Central Texas Birth Resource List

Natural childbirth resources in Central Texas:

Updated August 2018

NOTE: This listing is meant to be as comprehensive as possible–because there’s a birth professional out there for everyone!

If you’ve got a Q about any of the professionals listed here (or you’re a professional and want to be listed), please contact me.

This list a never-ending work in process and labor of love (pun intended!).

Acupuncture

- Alighta Touch (Austin)
- Melsa & Misty at Austin Acupuncture Studio
- Light Family Acupuncture – Melissa Light (Central Austin)
- EZ Care Acupuncture (Killeen)
- Hedy Chen at Chinese Acupuncture Clinic (Georgetown)
- Sage Acupuncture – specializing in reproductive acupuncture, North & South Austin locations
- Songbird Acupuncture – SouthWest Austin
- Bona Dea Healing – West Austin
- Indigo Healing Acupuncture – specializing in prenatal/postpartum and pediatrics

Babywearing

- Benefits of Babywearing (article)
- Two Peas In A Pod Boutique – Cedar Park area–classes, events, and even a play area!
- Babywearing International of Austin – Carrier rentals and lending library, support group, trained babywearing educators, blog
- Enlightened Baby – Stores in Austin and Cedar Park offering babywearing classes
- southaustinapi.org and centralaustinapi.org – Attachment Parenting International, Austin Chapters

Bellycasting Services

- MaternityBowls.com – (Austin) belly-only photo props!

Birth Centers

- The Natural Birthing Center with Sandra Tallbear, CNM, ARNP – Salado AND Round Rock
- Central Texas Birth Center – Georgetown; offering the Open Arms Program
- Birthwise Birth Center – Austin and surrounding areas, specializing in home and water birth
- Austin Area Birth Center – Cedar Park, North, & South Austin locations
- Beautiful Beginning Birth Center – Pflugerville
- The Bastrop Birthing Center – Bastrop
- Natural Beginning – birth center midwives with hospital privileges in the event of a transfer (St. David’s North, Austin)

Birth & Postpartum Doulas

BrendaTheDoula.com – Brenda Marlin
Kelly Bolerjack CD(DONA)
Sacred Work Doula – Sarah Parente (NorthWest Austin/Cedar Park/Leander)
Mountain City Birth – Casey Bradley; Killeen/Waco/Round Rock/Austin
The Living Well – Lacreshia Laningham – birth doula & massage therapist in Austin
Paige Trabulsi Doula Services – Austin
Taffy Nelson – Austin area; founder of THE Baby Planner (maternity concierge services; also see childbirth classes)
Mothers By Nature – Carrie Ahr
Beside The Well: Full Spectrum Doula Care – Nora Frank-Cisneros
Austin Doula Care – Kim Borchert, birth & postpartum doula; also offering Sacred Motherhood Circles (North Austin)
Empowered Birthing – Jamie Crouse Gwynn, North Austin; also offers Elimination Communication consults
Dulce Birthing Services – Anita Hernandez (doula and midwife in training; Fort Hood/Killeen)
Red Poppy Doula – Erica Stauffer (doula and midwife in training; north Austin/Killeen)
Kate Pavlovsky Doula + Photography
Honeybird Doula – Jess Edwards; Austin
Koala Doula – Katelynn Cowan; Austin
Central Texas Birth with Katy Cordell – Waco, Temple, Killeen, Gatesville
Central Texas Doula Association – Listing of MANY birth & postpartum doulas serving the Greater Austin/Central Texas area
GALS – Giving Austin Labor Support; an official 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization which matches doulas with moms in need.

