From the moment I signed up for my first meet-and-greet to the moment my baby boy was placed in my arms, ATX Doulas was truly exceptional. Every person my husband and I interacted with was kind, considerate, and incredibly knowledgeable. Sunshine was my birth doula, and even though we hadn't met prior to delivery, I can honestly say she was the best money I've ever spent. She helped me feel empowered throughout my induction--which was not my ideal scenario--and made sure I felt like an active participant in my birth, not just a "good patient." When the nursing staff was unavailable or less than ideal, Sunshine stepped in to help me find more comfortable positions and to encourage and educate both me and my husband during the toughest moments of labor. I cannot recommend her or ATX Doulas enough and would choose them again and again. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about ATX Doulas and the support they provided during my postpartum journey. Their night doula service was truly a lifeline for me and my family as my husband and I transitioned into parenthood and being first-time parents. From the very first conversation, one of the owners (Amelia) was very patient in addressing all of our questions/concerns while not being pushy about their services. We also feel heard and understood when we were matched with Kate who was not only experienced and professional, but also incredibly nurturing and thoughtful. Kate is deeply knowledgeable about newborn care and brought such a calming, confident presence into our home. She was incredibly attentive to our baby girl's needs--whether it was feeding, soothing, or diaper changes--and always handled everything with such gentle care and professionalism. Having someone like Kate gave us the rest and peace of mind we so desperately needed. It made all the difference in those early weeks of recovery and adjustment. Additionally, we appreciated how easy it's to schedule after we signed up with ATX Doulas and the flexibility they provided in modifying the typical night hour shift to better fit our family schedule. Last but not least, we are especially thankful to have Katie (one of the owners) stepped in to provide coverage one of the days that Kate wasn't available. If you're a new parent in Austin looking for reliable, compassionate support, we wholeheartedly recommend ATX Doulas. Their team is exceptional and truly dedicated to the well-being of both babies and parents. Thank you for being there when we needed it most! read more

We hired ATX Doulas in anticipation of our first daughter's birth, hoping for a less stressful and traumatic labor experience for my wife. However, their handling of the situation was amateurish and unprofessional. About three weeks before my wife's due date, we met with Amelia via Zoom to hire them and to discuss our birth plan. Throughout the day and during our meeting, my wife had been experiencing contractions that had become more regular. Despite her discomfort, Amelia's advice was limited to suggesting Tylenol PM, seeing a chiropractor the next day, and dismissing the significance of timing contractions. By 6:30PM, my wife's contractions had intensified, and she began to bleed. We contacted ATX Doulas for guidance, and their direction remained consistent: stay home, relax in a bath with Epsom salts, and disregard the timing of contractions. By 7:30 PM, my wife's contractions were intense and frequent, occurring every three minutes and lasting 45 seconds. We called ATX Doulas again, as we were about to leave the house to head to the hospital. Sarah spoke to my wife over the phone, reassuring her that what she was experiencing was expected and did not warrant any immediate action. She advised us to stay home and rest, assuring us that someone would come to our house within the hour. However, by 8:00 PM, my wife's pain had intensified to the point where we decided to head to the hospital regardless of the directions of the experts we had hired for this very purpose. When I updated Sarah, she seemed surprised by the progression and offered to meet us there instead. In a now chaotic moment I found myself desperately helping my wife out of a tub, naked, wet, bleeding, and screaming in pain. In what could only be described as a scene straight out of a movie, my wife was trying to NOT push while I drove at 100 MPH on Parmer next to a cop car rushing her to St. David's. Our daughter was born less than an hour from when we got to the hospital. That day, we called ATX Doulas on 3 separate instances, and on each call they reassured us that everything was fine and told us to stay home. When I told them on the phone that we wanted to go to the hospital, they expressed that going in early would be a mistake and subject my wife to unnecessary trauma. In the aftermath, we expressed our concerns to ATX Doulas, expecting understanding and accountability. While Sarah was apologetic and sympathetic, Kelly, one of the owners, responded defensively and dismissively. She refused to acknowledge any fault in their handling of the situation, despite the clear misjudgments that nearly resulted in a home birth without medical assistance. In one of her more sarcastic moments during our call, Kelly stated "if you felt like you wanted to go to the hospital you should have gone to the hospital, no one forced you to stay home". I wonder what kind of medical services business Kelly envisions in which you can repeatedly tell your clients in distress "stay home, everything is ok, this is perfectly normal, nothing to worry about", but if you happened to be completely wrong in your assessment, you can just relinquish any liability or accountability for your guidance, collect your fee and move on to the next. Perhaps out of ignorance or arrogance Kelly even stated "if you hired a doula to labor at home then that's what you're gonna get" even though we never asked to labor at home. As a matter of fact the only question we asked of ATX Doulas was "should we go to the hospital now?" at 3 different points in time only to get the same false sense of security. In addition to the unnecessary trauma and stress that ATX Doulas put us through, they showed up to the hospital without my wife's birth plan so they essentially offered no help that the hospital staff itself didn't volunteer. They had no idea what my wife's allergies or birth preferences were or even who she was really. Due to how imminent child birth was my wife was left no choice in any pain medication. Looking back I think there were many opportunities for ATX Doulas to do a professional job but in the end they failed to deliver. 1. If they felt like they were not in a position to help my wife due to how quickly her labor seemed to be progressing and how little they had interacted with her, they should have refused us as clients. We'd then have gone to the hospital much sooner. 2. This one goes without saying but they could have properly read my wife's symptoms as early labor and not told us repeatedly to stay home at every point we interacted. 3. The owner could have shown sympathy and care instead of doubling down that they wouldn't have done anything differently and that it was our fault for following their advice. Kelly stated that the guidance they give is generalized and not tailored to each patient, which was surprising to hear. It became clear that we were not the first to be misguided and let down by ATX Doulas, and Kelly exemplified why we won't be the last. read more

