Kate was referred to me by a friend who had great experience with her. I reached out to Kate when…read moremy son was about 2 weeks old or so. I'm a first time mom and really wanted to breastfeed but my son was having latching issues. Kate was able to accommodate us fairly quickly. She was professional and friendly and answered our questions with sound advice. She was also able to assess my son's tongue tie problem which we initially thought was fixed by the ENT physician when we were discharged. She was able to refer us to a pediatric dentist. She also coached me on how to get my baby to latch as well as a couple of positions. She also provided a detailed report of her visit and called to check in a couple of days later. The only downside to the visit which isn't Kate's fault at all was that my son was in absolute perfect temperament when she visited and so the usual issues and problems we were having wasn't happening at that time. We did end up getting his tongue tie reversed at the place Kate referred us to which i feel better helped improve his latch once everything healed up. My son is almost 3 months now and we are still breastfeeding!

Kate saved me from giving up on my breastfeeding journey! After more than 4 weeks of dealing with…read morean incredibly painful latch, I had enough and knew I needed help. I matched with Kate through The Lactation Network (highly recommend) and she paid me a home visit within a day or two. She was prompt, professional and responsive before, during and after our visits, and listened to my concerns and struggles. She also was extremely conscious of health protocols during our visits which was very important to me given the current landscape. Kate taught me a new position and helped me get comfortable and practice it with my newborn, and helped create a feeding plan that worked for me and my baby. After our initial visit, I was still struggling and she came by for a follow-up visit within two days to troubleshoot. I am now regularly nursing my baby confidently and couldn't have done it without her! Thank you, Kate!

La Leche League (LLL) is awesome! The information and support they offer to anyone trying to feed…read moretheir own milk to their baby is always free. They offer breastfeeding support, they provide information for someone who is pumping exclusively or who is trying to nurse their baby after mastectomy/chest surgery, they are compassionate and helpful. There are LLL Leaders all over the world who are committed to supporting other families who want their little one to have the best milk possible. LLL USA dot org and LLLI dot org both offer contact information for Leaders. LLL USA provides the info for the United States. If you're in Oklahoma, check on LLLOK dot org.

This is a great network of mothers who meet once a month to support each other with their…read morebreastfeeding choices. They meet at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Lakeview on the third Tuesday of each month. To get involved or for more info, you can contact one of their leaders: Hilde 773 868 4860 hmkaiser@ameritech.net Joelle 773 733 3478 jpermutt@aol.com Nancy 773 338 0137 nmachaj@sbcglobal.net Juli 773 725 8891 juliwalter@mindspring.com It wasn't easy to get to the first time I went, so here is the way to find the meeting if you decide to go: Enter through the main hospital entrance and follow the signs to room G34 in the Education Center. Everyone was very nice and welcoming to new mothers attending. I don't know if I will continue to go to this meeting because it is at night. I don't know what kind of schedule the baby will be on, but there is another group that meets at Be By Baby in Roscoe Village in the day time. I will just have to see... Overall, this is a great way to meet other moms and learn about mothering from women who have experience.

I don't even know where to begin! I knew this second time around I wanted to do a home birth but I…read morewas naturally scared and wanted to find the right doula for such a big decision. I reached out to many doulas, but when I met with Samantha, I immediately knew I wanted her to be the one to guide me in this beautiful process of bringing my baby earthside. I could tell Samantha was experienced, kind, knowledgeable and she had such a calming and soothing presence. The weeks before giving birth, Samantha was always quick to respond to my questions and eased any concerns . Leading up to my birth, I knew Samantha was going to be reliable and I already felt comfortable with her. The day I went into labor around 4am, she was quick to respond to my call and was able to make it to my home promptly. As soon as she got to my house there was such a calming presence about her that I instantly relaxed and felt so much more at ease. She assisted my husband and the rest of my laboring team in setting up our home for the delivery while helping me labor. I told Sam I wanted my labor to progress quickly, and she listened and delivered! She knew so many exercises and positions to get my baby to descend and guided me every step of the way. Her expertise, her calmness, and reassurance made my laboring so much faster and more manageable. Sam helped me feel safe, calm and supported through the entire process. I also really appreciated that she kept me hydrated, fed and just overall was always checking in on me to make sure I was managing well. After delivery she also kept checking in with me and my husband to see how else she could assist us. She was so wonderful to have around post delivery to make sure I was coping well with the pain as well. She was truly amazing throughout the entire process and so easy to work with. My labor and delivery was a dream thanks to Samantha!

