Submitting a new review (I deleted my 2018 one because it was just a bit too lengthy and personal),…read morebut Cloud nine was the best decision I made for my birth. They were more helpful than even the actual midwives, even with an unexpected transfer to the hospital. I felt empowered, educated and cared for. My doula (Laura) was absolutely amazing with physical and emotional supports for both me and my husband, and she helped me make informed decisions throughout my labor even when we had difficulties and a very long labor. Honestly my birth was a million times better because of her, and an experience that likely would have been pretty terrifying ended up being beautiful and safe for me and my family. The class was a bit too introductory for me. I do wish they had maybe a harder class or one that covers post birth things like baby wearing, breastfeeding and postpartum anxiety and depression. But it's a good overview if you aren't familiar with birth. Overall - definitely give them a call and speak with Kelsey. I'm so glad I did.

I can't say enough great things about cloud nine! We worked with the Kelsey/Valerie team and their…read moresupport was unmatched. Valerie came to our house first to talk about physical support and labor prep. She could not have been more kind, understanding and knowledgable about birth prep. Both continued to check in weekly towards the end and we're always willing to answer questions. When it got to be birth day, Kelsey knew exactly when to come before I had to ask and was the best support. She was intuitive, comforting and even in the midst of the unexpected kept things calm and gave me exactly what I needed. I cannot recommend this team enough! They truly care about making sure clients have the birth they desire and are able to support both the birthing person and support person.

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!

My husband and I worked with Tanya for the 2005 birth of our only child. After taking her courses…read moreand meeting with her privately for a few sessions, we felt confident and ready for the big day, and very relaxed, a feeling that many of my friends who had prepared in other ways did not share. The hypnosis practice she introduced to us not only prepared us for birth, but drew us closer during the pregnancy, and helped us to help each other feel calm and ready for what was ahead. When our daughter was born, Tanya was an amazing advocate, comfort, and team member both at home and at the hospital. Working within a very rigid hospital system, Tanya really helped us to navigate the terrain and ask for what we needed. Unfortunately, the birth of our daughter was a traumatic one, and resulted in a c-section. Without Tanya, I don't know how we would have managed the fear that was associated with that experience. Thankfully, our daughter was born healthy and happy. Four years later, because of the unresolved trauma, I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I had attempted, since the birth, to forget about the experience---to ignore the feelings---and unfortunately, this led me to feel depressed, angry, and generally unwell. The first person I called when I received this diagnosis was Tanya, and she immediately let me know that a) I am not alone---this is an experience that happens to many women, b) she could verify that, yes, the birth was a trauma, and she was a witness to it, and best yet, c) she could help me feel better. What has happened in the past month, as Tanya and I have met to talk about the birth, and she has used her training to help me access (safely) the memories of that day in July 2005, is nothing short of miraculous. For the first time in four years, I am feeling better, happier, less fearful and anxious and generally stressed. She helped me to unlock a door that I had barricaded shut in my mind, and although I have a lot of work left to do to heal, I am feeling a sense of peace and understanding that I haven't felt in years. Tanya is, in short, a blessing. She is wonderful before birth, amazing during birth, and incredible after birth. I would recommend her, without hesitation, to any family seeking the best birth experience possible. As my story testifies, even in a suboptimal situation, Tanya is able to care for mothers in a way that is unparalleled.

My husband and I took Hypnobirthing classes at Masonic with Tanya before our birth. Her classes…read morewere some of the best things we did before we had our beautiful baby boy on January 19th, 2013. In her classes you learn about the nature behind giving birth and how your body is equipped to handle delivery without interventions. She thoroughly addressees the progress of labor every step of the way. If you're in for understanding the chemistry and body awareness behind natural birth then this is definitely a class for you. It put us at ease regarding the impending pain and unknowns that come with birth. I was on the fence about hiring a doula for birth support but a few things happened leading up to the final month of my pregnancy and we decided we needed that extra support on the day of delivery. I called Tanya to get recommendations and discuss my thoughts for hiring a doula this late in my pregnancy. She, as always, listened and gave her feedback. She also told me that she was available and after talking to my husband about it that night we decided to hire her immediately. We knew her from the classes so we were extremely ecstatic and put at ease knowing that she was going to be with us every step of the way leading up to the birth. I can honestly say that while going to Tanya's classes was a great decision, making that final decision to hire her as our monitrice before our delivery may have been the best decision I've ever made in my life. Her support, encouragement, hypnobirthing techniques and relaxation methods are the only thing that allowed me to have a natural birth- what I wanted more than anything. The hospital we delivered at is pretty heavy on meds and interventions and it was all we could do to have a natural birth with no interventions. Tanya was a great voice for us as well as great at assuring us everything was a-okay! She is an expert in her field and very professional. I trusted her with my life and the life of my son and I would recommend her to anyone and everyone. She without a doubt made my birth experience so beautiful, supported and exactly what I wanted. Nothing was going to get in the way of that once we made the decision to hire Tanya and it was true. She is a very strong, and very professional advocate for women who want to experience the true nature of a natural and intervention-free birth. I can't say enough how grateful, appreciative and honored we were to have Tanya there for the birth of our baby boy. Thank you, Tanya. You made bringing my son into this world a joyful, honest, natural and truly supported experience.

