I was so scared to give birth and they were the most patient people. The people there make you feel calm and welcome. Come to the day I give birth and Sara handled my near death experience like a pro. The team was calm yet fast the whole time. So they basically kept me from freaking out. My body was being very uncooperative with birthing and it was the team that came through. They did everything on their end despite the challenges they were faced with. They made a pretty abnormal birth feel like it was all in good hands read more

I have always been the kind of person who goes for the least amount of medication and prefers things the natural way. But this was a mistake. Primarily because of the after birth support which was hardly anything. They sent us back home in just about 6 hours after birth and I had a terribly long labor. After that, figuring out breastfeeding, and coming back for the baby and my check up was difficult beyond measure. Ladies, do yourself a favour and do not opt to birth here. The midwives are all sweet and the pre birth consultations were great. But what mattered for me was the fact that my husband and I were under constant fear of being transferred to the hospital midbirth. And then when I gave birth after being in labor for more than 3 days, I bled excessively and there was scolding and discussions in spanish between the midwives and the help which we could not understand as we dont know the language but it was clear that something was wrong and they were considering a hospital transfer. Luckily that didn't have to happen. But it was stressful none the less, knowing that I could not get all the care and support in the place where I was. Ofcourse we knew this before hand but who anticipates the worst? And then with hardly any rest, when I was barely able to walk, I was sent back home. They asked my friend who came to pick me up to help with breastfeeding. All of this additional stress could have been avoided if I were in the hospital. I would have gotten to stay for 3 days, got breastfeeding support, I would not have to do back and forth to visit the doctor within 2 days of giving birth and could have been stressfree that I have all the support needed around me. Apart from the time that the midwives spend with you to get all your questions answered while you are pregnant, there is nothing that was nice here. If you have good insurance I would not recommend to birth here. read more

I cannot say enough great things about AABC! The care I received before birth was outstanding. When we found out we were pregnant, we originally went to an OB office and found the care to be lack luster and hurried. We were just another patient and it showed. AABC was the exact opposite. Our appointments took as long as I needed them to (with all of my questions) and I was never shamed or rushed through my care or questions. The midwives are all exceptionally intelligent and practiced informed consent at every turn. Not to mention they were incredibly intuitive to my emotions and needs. There was not one midwife that I didn't feel seen and supported by. Regarding the actual birth of my son, it could not have been more perfect. Our midwife was gentle but supportive and guided me through the entire experience. This was my first birth so when I felt unsure or scared, she was right there beside me. After little man was born, we had help from the lactation consultants on staff as well as an appointment with a lactation consultant on staff for extra help. The midwives on call were there with any questions or concerns we had after bringing baby home, so we never felt like we had no one to turn to. They literally called back within 5 minutes every time, so we didn't have to wait 24 hours like some do with their OB or Pediatrician. Obviously everyone birth and postpartum experiences are different, but I attribute my quick recovery (only took 3 weeks to be back to normal) to the natural birth process and the support and care I received at AABC. Really there is no better way to bring a baby into this world than with AABC and staff. read more

They literally saved my life. My husband and I really wanted to have a natural labor with as little assistance as possible. We loved the home like environment that the birthing center had and that every midwife we met was so understanding and knowledgeable. They do things a little different than a normal doctor's office. Every time you have an appointment they try to schedule you with a different midwife that way you have the opportunity to meet everyone since you do not know who will be on call when you go into labor. We had great experiences with all of the midwives but you can't help but have a better connection with some over others. My husband and I had really good feelings about Rebekah and Samantha. We even said that we would love to have one of them deliver our son if we had a choice! Well 9:30pm on Sunday, Nov 3rd rolls around (9 days past my due date) and I finally go into labor! Once things got really real.... we called the BC and Rebekah was the midwife on call. Yay! We go in around 1am and Rebekah is great. She was attentive but not over the top and really allowed us to carry on the way we wanted during the labor process. Finally, my son was born the following morning with the help of Rebekah, an amazing nurse and Samantha showed up to assist as well! So how did they save my life? Well, once my son was born I had a complications and would not stop bleeding. After trying everything they could to assist me they decided it was time to call 911 and get me to the hospital. Samantha followed in her car and stayed at the hospital until I was out of surgery and made sure I was okay. Samantha even came back after her shift late that night to check on me. They recognized early that I needed help and they made sure I was given the proper care I needed quickly. Everyone was so kind, helpful and understanding from the moment we started until my last appt with them. I would absolutely use the birthing center again if I was able to. These women are amazing at what they do and really care about the whole family. Thank you Rebekah, Samantha and the whole team for everything you did for my family and myself. read more

not a fan, not at all the natural childbirth vision I had or could foresee. - loads of HUGE ants crawling all over the waiting room, ceiling too! - forced mask wearing - VERY medicalized, at this point why not just go to a hospital? - even the woman who gave us the tour whispered to us "don't tell them but I am leaving next month" (great sign for us to go elsewhere!!) - they charge you $20 you run your insurance card - nothing about this place reminded me of Ina May's book which isn't a good thing - other things I cannot say that'll get this review removed from yelp read more

