Client Testimonials
Thank you Nashville! Your kind words are yet another reason why we love what we do.
“Women’s strongest feelings, in terms of their birthing, positive and negative, focus on the way they were treated by their caregivers.”
— ANNIE KENNEDY & PENNY SIMKIN
What Our Clients Are Saying…
“NOVA has made my two recent births a joy. I have been blessed with their kindness and professionalism which ensured me that I was in the best care. Every mom should have the kind of confidence that NOVA Birth extends to their clients.”
— Kimberly, Nashville, TN
On Midwifery Care
“From my very first meeting with Celesta, I knew she was the right fit for us. Her laid back disposition coupled with her extensive knowledge put us completely at ease from day one. She, as well as the other ladies at NOVA, was completely respectful of our wishes during pregnancy and birth. I felt she provided us with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding the entire process. She and Cannon, our wonderful doula, took exceptional care of us during delivery. The entire experience made me feel so empowered, and delivering our baby at home was nothing short of magical.”
— Rachelle, Nashville, TN
“As a RN and already mom of 2, I had high expectations for my 3rd pregnancy and birth and I am so grateful I chose Nova and their birth professionals because my expectations were more than exceeded. Heather coached me through one of the best experiences of my life and the postpartum doulas met every need for me and baby as well as my whole family. Your birth will be so very special with Nova as part of your birth team!”
— Cylie, Nashville, TN
“My experience with NOVA could not be more positive. My midwife, Jennifer, and doula were both fantastic professionals, warm, compassionate, skilled and incredibly good at what they do. The home birth class was very informative and helped us feel prepared for the birth of our first child. The NOVA team was always prompt, kind, efficient, and knowledgeable and helped us have an amazing, and safe, birthing experience. I cannot recommend them enough!”
— Briana, Nashville, TN
“From the beginning of my pregnancy my prenatal care was great. I felt my midwife, Bobbi, had such personal care. She was truly a gem. She let me voice my opinions of what I wanted and never baulked at what I requested. She made sure I was well informed and made sure I could feel her confidence in me to have a successful birth. Anytime I had a question it was communicated quickly to NOVA and their staff. I can’t express how much I loved everything about NOVA. They really let woman have choices in their birth and have birth plans executed down to the last detail. I felt confident in my birth team.”
— Kayla, Nashville, TN
“Heather Munoz brings together a rare combination: deep understanding of the medical field (RN), holistic knowledge of natural remedies, and a personality that puts you at ease and feeling empowered. She was available to us via phone/text anytime before and after birth. At our regularly scheduled appointments, we never felt rushed and we regularly spent more than 60 minutes going over all aspects of the pregnancy, for both mom and baby. She has a great network and through it, we learned exercises to help prepare mom/baby for birth, along with finding a chiropractor that specializes in pregnancy pain. During labor, she was truly a “rock” that led us through unexpected challenges and ensured a healthy/happy mom and baby resulted. Put simply, our story would not have turned out as it did without Heather’s expertise and care.”
— Ashley and Chad, Nashville, TN
“Being a first-time-Mom, I was drawn to homebirth but I also felt a little intimidated. NOVA helped demystify the process and really helped me feel supported and in tune with my body through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I always felt heard, through the laughter and tears that hormones bring. I never felt alone. I wouldn’t change a thing!”
— Karsyn, Nashville, TN
“I just had a home birth with Jennifer Miller and her team several days ago and they were wonderful! We have absolutely no regrets about choosing Nova and would use their services again in a heartbeat if we were to have another child. She is a calm, sweet and very relaxed type of person and never once left me feeling uncomfortable in any way. Thank you Jennifer, and thanks to Nova for a wonderful experience!”
— Yolanda, Nashville, TN
“Our experience was fantastic! We had a very traumatic birth with our last baby with a different midwife and there is no comparison between the two. Heather, Brittany, and Celesta waited patiently through our labor and encouraged us every step of the way! When things got intense and fear started to set in, Heather gently reminded me that this was not like our last birth.... this was HUGE and gave me the strength and comfort to carry on without fear and to have the most beautiful and healing water birth! Our son was born into a quiet and blissful atmosphere and the care didn’t stop there. They helped us to our freshly made bed, helped get us settled, did the newborn exam on our bed, and cleaned up every single thing before we could even think about it! They went home and we all enjoyed a wonderful rest. Heather came back the next day to check in and again offered advice and compassionate care. We could not have been more blessed and ecstatic with our choice! Heather is not only a midwife but now a cherished friend! We love everyone at NOVA and will be back for all of our future babies! We will recommend them to everyone! Excited to work with them again in the future!”
— Taylore, Nashville, TN
“I have thoroughly enjoyed using both of Nova's midwives for my past 2 births! My family has benefitted from their experience, kindness, and professionalism. They made me feel so safe and comfortable laboring and birthing in my own home. I really could not have done so well without their hands on support and helpful knowledge in varying moments of my births. I have happily added these women to my circle of people that I love and trust with mine and my baby's life.”
