Lisy is an incredibly smart and compassionate Lactation consultant who made a huge difference in my…read morebreastfeeding journey. With her help, we resolved Latch issues, improved milk supply, and most importantly--I gained the confidence I needed to successfuLLy breastfeed! From the very first session, she Listened so carefuLLy and gave thoughtfuL, practicaL advice that actuaLLy worked! She has such a deep understanding of Lactation and newborn behavior--it was Like she knew exactly what my baby and I needed before we even said it. Her calm, confident approach put me at ease right away, and I Left every appointment feeling more empowered and informed! Thanks to Lisy, I overcame chaLLenges I never thought I could, and I'm now breastfeeding with confidence and joy, 7 months and counting. Every session felt like a calm, encouraging space to ask questions and Learn without judgment. If you're Looking for someone knowledgeable, patient, and truly cares/dedicated to your success, Lisy is the one. I didn't think I would make it past three weeks of breastfeeding, but here I am 7 months Later absolutely Loving it and no intent to stop anytime soon. I can't thank her enough!

Thanks Lisy for the expertise and help this summer!…read more Tips as simple as the type of nursing pillow to use (the My Brest Friend has a belt buckle feature that helps you keep the pillow in place and baby close at all times), using a U grip vs C one for optimal latching, and to aim for 20 minutes per feeding (you want to get the fatty hindmilk to the baby vs the less fatty foremilk that's produced first) were key for me! Also, I learned the most supportive way to pick up a baby: gripping her under the armpits with fingertips supporting the back of the neck! I visited 4x and each time was glad I made the appointment to check in and consult with Lisy. I highly recommend her lactation consulting services, in particular because she's patient, warm, and conveniently located in the north suburbs.

My family recently reached out to Lactation Partners seeking urgent breastfeeding support for our…read morenewborn twins during a difficult postpartum moment. We live on the South Side of Chicago, near South loop and were hoping to schedule a consultation. The response we received stated that they "do not travel to our location in any case" and that their schedule was booked for the next two weeks. While I understand providers have service limits and busy schedules, the wording felt abrupt and lacking empathy given the circumstances. It was also confusing because Yelp's service map suggests coverage across Chicago, which gave us the impression South Side families were included. "South Chicago" is a large and diverse part of the city with many middle-class families simply looking for postpartum support. I'm sharing this so other South Side parents know this provider may not service this area when urgently searching for help. I hope the practice considers clarifying their service area and responding to families with more compassion during vulnerable moments.

If I could give Lactation Partners and Joan Kessler 10/10 stars, I would!!!…read more There are so many aspects of postpartum that are new, overwhelming and intense, all at the same time. Joan is an incredible expert in her field, kind, precise, beyond helpful and the ultimate professional. From the moment she walked in to our home, she swiftly addressed our concerns/hurdles and assessed the situation with swift precision and a targeted plan, allowing us to support our baby in the best and most immediate way possible. She continued to follow up with detailed phone conversations and tips to support our family and came for a follow up visit to ensure we were on the right track. I feel very lucky and grateful to have had the chance to work with Joan - she is truly a phenomenal resource who cares, is dedicated to those the works with and really knows her stuff in and out. :)

100% recommend. All I can say is WOW. This was a service I never knew I wanted or needed so…read moregreatly. Robin was an angel and a confidant. Real and trustworthy. She was there for me, my son, and my husband before, during, and after birth. Having her as part of my birth story will be something I'm forever grateful for and if I'm blessed enough to have another child, I'll want her on my team again. Ps: She offered to snap photos of when I gave birth, capturing moments I would never have had without her. What a gift.

I really wanted a great doula for a complicated pregnancy. But Robin slept through my son's birth,…read moreeven after I told her at 5 pm I was checking into the hospital the week of my due date. When I talked to Robin, she said she was at an event and didn't have a car with her so she couldn't leave to come to the hospital at that time, because she was dependant on someone else for a ride. She assured me she would come and said she'd never slept through a birth. She also told me most mothers labor for 12+ hours and not to worry since I wasn't dilated at all. I was given Cervidil. In the middle of the night my son's heart rate started dropping. Cervidil was removed, my son's heart rate stabilized and I was given two options: Do a more controlled C-section or try to labor longer and then likely have an emergency C-section. I tried to get ahold of Robin. She slept through the text and phone call. So I opted to do a more controlled C-section which took a while since I couldn't have an epidural and it took more than 30 minutes for the spinal to take. Robin never showed up to the hospital and it took weeks, months, to get a partial refund. I never got a full refund. She also didn't call a back-up doula. She made a really frustrating situation -- of sleeping through my son's birth -- even worse by having to spent weeks of back and forth emails (and my son was a NICU baby) trying to get some of my money back. More troubling she also sent an NDA to me -- which I didn't sign -- to try and make sure this wasn't disclosed. Accidents happen but the follow-up was more problematic. Yes, her father died in the weeks after my son's birth and that is awful, but sending an NDA to try and cover-up the situation of sleeping through a birth was really awful and weeks of emails to get a partial refund difficult as I was recovering from a difficult pregnancy and delivery was troublesome. This happened in the summer of 2017. It's taken me a long time to process everything. I'm sure most births aren't like this, but other expectant moms need to be aware. I would hate for anyone else to go through something like this.

