I appreciated that The Nest was able to get me in with short notice, prior to an embryo transfer…read morewhen I was not already an established patient. They also really understood the idiosyncrasies with last minute scheduling when it comes to fertility stuff, which was a huge relief. In the time between my transfer and HCG test, I got great advice from the acupuncturists I saw and my first transfer was a success! I am 14 weeks now and I am still wearing socks daily to keep my womb warm. :)

This review is long overdue! I first met Julie Gaudette in October of 2018. After a long and…read moredisappointing run of negative pregnancy test after negative test, my husband and I decided to give acupuncture a shot. After a month and a half of treatment with Julie, I was pregnant. Being an avid tracker of data I noticed that with acupuncture I had a pronounced increase in my basal body temperature around ovulation time. I was less stressed and had an overall sense of well-being. I ended up seeing Julie throughout my entire pregnancy. Every symptom I had was alleviated through acupuncture. If I had heartburn, congestion, nausea, any indigestion, you name it Julie was there. With a kind soul she provided the individualized care I desperately needed during that stressful time. My little guy is 7 months old now and I can't thank Julie enough for everything she did for us! I highly recommend the Nest and Julie

They are amazing!! Such incredible experience during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Trustworthy…read moreand intelligent through the whole process! First time using a midwife, and I am choosing these midwives moving forward for my care.

I had such a great experience with the midwives! I wanted a natural unmedicated birth with as few…read moreinterventions as possible and to be able to be in control of my own birth and that's exactly what I got ! When we attended the meet the midwives and were able to ask questions I knew immediately I wanted them to deliver my baby .All of the nurses are super friendly and really take the time to make you feel at ease . They want you to be able to meet all the midwives so they make sure to schedule you with a different one at each visit since they are on call and you don't know which one will actually deliver your baby . When the time came for my little bambina to enter the world they allowed me to labor as I wanted . I labored in the Jacuzzi tub with essential oils with flameless color changing candles ,my labor music playlist ,hanging string lights in my room and I even brought a small crockpot with hot water and drops of lavender essential oil with a few towels in there for my contractions ( the midwife and nurses commented how wonderful my room smelled and what a good idea it was for contractions (thanks pinterest !)My water broke in the jacuzzi tub and my beautiful girl was born after 4 hours of labor and maybe a little over a hour of pushing . It was an amazing experience and I'd say If I had another I'd use them again but this shop is closed !!

My husband and I worked with Tanya for the 2005 birth of our only child. After taking her courses…read moreand meeting with her privately for a few sessions, we felt confident and ready for the big day, and very relaxed, a feeling that many of my friends who had prepared in other ways did not share. The hypnosis practice she introduced to us not only prepared us for birth, but drew us closer during the pregnancy, and helped us to help each other feel calm and ready for what was ahead. When our daughter was born, Tanya was an amazing advocate, comfort, and team member both at home and at the hospital. Working within a very rigid hospital system, Tanya really helped us to navigate the terrain and ask for what we needed. Unfortunately, the birth of our daughter was a traumatic one, and resulted in a c-section. Without Tanya, I don't know how we would have managed the fear that was associated with that experience. Thankfully, our daughter was born healthy and happy. Four years later, because of the unresolved trauma, I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I had attempted, since the birth, to forget about the experience---to ignore the feelings---and unfortunately, this led me to feel depressed, angry, and generally unwell. The first person I called when I received this diagnosis was Tanya, and she immediately let me know that a) I am not alone---this is an experience that happens to many women, b) she could verify that, yes, the birth was a trauma, and she was a witness to it, and best yet, c) she could help me feel better. What has happened in the past month, as Tanya and I have met to talk about the birth, and she has used her training to help me access (safely) the memories of that day in July 2005, is nothing short of miraculous. For the first time in four years, I am feeling better, happier, less fearful and anxious and generally stressed. She helped me to unlock a door that I had barricaded shut in my mind, and although I have a lot of work left to do to heal, I am feeling a sense of peace and understanding that I haven't felt in years. Tanya is, in short, a blessing. She is wonderful before birth, amazing during birth, and incredible after birth. I would recommend her, without hesitation, to any family seeking the best birth experience possible. As my story testifies, even in a suboptimal situation, Tanya is able to care for mothers in a way that is unparalleled.

