We love Heather and Victoria. We worked with 312Doulas as we prepared for the arrival of our first child. 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. read more

312 Doulas was recommended by a friend, and I'm so glad I listened! My review focuses on my doula (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! read more

TLDR: If you're considering a doula, I can't recommend 312 Doulas/ Heather and Victoria highly enough! More on my experience: Before I got pregnant I can't say I fully understood what a doula does and how they can be such a tremendous resource for all expecting women and couples. My (mis)perception of a doula was that they are solely for helping women with natural at home water type births, so since I was planning a hospital (with epidural) birth I didn't initially consider that a doula could help me as well. When I found out I was pregnant a friend recommended considering a doula as I had a fear of childbirth and I'm so glad I did! We hired 312 doulas early in our second trimester and worked with Heather and Victoria for several months during my pregnancy in 2020 which took place through the early and isolating months of the COVID pandemic. We found both Heather and Victoria extremely responsive and knowledgeable and used their 24-7 message portal and 1-1 consultations regularly throughout my pregnancy. Having a doula team was a great way to stay more informed and educated about pregnancy progress, what's normal/ what's not, risks and benefits of various options along the way. They also hosted virtual weekly pregnancy groups with other moms throughout my pregnancy which were so valuable during the pandemic (and they also host one for new moms) when in person networking and community building is so limited. They were able to help advise on a full spectrum of topics ranging from diet/ nutrition to how to manage pregnancy symptoms to product recommendations for pregnancy and childcare to specialist referrals to evidence based counsel on the various medical options and choices you will have along the way through pregnancy and birth, and the list goes on. We took the Hypnobabies class with them which again, my (mis)perception is that a class like that is only for planned natural births, but I found the class informative from an education perspective and the hypnobabies techniques to be amazing to help give me tools to approach pregnancy and childbirth with a much more calm and positive mindset. I did not plan to use it exclusively for pain management but I did use some of the tracks and techniques to relax throughout my pregnancy and to help me cope with some of the more intense parts of labor. Victoria and Heather rotate their on call schedule for labor support, and do a great job of pairing up or alternating support throughout pregnancy/ classes so you get to know both of them and I would have been perfectly happy and comfortable with either Heather or Victoria on the big day. Heather was on call during my labor and she was amazing. We had a rather long labor with a few complications/ interventions that went against my original birth plans. Heather was there to help us make informed decisions and was able to provide more information on options, risks and alternatives than we got from the hospital staff. She helped me avoid a couple things that in the end would have been unnecessary. She also knew how to navigate our hospital (Northshore Evanston) very well and was very knowledgeable about hospital procedures and knew many of the staff. One of our favorite nurses was excited to learn we were working with 312 doulas so they seem to have credibility in the hospital also. Throughout our delivery Heather was calm, comforting, informative and supportive for my husband and I, and I know my husband was equally grateful to have Heather with us. After a lengthy labor we were on verge of needing a C-Section and I believe it's highly probable we may have had one if it weren't for Heather's support and motivation through the most difficult period of the birth of our daughter. Fast forward a few weeks postpartum, we continue to get support from 312 doulas through our postpartum visit with Heather and the new moms group that she and Victoria host. We are also using 312 Doulas for the placement of a postpartum doula (Maria) and after a few sessions we are very happy so far with the support! It's hard to imagine how different my journey to motherhood may have been if we hadn't found 312 doulas and my husband and I will forever feel thankful that we had support and partnership from Heather and Victoria through such an important life change for us! They really helped shift me from feeling fearful to feeling more educated/ empowered about childbirth and Heather provided absolutely crucial support bringing our daughter into this world! I think every expecting couple should have a doula, and you will not regret hiring 312 doulas if you're in the Chicagoland area! read more

I stumbled upon 312 Doulas while I was doing research on birth classes (it's completely nuts that there is simultaneously so many out there and nothing out there). I had been forewarned by many a girlfriend that the child birth classes at some of the local hospitals (looking at you, Prentice) were a "complete waste of time." Without knowing a ton about 312 Doulas, I took a gamble and decided to sign up for both Evidence Based Birth and Hypnobabies. This is both a class and doula experience review. My husband and I took Evidence Based Birth first and it taught us a lot about navigating the birthing options and systems from a data perspective. I typically use data to make major decisions (especially health ones) so this was a really important step for me in preparing for the birth of my first child. I found this class to be particularly good at helping me understand how things work (e.g. how a baby moves through the body, what are pain relief options and how exactly do they work, how long does "labor" take, and what outcomes I could expect given my choices in the process). Victoria taught this class and she was phenomenal. She was so warm, patient, and thoroughly honest, while also being respectful of the individual choices/preferences of each couple in the class. I would highly recommend this class to folks who really want to understand the way things work. Hypnobabies was taught by both by Victoria and Heather who alternated weeks. I found Heather to be so incredibly steady, charming, and genuine in her approach; I automatically trusted her (this is a rare thing for me). Although Hyonobabies says you only need to take Hynobabies as birth prep (and I guess it's true, it was pretty comprehensive), I was really happy to have all of the concrete data and studies that had been included in the Evidence Based Birth Class ( in the back of my mind), as I approached using hypnosis as my primary pain relief mechanism during childbirth. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to have an unmedicated birth experience. If you're able to take both classes, I would highly recommend both...however if you can only take one, I would take Hynobabies if unmedicated birth is your priority and EBB if you're feeling more open to a range of experiences. Although neither Victoria nor Heather sold any of their services during these classes, my husband and I ended up hiring 312 Doulas because after spending some time with them, it was clear that they know their stuff, are deeply kind, and unflappable...not to mention, very well respected by regional doctors and other birthing and pre/post natal support professionals (seriously, my husband told me that when he called the hospital during my labor to ask if if it was time for me to come in, they saw in my chart who my doulas were, and said we should defer to them on the decision). As for my birthing experience: It was not completely what I planned but I got 100% of the outcomes that I wanted: very short pushing time, minimal tearing (only 1 stitch; and this is literally solely due to Victoria's coaching. Had I listened more, I probably wouldn't have even needed the one stitch, but I was in so much discomfort, I was impatient and wanted my son OUT), my husband was able to help deliver our son, we held him for hours before anyone else touched him, and I walked out of that hospital feeling like a million bucks. It's not advertised on the site, but when you hire 312 doulas you get access to virtual pre and post natal support groups. The women in these support groups are other clients who are such lovely people. Participating in these groups has added an additional layer of ease and comfort to my motherhood journey--I cannot imagine going through this life transition without this robust support system. 312 Doulas is the only doula group I am aware of that provides this level of support for birthing people and in addition to simply being the best (IMHO), this really sets them apart from other doula services. If you hire 312 Doulas, the only thing that I did not do, that I would recommend you do is work with them on a postpartum plan while you are pregnant. Even if you have a unicorn birth like the one I did, where there's no physical recovery, sleep deprivation can take you to another realm and believe me you do NOT want to go there! Of course, if you don't take my advice you may end up calling them in a postpartum panic (like I did) and they will, of course, save your butt because they are amazing. read more