So, its been about 2.5yrs since I had my daughter and I wanted to write an updated review now that I've had sometime to really reflect on my experience. I see now that the positive aspects I had were with particular midwives rather than the birthing center itself. Sam was amazing in our Centering group and my prenatal care. Joanne and Kat....I could have not done the emergency transfer to a hospital without them. However, the center itself was fine, but its the same care (including a parenting group) I could have gotten at St. Davids and my insurance would have covered most of the cost. I should have hired a doula and just went to a hospital rather than spend the money that I did at the birthing center just to be transferred and have to pay all of those bills on top of it all. I also want to mention the Facebook group as well. You think its ganna be a great support resource, but really its just a judgement filled space loaded with a bunch of anti-vaccers. I rarely see anyone post about REAL shit. You know, the struggles of a newborn and transitioning into parenthood? I feel like I am reading a suburban mommy blog who sources pseudoscience. Just save yourself the money and hire a doula. Find a doctor/hospital who meets your expectations for the kind of birth you want. read more

We truly couldn't be more grateful for AABC! As first time parents seeking a more holistic approach to birthing, specifically a water birth, this staff met us with sincerely warm care and valuable education. From the "New Trends" class with Chan to every visit with our midwives, we knew that we were in good hands here. Our intention in seeking a holistic birth was primarily due to my desire to have an empowering, water birth in a home-like setting and this was exactly what we received. Nurse/Midwife Rebecca and the supporting staff could not have been more wonderful. They created a zen-like space for me and really honored the requests I'd outlined in my birth-plan. We delivered our son in 3 1/2 hours and couldn't imagine a better experience. The care we received before, after, and during has been beyond wonderful! BIG THANKS to everyone at AABC for making our transition into parenthood so special. read more

I don't know anyone that has had a child here, however, they had great reviews and we loved Ros. My experience has been awful dealing with miscommunication and now after 3 visits they are refusing to refund my delivery facility charge which is for Sept., however, has to be paid in advance. They have since referred me to another facility to finish my pregnancy and to delivery my baby with because of unforeseen complications with my baby. They have my insurance for all of my doctor visits and care up to this point. The front desk explained the deposits were for the facility as my insurance may or may not cover the delivery since they are not considered a hospital and if we ended up having the baby at another facility they would refund the deposit. Now after 3 visits with 4 months to go they are refusing to refund my delivery costs. I wouldn't trust anything they say. read more

AABC is a phenomenal place! The staff is so caring and knowledgeable. The facilities are up to date and well equipped and very accommodating. We just had our first birth here and I can't imagine doing it anywhere else! Thank you so much AABC! We will absolutely be here for our next birth! read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place I had my first baby here last October (2014) and i can promise you i will have ALL my next babies here. and I couldn't be more pleased with the service I received through my pregnancy and during my little ones birth the staff is great and really supportive. I especially appreciated the classes and postpartum care I could not have made it through that first month of breastfeeding without the support I received from them. And I love being a part of the community of moms, dads and babies they have built it truly is a wonderful place and I couldn't have asked for a better way for my baby to have entered the world. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking to have a natural birth. Thank you so much AABC! read more

Austin Area Birthing Center - My baby and the wonderful woman who caught him. - Midwives Near Me - Austin, Texas

UPDATE: They finally refunded our money. Added one star. Here's my problem with AABC. They dropped us as their client once our baby was diagnosed with HLHS. We went to a total of three appointments with them. Paid our money. They dropped us and have yet to refund our money. Fine, I understand you don't want risky or uncomfortable births. But to keep our money?! Absurd. We found another birthing center that worked with us through our birth. They have been fantastically helpful. We gave birth a couple of days ago. Beautiful experience... no thanks to AABC. Sorry, guys, but you really should treat your customers better. read more

