If I could give her more stars I would. My placenta was picked up the day after I came home from the hospital. I got it back much quicker than I anticipated. It felt like no time at all. Not only was it incredibly quick, but I also had the flu. She had the perfect plan to provide services to me, but also make sure my flu didn't spread (thank goodness). We never had face to face time, but corresponded a lot leading up to pick-up and have continued to keep in touch (regarding placenta services and general mommy things). I chose to take the capsules when I felt like I needed a boost versus every single day. Things I felt like they helped me with were: Breastmilk supply Brighter and clearer skin Lightened my dark eye circles Less bleeding Quicker healing Help to provide emotional stability Sleep was mor restful I didn't feel as tired (even when I had very little sleep) Overall, I just felt good. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be back after having my next baby. read more

Colleen is an AMAZING massage therapist! I leave every appointment feeling so much better and so relaxed, it's magic! And as if that wasn't good enough, she actually comes to your home - which is *SO* helpful when you have a newborn baby, especially if you're breastfeeding! She has been so instrumental is helping me heal and recover after having my baby. I would highly recommend her to any and every one! read more

I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with Colleen and Woman Craft Austin. I only regret that I took so long to make the time to write this review. I had my first baby this January. I'm 39 years old-- I'm also a professional working mom / I own my own business and always knew I wasn't going to have a conventional sort of maternity leave. I don't consider myself to be an earth-mother / flower child type of personality, but I decided to have my placenta encapsulated via this service, mainly at the urging of my younger 30-something sister (who has had 2 boys and did the same thing with great results). She had told me about all the remarkable benefits. Given that based on my reading across a number of sources-- postpartum depression and hormonal imbalances sounded like they're more the rule rather than the exception for moms who have just given birth-- I reasoned that I needed to do everything I could to proactively ensure that I was healthy and in good mental shape post-baby, not just for the sake of my baby, husband, and self -- but also for the continued health and survival of my business while I was trying to crazily juggle it all. Previously before I had ever done any reading about this placenta-eating stuff - I'll admit I thought of the original old-school way of doing this as sort of a gross "only hippies do that" sort of thing. And the pictures of what a birthed placenta look like don't exactly help persuade one to consider eating it. (Thank goodness for encapsulation technology)! I was also a little on the fence about it initially because I had read a few people's cautionary accounts from other websites covering the general topic -- the gist being that everyone responds to it differently it seems, and although most people seem to benefit, a few people have reported having some odd or adverse reactions to the hormones inherent to their own placenta. I ultimately reasoned that I don't really have a lot to lose by trying (since I can stop taking the pills at any time), and if it works the way it should, I have a lot to gain. Ultimately, as mentioned before-- I have nothing but good things to say about having decided to do this with the help of Woman Craft Austin. Throughout the entire process, communication was clear, everything was handled smoothly, easily and timely, and when Colleen delivered the pills (which I think was during my first week at home from the hospital with my little girl while my body still felt like a train wreck) -- she turned out to be one of the sweetest, though totally professional people ever. Very knowledgeable, supportive, warm and friendly -- as a fellow mama, she understood what I was going through that first week and her empathy was evident and so greatly appreciated. As for the impact of the delivered product itself (i.e. my encapsulated placenta pills) -- they were packaged professionally and easy to eat. I took them (and am still taking them 2 months later...) daily. There was never a noticeable surge of any sort of sensation or feeling as a result of taking them-- but I felt like they just kept everything "level" and working like it should. My energy level has been great (something I was worried about because I'm breastfeeding, am also a vegetarian / slightly anemic, and was obviously not going to be getting a full night's rest often or ever)..., my mood has also been very stable. I have to say--honestly, I've felt more emotionally level while taking these placenta pills, than I had before the baby, or even before pregnancy. And just to note-- I have always been one of those people who was prone to regular depressive or moody spells though it never got consistently bad enough to warrant taking medication. I felt so sure that if "postpartum depression" is a real thing (which it is), I was sure to be one of those people to suffer it. Well, I am grateful to report that I have not experienced any such thing so far and I've been pretty grateful for where I'm at physically, mentally and emotionally right now. I really believe that the encapsulated placenta pills have played a big part in keeping me feeling healthy on all fronts. Thank you so much, Colleen, for offering this wonderful service. I have nothing but good things to say about it. read more

I can't recommend Colleen enough. I started seeing her early in my 2nd trimester. I had a lot of stress having had many previous losses and I found her prenatal massages so helpful in allowing me to relax. Not to mention adjusting my achy hips and back shoulders etc. through all of those changes. And then I tried her cranio sacral session with zero knowledge on what I was getting myself into and I think I may love that even more! It's a super deep relaxation that allows for a release of pent up emotions. I really needed that. Also, she's just a cool chick with a lot of wisdom and experience that makes you feel super comfortable. She's awesome!! read more

