Cygnus was consistently supportive and helpful. We could not have been happier. They were easy to…read moreuse, knowledgeable, and kind during what can be an emotional experience.

If you think lactation consultant scmholsuntant, you have no idea what you're talking about. Do…read moreseek out one! As for Cygnus, Jeannie is fantastic! The place is very well organized, very professional. We learned A LOT! And the price is VERY reasonable, especially for what you get, which is a lot.

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. :)

We enjoyed working with Lindsey as a birth doula for my recent birth. She is very calm, friendly,…read moreknowledgeable about pregnancy and infant care and familiar with navigating the hospital environment. She helped me during a hospital birth where I made use of tub and tried to avoid interventions. During labor, she assisted by putting heat packs on my pressure points, guiding me into different positions to make laboring easier and effective, making use of a tub for labor, and creating a calm, reassuring and positive atmosphere. Her experience, knowledge, confidence and personality make her a great doula. She also has kids of her own and can relate to moms.

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.

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.

Had 2 home waterbirths! Love this practice. Love the newborn and prenatal and postpartum care too!read more

I've had 2 homebirths with Midwives Care LLC. They have been a tremendous help in my prenatal and…read morepost partum Care. They really cared about my best interest with each pregnancy. I really researched my decision before going with Midwives Care. Even though there were a few Midwives in the practice....each one was considerate to my birth experience of choice. I never worried who would be at my birth. It really just felt like an extension of family.... which I think home birth kind of is. We are not only grateful for the customer service but the knowledge base as well. We really felt so safe and confident with our choice and haven't looked back. We are a customer until the last baby​

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!

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.

I hesitate to write this review as I usually like to say nice things about people (particularly…read moresmall businesses), but I feel as though even though it's been two+ years, I have to get this off of my chest. Reading similar reviews has been validating to my experiences, and I hope to bring similar feelings to other women. I was paired with Melissa through my insurance and she seemed like she'd be a nice fit. The ladies in my doula group had nice things to say about her and she had very positive online reviews, so I was optimistic. We had an intake session by phone a few weeks before my baby was born and she seemed nice enough, I was still optimistic. Unfortunately, when my baby showed up it was a different story. I delivered on a Friday so the lactation consultant at the hospital wasn't there for the weekend and I was having a bit of trouble figuring out techniques etc. After a few days, my baby started to drop weight and I was absolutely terrified. I contacted Melissa hoping she could help us, but instead all I received was a dismissive response (via text) stating that she could only see us in person several weeks into the future and the only appts that she had available more immediately were online. Not very helpful in a moment like that. I felt like my baby and I didn't matter to her at all - that we were just boxes on her to do list to be checked off when she felt like it. It was very hurtful. Fortunately, our maintenance man happened to be in our apartment fixing the heat and gave us some helpful tips from what he learned from his wife and their four kids that helped us get through the night (pleasant surprises in life :)). The following day, our pediatrician really showed up for us and luckily had a lactation nurse on staff whom saw us in person ASAP and it all worked out in the long run. I don't write this review to be mean, but once again rather to validate women who might have had similar experiences or may have them in the future. This seems much more important to write a review about than a mediocre restaurant. I'm glad to hear so many women have had positive experiences with Melissa, I just wish we were one of them. As I've seen Melissa write in response to similar reviews, we wish her the best.

The Badass Before Breakfast Challenge has been incredible! The daily morning Zoom sessions were…read moreinformative and packed to the brim with tips and tricks toward improving my health and wellness. Now that I've kickstarted my journey toward healing with Dr. Jordan, I'm determined to keep moving forward with the healthy foundations I've put in place AND layer on the next steps. Thank you , Dr Jordan and Dr. Jade for putting so much love, support, honesty, guidance, and wisdom into helping heal our community in a well-rounded and outside the box type of way!

Dov, Message Therapist - Great partitioner. Tentative to my needs. Welcoming and Comfortable…read moreatmosphere. Extremely professional

When thinking about my pregnancy, birth, and post partum I get overwhelmed with such gratitude…read more Having Corinne and Coté by my side throughout this journey and process has been my biggest blessing. When I got pregnant, I assumed I would have a birthing center birth again. But I decided to talk to Corinne, just to learn a little more about the possibility of a home birth. Their warmth and calmness made me feel so confident and comfortable with having a home birth. Choosing Birth roots for my birth was the best decision I ever made. Birth is a transformative time in your life and Corinne and Coté understand that and are there for you for every part. Being able to meet with the same midwife for each appointment made a huge difference in level of care. Corinne knew my previous birth story, knew about my first born, my partner, and most importantly every aspect of this pregnancy. They knew my concerns, my joys, and how I envisioned my birth. Honestly, it felt more like talking to a friend and therapist every visit. Corinne makes you feel extremely comfortable, I was able to share all of my concerns, doubts, and worries without judgement. I was able to have an amazing homebirth because of them. Throughout my fourth trimester, Corinne was still there checking in on me and baby. They understand the difficulties of post partum and truly show up for you. It's the support every woman deserves after birth. Then, there is Coté who is equally amazing. Her warmth, knowledge, and nourishing soul made my entire pregnancy, birth, and postpartum just that much better. Walking into her home and being welcomed with warm tea and positive energy is exactly what I always needed without even knowing it. I always left her feeling more at ease and at peace. She has a gift. Cote also organizes classes and post partum gatherings which I was able to be a part of and absolutely loved. The post partum groups are a blessing. If you are questioning on whether or not to choose Birth Roots, do it! You won't regret it.

We feel so fortunate and blessed to have had Corinne as our midwife and Coté as our doula for the…read morebirth of our son 6 months ago. We could not have asked for better people to guide us on this journey. We looked forward to every appointment with Corinne. Corinne is knowledgeable, caring and emotionally intelligent. We always felt like we were in good hands, which kept anxiety low and positive energy high throughout our pregnancy. Coté added an element we wouldn't even have known exactly how to seek or ask for. Through singing, drums, story, massage, ritual, candles, education...you name it!...she helped to bring out the deep meaning inherent in pregnancy and birth. We came away from prenatal and postnatal sessions with Coté whispering to ourselves "whoa!" and feeling indescribable peace that you might normally associate with the best meditation or religious ceremonies. We would be thanking our lucky stars to have found either of these wonderful people to assist us with welcoming our son into our family, but having both of them contribute according to their special gifts and talents still feels almost too good to be true. Thank you Corinne and Coté from the bottom of our hearts.