I had the absolute best experience with 312 Doulas and am so glad that I got to work with Heather! I learned so much from her during the Hypnobabies & Evidence-Based Birth class my husband and I took, and I felt very prepared even when my birth plan went in a totally different direction. At 30 weeks, I was feeling nervous about my chosen hospital and Heather helped me make an informed decision to switch to a hospital and midwife group that was a better fit for my birth plan! Her guidance was incredibly valuable during this big change. I had planned to have a low intervention vaginal birth, but my stubborn baby remained breech even after two versions. Heather was at my side for my version, and made the whole experience quite bearable and calm considering how uncomfortable it can be! When it came time for my planned C-section, I felt so supported and prepared thanks to Heather and the very wonderful OB and midwife who I entrusted with my care. My recovery was fairly quick and smooth, and I feel very lucky to have had great partners in 312 Doulas which I know contributed to the overall experience. I cannot recommend 312 Doulas and Heather enough - I feel like a birth warrior despite all of the unexpected things that happened, and I know having Heather by my side was a major reason why! read more

Partnering with 312 Doulas was the best decision for our family as we prepared to welcome baby #3! As the birthing partner, I can only offer the highest recommendation for their services and how they supported my wife and me through the entire experience. Heather and Victoria were incredibly communicative, thorough, and nurturing. Most importantly, they listened to our story and met us where we were. 312 Doulas was an integral piece of our care team and with their constant guidance and encouragement we felt empowered throughout the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum periods. We are so grateful for Heather and Victoria from 312 Doulas! read more

Words cannot do justice to what 312Doulas have given my family. I feel so fortunate to have had Victoria and Heather by my side every step of the way. Their continued support (never judgmental) helped me find the right path for my babies birth and remain in touch with my intuition along the way. We were able to trust our decisions because of the Evidence Based Birth education course they taught, along with the never ending resources they shared. At birth time, when Victoria walked through the door, I was instantly overcome with a sense of confidence that "I could do this". If you're in a position to hire a Doula, you couldn't be in better hands with the 312Doulas. read more

Anyone planning a home birth, hospital birth, vbac, c- section, medicated, unmedicated or any kind of birth, Heather and Victoria at 312 Doulas are the most knowledgeable, informed and supportive women. Along with labor support, they advocate for you, helping you to have the birth YOU want. With everything I learned in the classes I took with them, I was able to go into my birth fear free and confident. Even as confident as I was, the contractions hit and it is a feeling you can never prepare yourself for. I had an 12 hr homebirth that I would not have made it through without Heather. Around hr 7 I was demanding a hospital and all the drugs! Heather arrived and was able to pull me back into focus and lead me to the finish line. She was the reason I was able to have the birth of my dreams. read more

Heather McCullough, CPM - Doulas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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My husband and I could not be happier that we decided to work with 312 Doulas for the birth of our first child. The meetings with Heather and Victoria and the Evidence Based Birth class we took through them during pregnancy were very helpful and informative. It was especially useful since we were doing an unmedicated birth at a hospital - it gave us a good understanding of the options we would be presented with and the evidence behind them which made us feel confident and empowered to make the right choices for us. For our birth we worked with Victoria and she was absolutely amazing. My husband and I both said afterwords working with her was the best decision we made and we will 100% use her again if we have another baby. She has a very gentle, supportive, and calming presence. She offered helpful tips and tricks all throughout my labor - massage, countermeasure, essential oils, etc. - and was able to assess how my labor was progressing. By working with her I was able to stay home for the majority of my labor (which is what I hoped for) - I was at at 9 cm when I got to the hospital! If we hadn't used her we probably would have shown up way too early! At the hospital she helped us navigate questions and requests from the doctors, advocating for us and our birth plan the whole time. After delivery she even took photos which I wasn't expecting but am so happy she did because we now have our first few moments as a family captured. She also stayed to make sure that breastfeeding was off to a good start. We felt so supported by Victoria before, during, and after our labor and would absolutely recommend her and work with her again! read more

