Thanks Lisy for the expertise and help this summer!…read more Tips as simple as the type of nursing pillow to use (the My Brest Friend has a belt buckle feature that helps you keep the pillow in place and baby close at all times), using a U grip vs C one for optimal latching, and to aim for 20 minutes per feeding (you want to get the fatty hindmilk to the baby vs the less fatty foremilk that's produced first) were key for me! Also, I learned the most supportive way to pick up a baby: gripping her under the armpits with fingertips supporting the back of the neck! I visited 4x and each time was glad I made the appointment to check in and consult with Lisy. I highly recommend her lactation consulting services, in particular because she's patient, warm, and conveniently located in the north suburbs.

Lisy is an incredibly smart and compassionate Lactation consultant who made a huge difference in my…read morebreastfeeding journey. With her help, we resolved Latch issues, improved milk supply, and most importantly--I gained the confidence I needed to successfuLLy breastfeed! From the very first session, she Listened so carefuLLy and gave thoughtfuL, practicaL advice that actuaLLy worked! She has such a deep understanding of Lactation and newborn behavior--it was Like she knew exactly what my baby and I needed before we even said it. Her calm, confident approach put me at ease right away, and I Left every appointment feeling more empowered and informed! Thanks to Lisy, I overcame chaLLenges I never thought I could, and I'm now breastfeeding with confidence and joy, 7 months and counting. Every session felt like a calm, encouraging space to ask questions and Learn without judgment. If you're Looking for someone knowledgeable, patient, and truly cares/dedicated to your success, Lisy is the one. I didn't think I would make it past three weeks of breastfeeding, but here I am 7 months Later absolutely Loving it and no intent to stop anytime soon. I can't thank her enough!

I am now 3 months postpartum and still successfully breastfeeding! All because of the help I…read morereceived at New Mother New Baby in the first few weeks after bringing my son home. I worked with Gail and I owe all my success to her! Walking into the office I immediately felt at home. Through the entire process she made both me and my husband feel comfortable. There was zero judgment. She listened to our concerns, worked with us to come up with a plan and taught us how to execute said plan with complete grace. She gave us tips and tricks in which I have continued to use each and every time I nurse my baby. Things I never would have known or tried if it weren't for her Knowledge. All of this.. and so much more in just two appointments with Gail. New Mother New Baby 10/10 would recommend.

If you are (or going to be) a new mom, this place is a must. The care, the classes, the…read moreinformation, and lactation consultants are absolutely phenomenal. I felt super isolated and lonely in motherhood (my mom, and MIL completely hands off and not helpful in the advice department) and I just felt utterly lost in being a new mother. As many new mothers do. I just didn't feel comfortable scouring the internet for answers. The new mom's class was super awesome! I learned so much and got to meet new moms just like me. I also was able to breast feed my son for 9 months (while working) Everyone is so kind, patient, and knowledgeable there. Gail and her staff care so much for the moms and families they impact everyday. Thank you!!

We worked with Victoria and Heather as first time parents. We can't imagine our birth without…read morethem--and we don't want to! We started with them around 36 weeks and they immediately provided immense support and great service. (I only wish we found them sooner!) When we first interviewed Victoria to see if we'd like to go with 312Doulas I loved that they utilized the Evidence Based Birth resources, had an educational component built into the price, and saw Victoria as someone that would support the type of birth I wanted with absolutely no agenda, just a depth of experience, knowledge, and care. Immediately after ending the Zoom call we emailed that we'd love to work with her and it was truly the best decision we made around labor/birth. We felt the same way about Heather when meeting with her! Working with them leading up to the birth made my husband and I feel so much more confident and empowered going into such a new and intense experience. We both became much more equipped advocates for ourselves and felt like true partners with the doulas and our medical team instead of just participants in the birth. When it was time to give birth Victoria was an immense physical, mental, and emotional support during labor. One of the nurses recognized Victoria from her + Heather's work with other patients and said they're the best, even adding when fellow nurses want to work with doulas they go with 312Doulas. Heather joined us at the hospital when it was time to push. Heather was an amazing support--suggesting new positions and techniques to help me progress. This was especially important when the doctors started bringing up more intense interventions like forceps, Vaccuum or C-section despite baby and me coping well. Only Heather gave actionable ideas that led to progress. I credit the evidence-based knowledge 312Doulas gave us + Heather's active support with why we were able to have the birth we wanted and everyone stayed safe and healthy. We can't thank them enough and are so grateful for our time together. I could go on and on, but suffice it so say we HIGHLY recommend them to any expecting parents.

