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

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

I used Rooted Birth for postpartum doula services, and I highly recommend them. First, Rooted has a…read morevariety of doulas who are approved by Carrot. So, if you have Carrot or Maven as a benefit from your employer and you are looking for birth or postpartum doula, look no further than Rooted because they have many doulas you can interview and consider. Second, their office manager Yoly is incredibly helpful and responsive. She always answered my emails quickly and thoroughly. It is clear that her goal is to ensure that moms are supported. You can go to Yoly for any problem or issue, and she resolves them very efficiently and effectively. Third, my doulas Gabrielle and Mercedes were incredible! Gabrielle was my night doula for 8 weeks, and I cannot say enough good things about her. Because of Gabrielle, my breastfeeding journey has been easy and enjoyable (I exclusively pumped with my first)! Not only does she have the knowledge and experience but she has instincts to help you successfully breastfeed. I can honestly say that out of all the lactation consultants that I have seen in both my pregnancies, Gabrielle is the absolute best! Specifically, Gabrielle was able to help with positioning and latching, and she taught me how to use a haaka so that I could catch milk without having to pump. To date, I have not pumped, and yet, I have so much frozen milk thanks to Gabrielle's insight and assistance. She is also just wonderful and a bright light to any household she joins. She supports you during this vulnerable time and really sets you up for success as a mom. I was very sad to say goodbye to Gabrielle, and I know that any family who welcomes her into their home will be in great hands. Mercedes provided me with day and postpartum services. Although I was only able to work with her for 3 weeks, she is so wonderful and has been such an integral reason for my smooth recovery! Her passion is postpartum nutrition, and she is extremely knowledgeable about this topic. If nutrition is your focus when looking for a postpartum doula, then you should work with Mercedes! She knows all the delicious foods to support you in your healing and breastmilk production. I can personally attest that her lactation cookies are delicious! Mercedes also went above and beyond during all of her shifts. She cares for all her moms and babies, and you feel that she is just an extension of your family. I can go on and on about Gabrielle and Mercedes. Because of them, my husband and I were able to enjoy this postpartum period, and I will be forever grateful for everything that they have done.

I couldn't be more thankful for my experience with my doula through Rooted. My labor was very long…read moreand I even had to be induced due to health issues and she was still there every step of the way.

We couldn't be more grateful for the birth experience we had bringing our baby into this world. We…read morehad so much love and support, it was everything we had imagined and more. Robin, Julie and Stephanie were an absolute pleasure to work with. They answered any and all questions we threw at them. They helped us feel at ease when there was anything we were unsure about. We started care at a regular obgyn office and transferred to Westover Hills Birth Center around 4 months as I didn't want to deliver in a hospital (unless necessary). The prenatal care was subpar at the hospital compared to the extensive care we received at Westover Hills Birth Center. Our visits were pleasant and we didn't feel rushed like in the hospital. We looked forward to our appointments and were bummed when our postpartum visits were over! Robin and Julie are very passionate midwives and were very knowledgeable. Both of them coming from different backgrounds in midwifery helped create a fantastic dynamic between the two of them. I had a 26-hour labor and a few setbacks during delivery but alas, because of our badass team, we had the birth we had planned for and they respected our birth wishes. I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative of the love and care we received from West Over Hills Birth Center. We will be recommending them to any families in the future looking to go this route. Every time we pass the Birth center, we look for their vehicles just to stop in and say "hi". They really did become part of our family!

Growing up in rural Texas, all I knew when it came to childbirth was that when it's time to give…read morebirth, you drove your wife to the hospital (and if you were lucky, you got to drive fast with a police escort). So, when my wife suggested we use a midwife to deliver our first child at a birth center, I was initially (and quietly) opposed. It just seemed......"weird"......and a little too hippy-dippy. But, I'm not the one giving birth, so I went along. To say my eyes have been opened is an understatement. Over the last 4 years, Robin has delivered 4 of our children; 2 at a birth center & twins at home. She is flat out amazing, smart, caring, brilliant, full of knowledge, dedicated to protecting the health & well-being of both mother & baby. When our first daughter was transverse after labor started, it was Robin's expertise & training in Germany, along with 4+ hours of hard work that got her turned. Any other midwife would have cashed their check & sent us to the hospital for a c-section. But, Robin is unflappable & dedicated to delivering (pun intended). There are so many things I love about Robin.......her calm under pressure, her tenderness, her desire to be flawless in everything she does, her love of teaching & sharing wisdom. But one trait that has won my heart is her ability & resolve to properly balance the health & well-being of the mother & baby against the mother's desire to deliver naturally & at home or the birth center. She won't take risks. But, she also won't take the easy road when sending a client to the hospital is easier. She delivered our first two babies when she was a partner at Stone Oak Birthing Center. While her partner, Joy, was the "personality", Robin was the rock, the fountain of knowledge, the "can do", the know-how. She had 5% of the personality, but 95% of the knowledge of that partnership. And when she left to start her own birthing center, there was no doubt where we were going. We're beyond pleased to have made that decision, especially with the horror stories we've heard from others who've hired Stone Oak since she left. Robin & her team are flawless in their execution, preparation and communication. Robin isn't going to wow you with personality. She's reserved & stayed. But, there is no one I'd more want in my corner than her when it comes to child birth. 5-star woman. 5-star business. 5-star expertise. Thank you Robin (and your team) for the remarkable experiences we've been privileged to have shared with you these last 4 years. And thank you for safely delivering our 4 precious babies.