I have used 312doulas for the labor and delivery of both of my children and would highly recommend their services. They are amazing experts and have a wealth of resources that they provide to their clients. On resources, they provided me with information around what foods and vitamins were helpful in my last phase of pregnancy, what exercises could potentially shorten labor and what practices could relax me and and reduce pain during labor. I was so thankful that Heather was by my side throughout the whole process, making sure I was prepared for conversations with the medical team and that I could make informed decisions. Heather and Victoria both are so caring and loving and you know that they love their roles in helping bring new lives into the world. read more

I recently went to a baby shower for a first time mom, and she didn't believe me when I told her I actually enjoyed my childbirth. But it's true, and due in no small part to Victoria, Heather, and 312 Doulas! They provided the perfect level of in-person support as well as knowledge for my husband to support me as I labored at home before they arrived and before going to the hospital. Doula support with 312 Doulas includes two prenatal visits, where Victoria and Heather give you important information such as how to time going to the hospital if your goal is to minimize interventions. They also support mothers who want medicated births, or mothers who need c-sections. One prenatal visit is in your home, and includes hands on instruction for your husband or other labor partner in how to support the early stages of labor. Thanks in part to this instruction, I was so comfortable in labor that I arrived at the hospital already starting to push and had my son about half an hour later. Victoria was on call for my actual labor, and was such a wonderful calm presence. She came to our home, travelled with us to the hospital, and facilitated our quick movement through hospital triage into labor and delivery. My labor was so quick, Victoria also ended up staying with my husband and I for a few hours and providing extra support with breastfeeding. I don't want any more children, but if I did would definitely work with Heather and Victoria again! Highly recommend! read more

There is not enough space on this form to write everything that I loved about working with Heather & Victoria at 312 Doulas. From the Evidence Based Birth classes, to the constant care and support offered by both of them, we are forever grateful that we utilized their services. Our birth experience would not have been the same without them, and even the postpartum support has been invaluable during our first few weeks at home. I had no idea what I DID NOT know about the healthcare system, ways to advocate for myself, and general knowledge about pregnancy and birth. I have learned so much from Heather & Victoria, and I will hold this experience near and dear to my heart forever. Thank you for everything! read more

I can't believe it's taken me almost 7 months to write this! I just had to let anyone hemming and hawing over having a doula know that they definitely should! I had 2 previous c sections that were just horrible. I felt lied to and robbed. When my hubby and I found out we were having baby number 3 we knew things would have to be different. Let me just say that finding a provider that was okay with a vbac after 2 sections was VERY hard. We knew we needed a doula. Heather and Victoria have the most calming peaceful auras I have ever encountered. I felt safe with them, I felt like they cared about my birth process as much as we did. They were so well informed and really made sure we were too. They gave us extremely helpful tips to make things go smooth. When I went into labor, Heather was the one that met us at the hospital. When I got out of the car I had a contraction and she immediately was in doula mode..right there in the lobby. She never left my side and my husband said when something I did freaked him out the calm look on her face reassured him. I had my eyes closed most of the time but I'll never forget her beautiful voice guiding me and reminding me that all was well. After less than an hour of pushing I had a successful vba2c! She stayed with us for about an hour then she left. During our home visit she told me something that has recently helped me with our baby. It's so nice to think about my birth with such joy and peace. We really owe that to them. We will not and cannot ever forget theses two amazing women. Doesn't hesitate...meet them. You won't regret it! read more

I feel sad to write this, but I was very disappointed in my experience with 312 Doulas. I engaged Heather as my doula for my first pregnancy in 2015. Throughout my pregnancy she was accessible, responsive and supportive by text and email. Unfortunately, I had to have a scheduled cesarean for a breech baby and did not get to have the natural birth experience I wanted. When we got pregnant again, I couldn't think of anyone else I wanted to support me as I tried for a VBAC than Heather. I accepted that I would now be working with Heather and Victoria and trusted that the experience would be as supportive as with my first. The prenatal support wasn't quite the same - Heather was not as available and frequently would reply that I should text the 312 Doula number or send a message on the online portal instead. When I would text the 312 Doula number and get Victoria, she would never remember the details of my pregnancy when responding and I would have to remind her (VBAC, gestational diabetes) for personalized advice. Still, I trusted that I would have the best labor support and decided that was the most important thing and that it was understandable that it wasn't exactly like when it was just Heather. The plan was that we were to time the contractions and text (not call) the 312 Doula number. When they were around 4 minutes apart, the doula on call would call us to listen to a contraction and then determine if it was time to come. Then she would provide support until the contractions were 3 minutes apart for 2 hours and then we'd go to the hospital. Well - things didn't happen this way. I had a sweep on a Thursday morning and started feeling cramping that evening. I continued to feel things on Friday and was texting the 312 Doula number all day with updates and questions. Victoria was on call. The cramping became contractions that continued on Saturday, and we started sending screenshots of the contraction timer, and continued to do this all day. Victoria replied to our texts, but never attempted to check in by phone. Around 11 or 12 that night, the contraction timer screenshot we sent her showed my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. She still did not make any move to check in by phone. By 2am I was nearly out of my mind, the contractions were basically one on top of the other and I was begging for an epidural and a cesarean. At this point my husband texted her this and asked if she was going to come. She finally made phone contact, and arrived about 50 minutes later. I was standing at the couch trying to manage my contractions when my water broke just before she arrived. Shortly after she arrived, we called the hospital, the midwife listened to a contraction and told us to come in. I was 8cm dilated when we arrived. The baby was born 2-3 hours later. I received no emotional or physical support during active labor. After the baby was born, Victoria was with us for about an hour. She mentioned that she'd been at another birth before ours. Was this why she didn't invest more attention in us when we were texting? I hate to write this review, because these ladies are lovely people. But I invested a lot in having a VBAC, and I labored sitting on my butt in my bathtub all day waiting for guidance and support that I never received. I negotiated a partial refund with Heather when she came over to bring my placenta capsules, which I am grateful for, but the honest truth is that this was NOT the supported birth experience I was counting on. I think the worst part for me has been that neither Heather nor Victoria have reached out afterwards to check in with me, or debrief, or anything. I'm disappointed in the general lack of support for this pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. read more

