Kate saved me from giving up on my breastfeeding journey! After more than 4 weeks of dealing with…read morean incredibly painful latch, I had enough and knew I needed help. I matched with Kate through The Lactation Network (highly recommend) and she paid me a home visit within a day or two. She was prompt, professional and responsive before, during and after our visits, and listened to my concerns and struggles. She also was extremely conscious of health protocols during our visits which was very important to me given the current landscape. Kate taught me a new position and helped me get comfortable and practice it with my newborn, and helped create a feeding plan that worked for me and my baby. After our initial visit, I was still struggling and she came by for a follow-up visit within two days to troubleshoot. I am now regularly nursing my baby confidently and couldn't have done it without her! Thank you, Kate!

Kate is fantastic and I am so grateful to her for helping us navigate through a stressful time. We…read morehad a rough start to our transition home (needing immediate help), and Kate was quickly available to help us with an in-home visit. Kate took a flexible approach and listened to our challenges, and helped us make a plan and gain confidence to get back on track. We have made such progress in such a short amount of time and truly appreciate Kate for the empathy and education she provided us!

La Leche League (LLL) is awesome! The information and support they offer to anyone trying to feed…read moretheir own milk to their baby is always free. They offer breastfeeding support, they provide information for someone who is pumping exclusively or who is trying to nurse their baby after mastectomy/chest surgery, they are compassionate and helpful. There are LLL Leaders all over the world who are committed to supporting other families who want their little one to have the best milk possible. LLL USA dot org and LLLI dot org both offer contact information for Leaders. LLL USA provides the info for the United States. If you're in Oklahoma, check on LLLOK dot org.

This is a great network of mothers who meet once a month to support each other with their…read morebreastfeeding choices. They meet at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Lakeview on the third Tuesday of each month. To get involved or for more info, you can contact one of their leaders: Hilde 773 868 4860 hmkaiser@ameritech.net Joelle 773 733 3478 jpermutt@aol.com Nancy 773 338 0137 nmachaj@sbcglobal.net Juli 773 725 8891 juliwalter@mindspring.com It wasn't easy to get to the first time I went, so here is the way to find the meeting if you decide to go: Enter through the main hospital entrance and follow the signs to room G34 in the Education Center. Everyone was very nice and welcoming to new mothers attending. I don't know if I will continue to go to this meeting because it is at night. I don't know what kind of schedule the baby will be on, but there is another group that meets at Be By Baby in Roscoe Village in the day time. I will just have to see... Overall, this is a great way to meet other moms and learn about mothering from women who have experience.

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.

During the birth of my first child, there were many unexpected things that came up that I felt…read moreunprepared for, especially during a time when it is already difficult to think (giving birth!). I felt ignorant and like I could have used a lot more support, especially given that the nurses were different, people I didn't know, and that I didn't always agree with (but didn't know how to handle that situation). The actual doctor came in and out only occasionally. For my second child, I wanted to hire a doula to help me cope with the contractions and to be an advocate when we went to the hospital in case I encountered any other unexpected situations. My second birth was much faster, and I had a successful unmedicated birth. I would definitely work with Windy City Doulas again. They have many doulas and helped me find someone close to me within my price range. She was very kind, experienced, reliable, organized, and professional. She even gave me other resources (like educational birth videos about what to expect in birth and at the hospital that she had made, which I watched with my husband). She recommended practicing pain coping techniques, and all of this helped me feel competent and prepared. I'm sure this doesn't happen very often, but in my case I was lucky to have the birth experience that I had planned for and wanted without complications!

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. :)

I was connected with Jaudon since my baby was 2 weeks old and have continued to use her lactation…read moreconsulting services. She is easy to get in contact with and has flexibility to meet regularly. I really appreciated her coming over regularly to help us with our baby's slow weight gain and she was also able to coordinate with our pediatrician. I was adamant about wanting to BF and I'm glad she didn't try to push formula but encouraged triple feeding for some time, which is tough on a new mom but I think it did help. We ultimately decided to supplement with formula while working to improve my supply and she was supportive along the way. I plan to continue using her services as we introduce solids and start to wean baby off breast milk. Highly recommend setting up consultation with Jaudon!

Would highly recommend Jaudon for her lactation consulting. Insurance takes care of the billing,…read moreshe just charges $40 for in-home visits, which was something I really wanted. I like how she met with me before I delivered my child, to manage expectations and suggest what we should prioritize before the baby arrived. It was reassuring to have someone already set up once I brought my baby home. Once home, we did have some challenges which Jaudon was able to diagnosis and suggest action plans. She's well connected in the community, including with specialists. She's quick to respond to email and I like the option for virtual or in-person meetings as needed. She recognizes there are different stages of breast feeding, from a newborn to returning to work.

