Owner and Founder of Embody + Mind Collective, Tesa Emmart, sits down to interview Anne Nicholson Weber, owner and founder of BirthGuide Chicago. 

Tesa: Today, we have the privilege of chatting with the creator of BirthGuide Chicago, a remarkable resource for families in the Chicago area embarking on their childbearing journey. Let’s dive right in with the first question: What is BirthGuide Chicago?

Anne: BirthGuideChicago.com is a comprehensive website designed to help Chicago-area families build their circle of support throughout the childbearing year. We recognize that the journey from conception to becoming new parents can be filled with choices, and our platform aims to provide valuable information and resources to make these decisions easier.

In one convenient place, visitors to BirthGuide Chicago can explore various options related to childbirth and family planning. Our offerings include information on birthing settings, providers, doulas, perinatal mood disorder support, prenatal yoga classes, fertility acupuncturists, and so much more. 

BirthGuide Chicago Features Include:

·      Tools for Choosing Your Birth Setting:  Whether you’re considering a home birth, a midwife-led birth center, or a hospital birth, we provide tools to help you make informed decisions.

·      Provider Directory: We maintain a comprehensive directory of hospitals, birth centers, home birth providers, and other facilities in the Chicago area, allowing you to align your preferences and priorities with your chosen provider.

·      Complementary Care Provider Directory: Find support at every stage of the childbearing year, from fertility and pregnancy to childbirth and postpartum care.

·      Educational Resources: Our platform features podcast episodes and articles that empower you to educate yourself about your options and help you build a supportive network.

Tesa:  That’s a remarkable range of services offered by BirthGuide Chicago. What motivated you to create this platform?

 Anne:  The motivation behind BirthGuide Chicago stems from a deep-seated belief in empowering families with the information and resources they need to make the best choices for their unique childbearing journeys. Too often, individuals realize late in their pregnancies that their choice of provider can limit their options during childbirth.

BirthGuide Chicago initially began as a means to help families understand the diverse range of approaches and philosophies among childbirth providers. We wanted to equip them with the knowledge necessary to find providers who genuinely support their preferences and priorities for childbirth.

As time passed, our platform expanded to include all the professionals and services that can provide support throughout the childbearing year. The Chicago area boasts a wealth of perinatal providers who offer a wide array of services and forms of support, such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, doulas, therapists, physical therapists, yoga classes, support groups, childbirth classes, and many more.

The childbearing year is a unique period in a family’s life, and finding the right people to provide care, support, and guidance can make a world of difference. Our mission is to ensure that every family in the Chicago area has access to these invaluable resources.

Tesa:  Thank you for sharing the inspiring story behind BirthGuide Chicago. It’s clear that your platform is making a positive impact on the lives of families in your community.