Annika Cowen

Annika Cowen (they/any) is a Full Spectrum Doula and Birthworker who supports individuals through the prenatal, birth, postpartum, abortion, and grief and loss stages. Living and working on occupied Peoria land in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Annika offers client-centered, holistic care that honors the whole person. Their practice is rooted in an active awareness of the diverse reproductive needs and lived experiences people hold, shaped by identity, background, preferences, and personal history.

Annika completed their first doula training with For the Village, under the guidance of revolutionary birthworker Sabia Wade. Since, Annika has become certified with multiple organizations including Sokana Collective as well as ProDoula. Prior to becoming a doula, they spent many years working closely with young people in a variety of roles, including babysitting, nannying, coaching, and facilitating after-school programs. This foundation of care work, paired with their ongoing development of healing and spiritual practices, made the transition into birthwork a natural and deeply aligned progression.

In their doula practice, Annika centers informational, physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support. They strive to cultivate autonomy, safety, and presentness in every interaction, meeting clients exactly where they are. Through intentional listening and collaborative care, Annika works with each client to co-create a vision and experience that reflects their individual needs and desires. With over ten years of experience in healing practices, Annika draws on both personal knowledge and community-based resources to expand access to wisdom, support, and meaningful healing experiences.

Annika’s areas of focus include reproductive justice, trauma-informed care, queer and trans birthwork and lactation, culturally respectful practices, babywearing, womb healing, herbalism, somatic movement, meditation, breathwork, shadow work, and holistic living. They also bring extensive experience in restorative practices with young people and serve as both a life mentor and a mentor for alternative and expansive structures of love.

Outside of their work, Annika finds joy in juicing, dancing, tending to their plants, reading and learning, taking long walks in nature, cooking for large groups of people, being active and spending time with their cats, André Leon Diablo and Soraya Santiago Molímo.

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I feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to support families during such a profound and vulnerable season of life. It is an honor to be trusted as part of someone’s care and empowerment system, and I approach each relationship with intention, presence, and deep respect. My goal is always to create a space where you feel safe, informed, and fully supported in your choices, and set up you so you won’t need me at the end of our time together :)