They literally saved my life. My husband and I really wanted to have a natural labor with as little…read moreassistance 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.

I was so scared to give birth and they were the most patient people. The people there make you…read morefeel 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

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

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

I have 3 children now and I have had 3 different births: first at a hospital, then at a birthing…read morecenter and finally with a midwife with Sisters Midwifery. By far and hands down my last birth with Sisters Midwifery was the best prenatal, birthing and post natal experience I have had. I felt totally taken care of by Illysa and Christy and when it was time for the birth, I was totally confident that Illysa, my midwife attending the birth, was completely prepared and focused and there for me. She was super supportive and allowed everything to happen at a very natural pace - she also was very professional and really had my best medical interests in mind as well. She was so attentive and in tune with the birthing process. I felt so well attended to in my post partum time. I never had that type of attention given at my previous birthing experiences to my post-partum care. I was checked on and cared for both physically and emotionally. Thank you so much, Illysa, for such an amazing and wonderful experience.

I've given birth to 4 children and my last with Genevieve was by far the best!! I am so happy she…read morebrought my baby into this world! She was always there for me and my family! She was so reassuring and caring from the beginning to the end. She is such a comforting person and will become a member of your family! She is one of the greatest humans I know :)

I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Ciarra. She holds such a special place in my…read moreheart, and five years later, I still haven't forgotten the kindness, compassion, and support she showed me during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life. During COVID, my original doula was unable to attend my baby's birth, and Ciarra stepped in as her backup. Looking back, I genuinely couldn't have asked for anyone better. I was scared, overwhelmed, and facing circumstances I hadn't anticipated. Despite coming in as a backup, Ciarra took the time to read my birth plan and understand what mattered to me. Even though things didn't go as planned, she did everything she could to make sure my wishes were respected and that I felt supported. One moment I will never forget was when she reminded me that I didn't have to remove my hijab if I wasn't comfortable. As a Muslim woman of color, that simple act of thoughtfulness meant more to me than I can put into words. She didn't make me feel different, uncomfortable, or like my needs were an inconvenience. She simply saw me as a human being, a mother who deserved dignity, kindness, and respect. She made sure I had the opportunity to hold my baby and even captured precious photographs of us together. Those memories mean the world to me, especially because so much of that experience was overwhelming. And her kindness didn't end with the birth. My daughter is now five years old, and Ciarra has never forgotten her birthday. Every single year, she remembers to wish her. That speaks volumes about the kind of person she is. I've had my share of heartbreaking and disappointing experiences navigating maternity care and healthcare in the Austin area. I've encountered many people who speak about supporting and empowering women, but genuine compassion isn't always something you experience when you need it most. Ciarra didn't just talk about supporting mothers. She showed me what that support actually looks like. Of all the people I've encountered throughout my maternity care experiences in Austin, Ciarra is the one person I can wholeheartedly recommend without hesitation. If I'm ever blessed with another baby, I would want Ciarra by my side again. I trust her, and that trust means everything to me. Five years later, I still remember how she made me feel when I needed someone the most. I will forever be grateful that our paths crossed. Thank you, Ciarra, for seeing me, respecting me, and treating me with such genuine humanity and compassion.

We used multiple resources from Empowered beginnings to get ahead as first time parents:…read moreHypnobirthing Child Class, Breastfeeding class, Doula Service, Newborn sleep class, and of course the birth baby podcast. Save yourself the effort/stress of researching on your own and go straight to the experts at Empowered Beginnings. The lessons and instruction is calm, clear, and most importantly CONFIDENCE BUILDING. From day one, Empowered Beginnings helped us to enjoy the process instead of feeling overwhelmed. Our Doula answered every question, no matter how small, and gave us practical, evidence-based advice we could use immediately. We cannot imagine the pregnancy, birth, or postpartum without our Doula, Ciarra. We will use Empowered Beginnings for all of our future children!!!

Julia has the calm wisdom of an experienced midwife and the informed proactivity of an educated…read moremedical provider. If you're looking for the best of both worlds, where you can let your body do the work and know that any deviations from plan will be well in hand, then Julia is the perfect choice. I think she's absolutely phenomenal at her job, but she's also a lovely and wonderful person.