At ATX Doulas, they say that you will end up with the Doula you are meant to, and it's 100% true. My husband & I signed up with ATX Doulas for the birth of our first child and we would have been so lost navigating my childbirth experience without our doula Amelia. WIth her guidance, we wrote our birth plan, and I kept them updated after my water broke 3 days before my due date. The team helped immensely in navigating my birth decisions from there. My birth experience ended up going much different than I'd planned due to factors outside of my control, and this is where Amelia's experience and expertise really shined. Amelia was there to support us emotionally and physically through the birth experience. She helped me navigate a 40 hour labor (Unmedicated for the first 30 hours), guided & comforted me through every contraction, 4 hours of pushing, and my difficult decision to proceed with a C-section that resulted in the birth of my son. She was there & present with us every step of the way. It was a sacred experience we will never ever forget and we are so grateful for her presence throughout. We will without a doubt be using ATX Doulas again if we decide to have another child. Thank you, ATX Doulas, for the important services you provide to the Austin community. We will be forever grateful. read more

ATX Doulas - We could not have done the birth experience without the support of doula Amelia! - Doulas Near Me

I just had my baby 5 days ago and ATX Doulas has made my whole pregnancy to baby's arrival such a positive experience! For those who are like do-wha? That was me when I found out I was pregnant. My coworker let me know that when she was pregnant with her son, her husband actually pushed for them to get a doula so I wanted to figure out more about the benefits of having someone at my birth to advocate for us. I met with ATX Doulas at their doulapoolza and heard some birth stories and saw a baby! Also got a bunch of meet and greets of the amazing women who make up this team and hear questions and answers of how they support you through the times of your pregnancy and even after baby's arrival! Throughout the beginning of my pregnancy, things were pretty healthy, until they weren't and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in my 3rd trimester and anxiety shook my world. ATX doulas never missed a beat when I reached out in tears to let me know things would be okay and I could still have the birth that I want. Diana, came to our house, and helped me craft a birth plan. There were so many others that checked in and offered tid bits of advice and information as well when I was 10 days away from my due date and realized I was sick and worried I'd give my baby germs. Lots of suggestions to help me get through early labor pains or stresses of work and pregnancy and life. All the ladies are super resourceful in getting me modern meets medicine for a blend of ensuring I have the positive day and consent for the birth that I would like. Although my OB did not let us go past the estimated due date, that forced us to change my plans to go in for an induction. I let the team know these hiccups and they never once had a concern based on my worries. These ladies have so many experiences at so many different births and they really do feel like family when they enter your room when you're in that state of active labor. My day came and we were set and scheduled for 6am on Friday, until the hospital called us and said they had no rooms and not to come in, call for updates and they'd let us know when rooms freed up. How anxiety inducing (no pun intended) to be put on hold while you wait for this phone call that will change your life. We waited and waited, and I kept the team posted via text. Suggestions were made that I need to get rest even though super exciting times were about to hit, then we were off! I was even checking my glucose numbers and when things were worrisome, got a whole tribe of ladies chiming in to help alleviate my concerns for any health issues. At the hospital, when we finally got the call to come in, we let them know we got our room and kept them posted on progress. When things got pretty intense, we were met with January. She was such an amazing person to help support myself and my husband through this ordeal. My husband was extremely helpful through the first 12 hours of labor, and when my OB broke my water, with my informed consent, to ensure our baby would make it by his due date, all pain levels broke loose and she showed up shortly to help us process all of that. Aromatherapy, music, and massages, what more could a girl want to progress through the pains of labor drug free? I'll let you know January gives the best massages when you're in intense labor pains to help make it through those pains. I even remembered from the doulapolouza someone chimes in and said they loved them. I'm so happy my day came and fate brought us together! At the end, after 24+ hours of labor, I never made it past 6cm dilation, I was deemed failure to induce and had an unplanned c section. It was the most traumatic experience of my life and I asked everyone to let me think about it so I could talk it over with my doula and my husband. I wanted to weigh all the pros and cons of waiting more and more or ensure a healthy baby was delivered without issues or complications arising. The c section was extremely scary but January was able to calm myself down, I asked if both my doula and my husband could be at the surgery room with me since I didn't want to be alone. Plus, January was able to take some great shots of us together seeing the arrival of our son! We got our healthy baby boy and healthy mommy and that was the ultimate goal of our birth plan. She stayed with us in the recovery room as the staff made sure I was in stable conditions and then helped us move all our things to our postpartum rooms so my husband could stay by my and baby's side. I can't even speak into words how much ATX Doulas support has helped me. We're getting our post birth visit with the doula they delivered our baby so I can't wait to get that set up so she sees the wonderful family she was a part of helping create. Thank you ladies of ATX doulas so much. :) read more

My husband and I were fortunate to have post partum doula support for the first 6 weeks of our daughter's life. Kate and Aimee were both phenomenal. Both women were extremely helpful offering us great advice and were so kind to us as we navigated sleep deprivation and being first time parents. The women at ATX doulas are compassionate, professional, responsive and very easy to work with. As new parents, we were so relieved to know that our newborn was safe and cared for in the wee hours of the night so that we could rest. Not once did we hesitate that our child was not in good hands with these women, they are so good at what they do and we could not have done it without them. I cannot recommend Kate or Aimee enough to a family in need of support and help during the post partum period! read more

Another update? Why not? lol. I want to sincerely thank everyone at ATX doulas for everything you are about, stand for, and value. And I want to specifically thank Nicole for all of the support and deep listening she has provided for my wife over the last 5 years through 2 Mama Blooms groups (one with each child), one art journaling group, and one Vital Mamas program. I'm choosing to give 5 updates for this company because they deserve all of the recognition in the world for the heart they put into their work. read more

If I could go back, I would have personally selected a doula that I knew I could trust. With this company you get whoever is working at the time you call. They all seemed great at the Doulapalooza, but I didn't have a good experience and lost $1100. It's not even about the money though, it's about the bad memories of my one and only birth. My doula seemed annoyed the whole time at being there, and wasn't sympathetic to my situation, just kind of going through the motions and doing as little as possible. Now I understand checking your phone and leaving the room a little, but she did it a lot. Even on the phone when I called and told her I was in labor she seemed put upon. After my baby was born, the medical staff tried pushing Pitocin on me, which I put in my birth plan that I didn't want, and the doula wasn't even near me to advocate or help me. I think she left the room, but I don't even know. She didn't tell me she was leaving. They messaged me a week later, and I decided to go ahead and message what happened, and the "owner" came back and immediately defended the doula and called me a liar, as if they were there in the room. Now I understand why she was emboldened to be so blatantly derelict in her duty. There's zero accountability. I'm sure some of the other doulas aren't so entitled and awful at the basic premise of their job, but I got really unlucky. read more

