Michelle was a very helpful instructor. I took 4 classes from her prior to my child's birth. I…read morereally enjoyed her sense of humor, great preparation and knowledge, and gentle approach to supporting new parents!

Michelle is absolutely amazing as a doula! Her program is so unique and special. I highly recommend…read morehiring a doula from Mothering the Mother- all the women are so passionate about women, children, and birth! They care so much about you and dedicate so much time to your needs. I had a Hypnobabies birth, but even if I didn't have a natural birth, the continuous support would have still been wonderful. Definitely consider them if you are searching for a doula!

We used Parenting Partners to help find a surrogate to carry our second child. After many…read moreinfertility treatments and pursuits, we discovered I could not carry, and so we needed a solution for carrying our IVF embryos. Shirley was terrific to work with. She met with us and quickly learned a lot about what we were looking for and our perspective on surrogacy and very quickly matched us with the most wonderful woman who could not have been a better surrogate. After many years of challenges, this process went smoothly and was so much of a relief. I highly recommend Shirly and the Parenting Partners team.

From the owner: Choosing surrogacy is a very personal experience and taking the first step towards building your…read morefamily this unique way, or offering to help someone become a parent can sometimes be overwhelming. We are here to support you as you embark on this wonderful journey. Our goal is to provide information, education, matching and guidance to our clients from beginning to end. At Parenting Partners we specialize in individualized, and personal arrangements. We will help you navigate the intricacies of the surrogacy process through our extensive experience and dedication. You don't have to go to other states for a surrogacy agency. Our agency fee is only $9,000 in three installments. Easier on your budget. And your lawyer can tell you about getting a pre-birth order so you will be the legal parents from the start. Using a lower-cost surrogacy agency in Illinois has many advantages. "Partners To Parents..." We feel that working together we can reach the goal of helping people become parents through surrogacy.

Jenn was the doula for my second delivery and she was amazing. Since Jenn is a labor and delivery…read morenurse as well as a doula, she really is the best of both worlds. She provides the doula support (emotional, candles, music, aroma-therapy, making everyone feel comfortable and supported) but was also very helpful because of her medical knowledge. She was terrific during the actual labor of advocating for me and helping where appropriate. Jenn was respectful with the hospital staff and did not overstep; in fact, the hospital staff seemed happy to have Jenn there. Jenn also visited our house and provided us all of the education and checklists we needed before the labor and delivery. Jenn also gave us a very nice timeline of the labor so we can look back and remember all of the details. She also took pictures of some of the special moments so my husband could focus on being with me. My husband I highly recommend hiring Jenn as a doula.

We cannot say enough good things about Jenn!! Jenn was our Doula for the birth of our first child,…read moreand we had such an incredible experience! Jenn previously worked as a L&D nurse for 10+ years and is a wealth of knowledge for all things birth (and baby) related! Jenn's three educational classes ahead of birth were incredibly insightful and helpful, plus she shared the slides with us afterwards to refer back to (which we have done several times). During my actual labor, Jenn was my biggest cheerleader! She helped us understand everything that was happening and think of potential questions to ask to advocate for ourselves. She helped me into different positions to help labor progress, she brought jello and bone broth to snack on, she made the room feel cozy and relaxed, she helped me mentally process everything that was happening and made us feel extremely comfortable throughout the entire process. I had intended to deliver naturally, and my birth ended with an unplanned c-section. There were several moments where my emotions got the best of me and Jenn helped me process everything that was happening and be happy with any direction we went. Afterwards, Jenn visited us in the hospital after birth and did a home visit a week after to help with the home transition. On top of all of this, Jenn sent us a time stamped overview of our birth story and it is something I will cherish forever! There is so much I've already forgotten from that day and Jenn's notes are so fun to look back on! Jenn was attentive, reliable and such a joy to work with! Even the staff at the hospital I delivered at were singing her praises! We loved working with Jenn and would recommend her services to anyone! She is the absolute best! :)

: Not a nice person. Be sure to check her return policies…read morefor any items you consider purchasing as the belly binder a is ripped up sheet (muslin) that you can purchase at your local Joann's . This is the video I was given for the technique. I can't include it due to Yelp rules, but it is a regular person's YouTube account, not even one of the doulas or Maura. Search Bengkung Belly Binding on YouTube and a ton of videos will come up. The binder did not help me feel held in. I asked for a refund and was told the price was mainly for the doula coming to my house--which was unnecessary because the YouTube video was the guide. After continued times trying to reach a reasonable resolution, Maura told me that I was harassing her. (What the heck weirdo woman?) What doula worth anything speaks to a mom of a 2 week old that way. Beware!!!!!!!!! This doula is unstable and no new mom needs that. Get a Bellefit binder. It helps without dealing with a psycho doula.