Colleen is amazing, and my only advice is to just do it! There are a million things to spend money on when you are pregnant and postpartum, but placenta encapsulation was well worth the money. The process was so easy.. Colleen is professional and organized and easy to work with, but beyond that, she's just a down right awesome human. She has SO MUCH knowledge and experience in this area (pregnancy/birth/postpartum/encapsulation/etc), so is easily able to answer questions, refer you to other resources, and give you options. Beyond that, she just had this aura of calmness, kindness and hope. In those final, beleaguered weeks of pregnancy and the first tentative weeks of motherhood, someone sweeping in and saying "everything is fine... it's not easy, but you are doing great" is a God send. The actual placenta encapsulation process was so easy. Colleen knew the process/rules for my hospital and walked me through the steps ahead of time... forms to sign, days to wait before pickup, etc. I only had to sign a piece of paper when I was admitted. She retrieved the placenta and brought me those life-giving pills a few days after I got home from the hospital (along with some chocolate and other treats.) The placenta pills themselves were awesome. This was my second baby and my milk came in stronger and faster, I had less bleeding, WAY more energy, and had a more stable mood. They weren't a magic bullet (sleep exhaustion is brutal), but I could definitely tell on the days I had forgotten to take them. I felt much better postpartum this time around, and I think a lot of it had to do with encapsulation. My husband and I were also lucky enough to have Colleen as our birth doula for the second time. During pregnancy, she was amazing to be able to ask questions about possible interventions and medical issues that cropped up. She helped us write a birth plan and prepared us for what to expect with the hospital birth, and we checked in after every OBGYN visit. I ended up having a scheduled induction and she kept in touch via text all day until we decided it was time for her to come to the hospital. I still remember the peace I felt when she walked in the door... I almost cried from happiness! Colleen guided us through labor by offering different positions, pain coping methods, encouragement and support. She advocated for me with the medical staff, and ultimately I was able to stick pretty closely to my desired birth plan. Bottom line: Colleen is awesome and her services make all the difference! read more

Collen is amazing! I heard about placenta encapsulation from a friend who recommended a doula to me. My doula recommended Collen. Not only was she easy to talk with and ask questions ahead of time, but she was also pregnant too so it was so awesome to have someone who could relate to me. Collen also happens to be a massage therapist and I got an amazing prenatal massage from her (and post natal massage from her colleague). Collen came to the hospital to get my placenta (with her newborn son) and prepared it and delivered it to me at home 3 days later. I didn't struggle with postpartum at all in the weeks after I had my son and I definitely attribute it to the placenta. I only wish I had had more placenta to encapsulate so it could have lasted longer. Collen and womancraft are awesome and I highly recommend them as women professionals, massage therapists & placenta encapsulators :) read more

Going into labor for the first time (or any time, I guess) can be overwhelming - emotionally, physically, and logically. Having someone present at a birth who is attuned to each of these areas and keenly aware of the minute-by-minute changes and needs of the mother is invaluable. Colleen is a person that peace follows - every time we saw her we left the visits feeling calm, prepared for birth, and excited to deliver the baby. She knows her stuff and is present, caring, and hyper-aware of the 'right' thing to do (before I even knew what that was) during labor. She is also a terrific masseuse and helped me by preparing placenta pills and making sure I was adjusting well after baby came. Bottom line, she is the person you want in the room when things get serious... or scary... or wonderful when baby is on the way. read more

Colleen is amazing and I can't recommend her services enough. Not only does she make things easy on new mammas by coming to you, she also is a wealth of knowledge and expertise in all things postpartum. read more

After suffering from lower back pain for several weeks, and seeing a chiropractor for adjustments, I was still in pain. After one prenatal massage, I feel relief for the first time. Colleen was warm and empathic, talked when I talked but allowed for silence when I was quiet - something I really value in a massage therapist. It was my first time having an in-home massage, so I was a little uncertain about how that would feel. Colleen made it very comfortable and appeared at ease herself. Very grateful for her skillful hands and warm heart. read more

Colleen is a dream to work with! I had my placenta encapsulated by her and she made the process extremely easy. She was quick to respond to my questions and texts, and super friendly. We texted her just after our son was born and Colleen picked up our cooler just a few hours later. It was so fast and easy, and then I didn't have to worry about anything other than focusing on my baby. She delivered the pills on the day we came home and explained everything very thoroughly. I took the recommended dosage and felt great during my recovery. I would absolutely recommend Woman Craft to anyone thinking of encapsulating her placenta! read more