As first time parents, we could not be more thankful to have found ATX Doulas! The team offers a wide range of services (we loved their overnight and daytime postpartum support; as well as their admin support when having to reschedule last minute!); and each doula was incredible in empowering us to feel confident, comfortable, and knowledgeable in our new roles! (and giving us a little extra sleep!) Thank you ATX Doulas! Highly recommend! read more

I did not feel as supported as I would have liked during labor. I thought they would come and help with contractions but they arrived right as I was pushing. I felt that they weren't listening to me when I told them the contractions were getting intense and almost arrived too late. They are expensive and I felt that I could have done labor without them since they barely provided support, a waste of money. Then I reached out for postpartum support. The day they were scheduled to come, I had a health scare with high blood pressure and my midwife had me come in for an urgent appointment. Since I didn't give the doula more than 24 hours notice, I did not receive a refund or ability to reschedule, just lost the money. So much money and so little support. read more

I just had my first baby and used the services of ATX Doulas. I had attended a Doulapalooza session and I had filled out the questionnaire but had not even completed my intake/birth plan meeting with them before my baby decided to come 3.5 weeks early. I was able to call/text ATX Doulas at 11:30pm from the hospital when they confirmed I was in labor. We were assigned, Tamara, which was great because we remembered her from Doulapalooza. This is one of the best parts to me about ATX Doulas- they are able to have people on call so that you are covered when you need them. We thought we had almost another month to go so had we gone with a singular Doula it's not certain they would have been available since we were "off schedule." We weren't even sure that we would have time to use Tamara's services (my water had broken and the admitting nurse said the baby might come very quickly) but we decided to go for it. I am very glad we did. From water breaking to baby's arrival was about 17 hours and having that support system during that time was a lifesaver. Being able to chat with the Tamara (and the larger ATX Doula family by association) was very helpful when we had to make some unexpected decisions near the beginning of labor. Tamara arrived right as labor really began and she was really invaluable. I won't go into the whole birth experience (that would be a very long post) but I do not believe I would have had the birth experience that I wanted (unmedicated, vaginal) without the help of Tamara. Having her along with my partner in the room gave me the support and guidance I needed when I was no longer able to think rationally. Another thing that was really helpful-we had an unexpected issue post-birth and the baby had to be whisked off to the NICU about 10 minutes after arriving. My partner went with the baby and it was so nice to have Tamara with me. It made both he and I feel much better as he could go with the baby and he knew I was taken care of and I was relieved to have him with the baby. Tamara helped pack up our belongings as she knew I would be moved to a recovery room shortly and having just delivered I was in no state to be moving around. read more

ATX Doulas - Doulas Near Me

They were wonderful. Speaking for myself, I found Nikki invaluable throughout the birth. I felt we had an extremely well-informed--and, in Nikki's case an expertly trained certified midwife--advocate throughout the process. She transformed the sterile and clinical hospital room into a soothing and welcoming environment both with the ambience she created and the immeasurable guidance she provided. Even if you don't choose them as your doulas, certainly consider taking Amy's birthing class. It takes a minor miracle to keep a room full of adults engaged, laughing and excited on a Sunday morning for nine hours. read more

We purchased and used what will be our last postpartum care package from ATX Doulas. We were upfront with Cary, one of the business owners, that our baby has colic and reflux and because of this, needed more care at night. As a result we found ourselves burnt out and in need of occasional relief. We had a wonderful night doula the first time we had a night shift. We requested her for another night but she was unavailable so another night doula was sent in her place. Thanks to a middle of the night pumping session where I had to come in to grab an item and an adjustable camera over our baby's crib, we discovered that she: - Did not wear a mask despite our request to wear one while attending to our baby (she didn't wear one upon entering our home and told us she doesn't go anywhere) - Attempted to bedshare with our baby and then attempted to sleep while holding our baby in a rocking chair despite telling her to sleep only if our baby is laying on their back in the crib (for safety reasons). I had to intervene both times. - Lifted our baby abruptly from the crib, providing no neck support when doing so, after the first incident. This came across as frustration in not being able to sleep. When I went to the bedroom for the second time to tell the doula not to sleep in the rocking chair with our baby, she gave the middle finger to the door after I left the room (my husband was watching the interaction via the camera). I went back to the bedroom and proceeded to ask her to leave. She grabbed her items and slammed the door on her way out, which caused our dogs to bark loudly in response and wake up our baby who began to scream. We spent the rest of the night/early morning consoling our child, with no rest and relief for either of us. I emailed Cary twice (after each incident) and she expressed surprise at what happened. When she spoke with us, she told us she had only heard glowing reviews about this doula. She also clarified that doulas don't bedshare unless you explicitly consent to it (same for not wearing a mask). Adding to that, we found out later on that we were not the first parents to be unhappy with her behavior. We were not charged for the night shift and Cary informed us she would be following up with us on this incident. A week later, we received a text saying she spoke to the doula who agreed it wasn't a good fit and apologized for any miscommunication and for making us feel unsettled and unhappy. It felt to us that the doula came to our house to bedshare to avoid taking care of our baby and just collect the money. The follow up we received was carefully worded in a way that made us feel the blame was on us for her behavior and not a genuine apology. As first time parents, we are still pretty shaken up by what happened and we feel our trust has been violated by a company taking advantage of tired parents. The owner doesn't want to be accountable for what transpired, and/or does not seem to understand the issue, brushing it off as not being a good fit. This company definitely lacks a proper structure, culture/training and contracts with doulas the same way Uber does with drivers; your mileage may vary. Far from what you would expect for a business that prides itself on a "proven track record, accountability and reliability". read more

I am so thankful for ATX Doulas. I attended a Doulapalooza and was impressed by the warmth of all the doulas present. Katie supported me during my labor and she was an absolute gem. She was so attentive, kind, and nonjudgemental. She brought such a gentle & empowering energy to the room & truly helped me feel looked after & important. From setting up the space to suggesting different positions and offering much needed comfort measures, she was proactive & amazing. The birth was lengthy and Katie was so present throughout. She advocated for me & ensured my desires were heard & respected. I am so very fortunate that she was there to turn an immense and overwhelming experience into a an immense and exciting experience. She will forever be a part of some of the sweetest moments in my life. Thank you Katie & ATX Doula's. read more