Tamara is one of the warmest and most positive individuals I have ever met. My husband, baby boy…read moreand I were blessed to have attended her Birthing Within classes and have her as our doula. My entire family agreed that her positive presence kept everyone present. She is very knowledgeable, dependable and encouraging.

Jennifer makes all births look so beautiful. She takes wonderful pregnancy and newborn photos. Her…read morebirth photos are discreet enough to share with family and not just hoo-ha pictures. I know there are plenty of cheap photographers out there, but you get what you pay for. Jen has excellent quality work at a great price.

From the owner: Birth Stories, Maternity, & Newborn photographer/videographer in San Antonio and surrounding areas.read more

I HIGHLY recommend this class! My husband and I attended Amy's 2-day childbirth class ahead of…read morehaving our first baby, and both agree this class is a MUST for expecting parents. Amy has a wealth of knowledge regarding all things childbirth, post-partum, and breastfeeding. Amy is extremely easy to talk to, which helped me feel comfortable asking her my millions of questions. Above all else, Amy is engaging. She was born to teach. We were never once checked out or bored during this two-day intensive. Amy's class is worth every penny. THANK YOU Amy! p.s. Amy is also one of the funniest people I've ever met, which just adds to the experience of Planet Childbirth!!

Amy was knowledgeable, experienced, personable and made the whole day and a half class fun! She…read morethoroughly explained all the options for the birth plan and process, whether in the hospital or birthing center, without bias. As a chiropractor who also works on pregnant women, I will be recommending her class to all my pregnant patients moving forward! And as a first time mom, not only did she give more confidence in laboring & delivery of this baby, but she also REALLY equips the husbands to support their wives well. My husband, having 2 kids in a previous marriage, said he didn't realize how much he didn't know & how much more he could've done to be more supportive through his other children's births. That spoke volumes! We were recommended to take a different 12 week class, but just didn't have the time to do it. I'm so thankful our midwife referred us to Amy instead! This is the class we were meant to take! 10/10 recommend. Thank you Amy!!

My husband and I learned about this class through our prenatal care provider with Women Partners in…read moreHealth. We registered for an all day Childbirth class complete with a Seton hospital tour-- it was a wonderfully informative day that left us feeling confident and prepared for what to expect on "Labor Day". Jillian Silva, our childbirth instructor, was communicative via email and text in the days leading up to the class and welcomed us at the door upon arrival. The class presentation was delivered through PowerPoint slides, lectures, videos and hands-on demonstrations and practice. Jillian was very knowledgeable on all points discussed during the class, and had tangible hospital items for us to view and touch for further understanding and familiarity. We covered topics such as: what to pack in your hospital and baby bag, stages of labor, relaxation techniques, responsibilities of partner, options for labor pain relief (degrees of natural and non-natural options), labor aids/tools that the hospital provides and more! Jillian, who is also a certified Doula, has such a calming and confident nature. She was professional, timely, prepared and very friendly; she even made brownies for the class! Anyone who chooses to have her presence and expertise during their labor and delivery is one lucky mama. The class was from 9am-4pm with a 30 min lunch and the hospital tour from 3-4pm. The long day was totally worth it! I walked away from the class feeling equipped to do what my body knows how to do naturally, and if and when I need support, I now know who to contact. Thanks Jillian for being a great instructor!

