My wife and I had Lauren come to the house for a private childbirth class. We really appreciated…read morethis option, as we have busy schedules, and it was nice to not have to coordinate going anywhere for once. Lauren was very prepared and we learned a lot from her class. Once the class was over, she followed up to make sure we didn't have any lingering questions. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for an affordable option for an excellent childbirth class.

From the owner: Birth & Postpartum Doula -- informational & emotional support throughout pregnancy, childbirth &…read morethe postpartum period. Prenatal appointments offered in-home. Available for hospital, birth center, or home births. VBAC, scheduled cesareans, and/or high risk pregnancies supported. Postpartum availability for day shifts or overnights to provide hands-on support for the whole family in the healing from childbirth and the adjustment of caring for a newborn. Multiples support available. Certified Childbirth Educator -- offering modern childbirth education classes for couples choosing hospital or out-of hospital births. Small group or private in-home classes available.

I cannot recommend this birth center enough. I interviewed with several midwives when I found out I…read morewas pregnant with twins. I didn't want to be pressured after my very first experience with twins at the hospital where they told me in answer to a medical question I had that they, "liked alive babies". I don't think that was the answer they learned in medical school, but I digress. I LOVE how they handled my breech babies and were very informative about all options throughout my twin pregnancy. They were honest and did not pressure me into anything. Each prenatal appointment was SO peaceful and I left each one learning new things about myself. I learned I was anemic, and looking back I was probably anemic with my first two pregnancies as well but it was never brought to my attention in my 10 min hospital prenatal appts. When we addressed that through iron infusions, it changed my life. (I still need them quarterly now even 8 months postpartum-so, I was happy to learn that) I did end up choosing to have a gentle c section in the end, at 40 weeks pregnant with breech twins because they were cosy in there, because of my husband's and my personal feelings at the end. However, I also love and appreciate, that in the end, I wasn't pressured to wait any longer than we felt comfortable with and each process was so peaceful and easy. She helped me pick the hospital we felt comfortable with and completed all my postnatal care. I so wish my twins hadn't been so comfortable and had tried getting out a little quicker, because I KNOW I would've loved my birth experience with this team of women. Each midwife was wonderful, Joani, my main midwife was the absolute best. I love love love Joyful beginnings.

I hired Joyful Beginnings for my first baby and Claire Randall was my midwife. For months I kept…read moretelling her I was gaining too much weight and getting too big, and for months the answer was the same: you're fine, it's a small baby, stop worrying. The other midwives who saw me during my pregnancy said nothing either. Near the end Claire guessed the baby at 8.5 pounds. My daughter was born at 11.5. I was in labor for 48 hours and nothing happened. Claire told me I was at plus one station. The hospital told me I'd been at minus one. Claire's explanation for the stall was that I didn't have enough "power," and around hour 40 Joani Koenig, the owner and the most experienced midwife in the practice, came in and told me the same thing, adding that she'd delivered plenty of big babies. Then I got to the hospital, they broke my water, and my contractions were coming every 2 to 4 minutes and strong. Power was never the problem. The baby was enormous and physically could not come down. They kept me pushing for two days when I should never have been pushing. That was negligent. At the hospital they found meconium in my fluid. My baby was already in distress. The doctor told me flat out that if I had been able to push my daughter, she would have died - would have gotten stuck in my pelvis. Everything Claire and Joani had been telling me to do was the thing that would have killed her. I watched the doctor's face when she walked in and saw the situation. The way she looked at Claire told me everything I needed to know. Small details tell you a lot. As we were rushing out to the hospital, Claire stopped to grab a gift bag. Ninety minutes later I was in emergency surgery. After the C-section she was gone and never came back to check on either of us. During those two days of labor I was bouncing between the birth center and a hotel because you can't stay overnight there, and when my husband and mother-in-law were exhausted from helping me around the clock, the midwife made them sleep in the entry room rather than let them use the other bed, because she didn't want to change the sheets. But she had her room where she got her beauty sleep. I nearly died. My daughter nearly died. I have a permanent scar, I've been told to wait 18 months before trying for another baby, and I'll be high risk from here on, which likely means a smaller family than we planned. And after months of "you're fine," the story now is that somehow this was my fault. They refused a full refund and I'm still out $4,000. When I raised all of this with them they brushed me off and insisted they'd done everything right. Months later I heard they changed how they operate because of my case. Good for them. I'm the one with the scar. You hire a midwife because they're supposed to know more than you. I told these women for months that something was wrong and it changed nothing. You can argue with them all you want and they'll just smile and nod you toward a cliff. They're quacks. A middleman who adds nothing and makes things worse. Skip them and go to the hospital.