My husband and I took Hypnobirthing classes at Masonic with Tanya before our birth. Her classes…read morewere some of the best things we did before we had our beautiful baby boy on January 19th, 2013. In her classes you learn about the nature behind giving birth and how your body is equipped to handle delivery without interventions. She thoroughly addressees the progress of labor every step of the way. If you're in for understanding the chemistry and body awareness behind natural birth then this is definitely a class for you. It put us at ease regarding the impending pain and unknowns that come with birth. I was on the fence about hiring a doula for birth support but a few things happened leading up to the final month of my pregnancy and we decided we needed that extra support on the day of delivery. I called Tanya to get recommendations and discuss my thoughts for hiring a doula this late in my pregnancy. She, as always, listened and gave her feedback. She also told me that she was available and after talking to my husband about it that night we decided to hire her immediately. We knew her from the classes so we were extremely ecstatic and put at ease knowing that she was going to be with us every step of the way leading up to the birth. I can honestly say that while going to Tanya's classes was a great decision, making that final decision to hire her as our monitrice before our delivery may have been the best decision I've ever made in my life. Her support, encouragement, hypnobirthing techniques and relaxation methods are the only thing that allowed me to have a natural birth- what I wanted more than anything. The hospital we delivered at is pretty heavy on meds and interventions and it was all we could do to have a natural birth with no interventions. Tanya was a great voice for us as well as great at assuring us everything was a-okay! She is an expert in her field and very professional. I trusted her with my life and the life of my son and I would recommend her to anyone and everyone. She without a doubt made my birth experience so beautiful, supported and exactly what I wanted. Nothing was going to get in the way of that once we made the decision to hire Tanya and it was true. She is a very strong, and very professional advocate for women who want to experience the true nature of a natural and intervention-free birth. I can't say enough how grateful, appreciative and honored we were to have Tanya there for the birth of our baby boy. Thank you, Tanya. You made bringing my son into this world a joyful, honest, natural and truly supported experience.

I delivered my second baby with the Illinois Masonic OB/GYN practice and I couldn't be happier…read morewith the whole experience from prenatal care through delivery. I switched here at 18 weeks after being unhappy with the level of care at another Northside hospital, and I am so glad I did. Dr Branch was my main Dr, and I was so happy seeing her: she was kind, professional, and kept on top of my test results and orders making sure nothing got delayed or missed. I felt very confident in her care. I was monitored, and ultimately induced early, due to rising blood pressure, and felt that the practice were very proactive in monitoring potential issues and keeping you informed about potential actions they might need to take. When it came to labor and delivery, the nurses (and Dr Starr) were uniformly wonderful. I gave birth right at the start of the pandemic and lockdown and the hospital was dealing with a lot - I'm so thankful to everyone for making our time there feel really pretty normal, despite all that was going on. I especially appreciated the time we had in labor and delivery right after my daughter was born where everyone left my husband and I alone with the baby for 2 hours. It gave us time to bond and start nursing; A very different experience to my first birth in a different state where people were popping in and out and taking the baby away for various things. I was new to the city when choosing a hospital for delivery and an OBs office and many places and people recommended more famous hospitals. I'm really glad that I went with my instincts and opted for Illinois Masonic, I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Dr. Bicalho is the best doctor I have ever had. I have been going to her for 10 years and am so…read morehappy with her service. She is so helpful, informative, and caring regardless of the situation or questions I come in with. If you are looking for a OBGYN look no further. Before she was my doctor (when I was in my teens and early 20s) I had always dreaded these appointments. She makes every patient feel comforted and taken care of. I am so thankful to have her as my doctor and will be going to her forever.

We took Natalie's 3-week Birth Intensive class at Bloom Yoga studio and it was just perfect. In a…read moreday and age where many feel like you can YouTube or Google all the answers, Natalie offered real life stories, anecdotes, and empowering reminders that we could add to "what was read in a book". She covered various scenarios and shared what the latest birth practices were, without judgement or pressure that one way was better than the other. Personally, our favorite part was probably the comfort measures portion of the class (1-2 exercises each hour), which we use daily. It was a great way to chat with other soon-to-be's, share our questions and fears, and walk away with someone who truly wanted us to be successful in our birthing experience, no matter which way it turns out. It was truly invaluable and I would highly recommend her class.

Natalie was our doula for the births of our first two babies, and she provided invaluable support…read moreto me before, during, and after the labor and delivery. She was a calming and reassuring presence for both me and my husband. I felt secure and confident that she would help us to navigate our way through any situation that arose with each birth. Whenever we needed clarification, more information, or guidance throughout each labor and delivery, she was there to help us. Furthermore, her years of experience as a doula was quite productive when it became necessary to speak up to the nurses and doctors when we felt that we needed additional attention. She knew exactly what to say to them to get them to be more attentive and responsive at the appropriate times. If hiring a doula is something you've been considering, I'd suggest attending Natalie's "Meet the Doulas" session at Bloom Yoga Studio. This is where we met her and realized that we would like to work with her in this capacity. Finally, we have every intention of asking her to be our doula again, should we have another baby!

