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

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.

We had a great experience with Milk Diva. We first met Naomi during our appointment to address lip…read moreand tongue ties with Dr. Poplin. We ended up not doing any releases and just changed the type of bottle we were using. We then had Lindsay come out to our house to help with the bottle feeding, we ended up changing the flow rate of the nipple and that helped so much! I was able to message Lindsay on the app when I had questions and she helped us know if we needed additional help or if it was normal. Our little guy is bottle feeding great due to the change of bottles and learning to follow his lead on things. Lindsay also came for a pump consult as I was considering trying to get a supply back, I ended up not going this route but Lindsay was very helpful with this as well. Thank you Lindsay for all your help.

We had 3 visits with Katina and she is absolutely amazing! I asked so many questions and she…read moreanswered them and was so helpful in our breastfeeding journey. My daughter is latching better and we learned so many helpful tips and tricks. I'm definitely more confident leaving the house knowing I can feed my baby anywhere. Katina is so patient and lovely to talk to. If we need help in the future or with our next baby we will definitely be reaching out and will definitely recommend her services!

We hired Katina to help us with struggles with latching, post-tie release and milk supply. Katina…read moreis very detailed, professional, knowledgeable and compassionate. We highly recommend her!

(Preface: You do not have to be on WIC or low-income to get the FREE services at Mom's Place)…read more Mom's Place is a true blessing! After smoothly (and exclusively) breastfeeding my first child, I wasn't expecting to need assistance when breastfeeding my second child. However, when she was about four months old, we hit a bump in the road and she wasn't gaining like she should. I was told by her pediatrician to supplement with formula (and I was okay doing that, if that's what she needed) but I also wanted to get assistance from a lactation consultant. I called the hospital that I delivered at and they suggested a "breastfeeding hotline", which when I called, it was actually Mom's Place. Mom's Place had an appointment available the next day and from the moment I walked into the clinic, I knew that I had found a treasure. EVERYONE there was so kind and welcoming. I couldn't believe that their services were free and that they were all there to help women do their best at breastfeeding - what a beautiful service they offered! It seriously makes me want to volunteer/work there! Linda was AMAZING! She asked a lot of questions and listened intently to every detail. She weighed my baby, I nursed baby, and then she weighed her again. She was able to determine the exact amount of ounces she ate during the feeding. She then came up with a specific plan to increase my milk-supply and my baby's intake. At the follow-up appointment the next week (which you can choose to have or not have) we saw that the plan had worked! Baby was getting more and gaining more. Yes, we are still supplementing with formula some - and Mom's Place is completely open to that - there is no "mom-shaming" here. They just want you to be as successful with breastfeeding as possible! Mom's Place is grant funded - so it is important that we sing their praises when they help us! This is 100% a grant that needs to remain funded. What a wonderful way to help moms and babies!

This place is a gem. My wife and I are first-time parents, and we discovered quickly that…read morebreastfeeding has such a steep learning curve! We had so many questions about breastfeeding, latching, pumping, etc., and we searched all around for an affordable, quality option, and it led us to Mom's Place. Having just visited this morning, I can say for certain: Mom's Place is such a valuable resource for anyone seeking help with breastfeeding. At this time, you may not have to be a WIC participant to receive their 1-on-1 services. It's definitely worth a call! We called Mom's Place after a very trying, challenging night of breastfeeding, and they were able to get us in the very next morning! All of the staff from their front office to their lactation consultant were such a pleasure to work with. You can tell they really care about helping out new moms and their newborns. Special shout out to Africa at the front desk and Asia, our awesome lactation consultant, who was so patient, caring, and helpful. Just being in the waiting room, we can tell that the entire office was delightful. We couldn't have asked for a better experience! Thank you so much for getting us on the right track, Mom's Place! :D

Alyssa's amazing and should be everyone's lactation consultant…read more I worked with her after the birth of my baby one year ago. During our very first session, when he was only 11 days old, she immediately noticed that my baby had a lip tie-- which had gone unnoticed by our pediatrician, hospital pediatrician, and hospital lactation consultant. She quickly referred us to a pediatric ENT and the lip tie was confirmed. She continued to give us incredibly helpful information and support for the rest of our sessions. Not only did she help us with breastfeeding and pumping, but she also provided support for my baby blues, my physical and emotional wellness, and for handling the long hours of baby crying. She's available by text and responded to me swiftly every time. I had a milk bleb and she went above and beyond to help me through that. I never wanted to put pressure on myself to breastfeed. I was okay with quitting if it wasn't working out, or supplementing with formula if I needed to. So, I was wary of pro-breastfeeding practitioners who try to pressure you into exclusive breastfeeding. However, Alyssa didn't pressure me at all, and helped me figure out my pumping/nursing/supplementing schedule. She also has lovely bedside manner and is just a caring, genuine, kind-hearted person. Honestly, she was the absolute most helpful resource I had postpartum. I'm still nursing 1 year postpartum and I wouldn't be if it wasn't for her help in the beginning. More importantly, she was instrumental in helping us overcome those really challenging first few months. I really have never recommended a practitioner as highly as I do her.

Alyssa is super knowledgeable and thorough. Two other healthcare professionals had evaluated my…read morenewborn's latch and said it looked fine even though I was having severe pain while breastfeeding. Alyssa helped us discover the actual problem (tongue tie) and gave us the steps to fix it. Looking forward to my follow up consultation to get even more empowered to breastfeed my newborn.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The selection was a little sparse when I visited, but COMPARATIVELY it was a gold mine of Clothing…read moreThat Comfortably Fits My Enormous Third Trimester Body. I've hunted through so many department stores searching for maternity sections, and come up bupkis. But Special Addition was here for me like a true hero I managed to get most things on sale, except for the one pair of jeans I desperately needed. The sales gal was SUPER helpful and attentive, too, which was great. I'm hoping that next month maybe they'll have more color options (why are the majority of maternity clothes gray???).