I actually hate to have to write this review, BUT after going through a few negative ones I think a few things should be highlighted. I had such high hopes for this establishment. I guess I'm glad I came to my senses before I shelled out over 500 every month. The things that kinda changed my view may seem small but if I'm paying you over 3000, when I can really go to a great hospital that my insurance will cover to almost FREE... Why would I pay you guys so much? So, the tour was pretty nice. The establishment is beautiful honestly. They front desk and midwives makes you feel extremely comfortable! This is what drew me in. My boyfriend actually suggested them because I'm looking to do natural birth, and they seemed to know what they were doing. Hearing the front desk brag about the experience of the midwives, the centering groups, and the lactation consultants really gets you feeling comfortable about delivering there (especially when your having your first and you're clueless) First thing that stuck out to me was we went on the tour, it was great BUT the front desk manager says "We will email you all you information to your Maternity Center account" Well, it would help if you double checked the customers email i provided them the correct one they had it ".coom"... maybe you would have known that you haven't sent me any follow up in almost 2 weeks. So, I was pretty early at the time (about 7 weeks) so I was continuing with ARC but very eager to start with AABC so,I gave them a call. They resent it, still nothing. Called again when I was 9 weeks. "Whoops hehe we had your email wrong hehehe I'm sorry about that let's try again" Ok... sure, I guess. I log into my maternity center, start taking care of things right away. I notice my due date is 2 weeks fast. So instead of 9 it showed 12 weeks. What did I waste time filling out this questionnaire if you're just gonna put what you want? So they finally schedule us the midwife meeting. We show up. "Ummm I didn't know you guys had anything scheduled today" at this point IM already getting annoyed because with all the money you're asking for ( they gave us a ballpark not OUR actual after insurance) you should have the due date I gave you, you should be more diligent with making sure you don't have small things like EMAIL ADDRESS ERRORS that slow my process for 2 weeks. So, I finally get a midwife meeting, keep in mind I haven't had an ultrasound or checkup in almost 6 weeks. We meet, we even ask the midwife, "Can we get any payment info?" I get the same response as always "oh hehe I'll let the front desk deal with the finances, I'm focused on you having a healthy baby" So I'm not sure if the front desk knows or not, they give us a BLANK PAYMENT SCHEDULE. She sends me an email with my name spelled "NICHOLE" (wrong) to go to Larsen Billing,this was sent WEEKS ago to the wrong email. I fill it out so I can make my appt. We FINALLY get a meeting scheduled, I show up at 14 weeks. "Ok so we will need your 500 dollar down payment" My partner is like "Well I can run home and get a check" This was my last straw personally you screw my email up, slow my process for 2 weeks, screwed my due date up, misspell my name, didn't know about my midwife meeting, and decided that I would just have 500 on hand. You could written me on maternity center, right? Hell, you could have called. I just leave my paperwork on the desk and go to my car. I've made an appt with ARC just for an Ultrasound and I'll be going to another center. These small mixups had be kinda weary, and then to come to Yelp and see some of these reviews. Makes me feel way better about deciding not to go to them. She saw was how frustrated I was and sent an email with the subject "My Apoligies" yes... ApolOgies was spelled incorrect. My job doesn't deal with birthing children and I know proofreading is important. Hey, maybe I was just an unlucky case. But I'm glad I made that call before my baby died here like another woman. Horrible, I had such high hopes. Your front desk albeit, sweethearts! Mildly spacey. Sorry, not sorry. read more

I think if you are blessed with an "easy" pregnancy, you should still go elsewhere. the messy details: *I had a rough pregnancy. *extreme morning-sickness 24/7 for months and months *they were very unsympathetic, and offered no solutions to my morning sickness. Guess what? There are ways to combat horrendous 24/7 morning sickness, yet they won't tell you and can't prescribe you anything. *I had severe acid reflux which caused LPR(diagnosed by the OB I later transferred to, but that info comes later), which caused my vocal cords to swell and close when I tried to breath day and night. It's okay. You/they can Google it. Maybe they can help their next "client" who presents with these symptoms. They were clueless, and treated me TERRIBLY because of THEIR lack of knowledge. *The side effect of my vocal cords closing while trying to breathe was...you guessed it; automatic anxiety. Try breathing through a straw that someone plugs up intermittently while 8 months pregnant and no sleep. Doesn't sound fun, does it? And no, I don't have emotional problems like the owner suggested to me, she's just ignorant about personal interactions and LPR. *Another con: You don't see the same midwife every time; which I didn't know when I started there, signed my contract and paid my fee up-front. My husband and I liked the first midwife we saw, unfortunately, we only saw her once, but the others we found cold (one especially) and uninterested in helping me get through the pregnancy in a more comfortable manner. Do you really think I want someone there, who I have met once, who is cold and/or rude while I am in labor? You couldn't even help me make my pregnancy more tolerable or CHOOSE not to be an a**hole. (Yes, you Miss Supreme Owner B). So, at 8 months pregnant, I left this miserable place and went to an ob-gyn. He immediately identified my symptoms, and helped me get my acid reflux under control(finally! No more suffering for me!), but my vocal cords didn't heal until months after I had my baby, so I still had to endure "air-hunger"(ob's term) and was an exhausted mess by the time I went into labor. Please try getting 3-4 hours a sleep a night because your vocal cords are swollen and closing due to acid reflux, for months, and then try to run a marathon. Good luck. That was me. *after my baby was born(at St. Davids, which was actually a great experience) I requested a refund of my money from The Austin Birthing Center, but the owner refused to do so. I had only seen a mid-wife eight times, yet she purported "that covered services rendered". Uh. No. I didn't give birth at your facility, so what are you talking about? She kept my thousands of dollars and was a you-know-what. If I had actually birthed my child there, yes, keep the money for the service I paid you for. But keeping all of the money, when a patient shows up for 8 appts. to have the baby's heart beat listened to and then pee on stick? What you get get from that treatment is a negative review, and a person who advises all she knows not to use your uncaring, less than average prenatal care, money driven business. By the way, I used a midwife at a hospital (in California) with my first born, and although that delivery was fast and furious. (i.e. full of vomiting, and intense pain). The level of pre-natal care I received was excellent, and when something she wasn't knowledgeable about came up, she contacted the OB she was partnered with. Foolishly, I used this previous excellent experience and Yelp reviews to decide upon using this facility for my second pregnancy. There are places to go, use them. read more