I utilized ATX Doulas recently for postpartum doula support and had such a great experience. I'm a first time mom who was 9 days postpartum. My husband had to go out of town last minute for work for three days. My sister was supposed to come by and support me but she contracted strep three days before so I was completely alone. I was so scared and nervous and reached out to ATX Doulas in a panic to see if they had last minute availability for overnight doula support for four nights - one of which was a holiday! They responded within the hour and did have availability! My doulas, Kelli & Rosemary, were absolutely amazing. They came over to my home from 10p-6am and took care of the baby all night - changing diapers, burping, soothing, and bringing her to me when she needed to breastfeed quickly. At the end, they even sent me a text with a breakdown of timing for feeds, sleep and diapers. Because of them, I was able to patch together hours of sleep I wasn't even getting with my partner. And they were able to answer all my questions about breastfeeding, fussiness, etc. They were absolute lifesavers and I'm forever grateful! read more

This business and the entire staff are so wonderful! We were interested in placenta encapsulation and postpartum care. They made the placenta encapsulation easy-breezy (and to be able to say that in the midst of a pandemic - we delivered in May holds a lot of weight). We also specifically sought night help and had assistance with our little ones' first month which helped with sleep deprivation and assisted with our inter-marital communication. We were assigned a lovely doula, Cara George, and I'll tell you what: our little one loved him, as well all did in our family of 3. Cara's energy and spirit were so uplifting and non-judgmental. Cara was supportive of whatever we were comfortable with and always took such detailed notes for us to review the next morning. Cara helped our little one throughout the night for 4+ sessions. We haven't had Cara grace our home in awhile because our little, now 5.5 months, has been co-sleeping and on-demand EBF ever since around 3 months. We realized it aligned more with our family after our little gained neck and back strength (and we weren't anxiety-ridden with the fear of rolling on him). We also used some of our hours for our first date night in over a year. Our courthouse anniversary was in October, so we wanted to dine out and we had the pleasure of having Lynn stay 5 hours with our little while we *tried* to focus and center our conversations on things other than feedings, nappy changes, and sleep schedules. Lynn did so well - our little loved her as she took him on a walk and would send me photo updates - which fed my soul's desire to see and check in on him. Lynn had a spidey-sense that I would want reassurance as a FTM and the first time leaving him with anyone other than family and for such a long duration. And lastly, I was interested in the program: Mama Bloom. It is a beautiful platform for new moms. Given the pandemic, we meet virtually weekly. It is something solid to rely one and the sharing of our journeys is beautiful and unifying. Especially at such a transitional time when every decision feels heavy and so imperative. That being said, I really recommend the Mama Bloom program for any mom. It also highlights the importance of having a network that isn't "friends and family" because relating to strangers (and watching the process unfold of true, organic bonding) is powerful beyond words. To Cary and ATXDoulas: Wanted to tell you, and everyone, how much I love y'all and how integral you have been regarding my postpartum care. You have allowed me to assess my needs and get better/and braver of asking for help. So thank you for that. 10/10 Highly recommend read more

I didn't realize I hadn't reviewed ATX Doulas until I was referring the group to a friend. I delivered my daughter in the fall of 2016. My delivery did NOT go as planned - it was a bit traumatic for me and even recalling the events to write this review are a little tough. I will spare details but know that I could NOT have done with with our doula from ATX Doulas!! She was the voice of reason, support, comfort and care. I am so so grateful to have had her in the room. My husband wasn't sold on a doula but he afterwards, he said it was the best money we spent. She helped him understand the process as it was happening and explained what was normal and what wasn't. What's funny is that during the "Doulapalooza" she wasn't one of the one's I would have chosen - I connected with a couple of the others more BUT I believe in divine appointments and she is EXACTLY what we needed...a true God-send. I am due again in Jan and plan on hiring ATX Doulas again. read more

I'm so thankful for the support that the atx doula team provided for me during my labor and delivery. They offered a beautiful blend of knowledge, encouragement, and genuine caring. Teresa was amazing to work with. Her presence in the delivery room was so calming and I'm super thankful I got to work with her. Teresa also came out to my house the night before I delivered because I was experiencing painful contractions. Just goes to show the huge heart of this lovely girl. Kelly was wonderful as well, she was so supportive towards the end of my labor process. Ashlei and Ameilia both provided amazing support to me prior to my delivery too. Can't say enough good things about this company. Thank you all so much read more

Having ATX doulas by our side during pregnancy, labor and delivery was one of the best decisions we ever made! I was unsure about the idea of not knowing who would be by my side on the day of delivery. However, after attending an open house, I felt certain these were the ladies for me. They really are a team and whomever I communicated with was always well informed as to specifics of my care-which always felt reassuring. I was induced due to high blood pressure and I thought that doulas only attended natural home births, but I was wrong. Having a doula by my side as I navigated my induction was such a source of comfort and reassurance. Amy Nevland was my doula and from the moment she walked into the room on L&D she fit right into the mood of our room. She was reassuring and calm as I moved through the intense moments of my induction. Since I was facing the complications of high blood pressure and possible c-section had my induction failed, my goal was mostly to have a vaginal delivery. I'm happy to say that a c-section was never needed and I look back on my sons birthday with such warm sentiment and contentment with how everything unfolded. I felt well cared for and would highly recommend these ladies for anyone looking to welcome their little one into the world with the support and guidance of an experienced doula. read more

ATX Doulas - Meeting our sweet boy! - Doulas Near Me

As a first-time mom, I knew I wanted all the support I could get and was thrilled to find ATX Doulas. I signed up for their Infant Care 101 course as well as labor and delivery support, and both were invaluable. I didn't have an easy labor experience and ended up pushing for several hours before deciding to have a c-section, and my doula, Tanya, was by my side through the whole process. She advocated for me, helped me find new positions, and empowered me as I faced a fear - undergoing the c-section. She gave me words of affirmation, explained what was happening, and even helped me through a bout of nausea as I underwent the surgery. Her postpartum support was thorough as well and we processed the birth together. I can't say enough good things about ATX Doulas! read more

