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.

If you are (or going to be) a new mom, this place is a must. The care, the classes, the…read moreinformation, and lactation consultants are absolutely phenomenal. I felt super isolated and lonely in motherhood (my mom, and MIL completely hands off and not helpful in the advice department) and I just felt utterly lost in being a new mother. As many new mothers do. I just didn't feel comfortable scouring the internet for answers. The new mom's class was super awesome! I learned so much and got to meet new moms just like me. I also was able to breast feed my son for 9 months (while working) Everyone is so kind, patient, and knowledgeable there. Gail and her staff care so much for the moms and families they impact everyday. Thank you!!

I went to New Mother New Baby today at 3 weeks postpartum. I had been struggling with latching and…read morehad a lot of pain pumping. I was ready to give up but decided to give a lactation consultant a try before throwing in the towel. I used mg insurance website to find options and selected this location based on reviews. I can't say enough positive things about my experience with Laura. She instantly put me at ease. After learning about my birth story and our journey she helped me learn to use my pump, size my flanges and was able to get a good latch within minutes. I was skeptical about if I could take what I learned and replicate it once home. I am happy to say I've done it twice since getting home today. I look forward to my follow up appointment and working with them to continue to improve my supply.

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. :)

Laura changed our lives and we're so thankful for her help! She's an expert in breastfeeding and…read moreshe cares about the health and well-being of babies and mommas too! A little backstory: Before seeing Laura, I saw a lactation consultant (LC) at my baby's former pediatrician's office. I was having severe pain in my nipples for 13 weeks after each feeding and dreaded each one. The baby would spend an hour at the breast and would cry when I took her off, never satiated. I brought up questions to my pediatrician and lactation consultant on numerous occasions: Does my baby have a tongue tie? Why does it hurt so bad when she feeds? Why are her feedings so long? What cues should I look for in a baby who is getting enough milk? Long answer short, I didn't get answers for those questions and I was pushed in the direction of formula. Not that there is anything wrong with using formula, I was just passionate about trying to breastfeed my baby because I was interested in the natural antibodies and nutritional benefits of breastmilk. Reasons you should contact Laura: I finally did some research and realized I needed to be seen by an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). I had no idea there was a difference between a LC and an IBCLC, but there definitely is one. I came across Laura's name and gave her a call, she was quick to respond and was able to make a home visit the following day. She had a thorough questionnaire to get my full history, and she truly listened to the problems I was having and gave me some helpful information to prepare for her visit. Within minutes of her visit she identified that my baby had a lip and tongue tie. It was the biggest relief to find out that all the issues I was having with breastfeeding were real and that there was help for them. Laura's help didn't end there, she helped me with breastfeeding positions, with the baby's latch, completed a weighted feed, gave me suggestions for supplements to help increase my milk production, taught me how to do paced bottle feeds, helped me understand the importance of natural remedies, allowed me to have an open, honest conversation on all the questions I had as a new mom, and pointed me in the direction of other health care providers that could help with the tongue tie release and after care. She followed through with checkups- asking about the baby and me after the release and continued to show that she cared. I think the most important thing Laura did for me was to reassure and encourage me to listen to my intuition as a new mom. Being a new mom can be scary but there is also something innate in us to know when things are wrong with our babies and our bodies- like that saying- mom knows best! Laura was there to root me on and provide me with the tools to do better and helped me achieve my goals for breastfeeding. I only wished that I would have called her sooner! Thank you Laura!

I saw Laura as a second opinion IBCLC earlier this year. She identified my son's tongue tie, and…read morerecommended the Dentist (Dentistry for Kids) to get it revised. That alone saved our breast feeding journey. The rest of Laura's services were fine, but she offered no further information than I already knew and didn't have many suggestions in the way of increasing my supply. Like other reviews highlight, it's hard to pick apart the good advice from the not-so-helpful.

Sarah was so amazing! She came to my home a week after I delivered and explained EVERYTHING to me…read more It's frustrating and infuriating as a new mom to find out that no one is there to teach you how to do any of this! So when I found Sarah through the lactation network, she was a god send! Sarah not only taught me everything but followed up with me, checked in on me AND answered my crazy texts when I forgot my pump at home and was dealing with engorged breasts at work! I highly recommend her services! Thank you Sarah!!

I could not be more grateful to have had Sarah as my lactation consultant - she is simply…read moreexcellence and what she does and made me "feel home" everytime we met. Her personalized care was essential on my feeding and motherhood journey - in each and every session I had the opportunity to learn something new that would enhance my confidence, knowledge and my daughters health. It was amazing having her support and I miss our sessions - thank you Sarah for everything! Carla Tovar - Chicago IL

I have absolutely loved working with Vanessa and Kate towards my breastfeeding goals, and wish I…read morehad known about VP Lactation before my delivery. Thankfully, my hospital LC got me connected to the Lactation Network and they paired me up with a local LC, which through serendipity I was paired with the absolute best team at VP Lactation. Working with Vanessa has been the greatest gift in my fourth trimester journey. My little one had a tongue tie, and as a physician myself I felt that I was referred to the very best clinicians for release and therapy, and these changes have dramatically improved my baby's weight gain and growth. I didn't expect to love breastfeeding as much as I have and have learned so much as my baby and I mastered this skill together all because of the incredible support VP Lactation provided throughout. I look forward to working with Vanessa when I transition back to work and eventually wean, and will absolutely have them by my side ahead of time for my next baby. They are an absolute joy as people, expert IBCLCs, and inspiring moms and I would not hesitate to recommend them to other expecting families!

do not hesitate to book! Such a great experience! I saw Kate and I can't recommend her enough. So…read moreeasy to talk to, so knowledgeable, so helpful, and i wish I would have met her sooner! After one visit, I took her tips and recommendation and it made a huge impact in my breastfeeding journey! can't say enough good things!

Darci was a big asset to my husband and I in the postpartum weeks. It is a strange feeling jumping…read moreinto parenthood with a newborn and even stranger agreeing to let a total stranger in your house to care for your newborn while you sleep. However, Darci quickly gained my trust and it was such a relief to know a night was coming up in our week where I may actually be able to just worry about my own needs for a few hours and have someone else caring for my child. She wore a mask around our baby which was important to me (she offered this independently). She always showed up on time. I appreciated that she could wash bottle/pump parts while baby slept and she did some baby laundry too. Working with an individual over a large doula business meant we were able to customize the number of shifts we wanted and the number of hours of each shift. Most companies will require 9 or 10 hours at a time, but Darci helped us customize a schedule of 7 hour shifts which worked better for our needs and budget. She will show you baby exercises or tricks to help with digestion and gas. She will also take notes for you on when baby eats/sleeps/gets changed etc if you want to track that in any of the baby apps or just see what the night looked like. Overall- we recommend Darci for your Northshore doula needs if you are looking for a 1-2/week option that is more customizable!

Darci was so helpful to me during those first few weeks after bringing my baby home. My husband was…read moreonly able to be stay home during the first week so I was pretty anxious to be on my own so early, that is when Darci stepped in. She taught me how to properly and safely bathe our son, infant massage to help him with digestion and different burping positions as well, which have been very helpful as a first time mom. I was nervous to start pumping and what that would look like going backt to work since I am a hairstylist and unable to pump while doing my job. Darci went above and beyond and was not only there for my first pumping session but she then made a schedule for me based off my work schedule around all the clients I already had booked upon my return to work. It was so incredibly helpful and we are beyond grateful for her!

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.

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.

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.