Can I give an update just so that I can add another 5 stars? Stats: Baby = Here, healthy, happy! Staff = Fantastic, and now privy to my privates. Even though I had the longest birth pretty much ever, I will go back to AABC for another baby and recommend them to anyone expecting!! read more

These guys are great. Can't say enough good things about them. We had our first baby here and everything went like clockwork. The midwives really know what they're doing and although the birth process is serious and at times frightening, they really make things as easy and stress free as possible. Our midwife was Vicky - http://www.austinabc.com/staff/victoria-meinhardt/ We (my husband and I) were not the hippy-type and NEVER thought we would be having our baby in anything other than a hospital. That is, until we took a tour and did our research. They are amazing people and the statistics/common sense lead us in this direction. This truly was the best day of my life and for the most part the reason why it was so fantastic was the attention, knowledge, skill and professionalism of the AABC. I can't imagine that a hospital could possibly have given us anything like this. Being as how I witnessed my best friend in a hospital 4 months earlier, I know how detached things can be. One of my biggest observations is that after the birth (3-7 days or so), their knowledge becomes a little thin. Although the lactation consultant, who comes to your home, is SUPERB and really know everything, the midwifes have some pretty big holes in their medical knowledge regarding newborns. This is not, so much a criticism, as the order of things. Mid-wife's are not pediatricians. So, as I said, we are far from from disappointed, in fact they were perfect. Constructive Criticism: my only disappointment is that a good number of the assistants there are scatterbrained. They don't answer emails, running a meeting agenda seems to be a real challenge and they don't speak from a place of authority. Call them if you need something but the assistants are sometimes more interested in their private lives. Also, they like most businesses, they need to keep their website more current. read more

I will start by saying that I absolutely LOVE the Austin Area Birthing Center. Pros: multiple locations around Austin Beautiful labor and delivery rooms Centering and other birthing classes A community of families to lean on Natural birth experience Experienced midwives Pre and postnatal yoga Breastfeeding/mama meet ups Clothing/baby stuff swaps Baby massage Daddy and me bonding Lactation consultants Cons: a bit pricey (my Insurance only covered a small portion ) They wait to charge insurance until after the 6 week postpartum appointment. For some that might not be an issue but the way my insurance is set up, it was a bit confusing and it didn't contribute to our deductible or out of pocket payments in a reasonable time line. Again, that is a personal preference. I am 99% positive that my son will be my only child; but if for whatever reason, I get pregnant again, I will most definitely have that baby at AABC. read more

A quick response to AABC's reply: the information they gave regarding my birth experience was flatly inaccurate. My birth was not progressing and hadn't for hours. To say I was "close" is patently false. This birth was not going to happen "naturally." Both my baby and I were showing dangerous signs. That is the real story. And the audacity of suggesting that I was disappointed by my "unnatural" birth! Nothing could be farther from the truth. Had I continued with the birth at AABC, I have no doubt that something tragic could have occurred. Multiple doctors have said this and the stakes are far too high to dismiss them after what I experienced. Indeed, my c-section was the highlight of my experience and I am so grateful to the wonderful physicians and staff at the hospital. Second point: Nice job fishing around my other Yelp reviews, AABC. That's not creepy at all and I'm sure you don't have other things to do. Like provide women with the care they deserve. Also, it's just silly to imply that my review of AABC is somehow less valid because I also wrote a negative review of another women's health provider in town (who, contrary to your claim, is not my "current" provider). Yelp is for reviewing local businesses. On occasion, I post reviews. Some are good, some are bad, but all are intended to be helpful and informative. That's kind of the whole point. I will not be intimidated out of writing my review or calling out the misrepresentations in your response. Potential patients have a right to hear about all experiences, including mine. read more

AABC was the perfect place to welcome our first child to our family. I knew that I did not want to deliver at a hospital, but as this was my first baby, also wasn't super comfortable with the idea with a home birth. The staff and midwives at AABC are wonderful and made me feel supported throughout my entire pregnancy. The birthing center also offers breastfeeding education resources as well as access to their complete library of books and videos. It is a little too soon to be thinking about another baby, but as long as we are in Austin, our babies will be born at AABC. read more

Following up my initial review now that I've given birth. My birthing experience at AABC was all-around fantastic. I had a whirlwind, 7 hour labor that was so much faster and more intense than I had ever imagined it would be, but Samantha and Michelle were with me every step of the way with the perfect balance of encouraging support and no-nonsense knowledge. They were also great at helping my husband know how to best support me as I went through labor. I felt very safe during the whole process, knowing that Sam and Michelle were on top of things and looking out for the best interests of me and my baby. I've also been very impressed with the post-partum care I've received through AABC. I received a call from Sam the day after I gave birth, a home visit from Renee, a midwife and lactation consultant, three days after the birth, and two visits at the center. Everyone was very nice about answering my hundreds of new mom questions, and they were thorough when examining me and my new daughter. read more

