A woman sitting on the floor smiling for a picture.

Meet Isabelle Guillou, APN, CNM, IBCLC

Certified Nurse Midwife, Lactation Consultant

Isabelle’s journey to homebirth began as a labor and delivery nurse. With a drive to continuously expand her knowledge, she went back to school and earned a master’s degree in Maternal Child Nursing and Midwifery from the University of Illinois in Chicago. Upon graduation, Isabelle joined a hospital-based midwifery practice as a full-scope midwife. Isabelle is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

After a few years in the hospital setting where she gained a strong foundation in maternal and infant health, Isabelle opened My Mindful Birth, a home birth practice in the Chicago suburbs, where she could offer more holistic, family-centered, evidence-based, and shared decision-making care to her clients. Isabelle recently moved to Arizona with her family and, after a few months' hiatus, reopened My Mindful Birth here in the Valley.

Isabelle’s gentle, mindful, nurturing guidance helps her clients craft the pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting experience that best suits them. At births, Isabelle’s calm energy supports an intervention-free, physiologic, and transformative birth experience.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Isabelle cherishes time with husband, Patrick, her two sons, and her dogs. She enjoys exploring the desert, watching the wild horses as she paddleboards down the Salt River, or sitting outside and watching a flamboyant sunset over the Valley.

Testimonials

“I can't believe it has taken me 5 months to finally write you! I just wanted to thank you for giving me the most magical birth experience that I could ever dreamed of! Out of all four, that was my happiest and healthiest pregnancy and I have you to thank for that. Having your kindness and support along the way made all the difference for me. I felt happy, confident, and excited. I always tell people "Did you know that babies can get hiccups on the way out?!" - Who knew! I also tell them that I had the best labor EVER! Instead of being stuck to a hospital bed, I saw you, went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch, napped, played board games with my kids, watched movies, ordered takeout for dinner, had the most incredible little boy, and then went to sleep! I'm so grateful to have had that experience - Ending my baby making career with a big bang! So, thanks again, for being such a special person to myself and to so many others. Love, always.”

“Thank you everyone, but most of all thank you Isabelle. The comfort and love that you showed my wife was nothing less than amazing. You calmed her heart which calmed mine. Ingrained in a husband's soul and a father's heart is a deep devotion to protect his family. From the moment this process started I never felt the need to. Isabelle, I am forever grateful for the true love and compassion you showed my family. I thank you with all my heart”

“Isabelle is just amazing! I delivered my second with her about 2.5 years ago and just had my third at home. It was the best decision we could've made. Everything was perfect! Wish I had had my other two like that.”

“I delivered my first in a hospital birthing center and I just delivered my second at home. I am in awe along with my family and friends how beautiful and wonderful it was! There was such a big difference that made birthing our child such a great experience during and after. I only have good things to say and hope more moms can benefit from a homebirth with My Mindful Birth.”

“Isabelle is such an amazing midwife. I enjoyed every visit with her from 12 weeks to postpartum. She cares for her clients so much. Isabelle wants every woman to have the birth they want. I had my second home birth 9 days ago. I was not able to birth in the water this time as my contractions would stop every time I was in. Isabelle helped me continue to get my home birth by working her magic and using her knowledge of midwifery. She was so patient waiting for my third baby to arrive. I felt calm and relaxed having her there. She was such a wonderful caring person to help bring my little one into the world with. I’m already thinking do I want one more baby? If I have one more Isabelle will be my first call. Thank you so much for your loving care and support!”

“I had the most beautiful, perfect birth experience I could have imagined with My Mindful Birth. During pregnancy, I was always listened to closely and treated with respect and they trusted in my instincts as a mom. When delivery came, it was the same. I had so much confidence in what I could do because of how I was treated and trusted during pregnancy, and in delivery I was allowed the space and freedom to do what I felt was best for me and baby and the results were beautiful. Delivery was seamless and the aftercare was so warm and caring. They cleaned everything up, they made me food, waited to do anything with the baby until I was ready. Everything was perfect and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!”

“I am so emotional about Isabelle and my entire experience with her during my latest pregnancy, labor and delivery. I can’t even put into words how well she took care of me. She sat in her office and chatted with me about my fears and anxiety (they were at an ultimate high during the last few days of my pregnancy.) She said, “once you let yourself go down that path during labor it’s hard to get back together so if you’re up here so don’t fall off.” During the most intense part of my labor, I swear I left the planet and took her words “don’t fall off” with me. I kept saying it in my head over and over and I can’t really remember much else from that part of my baby’s delivery. When she came to check on us one last time last week, I didn’t want her to leave. That shows the bond she built and the trust I have in her. I am forever grateful for the birth experience she helped me achieve. The taboo around home birth needs to be something of the past. Hospital births are rarely necessary. I am not kidding when I say I couldn’t have asked for a more peaceful and comfortable birthing experience. I feel like a warrior, closer to my baby, closer to my husband and our family for being there and experiencing it with us. Seriously, the best experience of my life and definitely most emotional”

“My experience with Isabelle was nothing short of wonderful. Having her there to validate and support the strength I knew I had to birth my child on my own terms was life changing. She is nurturing and so reassuring through one of the most important events a woman could go through. It was a peaceful and serene birth and I’m forever grateful.”

“I loved my home birth with My Mindful Birth. Isabelle is an amazing midwife. She was attentive and caring throughout my pregnancy and provided expert care for my home delivery. She has the perfect mix of experience, medical training and passion for women getting the birth experience they want. I fully trusted her and she helped me believe in myself. Thank you so much. I so cherish my home birthing experience!”

“Words can’t describe how wonderful Isabelle is! She delivered all three of my babies and I’m so grateful for everything she has done for us as a family! All three of my birth experiences were amazing thanks to her kind heart, knowledge, and experience. I never would have imagined that I’d have a home birth but after Isabelle delivered my first two at the hospital, there was no other person I would have trusted to help me bring my precious girl into the world. My home birth was the best of all three and I’ll do it again in a heart beat! Thank you, Isabelle! We love you!"

"Isabelle is an amazing midwife. She truly goes above and beyond for patients. As a lactation consultant, I am always excited to work with her families because I know they have gotten the very best care in pregnancy and birth."