Joanna was an absolute godsend. We (my husband and I) ended up with unexpectedly high risk…read morepregnancy and Joanna was there every single step of the way. She was so KNOWLEDGABLE and WISE about pregnancy, birth, child rearing, and homeopathy and naturopathy.  As for my story: I found out I was pregnant with twins in July 2018, and although we envisioned an unmedicated natural birth, we ended up in an emergency C-section at 7 months, due to placental blood flow issues. Let me how Joanna helped us surmount these incredible challenges...  Joanna helped me build a list of questions for providers, and was my strength when I needed to switch providers to one that much better matched my desires. Joanna showed me that I could STILL have the sort of birth I wanted, even if it wasn't in a birth center.   I called her before and after nearly every single appointment, because each new appointment left me feeling swamped with information and not sure how to sort my own feelings out. Joanna helped us work through all the questions and desires and expectations we had about the pregnancy. S helped my family with all the thousand mundane tasks of deciding on the best multivitamins, planning a diet around nausea and appetite loss, tricks for keeping up fluid intake.. She also kept us from freaking out every little scare--speaking me through experiences of spotting, discharge, and movement as natural parts of the pregnancy and birthing process. We traveled alot, and this meant alot of minor scares in a lot of different cities, and she was there for every call, email, text, and video chat, counseling us in every sense of the word. In December, Joanna worked with us in Fernandina Beach, teaching us a slew of methods for stretching, massage, and pain relief as the twins began to really put pressure on my hips and back.  Drawing from her experience raising three babies by herself, Joanna taught us all about cloth diapering and other earth-friendly approaches to parenting, which was amazing!   Unfortunately, when I was in Philadelphia a few weeks later, the doctors found restricted blood flow in twin A.  It got worse very rapidly, leading us to decide on an emergency cesarean within 72 hours, before the steroids for lung development could even take full effect.  Joanna stayed on the phone with me so much during those 72 hours, video chatting in, as we met with groups of high risk doctors, NICU nurses, and went through test after test. The twins were born at 32 weeks, and our son's apgar scores were 1,2, and 4 (these are very low). NICU was a harrowing experience and there was intense medical pressure to take every intervention possible. I would have felt totally shamed and alone if Joanna wasn't on the phone with me so much, INFORMING me and EQUIPPING me with research about kangaroo care, the value of colostrum for preemies, and their far better outcomes on breastmilk, as well as the need for me to take care of my mental health by seeking a psychiatrist and a therapist. With her help and guidance, I demanded that the twins receive donor breastmilk and I pumped and pumped and pumped.    At 6 months in, we are still going strong, I am providing enough breastmilk for both of them, cloth diapering, AND working full time, while also NOT feeling completely insane (most of the time). It was so emotionally VITAL to have Joanna's support in the tremendously difficult postnatal period. We feel so lucky Joanna was there for us, and it has allowed us to look back on that difficult period of time as one to be proud of.

Joanna has become part of my family. She did an amazing job helping me throughout the process of my…read morepregnancy, labor, and delivery. First when she contacted me after I was able to find her she made me feel so comfortable with her. She is very down to earth and real and understanding when it comes to anything. She answered all of my questions and even sent me verified articles on the information that we discussed. She helped me through the planning process of what I wanted at my birth. She asked me questions that I never would have thought of and it made me feel so at ease that she knew so much and wanted to help me birth my way. She did research on every worry I had and helped me put my mind at ease. She took notes on everything I wanted and put it into a customized birth plan. She helped me to think of everything i could safely do and she let me in on all the freedoms I have as a mom in the birthing process. I told her I wanted a natural birth and I needed someone to stand up for me and she did just that. She made sure I had everything I wanted and she consulted with me first before letting the doctors just do whatever they wanted. She talked to me, she came over to my home for a whole day and night and watched me through the night to watch my contractions. She was on call for me. She massaged my ankles and back and had some amazing techniques to dispel the contractions when the came on hard. She helped to coach my husband so he could help me. She is overall an amazing doula and someone you need on your side. I had a totally natural birth and she stuck by my side and made our family feel so confident and comfortable I will recommend her to anyone and everyone. Don't doubt the powers of this doula! She is awesome, intelligent, caring, professional, and she just fits right into our family! I love her for helping me!

After the birth of my first daughter I was struggling with extra support in understanding the new…read morerole of motherhood and how the the first few months after were the hardest. From the moment I met Caroline I instantly felt a complete understanding, kindness and support that I needed. Her assistance with taking care of my daughter helped me to realize that self-care is also important in being the best mommy I can be. She's extremely caring and I felt myself and daughter were in great hands. I would highly recommend there services to anyone!

I cannot say enough about my experience with Birth Prep DOULA's and Erin- the doula for the birth…read moreof my baby boy in January. Throughout my pregnancy journey Erin was a steadfast source of knowledge and encouragement for my husband and I as we prepared to welcome our first child. I was striving for a natural, unmedicated birth. Erin helped me put together a birth plan that was just right for me, and helped me find my strength and my stride as I built up the confidence to tackle it. During the labor and delivery she utilized a number of techniques to keep me comfortable and keep my labor progressing. I'm lucky enough to say that I got everything out of my birth experience that I had hoped for... plus SO much more. I have infinite gratitude for Erin and everything she did for us during this special time in my life.

