We love Heather and Victoria. We worked with 312Doulas as we prepared for the arrival of our first…read morechild. They were fantastic. We engaged them at about 18/20 weeks in the pregnancy and were able to take advantage of the pregnant person weekly zoom meeting (which provided a wonderful support system through the pregnancy), the birth classes (which were more evidence-based and intimate than what my hospital offered), and they were available for any questions (which gave us another opinion outside of our OB). On the day of our birth, my husband was able to engage with them via text and let them know how things were going. Heather arrived at the hospital and was able to offer comfort measures, support, and coaching that helped both my husband and I feel that we could do THIS! :) In addition, they were able to relieve my husband and let him get some sleep and they got me ice and food, etc. Just so kind. Once I started to push, Heather was there to coach us and encourage us and then take pictures of our new family when our baby girl came. Heather had to leave (they work 12-hour shifts) and Victoria slid in, so quickly I didn't realize it was happening and never felt alone. Victoria then stayed to help us breastfeed and get settled in. After our birth, we had a postpartum call to ask any questions and now participate in the new parents' weekly zoom which already has been super valuable. We'd highly recommend working with 312Doulas.

312 Doulas was recommended by a friend, and I'm so glad I listened! My review focuses on my doula…read more(Marie Weiss) and a course my partner and I took as part of our doula package. I delivered 12/19/21, and our little one is just over 2 weeks old. My doula was supportive, knowledgeable, and responsive. I expected a slow labor (first child) but had the opposite. My water broke around 4pm, and contractions came on quick and strong. All Marie needed to see was a screenshot of the app I was using to time my contractions to say, "time to go to the hospital" (my partner and I would have probably held off--so glad we listened!). I arrived 6cm dilated, and she helped me navigate an unmedicated birth (consistent with my birth plan). She offered excellent labor support (breathing reminders, holding my leg, walking me through decisions) and advocating (e.g., anytime someone walked in the room, she immediately approached them and asked who they were, why they were there, etc.). As part of our package, we took the 6-week Evidenced Based Birth course (founder: Rebecca Dekker; teacher: Heather McCullough), and we both loved it. The course meets weekly for 2 hours to discuss material presented in asynchronous modules. The material is informative, clear, and helped us make many perinatal decisions. There were many topics my partner and I would not have discussed if it wasn't for the course, and they were so important. Thank you so much 312!

Rebekkah was such a critical support person in my unmedicated birth. With her, I never felt like it…read morewas not possible - we only focused on how to make it the best experience. She is very direct and confident, which was reassuring for me as a first time mom. We spent all day laboring at home, and she was key in keeping me comfortable but also switching things up to keep labor progressing. We ended up at the birth center and our daughter was born just 30 minutes later. Rebekkah prepared us some food to enjoy afterward and made sure we were comfortable before leaving us to enjoy those first quiet moments with our baby. Postpartum, she is a wealth of knowledge and truly cares about all of her clients. I would have her as our doula again in a heartbeat!

I couldn't say better things about Rebekkah, if I did it would come off like a stalker. I love her,…read moreI have had her for both of my son's births. One with an epidural and one without. Her comfort of knowing what I needed and when I needed it was unmatched. Her knowledge about birth and positioning was amazing. She held what I valued and needed to a standard. And she was the strength I needed to continue on.

Leah Lemelin helped me trust my body more, feel calmer, and more present with what I was…read moreexperiencing. I felt more in command and confident throughout. I thought I wanted a doula just for the day of delivery but what I found was that the work we did together before delivery is what altered the whole experience. It was deeply supportive and prepared me in a way I didn't even know I needed or was possible. So, even if you are an experienced mom, you are having a traditional medical birth, having Leah as your doula will deepen your experience and give it back to you as truly yours in a profound way. I can't thank her enough for walking with me through it and guiding me into myself so I could remember my own agency and power and strength in it all.

Mary has been our lactation consultant for 1 year. She had been part of my support network since we…read moresaw her during an at-home visit when my daughter was 1 month old. I'd count her as one of the women that I've most leaned on as a first-time mother. She is a walking book of knowledge on everything child related. She is kind and passionate and always available. I'm not sure where we'd be without her. We are so grateful to have her in our lives.

I am so grateful to have had 312 Doulas be a part of 2 of my 3 births. The knowledge and resources…read morethey possess are priceless. I leaned on them through every step of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They were a huge asset to our birth team and even helped my husband feel more confident in supporting my labor. We can't say enough good things about them!

