
Our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are here to help you meet your feeding goals — from pregnancy through weaning.
IBCLC-certified care in Illinois & Missouri
Medicaid accepted. No family turned away. We meet you where you are — in the hospital, at home, or before baby arrives.
Milk & Mind
A breastfeeding support circle presented by The Doula Lab — because being well through your breastfeeding journey matters.
Being well through your breastfeeding journey
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Session Dates
Sept 19 • Oct 10 • Nov 21 • Dec 12
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Time
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
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Location
6608 W Main St, Belleville, IL 62223
Come as you are. All are welcome.
Register for a SessionSessions are free and open monthly. Register to reserve your spot.
Our Impact
Data from 2025.
Voices of Empowered Parents
Discover firsthand accounts of the comfort, strength, and joy families found with Doula Lab. Their journeys reflect the profound difference our support makes.
Read the TestimonialsCommunity Membership
Join the Doula Lab Community
Whether you're a birth worker looking for referrals and space, or a family seeking ongoing support and resources — there's a membership tier built for you. Access our directory, education events, peer community, and more.
Doula Hub
Directory listing, client referrals, and billing support for birth workers.
Parents' Hub
Phase-based resources from pregnancy through your child's first five years.
Education Access
Priority registration for CBE classes, workshops, and CEU trainings.
Space & Community
Access to our education room, AV equipment, and peer support groups.
Volunteer with The Doula Lab
Help us bring birth equity to Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro. Whether you can give a few hours at an event or ongoing office support, every hand makes a difference.
Stay Connected with Doula Lab
Subscribe for updates on upcoming events, classes, community resources, and birth equity news — delivered straight to your inbox.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Have a question? We'd love to hear from you.
Whether you're looking for doula services, training programs, partnership opportunities, or just want to learn more — send us a message and we'll get back to you within 1–2 business days.
Your Journey, Fully Supported
From prenatal guidance to postpartum assistance, you'll get care designed to meet your individual needs and preferences. Our doula support is comprehensive and flexible, ensuring you feel supported and empowered throughout your birthing journey. Discover the transformative power of doula support for your unique birth experience.
Gain Confidence for Birth