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Hi, I'm Hadley! Wyld Garden's Summer Intern

Jun 171 min read

Hi, I'm Hadley! Wyld Garden's Summer Intern

Hello. My name is Hadley Roberts(any), and I will be working with Mel this summer as an intern for Wyld Garden. I am a rising sophomore...

Best LGBTQ+ Books: Trying To Conceive (TTC)

Melissa F. Haley

Jun 114 min read

LGBTQ+

Best LGBTQ+ Books: Trying To Conceive (TTC)

Happy Pride! I am more of a Pride-is-everyday and inclusive-is-good-for-everyone kinda guy, but who can resist a post with all the best...

Places to Give Birth in Chicago: Illinois Masonic

Melissa F. Haley

Jun 34 min read

Birth

Places to Give Birth in Chicago: Illinois Masonic

Part 2 of my series about places to give birth in and around the Chicago area features Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital. Illinois...

Melissa F. Haley

May 204 min read

Birth

Cord Blood Banking: Is it Worth It?

Chrissy Teigen banks her kids' cord blood, should you? Many families have heard of cord blood banking through targeted ads and influencer...

Melissa F. Haley

May 65 min read

LGBTQ+

Choosing a Sperm Donor: Known Donor

A known donor is anyone who you find without using a sperm bank. They don't necessarily have to be someone you "know" deeply to be...

Melissa F. Haley

Apr 292 min read

Postpartum

Baby Carrier Review: Meh Dai

I love baby wearing! The benefits seem to be endless: bonding and co-regulating, a baby who cries less often, fewer missed hunger cues....

Melissa F. Haley

Apr 246 min read

Birth

What is in My Birth Doula Bag?

Want a sneak peak into what I bring with me to every birth? This is the bag that sits ready by the door at all times. Ultimately, my...

Should You Drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea? When?

Melissa F. Haley

Apr 153 min read

Pregnancy

Should You Drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea? When?

Does red raspberry leaf tea (RRL) work to induce labor? If it can start labor, should you be really careful about when you drink it for...

Places to Give Birth In Chicago: Birth Center of Chicago

Melissa F. Haley

Apr 86 min read

Birth

Places to Give Birth In Chicago: Birth Center of Chicago

There are so many places to give birth in Chicago. I'm starting off this series with a review of one of my all time favorites! BCC is...

Ready to Start Your Family? How to Choose a Sperm Donor

Melissa F. Haley

Apr 45 min read

Fertility & TTC

Ready to Start Your Family? How to Choose a Sperm Donor

I have noticed that once people with access to eggs and a uterus decide to start a family, the donor search quickly takes center stage....

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 284 min read

Birth

What Does a Doula do at a Home Birth?

Occasionally someone reaches out to me and shares that they are planning to deliver at home in the Chicago area unassisted by any medical...

How to Find the Best Doula in Chicago: Interview Questions

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 264 min read

Pregnancy

How to Find the Best Doula in Chicago: Interview Questions

You've found some doulas to interview that might be the right fit. You've scheduled some interviews. Now what? Awkward conversations are...

How Will My Relationship Change in Postpartum?

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 253 min read

How Will My Relationship Change in Postpartum?

Internet forums for new moms have a lot of resentment directed at husbands. Is this true for every relationship, even LGBTQ+...

How to Find the Best Doula in Chicago: Agency v. Independent

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 243 min read

Pregnancy

How to Find the Best Doula in Chicago: Agency v. Independent

Finding the right doula for you is so important. The key is that the right doula for you might not be the right doula for someone else....

LGBTQ+ Second Parent Adoption in Illinois: Resources to Get Started

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 187 min read

LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+ Second Parent Adoption in Illinois: Resources to Get Started

EDIT November 2024 : If you are finding this because you are frantically searching about how to secure your family after the election...

Does Belly Oil for Pregnancy Stretch Marks Work? A Recipe & Ritual

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 154 min read

Pregnancy

Does Belly Oil for Pregnancy Stretch Marks Work? A Recipe & Ritual

Many pregnant people grapple with their bodies changing during pregnancy. For queer pregnant people, feelings of body dysphoria can...

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 112 min read

Birth

Hot Labor Tips for Queer Partners

Maybe you are thinking that you are a fantastic partner and you don't need help. You know that support during labor is crucial for the...

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 92 min read

Birth

What does a doula DO-la?

I mentioned that I was feeling sore after a birth to my father-in-law and he looked confused. "How are you sore?! Aren't you a liaison at...

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 84 min read

Birth

Why are doulas so expensive?

Chicago doulas typically charge anywhere from $1200-2800+ per birth. That can give anyone sticker shock! Over a thousand dollars for a...

A Guide for Queers Considering Conception in Chicago

Melissa F. Haley

Mar 75 min read

Fertility & TTC

A Guide for Queers Considering Conception in Chicago

If you have a uterus and are looking for sperm, this is a good place to start. Whether you are just starting to think about it or already...

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