Great care for hormone replacement! She is SO well informed. I really appreciate how much time and…read morecare Cyndi gives her patient!

I came to Essential Woman LLC in October 2022 for STD testing after being cheated on. It was one of…read morethe most emotionally difficult moments of my life, and it was also my first time ever needing this type of care. I chose this clinic because of the positive reviews, but my actual experience was deeply disappointing. From the moment I walked in, the staff felt cold and passive-aggressive. When I mentioned I had never had a pap smear before, I was told I was being "irresponsible"--a comment that was both unhelpful and shaming. After I tested positive, I returned for a follow-up, and the nurse, Cindy, made snide remarks about how "disgusting" and "common" STDs are. Instead of receiving care and empathy, I left feeling judged and humiliated. At the time, I felt pressured to leave a 5-star review because I was directly asked to, and I didn't fully process how inappropriate the experience had been until speaking with a new provider. What's especially upsetting is receiving a message from Cindy years later, holding up a sign with my name asking for a review. It instantly brought back all the shame and anxiety I felt in that office. For someone who experienced real trauma during that visit, being contacted this way is jarring and extremely insensitive. Healthcare should be a safe space--especially when patients are at their most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this was not the case here.

I came in for a WIC appointment to this location and I did not know there was a sign for WIC…read moreclients not needing to sign in. I go up to the window and tell the nurse receptionist with glasses and braids that I have an appointment for WIC and she tells me to read the sign outside the window and starts laughing with the other receptionist. That kind of attitude is rude and unprofessional and was not necessary all she had to say was to have a seat.

AVOID THIS OFFICE - They are malpractice waiting to happen (or more likely, has already happened…read moremultiple times). No response to portal messages; failure to send RXs to pharmacies; failure to send orders to facilities that have to perform them; patient can never get anyone on the phone to talk to; phones are routed to a boiler room halfway around the world where no one speaks English; a full HALF of the physicians on staff have quit in the last five years, like rats fleeing a sinking ship, and have not been replaced; rudeness abounds; neither you nor your baby will be in good hands with this practice. If you've suffered at their hands, file a report with the Florida Board of Medicine, then RUN elsewhere.

Since Halifax OBGYN merged with Advent their customer service has taken a nose dive. They coded my…read morelab work incorrectly therefore the bill was sent to me to pay instead of the insurance. The insurance company told me what they needed to do in order for them to pay, but no one has reached out.

Karen is kind , supportive , intuitive, knowledgeable and most patient. Grateful for her support…read morethrough my journey . Wonderful midwifery care. I most certainly recommend.

Love is personified in midwife Karen. Words will not convey the exceptional care, professional…read morestandards and love and support we experienced with Karen. My daughter had a wonderful home birth with Karen and 2 student midwives on10/27/13. Now pregnant again, she is gratefully returning to Karen, who has moved to a new Port Orange office location,btw. Home birth is not for everyone. But if you are a healthy woman, with no complications that would make home birth not a choice, visit Karen. You will experience health care beyond anything you will experience with GYN MD or hospital birth. I had a home birth in1985..... beyond words to describe how amazing. Scared and dismayed by hospital birth choices in Ft. Lauderdale, and encouraged by an engineer friend who had 3 home births, I had first visit with Sara Pinkman at 6 months pregnant. Please don't wait that long to visit Karen. Midwives need to establish a relationship with you. My love and respect for Karen is huge. Just FYI, I am a retired RN. Home birth is safe.

Due to my age my OBGYN has me come here to ensure that I and my little one are doing well…read morethroughout my pregnancy. The staff is always so helpful and friendly and able to answer all of my questions. Due to COVID-19 they do have some safety precautions in place, we can no longer bring a guest with us. When you check in they have you wait in your car and you will be called to come back in for your appointment. Everyone has to wear a mask at all times while inside the building. They are always on time and do not make you wait along time for the doctor to come into to see you.

Went there with wife and didn't like much the overall experience from staff…read more Plus after they checked everything, and baby look good, they still tried to sell a procedure that I don't remember the name in case you want to do it. Question is; if all looking fine, why try to sell something? I know that can be optional, but let's say that I pregnant woman first baby is already a little nervous and instead they go thought things in a different way since they are Doctor's, they try to put more worries into Mother's mind. Please do you search and good luck.

This was such a cute place and was a surprise by the Hubby. The hubby surprised me on Valentine's…read morewith an ultrasound package. This was a 3D/4D/HD ultrasound and it was such a unique experience. He scored a deal that they were running for Valentine's weekend and it was such a great deal. It includes the photos, a stuffed animal with the baby's heartbeat and a small cute keychain...These are all precious items that I will hold and cherish dearly. It was such a sweet gift to see my little one's face before his arrival in April. The staff was very nice and responsive to all of our needs. We definitely will recommend.

What an amazing experience! Becoming a first time mama to a little miracle babe, my hubby and I…read morecouldn't have asked for a better experience. Between the promptness to welcoming staff, we were very impressed for what we paid for. It was easy to book online & very direct. The Love At First Sight deal is $80 which includes- 15 minute 3D/4D/HDLive ultrasound, gender determination upon request, 10 printed black & white photos, & video of entire session & digital access to ALL photos from your session. They also have add-ons if you'd like more.. one of them being keychains! I loved the space & the opportunity to bring a few family members if we wanted to. Mask were required which we appreciated & felt safe. Would definitely recommend this local place!