You ever work on something really significant in your life and think afterwards "how did people do this before technology/Google/Youtube?" That's kind of how I felt about the doulas. Not because there weren't doulas in the days of yore, but because with ATX doulas you get the benefit of *many* doulas' perspectives. And when you're in the midst of labor, or nursing, or anything related to a baby, you want help from an experienced consortium, and quickly. In retrospect, the scariest part of having a baby is after having a baby, once you're home. But it helps to have a birthing class, and it's a bonus if it's run by Amy, who made 6 hours go by pretty quickly. Her insights, personal anecdotes, and hilarious commentary throughout our learning made it a breeze. Creating the birthing plan during our in-home visit was also huge; there was so much we did not know to be aware of. The day of the big event, I had the benefit of communicating with the doulas as my labor progressed from home for 12 hours. This is awesome because once we got to the hospital they were ready to admit me. I asked oh, do you not admit everyone? And they said no, some gals come in too early and we send them back home. Who wants to go back home while they're in labor? The Doulas helped me via text to know when it was time to go in; I labored comfortably while truffle-eating, ball-bouncing, and Jane-the-Virgin-watching and that is fine by me. I've had some friends lament their doulas, even ATX Doulas from years past. I hit the jackpot with Iris, who was on call on my day. Without her I likely would have puked up the history of my ancestors during my manic convulsing episodes. She dropped some mint or eucalyptus or something in the puke baggies to help soothe me, and burned oils throughout the 15 hours I labored in the hospital (yeah, it takes forever). Things Iris did: hip compressions (OMG thank you), soothing back rubs, suggestions for changing positions or hopping in the shower, visualization exercises, suggestions for what my husband could do besides looking tired and horrified, speak reassuringly in Spanish with my mother-in-law, ensure I got my squat bar (best way to pop out a baby), honor my wishes for an empty room during delivery, and *document* the delivery. That last one is huge, because no one could have predicted that the delivery would be so fast. Our nurse had a hunch based on the contractions, and we barely got a baby catcher and doctor in time for our little bunny to hop out. My husband looked bewildered by the speed of events. Iris took the only pictures we have of her birth and texted them to us afterwards. When the hospital photographer arrived 20 minutes later we were like uhhhhh, too late pal! When Iris visited a few days later, she removed her shoes before entering our home. I'm sorry, this is huge for me: few people are respectful enough to see our shoes sign or our bank of shoes at the entry and deduce that shoes are gross in the house. Not Iris, though, because she's the best. Weeks later, when I had questions about my little's tummy troubles, I texted the Doulas, who gave me suggestions I haven't even found online. I'm telling you, people: you want this level of support. When you're in the thick of it and you're blurry-eyed and can't think beyond how much you love your new baby, you want help. Yeah, your mama or your auntie has had babies and they know a few things, but I have heard dumb suggestions from them, and they've since acknowledged that they maybe didn't do the smartest things for babies back in the day. And Google? Well, Google knows your high school crush never married (too bad, Martin!) but it doesn't know everything. read more

I could not have gone through my labor without Ashlei from ATX Doulas. As a first time mom, I really didn't know what to expect with labor but knew I wanted to try to go unmedicated for various reasons. Ashlei met me at my house once my contractions started getting close together and went with me to the hospital where I was already at 10 cm and ready to push! She provided so much knowledge and support throughout the process! My family is blessed to have met her. Thank you ATX Doulas! read more

I'm so grateful to have found ATX Doulas. We moved to the Austin area when I was 7 months pregnant, and I was very nervous about giving birth with no family or friends for support nearby, especially considering I was attempting a VBAC. From the very first time I met these wonderful ladies at a Doulapalooza event, I felt heard and supported. They helped me work through my anxiety and fear from the trauma of my first birth. Amy helped me find the courage to confront those feelings directly. Sara helped myself and my partner develop a thorough birth plan, helping me feel more in control of the process, which was critical for me. On the night I went into labor, I met my doula Diana who barely had time to introduce herself to me and my partner before an intense contraction came over me and she held me in her arms. I felt safe. She has this amazing strength and compassion which helped me discover my own strength from within. She stayed with us throughout my long and intense labor, filling the room with her warmth, tenderness, strength, and endless patience. She truly helped me find a power and confidence within myself which I didn't know existed. I'll be grateful to her for the rest of my life for guiding me through such a healing experience. Allie was very new to ATX Doulas at the time of my birth, and came to shadow Diana during the last half of my labor. At this point the three of us, myself, my partner, and Diana were all fatiguing after 12 hours, and I was having a particularly difficult moment during my labor. When Allie came in, it was like a breath of fresh air that revitalized the room. Her kind and gentle nature was the perfect thing we all needed in that moment. With her presence Diana and my partner were both and to get some much needed rest, while I got the distraction of meeting someone new. Her soft and capable hands massaged away the achy tired muscles and helped me prepare myself for the next 12 hours of labor. Diana and Allie helped me bring my son into this world through a successful VBAC delivery. Their presence made me feel confident about my choices and decisions throughout the entire process. I felt prepared and supported for times when things didn't go exactly according to "the plan" because I was involved. Having a doula at your side is having a champion to fight with you and for you. It was just a wonderful experience for both myself and my partner. These two women and the entire network of support from ATX have helped make the experience of my second birth theraputic, and helped ease the scars of my previous traumatic birth. I'm incredibly grateful to have met such amazing women and I highly recommend the entire group for any mother, and mothers-to-be. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me and my family! read more

I had Heather as my doula. She was absolutely amazing! I was scheduled to be induced and Heather started checking in on me the night before. She made me feel at ease and let me know she was there to support me. Once induction day came, she constantly messaged me to see how things were progressing and if I needed her to come in. Once the Pitocin kicked in, she was there in no time. My labor kept stalling and she helped with suggesting new positions to keep labor progressing. I believe this is what helped keep my level of Pitocin low. Don't think I would have had such an awesome birth experience if it weren't for Heather! read more

Katie was my doula. She was so sweet, stayed with us the entire time (27 hours!), and even used her doula magic on my husband when he started showing fear or anxiety. I suggest ATX doulas to all my new mama friends because they educate and advocate for you well, and they also truly care for their families and babies! read more