I delivered both of my babies at home with Julia as my midwife and I have nothing but positive…read morethings to say about both experiences! As a first time mother, Julia really instilled a confidence in me I didn't know I had. She has such a calming presence and really takes time to listen and connect with you during your prenatal visits so I felt so very supported during my pregnancy. She does an incredible job of providing her knowledge and expertise, but ultimately empowering you to follow your intuition and make your own decisions regarding your birth experience and baby's health. I am so grateful to have found Julia and she will always hold a special place in our hearts!

We just had our son here on Christmas Day. The experience we had during the birth great. I felt…read morethat my midwife and assistants were there if needed during labor but they allowed me to labor how I wanted to. During the birth they helped me get into the most effective position (it took a few position changes to see what worked best) and once he was born they had minimal interruptions which allowed me and my family some great bonding time. I enjoyed all aspects of care from prenatal to birth to 6 week postnatal visit. My husband and I felt well educated and I loved that the midwives just offered up information (because like a lot of moms I don't even know what to ask) it was a much different experience than my hospital birth and I recommend this place to all my pregnant friends. My husband was thrilled when he went to the first appt with me because they made him feel like a part of my birth team. Not a bystander. He was an active member of the birth and they helped him know how to help me during labor.

OK this is going to be a long (but VERY honest) review so bare with me. The care I received at…read moreAustin area birthing center was indescribable, in the best way. I truly felt so supported, so respected and loved during my entire experience. I transferred to Austin area birthing center around eight or nine weeks pregnant. I had received prior care with an OB/GYN and it was very impersonal. I didn't feel like she was listening to me and appointments were rushed. For years I've always told myself I wanted a natural birth but I never knew if I'd be able to do it. During my prenatal care all of my questions were answered everyone was so friendly so supportive and kind. This was my first baby and so I did a lot of research before going into labor and birth. I knew all the things that I didn't have to do and I knew all of the things that I wanted. At my 37 week appointment I asked for A cervical check even though I know I didn't necessarily need one. I was still working full-time and was experiencing some intense cramps a few days before and so I requested them to check. I was only a centimeter dilated so I figured I had time especially because it was my first baby. 38 weeks and three days at two in the morning my water broke. When I called the midwife on call she was super calm asked me how I was feeling the color of my water and if I was having contractions which I wasn't yet. She asked if I could meet her there in a few hours unless labor intensely progressed. Around 4 AM, I threw up, but I figured it was because I ate too much lasagna! Nothing I couldn't really handle, around five I called again because they were a minute apart and she met me there a few minutes later. She asked politely if she could check me to see how dilated I was but at the moment I was uncomfortable and so I denied. I had asked for a few minutes alone with my mom and my partner and they gave me the room to deal with the contractions on my own. About 15 minutes later, I told them they could check me and I was almost at 9 cm. Things progressed pretty quickly after that and I was in active labor for about five hours before my son came. The entire time they held my hand they listened to what I needed what I wanted and I was given exactly what I needed, every single minute during my entire labor. If there are any negative reviews, which I can't even understand how there could be, please read this one!!! I beg of you! I absolutely can't speak highly enough about the care I received. My son was born in a room filled with so much love and I couldn't be happier. All of my babies will be born here!! Rachel, Janae, Ellie, Betty, and Valerry. ADORE YOU. Will forever be grateful for you all over there.

Mandy and Melek were AWESOME! I was worried about switching from an Ob/Gyn to a midwife during my…read morelast trimester. I only wanted a home birth but ended up with an experience I would never forget. During the check up I was comfortable and my kids love Mandy and Melek. I was learning things from them that would make things easier during labor (I did not get this type of service from an Ob/Gyn and I had 3 kids before the home birth). It was much more than I could have asked for. My husband enjoyed the whole process. He said it was easier than having a hospital birth. He did not have to take the sleeping kids anywhere and they were able to sleep during the delivery. I was not pressured into doing anything I was not comfortable with. I was even learning things after the baby was born. The whole experience was amazing for me and I am so glad that Mandy and Melek was there for me.