Don't birth anyplace else! I decided at 43 years old that I had waited long enough to have a baby. After 1 failed attempted at IVF we inserted our 1 & only frozen embryo & it actually worked. During my pregnancy I must of read every book out there on pregnancy, birthing & breastfeeding so I was well versed on why i would never go through a hospital birth. I was set on a home birth but my husband was uneasy about that idea. We took "the tour" at 3 birthing centers in Austin, 1 being a hospital. When we walked into AABC we knew we had found our birthing place. We chose the Austin music room since it had a picture of The Continental Club on the wall & my husband & I met there. Must of been fate...... Each prenatal visit was complete, informative & very empowering. Over the months leading up to my birth I met with each midwife, they all were educated and made me feel confident in myself. I'll spare you the details but after 42 hours of labor my son was born. I had 3 midwifes assist during labor and birth. It was a wild ride but thanks to their knowledge and perseverance I was spared a c-section & hospital transport. We did it together & everything went fine. I cannot say enough excellent things about AABC south. Without a doubt the best "medical" experience I've ever had. If I could give 10 stars I would. read more

The birth center isn't just a place to deliver your child, it's an amazing community of educated and experienced women who serve as your personal support group from the early days of pregnancy through your child's first six weeks. I wish I could rate this business with more than five stars as the staff at the Birthing Center exemplify excellent patient care and customer service. I honestly can not remember a better experience with any business ever. In the 40 weeks that lead up to delivery, I spent lots of time with the midwives at the birth center. The staff made each visit a joy, from the familiar faces (who always know your name) at the front desk, to the less than 5 minute wait time in the lounge (no, I never waited more than 5 minutes) to the lovely midwives who dedicated a full 30 minutes to me at each visit (when was the last time you saw a doctor for more than 10 minutes?). Over the course of my pregnancy I got to know each midwife so well (I can tell you their own children's names) that I was truly sad when my time with them was over. I always felt as though each member of the team was personally invested in the wellbeing of myself and my child. With a perfect balance of compassion and professional care my prenatal experience surpassed my expectations. Sadly, I was unable to birth at the birth center as I suffered a complication that required delivery by C-Section. While I have several friends who felt stone walled into emergency c-sections under their doctor's care, i never felt that way with the team at the birth center. Throughout my last days of pregnancy we discussed all of my options and I played an active roll in all decisions that were made. When the time came to go to the hospital, 2 midwives accompanied me and stayed by my side until my son was born. For the 2 days that I stayed in the hospital, the midwives came to visit to check on us several times. While I was disappointed to have a c-section, I trusted that it was the very best decision and I have no regrets. After we arrived home a birth center staff member visited us and stayed for hours helping us master the art of breast feeding as well as answer any other questions we had (we had several). I'm not sure how any new parents survive without this initial home visit, it was invaluable. The birth center saw us again 3 weeks and 6 weeks after our son's birth and performed the same routine check-ups you would receive from your pediatrician, which saved us the cost of initial newborn care. I was a little teary eyed at our 6 week visit, knowing that I wouldn't get to see the girls at the center regularly anymore. Congratulations to anyone who has made it to the end of this review, it's hard to summarize the wonderful care my child and I received from the birth center staff. I strongly encourage anyone seeking prenatal care to take a tour of the center (they have 2 locations, one north and one south), I'm sure you'll be amazed. read more

Why is there no way to give a 10 star review? My experience here was incredible. My baby is now 10 weeks old and I honestly miss going in for my checks up. From the initial interview to the birthing experience, and the post partum care, I felt so taken care of and supported. Katrina and Tiffany at the front desk are AWESOME! They will love you if you bring in baked goods. If we have another baby this will be my first stop for care again. The midwives are soooooo amazing and all of the staff is extremely knowledgeable and caring. I had Kim during my delivery along with an intern, they were both so supportive and gave my husband great direction and space to take care of me in his own way too. They made me feel safe and my husband accepted throughout whole process. Kimberly was with us for the paperwork after and to make sure we were safe to go home after the birth, she was not only hilarious and totally supportive of four letter words and creative insults while going through the exam right after, but she also helped with a proper latch and gave us tons and tons of info to take home se we didn't feel overwhelmed by the new life in our care. Mandy was my midwife for home visits, she had the perfect energy to be around postpartum mama and babe. Viola even delivered my placenta pills to my house to make sure I was equipped for PP depression symptoms. These woman are angels through and through. If you are looking to do a natural birth, this place is top notch. read more

Austin Area Birthing Center - Safe delivery of this prince made possible by AABC - Midwives Near Me - Austin, Texas

Yes. Just, yes. Amazing staff, remarkable care, loving environment are just a few qualities that make this place the best. I miss being pregnant because the prenatal care made me feel completely held. My birth experience, although not without some hiccups, was amazing. I always felt listened to and supported. At AABC the focus is on the people and the goal is always to give mamas (&papas) and babies the respect and love they deserve. Can't wait for baby number two. read more