Maura was a joy to work with before, during, and after the birth of my little one…read more She obviously approaches her work with a great deal of professionalism that isn't always present in the birthing world. For example, her email communication is clear and prompt, she is obviously very well organized, and she gave me sweet little new-mama-related gifts at our first meeting, as well as after Baby's birth. But all that is not reason enough to hire a doula, right? When I first met Maura, I must confess I was a bit dismayed by her youth. Although I knew she had lots of experience supporting births and more medical training than most doulas, there was a part of me that wanted an older presence on my birth team. Well, thankfully the rational part of me won out over this other, ageist part, because Maura was wonderful and everything we (my husband and I) could have wanted. And I'm sure she's probably not quite as young as she seemed that first day ;) My labor and birth were pretty quick, uncomplicated, and relatively painless. I don't think I actually noticed Maura much during the process. However, when I watched the video of my baby's birth (which Maura was happy to film and photograph for us), I noticed Maura was the one who'd pick up on how I was feeling and cheer me on when I seemed to need it, and my husband and mom (who I wanted hands-on with me) would follow her lead. She just seemed to have this way of fitting in and being exactly what we needed her to be at the time, even though we ourselves didn't know what that was. After Baby's birth, she provided encouraging support and a postpartum visit to see that all was going well for our family. She was pretty awesome answering my questions via text, about all things from newborn poop to homeopathic remedies. I know that she will soon begin to study midwifery, but if you find her still offering doula services, I would highly recommend adding her to your list of doulas to consider.

I had a tough pregnancy so I decided to get a doula. Sarah and Erika were amazing the whole way…read morethrough. They were quick to respond, informative, and provided actionable steps to make pregnancy manageable. They have complementary styles and I appreciated having their expertise. When I changed my birth plan, they gave me information, support and they advocated for me. Even after I had my beautiful daughter, they checked in with me. They're both such kind, caring individuals. I highly recommend them! Birth was the most vulnerable and empowering experience of my life and I'm so glad I had them on my team!

I love Erika! I called many doulas to help me get through my first birthing experience before I…read morefound her and she was special. She combines intelligence with sensitivity, genuine care and support with medical knowledge. She is both gentle and tough when she has to - gave me the feeling of strength and security during the whole long night. She didn't leave my bedside except to get us beverages, didn't sleep at all for more than 24 hours straight and was alert and actively assisting us all the time. We were changing positions often, used fragrant oils for relaxation, she was massaging me and constantly checking if I or my husband needed anything. She's so amazing - I'd want to give birth just because she'd be by my side I contacted her postpartum numerous times with various baby care, self care and nursing questions and she helped me - and continues helping me even now - almost a year after our contract expired. She genuinely cares and I'm so glad I found her! Amazing doula!

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.

No longer skeptical…read more I've been going to the gym and following a health lifestyle for several years now and haven't been able to break a plateau no mater what I tried with diet and exercise. Adjustments would often cause me to gain weight and it's been really frustrating. Just over six weeks ago I started the HCG diet with Weighless and I've lost over 21 lbs. Many would say that that of course you will loose weight by eating less. If you look at the math of food, exercise and standard TDE, for me, I should have a max of 15 lbs. Before I did the diet I was always felt hungry. While on the diet it was even hard to eat the allotted calories. I definitely don't think I could have done this without support from the awesome staff at Weighless!

I highly recommend Weighless MD. I was fortunate enough to have found them on a casual Google…read moresearch. I was at my wits end with diets and trying to lose weight. I've fought it for 10+ years and tried every diet out there. I am diabetic and on insulin. I didn't think I'd ever lose this weight. I've been feeling "invisible" and pretty miserable for a long time. Weighless MD has worked with me on a personal basis to tailor a plan specifically for me, supplements, nutrients, diet, etc. I've taken off 40 pounds in the past four months. I could never have done this without them. It has totally changed my life! I can never thank them enough. I am so much healthier and I've reduced my insulin from 44 units a day to 26 units. I used to have aches and pains in my legs, hip and back. I don't have a single ache and haven't since I changed to this healthy way of living. I literally feel 20 years younger and have so much more energy. I have a continual smile on my face. THANK YOU to the entire Weighless MD Team!