I had interviewed 5 doulas before choosing 312 Doulas. Heather and Victoria assisted me with my pregnancy and labor/delivery and I am so incredibly grateful for their help. They are the best of the best and a wealth of knowledge and experience with everything having to do with a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Heather was the doula on call for my delivery. I believe she was key in having the natural childbirth experience I so wanted. I am incredibly grateful for being lucky enough to have them. If you are in the market for a doula don't look any further, they are truly the best. read more

Heather and Victoria were unbelievable doulas. Hiring them is a guarantee that you will have the most caring and knowledgeable people advocating for you and the birth that you want. Anyone who is pregnant should ABSOLUTELY invest in their support. Through childbirth classes, conversations, and birth support, they help you understand your options, make informed choices, and realize the birth that you want. Because I ended up being induced, and my hospital only allowed my husband to accompany me (during COVID), we were not able to have Victoria or Heather with us for the birth. Even so, their support leading up to our birth made my birth such a positive experience. I felt confident in my choices, and I felt strong enough (with the physical and mental tools that they taught me) to get through birth without an epidural. I am sure that my birth would not have been as positive an experience without their support. read more

Wondering where to start about these amazing ladies, so full of positive energy. I ended up a emergency C section with my first one due to failure to descend after almost 3.5 hrs of pushing. I was attempting a VBAC with my second one and had 312 Doulas with me. Both Heather and Victoria are a powerhouse of Knowledge on childbirth.They are exactly like what you need when you want a natural drug free birth and I can't say enough positive things about them. Victoria was at my VBAC birth on 04/04 and if it was not her, I bet I would have ended up with another C section and there is no doubt about this. My labor was very quick and when it came to pushing the real struggle started. I gave up several times and asked for epidural/C Section, but Victoria didn't. She had unlimited patience and constantly reminded me that I can do it and she led me through it. I want to say again that, if it was not her, I would have ended up with another C section. I will CHERISH this experience all my life and Thank you Victoria for that. Lots of love and hugs to you wonderful ladies!!!! read more

We used Heather as our Hypnobabies classes instructor and we couldn't have been happier. I can't say enough good things about Heather and her service. She is extremely knowledgeable, she is warm, and she made three hour classes fly by. Although Hypnobabies has a set curriculum, Heather tailored it to our class's needs and questions. It was active, as we got to practice during each session and it was fun! Heather always had plenty of snacks and her office space couldn't be more inviting and comfortable. When it came time for my son's birth, it started out exactly the opposite of what I planned: I was induced. However, looking back at my labor and delivery, I couldn't be happier that I did Hypnobabies with Heather. We were so much better informed because of Hypnobabies. When we decided to agree to getting induced we knew we had asked all our questions and reviewed all our options. When I was in active labor I listened to my hypnobabies tracks on my ear buds and my husband did the relax que on my arm. I kept thinking the pressure waves would have to get worse at some point... they never did. I was able to deliver my son naturally with no drugs. Without Heather's Hypnobabies classes we wouldn't have felt as secure in our decision making or as educated in the entire process. Thank you Heather, we couldn't be happier!!! read more

312 Doulas gave us so much support on every aspect of our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. I was able to create an informed birth plan and have the exact birth experience that I wanted with their help and support. The childbirthing classes offered, breastfeeding support given, and love during my birthing time I received from them I will always cherish. read more