I CANNOT BELIEVE I am just writing this review. However- our baby girl is turning 10 months old, and I still look back and feel so lucky/grateful for the amazing experience we had working with Heather and Victoria. We engaged with them a little over half way through the pregnancy- we had spoken to several doulas and really appreciated the small team (knowing either Heather or Victoria would be with us in the delivery room), the focus on learning, and their overall energy (an amazing mix of passion and calm). The evidence-based coursework and weekly prenatal support classes helped both of us feel confident in navigating things at the hospital (and connected us with a group of parents-to-be in a way we otherwise wouldn't have), and Victorias support through the labor helped make the experience we had hoped for real. It was just so nice to have another person there who is so knowledgeable, and whose sole focus was our comfort. I appreciated their post partum support and know that if I called them with a question they would not hesitate to respond, even though I'm no longer a current client. Cannot recommend Heather and Victoria highly enough- particularly if you are someone who likes to be well-informed and thoughtful in your decision making! read more

Psychics can convince people of their "supernatural" powers due to years of trial and error and careful study of human behavior. Heather is the psychic of the doula world. Decades of experience allow her to appear psychic. Without a word from me, she knew how much pressure to apply during massage at exactly the right time, when to offer different birthing time positions that I would accept, and how to translate hospital-speak so that what could have been a potentially scary or traumatic experience was turned completely normal and powerful. Victoria, Heather's partner of 312 doulas was not my doula during labor, but she guided me through all my "complications" throughout pregnancy that turned out to be ok in the end. She listened like an experienced therapist and let me know of choices I didn't think were possible, giving me control over the decisions in my pregnancy. I attended their zoom prenatal support group and took their hypnobabies class. While the support group was aided by having it in an online format, the hypnobabies online class lost a bit of usefulness due to technical issues and sheer length of the classes. However, because of the class, I listened to positive pregnancy affirmations from the class daily that helped me stay positive and calm throughout the last weeks of an almost 42 week long pregnancy. In addition to the class and support groups, the doulas offer extra private meetings and email support through their portal. As a trained medical professional myself, one of the biggest advantages to 312 doulas is their medical knowledge. Victoria and Heather guided me through every medical decision during my pregnancy and appear to be just as knowledgeable if not more as any midwife licensed to practice in Illinois (in other states Heather could practice as a midwife). In the end, I was reluctantly induced, but I was able to have the pain medication free birth I wanted due to their support and choices they guided me through since 20-ish weeks of pregnancy. Several factors made my birthing time more difficult than most, and I was able to remain calm and focused. Heather also helped me bring the baby down by helping me into advantageous positions. She knew how to help my husband participate and support me in what was the most intimate and treasured experience of our lives together. (I would suggest that partners get a short private session with them without the mother. A cheat sheet on tips to support the mom for the partners only would be helpful as my husband did not get around to reading the entire Birth Partner book we got, though he did a fabulous job learning on the fly!) In sum, while they charge more than some other doulas, they offer so much value with their guidance and expertise even if one is having a belly birth, an epidural, or the doulas are not allowed to be physically present at the hospital due to covid. Before I met them, I considered doulas as a "nice to have" and now I feel they're essential. It's sad that doulas are usually not covered by insurance, even though they save women from so many unnecessary costly interventions. Schedule an interview with them - you'll be blown away by their knowledge, professionalism, and expertise. Don't think that the midwife, OB, nurse, or your husband can do what they can. read more

As a doula, lactation counselor & prenatal yoga teacher, I searched for the most supportive, experienced and comprehensive doula care for the birth of my first. Heather & Victoria at 312 doulas are absolutely the BEST of the BEST! They are incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and kind. They offered non-judgmental support throughout my entire pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. Words truly don't describe just how invaluable they were - my husband and I could not have done this without them. Heather's loving awareness and presence was steadfast throughout a very long labor and delivery. If you are looking for support - call them! We are eternally grateful. read more

Heather & Victoria are awesome!! We interviewed a number of doulas (and I reccomend you do so you get a feel for differences and what fits with you best) and what stood out for us was the unmatched experience as well as training and education they had in this field. Their experience and knowledge is unique and they do a great job of sharing it with their clients in easy bite sized ways. They are focused on evidence based information which combined with their experience really helps parents navigate and prepare. We appreciated their help and guidance during pregnancy. Heather attended our birth and seemed to know just how to help exactly when I needed it. She was the perfect balance of hands on but also letting me have space. She was such an important team member for our birth! read more

312 Doulas services was my best prenatal investment! Both Victoria and Heather were so nurturing and supportive. I learned a ton of valuable information in their Hypnobaby class. The delicious meals they prepped every week for our weekly gathering was an unexpected thoughtful gesture which is reflective of the caregiving tone both of these ladies embody. During the birthing of my baby, Heather was my saving grace. I had a challenging drawn out birthing experience and Heather made both visits to the hospital with me. She remained with me well into the middle of the second night after my baby's birth to help with breastfeeding and emotional support. Despite the 20+ hour labor, I had a vaginal birth without an epidural or major medical interventions. Having my husband and Heather holding me during the final hour of pushing was such a sacred experience. Today as I reflect back on my labor experience, I view my baby's birth in a really positive light which is largely because I had Heather's guidance alongside me. read more