I am so grateful to have had 312 Doulas be a part of 2 of my 3 births. The knowledge and resources…read morethey possess are priceless. I leaned on them through every step of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They were a huge asset to our birth team and even helped my husband feel more confident in supporting my labor. We can't say enough good things about them!

Money EXTREMELY well spent in preparing for birth and parenthood!…read more Long overdue review of the wonderful team and services at Family Picnic! My husband and I took the Power of Birth class, along with Breastfeeding 101 this past winter before my son was born. Best thing we did. To say we learned a lot is putting it mildly and more importantly it helped us to frame what was important to us for the birth. It empowered us knowing what we could change and affect - and of course what you cannot, which is a lot with birth! By having the knowledge to make choices as they arose I felt more at ease with the loss of control that comes along. One of the most valuable support systems I had post baby was Sue and Rebecca with their knowledge and support around breastfeeding. Sue came for a visit when my son was just three days old to make sure he was latching and things were looking good and let us know what we should be looking for, how long he should feed for etc etc. It was so reassuring to have her in our home for the visit to see how things were going. In the months after she and Rebecca were always available via text or email when I had a question about breastfeeding or pumping. I credit Sue with keeping me calm and encouraging me to trust my motherly instincts when it came to feeding. And as an added bonus they are both just such great people!

When I was on the Bowmanville Garden Walk last year, before I even got pregnant, I noticed Family…read morePicnic in the neighborhood as I was walking around. I made note of it in hopes that I'd successfully achieve a pregnancy and might check out the programs here, and once I was pregnant signed up for their mailing list. They offer a variety of services from doula and lactation support, childbirth and early childhood classes, to various parent & baby groups. I was here because I attended a music program for babies that was held here and hosted by a partner organization. The space is really lovely and welcoming to parents and children; there are gathering spaces, chairs, pillows, and whatnot. You'll need to take your shoes off when you enter so don't wear lace up thigh high boots! There are great east facing windows that let in enough light that I think when I was here we didn't even have the lights on. I'd like to attend a group that they have here (and as of September 2023 they have a check-in offer for just that, so I hope to use it soon!). The other two parent/baby groups at the music class we went to have been in attendance here because they knew one another, and it would be great to have a community closer to my neighborhood. Parking is ample--it's not a permit zone on Damen itself, though I'm not sure about the side streets. I'd encourage any new parent to see what they have to offer.

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!

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.

Throughout my pregnancy I've been wanting to visit a lactation consultant. Unfortunately, when I…read morecontacted my insurance provider a few months ago, there was literally ONE lactation consultant that they would cover. How is it possible in the city of Chicago and it's environs that BCBSIL will provide coverage for a single lactation specialist? Somehow I got a tip about Melissa, for which I'm so thankful. She works with an organization called The Lactation Network and through them I am able to get BCBS to cover appointments with her. She offers prenatal appointments, which is what I particularly wanted though I plan to visit her after birth as well. Luckily, with the Lactation Network, I believe I can visit her six times with insurance coverage. I can sometimes beat myself up about things... and that is why I wanted to see a lactation consultant before breastfeeding. I wanted to know what to expect, and what "normal" looks like for breastfeeding, so that I knew what to look out for and to not feel like a failure. Melissa walked me through what early days of breastfeeding look like. For example, I didn't realize that in the first few days babies only eat about a teaspoon of colostrum per feeding (I know I would have thought this was too little, and a problem on my end!). She also explained that about four ounces per feeding is about all a baby will need at any point, and that they work up to eating that much over the first few weeks of life. She showed me the basics of hand expressing, and gave me supplies to express before I enter the hospital if I'd like to take it with me there just in case there's any difficulties breastfeeding whilst there. We also went over infant hunger cues, which was incredibly helpful, and a couple of good positions for feeding. We discussed options for breast pumps, which was very helpful because I didn't really have any idea what I should be looking for in one and now I think I know which one I'll get. She helped me determine what size flange is going to be best for me (I would have been way off; it's smaller than what usually comes with it and I wouldn't have known the difference). She also explained some of the pros and cons of different bottles and nipples and how the shape and flow of different ones might impact nipple preference. She also shared that the pacifier you choose could impact success in breastfeeding to some extent, as the orthodontic ones that are a bit more flat cause the baby to change the shape and motion of their mouth which can make breastfeeding difficult and painful. Very helpful since I made adjustments to my registry when I got home to account for what I learned. She has lots of props to aid in practice of technique, infant holding, and so on. She also works with a milk bank and can help set you up to donate excess milk or, if you need to purchase, she can do that too. Her office is located in a pretty boring, nondescript building that looks like a banquet hall so don't miss it. Her space is warm and lovely, though! When you enter the parking lot you'll go to the back and enter there rather than from the front, where there's little parking (plenty in back, though). I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Melissa. I left my appointment thinking about how I could become a lactation consultant, which is something I did consider when I was an undergraduate but didn't pursue. But the opportunity to be of help to women who need it is a calling that I'm glad Melissa answered. She has some Saturday appointments as well which I appreciate so much. I would HIGHLY encourage any soon-to-be breast/chestfeeding parent to visit her, even if your insurance won't cover it; having been there, I know now that it would have been worth it paying out of pocket to meet with her because it was so valuable. Prenatal consultation will help give you the confidence you need to do something that no one teaches you, but you're expected to just naturally know how to do. You might be saved from lots of tears, fussy baby, or simply learn things that will make the whole experience of breastfeeding that second-nature thing that so many seem to think it is. #1400