Doula Collectives & Group Practices

- Blooming Tree Maternity (Fort Hood/Killeen/Temple area)
- ATX Doulas (Austin area–I used to work with them!)
- DoulasofAustin – Chiminh Ashton, RN
- Austin-Born
- Timeless Ways Doula Services – Austin
- Stork Maternity Consulting – Austin

Breastfeeding Support – IBCLCs & Consultants

- Stork Maternity Consulting – IBCLCs serving Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Bastrop, and Austin. Home consults + private prenatal classes
- Mama Milk Maven – Alyssa Goss IBCLC provides in-home consultations from Austin to Killeen & works with insurance
- La Leche League International – free phone help and local support meetings in your area
- Central Texas Breastfeeding Coalition
- Special Addition – nursing and maternity shop on Burnet Road in Austin – in-house lactation specialists AND really stunning clothing & bras
- Mother’s Milk Bank – Austin’s breastmilk bank
- The Breastfeeding Success Company – South Austin
- The Mama Mantra – RN/IBCLC offering in-home lactation consultations in Austin and all surrounding areas.
- Operation Lactation – IBCLC, classes, home visits (Austin)
- Dawn K Martin, IBCLC, RLC; home visits in the greater Austin area; 512-554-9144; TX.ibclc@gmail.com

Breech Baby

- The OBs at OBGYN North are well-practiced at external cephalic versions (ECVs), and also do breech extractions of secondary twins.
- Dr. Michael Nix in Austin does breech extraction of secondary twins.
- Dr. Cummings in Denton has attended breech births for many years. Women have driven from over 2 hours away to access his care.
- Brielle Epstein is a midwife in Austin who has attended breech homebirths.
- Dr. Catherine Browne at Capital OBGYN does external versions.

Car Seat Safety

- Austin Travis County EMS will install your car seat for you at their events. They also provide free seats for those in need.
- Car-Seat.org – Excellent articles, research, seat comparisons, and forums for specific Q&A
- Safe-Car.gov – get a local professional to check your seat’s install!

Childbirth Education Classes

- Birthfit South Austin – prenatal series
- Bradley Classes (multiple instructors and locations)
- Birthing From Within with Lanell Coultas – Austin
- HolisticBeginnings.net with Laura DePasquale – LCCE, CD, PCD, BDT(DONA), CLC
- Joyful Beginnings Baby – Birthing From Within, South Austin
- Central Texas Birth with Katy Cordell – Waco, Temple, Killeen, Gatesville
- Taffy Nelson – Austin area; ICCE Childbirth educator available for private, semi-private or group classes.
- Austin Baby Guru – Allison Coleman offers parenting consults, Infant CPR, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care classes (Round Rock, Austin)

Chiropractic Care

- Family Chiropractic of Austin – South Austin
- Back in Motion Chiropractic – Dr. Lizzy Nixon (Harker Heights)
- Thrive Chiropractic Center – Dr. Cory specializes in prenatal & pediatric care; North Austin
- Cove Freedom Chiropractic – Copperas Cove
- Corrective Chiropractic – Dr. Jessica Bryant specializes in prenatal & pediatric care; Harker Heights
- Gardner Chiropractic Family & Wellness Center – Round Rock
- Vibrant Life Chiropractic and Coaching – SouthWest Austin
- Pure Light Chiropractic – South Austin
- Colm Chiropractic – South Austin

Circumcision Resources

- Why The Foreskin is Such a Secret in North America (article)
- The Whole Network
- Doctors Opposing Circumcision
- NoCirc.org – articles

Cloth Diapering

birth without fear rainbow diaper

- Cloth Diapers 101: What to Buy, How to Wash, Why They’re Awesome
- Two Peas In A Pod Boutique – Cedar Park area–classes, events, and even a play area!
- Enlightened Baby – Cedar Park & Austin
- Austin Diaper Bank – Diapers for those in need
- Diaper Squad – Austin’s cloth diaper (washing) service

Book: Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene (going diaper-free, or using elimination communication, is an alternative to diapers)

Craniosacral Therapy (Austin)

Fitness (Prenatal & Postpartum)