I feel so fortunate to have had Heather and Victoria on our team for the birth of our second child. After a difficult delivery and recovery with our first, I sought to optimize my pregnancy preparation, birth, and recovery with our second. I am overjoyed by the experience I had with much credit due to 313 Doulas. Even with Covid restrictions, I was able to connect with Heather, Victoria, and other parents in taking a 6 week online education class pre-birth. Despite having given birth before, my husband and I both remarked that we learned a great deal. We both felt much more mentally and physically well overall going into the second birth experience. The birth itself was everything I had hoped for. I felt well supported by Heather's communication prior to going to the hospital, and her presence was such a calming, reassuring gift throughout an intense and fast birthing. She has been through this with so many families, and her expertise showed. I was especially impressed with her ability to tailor her encouragement, tips, and recommendations as to where I was physically and mentally throughout labor. I am sure that the experience would not have been as positive and healthy had she not been present. Her postpartum visit less than a week later was additionally helpful, and 312 Doulas offered an online group for new parents post birth. It was nice to see other moms in similar places with themselves and their newborns in a time when Covid is keeping us separate from extended support systems. Four months later, I can say that I had a much healthier recovery. I physically recovered more quickly, and I emotionally felt more able to care for both my newborn and toddler. I am confident that if anything had been further needed in the postpartum phase, I could have easily contacted Heather & Victoria for support. All in all, I am grateful to have found 312 Doulas and I wouldn't hesitate to hire them again for a future pregnancy. They are wonderful. read more

This is way overdue...6 months to be exact! I was first introduced to Heather and Victoria by my friend Christine who said she couldn't have done natural birth without them and how helpful they were for her husband too. She then told me she was using them again for her second and so my husband and I decided to meet them. From the start I was not opposed to an epidural and really just wanted a doula for their knowledge of births and I was not at all head strong on having a natural birth. From the first meeting my husband and I were on board. Although, I was a bit hesitant on the cost it was WORTH EVERY PENNY!!! I was amazed at their knowledge and experience. We decided to do the hypnobabies class with Heather and we were again given so much information about pregnancy and labor that I told my husband how do women give birth without knowing all of this?! We joked that we were on the hypnobabies fast track because our due date only allowed for us to take 3 of the 6 classes. While I was skeptical of the idea we ended up really using some of what we learned during my labor. We were both happy that we took the classes. Heather and Victoria are there to make YOUR birth story happen and not their ideal one. So, if you want an epidural or a c-section they will be with you through it all and especially if the birth immediately changes into a c-section which happened to another girl in our class. She said she was so thankful to have Heather there to explain what was happening and what they would do in the OR, etc. She made a chaotic, scary, emotional time much more calm and manageable for her and her family. Without me even realizing it (I'm not sure at what point) my thoughts turned into wanting a natural birth. I think it was all of the information that we learned and that the baby will come when she's ready! Heather and Victoria research/study, go to conferences, and have so much hands on experience. AND, most importantly they use evidence based practice which sadly not many doctors/hospitals have integrated into their own practice. By no means are they against physicians though (I had a physician). SO, all this to say that I so very highly recommend Heather and Victoria. Going into labor I was not worried at all because they are pros and have done this literally hundreds and hundreds of times! Heather was the doula on call the night and went into labor and she was texting and talking to my husband throughout the day and told us whenever we wanted she would come over to our place. My labor and delivery went very well and it was so great having Heather there as she walked us through what the nurses and doctor were doing (more thoroughly than they would have done). She was encouraging and reassuring and made sure my husband was doing (and saying) the right things. She stayed with us two hours after delivery and made sure our baby girl latched on well for her very first nursing. It was all so amazing and wonderful and I ended up having a natural birth! I can not express how amazing Heather and Victoria are and how very highly I recommend having them be a part of your birth story as they call it. We will definitely have them be a part of any additional birth stories we may have in the future. Again, the knowledge and experience is so worth having and the cost is worth every penny and more! Thank you both so much! Heather, you are forever a part of the special story of Ellie. read more