I learned about 312 Doulas through my OB office (North Shore Associates in Gynecology and…read moreObstetrics). I had worked with a different doula for my first pregnancy through Windy City Doulas and had a positive experience, but I wanted to explore a different fit for my second birth. After interviewing both Heather and Victoria, it was clear that they were incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and warm. I felt comfortable with both but ultimately had Heather with me for my labor-- and I am so grateful I did. Even before labor began, Heather's guidance made a huge difference. The hospital packing list she shared was invaluable -- especially her recommendation to bring a TENS unit and mood lighting. We used both during labor, and they were game changers. The TENS unit significantly helped with pain management, and the lighting created such a calming, peaceful atmosphere for the day. Heather also guided me on expressing colostrum before birth. My first child had to be readmitted for jaundice, so I was anxious about that possibility again. Being able to have stored colostrum at home and give it to my son in those first days made me feel proactive and prepared -- and I truly believe it helped prevent a readmission. During labor, Heather was extraordinary. She explained medical language clearly, helped me understand what to expect at each stage, and struck the perfect balance between stepping in and stepping back. She supported not just me, but also my husband and my mom. When my husband felt unsure how to help, she gently brought him back in and gave him concrete ways to support me. There were so many small but meaningful moments that showed her professionalism and care. When I started pushing and had an embarrassing moment on the table (yes, I pooped), she handled it instantly and quietly, preserving my dignity. After my son was born and experienced some breathing issues from excess fluid, Heather calmly talked me through what was happening and stayed until it was clear he would be okay. Heather also helped me advocate for delayed cord clamping, something we had discussed while reviewing my birth plan. Because of those conversations, I felt confident asking for what I wanted and understood that I had the right to do so. One of the biggest gifts Heather gave me was calm. Birth can be unpredictable, and I know many people who have experienced traumatic deliveries. Having someone knowledgeable and experienced in the room solely focused on supporting and advocating for me significantly improved my mental state going into labor. I felt confident, informed, and empowered. Because I felt calm, the entire birth experience felt calm -- for me and for my partner. I am deeply grateful for Heather and would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone preparing for birth.

This place is amazing. As a first time mom, everything makes me nervous. They make me feel so much…read morebetter and allow me to be reassured. And never make me feel crazy haha. They are extremely supportive. I truly couldn't imagine going anywhere else.

If you're not already a patient of North Shore Associates Gynecology | Obstetrics | Midwifery -…read moreSWITCH NOW! Every member of their staff is dedicated to providing an outstanding and unparalleled level of care. I was nervous to switch at 24 weeks pregnant, but made the plunge after a friend recounted their experience. This was the BEST decision I could have made for my pregnancy and labor/delivery. It was evident from my first visit that all of these professionals are deeply passionate about what they do. The receptionists were so friendly and welcoming; they always remembered who I was, and greeted me warmly upon my arrival. The nurses were so gentle and sweet, and I felt that they truly cared for me and my well being. I cannot say enough wonderful things about all of the midwives on staff. Each midwife proved to be an expert in her field. They all showed kindness and compassion for me, and were invested in my experience throughout the process. They all spent a considerable amount of time with me for each appointment to ensure all my questions were addressed, and that I felt comfortable and at ease. When it came time to deliver, the midwife on call was PHENOMENAL; she exceeded all of my expectations. It felt as though she didn't leave my side for the full 36 hours, although at some point she managed to deliver 4 other babies. Being a first time mom, she was very patient with me and explained things thoroughly as I progressed. I felt like we were a team, and that I was in full control of the process. I was looking for a practice that would allow for a low intervention birth, and I found it here with NSAGO. I felt safe that, should I become high risk at any time, the team would have the tools to ensure a smooth delivery, all the way up to a C-section if necessary. Thanks to the expertise of my team, I was able to deliver vaginally. I can say with certainty that this would not have been the same experience had I stayed with my former practice of OBs. I cannot recommend this practice highly enough! Thank you NSAGO!

My main goal with my second pregnancy was a successful VBAC and the midwives at North Shore…read moreAssociates played a huge role in helping me achieve it. Throughout my whole pregnancy, I saw each midwife that was working there and I left feeling empowered and cared for every single time. These women are so supportive, patient and professional. I always felt listened to and validated, so I was able to go into labor knowing that whichever midwife was working, they would do everything they could to stick to my end goal and get my baby out safely. Jordan ended up being the midwife who delivered my baby boy at Evanston Hospital and Im so thankful for her. I will 1000% be returning to this practice for any possible future pregnancies.

