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.

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!

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

I have always been the kind of person who goes for the least amount of medication and prefers…read morethings 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.

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.

We had a great experience with Milk Diva. We first met Naomi during our appointment to address lip…read moreand tongue ties with Dr. Poplin. We ended up not doing any releases and just changed the type of bottle we were using. We then had Lindsay come out to our house to help with the bottle feeding, we ended up changing the flow rate of the nipple and that helped so much! I was able to message Lindsay on the app when I had questions and she helped us know if we needed additional help or if it was normal. Our little guy is bottle feeding great due to the change of bottles and learning to follow his lead on things. Lindsay also came for a pump consult as I was considering trying to get a supply back, I ended up not going this route but Lindsay was very helpful with this as well. Thank you Lindsay for all your help.

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.

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

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

The Post Partum Doula support we received from Austin Born's amazing Stephanie was simply perfect…read more Seriously. Perfect. Stephanie is a doula and a lactation consultant, plus her sense of calm and reassurance helped us first time parents relax a little--which is saying a lot! We arranged to have Stephanie come on our first night home from the hospital with our beautiful baby. She provided lactation advice and created a priority list for me which we hung on the master bathroom door: 1. Feed baby 2. Feed Mommy (eat/drink) 3. Sleep Seems pretty simple, but after a week of sleep deprivation, the list helped stop my "one-more-thing" syndrome. For the first time in my life I was responsible for a needy, helpless, endlessly adorable baby--my baby. Who had time for sleep? Once I got into bed I was so amped up on adrenaline I couldn't shut down. My husband had to hold me tight to turn off the humming in my mind and body. I was finally able to sleep for an hour--it was a gift. My first nap after baby, along with Stephanie's unwavering, consistently calm, reassuring presence through those first days, gave me room to breathe and think again. She was there for many other firsts too in person, via phone, and via text. And I'm thankful for all of the support. There's nothing like having an expert to guide you through this miraculous journey--hopefully you'll get a chance to be as grateful as I am. Cheers to Austin Born!

We used Austin Born prenatal and postpartum services. As new parents, the prenatal classes we…read moreattended were very informative and empowering. Unfortunately, we could not obtain maximum benefit of support groups and attend all classes due to pregnancy related illness. We did, however, feel a huge value of using Austin Born, was in the communication and correspondence with our Doula, Kim Borchert. She answered many emails, texts and calls in a very open-minded and timely manner. We were referred to amazing pregnancy specialists such as chiropractors, twin trainers and also given pain relieving techniques which greatly reduce the discomfort and frustration of carrying twins. As new parents of twins with no family nearby, our postpartum Doula service was important. Austin Born was holistic in every sense and we felt that we had not only one awesome doula checking in and supporting us in our home each day but also had a team of doulas with vast experience behind the scenes. Without Austin Born and our doula, Juanita Sawyer, we are not sure how we would've survived. From small suggestions of types of bottles to breast-feeding struggles to reflux management solutions, there is no obstacle this team can't fix. Now that our babies are older, we look back and realize the value Austin Born services is not in how many classes were attended or how many hours of doula services were provided. The value is most definitely in the knowledge, resources, accumulated experience and open-minded approach. In short, they were amazing and invaluable to us.

If I could give Kate 6 stars I would. Before I met Kate, I had so many questions about a home birth…read moreas a first time mom. I knew Kate was perfect the first day she came to visit. She really took the time to listen to all my questions and explained them with so much detail that I felt safe and that I could trust her with my life throughout my entire pregnancy. She takes her time with every visit so she truly knows you personally, which is important, especially when someone is going to be in your home and space helping you deliver a baby. I could not have wished for a better midwife. Kate looks after you as if you were her own daughter or family. The most important thing was that she always made me feel safe and I knew the day I would go into labour, she would walk me through step by step what to expect. My labour was 10 hours long start to finish, I delivered at home and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Being able to deliver in the comfort of my bed, then roll over and cuddle in bed with my husband and newborn. She made my birth so memorable! Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart and my families for taking such great care of us! I love you Kate!

I had the greatest experience with Kate my midwife. Her calming care and expertise helped me get…read morethrough my third pregnancy so much easier than my first two pregnancies. I had so much time to get to know her and she prepped for the delivery and what to expect in having a home birth. It was truly the most beautiful and calming experience I've ever had. I only wish I could've had all my babies with her care. And I could only hope everyone could be so lucky to have such an amazing midwife and experience as I did with Kate.

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.

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.