When I first found out I was pregnant I called around to all of the natural birthing centers in Austin and eventually decided on Austin Area Birthing Center because they offered so many free classes and services. It was so nice to attend yoga, centering, and all of the other prenatal classes. Over the past few months Erin, Michelle and Kim really showed their dedication to educating our class on what to expect, and I honestly would have been an emotional wreck after my delivery if I hadn't signed up for centering. The ladies are so good at asking great questions and starting meaningful discussions among our group they really passed on a fountain of knowledge. Samantha and Kim Jordan did a GREAT job at my birth. It was better than I expected, and I've been sharing with friends & family how well my husband, baby & I were all taken care of that day. My biggest fear was tearing, and when I was dilated to 8cm Samantha explained that she would position me on my back in a good position to avoid tearing. I immediately relaxed and in the end I only had a small external tear. Kim and Samantha were so great at coaching me through and I appreciate their positive reinforcement. Such great women! After my birth I was having some breastfeeding issues and Mandy & Renee came to my rescue (So glad you make house visits)! The breast feeding support group is a great service :D I am really excited to start attending the postpartum yoga, mommy support and eventually toddler playgroup! Austin Area Birthing Center is truly a community of caring, nurturing women and I am so happy to be a part of it. read more

This was a great experience, and I would do it here again. The price here includes yoga, birthing classes, breastfeeding classes, baby massage classes, pre and post natal care, lactation consulting and check-ups. The ladies at Austin Birthing center give such personalized and kind care and will call you back quickly if you have questions. I had a challenging birth. It was my first time. The midwife, Samantha, was amazing. She, Nicole and Carol helped me through dehydration, making sure our daughter was positioned correctly, and 24 hours of labor!! Samantha called and checked in with me a couple of days afterward and we chatted for almost a half hour. read more

As a first time mom, the Austin Area Birthing Center was all I thought it could be. I enjoyed the atmosphere and demeanor of all of the midwives and staff, and I can honestly say I enjoyed the experience of birth. In the beginning, I signed up for Centering with my husband, not feeling very confident that I would continue going. That is, until I met 20 other strangers who were in the same boat as we were. Our Centering experience has been nothing short of ideal; we learned so much from the discussion-based sessions with each other and walked away with so many new friendships and bonds formed. You just can't know how helpful it is to have the kind of support you will receive from these families. We still have lengthy discussions on our LOs sleeping schedules and drool habits! My birthing experience was made better by the beautifully accommodated birthing suites. Working with the Midwives was very enjoyable; everyone we encountered seemed happy to be doing their job. I would recommend this Birthing Center to any expectant mom, whether this is your first baby or your 10th! read more

AABC is such a wonderful place. The hospitality there is amazing! The sincrenicity and teamwork is absolutely unheard of. These professionals are 100% excellent with regards to customer service, intuition, and active listening. At AABC your requests, concerns, and questions are heard with heartfelt understanding and the responses are full of compassion, knowledge, and experience. Thank you for making this journey memorable in more ways than one can mention. From day one, the online form, the initial call, the tour, intake, the journey of appointments , recommendations, labor and delivery, now post partum visits we have absolutely NO COMPLAINTS. Thank you for helping us create our special family and a pleasant natural birth dream come true. Thank you. Davina, Diana, and baby Samuel xoxo read more

I had a wonderful experience at AABC! I knew I wanted to have a natural birth long before I got pregnant, so I was so happy to find a birthing center that would support that! The midwives and staff are all very friendly and considerate. I always felt safe and comfortable at my appointments. We participated in "centering" with other mamas and dads with due dates in the same month. We really enjoyed having the 2 hours with the midwives and learned a lot. I really felt prepared for labor, breastfeeding, and newborn care. I was able to deliver my daughter in the birthing tub. It was an incredible experience, and I felt so supported by everyone there. My husband and I really enjoyed our time spent at the birthing center, and I was sad when our time there was over! Lastly, there is a strong community at AABC that is unique and so valuable. They offer classes on baby massage and yoga, as well as clothing swaps. I'm so lucky to be a part of the AABC family. Thank you for truly allowing my family to experience a beautiful, gentle birth of our first child! read more

I have only one kid so I don't have much to which I can compare my experience but I will say that I am very glad we used AABC. They gave us a tour. They patiently answered and re-answered my questions. They treated my husband like he was part of the process. They worked with us while we were in various states of insured-ness. No drugs or anything. Healthy baby. One stitch for me. They gave me my space and coached us through. Awesome. read more

These woman are wonderful! We were so lucky to have Vicki deliver our baby! When the time comes I really hope she is there to deliver the next one. She is confidant and comforting and from our first meeting I knew that we were on the same wavelength. She recommended the book Spiritual Midwifery which I highly recommend as well for anyone expecting. The stories are amazing. read more

Both of my boys were born at the north location, and both experiences were extremely positive. My favorite things: 1. Facilities are nice and inviting, both the clinic and the birthing suites. 2. The office staff is friendly, professional, and almost always running on time. 3. My prenatal visits never felt rushed. I talked to the midwife about my medical health as well as my emotional health and the well-being of my family. 4. The classes before and after the birth, especially the prenatal and postnatal yoga and toddler love. The birthing and breastfeeding classes were great too! 5. Being 100% supported in having a natural childbirth while also knowing that my health and the baby's health were the number one priority. 6. The payment schedule throughout pregnancy so I did not leave with a big bill at the end. 7. The midwives!!! Every single one is fantastic in her own way. You could not ask for a better team of care providers. I tell anyone who will listen that the care I experienced at AABC is hands down the best medical care I have ever received. read more