We worked with both Samantha and Jess before, during, and after labor with our first child. They…read morewere incredibly communicative and supportive before and after labor (checking in re: plans before and general needs post-birth). Jess was present for our labor (we went into labor 3 weeks early and Samantha was at another birth) and was instrumental in making pushing more effective. She helped with feeding and bonding post birth too. Highly recommend working with either of them!

I had an amazing experience with Liz at Lactation Partners. I had a very tumultuous breastfeeding…read morejourney and she was an incredible resource during that time. She is incredibly knowledgeable not only about breastfeeding, but the child themselves and how they continue to develop as they get older. She was always available for questions and guidance outside of our sessions as well. I was incredibly grateful for Liz and would recommend her to anybody!

My family recently reached out to Lactation Partners seeking urgent breastfeeding support for our…read morenewborn twins during a difficult postpartum moment. We live on the South Side of Chicago, near South loop and were hoping to schedule a consultation. The response we received stated that they "do not travel to our location in any case" and that their schedule was booked for the next two weeks. While I understand providers have service limits and busy schedules, the wording felt abrupt and lacking empathy given the circumstances. It was also confusing because Yelp's service map suggests coverage across Chicago, which gave us the impression South Side families were included. "South Chicago" is a large and diverse part of the city with many middle-class families simply looking for postpartum support. I'm sharing this so other South Side parents know this provider may not service this area when urgently searching for help. I hope the practice considers clarifying their service area and responding to families with more compassion during vulnerable moments.

I highly recommend Jaudon for anyone looking for breastfeeding support! She came to my home within…read morea week of my second child being born and was insightful, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful as I began my breastfeeding journey. We had some concerns about my baby's weight in the beginning, so we scheduled a few follow-up sessions. With Jaudon's support, guidance, and practical suggestions, I was able to help my baby gain the weight he needed. I personally also wanted to pump, so she helped me figure out how to incorporate pumping sessions into my day in a way that felt manageable. I had Jaudon come back to my home again once my milk supply had regulated because I wanted to recheck about my baby's weight gain, and once again, she was incredibly reassuring and helpful. Scheduling appointments was also very easy and convenient. Jaudon has such a calm, supportive, and reassuring demeanor, which made a huge difference during a time when I had a lot of questions and concerns. I truly believe anyone who is breastfeeding can benefit from working with a lactation consultant, and I'm so grateful for the support I received from Jaudon!

I was connected with Jaudon since my baby was 2 weeks old and have continued to use her lactation…read moreconsulting services. She is easy to get in contact with and has flexibility to meet regularly. I really appreciated her coming over regularly to help us with our baby's slow weight gain and she was also able to coordinate with our pediatrician. I was adamant about wanting to BF and I'm glad she didn't try to push formula but encouraged triple feeding for some time, which is tough on a new mom but I think it did help. We ultimately decided to supplement with formula while working to improve my supply and she was supportive along the way. I plan to continue using her services as we introduce solids and start to wean baby off breast milk. Highly recommend setting up consultation with Jaudon!