When we found out we were pregnant, our first priority was to find a doula that would help us navigate the journey for the first time. From our first meeting with Heather and Victoria, we felt comfortable, confident and like we would always have all of the information available to be in the driver's seat with our birthing decisions. Our pregnancy was going smoothly until the third trimester when we were faced with several obstacles; two of which were COVID-19 adding restrictions at hospitals and finding out our baby was breech at 38 weeks along. Heather and Victoria willingly went above and beyond to guide us through all of these challenges; helping us change hospitals at 33 weeks, educated us on all of our options with the breech positioning and constantly made us feel at ease with our decisions. One hour before the planned c-section, we found out that the hospital would not allow doulas. Victoria stayed in touch with us through the entire day and guided us from afar on decisions, advice and helpful tips. Knowing she was there with us, although not in person, was extremely empowering and helped us remain calm and that we were not in it alone. We felt very comforted by her support, even though she was not able to be with us in person. Although we did not end up having the natural birth we worked so hard for, I would not change a thing about our journey to meet our son. I know for a fact we would not have had such a great experience, despite all of the twists and turns, if it were not for Heather and Victoria. I cannot speak highly enough of their expertise, knowledge and flexibility during such an important time. If you are looking for a doula who will advocate for your hopes and desires, guide you through the ups and downs and provide education so you can make the best decision for your family-you will not be let down with 312Doulas! read more

The short of it: hire 312 Doulas. You will feel supported, informed, confident, and POWERFUL about your ability to birth your baby in the way you desire. I highly recommend Heather and Victoria to be your partners in the wild experience that is bringing a baby into the world. The long of it: When I recall my daughter's birth in May 2019, I am still so grateful that Heather and Victoria were by my side. The gratitude truly overflows! Both in the at-home visits and in our Hypnobabies/Evidence-based birth classes (these classes are an additional time and financial commitment that I highly recommend as well), my husband and I learned so much and felt as prepared as we could be for a first-time birth. Heather and Victoria are incredibly knowledgable and convey information in a digestible way -- to say they take the data seriously is an understatement. They helped us strike the right balance of expectations for labor and delivery. I felt confident in my birth plan but also calm about the fact that if things changed on a dime (and of course they did!) that my doulas would have my back and help me adapt to changes. My labor was long and did not go as I had planned. Heather consistently offered solutions, helped me stay as centered as possible, and advocated for me and my best interest with our OB and hospital staff. All the while, she kept our spirits up (and my husband feeling supported as well). When I made a medical decision for myself that was not in the birth plan, Heather immediately pivoted her focus and helped me understand what would happen next. Cut to Victoria stepping in (did I mention my labor was long?) for a seamless transition, she helped me welcome my baby and took wonderful photos and videos for us that will be cherished forever. Above and beyond!! Their postpartum support was communicative and warm. I could not be more grateful! If you are debating the pros/cons or the financial commitment of hiring a doula, take the plunge. It is a worthwhile investment for your growing family and you deserve to have the unwavering support of 312 Doulas during your birthing experience! read more

I never imagined my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum experience could feel as empowering as it did - I attribute so much of that to Heather and Victoria's support! Each step of the way they offered guidance, insight, and brilliant probing questions to help me uncover my own wants and needs. I originally sought out their services because my first two deliveries I did not have a doula present and both resulted in emergency c-sections/ rather traumatic experiences. This time around I wanted to attempt a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) and knew they had a strong reputation in the VBAC world. This delivery didn't end up going as planned and yet I was so pleasantly surprised by how at-peace I felt with the outcome. Even though I ended up needing another c-section, Heather and Victoria helped equip me with the knowledge and resources I needed to have a stronger sense of agency & to use my time during pregnancy to develop trusting relationships with all my care providers. I can't recommend these women highly enough and am forever grateful for their partnership along my journey. read more

I hired Heather in 2010 and gave birth in Chicago in 2011. I paid her in full and about 10 hours before I was induced I let her know we were going to be delivering early as the Dr. realized things were not right. She did not show up for labor or birth. My husband kept calling her and she said she was in another labor and that she would send a replacement. She never sent a replacement. We did not receive a refund. This person is not to be trusted. read more

We contracted with Heather and VictorIa of 312doulas after being referred to them by our OBGYN. I knew early on in my pregnancy that I wanted to try for a natural birth and wanted support and education for both myself and husband to assist us in making this happen. Our expectations were far exceeded. We loved the easy going nature of both heather and Victoria. There are so many aspects that go into contracting with them that really have you feeling ready to birth your baby in whichever manner you wish. The evidenced based birth class and weekly group meetings changed my husband from wanting to stay solely at the head of the bed to being extremely hands on, holding my leg, and watching absolutely everything happen during the birth. He even assisted in bringing the baby to my chest after delivery and knew how to advocate for me when I couldn't clearly communicate during labor. Heather and Victoria were available by phone in the middle of the night to triage my water breaking and talk us through laboring at home until we were ready to go to the hospital where they eventually met us to be by our side during the entire labor and delivery process. The support doesn't end once the baby is born. There are weekly new parent follow up groups as well as access to an online platform where you are able to connect with others and bounce questions off one another and really just feel supported. Contracting with our doulas was the best decision we made and we are so thankful that they were recommended to us. We've already decided that when we are ready for another baby we would absolutely work with them again as we know our experience would be just as beautiful. Thank you so much Heather and Victoria ! read more

