Smiley Bee Love Birth Center

Hi, my name is Brandi Gowder. I am a Birth Worker (Doula) and owner of Smiley Bee Love, which is located in Chicago, Illinois. I provide support for birthing parents during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

 Smiley Bee Love is building a Birth Center on the South side of Chicago. I want to make birthing options accessible in our neighborhood. God gave me the Vision on what Smiley Bee Love would be for my community. I was given a mission, and I’m not stopping until my mission is complete. Smiley Bee Love will be a safe space for All Birthing Parents to give Birth. We're excited and reaching out to our community & fellow birth workers to create a safe space for various birthing options.

 

Before I began business in birth and postpartum support work, I was once a newly pregnant, soon-to-be-mother with questions. As a result of birthing three beautiful beings and having traumatic experiences in a hospital setting, I realized the vital need for more nurturance and support for expecting birthing parents. Therefore, I decided to become a part of the solution. I offer a safe space for birthing parents to communicate, feel understood, and be heard in a non-judgmental environment.

 

We are committed to helping families from all walks of life -- We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or income. I work with the ️‍ LGBTQ community, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) births, individuals of all races and religion, birthing parents that are considered high-risk, birth parents with disabilities, and low-income families. I also work in hospital, birth center, and home birth settings.

 

I am helping my community change their perspective on what the birthing experience could be. There are many people who have had traumatic births in hospital settings, or they have died because they were overlooked and not heard. I am working to change that. I want Smiley Bee Love to be a household name, a place where birthing parents can be educated, supported, and loved. Educating the birthing parent and their support system teaches them how to advocate for themselves. Self-advocacy can help one take back their power over their own body -- and the child. This will change the Trajectory of the household to not only see how valuable the Birthing parent is but to cherish, love and support them through the most sacred time of there lives. This will Break Generational curses.

At Smiley Bee Love, we ensure the birthing parent and support system are knowledgeable of all various birthing options that could provide a better experience, such as birth centers and home births. I believe that the village being educated on how to love the birthing parent through this sacred time promotes a smoother transition into parenthood.

 

 Over the last year, a bill was passed to create more birthing centers in Illinois. Though, when you search for them in Illinois, the majority of birthing centers are all on the north side of Chicago. Here at Smiley Bee Love, I am here to change that! I will be taking donations to create this change on the south side of Chicago. My plan is to make birthing options accessible in our neighborhood. This is my mission. When I decided to heal from past traumas I started my Spiritual journey, I had a breakthrough experience and I was shown a vision for what Smiley Bee Love would be. What it would be to the people. I envisioned what it would be for my community. Smiley Bee Love will be a safe space for Birthing Parents to give Birth, to be heard and Educated and To be loved on with support and Understanding. I was given a mission, and I’m not stopping until my mission is complete. To learn more about Smiley Bee Love contact me today or visit our website www.smileybeelove.com