Alyssa's amazing and should be everyone's lactation consultant…read more I worked with her after the birth of my baby one year ago. During our very first session, when he was only 11 days old, she immediately noticed that my baby had a lip tie-- which had gone unnoticed by our pediatrician, hospital pediatrician, and hospital lactation consultant. She quickly referred us to a pediatric ENT and the lip tie was confirmed. She continued to give us incredibly helpful information and support for the rest of our sessions. Not only did she help us with breastfeeding and pumping, but she also provided support for my baby blues, my physical and emotional wellness, and for handling the long hours of baby crying. She's available by text and responded to me swiftly every time. I had a milk bleb and she went above and beyond to help me through that. I never wanted to put pressure on myself to breastfeed. I was okay with quitting if it wasn't working out, or supplementing with formula if I needed to. So, I was wary of pro-breastfeeding practitioners who try to pressure you into exclusive breastfeeding. However, Alyssa didn't pressure me at all, and helped me figure out my pumping/nursing/supplementing schedule. She also has lovely bedside manner and is just a caring, genuine, kind-hearted person. Honestly, she was the absolute most helpful resource I had postpartum. I'm still nursing 1 year postpartum and I wouldn't be if it wasn't for her help in the beginning. More importantly, she was instrumental in helping us overcome those really challenging first few months. I really have never recommended a practitioner as highly as I do her.

Alyssa worked with us both pre- and post-quarantine, in person and virtually, and I found her…read moreimmensely helpful throughout our breastfeeding journey. She helped us at the start to identify a tongue tie, and also coached me through both technical and emotional challenges. Recently I met with her again, 9 months later, to talk about how to gradually wean, and told her that the fact that we have breastfed this long is in no small part due to her guidance and support.

All the things no one openly shares:…read more Despite how enamored I am with our little girl and all the cute pictures on Facebook, these first three weeks have been extremely stressful. Nursing has been anything but easy, and because our daughter is so tiny I have felt nothing but pressure for her to gain weight as quickly as possible... very difficult when breastfeeding is proving difficult. The onset of vasospasms so painful that it felt like a cigarette burning me straight through to my shoulder blade finally led me to make an appointment with My Pure Delivery. First of all, it was not covered by my insurance because Blue Cross Blue Shield sucks. But every dollar I paid out of pocket was worth the time they spent with me to ensure I felt comfortable utilizing the strategies they helped me master with their help. Additionally, they allowed me to come back periodically to weigh her at no additional cost so that we could monitor her weight without paying for yet another doctor's visit. I am forever grateful for the assistance My Pure Delivery gave me with a skill no one teaches you about, you are just supposed to inherently know how to do, and is perhaps the most stressful task I've ever had to do. MANY THANKS for the compassionate and patient help with breastfeeding.

It was very easy to get an appointment at my pure delivery. After my son was in the NICU and had…read moreissues feeding, we had all but thrown in the towel on breastfeeding. Pumping was also tanking my mental health. Having a quality appointment with a LC was worth every penny. The appointment was not rushed and everything was set right up for us upon arrival. After applying what we were taught, I was able to have a way more positive experience feeding my son

I had Christin come to my home for about 8 weeks when i was just 4 days post partum, every time i…read morethought i learned it all she had a new trick or way to help me feed my son more efficiently. We are now going on 14 1/2 months of breast feeding. I couldn't have done it without the milk diva team. They also assisted with his lip tie reversal which was a very traumatic experience for me. They helped by providing guidance and an SLP to help me with some exercises to perform after the procedure. I can't recommend milk diva enough!!!

My first experience with Milk Diva was with a lactation consultant named Morgan, and she was…read moreawesome! Gave me loads of information and made me feel really comfortable and supported. We scheduled a follow-up appointment for the next week. However, a few days later I was notified via text and email that Morgan was no longer with the company. A huge bummer, but my care was transferred to the CEO of the company Naiomi. At this point I was a bit worried about whether the person who runs the company would really have enough time/availability to handle patients, but I thought it was admirable that she was willing to take on the load of Morgan's patients (like a good leader should!) and we scheduled a time to meet. The problem came the day of our scheduled appointment. It was scheduled for 1pm. Just before 9am on the same day, someone from Milk Diva reached out to me to ask if we could move our appointment up to 12pm instead. I replied that if 1pm no longer worked I'd be open to scheduling a different day entirely since baby had kept me up all night. Their response? That they charge a $120 fee for any appointment changes that are made after noon the day prior to the appointment. Which is exactly what THEY were attempting to do - change my appointment last minute. Milk Diva folks, did you not see how scummy that was that you would tell me I need to pay you to change my appointment last minute when you were the ones who initiated trying to change the appointment last minute? I only offered up another day because YOU reached out to ME to try to change the time, so it seemed a reschedule would be mutually beneficial. Super grossed out by the whole thing, and I will not be scheduling another appointment.

