Testimonial for The Birth Collective | doula, photo, education
Highly reccomend The Birth Collective team! The trio of doulas were warm and receptive from our initial meeting where we got matched with Austin Huston (based on availability) all the way through our early postpartum days.
We loved the idea that there'd be a team of doulas ready for us in the event that our assigned doula was with another mother in labor. My husband and I communicated early on that we were hoping to have a natural labor and delivery at a midwifery birthing center, and they were extremely supportive of our decision. They shared with us a wealth of information during our initial in-person meeting so we felt at ease and prepared.
When it was go time, Austin drove over to our house in the dead of night and naturally took the lead in alleviating my intensifying labor pains. It was a huge relief for my husband (first-time dad) to let an expert take over the reins. I had back labor and Austin was a complete natural with helping me find positions to get comfortable. We also used a TENS unit.
At the birthing center, Austin was always there in the background as a gentle, reassuring presence. She provided counterpressure when I needed it, taught me to blow raspberries to resist the urge to push when it was too early (genius!), gave empowering words of encouragement, and unobtrusively documented the process with journalistic photos (we could hardly tell she was taking pictures). We were utterly blown away by how calm, cool, and collected she was. Her calm energy and collaboration with the on-staff midwife, nurse, and doula really contributed to our positive birthing experience.
I didn't plan on giving birth in the birthing tub, but in hindsight I do remember The Birth Collective telling us to keep an open mind about allowing that to happen if labor escalated quickly. We're so glad they mentally prepared us for that! We had a beautiful experience giving birth in the water.
-Gloria
October 09, 2024
Birth Fee: $1800 to $2600