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.

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.

We LOVED the photos Maggie took of our baby boy and family! She was fantastic to work with and…read morecaptured beautiful photos that are very true to our family! (It never felt fake or over-posed!) We loved that newborn photos she took so much that we had her take 6 month photos too (and will absolutely be scheduling her take photos for us in the future too)! We were a little nervous, given the pandemic, but Maggie was extremely cautious and made us feel very safe while she was taking photos!

I have had Maggie taking our family photos for 16 years, and she photographed two of my births…read more Looking back through my photos makes me so emotional because she captured my family almost through my eyes when they were young. Priceless and worth the investment.

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.

I found Rebekkah (supported serenity) through the Birth Center of Chicago's referral list, who…read moreworks in tandem with Amber (Lorelei Lu Doula), and after browsing many doula websites, I knew right away that they were the team I wanted by my side. They supported me through my entire prenatal, birth, and postpartum journey with such steady care.When the Birth Center of Chicago temporarily closed due to a staffing shortage, I had to transfer to Burr Ridge Birth Center (also wonderful!). Amber and Rebekkah ensured the transition was completely seamless, and I still felt fully supported during such a major change at seven months pregnant. Throughout my pregnancy, they offered calm reassurance and evidence-based guidance that truly prepared me for birth. I felt confident, grounded, and ready. Rebekkah attended my birth and later encapsulated my placenta--she even delivered the capsules with homemade cookies. During labor, her clear explanations of what was happening helped me stay present, focused, and connected to what my body was capable of. I'm endlessly grateful that I found them. I cannot recommend this doula team enough!

: Not a nice person. Be sure to check her return policies…read morefor any items you consider purchasing as the belly binder a is ripped up sheet (muslin) that you can purchase at your local Joann's . This is the video I was given for the technique. I can't include it due to Yelp rules, but it is a regular person's YouTube account, not even one of the doulas or Maura. Search Bengkung Belly Binding on YouTube and a ton of videos will come up. The binder did not help me feel held in. I asked for a refund and was told the price was mainly for the doula coming to my house--which was unnecessary because the YouTube video was the guide. After continued times trying to reach a reasonable resolution, Maura told me that I was harassing her. (What the heck weirdo woman?) What doula worth anything speaks to a mom of a 2 week old that way. Beware!!!!!!!!! This doula is unstable and no new mom needs that. Get a Bellefit binder. It helps without dealing with a psycho doula.

Maura was a joy to work with before, during, and after the birth of my little one…read more She obviously approaches her work with a great deal of professionalism that isn't always present in the birthing world. For example, her email communication is clear and prompt, she is obviously very well organized, and she gave me sweet little new-mama-related gifts at our first meeting, as well as after Baby's birth. But all that is not reason enough to hire a doula, right? When I first met Maura, I must confess I was a bit dismayed by her youth. Although I knew she had lots of experience supporting births and more medical training than most doulas, there was a part of me that wanted an older presence on my birth team. Well, thankfully the rational part of me won out over this other, ageist part, because Maura was wonderful and everything we (my husband and I) could have wanted. And I'm sure she's probably not quite as young as she seemed that first day ;) My labor and birth were pretty quick, uncomplicated, and relatively painless. I don't think I actually noticed Maura much during the process. However, when I watched the video of my baby's birth (which Maura was happy to film and photograph for us), I noticed Maura was the one who'd pick up on how I was feeling and cheer me on when I seemed to need it, and my husband and mom (who I wanted hands-on with me) would follow her lead. She just seemed to have this way of fitting in and being exactly what we needed her to be at the time, even though we ourselves didn't know what that was. After Baby's birth, she provided encouraging support and a postpartum visit to see that all was going well for our family. She was pretty awesome answering my questions via text, about all things from newborn poop to homeopathic remedies. I know that she will soon begin to study midwifery, but if you find her still offering doula services, I would highly recommend adding her to your list of doulas to consider.