Katina has helped me and baby boy to better navigate the rough waters of breastfeeding! I really…read moreappreciate that she did home visits since I don't feel comfortable taking my 3-week-old out and about yet. Her advice has helped me to achieve a much more comfortable latch and she has been empathetic about insecurities I was feeling about my supply, while providing clear evidence that baby boy was actually getting milk by weighing him before and after a feeding. She is approachable and clearly loves working with mothers and infants. Her detailed notes are also helpful to review the progress we've been making and the recommendations she made. I highly recommend Katina to anyone looking for a lactation consultant!

We had 3 visits with Katina and she is absolutely amazing! I asked so many questions and she…read moreanswered them and was so helpful in our breastfeeding journey. My daughter is latching better and we learned so many helpful tips and tricks. I'm definitely more confident leaving the house knowing I can feed my baby anywhere. Katina is so patient and lovely to talk to. If we need help in the future or with our next baby we will definitely be reaching out and will definitely recommend her services!

Great service! I took a virtual Breastfeeding class prenatally that was full of great information…read more Postpartum, I worked primarily with Rika Dombrowski at the Parmer Lane location, and have seen Kristin a couple of times as well. We worked through latching, pain, and supply issues, and Rika was always right on the money with her assessment and advisement. I really started to hit my stride with breastfeeding around 8 weeks postpartum, and my now 3 month old latches like a champ, pain-free! My baby LOVES the BFS office on Parmer lane, and is always in such a good mood when we go, maybe it's the great lighting? Or the vibe. Regardless, I always feel so much more positive leaving my BFS appointments than when I came in. If I ever have a 2nd child, I will be sure to book an appointment with an ICBLC prenatally to discuss my goals and help get me started on the right foot. As I've learned, the first days postpartum are absolutely critical to milk production.

I had a breast reduction and years later, a partial mastectomy which left me with one breast. I was…read morenot expecting to be able to breastfeed. At the hospital, I was able to produce some milk and wanting to optimize my production, I made an appointment with Kristin at Breastfeeding Success. First, I never had to wait in the waiting room. The woman at the front desk always greeted me with a smile and showed me to my room. The office is relaxing, cute, comfortable, and clean. Kristin is AMAZING and so empathetic (and hilarious). I rented a hospital grade pump from them which was so helpful. I feel like I really understand the science behind lactating now, which not only helps me now but also helps me down the road so I can troubleshoot if I run in to any issues. With her help we were able to increase my supply in a manageable way that doesn't take a toll on my mental health. Thank you Kristin and BFS!!!

I want to say thank you very much for the mother daughter duo that helped me to find everything I…read moreneeded to feel comfortable again! The service was incredibly knowledgeable and sweet. The pijamas there are absolutely velvety and amazing. My back feels better already. I'll definitely be going back for more things.

I happened upon Special Addition while visiting Snarf's Sandwiches. Special Addition sells…read morematernity and nursing wear. They sell nursing bras. It's like a Petticoat Fair for nursing bras. I initially purchased three nursing bras while pregnant. Postpartum, my husband came back multiple times to purchase accessories for my Spectra pump. I paid $45 to get fitted for flanges with Susan. I thought it was helpful. While they didn't carry the size Susan had recommended, I did order them on Amazon. The fitting was helpful as Susan recommended the Pano shape by Maymom. The size Susan recommended was 2 mm too small, so I ended up ordering a larger size on Amazon. You can go +/- 1 to 3 mm on flanges. I also bought a new cover for a My Brest Friend pillow I received on Buy Nothing. This is a great maternity and postpartum store to visit.

I recently took Allison Coleman's Infant Safety/CPR class to prepare for a nannying job that I'm…read morestarting in August. The class was phenomenal! Allison is incredibly knowledgeable about all things baby. The class started off with a thorough discussion of creating a safe sleeping space for the baby regardless of whether the child is sleeping in his/her own version of a bed (like a bassinet) or in the bed with the parents. Allison provided great information as to how to make the child's sleeping arrangement as safe as possible. She also included ways to reduce the risk of SIDS, which was incredibly helpful. Allison also reviewed car seat safety for newborns and young children and gave her recommendations as to how best to accommodate the needs of children. She then taught all of us how to administer infant CPR and we each practiced multiple times on a doll until we felt comfortable with the process. Afterwards, she taught us how to help a choking child and when to know that it's time to administer CPR. She also gave us a thorough list of the foods that children are most likely to choke on. Many food items were a total shock to me so it was really helpful information to have. The class ended with helpful tips on how to baby proof your house and she showed us her favorite (and least favorite) baby proofing products. The class was phenomenal and Allison was a treasure trove of helpful information. I shared much of what she told us with the parents of the child I'll be nannying soon and the mother plans on taking the class, too. I highly recommend investing in a class with Allison!

