Brandi Gowder

Brandi Gowder is a Certified Full-Spectrum Doula, CEO of Smiley Bee Love, and Ambassador and Mentor for the National Black Doula Association. Based in Chicago, she provides compassionate, culturally responsive support to families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Inspired by her own journey as a mother of three, Brandi became a Doula to ensure every birthing person feels safe, seen, and deeply supported. She is currently completing her Community Health Worker and Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) training, expanding her ability to connect families with equitable resources, lactation education, and holistic care.

Through Smiley Bee Love, Brandi empowers mothers to trust their intuition and helps communities build Villages rooted in love, advocacy, and self-awareness. In addition to full-spectrum Doula care, she offers placenta encapsulation services, honoring the body’s natural wisdom in postpartum recovery.

Brandi proudly serves diverse families including LGBTQ+ parents, VBAC births, high-risk pregnancies, and parents with disabilities.

I believe that when we nurture the Mother/Birthing Parent, we heal the Village.