When a friend of mine gave birth about a year before me, she said "You HAVE to get a Doula". I had no idea what that was, but wasn't sure I wanted an unfamiliar patchouli-laden lass or lady massaging me during birth. Still, I Googled Austin Doulas and went to an event to meet a few. It was exactly everything I feared and my husband and I walked out of the event confident that we didn't need a Doula. Fast forward to week 30-ish+ of pregnancy and I finally enroll in a birth class at St. David's. We weren't sure it was a good use of our time but thought we'd give it a shot. It was love at first sight with our instructor who I now know to be Amy Nevland of ATX Doulas. We got real value from her encyclopedic birthing knowledge, warm affect, and spotless delivery (pun intended). Before birth, we had major drama with the OBGYN at the time as we used what Amy taught us regarding informed consent. She wanted to induce labor before the due date because we "might" have a big baby though there were no medical indications. Amy taught us to ask for information on the risks, the benefits, the alternatives, and what would happen if we waited. Even before hiring ATX Doulas, we knew we wanted a birth team that focused on informed consent and that was definitely not what we were getting. ATX Doulas were a great resource to put our experience into context in terms of what is normal to expect from your OBGYN and not. Fast forward to finding a new OBGYN at 37 weeks and preparing for birth, I still wasn't prepared for what it would actually be like when my water broke, and later gushed right as I was walking into Target like a movie. Active labor hadn't started, and we had someone we trusted to offer suggestions to start active labor, and what to realistically prepare for if it didn't. At every step of the way, ATX Doulas was beside us to offer insight, information, and manage expectations. When contractions didn't start and we trucked up to the hospital to induce labor, our Doula arrived right on time to be a liaison with the nurses and hospital staff, reviewing and explaining our birth plan and requests like intermittent monitoring, time to labor in the shower, etc. As a first time baby-haver I didn't realize how little time the doctors and nurses really spend with you during labor. Our doula was a consistent presence, knowing when to offer different positions, read the signs of transition, and offer pain management that was consistent with the birth that I wanted. She also helped recognize when I had reached the point of exhaustion during pushing where it was time to ask for help from the doctor. She guided us through asking the OBGYN for options and alternatives for pain relief, then options and alternatives in what ultimately ended up as a vacuum assist. I can't say enough what an amazing support Amy was before, during, and after birth. Just like my friend before me, I tell everyone I know that they have to at least consider having a doula help with their births and if they are in Austin to run to the next Doulapalooza. It was the best money we ever spent and I can't wait to do it again! read more

I am so glad that I choose ATX Doulas to support me and my husband through our pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period. I'm sure some people prefer to meet and select their doula beforehand, but I actually love the collective model since it gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with more doulas! This review is for the Essentials package. We met with Barbara around week 30, and she helped us craft our birth plan. Her guidance and suggested topics prompted me to ask more questions at our childbirth class and prenatal visits. This led to a birth plan that was open and flexible, but still refined for my preferences. I met Sarah around 2am on Thursday 9/21 while I was half naked, on the toilet, in the middle of a big ol' contraction. ("Nice to meet you, I'm in active labor!") She was only at our house for about an hour before it was time to go to the birthing center. During phase two of labor, I remember her calming voice reminding me to breathe deeply for baby and bring oxygen to both of us. And very importantly, she bought Tacodeli for us to enjoy later that morning, after the birth :D On Tuesday, Amy came over for our breastfeeding class. She gave us great information and reassured me that things were going well. I had gotten breastfeeding guidance from quite a few healthcare providers, and Amy gave me the best piece of advice I had received: "If baby is gaining weight and your nipples are tolerating the feeds, who cares how you breastfeed?" This lifted a weight off me since I no longer had to fret about every tiny detail. Of course, we are continuing to refine and improve our technique, but on Day 5, Amy told me exactly what I needed to hear. On Thursday, I got to spend more time with Sarah, and this time I was fully clothed! It felt like catching up with a good friend, even though it was only the second time I'd met her. We talked about my baby, breastfeeding, my body, my birth experience, and how being a doula is the best job in the world. It felt good to connect with Sarah and recount my birth story. On Friday, Iris came to my house, set up her table, and gave me The Best Massage Ever. Seriously. I've never felt so relaxed and peaceful, and she massaged away tension that I didn't even know was there. It was such a wonderful way to reconnect with my body and continue healing. So, by choosing a doula collective rather than one individual, I benefited from the skill sets of four different amazing women. Each of them played a special role in my life, and I'm so grateful for their work. read more

We were seeing Late night with Seth Myers one night where he told the story of the birth of his second child. Fun story - you can find it on youtube. He kept mentioning how helpful their Doula was for them. We were pregnant with our first child at the time, and were really looking for some one to guide us the day of. Especially because we had not taken any pre-natal classes (like lamas, birthing or even infant care). We decided to go with ATX Doulas so that we have some help during labor and delivery. We were very skeptical of the medical system and feared that they would coerce us into early surgery and we wanted to make informed decisions. I would highly recommend hiring a Doula if you are a first time parent, have no one in your close family who has gone through child birth recently (or in the same hospital) and if you have not read tens of books and taken all sorts of classes. During our first in-home appointment with the ATX doula, the doula seemed very informed about the various doctors, hospitals in the Austin area and also their preferences, styles and practices. Hospitals have opened up to doulas now and we had absolutely no problem with St. Davids allowing our doula into the labor and delivery room and even into the surgery room with us. The doula familiarized us about the choices and formulated a birth plan with us comprising our preferences for epidural, time limits, cervical checks etc. However, although the nurses at the hospital looked at it, they didn't compromise on the frequent checks, but did give us ample time and notice to make informed decisions and gathered our consent every step of the way. Our doula also asked for several things we never knew were available at the hospital upon request. Overall, I cant be more thankful of our doula. As soon as my wife started labor, she joined us at home. She helped her through breathing and different motions that would help with delivery. She accompanied us to the hospital, slept in the room with us over night. It was a very emotional time for us and our doula helped us with some very tough decisions. She was an absolute power house. She was with us for the entire 60+ hours and was so much more patient than us. She also had kids and family and we were happy to let her go home but not once, did she complain about time, delays or wanted to go home. ATX doulas can also price their service per hour (as most services in USA are) but they kindly offer it for fixed price. She encouraged and supported us in every decision we made. She also massaged and helped my wife do exercises that soothed her pain a whole lot. Since she was allowed in the delivery room, she took some wonderful photos of our baby and shared them with us at no cost. We were so tired and exhausted, we would have completely missed those magic moments, so we will be ever so thankful of her. Just like the hospital nurses, Doulas are noble women who help bring life into this earth. God Bless ATX Doulas. Thank you!! read more