Austin Baby Guru's Postpartum Doula Training program is unmatched. As an agency owner, I prefer to…read morecontract with postartum doulas that have taken this particular training. There are a few things that set this program apart from others I have seen. 1 - The mentorship provided by the owner of the company, Allison Coleman. The unrelenting support she gives and the way she lifts people up are unique and refreshing. 2 - The comprehensive material covered. This program provides a wide range of information and produces postpartum doulas that not only understand how to care for families in the postpartum period, but also the ethics of running a business in this industry. 3 - The way the materials are presented is clear and thorough. I appreciate the mix of video education and reading so it keeps the participants engaged in the program. I highly recommend ABG Postpartum Doula Training to anyone looking to enhance their understanding of all things postpartum doula!

Austin Doula Care is truly exceptional…read more From the moment we began working with Chelsea, Kim, and Chrys at Austin Doula Care, I felt deeply supported, informed, and cared for. Chelsea was our primary doula during pregnancy and birth, and Chrys supported us postpartum. Chelsea's presence during pregnancy and birth was grounding, empowering, and steady. She listened without judgment, shared knowledge without pressure, and held space in a way that made me feel calm, capable, and strong. She helped me trust my body and myself. Chrys's postpartum care was just as transformative. They cared not only for our baby, but for me: My healing, my emotions, my confidence as a new mother. They normalized the hard moments, celebrated the wins, and helped me feel healthy, supported, and seen during such an important time. If you are looking for doulas who are knowledgeable, compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and deeply respectful of your journey, I cannot recommend Austin Doula Care enough. I will forever be grateful for them!

From the moment I met Chelsea and Rachael, I knew I made the right choice in coming to Austin Doula…read moreCare. Their support extended far beyond childbirth support, from pregnancy check ins, the multitude of programs and classes at the office, as well as postpartum help, made my husband and I feel well cared for and confident about the journey of pregnancy and postpartum. Rachael's support during my pregnancy and childbirth was instrumental in me feeling empowered about every decision I made. She was a sounding board for each step of the way, helped me ask the right questions when needed, and assisted in crafting a birth plan and walking through all scenarios to make sure I felt prepared and confident. I am beyond grateful for her presence during my labor and baby's birth, as well as her postpartum help as I navigated things when my husband went back to work. A huge thank you to Rachael and the whole team at Austin Doula Care, I couldn't recommend their support more.

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.

"Maybe you're not allergic to cedar", my brother said after I told him I was not having any…read moreallergies during an obscenely high cedar afternoon here in Austin. I shrugged, glanced away, took a deep breath through my unobstructed nostrils and smiled as my gaze lifted back to meet his. "Yeah, maybe not" I responded with a shrug. Knowing damn well I have been acutely, absolutely, undeniably railroaded by cedar since I moved here in 1989. December through February had been guaranteed to deliver extended misery. Like, "Please tell me it's the flu, at least I can recover from the flu!" The pollen collection on the windshield was always accompanied by a group of used run away tissues embarrassingly flying out of my car every time I opened the door. Taking a pill or shot to subdue the symptoms didn't seem like the answer when I really wanted to be like my husband breathing the January air enjoying the crisp clear days with envious ease. Look, this review is not going to point you to the easy button. It takes discipline. It takes accountability. It takes time. But is it worth it? You bet your sweet non-itchy eyes, clear nose, good night's sleep it is! Started with True Natural Health November 2017. Cedar 2017 was a little better, still had to take all kinds of over the counter medications, though they seemed more effective with the support I was getting. Cedar 2018 I took about 15% of the over the counter medications with much better results. Cedar 2019 just started, but so far no symptoms. No drugs at all. I'm normally dying by now. No joke. No symptoms. Now, I will take that walk with my husband today, tomorrow and whenever the hell I want.

I have been a client of Efren and Nancy at True Natural Health on and off for about 4 years. Last…read moreApril I decided to really take their advice and be on the program of supplements they recommended consistently. I've been having issues with my thyroid (swelling, swallowing concerns, etc), inflammation in other areas, and pain in my shoulder. After a few weeks on the consistent program of natural supplements I felt much better. It's been almost a year now, and I have to say my CEDAR allergies are quite a bit reduced this year as well. Thank you for always making me feel at home and doing what you do - I don't understand it, but it's working!