I absolutely LOVE Ashley. We met her during my last trimester during an interview. Our midwife…read morehires a second midwife for the birth. She is very knowledgeable, supportive, genuinely caring & a real sweetheart. I had some personal concerns after the birth (which later turned out to be fine) & my midwife was out of town so could not see me. She did send Ashley over & I so appreciated her help. I was really emotional due to all the postpartum hormones flooding in & Ashley was able to sit with me, listen & calmed me as well as examined me. I thought sometime was wrong which I'm glad it wasn't BUT even then I felt so supported and reassured-like even if it was my worst fear, I would be able to get through it. She is the best. I'd hire her in a heart beat and am so glad to have met her.

Samantha was amazing!! She came to our home and covered the last few weeks of pregnancy, labor, and…read morepostpartum period. She answered ALL of our questions, made my husband more comfortable in supporting me during labor, & made me feel way more confident in my decision for a VBAC. Please reach out to her if you need a class or Doula Services!!

Samantha was amazing! Just great to have a doula in general but loved how she came to our house,…read moreloved her firm encouragement while I was giving birth, she helped me so much and her questions for me and baby during labor toward the medical staff was so helpful. Things got done sooner or slower because she knew what to ask! So helpful! Also loved how personable she is!! I felt like I clicked so fast with Samantha!

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.

We couldn't be more grateful for the birth experience we had bringing our baby into this world. We…read morehad so much love and support, it was everything we had imagined and more. Robin, Julie and Stephanie were an absolute pleasure to work with. They answered any and all questions we threw at them. They helped us feel at ease when there was anything we were unsure about. We started care at a regular obgyn office and transferred to Westover Hills Birth Center around 4 months as I didn't want to deliver in a hospital (unless necessary). The prenatal care was subpar at the hospital compared to the extensive care we received at Westover Hills Birth Center. Our visits were pleasant and we didn't feel rushed like in the hospital. We looked forward to our appointments and were bummed when our postpartum visits were over! Robin and Julie are very passionate midwives and were very knowledgeable. Both of them coming from different backgrounds in midwifery helped create a fantastic dynamic between the two of them. I had a 26-hour labor and a few setbacks during delivery but alas, because of our badass team, we had the birth we had planned for and they respected our birth wishes. I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative of the love and care we received from West Over Hills Birth Center. We will be recommending them to any families in the future looking to go this route. Every time we pass the Birth center, we look for their vehicles just to stop in and say "hi". They really did become part of our family!

