Abundance Midwifery Service

06/15/2025

04/28/2025

Recent Client Reviews

Jessica H
Mar 2025

​I cannot recommend Abundance Midwifery Service enough. What an incredible team they are! From prenatal care through postpartum, they offered unwavering support, compassion, and expertise. I always felt heard, safe, and empowered -- especially during my long labor, where their encouragement never faltered. Their support made what could have been a scary and overwhelming experience feel deeply empowering and even beautiful. Even my partner, who was initially hesitant about midwifery, is now so glad we chose this path. Truly an unforgettable, life-changing experience. I am beyond grateful for Victoria, Jamie, Lori, Denise, and Joan and the impact each one of them had on our journey to meeting our son.

04/28/2025

Recent Client Reviews

Lindsey C
Jan 2025

I have delivered three babies with Joan, Vickie and their team. A home birth, a water birth at home and the last one we ended up having to be transferred to the hospital at 42 weeks and Joan was still there to deliver my baby. In every occasion, they were professional, reliable and we trusted them to take the absolute best care of us. They are the perfect team and really compliment each other so well. They have gone above and beyond to take care of me and each baby delivered. After 3 deliveries together, we love them and would definitely use them for another birth!

04/28/2025

Recent Client Reviews

Jenny K
Dec 2024

I recently had the pleasure of working with this amazing midwifery team for my first homebirth, and I can honestly say that the entire experience was seamless and beyond my expectations. From the very beginning, I felt supported, listened to, and confident in the care I was receiving.

The midwife I mainly worked with, Joan, was absolutely incredible. Her professionalism, warmth, and knowledge put me at ease immediately. She took the time to thoroughly explain every step of the process, answer all of my questions, and provide reassurance when I needed it most. Joan's calm presence and expertise during labor helped me feel in control and safe in my own home, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guide through the process.

The midwifery team as a whole was fantastic. They were attentive, caring, and so respectful. The communication was excellent, and I felt fully supported both physically and emotionally throughout my pregnancy and especially during the birth.

The whole experience felt incredibly empowering, and I am so grateful for the exceptional care I received. If you are considering a homebirth, I highly recommend this midwifery team. Their professionalism, compassion, and expertise made my first homebirth a beautiful and memorable experience that I will cherish forever.

04/28/2025

Recent Client Reviews

Kaitlin M
Nov 2024

I am 37 years old and this is my second pregnancy. My first was delivered in a hospital after an induction at 40 weeks. I had no idea what to expect, but despite great care, I felt very limited physically. It was at the height of the pandemic and I was unable to leave the room. I had an epidural due to the pitocin doing its job, and was even more limited on movement.

This pregnancy, I wanted a different experience and decided I wanted to be under the care of a midwife. I found Abundance Midwifery on google and made an appointment. Being older and having some health concerns put me more at risk for certain things- one being Gestational diabetes and hypertension (GDM was diagnosed around 26 weeks and my blood pressure was monitored closely). Despite these challenges, I received more than adequate support to address these issues head on.
I attended group classes and with the education received, I was able to keep my weight gain within the recommended limits, my blood pressure and my blood sugars at normal levels. My diet and exercise were monitored closely which made me extremely aware of what was happening during my pregnancy.

When I went into labor, I got to the birthing center and the entire process was just what I wanted and better than I anticipated. I felt confident in my team and well cared for. Afterwards, I was able to go home sooner than I would have from the hospital with plenty of support and instructions for postpartum care. I would recommend this group of practitioners and Manor birth sanctuary to anyone who is looking for a more personalized and holistic approach to this major life event. Thank you to the entire team- Victoria, Joan, Jamie, Lori, Katrina and Rosemary! I know I forgot some names, but you ladies gave me a wonderful experience that I won't ever forget- many thanks.

03/31/2025

New NIPT for Your Prenatal Testing Schedule in Austin, TX

What new NIPT has been rolled out at Abundance Midwifery Service?

