Marlene Durand with her son, Mar'Khail, 2 months, stands outside her Oak Park home March 10, 2021.
ANTONIO PEREZ, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
If it hadnât been for her doula, Marlene Durand might not have realized she was in labor.
Durand, 21, now the mom of a 2-month-old son, knew she wanted someone to help guide her through pregnancy. At the end, when she felt something different, she texted her doula. Later that week, she delivered. She said she might not have thought to reach out to a provider, but weekly sessions with her doula left her feeling supported and connected.
âI would have been lost,â she said. âEvery time I needed to know something, or reassurance, she was there.â