- Summer Greenlees – Bodywork and yoga for the childbearing year
- Birthfit South Austin
- Fit4Mom/Stroller Strides (Killeen) – prenatal and postpartum stroller fitness classes with Erin Laker
- Dancing for Birth (Georgetown) – prenatal dance fitness classes with Erica Stauffer
- Austin Prenatal Yoga – with Lisa Young
- Sandra Tallbear leads informal prenatal bellydance classes at her Salado Birth Center
- fit2b.us – online workouts that are sensitive of Diastasis Recti
- SpinningBabies.com – pregnancy exercises for optimal fetal positioning
- “The Squat is Not the New Kegel” – article on MamAligned.com, healthy body posture and movement

Book: Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman

Henna Art

- Nam Joti of Blue Cypress School of Holism
- MoonchildMehndi.com
- HennaKim.com

Herbalists & Herbs

- The Herb Bar – Austin shop that has everything herbal
- Jade Moon Herbs – Stephanie Berry; midwife and herbalist-extraordinaire
- Ginger Webb, herbalist – book a consult
- Aviva Romm’s blog

Holistic Pediatricians

- Dr. Juliette Madrigal – Marble Falls, Texas
- Austin Kids Teeth – Dr. Melanie Babot (natural-minded dentist)

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Support

- Hyperemesis Gravidarum – The Illustrated eZine (Emotional support from someone who’s been there, in a 28-page PDF with curse words.)
- www.helpher.org

Infant Safety & CPR

- Austin Baby Guru – Allison Coleman teaches excellent infant safety and CPR classes in Austin and Round Rock

LGBTQI-Friendly & Sensitive Providers

- MotherBloom Midwifery – Christy Tashjian, CPM, LM, APRN, WHNP & – Jenni Huntly, CPM, LM (Austin)
- Morgan Miles – doula & social worker (Austin)
- Blooming Tree Maternity (group practice serving Fort Hood/Temple area)
- Natural Beginning – birth center midwives with hospital privileges in the event of a transfer (St. David’s North, Austin)
- The Mama Mantra – RN/IBCLC offering breastfeeding support

Massage (Prenatal)

- WomanCraft – Pre- and PostNatal Massage with Colleen Mikeska (Austin)
- The Living Well – Lacreshia Laningham – birth doula & massage therapist (Austin)
- Pure Touch Massage with Jane Sampson – South Austin
- Summer Greenlees – Infant massage classes and labor massage!
- Living Anew Therapeutic Massage with Megan Crystal (Austin)
- Ayurdoula with Charlotte Sternkind, offering Ayurvedic postpartum care & prenatal massage
- Study on Health Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Midwives – Out of Hospital

- Jessica Good, CNM (Natural Beginnings Birth Center)
- Bridget Kenny, CNM (Natural Beginnings Birth Center)
- Michelle Hughes, CNM (Natural Beginnings Birth Center)
- GB Khalsa
- Kate Griffin (CPM, LM) & Jayme Moore -Tandem Midwifery
- Melek Speros, LM (she’s also a VBAC expert!)
- Chylain Krivensky, LM, CPM (of Hamsa Birth, offering homebirth)
- Heather Hilton, LM (of Central Texas Birth Center)
- Laurie Fremgen, CPM, LM
- Julia Bower, RN, CNM
- Brandye Grote, CPM – homebirth
- MotherBloom Midwifery – Christy Tashjian, CPM, LM, APRN, WHNP & – Jenni Huntly, CPM, LM
- Madeleine Katz, CNM (River Place OBGYN, with NAMC)
- texasmidwives.com – find a midwife!

Midwives – In Hospital

Dara Fields, CNM (Midwifery of Austin – she also offers The Goddess Group!)
Siobhan Kubesh, CNM (North Austin Medical Center)
Emily Darnall, CNM (North Austin Medical Center)

Nutrition (Mothers & Babies!)

Balanced Foodies – Misti Buie, Holistic Nutritionist; specializing in perinatal nutrition and baby-led weaning

Obstetricians

- OBGYN North – Drs. Sebestyen; Piparia; Mirto. They also have CNMs that deliver at Natural Beginnings Birth Center (see above)
- Nurture OBGYN – Drs. Andrea Campaigne; Lisa Carlile; Amy Lindsey; Bergen C. Vardell. They have a 13% Cesarean rate, deliver twins vaginally, and work with CNMs (in-hospital).

