My husband and I learned about this class through our prenatal care provider with Women Partners in…read moreHealth. We registered for an all day Childbirth class complete with a Seton hospital tour-- it was a wonderfully informative day that left us feeling confident and prepared for what to expect on "Labor Day". Jillian Silva, our childbirth instructor, was communicative via email and text in the days leading up to the class and welcomed us at the door upon arrival. The class presentation was delivered through PowerPoint slides, lectures, videos and hands-on demonstrations and practice. Jillian was very knowledgeable on all points discussed during the class, and had tangible hospital items for us to view and touch for further understanding and familiarity. We covered topics such as: what to pack in your hospital and baby bag, stages of labor, relaxation techniques, responsibilities of partner, options for labor pain relief (degrees of natural and non-natural options), labor aids/tools that the hospital provides and more! Jillian, who is also a certified Doula, has such a calming and confident nature. She was professional, timely, prepared and very friendly; she even made brownies for the class! Anyone who chooses to have her presence and expertise during their labor and delivery is one lucky mama. The class was from 9am-4pm with a 30 min lunch and the hospital tour from 3-4pm. The long day was totally worth it! I walked away from the class feeling equipped to do what my body knows how to do naturally, and if and when I need support, I now know who to contact. Thanks Jillian for being a great instructor!

Brandi and Jillian are both amazing. Like another yelper wrote, "where to even begin?"…read more We engaged with Austin Childbirth for birth doula services. They come highly recommended, from my wife's OBGYN as well as some of the Seton Hospital staff and Shelley, also of Seton, who taught our "ABC's of Childbirth" class (recommended). I was skeptical at first. Being a traditionalist... and fearing the costs for, well everything as I stand on the edge of the financial abyss of having my first child. My wife wanted to go "all natural" for her birth which means NO PAIN MEDS. #scary At first we were considering birthing centers but that was a bit "too natural" for me. We compromised on getting a doula and having a hospital birth. The biggest benefit to me going in was that a lot of the pressure of what goes on during "go time" wouldn't be on my shoulders alone. In a large way, the doula was joining "team dad" to support mom. Having a professional who knows massages, counter-pressure exercises and other techniques to alleviate pain naturally is NOTHING SHORT OF MAGIC. Even small things like reassuring my wife that "this will pass" and coaching breathing techniques SEEMS like a small thing but when the rubber hits the road, you want that support; TRUST ME. Jillian and Brandi work as a team. From the beginning until after baby comes, Jillian and Brandi communicate via WhatsApp for any quick questions or concerns you may have. Brandi was personally present for our long session in the hospital. Brandi ... is ... AMAZING. So much so that I not only cried when hugging her as she was saying her "goodbyes" at the hospital but I also welled up a bit when she visited to check in on us after we brought baby home. (I just got a little emotional writing this.) ALTERNATIVE PAIN COPING TECHNIQUES: Brandi brought a calm positivity which is hard to explain. Early on she worked magic with massage and compression techniques, some of which she and I did together. She gave my wife coping techniques which brought her pain from an 8 down to a 3 WITHOUT MEDICINE. AGAIN: IT WAS LIKE MAGIC. The hospital staff looked on with admiration as she supported my wife, coaching her though contractions while doing lunges in the hallway at 8cm. ADVOCATE FOR MOM / FEWER INTERVENTIONS: Another thing that's important which can't be understated is that a doula is able to be an advocate for mom and her birth preferences. No slight meant for the medical staff here. The medical staff have their set of tools and protocols that they know and they will try to get you to accept them because that's their playbook. My wife was pretty adamant however about doing the fewest amount of medical interventions because each intervention makes you more statistically likely for more interventions as you careen down the rabbit hole to an unplanned c-section. A doula can help you stick with your birth preferences just by asking the right questions. Just having Brandi in the room was empowering because her goal isn't to get you in and out quick, but rather help you have the birth that you want. TENS FTW: Part of the package is that Austin Childbirth will loan you a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit for pain during your last few weeks of pregnancy and then also for use in the labor / delivery room. It works by This also was something that cut down on my wife's pain considerably. The units they provide has a "surge" button which, when pressed, will go into higher strength mode for use during contractions. My wife swears by it. Brandi stayed with us through it all and then was even willing to keep us company as long as we wanted post-partum. Both Brandi and Jillian engaged with us after we were home just to check in and Brandi even came over to our house a week afterwards to check up on us and see how things were going / see if she could help out. While we aren't planning on having another, if we do, I can't imagine not calling up Brandi and Jillian to join us on our journey.