Could not recommend ATX Doulas more! Loved the support pre-labor with an in home session plus 24/7 text and phone responses. On the day of, January was our doula, and she was amazing. Met us at the hospital as quickly as possible (we didn't get to be home for long), and was not only super supportive with comfort measures, but also helped me advocate with our medical team so that we could make informed decisions. We had both a gender surprise and a bit of a rocky start, and January was extremely supportive and calm through both. My husband didn't understand the value of a doula at first, and from our first meeting with Tamara to our delivery with January, he said it's the best decision we made. Thank you! read more

We took our birthing class with Amy Nevland and we loved her! She was honest, informative, and funny. She has an excellent energy and is very loving. We wanted to cover multiple methods/approaches rather than just one and Amy did a great job of that in a very short time. If you're looking for a birthing class that won't alienate anyone but will cover everything - this is it - and all without going to classes for 12 weeks. Amy was made to do this and I recommend her to anyone who will listen. read more

My husband and I just recently had our first baby and ATX Doulas were a huge part of our pregnancy throughout, not just the birth. They were always available to email / text any questions I had during my pregnancy. When it came time to have the baby, we called them to let them know we were in early labor. They helped me get into better positions and get my body ready to go. Then Angela came to our house (at 2am) when it was time and helped me labor at home for as long as possible since I really wanted to stay home as long as possible. We could not have done this without her! She drove behind us to the hospital (at 4am) and stayed with me in Labor and Delivery until well over an hour after our baby was born. She helped me get the baby's first latch and she sent us amazing photos! I got my dream delivery because of Angela's help and adherence to my birth plan. I always thought I would have a doula for our first delivery just to help us "know what to do". But I will use ATX doulas for every pregnancy and birth going forward!!! Couldn't recommend them enough! read more

My husband and I moved here to Austin recently. We weren't able to sign up for any classes at our hospital, and these guys came recommended by our OB. Loved this! We had Angela and she was so helpful. She answered all of our questions and even showed us how to use some of our baby equipment. We also received suggestions on other items we didn't have and lots of tips and tricks. We were able to meet her in our home, which made it way more comfortable and relaxing than driving to some other location. I definitely recommend using them if you're in need of any baby classes. read more

These women are amazing and such a great resource to have at your disposal. We came to the ATX Doulas a bit late in my pregnancy (33 weeks) at the recommendation of a few friends. We signed up for the Comfort Measures class which was lead by Amy - she managed to make laboring tips both useful and entertaining. After the class we knew that we wanted to have the Doulas to support us at birth. I ended up delivering 10 days late and during that week, they checked in with me daily offering tips/advice/support. When the big day finally arrived, Darby was on call and very communicative with my husband as things progressed. It was great to have her come to our home and help us make the call on when to head to the hospital. After the birth, she stayed in the delivery room with us until the baby and I were cleaned up and she coached us through our first breast feeding session. It's been a few days post birth and they are still in communication - sending emails and checking in. I really wanted an un-medicated birth and while I was confident I could do it, knowing that I had the support of the ATX Doulas really gave me that extra peace of mind. If you are at all interested in a doula (regardless of what type of birth experience you want to have), I highly recommend attending a doulapalooza event and talking with these ladies. read more

I was on the fence about having a Doula in the delivery room as labor and delivery has always felt like such a personal and private experience for families. On top of that, I always thought that if I was going to have a Doula, having a personal relationship with them was of the utmost importance...so I wasn't sure how it would work with a Doula "team". When my water broke in the middle of the night, I was so relieved to have the opportunity to call the Doula hotline and get some immediate guidance on how best to navigate what was to come. Diana was the Doula on call and when she showed up to the hospital after a very quick progression in my labor she was so helpful and immediately jumped in to guide my contractions and pain management. She gave us space when my husband and I wanted moments together and she was incredibly present when I was needing support and information. I'm so grateful for the team ATX Doulas offers and I recommend them to anyone hoping for support, strength and encouragement throughout their pregnancy (and after). read more

Combined review for all the things these ladies do for the WTF! that is first-time labor! My husband and I took their birth class with Amy, had Melek help us write a birth plan, and Cari assist the birth. Amy is hilarious and makes me wish she was my middle school teacher. Ask her about her silly C-section learning prop made out of different types of fabrics. Melek was great about being real with a gestational diabetes situation that needed medication and would likely end in an induction. We wanted the all-natural route. Instead of being stubborn on paper, we were able to prioritize things in a way that left us at peace. She also gave us a heads-up about GD-related things that would happen in a hospital post-birth, which I had not heard about anywhere and was glad to set preferences about on paper. Cari McCutcheon assisted the birth of my daughter. I'm such a pushover with doctors and nurses, but I was so glad to have her around, comforting me and helping my husband yes, but also helping me stand my ground with staff and helping me tune them out when I could to focus on getting through the labor. Things rarely go according to plan, and I certainly would have not guessed how mine ended up going, but I was able to hold on to the things that were the most important to me. I have no idea what would have happened if I hadn't had a doula, but it probably would have been what I was so very much trying to avoid. Thank you so much! read more

Working with ATX Doulas for the birth of my daughter is one of the best decisions I ever made. The team was instrumental in my positive and empowering birth and still are a resource I cherish. I gave birth at St Davids and had a great team of nurses and doctors but it was really our doula Diana who made all the difference. The medical team was prepared to handle any difficulty and I appreciate all the work they did making sure there were no problems with me or my baby. But their focus was always on prevention or problem solving. And they were all responsible for multiple laboring women at any given time. As great as most of the team was, the system is just not set up for a lot of individual focus, especially when things are going relatively well. In contrast, Diana was there to completely focus on us and to be there supporting me, my husband, and the baby. She turned the labor, which was feeling very scary, into a magical and powerful experience. It was still very challenging! No way around that but the whole energy shifted upon her arrival. She also helped my husband help me and be an incredible birth partner. I'm so grateful for her guidance and wisdom . I was hoping to give birth without an epidural and with the support of Diana and my husband, I was able to do that. If I had made a different choice, I know they would have supported me in that as well. They had no agenda other than to support me - I never felt any judgment about planning a hospital birth vs a home birth or around pain management, it's all driven by the wishes of the pregnant person. I also highly recommend ATX Doulas other services such as the preparing for birth classes, placenta encapsulation, birth planning and just general advice. In a better, more humane world, doulas would be part of every birth. I urge every expecting family to meet and consider ATX Doulas! The whole team is great and they truly work beautifully as a collective. Thank you for everything!! read more

