i truly cannot recommend sunshine enough…read more this was my first pregnancy and first labor so i went into it like "okay... i wont feel anything until im 8cm, my water will break and i'll sneeze my baby out" lmao, i was in for a humbling awakening and having her there helped ground me and improved the entire experience for me. i had a hospital birth and got an epidural, but something i really appreciated was that she still helped me advocate for myself the entire time and helped me avoid the "cascade of interventions" that can happen afterwards. i never felt judged for any choice i made, just genuinely supported and informed. my labor was longggg and honestly really painful and exhausting because the hospital was understaffed and i couldn't get the epidural for like 5 hours (after already being in labor for 12hrs), sunshine knew SO many positions, techniques, movements, counter pressure tricks, peanut ball positions, literally everything. every time something stopped working she already had another idea ready. there were moments where i was like "yeah i actually cannot do this anymore" and she stayed so calm and grounding through all of it. her postpartum support alone deserves its own review because my first day home from the hospital, i was delirious, sleep deprived, sobbing every 30 mins, my baby wasn't latching, and she came over to help me through everything with so much kindness and reassurance. she's incredibly informed but also just very chill and comforting to be around. nothing ever felt pushy or performative. i genuinely felt cared for as a person, not just "supported during labor." 10/10 highly recommend!!!!!!!!! she also took really beautiful photos to capture my delivery

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.

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!

Working with Bethany was an absolute waste of time and money. She failed to deliver any real plan…read moreor professional guidance, ignored messages, and constantly went in circles instead of providing solutions. My husband and I were left doing all the work ourselves while she offered nothing of value. Despite not fulfilling what was promised, she refused to issue a refund. Based on my experience, I would strongly advise others to look elsewhere -- this was one of the most frustrating and unprofessional experiences I've ever had. SCAM artist.

If you are struggling with getting your baby to sleep, look no further than Bethany at Dream On…read moreBabies. I found her from a Google search late one night after my second child would not stop screaming and crying and thank goodness I did. Our first child was (and still is) such a great sleeper. At the time we thought we were amazing parents who knew exactly what they were doing (HA!) and had our first child sleep trained within a week with minimal effort- just a shift in a routine. Enter our second child, Luca. We followed Taking Cara Babies and for the first couple months of his life that worked just fine. And then he went through the dreaded sleep regression at 4 months and our lives flipped upside down. Taking Cara Babies and all the IG sleep resources could not help us. We needed a professional. We purchased the "Help! I'm Drowning!" package because Luca was waking up every 2 hours and would only go back to sleep if he was nursing. He only took cat naps and was really struggling. I tried everything and nothing would work. Bethany came in and did a full assessment, gave us a sleep plan and scheduled our in home dates. She did 3 overnights and by night 3 Luca was sleeping through the night. She saw Luca's struggles and personalized her sleep training for him. I love that she sees each child for their own self. Her solution is not a one size fits all like the other generic sleep resources. Luca now sleeps 7pm-7am and has a solid nap schedule. I cannot recommend Bethany enough. Luca is well rested and so is everyone else in the family. THANK YOU BETHANY!

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.

Austin Doula Care is truly exceptional…read more From the moment we began working with Chelsea, Kim, and Chrys at Austin Doula Care, I felt deeply supported, informed, and cared for. Chelsea was our primary doula during pregnancy and birth, and Chrys supported us postpartum. Chelsea's presence during pregnancy and birth was grounding, empowering, and steady. She listened without judgment, shared knowledge without pressure, and held space in a way that made me feel calm, capable, and strong. She helped me trust my body and myself. Chrys's postpartum care was just as transformative. They cared not only for our baby, but for me: My healing, my emotions, my confidence as a new mother. They normalized the hard moments, celebrated the wins, and helped me feel healthy, supported, and seen during such an important time. If you are looking for doulas who are knowledgeable, compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and deeply respectful of your journey, I cannot recommend Austin Doula Care enough. I will forever be grateful for them!

From the moment I met Chelsea and Rachael, I knew I made the right choice in coming to Austin Doula…read moreCare. Their support extended far beyond childbirth support, from pregnancy check ins, the multitude of programs and classes at the office, as well as postpartum help, made my husband and I feel well cared for and confident about the journey of pregnancy and postpartum. Rachael's support during my pregnancy and childbirth was instrumental in me feeling empowered about every decision I made. She was a sounding board for each step of the way, helped me ask the right questions when needed, and assisted in crafting a birth plan and walking through all scenarios to make sure I felt prepared and confident. I am beyond grateful for her presence during my labor and baby's birth, as well as her postpartum help as I navigated things when my husband went back to work. A huge thank you to Rachael and the whole team at Austin Doula Care, I couldn't recommend their support more.

Highly, highly recommend Empowered Beginnings!! Ciarra supported us through the arrival of our…read moresecond baby, and she is the best! Super informative and a wealth of knowledge, helping us to feel empowered and informed during the process. Many doulas wait for questions - not Ciarra. She was very proactive with checking in often and anticipating support needed. Her knowledge is gold and she's so generous with her time. Also, Empowered Beginnings presents a community of families and has a wealth of resources available. They are the best if you want genuine and caring support for one of the most vulnerable times for a family... 5 stars!

Jes at Empowered Beginnings was so great!!! I had such a positive experience with her for overnight…read morecare and would definitely recommend her and Empowered Beginnings to anyone with a new little one looking for some help. Getting someone that is the right fit for taking care of your newborn is so important, and it was great knowing I had someone so caring and trustworthy to make sure I could catch up on sleep the nights I needed it! Plus she's just awesome. Love her and working with Ciarra on the back end was always easy and straightforward!

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.

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!

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 : )

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