Heather & Victoria are the doula's you need! I have been working with Victoria since welcoming my first in 2014, but at that time I opted only for placenta encapsulation (if you're interested in this they do it the best). BIG MISTAKE not using a doula with DS1. For my second I was not about to let history repeat itself so I hired Victoria again and it seriously made all the difference in the world in the labor room. The fact is that the hospital staff do not care about you on a personal level. They care about your vitals, the bed and how long you're in it, and liability. Victoria and Heather are there for you and they are your #1 advocate during birth, something you might argue can be done by your spouse or significant other, but don't be fooled. In a state of intense labor and high emotions our loved ones can be nervous and overwhelmed. Enter the doula. For me having a doula present at birth was invaluable. I remember the doula coaching me through the tough contractions, helping me stick to my birth plan as best she could, bringing me an ice pack to cool down, and just overall being on my side. With my first born I felt lost to the system. The second time around I knew no one was going to push me around because my doula was there as a trusted voice looking out for my best interest and the best possible birth outcome. These two ladies are well educated, gentle in their approach and trustworthy. I'm now pregnant with my 3rd and I'm very much looking forward to having them by my side again. You will feel safe, protected and guided with Heather and Victoria. I firmly believe that every pregnant woman can benefit from a doula and with Heather and Victoria you truly have the best of the best. read more

Expecting moms: whether you are looking to have a home birth, natural birth or one in a hospital with an epidural (like me!), do not hesitate... HIRE HEATHER TO BE YOUR DOULA. Heather was not only my doula last month, but a guardian angel for my husband, baby and I. Even now as I sit here to write this review, I am starting to well up with tears, as I recall the intense emotions I felt during my difficult labor and childbirth, and how much Heather was there for our family. During the arduous FOUR days and nights of contractions that I experienced at home, Heather made herself available via phone and text message to me at ALL hours, for four days straight. Even at 4am she would respond within 5 minutes of my text! She not only saved us a trip or two to the hospital, but she came over to help me at home with exercises and examine me. Once we finally got to the hospital to be induced, I ended up needing an intense forceps delivery. She was not judgmental of me wanting an epidural and encouraged me to make decisions that I was most comfortable with. Heather was there for us at every step of the way. She is more knowledgable about birth than an OBGYN (she is also a midwife and has delivered tons of babies in the past) and having her by my side as I pushed, watching the monitors, communicating with the nurses and doctors, and comforting us, was priceless. Now I have a happy and healthy baby girl and although it was a difficult experience medically, Heather provided us with the comfort we needed to make it a beautiful experience, emotionally. read more

Heather and Victoria helped my wife and I have the most enjoyable birth as possible... not just something to get through or over with. Their calm demeanor kept us calm and they gave us some really great advice and information that wasn't overwhelming. We delivered a healthy baby girl... priceless. read more

312 Doulas are fantastic! We had really wonderful experiences during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum with both Victoria and Heather. The information and resources they provide in addition to their level of support leading up to, during, and after labor is phenomenal. They both bring vast knowledge, openness, and sensitivity to the entire process. They were very helpful with our questions- especially during the 10 days we waited after my due date. Heather was on-call when my water broke and as I chose to labor at home over the next hours, Victoria was then on-call and they transitioned our support smoothly. Victoria provided excellent physical support during my labor and gently guided me in my progression in a way that she understood I would be receptive to. She helped us en route to the hospital and was a fantastic guide. She knew exactly what the hospital staff needed to know about our situation, which made our transition to a labor room very smooth. Her support in the hours following the birth of my son was phenomenal. To me, her suggestions to try different positions throughout my labor were essential for my labor to continue progressing in such a smooth manner. From my husband to all dads-to-be: Being with your partner during labor is an extremely powerful and amazing experience...you've got to try it. It's incredible! 312 Doulas provided support and boosted my husbands' confidence throughout the entire process. We HIGHLY recommend 312 Doulas. Meet them. Work with them. They rock! read more

Heather taught the natural childbirth class we attended and she was fabulous! She was incredibly knowledgeable and experienced and provided extremely practical and relevant information and tips. Both my husband and I felt very grateful for the preparation - it made a big difference throughout pregnancy, delivery and now postpartum. I couldn't recommend Heather more highly! read more