I had no idea what I was looking for, all I knew was I wanted a VBAC. I spoke to Andi (I think?? So sorry if I didn't get your name) who gave me a TON of info about some VBAC friendly providers in ATX. I hope I can use one of these ladies to help with my birth, because just off my experience on the phone they were extremely helpful and friendly. read more

"I regret hiring a doula" - SAID NO ONE EVER. Seriously, when we were considering this, I did not hear a single person say this, if anything, just the opposite. So, we took the plunge! SO glad we did! The system works as follows: At the time of delivery I would be assigned to whomever was on call (meaning the doula would be fresh and ready to roll). I was reluctant to just be assigned a random doula, but I got to meet almost everyone at the meet up so I felt much better about it. As I got closer to my due date I was sent helpful resources from the team. I loved that the team checked in on me around my due date; it made me feel good that I was on their radar. I did not actually go into labor however 41 weeks and 5 days. I called the hotline in early labor then reached out to my on call doula around 4am that morning. Tif came right over. She was such a welcome presence. My husband was wonderful but had been working with me (timing every darn contraction) since earlier the previous day. Tif brought renewed energy, an extra hand on deck, and some new ideas to the table to help me through. At 9am that morning, we headed into the birthing center. 12 HOURS LATER I still wasn't dilated enough. Tif, along with the midwives, was still going strong and led the way to Seton hospital, as we'd done everything natural we could do and it was time for an epidural and Pitocin. Ten minutes after I arrived all hell broke loose and I was wheeled into the OR for an emergency C-section - the epidural made my blood pressure drop which made baby's heart rate plummet. Fortunately, she stabilized but it was determined about ten minutes later a C-section was still necessary to ensure the safety of mom and baby. I asked the Seton staff to exit and had a private consultation with Tif and the midwife, and they agreed. I felt so grateful they were there to consult with. Only one person was allowed in the room, so Tif didn't get to be in the OR with us, but she was there waiting when baby came out, almost 24 hours after she first showed up to support us. I have since heard from Tiff following up with us, and she's to swing by to visit with us and the baby. Awesome experience. If I had any feedback it would be...The only I went ahead and purchased a birth plan ala cart. The face to face meeting was informative but it was assumed we knew a lot more about the process (and creating a plan) than we did given that we were Austin Area Birthing Center clients. Quite honestly there were birth plan templates online that were much stronger than what was delivered to us, and I had to make quite a bit of edits. So, if you purchase this option, I'd pull a plan or two online as a template, print one that you like and walk through it in your face to face. Believe it or not my birth plan was never used; neither I nor the doula had a copy printed. I'm not certain how - or to whom - it would be presented to under the circumstances. Fortunately, Seton was receptive to everything that I presented (i.e. I literally was shouting out everything I could think of during my C-section). All in all, VERY happy with my experience and I certainly got my money's worth. ;-) read more

ATX Doulas: Really good concept in theory. I wish I had actually done the work and searched for a doula that was a really good fit instead of going with ATX Doulas. We paid them a lot of money. I do not feel I got what I paid for. There are other really good doulas who don't charge nearly as much. My experience? I had a weird one even according to them. My doula was the fourth? one down on the call list that night. She had been up with another woman trying to give birth for 3 days prior to arriving. She was exhausted. You could tell she had little to no emotional energy left when she arrived. My sister-in-law had given birth a year before using the Bradley method. She was more of a doula to me than the one ATX sent. We tried to give the ATX doula a legitimate shot. We listened. We tried what she said. She just wasn't very empathetic, seemed tired, and I caught her sighing and rolling her eyes at me several times, but maybe that was just my imagination. I was in a lot of pain, so my memory may be playing tricks on me, but I do remember feeling like she didn't care. That's not something you want in your delivery room. Also, she suggested I sit in a chair in the shower at one point. My husband went in there with me while she went to sit on the couch. After I said it was actually hurting worse, she said I shouldn't have been sitting with my knees higher than my hips. I ended up having an emergency c-section. My daughter is ok. Thank God. I am giving them 2 stars because I feel if you have a c-section with no pushing they should give you a partial refund. I paid ~$700 for the woman to tell me while having contractions that, "The greatest pain brings you the greatest joy." Not helpful. Not worth the money. read more

I don't even know where to start with these ladies. They are INCREDIBLE! I was lucky enough to get Amy as my doula for the birth of my son. My husband and I are pretty sure that she is not actually human -- she powered through 38 hours of labor at the birth center, and supported us both through the entire process, which included several tough moments. I was extremely nervous at the beginning of labor, but Amy made me feel confident by the end. I kept repeating some of the things that she said to myself and they kept me going. I honestly would NOT have made it without her. My labor stalled out enough that I almost was transferred to the hospital, and I was terrified, as I hadn't researched what it would be like at all. Amy worked with my midwife and the hospital to score us the best room and a great doctor, and began coaching me through the procedures to make sure I had a great hospital birthing experience. Luckily, before I had to be transferred, my son decided to be born, but I cannot tell you how taken care of Amy made me feel. Did I mention that my labor was 38 HOURS? Amy was there for all of it, and was a positive force throughout. I can't even list all of the things that she did during that time, but she supported both my husband and me, without a complaint, the entire time. As a bonus, a few weeks after my son was born, I discovered that she had taken a ton of photos on my husband's phone of the birth event. They are absolutely beautiful and I am so happy that we have them. A few days after my son was born, I realized that I needed postpartum help. As a first time mama who is a champion worrier, I needed someone to show me the ropes! Luckily, we scored another superhuman, Laurie, who has helped show me how to properly change a newborn diaper so that there are no blowouts, use my breast pump, use a pacifier.. the list goes on. She has also listened to me cry, has helped me work through conflicting advice from books, the internet, and even my pediatrician, and has helped me learn to trust myself and enjoy the process. One month out, I've changed from basically a wreck to a happy, confident mama. And she's amazing with my son. I'm going to be starting a postpartum mamas group with Nicole next week, and I'm sure it will be another great experience. I cannot recommend them highly enough -- 10 stars wouldn't be enough -- fabulous, smart, caring, wonderful people. read more