I hired Joyful Beginnings for my first baby and Claire Randall was my midwife. For months I kept…read moretelling her I was gaining too much weight and getting too big, and for months the answer was the same: you're fine, it's a small baby, stop worrying. The other midwives who saw me during my pregnancy said nothing either. Near the end Claire guessed the baby at 8.5 pounds. My daughter was born at 11.5. I was in labor for 48 hours and nothing happened. Claire told me I was at plus one station. The hospital told me I'd been at minus one. Claire's explanation for the stall was that I didn't have enough "power," and around hour 40 Joani Koenig, the owner and the most experienced midwife in the practice, came in and told me the same thing, adding that she'd delivered plenty of big babies. Then I got to the hospital, they broke my water, and my contractions were coming every 2 to 4 minutes and strong. Power was never the problem. The baby was enormous and physically could not come down. They kept me pushing for two days when I should never have been pushing. That was negligent. At the hospital they found meconium in my fluid. My baby was already in distress. The doctor told me flat out that if I had been able to push my daughter, she would have died - would have gotten stuck in my pelvis. Everything Claire and Joani had been telling me to do was the thing that would have killed her. I watched the doctor's face when she walked in and saw the situation. The way she looked at Claire told me everything I needed to know. Small details tell you a lot. As we were rushing out to the hospital, Claire stopped to grab a gift bag. Ninety minutes later I was in emergency surgery. After the C-section she was gone and never came back to check on either of us. During those two days of labor I was bouncing between the birth center and a hotel because you can't stay overnight there, and when my husband and mother-in-law were exhausted from helping me around the clock, the midwife made them sleep in the entry room rather than let them use the other bed, because she didn't want to change the sheets. But she had her room where she got her beauty sleep. I nearly died. My daughter nearly died. I have a permanent scar, I've been told to wait 18 months before trying for another baby, and I'll be high risk from here on, which likely means a smaller family than we planned. And after months of "you're fine," the story now is that somehow this was my fault. They refused a full refund and I'm still out $4,000. When I raised all of this with them they brushed me off and insisted they'd done everything right. Months later I heard they changed how they operate because of my case. Good for them. I'm the one with the scar. You hire a midwife because they're supposed to know more than you. I told these women for months that something was wrong and it changed nothing. You can argue with them all you want and they'll just smile and nod you toward a cliff. They're quacks. A middleman who adds nothing and makes things worse. Skip them and go to the hospital.

As I'm starting my second time care with JBBC I can't help but share how amazing my first…read moreexperience went and how excited I am to be continuing my care with them for my second pregnancy/birth. I am so thankful for Marsha, my midwife as well as all of the other midwives and team members who have all been helpful, attentive and caring throughout the whole process. They are extremely thorough and transparent, guiding you with knowledge and understanding. It felt so good to have someone to help you feel empowered In your decisions that can be overwhelming for a first time mom. I am going into this second birth feeling much more confident knowing I have a supportive team behind me who has mine and my babies best interest In mind. Every time I walk Into their office I feel comfortable and at ease. I can't recommend them enough!

My wife and I had Lauren come to the house for a private childbirth class. We really appreciated…read morethis option, as we have busy schedules, and it was nice to not have to coordinate going anywhere for once. Lauren was very prepared and we learned a lot from her class. Once the class was over, she followed up to make sure we didn't have any lingering questions. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for an affordable option for an excellent childbirth class.

From the owner: Birth & Postpartum Doula -- informational & emotional support throughout pregnancy, childbirth &…read morethe postpartum period. Prenatal appointments offered in-home. Available for hospital, birth center, or home births. VBAC, scheduled cesareans, and/or high risk pregnancies supported. Postpartum availability for day shifts or overnights to provide hands-on support for the whole family in the healing from childbirth and the adjustment of caring for a newborn. Multiples support available. Certified Childbirth Educator -- offering modern childbirth education classes for couples choosing hospital or out-of hospital births. Small group or private in-home classes available.