We’re excited to announce that we’ve incorporated a new NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) called Panorama into our practice. This is a next generation, trademarked NIPT made by a company called Natera. You can find helpful videos and patient information regarding the test on their website.

How long does it take to get results for this new NIPT?

One really nice thing about Panorama is that results come back much faster than with other NIPTs. Thus, it no longer takes two weeks to get vital test data about your pregnancy. In addition, your baby's blood type is included at no extra charge. This is helpful for quickly determining whether you need a RhoGAM injection for Rh blood type incompatibility. Since there’s currently a national shortage of RhoGAM, the faster you can determine your baby’s blood type the better.

What other tests does Natera offer?

Natera offers another trademarked test called Horizon for advanced carrier screening. This one allows parents to see if they may pass along any diseases. It can be taken during pregnancy but is best done beforehand. Natera also has a compassionate care program that bases test pricing on household income. Patients at the lowest income level in the program pay nothing and Medicaid supports the cost of these tests as well.

Why were Natera tests selected for our practice?

The reason I chose Natera is because of my relationship with and trust in Dr. Kim DeStefano. She’s an obstetrician/gynecologist who is the Medical Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine for the Women’s Center of Texas. Dr. DeStefano believes Natera has the best technology and so she recommended them for our practice. Natera also offers genetic counseling if requested so patients don't have to figure everything out for themselves.

Why is the NIPT important if you’re using a midwife?

The NIPT can be a good test for reliably determining your baby’s gender, but it’s not really meant for that. And that information can be withheld if you don't want to know. As a professional the primary reason I believe patients should take this test, aside from any maternal age concern, is because we're providing out of hospital births. Therefore, if your baby has a serious condition we want to ensure they get the type of care they need immediately. We don’t want them to suffer any negative consequences from a lack of proper support.

How can the NIPT also help the mother and her family?

The NIPT can also help the mom and her family prepare for something that may be genetic and can’t be changed. This is important for their mental health and also provides them with the opportunity to find a specialist. Ultimately, the test creates valuable time for mother and family to plan for how to care for the baby.

Can it determine twins?

Lastly, I like it because you can use it for twins. Unfortunately, a lot of the older tests can have inaccurate results. However, this one is actually okay to do for twins.

03/31/2025

Midwives' Brew Caution in Austin, TX

What is Midwives Brew?

Midwives brew is a drink made from Castor Oil and other ingredients intended for oral ingestion during labor. There are all sorts of recipes you can find online. When learning about herbs for pregnancy I occasionally referenced Susun Weed’s book “Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year." However, the one thing I don’t recommend is the use of alcohol in her recipe.

What are the potential benefits of Midwives Brew?

If a woman is approaching 42 weeks in her pregnancy there is an increased risk of abnormally low amniotic fluid. This can potentially lead to umbilical cord compression and fetal distress. Therefore, giving birth before then increases your chance for a healthy baby and lessens the possibility of an emergency cesarean. In addition, if the waters have broken and labor does not begin there is increased risk of the same occurrence.

Is it safe to drink Midwives Brew?

We do not recommend that you take Midwife’s Brew without midwifery supervision. This is because ingesting Castor Oil can cause maternal exhaustion, dehydration, and an electrolyte imbalance. In addition, it could contribute to several other risks. These include stalled labor when the cervix is unripe, unfavorable fetal position, precipitous labor, and even postpartum hemorrhaging. Our midwives have used Castor Oil carefully and judiciously in selected cases. However, we always conduct client education and careful monitoring and use it only when the benefits outweigh the risks!

https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/midwives-brew

03/04/2025

This Practice Advisory was issued in response to the surge in measles cases across the United States as of March 2024. The advisory aims to provide guidance and recommendations to healthcare professionals, public health authorities, and the general public to effectively manage and prevent further sp...

06/20/2024

We will be at the Mom Market this weekend !!!

Come by and say Hello to receive a free consultation and a BPA free Abundance water bottle 😃

check out our link below:

04/29/2024

We have a beautiful new birth center with two comfortable birth suites offering water birth support!