At 5 months pregnant, I signed up for an in-person prenatal class and paid $350 to support the…read moreorganization. I soon got an email saying I had applied for a newborn class too early if my due date was November. When I clarified that I had signed up for a prenatal class, the organizer apologized and said she would get back to me. 3 months later, I was finally contacted for scheduling, but I had already made plans that conflicted with those dates, and the alternative dates were at an inconvenient location. So they put me in a newborn class. After thinking about it, since I had little to no communication with the organization and there was no real attempt made to schedule me in the FOUR months I was available to participate in a group, I asked for my money back. The organizer apologized for the lack of communication and issues scheduling, and agreed to the refund but charged me $35 for overhead. For a non-profit organization to have a 10% overhead rate with NO SERVICES RENDERED seems preposterous. I don't see non-profit status as a reason to take people's money and waste their time. If you're looking to sign up, don't make a donation until you're satisfied with what they're providing.

I own a boutique parenting center here in Austin and we've loved sending our clients to PiP. Their…read moregroups have helped mamas & papas navigate the transition to life with a new baby in a way that's engaging and supportive. Such a great organization!

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.

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!

Austin Baby Guru's Postpartum Doula Training program is unmatched. As an agency owner, I prefer to…read morecontract with postartum doulas that have taken this particular training. There are a few things that set this program apart from others I have seen. 1 - The mentorship provided by the owner of the company, Allison Coleman. The unrelenting support she gives and the way she lifts people up are unique and refreshing. 2 - The comprehensive material covered. This program provides a wide range of information and produces postpartum doulas that not only understand how to care for families in the postpartum period, but also the ethics of running a business in this industry. 3 - The way the materials are presented is clear and thorough. I appreciate the mix of video education and reading so it keeps the participants engaged in the program. I highly recommend ABG Postpartum Doula Training to anyone looking to enhance their understanding of all things postpartum doula!

When I was less than two months pregnant, I contacted Allison to get on her calendar for postpartum…read morecare. At first I thought this was going to be such a luxury service, but I quickly realized that Allison was going to be an absolute vital piece to my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual postpartum health. She worked with us for the first 8 weeks of my daughters life and I seriously wouldn't be where I am without her! She provided an invaluable amount of knowledge and experience and was a non-judgmental soundboard for me. I can't recommend Allison enough! I now truly believe Postpartum Doulas are a necessity, not just a luxury.

All the things no one openly shares:…read more Despite how enamored I am with our little girl and all the cute pictures on Facebook, these first three weeks have been extremely stressful. Nursing has been anything but easy, and because our daughter is so tiny I have felt nothing but pressure for her to gain weight as quickly as possible... very difficult when breastfeeding is proving difficult. The onset of vasospasms so painful that it felt like a cigarette burning me straight through to my shoulder blade finally led me to make an appointment with My Pure Delivery. First of all, it was not covered by my insurance because Blue Cross Blue Shield sucks. But every dollar I paid out of pocket was worth the time they spent with me to ensure I felt comfortable utilizing the strategies they helped me master with their help. Additionally, they allowed me to come back periodically to weigh her at no additional cost so that we could monitor her weight without paying for yet another doctor's visit. I am forever grateful for the assistance My Pure Delivery gave me with a skill no one teaches you about, you are just supposed to inherently know how to do, and is perhaps the most stressful task I've ever had to do. MANY THANKS for the compassionate and patient help with breastfeeding.

It was very easy to get an appointment at my pure delivery. After my son was in the NICU and had…read moreissues feeding, we had all but thrown in the towel on breastfeeding. Pumping was also tanking my mental health. Having a quality appointment with a LC was worth every penny. The appointment was not rushed and everything was set right up for us upon arrival. After applying what we were taught, I was able to have a way more positive experience feeding my son

Heart songs has been a gift for my boy, he treasures his time there with the teachersread more

Heartsong is amazing! It is so great for music and language development! The space the owner…read more(Carey) has created is wonderful for playing before/after class and connecting with the other families. My son does several paid activity classes during the week (music, gym, dance, etc.) - this is by far the best value for your money. You'll get music, teachers who have studied the curriculum and Montessori education, movement, language development, and a beautiful space for play and community after class. My son started at 11 months and I wish we started earlier! For weeks he just sat in our laps and listened most of the class. He seemed like he wasn't super excited but he was actually just slowly absorbing everything! It's now been four months and he gets so excited every time he hears music he starts dancing and smiling! We listen to all the songs in the car and someties at home and he's started singing along to several words from different songs. He even remembers which words/sounds are coming next - it's so adorable to hear him in the back of the car singing! Heartsong has been great for language development too - an unexpected plus! My son started saying words with difficult sounds (e.g., "car") that we hadn't heard as a babble sound or really used often and we figured out it's because the "ca"/"ka" sound is used in several songs we're singing this semester. Neat! I love that Heartsong follows the Music Together curriculum which means you do the same set of about 25 songs over the 10-week "semester" and then move to a different set. This allows time for the kids to get used to the sound of a song over the semester. The songs have been developed to help with language development (lots of different sounds), music development, and even self-regulation (slower/faster). I love that the teachers offer insights on why certain things they do help with development. The in-class experience will vary by teacher. Keep that in mind if you decide to do demo classes first.