We were referred to Barbara at The Mother's Milk Company by our pediatrician at Lakeview…read morePediatrics. Our newborn son was having trouble feeding on a bare nipple; he was capable of latching but would get easily frustrated, and we hadn't had a single successful feeding without the nipple shield given to us by the lactation counselors at Prentice. Within 20 minutes or so, Barbara had our son feeding on the nipple successfully. Through simple observation she was able to assess the what we were doing wrong and make better recommendations. We then went through some other options and troubleshooting steps for when we have trouble, and she corrected some misconceptions we had picked up from, ironically, baby and nursing classes at Northwestern. It's not always that easy and we're still trying to make it work dependably, but we are doing much better with the knowledge Barbara gave us. She also provided a variety of printed materials, and followed up with us the next day and offered to provide some extra assistance over the phone. We're very grateful for her professionalism, kindness, and breadth of knowledge.

Barbara is absolutely incredible! She comes to your house and is professional, caring, informative,…read morepatient, and kind. I would have been lost navigating the world of breast feeding without her guidance. Can't recommend her enough!

can't say enough positive things about Melissa Block. I had…read moremy son at 37weeks gestation. he was growth restricted and had a tongue tie. Melissa met with us literally a few hours after his birth and really helped me figure things out and get into a routine. when I later had problems with an oversupply/fast letdown preventing my baby from latching at all- forcing us to switch to bottles- I texted her at night and she responded within the hour with assistance. she then met with me first thing in the morning and literally within the call he was back to latching at the breast with no issues! haven't needed to use a bottle since. I would HIGHLY recommend Melissa, she really knows what she's doing, makes herself available for you, and is so positive and reassuring about the process. many thanks to her!!

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.

First, I'd like to say Judy Teibloom-Mishkan my lactation consultant is fabulous…read more Ashland Breast Pumps / Ashland Women's health makes the process of finding a lactation consultant, figuring out your insurance coverage as well as help you get a breast pump and supplies! What a great service for mom's to get the help and support they need. For pumps, I choose the Spectra S1 and even when I got the wrong flange size, they were able to get me the correct size without paying a dime out of pocket. They also cover hand pumps!

The two people I attempted to work with from Ashland Health were horrible at communicating. I would…read morenever recommend them for lactation services! On March 14, I independently reached out to an IBCLC (lactation consultant/LC) recommended to me, who works through Ashland Health. My availability (because I have a toddler, and my sitter could watch him) was Tuesday 3/19 and Friday 3/22. The LC said she'd see me on the 22nd because she had a commitment on the 19th. I anxiously awaited this appointment: my now-4 week old has had increasing issues with nursing. It's been extremely difficult on me, and even moreso as a single parent. By Thursday the 21st, I hadn't heard from the LC about when she'd be coming for the appointment the next day. I emailed her at 7:30am and 9am regarding my availability (starting at 9am, and noted I had to pick my toddler up at 1:30pm). I didn't receive a response. By 4:15pm, I finally located her phone number online, called, and left a voice message. I then called Ashland Health and left a voice message at 4:50pm, stating I needed information about a scheduled appointment for the next day (Friday 3/22) and asked for them to call me back. No one ever did. The LC FINALLY texted (!) me at 8pm, stating she had been preoccupied by a personal situation. She confirmed she'd be at my residence the next day for the appointment but never said what time. The next day (3/22, the date of the scheduled appointment with the LC), when I had not heard from the LC by 10:30am, I called Ashland Health EXTREMELY upset. I stated I had not heard from the LC, there's been poor communication with her and it obviously wasn't working out, and I'd like to request someone else to help me. I was told they'd see if someone could come help me before 2pm. No one EVER called me back: not that day (the 22nd), Monday (3/25), or today (Tuesday 3/26). I'm appalled that both a lactation consultant AND a lactation business both left me hanging: horrible communication, no call backs, no help. They literally left me struggling with no services to help me and my newborn. By contrast, I reached out to another lactation service. They returned my voice message within an hour AND scheduled an appointment (with a solid appointment time). I'm finally happy I'm going to get lactation help: it's LONG overdue. I'm extremely dismayed that Ashland Health wasn't professional enough to do the same, wasted my time, and set me even further back breastfeeding my child.

UPDATE 3/20/26: This is now my second time using Chicago Family Doulas and I'd give alllll the…read morestars if I could! Another amazing experience. We were paired with Tiana for sibling care and she was everything you'd want in someone caring for your children - kind, caring, professional, intuitive and FUN. My 5 and 2 year old loved spending time with her. She was extremely communicative before, during, and after her time with us. She sent us regular updates with videos and photos too. The whole team is very engaged and responsive including the admin team and the owner. You can tell they all care deeply about this work and their clients. I would not hesitate to use this team for any type of doula service in the future and I recommend to anyone considering these types of services for their family.

We had a great experience with birth doula and postpartum doula support. Erin and Brittany were…read moresuch great guides for us as first time parents and made us feel supported through each step in the process. Thank you!