We were so excited to hire Heather & Victoria as our doulas for our first pregnancy/birth based on their deep expertise, many years of experience, and the personal connection we felt when speaking with them. We felt safe and secure in their care from the moment we interviewed them all the way through the home visit post-partum. They provided great education through our pregnancy to help me prepare and reach my goal of having an unmedicated and active birth that was everything they promised - confident and joyful. Victoria attended my little guy's birth at the hospital and with her essential oils, squat chair, warm compress, guidance through different positions, and encouragement, I was as comfortable through the contractions as I could be! It was especially helpful to have her focus on my physical comfort so much husband could focus on my emotions. The two of them working together to help me was incredible. I would hire Heather & Victoria again, no doubt, and would love to be a reference for anyone looking for further details on their services. Thank you Heather & Victoria!!! read more

We chose Heather and Victoria as our doula team due to their amazing history of experience not only as doulas, but also as practicing midwives. We also loved that they were intimately familiar with Prentice Women's Hospital, as well as having worked with my particular OBGYN in the past. After going on an initial consult with them and hearing about their process and extensive birthing background, there was no doubt that they were the doula team we wanted to hire. The two meetings they have you go to leading up to the birth were incredibly helpful. They provided suggestions on vitamins and supplements that could be taken to encourage better maternal health and a faster, less painful labor. They also gave great tips on exercises that could be done to prepare for labor and get the baby into the correct position (as well as tips on how to flip a breech baby, which ours was at one point). For every recommendation they make, they provide the research to back it up, all accessible via their online system that you can log into anytime. I frequently referred to the materials they had posted in my account. Heather was on call the day I went into labor. She was AMAZING. It ended up being a longer labor than I'd hoped for (20+ hours) but without her, it could have gone a completely different direction. Because of her familiarity with the hospital procedures and policies, she was able to get us a room with a birthing pool, and she constantly bugged them to get the pool into the room faster because they were dragging their feet on it. I was in too much pain to advocate for myself much, so I was so glad that she was there to do that for me. (She even was the only person in the room, nurses and doctors included, who even knew how to operate the pump for the pool!) Throughout the labor, she pulled out all the tricks of the trade - essential oils to help bring down my BP at one point, different positions to help the baby descend more quickly, and various other tools to keep me as comfortable as possible throughout the long labor (which I honestly feel would have been even longer without her). She was also in no way intrusive into the ability for my husband to participate. It's almost like she was this little fairy godmother in the background, offering gentle but constant help, guidance, and comfort, but letting him be the main pillar for support. She also has a very calming presence, and a very charming & diplomatic way of dealing with the medical professionals that will be surrounding you during a hospital birth. The only thing I might mention, particularly to anyone who feels they have a high level of anxiety over their pregnancy or needs a lot of attention, is that during the pregnancy there were a few times when I messaged them a question and it took them several days or more to get back to me with a response. Not a problem for me, since none of the requests were urgent, and I am aware they have a large base of active clients (which gives them their experience that we hired them for in the first place!). Again, for us, this was fine, and I feel that their clients who are in labor should rightly take priority over non-urgent questions from their pregnant clients. But for someone who feels like they will need an immediate response or may have a lot of burning questions along the way, their responsiveness might be something you want to ask them about during the initial consult. I will note that when I did start to go into labor, around 1am, I texted their labor line and Heather responded in literally less than a minute. She was out the door as soon as we were on the way to the hospital. So there's absolutely no question that when baby is coming, they're there like white on rice. Thank you Victoria and especially Heather for everything you did for the birth of our little guy! We can't thank you enough. read more

Heather and Victoria are both kind, caring, compassionate, and extremely knowledgeable. Both drove very far to meet with us at our home. We hired them very late in the game, like weeks before the birth of our son. We were very nervous due to his size and the stress in our lives. Talking to the Doulas was extremely beneficial. Heathers' response was almost immediate and when we were confronted with some scary information, she was there very fast. She helped with many things and we also got the placenta encapsulation service. Knowledgeable people and they Really care about their clients. read more

Heather (& Victoria) are truly amazing resources and were the final piece to make my birthing experience complete. My 'team' consisted of my husband, West Suburban Midwives and 312 Doulas! They both met with me as time got closer to my due date and they took the time to not only go over my birth plan but also educate me as well. Heather has a beautiful aura and her energy is always so calm and blissful (which is very welcoming when having contractions and transitioning from home to the hospital ) They make a great team and seemlessly swapped shifts during my birth experience. Victoria was there wth me through the end and helped me make the best decisions along the way. This duo is amazing and I recommend hiring a doula regardless of your birth plan. They were a huge help to my husband as well, providing breaks for him. Thank you Heather & Victoria read more