Cynthia's qualities as a therapist and clinical supervisor are much more than just her decades of…read moreextensive experience working with all ages and backgrounds. She is an exceptional teacher because she is first a student, using her compassion, humor, and genuine interest in others to grow into one of the most authentic people I have had the honor of learning from. It is that authenticity that shapes her character and her professionalism. Moreover, she is a fierce advocate for her clients and her students.

Cynthia was my supervisor for my LCSW. It's a two year long process and then you have to take this…read morelong, scary test at the end. I only say scary because several people had failed it, sometimes multiple times, and said it was really, really hard. Cynthia helped me through multiple practice tests and was so encouraging throughout the process. Cynthia made me believe in myself and because of her I passed the test on the first try! Cynthia is not only a great teacher, but she constantly reminded me of why I was in this profession in the first place. As a social worker, we don't just have talk therapy with a client - we are mandated to see things from a social justice perspective. In going over different scenarios to help me be a better practitioner, it was clear that I had made the right choice in a supervisor. Cynthia uses compassion, knowledge from decades of doing this work, and humor to help those she is supervising. I know she uses the same qualities to help her clients and that is what makes her truly special.

Rude! I apologized for being late to the consultation, I had twisted my ankle and was waiting at…read moreurgent care. She reminded about the session since it had slipped my mind. I went to sit in my car to joint the meeting as soon as I realized. We spoke about what my concerns and what I was looking for and my partner did come to interrupt me for my id to finishing filling out paperwork. I apologized for the interruption and she asked if I wanted to continue. I said yes and we finished up with her saying she would send intake form. She didn't send intake forms, I emailed her and again apologized for that day and asked for next steps. In her response she mentioned again how I need to find distraction free space for sessions and that if I was late or had to cancel last minute she would charge..... which she hardly ever had to do. Which I understand I was late and was distracted. I filled out forms and got a email tonight that made me seek other options. I'm not sure why you would want to speak to a paying client in such a condescending way. Pleaseeee find service elsewhere! Emails are attached below.

Cheryl is an invaluable resource. She is sincere in her desire to help and truly cares. She is the…read moreconsummate professional, very respectful and an amazing listener. She has an incredibly calming presence which is important when you're dealing with two (frazzled!) working parents trying to juggle it all. We are much more organized and have a significantly better handle on our household than before. We will definitely continue to use her counseling services as issues evolve and our needs change. We absolutely love Cheryl and consider her to be the mayor in our village!

This class was truly a life saver. My husband and I were clueless to most things being this is our…read morefirst child. Kristen really took the time to explain everything we needed and wanted to know. She is so personable and kind and easy to follow. It was an interactive class even though it was a private class. She kept us engaged and made me as a soon to be mom feel SO encouraged and empowered to feel confident about my birth plan. I now know that I can advocate for myself and I few great going into the birth! We also learned a lot about breastfeeding. This class was so worth it. Please take this class!!!!

Owner's response was not helpful and did not address issues with the course. She spent time during…read morethe middle of the class talking about what she watches on Netflix and her boyfriend, among other things. No where did I speak about the course starting late, that was not an issue. I was saying that it was frustrating to rush to a course that you hope will be helpful, only to have the instructor go off on tangents unrelated to the class. Owner's email to me was brief and implied that I should have taken better notes. All materials she provided appear that they can be obtained for free. I have since taken another lactation course (at a similar price point) and I learned so much more! It really emphasized the weaknesses in this class. I really didn't want to update this review, but I felt her response glossed over concerns raised in my initial review.

This place is truly amazing! My son came here and he loved it. He would get so excited to pull up…read moreto the parking lot, and never wanted to leave. Tarsah is someone that honestly cares! This whole facility cares about each person and family that walk through their doors! My son had Sarah as his therapist and She was so great!!! My son is the type of child where you have to be firm or he will ignore you, Sarah worked extremely well with getting him interested in things. When we,first came here, our son didn't understand how to immatate people, he was only interested in lining toys up ect. I swear Sarah and tarsah opened up his mind to new capabilities!!! They used to do a Saturday group session, not sure if they still do, but it was great as well. It was a good chance for the kids to interersct while being monitored by people who really understood them! My son didn't work with andrew, but he had a natural good give about him as well. My son being non verbal I don't trust people leaving him in their care, but hands down there therapist here are so caring and you can tell it's not just their job!!!! Highly recccomend this place!!!