I had an excellent experience with the midwives at Swedish Covenant. This is our last baby, but if…read moreI had another, I would 100% come back to the midwives. I switched here for my second pregnancy after delivering my first with an OB group. I'm glad I did. Appointments were easy to get and always on time. The nurses are so sweet. They rotate you through all the midwives for prenatal appointments, and I liked all of them. I opted for midwives this time in hopes of feeling respected, supported and empowered during pregnancy and childbirth, and each midwife here absolutely delivered. I'm not sure if this is because they knew I was a second time mom, but there did seem to be an assumption that I knew what I needed to know and if I had questions or requests, I would ask. Most of the time that was true -- but I almost missed the optimal window for my Tdap booster because I was assuming they'd tell me about any vaccinations I needed, and I ended up having to request it myself after reading somewhere you need one for each pregnancy. If I was doing this again, I might ask at each appointment if there was anything else I needed to know at that stage. Baby girl was delivered by Bridget, who was warm, beyond supportive, and coached me through giving birth to a sunny-side-up baby in about half an hour of pushing (a posterior position where many people end up having to get C-sections to deliver. Thank you Bridget!!). I delivered on a busy night and anesthesia was tied up when I got there so it took a few hours to get an epidural, and they had gas and a tub available for comfort measures in the meantime. I was too looped to notice much about the L&D room, but I can say that the recovery rooms at Swedish are not the Ritz. If the upscale hotel experience is a priority for you, this ain't it; go to Prentice. For me, the excellent care was a very worthwhile tradeoff for functional window blinds and a shower head I didn't have to hold for the entire shower. One of the most impressive things about Swedish is the holistic support available during and after pregnancy - you don't find that in a lot of medical settings these days. They do group-based centering prenatal appointments, which I couldn't work out with my schedule but wish I could have. They have a relationship with a donation-based volunteer doula service. They have an excellent lactation clinic with one-on-one, hourlong appointments, billed direct to insurance. I've been participating in their new moms group on Wednesdays, and am looking forward to linking up next week with the offshoot stroller workout group being led by an instructor at Swedish's Galter Center. If you need pelvic floor physical therapy, you can get it with a PT at Galter too. Swedish doesn't just shuffle you through prenatal appointments and turf you once you have your baby; you've got a bunch of options for ongoing support, if that's what you're looking for.

They are amazing!! Such incredible experience during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Trustworthy…read moreand intelligent through the whole process! First time using a midwife, and I am choosing these midwives moving forward for my care.

I can't recommend Gentle Birth Care enough!!! I transferred to GBC when I was 28 weeks pregnant…read more Hilary was great getting me in right away. The mid wives and their assistants are all wonderful! Very knowledgeable and kind. Hannah and Nina helped me deliver at home. My husband and I were so impressed with their skills and professionalism! They really helped me prepare for the big day. I actually enjoyed giving birth (not something I ever imagined). I will definitely be using GBC again!!

Giving birth to my three children with gentle birth care has been one of the highlights of my life…read more I cannot imagine having a child any other way. I felt absolutely safe and well cared for through every visit and every moment of my three births. ​

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

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

We decided to go the home birth route after researching our options in the early months of…read morepregnancy. Our Midwife gave us a few choices, Sam was one of them, which we interviewed and ultimately chose Sam. The main reason was she was so down to earth that I knew she could get along with my fiesty husband and take charge at the same time if something was to go wrong. We also liked the fact that she could still come along with us if we had to go to the hospital to give birth. We were impressed and comforted by her great amount of expertise which we learned from taking one of her child birth classes. The day of the birth we called Sam at 2 am and she comforted our anxiety and asked us questions that would help her understand how far we were. As the labor progressed she came over and gave me little exercises like going up and down the stairs and swaying my hips to help move the baby around. She was the one who passed along the info to our midwife of how far along I was. My midwife came over and 30 minutes later we gave birth to our son. Sam was there adjusting my pillow, helping me drink water, and encouraging me while I pushed. After the birth, she checked on us frequently and gave us tidbit of info to help that we still use today. I would recommend Sam to anyone whether home birth or hospital birth to have by your side. We will use her again in the future and wouldn't think to go elsewhere!

We hired Samantha as our doula for the birth of our first-born, who arrived this past February. I…read morecan honestly say that had it not been for Samantha...despite my best intentions...I would not have had a natural childbirth. Although my labor was relatively short for a first-born, it was very intense and happened somewhat suddenly. Within an hour of me calling her to let her know I needed her, she was at my home and helping me work my way through it. The biggest challenge for me was fear, and she had a number of different techniques to keep me focused and relatively composed. Also, she incorporated my fiance into everything as well. It was such an amazing experience for him as well. By time we reached the hospital, I was fully dilated and our son was born just two hours later. Without Samantha, I would have given up and gone to the hospital much sooner and probably given in to getting an epidural. In case you have any doubt about whether you should go natural or not, within 15 minutes of giving birth I was up and walking around. My recovery time was quite short, which allowed me precious additional time to get to know my baby and adjust to my new life as a mommy. She was wonderful from start to finish, and I couldn't be happier with how things turned out. Thank you, Samantha!