North Shore offers a warm and supportive environment for both mothers and birth professionals. As…read morethe owner of Chicago Family Doulas, I've found the hospital staff to be collaborative and respectful of l birth preferences, making it a wonderful place for clients desiring beautiful and enjoyable birthing experience.

Mary was my doula for the birth of my daughter and I have nothing but the absolute best to say…read moreabout her. She was absolutely wonderful and went above and beyond for us before, during and after the birth! As a first time mom with limited prior exposure to the medical system, I wanted to be as prepared as possible: My main priority was having step by step guidance and handholding; Anne and Mary overdelivered! Before the birth -- Both Anne and Mary guided me to ensure I was prepared and knew what to expect; they also answered my every question (including things such as looking at my registry plans). Also, and perhaps most importantly, when a complication arose towards the end of my pregnancy, they were able to quickly explain the recommendation we were receiving from the medical team, provided some (spot on) recommendations given their experience, and gave us an overview of what EXACTLY to expect next. During and after the birth - Mary ended up being my doula for the birth. She went out of her way to ensure my birth plan was met as much as possible. This included helping the medical team that was clearly understaffed during COVID, despite being one of the best hospitals. Mary's involvement didn't stop there. She made sure I had the resources I needed to set me up for a successful nursing journey and checked in on us even a few months after the delivery. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mary as a doula to my friends and family. Furthermore, the partnership between Anne and Mary is also unique -- They make a terrific team, complementing each other every step of the way. If I could give them 10/5 stars, I would. Thank you again, Mary and Anne!

Anne was our doula for the birth of our first son, Jack, and it's not any exaggeration to say that…read moreshe was nothing short of miraculous. We originally decided to hire a doula to help with pain management upon learning that I may not be able to get an epidural for medical reasons. But after seeing all that she had to offer, we would have been wise to hire her regardless. She was incredibly warm and supportive and non-judgmental. She recognized patterns in how I was laboring that I didn't even recognize, and employed techniques and tools to cope with the contractions that were suited to what I was feeling, what was most comfortable, etc. I don't think I could have gotten through it without her. She is also incredibly knowledgable and accessible. Before labor started, I texted her many times with various non-urgent questions and concerns, and she got back to me almost immediately. Then, once labor started (which was in the middle of the night), she also responded immediately with suggestions and was over in 15 minutes once we told her we wanted her. She is everything you'd want in a doula and more. Perhaps most important is her warmth and genuine sense of empathy. She is so integrated and dedicated throughout the process that she teared up after the baby was born and even during the follow up meeting several days later. She is truly a wonderful person who will give you all her energy--physical and emotional. To find someone like that is rare.

I don't even know where to begin! I knew this second time around I wanted to do a home birth but I…read morewas naturally scared and wanted to find the right doula for such a big decision. I reached out to many doulas, but when I met with Samantha, I immediately knew I wanted her to be the one to guide me in this beautiful process of bringing my baby earthside. I could tell Samantha was experienced, kind, knowledgeable and she had such a calming and soothing presence. The weeks before giving birth, Samantha was always quick to respond to my questions and eased any concerns . Leading up to my birth, I knew Samantha was going to be reliable and I already felt comfortable with her. The day I went into labor around 4am, she was quick to respond to my call and was able to make it to my home promptly. As soon as she got to my house there was such a calming presence about her that I instantly relaxed and felt so much more at ease. She assisted my husband and the rest of my laboring team in setting up our home for the delivery while helping me labor. I told Sam I wanted my labor to progress quickly, and she listened and delivered! She knew so many exercises and positions to get my baby to descend and guided me every step of the way. Her expertise, her calmness, and reassurance made my laboring so much faster and more manageable. Sam helped me feel safe, calm and supported through the entire process. I also really appreciated that she kept me hydrated, fed and just overall was always checking in on me to make sure I was managing well. After delivery she also kept checking in with me and my husband to see how else she could assist us. She was so wonderful to have around post delivery to make sure I was coping well with the pain as well. She was truly amazing throughout the entire process and so easy to work with. My labor and delivery was a dream thanks to Samantha!

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.