I've started this review at least 20 times now - I just can't find the right words to sufficiently describe just how valuable Heather and Victoria are. I've been fortunate enough to count them amongst my team for both of my deliveries. The first, in 2018, was an emergent C-Section after a full placental abruption at 32 weeks. Although not the natural, unmedicated birth we had hoped for, Heather arrived and was such a support to me and my husband as we were quickly navigating a series of difficult choices and circumstances. One underrated advantage of working with these women is that the local hospitals, in our case NWM, know these women and trust them. Although typically you are only allowed one support person in pre-op rooms, because the doctors and midwives trust Heather, she was allowed to stay with us. After the baby was born and whisked away to the NICU, Heather stayed with me so that my husband could go with the baby. She helped my hand express colostrum in the minutes after my delivery to help ensure I would have a milk supply for our preemie - a critical thing for preemie development and health. In the weeks after, she was a huge emotional support, even coming to the NICU to deliver us snacks and post partum resources for C-section mamas and NICU parents. So, when I became pregnant in 2019 I knew I wanted to try for a VBAC and knew I wanted Heather and Victoria on my team. Over the course of my pregnancy, even during a pandemic, they were available weekly to check in, make sure I was doing okay physically and emotionally, and even did extra sessions with my husband to make sure he felt ready to support me during labor in the event doulas were still unable to come to the hospital because of COVID. Eventually, I had to be induced and Heather once again came to support us at Prentice, this time helping me achieve the birth I had so very much wanted. With her help, I was able to have a successful unmedicated VBAC (even though I was past my due date, GBS+, and my water prematurely broke). I am convinced she has magical powers that allow her to precisely tell you how many more breaths you need to get through a contraction, what position will feel best and help labor progress most efficiently, etc. With Heather's assistance, we went from very early labor to baby in just a matter of hours, and have the most joyful, exhilarating, euphoric VBAC. So, whether you are contemplating an unmedicated birth, planning on an epidural, need a C-Section - really whatever your birth looks like, please know that I can speak from experience that these women bring so much value to the table. You won't be sorry to have had them by your side. read more

I met Heather in prenatal yoga teacher training and found myself hanging on her every word during group discussions. Her passion for the care of women through midwifery and as a doula is only matched by her knowledge in these disciplines. She and Victoria were always available for our questions, concerns, and overall emotional support as we traversed my first pregnancy. As my husband has said multiple times, "Heather was the best part of our day" when it came to laboring. She was constantly by our side, offering suggestions and support throughout what started as an easy labor and eventually turned into something requiring interventions. She has an air of confidence and calm that simply radiates from her and having that in the labor room was crucial for us. I would highly recommend Heather not only as a doula but as a labor and delivery educator as well. It was such an important time in my life and I can't imagine having anyone else by my side. read more

Working with Heather and Victoria of 312 Doulas was an excellent experience and I'd highly recommend them for any of your birthing or pregnancy/ post partum needs. Their services aren't cheap, but they were worth every penny. My husband was a skeptic about hiring a doula at first, but after my sons birth, he said it was one of the best decisions we ever made. I was blown away by how much they both truly cared abt my experience - preparing me and my husband before with classes, an in home visit and giving me advice throughout my pregnancy. Because of this, we went into birth feeling calm, confident and ready. I know birth can be unpredictable, but I feel grateful to have had a really positive, smooth and supportive experience, which in a large part was due to their expertise. For a FTM, my (unmedicated) labor was quick and even enjoyable. Heather was so great supporting my husband, baby and I throughout - she was wonderful with the hospital staff and had endless suggestions and tips that made me more comfortable and effective during contractions and pushing. She even stayed with us after to help with breastfeeding and then later provided placenta encapsulation and postpartum support. We would definitely hire them again in a heartbeat and highly recommend to others. Thank you for everything! read more

I used 312 Doulas for our first pregnancy/delivery in February. I cannot explain what an impact they had on our journey. So professional and so knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone interested in using a doula. Not only are they an amazing support system for the mother, but also the father. My husband and myself could not have gotten through our natural childbirth without them. We will definitely be using them in the future. Thank you Victoria and Heather! read more

I found Heather through the Gentle Birth Care website. My husband and I had such a wonderful experience with them, so I knew that if she had worked there and was on their website, Heather must be someone special. I originally did research on classes to take and knew that Hypnobabies was right for us as it seemed so positive. We took the 6-week Hypnobabies class with Heather and felt educated and empowered by all of the incredibly useful and important information she provided in the class. Additionally, it gave me a sense that I would have a mental and somewhat spiritual plan on our birthing day. It mentally prepared me in a positive way that I cannot recommend enough. All of the fear that has been fed to us over our lifetime melted away with Heather's soothing voice reading us weekly Hypnobabies scripts! It also made me feel a great connection with my husband who attended all the classes with me and listened to the super relaxing meditative tracks with me every night. We loved that she was also an evidence-based birth instructor and have since used many of the resources she provided to have informed discussions with friends and family. We had already decided home birth was right for us and the class cemented that decision further. Although everyone else in the class was giving birth in a hospital setting, Heather did a great job presenting the information for all situations without making anyone feel judged by their choice. Although, I will say it made me feel like home birth was the best decision based on what she did have to say. Have a home birth folks you'll love it ;) We had originally hired other Doulas - who had very nice doulas but were nowhere near as experienced as Heather and Victoria. After the 6 week class at my 36 weeks of pregnancy, I had a come to Jesus moment and my baby insisted that I have Heather at my birth instead of the doulas we originally hired. Unfortunately, the other Doulas was absolutely terrible to work with on this (that's another review) and we ended up double paying for a doula. Point being, we felt very strongly about having Heather at the birth. And I was so happy on our birthing day that she was there - it was totally worth it and I figured a once in a lifetime thing I better get right. I text her that morning about my water leaking and sent her a text about bloody show. From there on out she communicated with my husband and showed up when I needed her. Upon her arrival, she coached me on breathing, sounds to make instead of hyperventilating, different positions, and let me squeeze her small strong hands through each wave. Her calming and familiar voice was a constant comfort to both me and my husband. She also made sure that my husband was able to catch our son during the water birth. She stayed afterward to help me start breastfeeding and came back to our house a few days later with my placenta pills and belly binding. She also spent time reminiscing about our birth story which was wonderful. We can't thank her enough for the support, care, and beautiful birthing experience she helped us create in our home 1.8.17. Take her class, hire her as your doula - you will have the birth you've been dreaming of! Thanks Heather - keep up the great work! read more