Heather was an incredible asset to my birthing team. She is so knowledgeable and keeps up on all the latest research. She knows everything there is to know about pregnancy and birthing and is happy to tell you fact from fiction. Having been a midwife for many years before becoming a doula, she's had the unique experience of being both a provider and deliver babies and also as a support via her role as doula. This combination experience, makes for one strong advocate for you and your baby! Heather was available and easily accessible during my pregnancy for any pregnancy related questions that I wanted to run by her and when she showed up on the scene when I was in labor, it was an INCREDIBLE difference to the efficiency and quality of my experience. She is fully supportive of however you want to experience your labor, medicated or unmedicated. There is no judgement but she will be right there with you each step of the way. I chose unmedicated and having Heather with us supported me in easefully reaching my goals. She listens to what you most want out of your experience and will work to provide you with that. She is an incredible support to all, including husbands/partners. Babies and birthing are her life and it is clear from all her extensive knowledge and experience and her great demeanor and warmth that you couldn't have a better doula than Heather. read more

Heather and Victoria were a huge source of knowledge, guidance, reassurance, and support throughout my pregnancy and labor & delivery. They are two of the most experienced and well educated women on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care in the Chicagoland area, which is why I chose to have them as my right-hand ladies for the amazing but overwhelming process of having a baby! As nature would have it, nothing went to plan during L & D for me, but Heather made sure that I was in control of all the decisions made, and kept me upbeat and positive throughout. It came down to big decisions that I never thought I would have to make; first an epidural and then a C-section. Heather was there with honest advice, and I knew that she seriously took into account my wish for a natural birth but had the experience and grace to help me move away from the plan and do what felt right for both my body and baby. I can't imagine making those choices without her by my side, and her reassurance helped me afterwards in coming to terms with how my birth story unfolded. When it comes to having a baby, not much can be predicted, planned, or controlled, which is why I strongly recommend having someone with a tremendous amount of hands on experience to draw from. In the heat of it all, you want a woman beside you who has seen it every way a hundred times, and those kinds of doulas are hard to come by! I would recommend Heather and Victoria as doulas and Hypnobabies teachers to everyone I know having a baby! read more

Heather and Victoria were wonderful to navigate the birthing process with as a first time mom. My husband and I are the only ones in our family to live in IL. Therefore, we wanted an external party to help support us through our first labor and delivery. The knowledge they shared pre and post delivery, along with the Hypnobabies training we received and the placenta encapsulation somewhat made them the one stop shop for all our knowledge needs. Due to baby's very low heart tones, my delivery wasn't how I mentally planned in my mind. However, Heather guided us through laboring at the hospital (she was able to decipher the monitors and explain them to me in layman's terms), and supporting my husband in allowing him some brief moments of sleep and allowing him to grab some food while she stayed with me as well. Highly education based group, and worth every level of investment in my book. read more

I was so pleased with my birth experience! I used Victoria and Heather twice. The second time I was able to have a successful VBAC. They listened to what I needed and provided exactly the support my husband and I needed. Giving birth is no joke, but I would recommend choosing these ladies for your team. read more

I could not be happier with my experience with 312Doulas and I highly recommend them to anyone and everyone!!! Although both Heather and Victoria were amazing, the majority of my experience was working with Heather. Heather completely changed everything I thought I knew about childbirth. She educated me on exactly what the body goes through and helped us understand that I had choices and the right to stand up for the type of medical care we recieved. Heather provided education, support, and guidance throughout the entire process and I am forever grateful for her. I especially love 312Doulas because of the support they offered my fiance. He was able to hold me and help me through the birth because of the guidance and support from Heather. She always allowed him and I to work together and sort of "coached" him at times. This made an incredibly painful experience much more special and and brought my fiance and I much closer together. He was just as much a part of the birth as I was and I couldn't be happier. On October 22 I naturally gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl and I know I couldn't have done it without Heather. No way. Not a chance. Heather was there every step of the way providing reassurance and a comfort and her visitis after the birth were also great because it gave me time to ask all of my millions of questions and have reassurance that I was doing things right. 312Doulas are absolutely amazing and I will definitely be using them again if I have another baby! read more

