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!

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.

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!

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 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!

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.

When I was on the Bowmanville Garden Walk last year, before I even got pregnant, I noticed Family…read morePicnic in the neighborhood as I was walking around. I made note of it in hopes that I'd successfully achieve a pregnancy and might check out the programs here, and once I was pregnant signed up for their mailing list. They offer a variety of services from doula and lactation support, childbirth and early childhood classes, to various parent & baby groups. I was here because I attended a music program for babies that was held here and hosted by a partner organization. The space is really lovely and welcoming to parents and children; there are gathering spaces, chairs, pillows, and whatnot. You'll need to take your shoes off when you enter so don't wear lace up thigh high boots! There are great east facing windows that let in enough light that I think when I was here we didn't even have the lights on. I'd like to attend a group that they have here (and as of September 2023 they have a check-in offer for just that, so I hope to use it soon!). The other two parent/baby groups at the music class we went to have been in attendance here because they knew one another, and it would be great to have a community closer to my neighborhood. Parking is ample--it's not a permit zone on Damen itself, though I'm not sure about the side streets. I'd encourage any new parent to see what they have to offer.

My husband and I recently took the 5 week labor class, a breastfeeding class, and a new parent…read moreclass, and it was a wonderful experience all around. The owners/class facilitators are so welcoming and kind, and we learned so much as soon to be first time parents. I really liked the small group feel and that there was no judgment, they really encourage everyone to make choices that work best for them and their baby. It is also very affordable compared to some other classes I looked at. I would highly recommend all of the classes, especially the 5 week series, to any new parents in Chicagoland that want to understand the labor and delivery process better and learn about all the potential choices you'll be making together,

TL;DR: Jenn is fantastic…read more I went back and forth about whether I might need a doula for my birth. I had decided I probably didn't need one, but then about three weeks before my due date I completely changed my mind and was really worried about whether I'd be able to find anyone on such short notice. I was really lucky to touch base with Jenn and engage her for my birth. She was quick to set up a time with me so we could talk about me, my birth goals, and in general what I could expect as I welcomed my first and long-awaited child into the world in July 2023. When I found that my baby had moved to a breech position, I let her know since that posed some potential changes and challenges and we discussed those options a little more in depth so I could wrap my head around them. She also helped me practice some various positions that some swear by to help the baby turn. Because of the breech presentation I had to schedule a c-section but was glad to have Jenn on my team as both someone who has seen more births than me and as someone who's experienced a c-section herself. She was out of town for a couple days prior to my birth but was still available to me if I needed anything from her. She offered to drive me to the hospital the day of my c-section, which is an offer I took her up on and my mom and significant other came to the hospital a bit later. In the lead-up to my c-section Jenn made sure to share my birth plan with the doctor and nurse. She made sure everyone wore masks per my request. And whilst I was actually having the c-section, she spoke with me, played some music when I asked, and kept me calm. I was not terribly scared of the procedure but more a bit unnerved about being conscious whilst I was being cut into, so those actions helped. And when my baby was born (a girl, which upon hearing made me exclaim "Yay, Im so glad!"), she took photos, brought the baby to me for cheek to cheek contact as soon as possible and skin to skin as well. She stayed with me through recovery, helped my daughter latch for her first feed, and remained with me until they brought me up to my room. Whilst my daughter and I were in the hospital, Jenn checked in with me by text several times to check on how we were doing and offer support. I'm 11 days postpartum now and we'll be setting up a postpartum visit soon. I'm really grateful to have had Jenn's knowledge and support, even if for such a short time given my procrastination. I hope I'll be pregnant again soon and will contact Jenn again for her services--just earlier this time!

'10/10 highly recommend working w Jenn. She was everything I was looking for with my doula support-…read morewarm, supportive, flexible and relatable. From the moment we spoke, I felt a sense of ease and that she cared about supporting MY goals throughout the process; not pushing an agenda. Great pre birth lead up to get me prepared. And excellent at keeping me calm and advicating for what I wanted throughout L&D. She offered to give extra support session to my husband, who had some anxiety about my labor. I don't know how I would have navigated this process without her. And if I'm lucky enough to have a second child, will DEFINITELY work with her again.

Judy was there for, and with, me every step of the way. From 5 days after my baby was born, to…read morenavigating many feeding struggles, to making hard decisions to pivot, to walking me through the necessary pivots, and all the while affirming that I was making good choices for me and my family. I truly do not know how I would have made it through the first 3 months of being a mom without the knowledge, skillset, kindness, and compassion that Judy brings into her work. Judy's passion for helping mom and baby navigate feeding together, and in the healthiest way possible, was instrumental to my postpartum journey and to my baby's overall well-being. I cannot recommend Judy enough. A skilled professional and wonderful person. I will forever be deeply grateful to you, Judy!

It's hard to express in a short review just how much of an asset Judy was throughout my…read morebreastfeeding/pumping journey. When Judy came for her first visit, I was 1 week postpartum and feeling overwhelmed. Despite taking a class and meeting with the lactation consultants in the hospital, I felt wholly unprepared for the many different scenarios that can come up when trying to breastfeed a newborn. After spending nearly 2 hours together, I felt like this giant weight had come off my shoulders. Not only did I learn so much from Judy, but her warmth, humor, and support had me feeling like a new person! Because each visit includes a period of follow-up with her, she continued to provide me with invaluable support in the following weeks (and months). I truly would not have made it without her. When I talk to other friends who have worked with Judy, the response is always unanimous: "I LOVE Judy!" If you make the (very smart) decision to work with her, you'll quickly understand why.

We worked with Melissa after our son was born for almost 4 months!! She was a post partum doula…read morethat provided night support. Melissa was so wonderful to work with and made us and our baby feel very comfortable and well taken care of every day. She is very observant and proactive and great at communication. She cares a lot about what she does and it shows. She helped to make sure sleep training at 4 months went super well. We love Melissa!!!

Melissa took care of our twin babies overnight and was so helpful in transitioning them off night…read morewakings! She has such a calm, approachable demeanor and was so loving with our babies. Her knowledge from years of experience was truly invaluable as a first time mom of twins. She helped me feel empowered to teach my children good sleep and taught me the importance of it. We cannot thank her enough for her help and care of our babies! Highly recommend her to parents seeking sleep! Thank you Melissa!