I knew I needed Heather after I took her VBAC class - I told my husband that she was a game changer. Everyone else I talked to said similar things. The head L&D nurse at our hospital called her "magic", and the midwives I talked to said "She is the gold standard. I feel bad when my patients use anyone else, because I know that she's the best." She is all of that - game changer, magic, the gold standard. I am telling all my friends that they HAVE TO have Heather and Victoria help with their births. After 2 C-sections, I would not have been allowed to, able to, or believed I could, deliver Grace naturally unless she and her partner had pulled two all-nighters and stayed with me at the hospital for 39 hours. Heather pushed on my hips for 2 minutes out of every 3 minutes for 5 hours, and made it possible for me to have an unmedicated natural birth. (Husbands, you need a doula; you won't last under those conditions!) I am so glad I signed up with them a full 28 hours before I went into labor!! (Seriously. They were a last minute find, right on time!) I'm so grateful for the birth team God gave us, and the wonderful experience it was!! Everyone told me I couldn't have a natural birth after 2 c sections and they came along with the data, the tools, and the encouragement to change the game for me. read more

Working with Heather and Victoria before and during my birth was an incredible experience. They are so supportive, encouraging and know exactly what you need when you need it (intuitive). They were always there to answer my questions and support me through all of the new decisions around my birth. Heather was at my birth and I'm so grateful that we had her as a knowledgeable and wise source of insight during labor for myself and my husband. She knew when it was time for me to push, helped my husband know how to support me, and encouraged me to use my contractions in the last 30 minutes of pushing. Having her there with me made my birthing the most incredible experience and better than I could have imagined. I'm pretty sure that her encouragement was what helped me to push for only an hour as well. I'm forever grateful! read more

I had Heather with me for both the birth of my daughter in February 2016, and just now in July of 2018. The births could not have been different from one another, but a constant in both experiences was Heather. Her calm and knowledgeable presence made a huge difference in my experience. This last time, I firmly believe had I been left with the nurse from the hospital I may not have had the outcome I was hoping for. Heather's experience, reminders throughout my labor about breathing, changing position, etc., encouragement, and cheerleading allowed me to feel empowered to make decisions, and to have the unmedicated VBAC I was hoping for. I highly recommend the use of a 312 Doulas at your birth. Should I ever have any more children, I know that I would use them yet again. read more

I spent some time with Heather before moving from Chicago, and I was amazed by her knowledge and experience in the birth industry. I would trust her to assist my birth and would love to attend any class she teaches! read more

We had the best experience with Heather and Victoria as our doulas. We would not have had such a positive birth experience if it weren't for the two of them. Our pre-natal meetings were filled with valuable information, advice, and encouragement. We left every appointment feeling so excited for our birthing time. They were always available to answer our questions and provided wonderful resources through the maternity neighborhood site. My only regret is that we didn't begin working with them sooner to take full advantage of these great resources. One of the biggest reasons I wanted to hire a doula was to support my husband. Both Heather and Victoria were great about encouraging him, praising the ways he was supporting baby and myself, and making sure he was part of the conversation. When our birthing time began he was prepared, confident, and excited to meet our baby. He says that because he was well prepared there wasn't room for fear. I love how Heather honored his birthing time as a father. Preparing for our baby's arrival together was a gift for our marriage! Our labor was quick and intense. We called Heather to ask about what we thought were Braxton Hicks contractions. She coached me through a few birthing waves on the phone and then positively responded with "I'm so happy for you. You made it to baby day." Until this point I didn't believe I was in labor. She rushed to the hospital to meet us and was at the front doors when we arrived. We found out in triage that I was fully dilated and baby was stressed. Heather made sure we got into one of the alternative birthing rooms which was wonderful because it's where we planned to have our baby. She was so calm and because of her encouragement and positivity, my husband was too. Despite the stress of so many people in the room and baby's less than ideal heart rate Heather, my husband, and our midwife stayed calm and reassured me that our baby would be okay. Their positive affirmations were so helpful. Our daughter was born shortly after our arrival to the hospital and there was so much joy in the room. Heather stayed with us to make sure baby latched, that I had something to eat, and that we were ready to snuggle in for the evening. She also made sure that we talked about everything that had just happened which was really important to me since I was in shock that our baby was already here. I am so grateful to Heather and Victoria for their passion for women and their partners. They perform their work with great love and for this we are so grateful. read more

Heather provided exceptional pre-natal and labor support for the birth of our first child, as well as placenta encapsulation. She is warm, responsive, and experienced. I had an unmedicated birth using Hypnobabies and she helped keep me focused and confident throughout. Heather also provided excellent support to my husband, who later commented that he would never want to go through a birth without her. After the birth, my midwife asked for Heather's business card and described her as the best doula she'd ever worked with. I recently recommended Heather to a close friend, who used her and also had a wonderful birth experience. We are a few months away from birthing baby number two and are thrilled that Heather will be with us again. We can't recommend her enough! read more

For anyone that is thinking of partnering with a doula for their birth should look no further that 312Doulas. Heather and Victoria are extremely knowledgeable, passionate, thoughtful and caring; all traits that are vital in working with new parents. Additionally, they were very hands on and patient in working with nervous new dad's like myself. We were so fortunate to work with both Heather and Victoria and have them part of one of the biggest moments in our lives. They were very engaged throughout the birthing process and were tireless advocates and confidents for us when we were in the hospital. I cannot say enough about how happy and fortunate we were and what a terrific experience that we had with them. read more