Michelle was a very helpful instructor. I took 4 classes from her prior to my child's birth. I…read morereally enjoyed her sense of humor, great preparation and knowledge, and gentle approach to supporting new parents!

Michelle is absolutely amazing as a doula! Her program is so unique and special. I highly recommend…read morehiring a doula from Mothering the Mother- all the women are so passionate about women, children, and birth! They care so much about you and dedicate so much time to your needs. I had a Hypnobabies birth, but even if I didn't have a natural birth, the continuous support would have still been wonderful. Definitely consider them if you are searching for a doula!

Molly is amazing! I'm new to the whole pregnancy world and wasn't sure what this birthfit thing was…read moreall about it. I had to look at reviews and blogs from different cities. I took the prenatal fitness class as I'm fairly active but wanted to incorporate exercises that would help strengthen muscle groups for labor but also postpartum. My fatigue busted my butt in the first trimester and if anything, it held me accountable to get up and go to the class. Lastly, I think it was so nice to talk about your week regarding concerns whether it be health, labor experience, work, baby, and most importantly without judgement. I believe this to be a great option for both new and experienced mamas and one to keep on the radar.

Molly was a great coach in the 8 weeks I participated in a prenatal fitness course!! It was so fun…read moreto socialize while also building strength week after week. I learned a lot about my body and Molly worked with my individually due to my back pain. I love this class and highly recommend it to other pregnant mamas!!

Had a great experience with my coordinator. She helped me with a lot of resources, baby items, &…read moresupported me through my first pregnancy.

From the owner: We focus on building trusted, meaningful relationships with every parent. Our approach is warm,…read moreculturally responsive, and centered on dignity, empowerment, and respect. We take time to listen, understand each family's goals, and connect them with the right resources at the right time. Blessed Hands PNCC is also committed to community-based care, ensuring families get support that reflects their lived experiences and values. Our dedication to flexibility, compassion, and consistent follow-through helps families feel supported throughout pregnancy and beyond, making us more than a program, but a partner in each family’s journey to a healthy, confident start.

We used Parenting Partners to help find a surrogate to carry our second child. After many…read moreinfertility treatments and pursuits, we discovered I could not carry, and so we needed a solution for carrying our IVF embryos. Shirley was terrific to work with. She met with us and quickly learned a lot about what we were looking for and our perspective on surrogacy and very quickly matched us with the most wonderful woman who could not have been a better surrogate. After many years of challenges, this process went smoothly and was so much of a relief. I highly recommend Shirly and the Parenting Partners team.

From the owner: Choosing surrogacy is a very personal experience and taking the first step towards building your…read morefamily this unique way, or offering to help someone become a parent can sometimes be overwhelming. We are here to support you as you embark on this wonderful journey. Our goal is to provide information, education, matching and guidance to our clients from beginning to end. At Parenting Partners we specialize in individualized, and personal arrangements. We will help you navigate the intricacies of the surrogacy process through our extensive experience and dedication. You don't have to go to other states for a surrogacy agency. Our agency fee is only $9,000 in three installments. Easier on your budget. And your lawyer can tell you about getting a pre-birth order so you will be the legal parents from the start. Using a lower-cost surrogacy agency in Illinois has many advantages. "Partners To Parents..." We feel that working together we can reach the goal of helping people become parents through surrogacy.

Holly's birth prep class is absolutely outstanding. This is my second pregnancy, and my only regret…read moreis not finding her the first time around! She's engaging, funny, knowledgable, honest, and her main focus goes far, far beyond facts and information (which are also rich and helpful). The exercises in pain coping were excellent. They became even more powerful when paired with the exercises for couples to help us to understand our fears, expectations, hopes, etc. Yeah, I think couples therapists may learn a thing or two sitting in on Holly's classes! Discussing the smells, sights, sounds and other details about childbirth are not a regular part of mainstream Midwestern culture. Somehow, Holly made the information and exercises approachable and not at all weird to do in front of a group of other people. Holly is a great facilitator. A lot of great ideas and discussion came from members in the class because she made space for participation, thought, and sharing. This class involves making art. Normally I think that kind of stuff is total hippy BS, but I really enjoyed it. Maybe I had some pent up stuff from my previous birth experience, but whatever it was, it was awesome. I totally surprised myself with that. I uniquely appreciated Holly's class because she was totally welcoming despite the fact that I was the only one in the room that already had given birth once (emergency c-section not at all what was in my "plan"), and also the only one without a partner in class. Holly made it easy for me to be there, and to participate even though there was a lot of partner work. I really looked forward to coming home to share and practice with my partner. Holly also shared information and guided discussions in such a way to help the couples to manage their expectations and understand all of the possibilities and interventions that can occur, including c-section. She also spent time helping folks in the class to understand their emotions and expectations of themselves and each other. I'm paraphrasing, but she focused on helping us to prepare for the birth that gives us our babies, versus the 3-page plan of stuff that we "want." One thing is not "better" than another, only different, and understanding how to navigate it will make for the most positive birth experience. Holly has spent time at all of the area hospitals, so her tips on productive communication with staff and doctors at the hospital, as well as what to remember to ask for ( eg. squat bars, fresh batteries for the fetal heart monitor) were totally awesome. I'm so happy I took this class with Holly. I'm due in a few weeks, and my partner and I both feel far more prepared for how to navigate our way through the labyrinth, whatever path that may be.

My husband and I took Holly's Birthing From Within Childbirth class and really enjoyed it. We both…read morehad read and connected with the book Birthing From Within so the class seemed like a natural extension. We went to Holly's house for 3 Saturdays and covered what to expect physically and emotionally in labor. I was impressed with Holly's overall knowledge and passion and how she was able to get all of the couples to participate so thoughtfully. I recently gave birth to our first child and throughout my labor I was able to connect with things that Holly had said and so was my husband. Even though she constantly told us that labor is unpredictable, I had some mile markers in my head from what I had learned and it was very helpful. I highly recommend this class! Thank you Holly :)

: 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.