If you're considering a home birth but have some reservations, Mandy is an excellent midwife to…read moretalk to. She is very caring and patient, and explains everything in detail. My wife's prenatal visits were never rushed. Mandy listened to all our concerns and questions and was incredibly helpful. We also felt well prepared for the birth by taking classes that were part of Mandy's package - taught by Genieveve (her back up midwife). During the labor Mandy and her students gave helpful suggestions for breathing and positions, but they also gave us plenty of space to let the birth progress naturally. When our baby girl did finally arrive, it felt like we were among family who was just as excited and joyful as we were to welcome this sweet little one into the world. After the birth, Mandy and her students changed the sheets, started the laundry, helped us with the first diapers, showed us how to hold a newborn, and helped establish breastfeeding. Mandy and her team were true baby whisperers. They were so sweet, loving, and tender with our newborn baby. My wife and I felt like we had the best birth experience possible. It was so nice to be in our quiet house after such an amazing and intense experience. We also felt very safe and reassured through the entire process. Mandy is a true expert and professional. We recommend and trust her wholeheartedly and are immensely grateful for her care and support.

ARC nurture, now known as North Austin OB is phenomenal. I had previously been going to ARC…read morenorthwest but transferred to seeing doctors at this location because my doulas had referred me to going to Dr. Kaufman. Kaufman is phenomenal as well and had she delivered my baby I would have been ecstatic. To be honest, all the doctors I've seen have been wonderful through my pregnancy. I came to them at my 3rd trimester around the 30 week mark and as they moved from their old location to their new office. So I was able to make my first and last visit at the old place before they moved closer to St David's North. The practice is cozy and warm as much as a doctors office can be and compared to my old OB experience it's night and day. I feel heard and didn't feel like I was going through the motions, no crazy waits to see the doctor for 10 minutes and each doctor I saw since you're not guaranteed a specific doctor to deliver your baby, was kind and reassuring when I met them all. During my pregnancy, all was going well until it was found that my 3rd trimester, I would be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Dr. Sandu gave the diagnosis and while I was upset at first, I realize it was her by the books and no nonsense care that ensured a healthy mommy and healthy baby. Which is the ultimate goal when you think about where you want to land on D day. I am forever grateful for her kind words to give me the reality check so I had as little complications as I could in the hospital when delivering. I was scheduled for induction on Friday and Dr. Sandhu checked on me that evening, and as we saw no progression made, Dr. Bandi took over into Saturday. With my doula and husbands help to support me in the ordeal, we realized after over 24 hrs of pitocin administered and laboring that I wasn't making fast enough progress. I also saw our baby boys heart rate dip on occasion and was worried about his health. Due to the pain being unbearable even with an epidural as the pitocin overtired my body, Dr. Bandi was kind with her words to help guide and inform me of my options of how we could continue to labor or in the final outcome, an unplanned c section. While I balked at the idea of surgery, the pain was honestly too much and I didn't feel I would have the energy to continue if I would wait it out. I let my team know I wanted to think about it and we would see if/when I could be taken to the OR. We were able to be taken back immediately and Dr. Bandi was able to reassure me we'd be able to see our baby boy soon. Surgery done, and we got our healthy baby boy and my birth although not what I planned, still got me wonderful positives and an outcome I loved. Thank you for your love, support and care!

This clinic over books themselves and cannot give each patient the attention they need, I've been…read morewaiting for my medication to just be SENT over to my pharmacy. I'm 2 weeks postpartum and in so much pain and discomfort all I get anytime I call is put on hold. Do not go to this clinic.

We used New Life Birth Services with MariMikel for both of our home births. MariMikel provided us…read morewith education on nutrition and wellness not only for pregnancy for but for the entire family. She's very informative and passionate about what she does. She's a book of knowledge and what we've learned from MariMikel has set a foundation for our family. Her prenatal vitamin regime is GOLDEN and I'm a firm believer that this is one of the main reasons why my body was properly prepared for a quick labor & recovery. You can't beat her experience in Austin: over 45 years delivering/attending more than 3,000 births. We are very blessed to have met MariMikel and thankful for the safe and loving births with her in our home. Bonus: Her hugs are magical! During my last birth, we hugged while singing "you are my sunshine" during a contraction. It was a very special moment.

