We found Anya through the Central Texas Doula Association and she was the first doula we met with…read more My husband and I felt almost instantly that she was the doula for us! Her passion for her work, for mamas and babies, is contagious and so comforting -- we knew we would be in the best hands through the prenatal journey and birth of our first child. And we were right! Anya was there for us every step of the way. She dedicated herself to getting to know us, getting to know our worries, wants, and wishes. I loved preparing for the arrival of our little one with her -- she shared so much wisdom and made me feel at ease both physically and mentally (the one-on-one yoga session included in our package was such a nice treat!). We were so ready when the day arrived to deliver our baby! By day, I really mean days... Anya was with us through an incredibly LONG natural labor that ended at the hospital. (But we still delivered vaginally and I owe so much of that to her!) Our journey began at the Austin Area Birthing Center on Monday night and ended on Wednesday morning. She spent every minute of that time encouraging me, supporting me and my husband (literally, like physically supporting me), standing up for and reminding me of the things I wanted and needed, and helping us make some really tough decisions. She was basically like family to me for all those days. It was bittersweet to go our own ways at the end -- sad because she had just shared with us the most momentous occasion of our lives and that kind of connection is so real, but sweet because she needed to rest too!!! Could we have done it all without her? Sure. Would we have wanted to? Absolutely not. I cannot recommend Anya enough if you're looking for a little extra support through your own prenatal/birth/postnatal journey. She's a force. You'll get so much more from your relationship than you ever expected!! We sure did.

Anya is an AMAZING force. I interviewed several doulas, but I went with Anya because of her energy…read more-- she was the perfect balance of confident, non-judgmental, calm and wise. I wanted someone who would help prepare and support me through a natural birth, but who wouldn't judge me if I changed my mind in the end. I'll never forget the thing she said to me in one of our prep meetings that really put me at ease, "There IS something -- a position or a technique -- that will help bring you relief during birth. We'll practice some options now and when the time is here, we'll find the exact one that will work for you." And we did just that. I can say for certain that there is no way we would have been able to avoid an epidural without all the prep she did with me and my husband ahead of time and without her calm, supportive presence in the room. We met with her several times ahead of the birth and she was super thorough with us, never rushed the process and made sure that we as first time parents were as confident as we could be going into this. She lent us books we could peruse if we wanted, but honestly her guidance ahead of time was so thorough and we were so ready for the big day even without taking a formal birthing / breathing class. She even did a prenatal yoga class with me in my home a couple of weeks before our baby arrived. We also hired her for the placenta encapsulation -- it was wonderful having someone who already knew us well do that for us and we opted for her to do it at our home, which sounded strange to us at first, but she scoured the kitchen before and after and in the end, it was a really cool learning process!

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.

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!

As a man, I was skeptical at first but after doing research and talking with Amy, I was totally…read moreconvinced this was the right thing to do for my wife (and family) after giving birth to our son. Amy and her teammate, Lindsey, did a great job and were such a wonderful part of our support team. This was our first child and my wife was thankful we did this placenta move. Upon arriving from the hospital with our newborn, the pills were set up in a wonderful presentation, ready to be taken, and they saved part of the placenta which made my wife cry. (I'll keep her little trick a secret) She couldn't believe it. It made my wife happy so of course, I'm happy and good with it. Talk with Amy. You'll love her. And the finished product. And the nice balance of hormones that the placenta offers after delivery. I'm a believer now.

I had such a wonderful experience with Amy! She was so informative, and sweet. I really enjoyed…read morehaving her around and the pills were awesome in those first couple weeks! I missed a dose and noticed a distinct change in my teariness!! I'm SO grateful for Amy and those placenta pills :)

