Welcome to Wonder*Root Birth

Offering a heart and hands approach to birth, with deep reverence for both science and spirituality. 

Hello! I’m Julie Lambert and my approach is rooted in human connection. I focus on education, agency and advocacy—personalizing each client’s care according to the client’s needs. I want to bring birth back to the family no matter where you choose to give birth.

My goal is to meet you where you are, physically and emotionally, and to walk with you, helping you feel informed, respected and supported during one of your most vulnerable and powerful experiences —birth. I believe every client can have a satisfying, safe and sacred birth experience that reflects their values and creates a profound portal to their postpartum journey.

I’ve been supporting families during their perinatal years since 2006 and attending births in a variety of settings since 2016. As the mother of four children, now young adults and older teenagers, I bring my knowledge, wisdom, skills and compassionate presence from years of parenting to my clients.

I value physiological birth, evidence-based care, integrity and authenticity in my client relationships, combining a deep respect for pregnancy and the birth process with my practical expertise.

 

Services

Birth Support Package includes:

  • Private in-person prenatal sessions, which may also include attending a prenatal appointment with OB or midwife, and going for check-in walks together

  • Comprehensive online childbirth education that includes evidence informed on-demand videos, live mentoring and Q&A sessions, permanent access to 200 pg workbook, additional resources

  •  24/7 on-call support from 37 weeks until birth

  • Labor and birth support

  • Immediate postpartum support following birth

  • Continued postpartum support for up to 6 weeks, including in-home visit

  • Sharing my network of trusted and reliable local resources as well as a vast array of on-line experts, authors, teachers and mentors

  • Email, text and phone support throughout contracted time

Postpartum Support Packages vary according to each client’s and family’s needs and are based on the teachings of traditional postpartum care, centering the tenets of extended rest, healing warmth, nourishing foods, and hands-on support. Please book a free discovery call to discuss what you’d like to create for this protected and special time.

I approach each client with openness, curiosity and trust. I hold space as a counselor, educator, advocate, and witness, providing women, partners and families alike with customized values-based, relational care and guidance through pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum. I bring my whole being—heart, mind and hands—to care holistically for my clients. 

I became a birth and postpartum care provider because of my experience birthing four children—a cesarean birth due to frank breech presentation, two vaginal births after a cesarean in the hospital with a midwife, and a home birth with a midwife. Through my birth journeys and the experience of supporting many mothers and families, I’ve developed a deep respect and appreciation for the transformative process of birth. It is my sacred gift to walk with you through your process of self-discovery and the beginning of a rite of passage. 

Testimonials

I am so grateful that Julie was present for my birth. I felt supported throughout my journey, including the prenatal visit that helped me feel prepared and the postpartum visit that helped me process, and most importantly during the labor and delivery. Julie made sure that I stayed hydrated, which was so important and is always a struggle for me. Julie was so helpful in providing lots of hip squeezes and counter pressure through contractions, as well as emotional support and encouragement for both myself and my husband.

—CJ, birth client

At the hardest part of my labor I was tired and doubted my ability to keep going. My statement “I can’t do this” turned into a question to Julie “Can I do this?” to which she answered readily, “you most absolutely can do this”. That comfort gave me the confidence in myself to keep going and deliver our beautiful baby girl.

—EA, birth client

I really appreciated you advocating for me to have access to the shower in the labor and delivery unit. I loved how you stepped in to offer physical comfort measures before it was time for baby’s arrival. Even in the moments when we were home and my water broke early, you were there supporting us and keeping close tabs on me through my husband.

—LP, birth client

Julie seamlessly became part of the flow of our home life—in synch with how I do things for my new baby, my toddler and our home. This gave me not only rest, but peace of mind.

—MP, postpartum client

Full Bio

Each of my four births was a different journey and gave me great appreciation and respect for the process of bringing a child into this world. My oldest child’s birth was a cesarean due to a frank breech presentation, my second and third children’s births were VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean) in the hospital attended by a certified nurse midwife, and my fourth child was born at home with a certified nurse midwife. In addition to each birth, I also experienced external cephalic versions with my first and third children; the first one, unsuccessful and the next, successful.

With the birth of my children, I became active in the Chicago birth community. In 2006, when I was pregnant with my third child, I co-founded the Chicago chapter of International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), whose goal is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, provide support for cesarean recovery, and promote Vaginal Birth after Cesarean and I was the chapter leader for several years. 

I also produced “Birth,” a documentary-style play based on over 100 interviews conducted by playwright Karen Brody with mothers across America. And I organized a community event with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein when they were in town for the Chicago premiere of “The Business of Being Born.” In 2008, I attended labor and birth doula training through DONA and eventually in 2016 began volunteering as a labor and birth doula with Chicago Volunteer Doulas, an organization that provides comprehensive doula services especially for vulnerable communities in the Chicago area.

In addition to birth and postpartum work, I continue to engage in additional courses to enrich my clients’ birth and postpartum experiences. I’m currently enrolled in an intensive, nine-month postpartum certification program with Rachelle Seliga. I’m also a member of the Intentional Birth doula community. Most recently, I joined the Board of Sokana Collective, a Birth Justice Doula Agency and Training Academy in Chicago. 

Prior to having children, I worked for almost a decade at Accenture in their Change Management and Knowledge Management groups. After earning a Master’s in English Language and Literature, I left Accenture to work in non-profit arts administration until I had my first child in 2002. I live outside of Chicago with my husband, four children, three cats and a dog.

Certifications and Trainings

  • DONA Birth Doula

  • CAPPA Postpartum Doula

  • Homebirth Midwife Assistant Training

  • Certified Perinatal Patient Advocate

  • Birth Doula Training with Haize Hawke, the Birth Intuit

  • Spinning Babies

  • Physiological Baby Care with Rachelle Seliga of Innate Traditions

  • Energy Healing for Perinatal Anxiety with Mitra Sessions

  • Understanding Trauma for Birth and Death Doulas with Amy Wright Glenn

  • IL Medicaid-certified Doula

  • MotherCircle with Kimberly Ann Johnson of “The Fourth Trimester”

  • Well Woman Yoga Therapy with Uma Dinsmore Juli

  • Wild and Wise with Beth Berry of “Motherwhelmed”

  • Peaceful Parenting with Mariah Belt Soloy

Contact Us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!