I hired Heather for my last birth since I wanted to be supported and spoken for in a hospital setting. My husband and I felt this last birth was by far the best. My husband felt included in the birth for the first time. Heather having delivered babies as a midwife before moving to Chicago I knew would be a very experienced choice. And, I was so right! She was amazing in coaching me through contractions, negotiating on my behalf with the doctor, and caring for my husband and I. She was always on hand to answer any questions I had while I was pregnant. I had a relatively pain free (unmedicated) delivery, and Heather has so much to do with it. Thanks Heather for helping our family have the best birth experience ever and a vbac at that! read more

I am really enjoying my motherhood time with my little baby girl and yesterday's holiday, Mother's Day was very first for me and many new mams. I thank God for everything and everyone in my life. Windom says 'We meet people for a reason. Either they are a blessing or a lesson." Meeting and working with Heather and Victoria was a blessing for my family. Heather helped me to bring our beautiful baby into this world. Our daughter was born happy, healthy and MEDICATION FREE. I could not wish for more. Heather& Victoria guided me through entire pregnancy with advice and simple smile. They always make themselves available to me to respond to questions or address any concerns that have aroused during the course of the pregnancy. And I honestly cannot find a piece to complain about. Our plan was to have natural birth without medical intervention that is the main reason why my husband and I have chosen Heather & Victoria. After first meeting with Heather & Victoria we felt very comfortable & stress free (very important for mama to be ;). Heather was there during labor and provided invaluable emotional, educational and physical support for our family during that difficult time. When my labor has started, Heather arrived to our house and brought in very positive energy right the way and every family member felt relieved. Major part of the labor time I spend in the water tub and Heather was there by my side providing comfort with pain-relief techniques including breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, massage, and laboring positions. I roared, cried from the paint and laughter too. These were beautiful mix of emotions. I can honestly say that my birthing experience was safe, very memorable and FUN! Seriously it was fun and unforgettable. I learned what my body can and how strong it is. I was able to hug and breastfeed my baby right after birth. No scary needles, IV, beeping machines, doctors in masks and medications! I know everybody copes different with pain and have birth plan that suits there health need, & I know for sure with Heather & Victoria every mama will be very happy. read more

When we found out that we were pregnant with our second, we knew that we wanted to work with a doula. We had a doula for our first when we were living in a different state and felt that the support was huge during pregnancy and birth. Additionally, wt knew we wanted to try for a VBAC and wanted to find the best team to help us with this goal. We were thrilled when we met Heather and Victoria as they were knowledgeable, compassionate, and supportive. They were able to point us in the right direction with supports in the area as well. We ended up changing our hospital and team based on their recommendations and we believe we ended up with the birth we wanted based on these factors. Heather was with us during labor and she was a constant support throughout. She encouraged me to try different positions and talked me through decisions that needed to be made in a calm manner. We are so thankful to have found Heather and Victoria and would highly recommend working with them to anyone looking for a strong doula team! read more