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'm athletic, normally 125 lbs, I eat well and exercise regularly. I have no health conditions and…read morethe birth was still a disaster. The months leading up to my delivery were fine. I felt supported by the midwives. It was the actually delivery that was severely botched. Looking back, isn't that all that matters? I met many of the midwives during Centering and check ups. I felt like they were helpful. On the night I went into labor, I timed my contractions, called my doula. She said to call the midwife. The midwife that night was someone I had never met. Her name was Jamie. From the second I got on the phone with her, I felt belittled. She said she didn't believe I was in labor and that I should wait. She said the fact that I could talk was a clear sign it was too early. But, she said, if I insisted that I was in labor then she would meet me at the birthing center. I dilated very early & was instructed by Jamie to push, push, push. On every contraction, push, push push. For something like four hours (until very early AM), I pushed. My room started to fill up with random people. I used the ball, I used the blow up peanut, I used the bathtub, I used the stool. In a cycle, one at time, I used each thing. Then, once I'd tried them all, I circled back around and tried them all again. Never resting. Just pushing. At some point in the early AM hours, Jamie's shift was over -- so she left! She simply walked in the room, and said "My shift is over and a new midwife will be here shortly". Erin, the new midwife showed up. I knew her and I liked her. However, her guidance simply started over from the exact same beginning place that Jamie had started from. On every contraction, push, push push. For something like four MORE hours. All over again, I used the ball, I used the blow up peanut, I used the bathtub, I used the stool. One at time, I used each thing then circled back around and tried them all again. Never resting. Just pushing. Some time the next morning, I said stop. I cannot go on. I'm dying. Call 911. "You're so close!!" They said, "Keep pushing". So, several hours later, some time around 1pm, I passed the point of exhaustion and was on the brink of insanity. I slid off the bed, onto the floor, onto my knees screaming. I prayed. I begged God, what do I do? I am dying. So, I asked the midwife, "Is the baby coming? Is she going to come out any second now?" "Oh no! No way. Not at all. We don't even see her head." The midwife said. It almost seemed like she thought the question was cute. Now, I have never given birth before and I've never been at a birth before. My experience is limited. But I knew enough to know, that was not right. That was not right! There is no reasonable medical professional, midwife or person who would instruct someone to push that hard and that long with ZERO progress. "Call 911" I demanded. "We're so close!" The midwife pleaded. "You wanted a natural birth so bad, we're so close. It will be at least an hour before you get any medication at all if you go to the hospital". "It's not the medication I want, it's my life. I'm done. I can't go on." I had pushed, in active labor, for 8 hours. Seven hours after the ambulance came and 2 additional hours of active labor, my healthy, beautiful baby girl was born. The hospital staff was incredible. They were disgusted that these midwives allowed me to push for that long and that hard with little progress. Turns out, my daughter was posterior. It took the doctor 5 seconds to determine this. How did the midwives miss this? Just keep pushing, they said! The blood vessels in my entire face were completely blown out. I looked like I had been in a boxing match. ABC was a complete shitshow. After being at the hospital and receiving the level of professionalism they offered there, this group of midwives felt like a room full of middle school girls playing "let's birth a baby". By the time I told them to call 911, my birthing room was full of 7+ people all trying to "help". I'm not saying you need to go to the hospital, but don't go here. And yes, we still had to pay 100%.

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.

This review for Peggy is long overdue! I reached out to Peggy when I was only 9 weeks pregnant. I…read moreknew I wanted to work towards having a natural birth and was told having a doula was essential. I filled out an inquiry form and she immediately got back to me. We set up a Zoom interview and right off the bat, I knew she was the doula for me. She was so calm, well spoken, and so experienced. I didn't even bother looking further for any other doulas because I knew I wanted to work with only her. Booking Peggy early in my pregnancy was a complete God send. Any time I felt anxious or worried about my pregnancy, I reached out to her and she immediately helped to calm me down. Through the package I booked, my husband and I also did hypnobirthing classes (through Empowered Beginnings with Ciarra). Loved the classes and even met other pregnant mamas who I am still friends with today. My husband and I learned so much about labor and delivery. It made me feel more confident as my pregnancy progressed and as the due date approached. I ended up going spontaneously into labor 2 weeks before my due date. Unexpected and a complete surprise but Peggy was supportive every step of the way. She provided text support while I labored at home. We eventually reached out to her to come to the house and after seeing me in person, she knew it was time for us to head to the hospital. I unfortunately experienced a significant amount of back labor due to my baby's positioning BUT Peggy remained next to me and my husband every moment at the hospital. Although I was in a significant amount of pain and exhausted from laboring for so long, Peggy helped to keep me calm and focused on delivering my baby girl safely. She never left our side as I pushed for 7 hours. She helped me and my husband make informed and important medical decisions. I honestly couldn't have done it without her physical and emotional support. She also took so many photos and videos so that was a nice surprise to have to look back on. Especially when you are in la la labor land and going in and out during active labor. She remained with us after our baby girl entered the world and although it was such a long night, she remained present, patient, and supportive the entire time. She is literally a saint and incredibly patient and kind. If you are lucky enough to be able to get on our calendar, I would say book her immediately. You will have zero regrets! I can honestly say that I couldn't have experienced this natural birth without her and if you are wanting a natural birth, you definitely want someone like her by your side!