Melissa is so good at what she does! She helped my 7 week old daughter post tongue, buccal, and lip…read moretie release with weekly bodywork. My daughter was so stiff and colicky and she literally helped change my baby into a smiley happy baby. She was a very bright light in a very dark time in my life. I highly recommend her for all feeding issues and bodywork for your little one!

Amazing amazing all around! Jenny is has the magic touch- I was in heaven. I wish my massage could…read morehave lasted longer. The facility is clean, cozy and relaxing! I can't wait to go back!

Every mom deserves a massage...a good, quality one especially. I delivered my second child a month…read moreago and have been trying to get away for a few hours so I could have some "me" time. I found Jenny on Yelp and thought her 90-minute post-natal massage was reasonably-priced. Distance wise, it was one-bus-ride away from my house. I told myself to book a session and gave it a try. The location wasn't exactly at a quiet spot; the El train track was nearby. However, Jenny made the massage room feel cozy, inviting, and most importantly, noise-free! The soothing white noise in the background and the relaxing music masked all other distractions. I instantly knew that I made a right choice on getting pampered for 90 minutes. Of course, this luxury could have lasted longer if there were an option for an extension (lol). Jenny touched all the pressure points and her hands were strong yet not brisk. I could tell that she enjoyed being a healer and her demeanor was very friendly throughout the session. She also asked me if I would like her to wear a mask as well. I knew people have gone out without masks since the COVID restrictions have been lifted some time ago. I came from an Asian country that having a mask on was pretty much a normal route since the air quality was less than stellar. Nevertheless, I would always appreciate people inquiring me if wearing a mask was necessary around me. Jenny also didn't require a tip when I paid her. That was the first! The cost was even more worthwhile and I must come back for more massages with her. According to the website, there is an infant massage offered and I am definitely curious about this! I never brought my first son for a massage, but I am open-minded to see what this is all about with this newborn.

If you think lactation consultant scmholsuntant, you have no idea what you're talking about. Do…read moreseek out one! As for Cygnus, Jeannie is fantastic! The place is very well organized, very professional. We learned A LOT! And the price is VERY reasonable, especially for what you get, which is a lot.

Cygnus was consistently supportive and helpful. We could not have been happier. They were easy to…read moreuse, knowledgeable, and kind during what can be an emotional experience.

Loved working with Sarah. She is a wealth of knowledge and helps inform you and put your mind at…read moreease when you need it most.

Sarah was so amazing! She came to my home a week after I delivered and explained EVERYTHING to me…read more It's frustrating and infuriating as a new mom to find out that no one is there to teach you how to do any of this! So when I found Sarah through the lactation network, she was a god send! Sarah not only taught me everything but followed up with me, checked in on me AND answered my crazy texts when I forgot my pump at home and was dealing with engorged breasts at work! I highly recommend her services! Thank you Sarah!!