We were referred to Barbara at The Mother's Milk Company by our pediatrician at Lakeview…read morePediatrics. Our newborn son was having trouble feeding on a bare nipple; he was capable of latching but would get easily frustrated, and we hadn't had a single successful feeding without the nipple shield given to us by the lactation counselors at Prentice. Within 20 minutes or so, Barbara had our son feeding on the nipple successfully. Through simple observation she was able to assess the what we were doing wrong and make better recommendations. We then went through some other options and troubleshooting steps for when we have trouble, and she corrected some misconceptions we had picked up from, ironically, baby and nursing classes at Northwestern. It's not always that easy and we're still trying to make it work dependably, but we are doing much better with the knowledge Barbara gave us. She also provided a variety of printed materials, and followed up with us the next day and offered to provide some extra assistance over the phone. We're very grateful for her professionalism, kindness, and breadth of knowledge.

Barbara is absolutely incredible! She comes to your house and is professional, caring, informative,…read morepatient, and kind. I would have been lost navigating the world of breast feeding without her guidance. Can't recommend her enough!

can't say enough positive things about Melissa Block. I had…read moremy son at 37weeks gestation. he was growth restricted and had a tongue tie. Melissa met with us literally a few hours after his birth and really helped me figure things out and get into a routine. when I later had problems with an oversupply/fast letdown preventing my baby from latching at all- forcing us to switch to bottles- I texted her at night and she responded within the hour with assistance. she then met with me first thing in the morning and literally within the call he was back to latching at the breast with no issues! haven't needed to use a bottle since. I would HIGHLY recommend Melissa, she really knows what she's doing, makes herself available for you, and is so positive and reassuring about the process. many thanks to her!!

I debated whether or not to share this experience, but ultimately decided to do so in hopes it…read morehelps other mothers--whether you're new, experienced, or somewhere in between--navigate their breastfeeding support options. I contacted this practice to request an **in-person** consultation. The first question I was asked was not my name or concern, but rather, "What insurance do you have?" I was then informed that **all initial consultations are conducted virtually**. Despite expressing multiple times that I was only comfortable with an in-person visit, I was repeatedly told to proceed with scheduling a virtual appointment and to check with my insurance about coverage. After setting an appointment, I again inquired about the earliest possible date for an in-person follow-up. I was told that most clients don't need in-person visits and that one might be possible the following week if they decided it was warranted. I felt dismissed and somewhat embarrassed for asking--despite my request being both personal and reasonable. For many, myself included, the idea of being partially undressed on a Zoom call is deeply uncomfortable, especially when discussing something as sensitive as breastfeeding. I also had concerns that a virtual visit might rely too heavily on generic recommendations, many of which I've already tried. Lactation consultants need to be present to help the mom maneuver their breast. This is supposed to be (to the extent a mother wants this) a hands-on experience. When I decided to cancel my appointment, **only then** was I offered an in-person visit the very next day. At that point, I no longer felt confident that this provider would prioritize or listen to my individual needs, so I chose to seek care elsewhere. While I do believe this practice could be a helpful resource for others, my personal experience fell short. From the initial focus on insurance over care, to the lack of flexibility or empathy regarding my comfort and preferences, it became clear this was not the right fit for me. I'm seeking support from someone who genuinely wants to help me meet my breastfeeding goals--not someone who sees me as just another appointment on the schedule.

First, I'd like to say Judy Teibloom-Mishkan my lactation consultant is fabulous…read more Ashland Breast Pumps / Ashland Women's health makes the process of finding a lactation consultant, figuring out your insurance coverage as well as help you get a breast pump and supplies! What a great service for mom's to get the help and support they need. For pumps, I choose the Spectra S1 and even when I got the wrong flange size, they were able to get me the correct size without paying a dime out of pocket. They also cover hand pumps!