If you are debating a doula, debate no more! Hillary Scharmann is exactly what every pregnant mama…read moreand expectant papa need. She'll walk you through the what to expect and prep you for delivery. She'll answer your questions, and if she can't, she'll find someone that can. Her commitment to supporting your family is 100%. We elected to deliver our baby boy in a hospital. While we had several concerns about being in a big medical space, Hillary put us at ease. She listened to all of our concerns. She took note of our fears and comforts. She was honest about the realities of delivery and the time leading up to it. While we feared induction and a long labor, she prepared us for what to advocate for to make it as natural and comfortable as possible (and thank goodness she did). Labor was no piece of cake. It was 36 hours from induction that our little guy arrived. Hillary spent 25 hours of that time with us. She was an advocate for us, asking all the questions we couldn't think to ask. She remembered those things that we said provide comfort to us and transformed the room to make it what we needed. She helped ease the pain with massages and encouraging movement (and that awesome peanut ball). She assisted in delivering the best part of our lives! We couldn't imagine those last 25 hours without her! Her services don't end when your baby arrives. She provides invaluable postpartum support. She is there when you are most vulnerable. She arrives to your house with treats and does your dishes, while she listens to the new parent woes. She makes you feel that you are normal. Normal is something we yearned for for those first six weeks. Birth is an incredible adventure, and no one person should experience it alone. If you are wavering on hiring a doula, do it no longer. Hire one! If you want the best, professional, personable, caring one out there hire Hillary Scharmann at HEART Birth & Baby.

One of the best decisions my husband and I made during pregnancy was to hire Hillary as our doula…read more As this was a first pregnancy and our first child, my husband and I were understandably nervous as to what the birth experience would entail. We wanted to ensure a calm, healthy and intervention-free delivery and Hillary helped us achieve that. The night I went into labor, Hillary arrived at the hospital a few minutes after my husband and I did and sprung into action immediately. She knew I wanted the environment to be calm and she somehow managed to create a spa-like atmosphere in the middle of a hospital. She dimmed the lights, turned on a relaxing playlist, provided aromatherapy, fluids and - most importantly - a heating pad for my aching back. She supported, encouraged and talked us through labor and because of her quick thinking, helped us avoid a C-section. I truly believe I was able to deliver my son the way I wanted because of her ability to work with my midwives. Hillary also provided us with the most precious gift - photos and videos of us meeting our son for the first time. I had no idea she was filming the first moment they laid my son on my chest and discovered it days later at home. I still cry every single time I watch the video. Most importantly, Hillary was a huge support after we took our baby home. I was beginning to show signs of postpartum anxiety and so my husband reached out to Hillary who, in turn, called me right away. She provided me with a lactation consultant (breastfeeding was the source of my anxiety) and a hotline for PPA help. Because of her quick action and support, I was able to very quickly overcome my breastfeeding challenges and my anxiety disappeared days later. If it had not been for her, I feel as though I really would have struggled through those first weeks. I cannot praise or thank Hillary enough for being there for us during this special time. I would wholeheartedly recommend her - I can't imagine delivering any future babies without her by my side.

This is the best obgyn I have EVER received care from. I had a life threatening ectopic pregnancy…read morethat was handled with unbelievable care and support. The doctors and NPs called me consistently to check in and took every fear I had seriously. All of those doctors got me through a very horrific time in my life. Now I am successfully pregnant and see Dr Lederer who is so fantastic. I love Northwestern specialist and recommend them to everyone I know. I am very much looking forward to delivering at northwestern because I trust every single doctor there.