I can't say enough positive things about Peggy. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to…read morehave a VBAC (I had a rough first birthing experience) and I knew I wanted a doula that would really advocate for me. I one hundred percent found that in Peggy. Having her by my side meant I was supported through labor and delivery, advocated for to make sure my birth plan was being honored, and taken care of through it all. She also stayed after the birth to support me, answer questions, and make sure I was doing well. Peggy is attentive, knowledgeable, supportive, and extremely caring. I am so grateful to have had her by my side and can't recommend her enough!

If I could give her more stars I would…read more My placenta was picked up the day after I came home from the hospital. I got it back much quicker than I anticipated. It felt like no time at all. Not only was it incredibly quick, but I also had the flu. She had the perfect plan to provide services to me, but also make sure my flu didn't spread (thank goodness). We never had face to face time, but corresponded a lot leading up to pick-up and have continued to keep in touch (regarding placenta services and general mommy things). I chose to take the capsules when I felt like I needed a boost versus every single day. Things I felt like they helped me with were: Breastmilk supply Brighter and clearer skin Lightened my dark eye circles Less bleeding Quicker healing Help to provide emotional stability Sleep was mor restful I didn't feel as tired (even when I had very little sleep) Overall, I just felt good. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be back after having my next baby.

Colleen is an AMAZING massage therapist! I leave every appointment feeling so much better and so…read morerelaxed, it's magic! And as if that wasn't good enough, she actually comes to your home - which is *SO* helpful when you have a newborn baby, especially if you're breastfeeding! She has been so instrumental is helping me heal and recover after having my baby. I would highly recommend her to any and every one!

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.

I truly don't even know where to begin when it comes to Chiminh, she was nothing short of a gift…read moreduring one of the most vulnerable and life-changing experiences of my life. From the very beginning, she didn't just "support" me, she empowered me. She took the time to educate me on every single stage of the journey: pre-birth, labor, delivery, and postpartum. Because of her, I didn't walk into birth feeling scared or uncertain. I walked in feeling informed, prepared, and confident. One of the most impactful things she gave me was the confidence to advocate for myself. She didn't just speak for me, she taught me how to use my own voice. That is something I will carry with me forever, not just in birth, but in life. She knew exactly when to step in, when to guide, and when to simply be there. And postpartum, she continued to show up with the same care, knowledge, and compassion. Calling her a doula honestly doesn't feel like enough, she felt like a fairy godmother in human form. Someone who walked beside me, lifted me up, and made me feel capable of something so powerful. If you are considering working with Chiminh, don't hesitate. She is truly special, and I am forever grateful to have had her by my side. We love you, Chiminh.

I can't say enough about how amazing our experience was working with Chiminh! From the very first…read morecall when I reached out to Chiminh, I was so impressed with her ability to make me feel heard and at ease. She was wonderful to work with leading up to our son's birth, and worked with me to manage my stress and expectations, and to give me the information, time, and space to come up with a plan for our birthing preferences for my second child's birth (paying particularly close attention to my fears and anxieties from my first birthing experience). She was so encouraging and reassuring, handling many anxious phone calls and texts from me! I also credit the successful VBAC experience to Chiminh! She was incredibly informative and encouraging, leading up to labor and working hand in hand with my OB and nurses during the delivery process. She provided emotional support to me (and my husband), continually offered advice on how to get comfortable, what to do to help progress labor naturally, different pushing positions to try, and overall reassurance throughout the process (even with some highs and lows). She also provided amazing postpartum support care - continuing to provide emotional support for my family and me, and advice/helpful reminders around newborn care. Anytime I started to get overwhelmed, she grounded me to help me enjoy my leave. We absolutely loved working with Chiminh and cannot recommend her enough!! One last note - she also took a bunch of photos for us to document the birth which was amazing to have!