Marimikel Potter is everything you would hope for in a midwife and more. Thanks to Marimikel, we…read morenow have a happy and healthy 2 week old baby girl with a happy and healthy mother. That is all anyone can ask for but Marimikel gave us so much more. The education and accountability you get from working with Marimikel is INVALUABLE. From the very beginning, she has poured hours into educating us. If you want a healthy child and to be healthier parents for your child, work with Marimikel. She made sure we understood everything that was happening throughout the entire process and she always gave us options to appropriately handle any situation in the most health conscious way. It was reassuring seeing how prepared Marimikel and her team were for our home birth. While safely and confidently guiding my wife through labor, they were also cooking meals, cleaning the house, and even taking care of our pets. Everything was organized and intentional. They all had a very calming energy about them and my wife was kept as comfortable as possible the entire time. Nothing ever felt rushed or chaotic. What completely blows me away to this day is that Marimikel is always a phone call away. She was always available during pregnancy and now postpartum. That level of availability and care is rare. I genuinely cannot imagine going through this process without her. She doesn't just provide care, she wants do deeply in her core for my wife and our baby to be as healthy as possible. We are incredibly grateful and would recommend her without hesitation.

Laurie was my midwife for the home-birth of my now 9 month old son! The prenatal care and…read moreappointments were always a pleasure, where we laughed, talked about my thoughts and feelings, and of course checked on baby and momma health! She was always reassuring with her guidance and knowledge of the whole birth process. Her assistant at the time, Janixa, was also a pleasure to work with. As my due date approached, it was clear baby boy was not ready to make his appearance. Laurie never once started talking about speeding things up, and in fact made me feel less anxious by saying it's totally normal, and when he and I were ready, labor would start. Well, being nearly 2 weeks past my due date, I started to get even more anxious to meet my little man. Laurie made a home visit to check on things, and of course, all was just fine. 2 days later, I started labor! It was late (~10pm) when we called her to come, and we had clearly woken her from a deep sleep ;)! Laurie and her assistant got there, got the birth pool and all supplies set up, and an hour after I was able to get into the tub (AHHHHHH, it was such a relief), baby boy was born. By the time she left, it was 4am, but the entire time she had a smile on her face and was so supportive! My postpartum checks were very relaxed and calm. She was a big help with the start of breastfeeding, providing tips/advice, and even giving recommendations for CST's and LC's (which we ended up needing)! Laurie was such a calming energy, a top-notch midwife, and through the entire pregnancy and birth I never questioned my decision! I wouldn't change a thing about my experience, and if I were to do it again she'd be my #1 choice!

If you are considering Laurie as your midwife, I would encourage you to ask a lot of questions up…read morefront and to carefully consider whether she's the right fit for you. I personally would not choose her again, and I'd like to share why. Throughout my pregnancy, I initially interpreted Laurie's relaxed and laid-back demeanor as a positive, but I later came to feel that it reflected a lack of attentiveness. For example, I had multiple episodes of high blood pressure that she was aware of, including one that resulted in an ER visit where she sat with me. Despite that, during my active labor she never checked my blood pressure, nor did she regularly monitor fetal heart tones. When she arrived while I was in active labor, she ended up resting on the couch while my support team stayed engaged. I also had specifically asked ahead of time to meet her assistant so that I wouldn't have a stranger enter my home in the middle of labor. Despite asking multiple times for an introduction--even a quick FaceTime--that never happened. So when the time came, I was in labor and unexpectedly meeting someone I'd never seen before. During labor, I repeatedly expressed that I felt "stuck." My doula took this seriously and helped me try different positions, but Laurie reassured me that this was normal and something every woman goes through. In hindsight, I wish my concerns had been acknowledged more fully. Ultimately, my labor ended in a hospital transfer and a C-section. We later learned my baby was wrapped in his cord three times around his torso, was facing up, and I was diagnosed with preeclampsia--all factors that explained why I truly was "stuck." While I don't place the responsibility for the C-section on Laurie directly, I do feel her lack of attentiveness to my blood pressure and her dismissiveness of my concerns were significant. Afterward, when I reached out to process the experience with her, she declined to meet with me and instead suggested I see a therapist. This left me feeling dismissed again. I understand that after 20+ years in practice, it's possible to become desensitized to certain situations, and my impression is that this may have been the case with Laurie. For that reason, I urge you to reflect on the type of care and attentiveness you want from your midwife, and whether Laurie is the right fit for your needs. If anyone has any questions and would like to discuss the details of my experience further, i'd be more than happy to chat. You all deserve to know exactly what you are getting yourself into when it comes to the care and safety of you and your baby.