Northern Star Birth Services - BirthGuide Chicago

Northern Star Birth Services

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Address:
Island Lake, IL
(847) 436-1050
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DELIVERY OPTIONS
  • Water birth
    i Water birth means delivering your baby in a tub. Some facilities offer tubs for labor only. Learn more about water birth here.
  • Breech trial of labor
    i If your baby is bottom first instead of head down as you approach your due date, providers that allow "breech trial of labor" may give you the opportunity to labor vaginally instead of automatically scheduling you for a cesarean birth.
  • VBAC trial of labor
    i If you had a prior c-section, some providers may give you the opportunity to begin labor and try to deliver vaginally, which is a trial of "vaginal birth after cesarean" or VBAC. Learn more about VBAC here.
  • VBA2+C trial of labor
    i If you've had more than one prior c-section, some providers may give you the opportunity to begin labor and try to delivery vaginally, which is a trial of vaginal birth after 2 or more cesareans or VBA2+C trial of labor. Learn more about VBAC here.
  • Vacuum or forceps delivery on site
    i Delivery option tooltip 5
  • C-section available on site
    i Delivery option tooltip 6
  • C-section team on site 24/7
    i Delivery option tooltip 7
  • In-unit C-sections
    i Family-centered or Gentle c-section means that your partner can be with you in the OR during your c-section and that your baby will be placed on your chest immediately after delivery for skin-to-skin contact. Some facilities also offer the option of a clear surgical drape, which allows you to see your baby being born; delayed cord clamping after delivery (at least one minute); unhurried delivery (see a video here); and a dedicated nurse who will support skin-to-skin contact throughout the post-delivery procedure.
  • Family-centered/gentle c-section
  • Family-centered c-section: clear drape available
  • Family-centered c-section: delayed cord clamping
  • Family-centered c-section: unhurried delivery from incision
  • Family-centered c-section: dedicated 1-to-1 nursing support

Total birthing pools available: 1

See comments

LABOR OPTIONS

In uncomplicated labor...

  • Moving throughout labor (e.g. wireless telemetry)
  • Intermittent electronic fetal monitoring
  • Intermittent auscultation
  • IV not required
  • IV not routine
  • Eating throughout labor - clear tray only
  • Eating throughout labor - unrestricted
  • Drinking throughout labor
  • Showering during labor
  • Laboring in a tub
  • Aromatherapy

Total labor pools available: 1

BIRTHING EQUIPMENT
  • Bean bag pillow
  • Birthing stool
  • Birth Balls
  • Peanut ball
  • Reclining chair
  • Rocking chair
  • Support rope, sling or bar
PAIN RELIEF
  • Epidural
  • Patient controlled epidural
  • Dedicated L&D anesthesiology team
  • Narcotics
  • Nitrous-oxide
  • TENS unit

See comments

SUPPORT
  • Partner/support person policies
  • allowed in triage
  • allowed in labor room
  • allowed in OR for C-section
  • allowed in postpartum
  • allowed in NICU
  • Bed available for support person
  • Doula policies
  • allowed in triage
  • allowed in labor room
  • allowed in OR for C-section
  • allowed in postpartum
  • allowed in NICU
  • Siblings allowed in labor

Number of support people allowed: more than 4

NEWBORN & POSTPARTUM CARE

After routine delivery...

  • Suctioning only if needed
  • Delayed cord clamping (at least 1 minute)
  • Delayed cord clamping (at least 3 minutes)
  • Delayed baby bath
  • Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact until first feed
  • Baby rooming-in
  • Non-emergent nursery care available
  • All routine newborn exams at mother's bedside
  • Early discharge - 24 hours or less
  • Home postpartum visit

See comments

BREASTFEEDING
  • Baby-friendly designation
  • Lactation consultants (IBCLC) available for consultation on site
  • 24/7 lactation support on site
  • No formula given to breastfeeding babies in first 48 hours
  • Donor milk available
HIGH RISK OPTIONS
  • Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists
  • 24/7 Neonatalogist or Pediatric Hospitalist on site
  • Perinatal Level IIE
  • Perinatal Level III

See comments

NICU OPTIONS
  • Bed provided for parent
  • Kangaroo care supported
ROOM OPTIONS
  • One room for labor, birth, recovery & postpartum (LDRP)
  • One room for labor, birth & recovery (LDR)
  • Private post-partum rooms
  • In-room shower
  • In-room labor tub
ROOM AMENITIES
  • Dimmable lighting
  • CD player
  • DVD player
  • Music speakers (phone or IPod)
  • Television
  • WIFI
  • Free WIFI
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
INSURANCE

Accepts Medicaid : No

See Insurance comments for details

Languages - In-Person Interpretation
    View options & amenities
    Address:
    Island Lake, IL
    (847) 436-1050

    Home birth provider

    Outcomes:

    Overall C-Section Rate (not risk-adjusted) - %

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the LOWEST
    low
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    Among the HIGHEST
    High

    Primary C-Section Rate (not risk-adjusted) - %

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the LOWEST
    low
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    Among the HIGHEST
    High

    VBAC Rate (not risk-adjusted)

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the HIGHEST
    High
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    Among the LOWEST
    low
    • Number of VBAC deliveries per year- no data provided
    • Epidural Rate - 4%
    • Overall Induction Rate - 2%
    • Early Elective Deliveries - 0 %
    • Episiotomy Rate - 0%

    COMMENTS ON OUTCOMES

    Epidural rate reflects rate for mothers who transport to the hospital in labor and have an epidural there.

    Maternity Care Overview

    [from the provider’s website]
    Meet Becky!

    Certified Professional Midwife Licensed in Illinois and Southern Wisconsin

    Becky’s journey into midwifery began in high school when she supported a friend during her birth, sparking a lifelong passion for supporting women through childbirth. She began apprenticing in 1989 with a homebirth midwife and has been attending births ever since. Becky earned an Associate’s Degree in Midwifery and is licensed in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Outside of midwifery, she’s a grandmother, a knitting enthusiast, and a genealogy hobbyist.

    My Birth Philosophy

    I regard a woman’s pregnancy and birth as a sacred space, designed to be guarded and nurtured as she follows her own body’s path for growing and bringing her baby into the world. The innate wisdom for navigating this unfolding time is the cornerstone of the midwifery model of care.  While the physiological birth process works beautifully most of the time, there are a handful of scenarios that may benefit from a helping hand. As I come alongside you in your pregnancy and birth journey, my role is to be your helping hand when you feel you need one.

    In addition to practicing with Northern Star Midwifery, I attend home births with Gentle Birth Care and birth center births at Authentic Birth Center, in Wauwatosa WI.

    Visit provider’s website to learn more.
    Last updated: April 29, 2025

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