About BirthLink® | Contact | Site Map | Search | Sign-Up

Parenting Resources and
Find a provider Support Services

Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs we will ever have. It is also the most important. We often do this job without the support of community or family. This takes its toll on our health and makes parenting much less enjoyable. I often tell parents that they must create their own support network. There are so many wonderful resources that support families during the childbearing years. Providers can also help parents access the resources they need.

See alphabetical listings below. Please contact the practitioner directly to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions. Be sure to let them know BirthLink sent you!

 

SPOTLIGHT:
"In the end, nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another."
- Daphne Rose

Why not have the spotlight on you and your services?
You can rent this space to gain extra exposure for your business.
Call 847-733-8050 for more information.

 




Susan Alberts
Child'Space
Evanston, IL
847-328-8817
salb200@comcast.net
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs

Working with parents and training professionals, we use a method developed in Europe that has a proven track record with achieving positive developmental results in infants, and enriching parent-child interaction.

 

American Association of Birth Centers
215-234-8068
www.birthcenters.org
aabc@birthcenters.org

Our nation's most comprehensive resource on birth centers, is a multi-disciplinary membership organization comprised of individuals and organizations who support the birth center concept.

 

ACNM: American College of Nurse-Midwives
Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374
240-485-1824
www.midwife.org

Professional association for CNMs, also locator service on web site

Manda Aufochs Gillespie
The Green Mama
Chicago IL
773-299-8502
www.TheGreenMama.com
Manda@TheGreenMama.com
Area Served: Chicago & National

The Green Mama helps to grow greener families through consulting, classes, and inspiration.  Worried about toxins in your nursery, daycare, or food? Want to live green and save green? Get answers and get inspired at www.TheGreenMama.com.

Bellybum Boutique
Chicago IL
773-868-0944
www.bellybumboutique.com
info@bellybumboutique.com
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs

Good for you; good for baby; good for the earth...Pre & postnatal and parenting resources, parties, classes and special events. We also have transition wear, cloth diapers and baby wear. Check our web based calendar.

BirthNetwork Chicago

Vanessa Tarbell
Chicago IL
773-961-7064
www.birthnetworkchicago.wordpress.com
birthnetworkchicago@gmail.com
Area Served: Chicago Area

We are the Chicago chapter of the BirthNetwork National. We promote mother-friendly childbirth, advocate for a woman's right to fully informed medical consent, and support breastfeeding-friendly policies. We host free monthly meetings and occasional special events.

Bloom Yoga Studio
Chicago IL
773-463-YOGA (9642)
www.bloomyogastudio.com
info@bloomyogastudio.com
Area Served: Chicago

Bloom offers Prenatal Yoga, Childbirth Prep and Breastfeeding, Prenatal and Postpartum Massage, Doula Referrals, Infant Massage Workshops, New Mom Support Groups, Infant CPR, Mom & Baby Yoga, and more - all in a sunny, spacious, and welcoming studio in Lincoln Square.

Mary Cay Cavanagh LMT CEIM

Sisters Baby Massage

Oak Park IL

630-452-1527

marycay@sistersbabymassage.com

http://www.sistersbabymassage.com

Area Served: Chicago & Western Suburbs

I am a certified educator of Infant Massage and Dunstan Baby Language and offer parent/caregiver classes in both of these disciplines. Please see website for more details about classes.

Chicago Area Certified Infant Massage Instructors
847-289-4563
www.infantmassageinstructors.com
info@infantmassageinstructors.com

Information on the benefits of infant massage for infants and children, the benefits for parents and caregivers, infant massage classes and helpful resources.

Citizens for Midwifery
Athens GA
888-CFM-4880
www.cfmidwifery.org
info@cfmidwifery.org

Promotes the Midwives Model of Care™ as the best care for pregnancy and birth. The only national consumer-based group. CFM works to provide information and resources that promote the local midwife, as well as midwives and midwifery care across the country!

CIMS: Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
Ponte Vedra Beach FL
888-282-CIMS
www.motherfriendly.org

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, Resources for promoting a wellness model of maternity care, Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative™

Coalition for Illinois Midwifery (CFIM)
www.illinoismidwifery.org
info@illinoismidwifery.org

The Coalition for Illinois Midwifery seeks to ensure the availability of safe, licensed direct-entry midwifery services for families in the state of Illinois. We support the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential as a basis for licensure.

DONA: Doulas of North America
PO Box 626
Jasper, IN 47547
888- 788-DONA (3662), Fax: 812- 634-1491
www.dona.org
Info@DONA.org

Doula certification, training & referrals.

Family & Child Development Center
Chicago IL
312-440-1203

Family Counseling - Long & short term, play group up to age 4, Grants & United Way Sliding Fee Scale

Family Network
Highland Park IL
847-433-0377

Nonprofit 15 years - Baby n Me, resources, first four years of family life, drop in & preschool program, new mom's groups

 

Focus on Families
Oak Forest IL
708-687-2601

Nonprofit Early Childhood Block Grant. Parent Meetings, At Risk, Birth to Three programs. Spanish spoken.

Free Standing Birth Centers in Illinois
Chicago IL
312-372-4292
www.HMPRG.org
info@HMPRG.org

Working with legislative, judicial and educational issues to promote free standing centers

 

Fussy Baby Network
Chicago IL
888-431-BABY (2229) Warm Line
www.fussybabynetwork.org
fussybaby@erikson.edu
Area Served: Chicago Metro Area

We offer support to the family through: home visiting (call for geographic area), warmline consultation, parent groups and a pediatric clinic (currently at the University of Chicago). This is a multidisciplinary program for parents who have concerns about their baby's crying, sleeping and feeding during the first year.