Where to begin?! We moved to Austin from Arizona, and within about six months of being here, got…read morepregnant with our second child. We had an amazing home birth team in Phoenix, so our expectations were really high for the type of care and knowledge we wanted in our Midwife. Being new to Austin meant we didn't have a large network of people to ask for references, so I researched online, read reviews and looked through credentials. I knew very quickly I wanted to work with Christy and Jenni. I had an extremely difficult pregnancy, although I was also sick the entirety of my first as well. I had hyperemesis gravidarum, meaning I was throwing up constantly, losing weight, and unable to keep down hardly anything. Christy has a huge wealth of knowledge and practices functional medicine alongside traditional options. I was always given information of references for alternative therapies to help my nausea. They were always helping me manage my sickness and we worked closely with a perinatal MD for any tests or services Christy couldn't provide herself. I had incredible care throughout my pregnancy and can't stress enough how great a resource Christy was for every ailment. Our birth experience was awesome! It only lasted an hour and a half (sooo fast!) but it was in the middle of the night with a birth tub. Our baby was born in a state of shock, partially because of how quickly everything progressed, and had a little trouble breathing. Christy knew what to do immediately and got her breathing and feeding perfectly in no time. The postpartum care we received was incredible. I had pelvic floor issues and our baby had some skin issues and Christy and Jenni were always available to answer questions and connect us with a provider that could help if it was outside their realm. Truly, we can't say enough about our experience and this team of women! They are wonderful and you and your baby will be in great hands.

Finding Jenni and Christy was like winning the lottery. I literally can't put into words how…read moreamazing these two women are...and how positively they have impacted my (and my family's) life. They are just. The best. Jenni and Christy helped my wife and I through two births, and unfortunately a few miscarriages. We first met them while interviewing for a midwife back in 2015. We interviewed a few other people around town, but instantly clicked with Jenni and Christy. They are warm, responsive, realistic and the best part - they really care about you, your pregnancy and your experience. Our meetings were sometimes long - filled with laughter in addition to medical explanations of my changing body. They took a few minutes each time to do the medical stuff, blood pressure/pee test/feel for baby...but then, the rest of the time they just wanted to know how I was feeling. I miss them. When my birth came around, Jenni was my rock. She is kind and gentle - her presence during the chaos of birth was invaluable. She kept me calm, centered and most of all, feeling safe through 8 hours of active labor and a 3 hours of pushing. My kiddo didn't want to come out, but they literally pulled out a bag of tricks: peanut yoga balls, weird positions, ropes to pull on and things to rest my legs on. They kept my spirits up, even when in those moments of wanting to give up. And, with their help I birthed a healthy little girl in the comfort of my home. It was amazing. Women are amazing. Now I'm crying. I can't recommend these MotherBloom midwifery enough. They taught me about the power of being a woman - and I know that I am a better mother because of my experience with them as my midwives. They really are, the best. I heart them so much!

experience I've had during my entire pregnancy. My friend gifted me a gift card to Great…read moreExpectations, and it truly was one of the most meaningful gifts I've received. Anna was our sonographer, and she was absolutely AMAZING at her job. From the moment we walked in, she made me, my husband, and my family feel so welcomed, relaxed, and comfortable. She was warm, patient, and incredibly skilled; talking to me, my family, and even to our baby boy throughout the session . She captured the best little photos of our son -- yawns, smiles, and the sweetest expressions. He definitely helped by being cooperative, but it was so clear that Anna really knows what she's doing. Even my dad commented afterward on how incredible she was at her job, which says a lot. The entire experience was calm, personal, and unforgettable. I couldn't recommend Great Expectations more to any expecting parents looking for a truly special 3D/4D/5D ultrasound experience. I will cherish these memories forever.

We went in for the 4D ultrasound for our first baby and it was such a great experience! Anna was…read moresuper friendly, fun, welcoming, and AWESOME at her job! I was comfortable and our parents were comfortable. She asked lot of questions, showed us all the different features and gave us a lot of information. We received so many pictures and a great video. I was unsure about coming in for one because I didn't want my baby to be hiding to where we couldn't see him, but I'm so glad we did come in! I will definitely be coming again and recommending to others

5 Stars - Beautiful Experience with Christina at River Moon…read moreRiver Moon is tucked away in a quaint, historic home in downtown New Braunfels, and it couldn't be more perfect for the experience Christina provides. The space is warm, welcoming, and full of charm--just like Christina herself. Her energy is calming, and she takes such thoughtful care during the ultrasound, making the entire experience feel personal and special. If you're looking for a peaceful, heartwarming setting to see your little one, I can't recommend Christina enough. An absolute gem!