Growing up in rural Texas, all I knew when it came to childbirth was that when it's time to give…read morebirth, you drove your wife to the hospital (and if you were lucky, you got to drive fast with a police escort). So, when my wife suggested we use a midwife to deliver our first child at a birth center, I was initially (and quietly) opposed. It just seemed......"weird"......and a little too hippy-dippy. But, I'm not the one giving birth, so I went along. To say my eyes have been opened is an understatement. Over the last 4 years, Robin has delivered 4 of our children; 2 at a birth center & twins at home. She is flat out amazing, smart, caring, brilliant, full of knowledge, dedicated to protecting the health & well-being of both mother & baby. When our first daughter was transverse after labor started, it was Robin's expertise & training in Germany, along with 4+ hours of hard work that got her turned. Any other midwife would have cashed their check & sent us to the hospital for a c-section. But, Robin is unflappable & dedicated to delivering (pun intended). There are so many things I love about Robin.......her calm under pressure, her tenderness, her desire to be flawless in everything she does, her love of teaching & sharing wisdom. But one trait that has won my heart is her ability & resolve to properly balance the health & well-being of the mother & baby against the mother's desire to deliver naturally & at home or the birth center. She won't take risks. But, she also won't take the easy road when sending a client to the hospital is easier. She delivered our first two babies when she was a partner at Stone Oak Birthing Center. While her partner, Joy, was the "personality", Robin was the rock, the fountain of knowledge, the "can do", the know-how. She had 5% of the personality, but 95% of the knowledge of that partnership. And when she left to start her own birthing center, there was no doubt where we were going. We're beyond pleased to have made that decision, especially with the horror stories we've heard from others who've hired Stone Oak since she left. Robin & her team are flawless in their execution, preparation and communication. Robin isn't going to wow you with personality. She's reserved & stayed. But, there is no one I'd more want in my corner than her when it comes to child birth. 5-star woman. 5-star business. 5-star expertise. Thank you Robin (and your team) for the remarkable experiences we've been privileged to have shared with you these last 4 years. And thank you for safely delivering our 4 precious babies.

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 absolutely recommend using Stork for your Doula needs. Randi was great at helping me understand…read morethe services offered. They worked diligently to find the right postpartum doula for our family, and boy did they! We love Christina-she is amazing. She is thoughtful, kind, and thorough. She reached out regularly to check in, even on days we weren't scheduled to have time together. Not to mention, she was great with our son! If we are lucky enough to add more children to our family in the future, we will definitely be asking for Christina again!

I had the divine pleasure of having Savannah Taylor, who was not originally scheduled as my doula,…read morein August 2020. I was being induced and she immediately contacted me, letting me know that she was available any time I needed her. When my OB broke my water at 11 pm, she immediately came and was with me until I gave birth at 4 am to a beautiful baby boy. Savannah had worked with my body and put me in multiple positions to help me through my contractions. She constantly provided me with empowering words when I thought that I couldn't make it through another contraction. Also, Savannah took it upon herself to take some pictures of my experience when my professional photographer was unable to come. I will be forever grateful to her for doing this. Savannah was beyond amazing and if I end up having any more babies, she will be my first call. Lastly, I must add that my husband was not "sold" on doulas before this. After seeing what Savannah did for me he is a true believer. My OBGYN also made a comment about how she was such an interactive/hands on doula and he thought she was remarkable.

When it came time for a childbirth class, my husband and I didn't want to do the all day option at…read moreour hospital or a 6 week course; we wanted something that focused on an unmedicated hospital birth and was more personal and concise. I found D'Andrea via a google search for natural childbirth classes in Austin and I'm so glad I did. D'Andrea traveled to our home for a private 4 hour class which was incredibly informative and hands on. We covered a lot on the body, what can be expected during labor, positions and support my husband can offer, the birthing process, etc. I'm due with my first baby next week and I know that the information, skills and techniques D'Andrea introduced us to, and practiced with us, will be crucial while I labor at home for as long as possible! Her class really made my husband and I feel more confident and empowered and ready for this experience. D'Andrea was personable, professional and knowledgeable and was always quick to respond to any emails. She also provided us with a few sample birth plans and additional resources after our session which have come in handy. We are not using a doula for the actual birth but if we were, it would be D'Andrea.

De'Andrea was an amazing teacher - compassionate, straight forward, patient and detailed. With…read moreour first child on the way, my partner and I were aiming to have a natural birth. De'Andrea educated us via her weekly birthing classes how to prepare for a natural birth but also to be emotionally prepared for various outcomes, because each labor is unique. My partner and I learned so much together and felt educated and sure about what we wanted because the knowledge De'Andrea provided empowered us to be our best advocates for this very special time in our lives. Because of the coping techniques I learned in De'Andrea's class , I was able to stay at home for 8 hours when labor started, and even let my partner sleep because I was informed and calm about what was happening to me during the early stages of labor. Also, after the classes were complete and right before I went into labor, I had emailed De'Andrea about a personal issue and she was so kind and helpful - she won my heart and our business forever : )