I'd have to agree with everything positive the previous poster reported about Austin Area Birth Center. It's AWESOME and THE place to go if you want a natural birth experience. I do, however, have to disagree with her one one of the midwives. I saw Jenny throughout my pregnancy and was so happy that she was the one on call when I went into labor. Jenny is a wonderful midwife and very caring person. I really enjoyed my prenatals with her (and the other midwives too!) and throughout my labor she was very helpful. I am absolutely thrilled that she was there to catch my son and wouldn't have it any other way. I'll be forever grateful to Jenny for helping me through the most empowering thing of my life! read more

I had an absolutely wonderful experience at the birthing center. From the moment we received the tour, through out the pregnancy, taking the classes and the delivery itself, I felt cared for, supported and very much on the same page. I loved all the classes I took: centering, breast feeding, cloth diapering, etc. I really liked that I met all the midwives throughout my pregnancy so that when it came to the day it wasn't a stranger. Having my baby at the birthing center was the perfect compromise of home birth and hospital birth. Thank you Austin Area Birthing Center! Love you guys. read more

The best! I felivered my daughter here and could not ask for a better experience. From tHe prenatal visits to the front desk, classes to actual delivery- EVERYTHING WAS STELLAR!!! THANK YOU AABC!!! read more

I am SO PLEASED that we birthed at AABC for the birth of our second (and wish that we had with our first). The prenatal support at AABC was so much better than the care given during the rushed OB visits with our first. The midwives genuinely care for your whole person and will take time to address EVERY little concern you may have. Centering classes bonded us with other families, provided us with a great refresher on some topics and new info on many more topics. Labor with our second was longer than I expected (lessen learned--throw expectations of time-frame out window!). I doubt that I would have been treated with half as much patience in the hospital setting (I'm drawing from my experience of the birth of my first), and I am SO VERY GRATEFUL to have delivered at AABC. The staff is A-MAZING--front desk, midwives, Jean Stokes--they are all FABULOUS (and really really kind people--so I have no idea why one rater continues to say such nasty things). Have your baby here! It is a BEAUTIFUL, peaceful, loving and positive environment in which to welcome your sweet new babe. read more

Our birth experience at AABC was as near perfect as it could have been. It went exactly as I'd hoped and pictured in my mind. This is my third (and last) child and we are certainly ending on a high note. My first baby's birth ended in a C-section and went about as far from perfect as it could have gone, so this third birth felt great and super empowering! Joanne was our midwife and she was awesome! She seemed to know what labor aids I needed almost before I did. I labored in the birthing tub and she had soothing aromatherapy going while massaging my shoulders and upper back. Joanne was a soothing, calming and very mentally supportive presence and I knew I could do this with her help. Our prenatal appointments were great as well and I cannot say enough good things about AABC and their staff. Midwife Erica and Midwife Assistant Kimberly were also particularly helpful! Too bad I'm done having babies, because I would return here without hesitation if I were having another one! read more

The staff here was AWESOME! My wife wanted a home birth, and I wanted a hospital birth (never again) we settled on the aabc. Wow did we make the right choice! read more

I can't say enough good things about Austin Area Birthing Center! We transferred here after having a couple prenatal appointments with our OB (Women Partners in Health), and it was like night and day. Things always felt impersonal, clinical, and rushed at our OB, and this was such a huge difference. Austin Area Birthing Center was warm, relationship-focused, holistic, and thorough. We did Centering Pregnancy (a group based prenatal care class), which was incredibly thorough and also helped us build a community. I felt like I went into labor knowing so much and feeling totally ready - both knowledgable about pregnancy, delivery, postpartum care -- everything!, and also familiar and comfortable with the AABC midwives, staff, and birthing rooms and processes. The additional classes and prenatal yoga were included with our costs and were excellent as well. Our delivery was everything we'd hoped for -- the care from the midwives was incredible and we were able to have a water birth in one of the birthing tubs. The room was cozy and comfortable and it was such a beautiful way to bring our son into the world. The postpartum care was also excellent - both from the midwives and the lactation consultant. Whenever we returned, it felt like seeing family. My ONLY complaint is that vaccinations weren't unilaterally recommended (we were told to do our own research and make our own conclusions), and since it wasn't a huge focus, I missed the deadline to get my vaccinations in order for them to provide the baby with immunity as well. Aside from that, everything was incredible and I would recommend this hands-down to any friend, and definitely go to them for future pregnancies. read more