We had the BEST experience here! 110% recommend…read more I'm 30 weeks pregnant with twins and our tech was so patient with their positions and gave us the best views of their little faces. We would absolutely recommend this place because they make it so personal and intimate, they are so positive and explain all the cute things they see.

My boyfriend and I decided to get a couples massage to celebrate Valentine's Day weekend and our…read moreanniversary. The exterior of the spa is quaint and cute! I loved the colors and the style of the house. Entering, we were welcomed by Becky and Maxfield. The room was already ready for the massages so we entered a separate room, filled out some paper work, and put on our robes to get ready for the hour. The ambiance was very soothing and relaxing, with quiet music playing and water flowing in the background. We started to lay down on the beds in privacy so we could take our robes off. I called them to enter and while Becky started my boyfriend's massage, Maxfield began my massage on top of the thin blankets then started on my upper back, later my neck, shoulders, arms, lower back, butt, and legs. After about half an hour, both my boyfriend and I flipped over, and our feet, legs, arms, shoulders, and head were massaged. Overall, I loved the massage and my boyfriend did too! We both felt very relaxed after our masseuses finished and all the tension and knots we had were completely gone. I'd definitely recommend Becky and Maxfield if you wanted to get away with your significant other for a full body massage, either for an hour or an hour and a half!

Holy cow. Hands down one of the best massages I've ever received. They were extremely attentive,…read moremade me feel very comfortable, and super nice. Will 100% be back.

She is sooooo good! She gives great therapeutic massages for those of us with pain issues. I feel…read moreso much better. She also does a relaxing massage for my 77 yr old mother. She is great at customizing your experience to fit your needs.

Ryan has an impressive talent for MFR. If you're looking for a massage to release A LOT of stress…read moreand you're open to the concept of an energetic body, this is perfect for you. Will return, so grateful. Lovely and relaxing space as well. Her playlists and heated table really enhance the experience.

There's no way I can sum up my experience(s) with Sam in one review, but I'll do my best…read more There is a cultural belief that all that matters is a "healthy Mom and healthy baby", but pregnancy, birth and postpartum care can be restorative, healing and empowering. Sam Evans brought this experience to life for me and my family. I grew up as the daughter of a very well-known midwife who revolutionized women's health in the mountains of NC, so I expected the highest quality of care from whoever I hired as my midwife... and Sam Evans is truly the only midwife I've met that fits that bill. She leaves no stone unturned during your prenatal experience, from a physical, emotional and mental perspective. I would have been considered high risk by many other midwives, but Sam knew I had 2 successful unmedicated, vaginal births prior to my desire to have a home birth. I followed all of her advice: from prenatal vitamins, to mindful exercise, to being kind to myself when I got in my head about my own insecurities about my body. My birth experience was incredible. Sam was the calm but stern when I needed her to be! I joke that the only downside about my experience is that I miss Sam now that I dont see her all the time! She became our friend on top of our midwife and we are so grateful for her bringing our sweet Clementine into the world!

When I was pregnant with my first child I was labeled "high risk"-- an ambigous & harrowing jargon…read more I was sent from office to office only to have white-robed people rush me out, leaving their practice each time with this feeling that pregnancy equated danger. When my partner & I interviewed Sam, I was skeptical--midwifery was new to me & I had always associated it with outdated practices that relied on herbs & the like. Sam quickly changed this perspective. She made clear her approach of holistic pratices & tried-&-true medical tools. Throughout my pregnancy, she did everything the OBs did only I didn't have to be in an austere enviroment waiting in a cold room. Sam came to our house for every appointment. She made me laugh every visit, and patiently explained things to me, layed out my options; Under Sam's care I was in charge over my body; her continous thoughtful ask of consent grew the trust all women should have between their care-provider throughout pregnancy & especially during labor. She suported my decisions & as my labor progressed, the house filled with the scents of lemon grass & coconut from the Tom Kha soup Sam was cooking to allow me time with my family while also being attentive to my needs. I never doubted her abilities to safely assist my birth. Sam is agile & astute which makes her a master of unexpected situations. When I pulled my baby from beneath the water, nobody interrupted that ethereal connection. Then we all got to eat what felt like the best meal I've ever had. I had a magical water-birth. Sam didn't "coach" me, she guided me through the journey of opening-up. Her confidence, belief in me, & her own stories of giving birth to four children, helped me conjure the strenght of the women in my family, their courage.