The two people I attempted to work with from Ashland Health were horrible at communicating. I would…read morenever recommend them for lactation services! On March 14, I independently reached out to an IBCLC (lactation consultant/LC) recommended to me, who works through Ashland Health. My availability (because I have a toddler, and my sitter could watch him) was Tuesday 3/19 and Friday 3/22. The LC said she'd see me on the 22nd because she had a commitment on the 19th. I anxiously awaited this appointment: my now-4 week old has had increasing issues with nursing. It's been extremely difficult on me, and even moreso as a single parent. By Thursday the 21st, I hadn't heard from the LC about when she'd be coming for the appointment the next day. I emailed her at 7:30am and 9am regarding my availability (starting at 9am, and noted I had to pick my toddler up at 1:30pm). I didn't receive a response. By 4:15pm, I finally located her phone number online, called, and left a voice message. I then called Ashland Health and left a voice message at 4:50pm, stating I needed information about a scheduled appointment for the next day (Friday 3/22) and asked for them to call me back. No one ever did. The LC FINALLY texted (!) me at 8pm, stating she had been preoccupied by a personal situation. She confirmed she'd be at my residence the next day for the appointment but never said what time. The next day (3/22, the date of the scheduled appointment with the LC), when I had not heard from the LC by 10:30am, I called Ashland Health EXTREMELY upset. I stated I had not heard from the LC, there's been poor communication with her and it obviously wasn't working out, and I'd like to request someone else to help me. I was told they'd see if someone could come help me before 2pm. No one EVER called me back: not that day (the 22nd), Monday (3/25), or today (Tuesday 3/26). I'm appalled that both a lactation consultant AND a lactation business both left me hanging: horrible communication, no call backs, no help. They literally left me struggling with no services to help me and my newborn. By contrast, I reached out to another lactation service. They returned my voice message within an hour AND scheduled an appointment (with a solid appointment time). I'm finally happy I'm going to get lactation help: it's LONG overdue. I'm extremely dismayed that Ashland Health wasn't professional enough to do the same, wasted my time, and set me even further back breastfeeding my child.

I knew going into my first pregnancy that I wanted to hire a doula for birth. CFD offers to match…read moreyou with one of their doulas, who will provide prenatal, postnatal and during birth support. I wanted to go with a group like CFD because, in the event that my doula wasn't able to make it to my birth (which can happen with the uncertainty of birth!), they would match me with a backup doula. I was matched with Shelley around 11 weeks, and we initially met on Google meets, then in person at a local coffee shop. Shelley was super personable and a kind and calming presence. I always felt like I could reach out to her via text to discuss how the pregnancy was going. We scheduled another in-person meet up (a birthing class with just my husband and me) closer to when I was due. The birthing class was super helpful, to the extent that my husband, and I didn't feel like we needed a long birthing class offered by the hospital. My water broke at 39w on the dot, and Shelley happened to be at another birth at the time. CFD reached out to us right away via text to work out whether we would like to go with a backup doula. When I decided I did, they sent Rachel over asap with little stress or organizing on my part. Rachel did an excellent job during birth and offered the exact type of support I needed: the ability to talk through options with someone knowledgeable. She stayed with me afterwards through a traumatic hemorrhaging experience when my husband was split between me and our baby. I debriefed with both Rachel (in-person immediately after birth) and Shelley (later via zoom), which helped me process my birth experience. Shelley was so sweet and felt badly about missing my birth (though it was not her fault!) that she offered to come watch our baby for a couple hours so my husband could go on a date night. I would absolutely use CFD again and work with either Shelley or Rachel. Both are wonderful doulas. She even took photos (upon my request) during birth.

Our doula Shelley was a back up for our doula who got sick. We couldn't have asked for a better and…read moremore professional experience from both of our doulas. I did an unmedicated birth, Shelley showed up with a positive attitude after a night of getting induced. She arrived just as the sun was rising and helped me through 7 hours of contractions! I never felt worried or scared, she reassured me that my baby was happy and healthy. She continued to work with me and my husband and helped me take the edge off the pain of the contractions with counter pressure, cold packs and changing positions. She never left my side to even eat or use the bathroom! I will use her for my future deliveries. We really had the best birth experience and I truly think Shelley had a lot to do with it!