I debated whether or not to share this experience, but ultimately decided to do so in hopes it…read morehelps other mothers--whether you're new, experienced, or somewhere in between--navigate their breastfeeding support options. I contacted this practice to request an **in-person** consultation. The first question I was asked was not my name or concern, but rather, "What insurance do you have?" I was then informed that **all initial consultations are conducted virtually**. Despite expressing multiple times that I was only comfortable with an in-person visit, I was repeatedly told to proceed with scheduling a virtual appointment and to check with my insurance about coverage. After setting an appointment, I again inquired about the earliest possible date for an in-person follow-up. I was told that most clients don't need in-person visits and that one might be possible the following week if they decided it was warranted. I felt dismissed and somewhat embarrassed for asking--despite my request being both personal and reasonable. For many, myself included, the idea of being partially undressed on a Zoom call is deeply uncomfortable, especially when discussing something as sensitive as breastfeeding. I also had concerns that a virtual visit might rely too heavily on generic recommendations, many of which I've already tried. Lactation consultants need to be present to help the mom maneuver their breast. This is supposed to be (to the extent a mother wants this) a hands-on experience. When I decided to cancel my appointment, **only then** was I offered an in-person visit the very next day. At that point, I no longer felt confident that this provider would prioritize or listen to my individual needs, so I chose to seek care elsewhere. While I do believe this practice could be a helpful resource for others, my personal experience fell short. From the initial focus on insurance over care, to the lack of flexibility or empathy regarding my comfort and preferences, it became clear this was not the right fit for me. I'm seeking support from someone who genuinely wants to help me meet my breastfeeding goals--not someone who sees me as just another appointment on the schedule.

I hesitate to write this review as I usually like to say nice things about people (particularly…read moresmall businesses), but I feel as though even though it's been two+ years, I have to get this off of my chest. Reading similar reviews has been validating to my experiences, and I hope to bring similar feelings to other women. I was paired with Melissa through my insurance and she seemed like she'd be a nice fit. The ladies in my doula group had nice things to say about her and she had very positive online reviews, so I was optimistic. We had an intake session by phone a few weeks before my baby was born and she seemed nice enough, I was still optimistic. Unfortunately, when my baby showed up it was a different story. I delivered on a Friday so the lactation consultant at the hospital wasn't there for the weekend and I was having a bit of trouble figuring out techniques etc. After a few days, my baby started to drop weight and I was absolutely terrified. I contacted Melissa hoping she could help us, but instead all I received was a dismissive response (via text) stating that she could only see us in person several weeks into the future and the only appts that she had available more immediately were online. Not very helpful in a moment like that. I felt like my baby and I didn't matter to her at all - that we were just boxes on her to do list to be checked off when she felt like it. It was very hurtful. Fortunately, our maintenance man happened to be in our apartment fixing the heat and gave us some helpful tips from what he learned from his wife and their four kids that helped us get through the night (pleasant surprises in life :)). The following day, our pediatrician really showed up for us and luckily had a lactation nurse on staff whom saw us in person ASAP and it all worked out in the long run. I don't write this review to be mean, but once again rather to validate women who might have had similar experiences or may have them in the future. This seems much more important to write a review about than a mediocre restaurant. I'm glad to hear so many women have had positive experiences with Melissa, I just wish we were one of them. As I've seen Melissa write in response to similar reviews, we wish her the best.

I can't say enough about Annie! She has been my rock, my inspiration and now my friend. The entire…read moreexperience with her has exceeded my expectations. The prenatal visits were inspirational to say the least. I never thought I could be as creative as Annie made me feel I could be and in fact was during those sessions. From the very beginning, she engaged my 5 year old daughter in the whole process, making her feel important and needed. The day of my daughter's birth we had a planned gentle C-Section. I never felt judged by any of my decisions and in fact, Annie's consistent validation help instill confidence and strength. Of course, things never go as planned. Annie's calm yet strong presence helped me stay focused and in control. She created several playlists for the day according to my needs, which made a huge difference in the experience. She involved my husband, helping him feel more comfortable and continued to help my daughter understand her vital role after the birth. I cannot recommend Annie enough! She listened, was always there but never intrusive, was responsive and warm. She continues to support me, even as my needs change. I have never had a doula before but after the traumatic experience of my first daughter's birth, I would never have it any other way. Annie's unique skills created an environment that was calm and beautiful, exactly what my daughter deserves. She is an amazing person and I'm so glad to have shared this experience with her!