Brandi and Jillian are both amazing. Like another yelper wrote, "where to even begin?"…read more We engaged with Austin Childbirth for birth doula services. They come highly recommended, from my wife's OBGYN as well as some of the Seton Hospital staff and Shelley, also of Seton, who taught our "ABC's of Childbirth" class (recommended). I was skeptical at first. Being a traditionalist... and fearing the costs for, well everything as I stand on the edge of the financial abyss of having my first child. My wife wanted to go "all natural" for her birth which means NO PAIN MEDS. #scary At first we were considering birthing centers but that was a bit "too natural" for me. We compromised on getting a doula and having a hospital birth. The biggest benefit to me going in was that a lot of the pressure of what goes on during "go time" wouldn't be on my shoulders alone. In a large way, the doula was joining "team dad" to support mom. Having a professional who knows massages, counter-pressure exercises and other techniques to alleviate pain naturally is NOTHING SHORT OF MAGIC. Even small things like reassuring my wife that "this will pass" and coaching breathing techniques SEEMS like a small thing but when the rubber hits the road, you want that support; TRUST ME. Jillian and Brandi work as a team. From the beginning until after baby comes, Jillian and Brandi communicate via WhatsApp for any quick questions or concerns you may have. Brandi was personally present for our long session in the hospital. Brandi ... is ... AMAZING. So much so that I not only cried when hugging her as she was saying her "goodbyes" at the hospital but I also welled up a bit when she visited to check in on us after we brought baby home. (I just got a little emotional writing this.) ALTERNATIVE PAIN COPING TECHNIQUES: Brandi brought a calm positivity which is hard to explain. Early on she worked magic with massage and compression techniques, some of which she and I did together. She gave my wife coping techniques which brought her pain from an 8 down to a 3 WITHOUT MEDICINE. AGAIN: IT WAS LIKE MAGIC. The hospital staff looked on with admiration as she supported my wife, coaching her though contractions while doing lunges in the hallway at 8cm. ADVOCATE FOR MOM / FEWER INTERVENTIONS: Another thing that's important which can't be understated is that a doula is able to be an advocate for mom and her birth preferences. No slight meant for the medical staff here. The medical staff have their set of tools and protocols that they know and they will try to get you to accept them because that's their playbook. My wife was pretty adamant however about doing the fewest amount of medical interventions because each intervention makes you more statistically likely for more interventions as you careen down the rabbit hole to an unplanned c-section. A doula can help you stick with your birth preferences just by asking the right questions. Just having Brandi in the room was empowering because her goal isn't to get you in and out quick, but rather help you have the birth that you want. TENS FTW: Part of the package is that Austin Childbirth will loan you a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit for pain during your last few weeks of pregnancy and then also for use in the labor / delivery room. It works by This also was something that cut down on my wife's pain considerably. The units they provide has a "surge" button which, when pressed, will go into higher strength mode for use during contractions. My wife swears by it. Brandi stayed with us through it all and then was even willing to keep us company as long as we wanted post-partum. Both Brandi and Jillian engaged with us after we were home just to check in and Brandi even came over to our house a week afterwards to check up on us and see how things were going / see if she could help out. While we aren't planning on having another, if we do, I can't imagine not calling up Brandi and Jillian to join us on our journey.

Highly, highly recommend Empowered Beginnings!! Ciarra supported us through the arrival of our…read moresecond baby, and she is the best! Super informative and a wealth of knowledge, helping us to feel empowered and informed during the process. Many doulas wait for questions - not Ciarra. She was very proactive with checking in often and anticipating support needed. Her knowledge is gold and she's so generous with her time. Also, Empowered Beginnings presents a community of families and has a wealth of resources available. They are the best if you want genuine and caring support for one of the most vulnerable times for a family... 5 stars!

Ciarra has been our doula twice and my wife had two very beautiful births. Our kids both came…read morequickly and Ciarra was there both times to support us through the process but also in dealing with the hospital staff who did their jobs but needed to be reminded to allow my wife the space to have the births she wished to have. I didn't know what to expect when my wife first approached me about wanting to practice hypnobirthing and have a doula but I am completely sold on the idea at this point. I'm very grateful for the work that Ciarra did for us and for teaching both me and my wife about the practice of hypnobirthing. Should we have another child, we agreed that we wouldn't change a thing.

Bridget is super attentive, knowledgeable, and caring. She focuses on comfort, advocating for her…read moremamas, and working with the entire family to make sure everyone is supported during birth and even postpartum. Trust her implicitly and would recommend her to anyone who wants the biggest cheerleader on their side for their most important day.

Bridget went above and beyond what I could have expected from a doula. I am a first time mom and…read moredid not know what to expect. From the very first phone call, she gave me her undivided attention and answered my questions. I found her website by searching online and I was really drawn to the help she provided. I was in search of changing providers and I was already past 35 weeks and in my final trimester of pregnancy. Bridget was able to recommend a few providers and I was able to switch and found a provider that worked for me. I was so grateful for the change over. She was actively there for me prior to my 38 week mark and answered every text, call and email in a timely manner even with her other clients. At my birth, she worked with my spouse and I to help provide the best possible birth for me. We brought my birth preferences and gave it to the nursing staff. Along with my spouse, Bridget and the nurses were all advocates for me during my labor and birth. Bridget brought some twinkling lights and essential oils that helped me relax. She traded shifts with my spouse and we even played some music and laughed. She helped give me snacks and kept me hydrated during my labor. At my postpartum visit and beyond, she has really provided the support I needed in my fourth trimester and we are forever thankful for her expertise. I can tell she gives every client her all and puts her heart into her work. That is what she did for us. Choosing Bridget was the best decision and I am so happy that she was a part of something so special to us.

TSI staff members were professional and very helpful throughout my firearms certification course. I…read morehighly recommend their training classes for both new and experienced shooters.