Review of gynecologist DR. MARC FELDSTEIN…read more If I could give Dr. Feldstein 10 stars I would! I've had other gynecologists in the past, and they pale in comparison to Dr. Feldstein. For me, it's extremely frustrating during a doctors visit when you feel rushed, confused, uncomfortable, or leave with questions you still need clarification on. This is the polar opposite of the care you will receive with doctor Feldstein. He is attentive, listening to every single question or concern you may have, providing extremely thorough explanations that you can actually understand. During appointments, I never feel rushed; Dr. Feldstein makes you feel comfortable and at ease at all times. For me nothing is more important than feeling comfortable and confident in your providers knowledge and expertise when receiving a gynecological exam. Dr. Feldstein possesses infinite knowledge, and provides unparalleled care. Not to mention he is genuinely kind and cares for his patients. It is never a hassle to make an appointment and the receptionists and nurses are all very professional. Dr. Feldstein, I can honestly say, is the best doctor I have ever encountered and I am a patient of his for life. If you are in need of a gynecologist or want to switch gynecologist, I would highly recommend Dr. Feldstein. You will not be disappointed in the care you will receive!

Unprofessional, heartless, and completely devoid of empathy…read more My very first ultrasound here and as a FTM was unfortunately a terrible experience. I was publicly scolded in the hallway, near the waiting area, as I'm exiting the bathroom (hadn't even closed the door yet) by the ultrasound tech for using the bathroom before my appointment. My doctor never informed me a full bladder was required, yet when I explained I had been in agonizing discomfort, and was unaware of this rule, the tech doubled down, shamed me, and told me I "should have read the packet." "Didn't you get a folder?" "It was in the instructions" "Okay well I guess we can try it anyway, cmon let's go!!" - as I'm attempting to grab my things from the waiting room" No grace, no understanding--just public humiliation while vulnerable and pregnant. My husband and I were so taken aback and stood there, completely stunned. What should have been a beautiful moment to see my baby was robbed by the hostility of the tech. It only got worse. When I immediately broke down to NP Rachel about how deeply upsetting and unprofessional the tech's behavior was, she stared at me with ice-cold indifference. As I sat there crying, she didn't offer a single apology, acknowledgement of what I just shared with her or even a tissue as I'm crying (I literally can't make this up) Instead, she completely washed her hands of the situation, telling me to "talk to Michelle on your way out, she handles all that stuff" Now I'm frustrated, I say "Ok, and who is Michelle? And what "stuff does she handle" "Are you at least going to put this in my notes" NP Rachel - "She is the office manager and she just knows and has experience handling all of that, so yeah she'd be the one to talk to" lmao WHAT?! I'm now flabbergasted by her response and complete dismissal. Never have I had a provider tell me to take my concerns about PATIENT CARE to an office manager. I am your patient, not the office manager's. To top it off, Michelle was conveniently on "break," and my promised follow-up call never happened. It took an entire week and me officially requesting my medical records to transfer care for anyone to even acknowledge me and then I was told the sticky note to call me was lost on Michelle's desk. The incompetence is crazy at this point. Aside from two lovely receptionists named Renee and Maria, this entire practice is a cold, unprofessional failure. If you want to be treated like a human being during your pregnancy, stay far away from this place!!!

Amazing, really standout care by the skilled surgeon and her whole team: doctors, residents,…read morenurses, help desk, etc. In addition to having top technical skills and knowledge, their emotional intelligence was off the charts. They were really kind and sympathetic to my family member. They do this all day long but really got to know my family member and made her feel special-celebrated small wins with her with joy. Really makes a difference to the overall experience. As family, I was able to stay in the patient's room overnight. Great food--both in-room and available in adjacent buildings. We LOVED PCT Jackie, and I wish I could remember all the sensational nurses' names, but only remember the names for Madeleine, Ashley, and Ashley because I'm so sleep deprived. Good vibes 24/7!! Diverse staff and we didn't use translation services but love that they have them. Highly recommend without reservation!

My dad fell as hecho was walking in the building of northwestern. I was told he was going to be…read moretaken to the ED in the same building. I went around and pared when I arrived to emergency room an RN by the name of Libby didn't allow me to go with him even though I told her that he was nor oriented.