Colleen is awesome! I recently had a baby and was in desperate need of a massage but couldn't leave my newborn baby for more than an hour so I was looking for a masseuse that made house calls. My birth doula recommended Colleen and what a great recommendation. She was friendly and very compassionate. I didn't realize that she was a doula, which meant she really understood the female body, the changes of pregnancy and post pregnancy. She had the perfect amount of pressure and gave us a great deal on a package of 3 massages. i highly recommend Colleen for her massage services. read more

I received an absolutely stellar in-home prenatal massage from Julieta. I'm due in a few days and booked at the last minute (as I tend to do!); Colleen -- who I've received prenatal massages from during my first pregnancy, and who was my doula -- was booked, so she scheduled me with Julieta. I really could not have been happier. She arrived a few minutes early, was incredibly professional, asked all the appropriate questions, and then gave me the perfect massage. We spent some time after the massage chatting (she's wonderful), which was ideal, as I've been in situations before when a therapist wants to chat during and then I feel incredibly uncomfortable saying that I want to zone out during the session itself. I will absolutely book with her again. Five stars all the way. read more

On the one year anniversary of the most empowering and precious day of my life, I would like to write a review for Colleen. Last year, at about 4:00 am on the morning of June 18th, my husband called our doula. There was a full moon present and one of our doula's other clients went into labor early and she was with their family. She reached out to Colleen to help support us. We had never met Colleen before, but I had talked with her over emails as she was the person I had chosen to encapsulate my placenta and had remembered telling my husband about a supportive email that Colleen had sent a few weeks before. The end of my pregnancy was mentally draining as I wanted so badly just to hold my baby in my arms. Collen had sent an email talking with me about how she was going out of town a couple of days after my due date and how she had arranged to have my placenta given to her in case I went into labor at that time. In that email, she had an article about the hard period of waiting in those last few weeks of pregnancy. It was like she had read my mind and this article really spoke to me and touched my heart. I was grateful for her email and for the support from someone I had just met. Now back to the morning of the 18th.... Colleen beautifully assumed the role of our doula. She reached out to my husband in the early morning and let him know that she would be there for us every step of the way during my labor (my husband was doing all the talking on the phone now because I had been laboring at home for 4-5 hours already). About an hour later, as my husband timed my contractions, he called Colleen and told her that we would be going to the hospital. When we arrived, she was already there waiting for us. We shook her hand and she immediately stepped into support me as I bent over for each contraction. She helped us through the excruciatingly slow process of checking into the hospital and getting into a room. Unbenounced to everyone around us, the doctor pronounced that I was 9 cm dilated and as the nurses flew around in a frenzy trying to get me hooked up to IVs and signing papers, Colleen stood calm and assertive. She spoke up and helped to be my voice when I needed it but was a silent and strong supporter in the background as well. She helped my husband get me around the room or in different positions in the bed and gave me lower back massages when needed. She was the strength that both my husband and I needed during this time as this was our first baby. She helped in following my birth plan and even provided a calm and tranquil environment by putting little fake candles in the bathroom. She constantly made sure that I had juice or something to keep my energy up and kept giving me praise and words of encouragement during the hours of labor. With Colleen's support, I gave birth to my 7 lb 7 oz son at 10:12 am that morning. I was able to give birth to him without drug interventions like I had hoped.I have an amazing birth story thanks to the help of Colleen and her strength and support. The story doesn't even stop there though! Since she was leaving in two days she encapsulated my placenta that night and brought the pills, milk tea, and chocolate all in the most adorable packaging to my hospital room. She visited with my family and made sure we were doing well and knew how to take the pills. She even came for a home visit a few weeks later and held my son and made sure we were doing well. She continued to check up on me through texts and calls to make sure that everything was going well with the placenta pills too. I would highly recommend Colleen's doula and encapsulation services to anyone! She is the much needed support to any mom in labor and will help to carry out what your wishes are for your own birth story. Thank you for listening to my story and please reach out to Colleen for a strong and kind supporter that will go above and beyond what is needed to make sure that her clients are happy and well taken care of. read more

I purchased placenta encapsulation from Colleen as well as a post-natal massage at my own home. Colleen is great- very responsive, attentive, and empathetic. I had to have a C section and she gave me very thorough instructions that were specific to the procedure and the hospital. Her pickup went incredibly smoothly and she delivered the capsules (and chocolate!) to me in the hospital two days later. I would highly recommend placenta encapsulation to anyone who inquires- I didn't realize how crazy post natal hormone swings would be and I am sure that taking my placenta capsules not only helped ( I upped the dose when I was feeling the most crazy) but also gave me some structure to understand and respond to how I was feeling. Colleen came to my home a few weeks after my son was born to give me a massage. I never would have been able to do this if she hadn't come to me. This is such a valued and special thing to be able to do for yourself if you can especially when you're giving so much and incredibly tired. She's a talented massage therapist. read more