Parenting

- AustinBabyGuru.com – Allison Coleman teaches excellent early parenting classes in the Austin area.
- Allison Burch – Certified Bringing Baby Home Educator with The Gottman Institute
- Parenters.com – local in-home support and consults
- AHA Parenting
- Hand in Hand Parenting
- pipaustin.org – Partners in Parenting
- thewonderweeks.com – baby’s mental leaps & behavior (there’s even an app!)
- Mothering Dot Commune – online forums
- The Natural Child Project
- kellymom.com
- kangaroomothercare.com – skin to skin benefits
- theconsciousbaby.com – pre-natal and infant parenting site, by the Association for Pre- and Peri-Natal Psychology

Books:

The Continuum Concept

Pelvic Floor Health & Sexual Wellness

Stephanie Han, PT – Relate South Austin
Becky Wooster – PT, DPT; pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation
Leah Love – Holistic Pelvic Floor Health Coach
Namaste Moore – Yoni eggs, fertility and more
Erin Arnold PT, MPT, LMT – Myofascial Release & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Photography (Maternity, Birth, and Newborn)

- E Clark Ahr Photography – Temple/Austin
- Sabrena Rexing
- Leilani Rogers
- BirthPhotographers.com
- Austin Area Doula Photography
- An Infinite Moment with Kayla Gonzales – Austin
- Jennifer Najvar Photography – Austin
- Rocket Studios Photography – South Austin
- AnetaHayne.Photography
- Kate Pavlovsky Photography + Doula

Placenta Services & Information

- WomanCraft – with Colleen Mikeska
- Red Poppy Doula – Erica Stauffer (north Austin/Georgetown)
- MamaPeace – North Austin/Cedar Park/Round Rock
- Hill Country Placentas
- EncapsulateYourPlacenta.com

Postpartum Depression Resources

- Marcela Billig, LPC – Specializing in Perinatal Mental Health – marcelabilligcounseling@gmail.com
- pphatx.org – Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas
- anybabycan.org
- postpartumprogress.org
- pattch.org

Postpartum-Only Doulas

Austin Baby Guru – Allison Coleman; daytime & overnights (also offering classes)
Kristen Lucas

Postpartum Mom’s Groups

- South Austin New Mama Social (with doula Brenda Marlin)
- Mama-Bloom.com (with doula Nicole McCharen, in Central Austin)
- MothersUnfolding (with childbirth educator Lanell Coultas, in Austin)

Sleep Resouces (NOT advocates of “cry-it-out”)

Stillbirth, Miscarriage, & Pregnancy Loss Resouces

- Empowered Birthing – Jamie Crouse Gwynn, North Austin
- Blooming Tree Maternity (group practice serving Fort Hood/Temple area)
- home funeral alliance

Teen Parents

- lifeworksaustin.org
- thematernityhome.org
- austinpcc.org
- janesdueprocess.org/teen-parenting – legal support

Termination Resources

- Beside The Well: Full Spectrum Doula Care – Nora Frank-Cisneros
- Emily Obront, LMSW – supporting folks through the full spectrum of pregnancy
- Blooming Tree Maternity (group practice serving Fort Hood/Temple area)
- Abortion Support for Heart Healing – free, professionally-moderated Facebook group

Books: Unspeakable Losses: Healing From Miscarriage, Abortion, And Other Pregnancy Loss

Trauma Healing

Marcela Billig, LPC – Specializing in Perinatal Mental Health – marcelabilligcounseling@gmail.com
Margery Segal – pre- and perinatal psychology in Austin
Kate Ditzler’s practicing empathy – incredible healing resources from a mom who’s been there
http://www.solaceformothers.org/

Water Therapy (Pregnancy, PTSD, etc.)

- Zero Gravity Institute – Flotation/sensory tanks