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.

With covid I was very upset that I couldn't have a one on one with a lactation consultant but Cathy…read moremade me feel so much better even on FaceTime. It was very personable and helpful. My milk supply had slowed down a lot during my son's three week out. I freaked out because before I was leaking all the time and going through multiple breast pads a day. I was able to pump after feeding and store milk. Then all of a sudden I didn't even need pads. When I pumped it didn't even fill the bottom of the bottles. I was devastated and reached out to my OB who gave me Cathy's number and I'm so glad they did. In less than 24 hours all of Cathy's advice and recommendations paid off because I was pumping 1- 1.5 ounces and my breast are leaking again and I can tell a huge differences in my son's feeding. He is feeding better and for not as long. He actually seems like he is getting full which he wasn't a day ago. I'm so grateful to Cathy! As a first time mom she really gave me peace of mind. Highly recommend!

I have to agree with Tiffany T who reviewed on her experience in that it felt very clinical and not…read morepersonal at all. From the beginning of the experience to the end I felt as though I was just another appt and person she had to see. For example, she asked me how many times a day I pumped in addition to BF. I stated how my daughter at 9 weeks seemed to want to feed every 1.5-2 hours, and she would nurse for an hour each time, so I would get only a little time in between so I was maybe pumping 2x a day. I started to quietly cry at this point, mainly due to stress and exhaustion. Instead of being met with "Hey its ok don't cry, this is why you are here we are going to figure this out" she said absolutely nothing and just quickly slid a box of tissues over and continued her questions. I WAS CRYING, you can't even comfort me and say its ok? She then said no less than 3x that because I was using nipple shields she felt "my supply was compromised". Being a lactation consultant she more than anyone should know that stress does not help with breastfeeding. Why would you continue to say that to me? Why wouldn't you instead say "So because you've been using nipple shields there is a chance your supply could be low but we can do things to help rectify that if that proves to be true." I had to finally say after the third time of her using that "compromised" crap that I think its fine its going to be ok and hey, even IF my supply is low I haven't dried up so we can bring it back up. We did a before and after weigh in of my daughter after I nursed her there and she backtracked quickly on the low supply thing because my daughter took in well over the ounces suggested. She also told me that my daughter had a tongue tie and I had to get into an ENT dr ASAP to get it snipped. I went in and he said that she in fact did NOT have a tongue tie and he would not feel comfortable snipping anything. So frustrating. The only thing I felt she truly helped with was the push to get me to give up the nipple shields. I think that this entire experience would have been so much better had she exhibited a little compassion and empathy and not been so clinical and robotic.

Please reconsider before you work with this lactation consultant. She was incredibly insistent that…read moremy son have his tongue revised although his latch was perfectly adequate. After the revision was done by the dentist that she recommended my son's latch was terrible. I started feeling loads of pain while nursing, and he even started losing weight from poor milk transfer. I did every "exercise" that was recommended for his recovery and it did not help at all. I almost gave up breastfeeding all together. She's also very condescending and was not ever warm to speak to. I cried on multiple occasions after and during speaking with her. I would not recommend her to anyone.

Had a phone consult with Ann today and have you ever just immediately felt a connection with…read moresomeone and knew you find the right person for the job? That's Ann. She was extremely helpful, nice, prompt, and cut to the chase on how she could and couldn't help. Only regret is that I wish I had called her 3 months ago.

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.

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 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.

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.

Julia is calm, deeply knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive - I would recommend her to anyone…read moredesiring a natural child birth. She supported me and my 2 daughters from pregnancy through 6 weeks postpartum. Visits are at her lovely home or at mine once we got close to delivery - so calm, and no waiting rooms! Both deliveries were at my home and just perfect thanks to Julia's thoughtful presence and preparation. She never rushed me and allowed each delivery to unfold in its own time, into the early hours of the morning. I can't wait to have another baby so I can spend more time with Julia!

I'm so glad I came across home birth honey for my 1st pregnancy. They are wonderful women and…read morehelped me feel heard.

I just birthed my 3rd baby and 2nd home birth honey with the honeys :) (baby #1 was born in a…read moredifferent state). The care I received was nothing short of life giving they supported me holistically as a woman - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I adore these women for all that they are and would not want to birth any other way! If you're considering birthing at home, this is the way to do it. Their breadth of knowledge is amazing game changer, and the fact that they really take the time in each appointment to listen to your questions and concerns helps you to feel empowered as a woman and a mother. I'm sad this is my last baby, because it is so nice to see them regularly