Healthy Green Goods

Marny Turvill MD
Evanston IL
847-864-9098
www.HealthyGreenGoods.com

marny@healthygreengoods.com
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs


Offers products and education helping parents create a healthy nursery and home. We offer chemical-free cribs, mattresses, paints, carpet, and window treatments to fit your needs. Our parent services include consultations and in-home visits. A great gift for baby.

Holistic Moms Network
(877) HOL-MOMS
www.holisticmoms.org
info@holisticmoms.org
Area Served: National

National, nonprofit organization for parents and others interested in natural living and holistic parenting. Helping parents build local communities to learn and support one another. Chapters across the US and Canada, including in the Chicago SW Suburbs and Kane County, IL.

Dionna Hunger
ICAN of Chicago (international Cesaeran Awareness Network)
Chicago IL (local chapter)
773-286-4501
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs
health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ICANofChicago/ icanofchicago@yahoo.com

IAM: International Alliance of Midwives
800-743-0974
www.midwiferytoday.com

On-line Community in Support of Midwifery, conferences and workshops

ICEA
Raleigh NC
800-624-4934, 919-863-9487
www.icea.org

info@icea.org
Area Served: International


International Childbirth Education Association providing birth instructor and doula training.

 

Inter Assoc of Infant Massage
Springfield VA
877-248-5432
www.infantmassageusa.org
info@infantmassageuse.org

Robin Joyce
C.H.O.I.C.E.S
Hebron IN
219-996-5188
www.IndianaBirthChoices.com
bowtie96@netnitco.net
Area Served: NW Indiana

Based on natural birth and parenting. For anyone interested in learning about normal birth and alternative care. We are a network providing information so parents can make informed decisions. They can then have a fulfilling experience with pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Monthly meetings at Hebron Community Center.

Rhonda Kantor RN BSN HNC RYT-500 CCE
Global Yoga Center
Chicago IL
773-719-6227
www.globalyogacenter.com
Area Served: Chicago

Yoga Instructor (since 1996) and Registered Nurse (since 1991): Yoga Teacher Training completed from the Temple of Kriya Yoga. Owner- Director of the Global Yoga Center specializing in Prenatal Yoga, Mom and Baby yoga, Couples Birth classes, Hatha /Vinyasa yoga and Teacher Trainings.

 

Parents of Multiples Club
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago IL
312-472-8946

Free support group for parents expecting and new parents of multiples. Resources and prenatal education classes available.

 

La Leche League International
Schaumburg IL
800-525-3243 (referrals to leaders)
847-519-7730 (main)
www.lalecheleague.org

Locate a group or leader, meetings or get help w/ breastfeeding problems, quarterly magazine w/ membership, conferences

 

David Miller MD, FAAP, LAc, Dipl OM
East-West Integrated Medicine LLC
Chicago IL
773-960-8901
www.eastwestintmed.com
eastwestkiddoc@hotmail.com
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs

One of the only US physicians with dual Board certification in Pediatrics (ABP) and Traditional Chinese Medicine / Chinese Herbalism (NCCAOM). MD - Brown University; Pediatrics Residency - University of Chicago; TCM - Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM). Other techniques: Reiki Master-Teacher & Bach and North American Flower Essences.

MANA: Midwives Alliance of North America
Lilburn GA
888-923-6262
info@mana.org www.mana.org

Organization of North American Midwives and their advocates

NARM: North American Registry of Midwives

Lilburn GA
888-84-BIRTH
www.narm.org

info@narm.org

International Midwife Accreditation Agency

Neighborhood Parent's Network
Chicago IL
312-409-2233 (membership voicemail)

www.npnparents.org

Chicago Only - no suburbs - school info, New Moms Groups, Newsletter, Speakers, Babysitting Coop, Nannyshare

The Parent Circle
North Shore Area IL

www.theparentcircle.com

Our goal is to promote a positive family experience through education, support and social interactions. We provide our members with playgroups, workshops, family activities and a monthly newsletter. There is also a babysitting co-op and meetup group.

 

Parenthesis
Oak Park IL
708-848-2227
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs

Workshops with child care, single parent & teen parents, drop in care for all

Parents Who Care
Schaumburg IL
847-604-4582
www.parentswhocare.org
Area Served: North West Suburbs

20 yrs out growth of Lamaze group, workshops, children's socials, parent outings, mom support group, parent to parent informational groups, peer mentoring, monthly meetings, newsletter

 

Sheryl Stoller PCI ®

Stoller Parent Coaching

Oak Park IL

708-358-8289, (877) 285-8289

www.stollerparentcoaching.com

sheryl@stollerparentcoaching.com

Area Served: National

With warmth, sensitivity, insight and expertise, I support and guide new parents and parents-to-be, enabling them to enable themselves and their babies to thrive. Individual and couples coaching primarily by phone; groups in the near-western suburbs. Seasoned parent of three.

 

Mary Thilleman
Merry Music Makers
Chicago IL
773-929-4MMM (4666)
www.merrymusicmakers.net
info@merrymusicmakers.net
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs


A Music Together class is a relaxed, playful, participatory, exploratory musical experience. We do not expect musical perfection or “performances” from children or parents. We strive to see families DOING music. We seek to create a community of families making Music Together! Call us today to schedule a FREE demonstration class!

 

Together in the Loss of a Child

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago IL
312-472-8946

Prentice Women's Hospital
Support group for parents, family, and friends grieving the loss of an infant. For the newly bereved, aswell as for those whose loss occurred months or years ago.

Transitions to Motherhood
Chicago IL
312-926-9971
Area Served: Chicago & Suburbs

Postpartum Adjustment Program Prentice Women's Hospital Alberto-Culver Women's Health Center Provides information and discussion to help new mothers manage the transition to their new role. A great way to meet other new moms.
Life Seaons Wellness