As both a patient and a nurse, my labor and delivery experience with Dr. Salasche was extremely…read moretraumatic. It has taken me one year to work up the courage to write this. I arrived in spontaneous labor and was having strong, regular contractions on my own. My labor was progressing normally and was not prolonged. Around 5 cm dilated, my daughter experienced her first heart rate deceleration. Rather than taking a more cautious approach after that change, Dr. Salasche told me she wanted to start Pitocin and manually break my water. I questioned why these interventions were necessary. As a nurse, I understood that Pitocin would intensify my contractions and that breaking my water would remove the protective cushion of amniotic fluid surrounding my baby. Given that she had already experienced a heart rate deceleration, I was deeply concerned that these interventions could place her under even more stress. My labor was already progressing naturally, and my contractions were strong and effective without augmentation. I specifically told Dr. Salasche that I did not want my water broken or Pitocin started at that point based on both my clinical knowledge as a nurse and my intuition as a mother. Despite making my wishes clear, she forcefully broke my water and told me I "didn't have a choice." They did not start Pitocin after I repeatedly refused. In that moment, I felt powerless. No one should ever be made to feel that informed consent no longer applies simply because she is in labor. What happened next was equally disturbing. My labor nurse advocated for me, asking that we respect my wishes and allow my daughter time to recover from her heart rate deceleration before proceeding with additional interventions like breaking my water or starting Pitocin. Rather than engaging in a thoughtful discussion, Dr. Salasche yelled at the nurse in front of me, stating that she had given her an order and instructing her not to undermine her. As both a patient and a nurse, witnessing a physician berate a nurse for advocating for her patient was heartbreaking. Instead of fostering teamwork during a critical moment, it created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. I will always be grateful to that nurse for having the courage to advocate for me and my daughter when I felt my own voice had been taken away. Nurses truly are the heart of healthcare. Throughout my labor, my daughter continued to experience episodes of heart rate decelerations, and at the time no one knew why. After delivery, we learned that she had a short and marginally inserted umbilical cord and cord compression. Looking back, I can't help but question whether attempting to augment my labor with Pitocin and manually breaking my water after those initial decelerations could have placed my daughter at even greater risk. While no one can know with certainty what would have happened, those decisions continue to weigh heavily on me given what we later learned. In fact, while under Dr. Norlin's care during my pregnancy our daughter's heart rate had dropped from 150/160 to 120 about a week prior to delivery. I thought it was clinically significant and also mentioned I felt really small being so close to my due date and that my sister had placenta issues so I was concerned. I asked for a scan and she said no. Now we know this: After delivery, pathology revealed multiple abnormal findings, including an extremely short 14 cm umbilical cord, a significantly small placenta, and circummarginate membranes. My labor was not prolonged. I received my epidural around 2:00 a.m., and my daughter was born vaginally just after 10:00 a.m - healthy and happy. I was progressing naturally, yet I was repeatedly pushed toward unnecessary interventions. I never felt heard, respected, or safe in Dr. Salasche's care. Every patient deserves informed consent and respect. I'm incredibly grateful that my daughter is healthy, but I cannot recommend this practice based on my experience. My hope is that no other woman leaves her birth feeling that her voice was taken away.

We're incredibly grateful to Dr. Shashoua who gave us the BEST care in the world. Dr. Shashoua…read moreblessed us with the greatest gift by performing a Myomectomy to remove my massive uterine fibroids with no complications. The successful surgery has given me the chance to still fulfill my dream of being a Mother, which is the greatest gift one could ever give. Another Doctor in Wisconsin attempted to perform a Myomectomy and failed, telling me I would need a Hysterectomy because of the size of my uterine fibroids and the location of the fibroids. This Doctor also told me it wasn't worth getting a second opinion because nobody in the world would be able to remove my massive fibroids and was confident I would need a Hysterectomy. These massive fibroids were not only causing me infertility issues, but causing me major problems and living with them was unbearable. This Doctor was proven WRONG the day I walked into Dr. Shashoua's office to get a second opinion. Dr. Shashoua is brilliant and a gifted surgeon who performed what I was told was the IMPOSSIBLE. From the moment my husband and I met him he made us feel so comfortable and you can see how much he genuinely cares. He's so compassionate and explained everything in terms we understood. Dr. Shashoua is very knowledgeable about uterine fibroids and his confidence in his work made me relaxed and at ease going into surgery. He was attentive to my needs every step of the process and was there after surgery to check up on me. We traveled from Wisconsin to see Dr. Shashoua and his team treated us with excellent care. Traveling from out of state, the surgery and scheduling of the surgery was easy to navigate with the support of his team. This surgery was LIFE CHANGING and I'm recovering well. We're so blessed we found Dr. Shashoua and we would highly recommend him. If you're reading this and suffering from uterine fibroids and want to get your life back, do not hesitate for one moment, call and make an appointment. Dr. Shashoua is a true miracle worker.

This began when I was 39 years old. I told my family Doctor I was ready to start having kids in…read moreSeptember 2014. Numerous appointments were made with family Doctor, OBGYN, and asthma specialist. They started running CT scans, chest x-rays, PAP, internal scans, mammogram, breathing and blood test. The diagnosis for November was Fibroids, low iron, and node in right breast. By the time I took my mammogram in December the node had disappeared. My OBGYN reached me a pamphlet, told me to educate myself on all of the possible procedures and technology available. My OBGYN told me to research online for a specialist and choose someone that was on the cutting edge of technology and leading their field. Then provide him with a name and if everything checked out he would give me a referral. This would give me the best chance and future to have children. The items listed above are what led me to a great doctor. I would like to start by saying I travelled across the state of Illinois to see Doctor Abraham Shashoua. By the time I met Dr. Shashoua I was in severe pain and panic. Dr. Shashoua ran his own test and found 7 fibroids. Two were inside the uterus and the rest were on the outside. Dr. Shashoua was able to give me the reassurance that I needed. In 18 years Dr. Shashoua has only had to do 1 unscheduled hysterectomy. Dr. Shashoua and his team performed the surgery within 3 hours and removed a little over 14 lbs in fibroids. *See attachment Dr. Shashoua is great at putting his patients at ease as well as fostering communication and development with his team. When it comes to going above and beyond, Dr. Shashoua did that for me. (After receiving my records he even ordered another chest x-ray to make sure everything was clear) I feel blessed to have him as my Doctor.