*pregnancy loss discussed*…read more This was my first pregnancy, and I had originally really wanted to establish care at the Chicago birth center, but they were having staffing issues, so I chose this practice instead. I really did not want to go through a traditional hospital system for prenatal care, but I thought working with midwives here would be close enough to the kind of experience I was hoping for (more warm, more personal). That was not the case at all. My original appointment was scheduled for a week later, but I called because I was bleeding and was able to get in that day. During that appointment, I ended up miscarrying in the office. I understand that not everyone views a fetus the same way, but regardless of that, a miscarriage is a traumatic experience. The response I received felt very clinical and dismissive. Not a way you would discuss a baby with a soul. The midwife told me that this is "just something that happens," that most women have two miscarriages, and that if I was soaking a pad every two hours, I should go to the ER. That was essentially it. The next day, I received a message on the portal from a nurse asking for my pharmacy information, not even asking if I was physically okay. Since that appointment, no one has checked in on me at all. I am not expecting emotional hand-holding, but it feels like a very basic standard of care for someone on your care team to follow up after any type of medical event. I also received an email survey, which I normally wouldn't fill out, but I felt strongly enough about this experience that I did. After submitting it, I got a voicemail from the manager of the midwives/OBs asking me to call back to discuss my visit. I returned the call the next day and left a voicemail, and I have still not heard back. It honestly felt like they were just checking a box. If you are looking for a natural, supportive, and attentive environment for pregnancy care, this is probably not the place. I only saw one of the midwives but I can't imagine the care is that different with any of them. I know this is long, but I hope sharing this helps someone else make a more informed decision.

Our bundle of joy was born at Illinois Masonic on February 4th. And although things didn't go the…read moreway we planned I can say the Midwives of Illinois Masonic were amazing. During birth our Midwife was very comforting, reassuring and constantly stopping by. During our pregnancy we were able to meet 4 of 10 midwives and postpartum we we even met a couple more. We were lucky that our midwife was on call the night we went in but I know we would have been happy with any of the midwives during labor. The most important thing is that they have a great relationship with the OB/GYNs at the hospital. Neither one of them was stepping on the others toes which makes the entire situaltion more relaxing. As a husband they were very informative and if you're willing to be open they can be a tremendous help to you. They also offered a lot of outside classes, forums, and other information to make you feel more informed about the changes your wife is going through, labor and postpartum. I would definitely choose this midwifery if it's in the stars for us to have a second child.

My main goal with my second pregnancy was a successful VBAC and the midwives at North Shore…read moreAssociates played a huge role in helping me achieve it. Throughout my whole pregnancy, I saw each midwife that was working there and I left feeling empowered and cared for every single time. These women are so supportive, patient and professional. I always felt listened to and validated, so I was able to go into labor knowing that whichever midwife was working, they would do everything they could to stick to my end goal and get my baby out safely. Jordan ended up being the midwife who delivered my baby boy at Evanston Hospital and Im so thankful for her. I will 1000% be returning to this practice for any possible future pregnancies.

North Shore offers a warm and supportive environment for both mothers and birth professionals. As…read morethe owner of Chicago Family Doulas, I've found the hospital staff to be collaborative and respectful of l birth preferences, making it a wonderful place for clients desiring beautiful and enjoyable birthing experience.

Honestly, I was on the fence about whether I should even write this review because I'm not sure I…read morewant more people to find her. Dr. McNair is great. She doesn't make me feel rushed, which is always a concern when seeing a doctor. I've gotten lucky there with medical providers. She's no-nonsense, funny, pragmatic, and approachable; I don't feel embarrassed or like I'm asking a stupid question. My primary care nurse had suggested Dr. McNair for years before I finally visited her, and the first time I did I was annoyed with myself for giving in to my fear (I don't relish visiting doctors) and not going to see her earlier. Here's hoping I need to see her for obstetrics care soon. My biggest complaint isn't about her or her care, but is how practically impossible it is to get an appointment with her. I mean that's a testament to how beloved a physician she is, which does inspire continued confidence. I had to try for four months before I finally was able to get in--and that's as a returning patient. That is incredibly nerve-wracking. Don't get confused by the elevators. You select your floor outside the elevator car, then hop in the elevator that it tells you to use. There's parking in the building, though it's pretty tricky because it's also a residential building (though those spaces are somewhat set apart), and the vast majority of the parking spaces say they're for small vehicles only. My car is a small SUV and I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable parking it in one of them. There is parking elsewhere--this is an extensive medical campus, so there are other parking garages as well as the potential for street parking. The advantage of parking in the garage, though, is that they validate. I don't know how much street parking is so it's quite possibly less expensive, but it's Streeterville, so you never know.

She's such a great doctor. I had both of my kids with her and I'd return to her if I ever got…read morepregnant again. Her team is great. If you are considering her, just go with her. You won't regret it.

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!