From the owner: The Parent Coop is a positive parenting cooperative providing prenatal, birth, and postpartum…read moresupport to parents. We offer childbirth education classes, doula services, and more. Our services are unlike any other in Chicago - specialized, unique and holistic care through integrated therapies.

We enjoyed working with Lindsey as a birth doula for my recent birth. She is very calm, friendly,…read moreknowledgeable about pregnancy and infant care and familiar with navigating the hospital environment. She helped me during a hospital birth where I made use of tub and tried to avoid interventions. During labor, she assisted by putting heat packs on my pressure points, guiding me into different positions to make laboring easier and effective, making use of a tub for labor, and creating a calm, reassuring and positive atmosphere. Her experience, knowledge, confidence and personality make her a great doula. She also has kids of her own and can relate to moms.

I wish I could give a 6th star. I was nervous to give birth so I opted to get a doula…read more I can't say enough good things about Holly--she was truly a lifesaver during my birth experience. From the start, her calm, grounded energy helped me feel supported and confident, even when things didn't go according to plan. When my labor stalled, Holly guided me through exercises that actually got things moving--my water broke soon after, and she also shared positions that helped my baby flip. Her pain management workshop gave me tools I leaned on hard during some intense moments. And when my epidural failed (twice!), Holly didn't miss a beat. She advocated for me when I was in pain and made sure I felt heard and cared for. I honestly don't know what I would've done without her. She played a huge role in turning what could've been a traumatic experience into something empowering. If you're considering a doula, do yourself a favor and call Holly. She's the real deal.

I've had 2 homebirths with Midwives Care LLC. They have been a tremendous help in my prenatal and…read morepost partum Care. They really cared about my best interest with each pregnancy. I really researched my decision before going with Midwives Care. Even though there were a few Midwives in the practice....each one was considerate to my birth experience of choice. I never worried who would be at my birth. It really just felt like an extension of family.... which I think home birth kind of is. We are not only grateful for the customer service but the knowledge base as well. We really felt so safe and confident with our choice and haven't looked back. We are a customer until the last baby​

I had my 3 babies with them and they were amazing! They listen and helped me make informed…read moredecisions for each birth

I cannot recommend Dr. Rubin's fourth trimester package more. As a second-time mom, I knew where…read moreother providers had fallen short during my first postpartum experience and she filled all the gaps and settled all the confusion. She is so knowledgeable, dedicated, and full of solutions. She is truly supportive and is able to offer an approach from a full-picture perspective as your lactation specialist and your baby's doctor. Care at home during this special time is invaluable and Dr. Rubin makes it so easy to welcome her into this sacred space.

Dr. Rubin's postpartum fourth trimester package was amazing. I'm a second-time mom dealing with…read morebirth/postpartum trauma from my firstborn experience. Dr. Rubin was the sweetest, so supportive, and truly took her time to understand me, my history, and provide the best care for my second child. She helped calm my anxiety around breastfeeding and provide better mental health support during this delicate time. It was such a huge bonus to have her be able to do all the baby checkups right in my home too! No leaving during the delicate healing time, all while knowing your baby is getting the best care available. Dr. Rubin, I can't thank you enough for such amazing care, compassion, and support!

Juli is absolutely amazing and exceeded all my expectations. We saw Juli for an in-home visit,…read moreabout 2 weeks after my baby was born. At this point, we were triple feeding and I was having trouble getting my baby to latch, building my breast milk supply, and also with bottle feeding. Juli was firing on all cylinders! She is sharp, smart, and efficient. She helped me develop a realistic goal and care plan, based on my priorities. She was sensitive, informative, and caring. We got so much out of the initial visit. Our second and subsequent visits were just as fruitful. Juli has so much knowledge and experience. She practices evidence-based medicine. Her advice was so valuable. I felt better after every visit. I've interacted with other great lactation consultants, but still feel like Juli is a true gem and feel so lucky to have been able to work with her!

I truly believe I owe the success of my second breastfeeding journey to Juli! From our first visit…read morewith my boy as a newborn, she helped me ditch the nipple shields and immediately get a more comfortable, deeper latch with some simple positioning changes. She also gave me invaluable tips on battling sleepy eaters, cluster feeding, and more. I was immediately more confident, after a stressful and unsuccessful bf journey with my first. She then came back to help me formulate a pumping plan for my return to work. Again, she gave me so much confidence going into that new phase and really made me feel like this pumping journey didn't need to be as stressful as the first time around. Since then, she's supported me in questions, came back for a weighted feed to get an idea of how much baby was taking after my supply had seemingly dropped, and continued to just instill confidence. She really brings a low stress vibe to her appointments which I REALLY appreciate! I pass her name on to any mom, first timer or not, as a must have postpartum support!