I've used AABC for my three pregnancies. I can't really imagine using any other birthing service - hospital or home birth. Our experiences were just fantastic. For our first child (born in '09) we really didn't know what to expect... we just knew we wanted a natural birth. I got along with some of the midwives more than others and was really wishing I could pick a particular midwife for our delivery. When the time came to deliver, I had several of the midwives attending various parts of the labor process. Their ability to give a unique approach while work together was just amazing. Our baby was posterior during labor but using a variety of techniques we got her to turn before I hit 7cm. I couldn't have done it without their coaching! We had a healthy 9lb 5oz baby girl . We were expecting a child in 2010 and I carried her until 22 weeks gestation. It was a very horrific experience (that obviously had nothing to do with the birthing center... these things just happen sometimes)... but the midwives were especially caring and helpful in getting us in touch with Dr. David Berry and Dr. Mary Mirto to handle a stillbirth. Although I hated going through the experience I am so glad I was being cared for by these kind women during that time. When we were expecting our third I was obviously much less naive about pregnancy/birth than I was with our first. I was extremely nervous/apprehensive about being pregnant again. I cannot say enough good things about how we were treated during this third pregnancy. Each midwife who saw us during the prenatal visits was AMAZING, sweet, caring, helpful, etc. They were sensitive to my fears and concerns. With our third I had a beautiful water birth... During labor I was monitored but also given the space I needed to focus on contractions. Joan was especially helpful in giving advice for different laboring positions. I don't like a lot of attention, talking, touching during labor... she was very sensitive to my needs. Beautiful, beautiful birth! I did have to be transported post-birth because of a retained placenta. It was a very smooth transition to St. David's central... I had a D&C to remove the placenta. It obviously wasn't something I wanted to happen but, again, the midwives were very professional and caring. Sam went with me and helped my husband care for our newborn while I was indisposed :) I love AABC - both the north and south locations are just great! These are some of the most fantastic, caring women I've known. The birthing rooms are absolutely gorgeous and peaceful. I cannot imagine birthing anywhere else. read more

I'm going to start this review with the positive aspects of my experience at AABC. I started going to this facility 2 years before I got pregnant, for my WW care. Overall I had a pretty positive experience with that, other than a few paperwork hiccups and (what seems to be) people not keeping comprehensive notes on the care I received at appointments. The facility itself is beautiful, and the newly renovated birth room was so enticing. They were in network for my insurance, so when I got pregnant after a year of dealing with infertility issues, I didn't even hesitate to call and make my first prenatal appointment. In hindsight, I wish I had looked at Yelp/Facebook reviews first, because that's where most of the positive ends. My first appointment at AABC north went mostly well. My husband and I toured the facility, got to see the birthing rooms, and had almost all our questions answered. The midwife we saw, Ann, was hard to communicate with. Wether it was me being pregnant and tired, or a communication error, I don't know. But it seems like I would ask pretty straight forward questions and she would flounder around trying to answer them. I was told that if my baby stayed feet down (breech) past 36 weeks, I would risk out of their care, because "NO care provider in Austin does breech deliveries, so you'll have to have a c section." Now, if that were true, and medically needed, I would agree. HOWEVER, I found out later than no, breech is no longer an automatic c-section, and there actually IS a midwife in Austin that delivers breech in the right circumstances. Now, I don't know if AABCs information on this is outdated, or they just straight up lied, but I was still given misinformation. Now, lets skip to my first prenatal. Did the entire barrage of tests, filled out paperwork (some of which I swear I had filled out before, but I digress), had an ultrasound, saw my little 10 week bean; my partner and I were over the moon. Then when it came time for the actual exam, the frustration started all over again. I had to refuse a vaginal exam THREE times. Three. Times. I had JUST had my WW exam, including a pelvic exam & pap, not even 6 months before this visit. I asked if anything would have changed, and was told no, but that their notes said I didn't have a pelvic exam. I replied that this was not my fault, that it DID happen, and I was declining it. My partner was there for this, and saw how distressed this made me. Now, this is where my major source of frustration comes from; the lack of organization. AABC north needed to retrieve my medical records from two of my other doctors. I signed the forms, only to find out later that one set had been lost and 'found' at the last minute. They also 'lost; my insurance information. My second prenatal went fine, uneventful even. However, I quickly learned that I didn't LOVE the centering classes-the inane games got old quickly, and it is definitely NOT set up with anxious introverts in mind. My third prenatal, and my last Centering class, was when things finally sat ill enough for me to leave. I had been to a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist that morning, to get measurements of the baby. The MFM doctor said the baby looked perfect, and that I was doing everything right and was on track for a healthy baby. At my Centering appointment later that day, the midwives talked to us all about our upcoming gestational diabetes screening, and made it seem VERY serious and scary. Now, I know this can be a serious thing, and cause some problems, but one of the midwives flippantly remarking "We risked out a woman that was ONE point high." seemed a little extreme for me. When it came time for my personal time with the midwives, they asked for the week food journal they had required of me. I gave it to them, letting them know it was actually from my 1st trimester, because I mislaid it for awhile. They asked me to do a NEW one, to better reflect my current diet. Having issues with eating disorders in the past, I didn't really want to, but I agreed just the same. Then came the shaming-I was told to virtually cut out ALL sugar from my diet, because "Sugar makes the baby grow big, and we can support you and cheer you on, but YOU still have to get it out." Then they proceeded to tell me all the other horrible, awful things I had eaten according to my food chart, not listening when I told them that my first trimester was basically me eating WHATEVER I COULD KEEP DOWN. Some days it was nothing but fruit and toast, other days I could actually eat more balanced meals. It took everything in me to not cry the rest of the day. Hearing one medical professional tell me that I was doing everything right, and then having others tell me that I was failing, was hard. I switched soon after and have been much happier. read more