We used Victoria (Heather and Victoria work together at 312 Doula's) for the births of both our children and couldn't speak more highly of her. Victoria has an incredible depth of knowledge about childbirth. She helps you navigate how to successfully have the type of birth you want by equipping you with the questions to ask your doctor, possible problems that may arise and how to deal with them, and wonderful pain management tools. She is so kind, warm and encouraging. I wish every woman who has a child could have Victoria by her side! For our first birth I knew I wanted to do it unmedicated but I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to do it. To top it off, I had blood pressure issues, which put me at high risk, so using a midwife or going to a birthing center was out of the question. I would be with my OBGYN delivering at Prentice and I would very likely be induced at 39 weeks. I was wavering in my confidence that I could get through an induction without an epidural. Victoria helped both my husband and I navigate our options with the induction. During labor she was fantastic. She helped me with breathing and encouraged me to try many different positions and places (bed, ball, shower) to manage the pain. I think she was as much of a help to my husband, who she was able to keep calm and reassure him that everything was progressing the way it should. Our daughter was born healthy and I felt so incredibly proud that I was able to do it the way I wanted, even with the induction. For our second child there was no question as to if we would hire Victoria again. This time I went into labor naturally and since I hadn't experienced natural early labor before it was really wonderful having Victoria there to text and call in the days and hours leading up to the delivery. Having someone to talk to that has been through this hundreds of times is so helpful because inevitably you have a million questions (am I actually in labor, what can I do to try to relax, how long should we wait to go to the hospital?). Victoria had all the answers. Once at the hospital the baby came fast and furious. Victoria was coaching me every step of the way and I was so thrilled to have the completely natural birth experience I had wanted with our first child. If you are on the fence, jump over it, and hire Victoria as soon as you can! read more

Heather & Victoria are fantastic! They have a clear passion for what they do. My wife and I took Heather's Hypnobabies birthing classes leading up to the birth of our son, and Heather was present as a Doula at the home birth. She was incredibly helpful and comforting during the entire birthing process and also provided excellent post-birth support services for my wife. I would strongly recommend Heather and 312 Doulas to anyone in the market for childbirth services! read more

I had a great experience with Heather and would definitely recommend her to anyone interested in a doula. Prior to meeting Heather I really didn't know much about labor and delivery and my options. After hiring her, we had 2 prenatal appointments. She did a great job of educating my husband and I and laying out our various options for our birth plan. She is very knowledgeable about pregnancy and labor and delivery and has a lot of delivery experience. I really appreciated having her with us for labor and delivery. My labor progressed fast and I was unable to get an epidural until 8cm dilated 90% effaced. The pain was intense and she helped coach my husband and I through it. During the pushing phase, I was having difficulty getting my son out because of the shape of my pelvic bone. Heather was very helpful in suggesting different positions to try. After my son was born so made sure that he latched prior to leaving. He took to breastfeeding right away and I attribute it to latching minutes after birth (something I would have forgotten to try in the moment!). read more

I can confidently say that WAY more women in this country would have natural unmedicated births if they only had a Heather in their life. Heather empowers women to take control of their birth experience by giving them (evidence based!) knowledge and confidence. Trust me- I knew I wanted a natural, unmedicated birth but I can't say I fully believed in my ability to do it. I ended up having an amazing natural birth, an experience unlike anything I could've imagined. I believe the difference between making it med-free till the end and not, was having Heather there. She is so warm, receptive, and calming- it's like you've known her for years, even after you just meet her. Definitely a quality you want in someone who's with you during your laboring self! I started working with Heather late into my pregnancy and wasn't able to attend her childbirth education class but I still gained so many benefits! Heather spent a good deal of time answering my questions, covering a wealth of info during our prenatal, and she was so readily available to respond to texts and calls at any hour even before labor. It's such a blessing to know Heather and I definitely can't have baby number two without her. read more

I simply cannot say enough positive things about my experience with having Heather as my doula. Not a day has gone by since the birth when I am not grateful for all the support she provided. I was very worried about labor and delivery when I found out that my husband would likely be working out of town. With Heather's help we prepared for various situations and she completely supported all the decisions we made. Because of her I was able to labor at home, with Heather coming to lend a hand in the middle of the night. She stayed with us through a day and half of labor, guiding us through all stages. Without her help I surely would have had more interventions and significantly more stress. What Heather brings is a true sense of professionalism. In my 40 weeks of pregnancy, I found no doctor, nurse or midwife to be as well informed as Heather on all matters of pregnancy, birth and infancy, She could quote research and information on any issue that arose, but always left our decisions open to our discretion. Heather is a true gift for pregnant women and their families. read more