Anna Rodney | Supporting Families, Scaling Support: The Journey Behind Chicago Family Doulas

TL;DR

Jessica talks with Anna Rodney, founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University, about building a full-service birth support agency, launching an education platform, and balancing business and motherhood. They explore what doulas really do, why families need both education and hands-on care, and how Anna has grown her impact without sacrificing alignment.

Building Support from the Birth Up: How Anna Rodney Grew a Doula Business Rooted in Care

When Anna Rodney had her first child, she experienced something many new parents face—but don’t always have the words for: a deep desire for more support.

What began as a personal journey quickly transformed into a professional mission. Today, Anna is the founder of Chicago Family Doulas, one of the most trusted doula agencies in the country, and Birth & Baby University, an educational platform for families and professionals alike. In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb sits down with Anna to explore what it looks like to build a heart-centered business, create community for families, and still stay grounded as a mom of three.

From Client to Founder: The Origin of Chicago Family Doulas

Anna didn’t set out to become a doula. But after a birth experience that left her wanting more support, more options, and more understanding, she realized that she wasn’t alone—and she had the capacity to be the person she wished had been there.

From those early beginnings came Chicago Family Doulas, which has now grown into a full-service agency that supports hundreds of families across Chicagoland with birth doulas, postpartum care, overnight care, and sibling support.

But growth wasn’t just about scaling services. It was about shifting the culture of birth work to include consistency, professionalism, and compassion—not just for families, but for the doulas themselves.

What Doulas Actually Do—and Why It Matters

One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is Anna’s explanation of what doulas are here to do—and what they aren’t.

“Doulas aren’t just there to attend a birth. We’re trained to support the emotional and physical transitions that come with every stage of growing a family,” Anna shares.

She also breaks down common misconceptions around doulas, including the idea that doulas only support “natural births” or that they’re there to replace medical providers. In reality, doulas are a bridge—supporting communication, offering comfort, and helping families advocate for what they want (and need).

Birth & Baby University: The Power of Education

After years of running her doula agency, Anna noticed another gap: the need for accessible, inclusive, and trustworthy education. That led to the launch of Birth & Baby University, an online learning platform for families preparing for birth, as well as for doulas and professionals seeking deeper training.

The courses cover everything from birth prep to postpartum planning, and from lactation to grief support. What ties them all together? Empowerment. Education that doesn’t push an agenda—but opens up space for curiosity and informed decisions.

Motherhood and Business: Finding Her Own Balance

Like many entrepreneurs, Anna has had to walk the tension between being present for her family and present for her clients. But her approach isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing the most important things well—and setting up a team and systems that support sustainability.

She opens up about the early years of burnout, the lessons learned from rapid growth, and how she’s now working fewer hours while making a bigger impact.

The Doula Movement is Growing—And So Is the Need

At its core, Anna’s work is about returning to something deeply human: being held in transition.

Whether it’s a birth, a postpartum shift, or the blurry moments of new parenthood, families deserve care. Through Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University, Anna is helping ensure they receive it—and helping train a new generation of professionals to offer it well.

Listen to the full episode to hear Anna’s powerful reflections on growth, support, and creating change from the ground up.

Chicago Family Doulas, Birth and Baby University, Anna Rodney, doula agency, postpartum support, perinatal education, birth worker, motherhood podcast, maternal health, growing a birth business, sustainable business and parenting, the mama making podcast