— Kim, Nashville, TN
“Heather Munoz has been a crucial part of the happiness and love that I feel when remembering the births of my two children. Our youngest child presented in an asynclitic position, which I now know to be the number 1 cause of cesarean sections in hospital births. However, Heather and team expertly and lovingly monitored me as I worked to bring my child into the world. They were watchful, respectful, encouraging and most of all protective. With their help -- and only with their help -- I was indeed able to overcome the odds. I brought my healthy, happy, adorable little boy into my arms at home, complete with a cone on his head (that quickly faded) as his recompense for being squeezed into life from his difficult stance.”
— Anna, Nashville, TN
“I had a fantastic experience with NOVA. I felt respected and treated as a peer. I was able to make decisions regarding my care and my birth. I was supported, encouraged, and treated as capable by every member of the birth team. I looked forward to my appointments and appreciated that my 2 year old was always welcomed. I will absolutely be using NOVA again and would recommend them to anyone who wants an empowering experience.”
— Shelby, Nashville, TN
“We recently used Nova for the birth of our second child and could not be happier with the experience. Having Celesta as our midwife was wonderful. She’s extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, and respectful of all wishes. I transferred to her care halfway through pregnancy and she did everything to inform me of all my options, make sure we were prepared for the process, and ensure that it was a positive experience compared to my last hospital birth.
I love that she always provided all options but always made it clear it was completely our decision and went through the pros and cons of each. She is very holistically minded and loved her recommendations for nutrition, supplements, etc. I thought very comfortable with her even though it was our first experience with a home birth, and I was surprised at how comfortable my husband seemed as well after the home visit. We ended up having a very quick labor, and it was great to be able to get Celesta on the phone immediately and have her arrive at the house within 20 minutes of me requesting her be there.
The after care process was wonderful as well, having a newborn exam on our bed at our leisure was so peaceful, the importance of making sure that the baby was comfortable and that we were all settled as a family cannot be overstated. She and her assistant also cleaned everything up before leaving which made us ready to just rest and get to know each other. It’s also great to have her come back to the home for follow up visits, since getting out of the house with a newborn is of course a challenge.
We also used Stacie as our postpartum Doula which was fantastic as well. Stacie is extremely compassionate, encouraging, and a wonderful presence to have in your home after having a baby. She was great with my older son and even when I didn’t have a full list of things for her to do, she found ways to be useful around the house and make life easier for us. I absolutely recommend having a postpartum Doula if possible, and Stacie was fantastic.
Finally we’ve used Chelsea as our lactation consultant, and she has been great. Extremely kind, knowledgeable, and supportive of whatever your goals are. This process feeding a second baby has been difficult, but I know that Chelsea has been a huge help and making sure we get to where we want to be and fulfill our goals with feeding.
Even the billing team was wonderful after we had some problems with our HSA sending payment, they were incredibly understanding of our late payment and never pressured us or caused us to be fearful that we wouldn’t receive services or have to pay extra fees. The entire process was wonderful, including low to no wait times for the office visits, being able to bring my toddler to the office with me, and being able to ask my midwife questions directly rather than going through the nurse line when I’m having an issue. Please use nova if you have the chance, they are amazing and will make your experience 10 times better than you expected!”
— Kellie, Nashville, TN
On Doula Care
“The emotional support Elise provided for me was priceless. She did counter pressure massage (which felt awesome), created ambiance for the room, and even helped me realize how far along I was going from transition to pushing. I was freaking out before she spoke the very calming words, "Your baby is almost here." She was really there for me- both emotionally and physically."
— Jaime, Nashville, TN
“Brittany was incredibly helpful. My husband was grateful for her being in the room to offer suggestions for him. I was grateful for her suggestions as well, and thankful for her foot and back massages. Her presence was so comforting and she had an air about her that brought calmness to the room. Her energy was pleasant and exactly what I needed as the birth and the decisions I had to make were stressful. Having her there to encourage me through the toughest thing I've ever done in my life was invaluable. (She also captured the most precious photos we could have asked for, and for that I am eternally grateful!)”
— Jessica, Nashville, TN
“Heather Munoz served as my monitrice, with the assistance of Megan Fleeman, and I could have not asked for a better birth team. Their sensitivity and willingness to serve new mothers in the birth process is unmatched. I will never have a baby without the help of NOVA.”
— Steph, Nashville, TN
“Tara Garner was my doula for the birth of my firstborn daughter, Luciana. Throughout the labor process, she was extremely helpful. She came right to my house when I needed her, and stayed with me at the hospital until after the birth. My husband was able to be my labor coach while Tara ran tedious errands to meet my needs. She made me feel so comfortable through such a vulnerable situation. She has also had a lot of experience with photography. She captured many photographs for us that are exceptional. You will not be disappointed in her services!”
— Heather, Nashville, TN
“With the birth of all of my children, I was so blessed with the support of their doula services during and after my labors. Heather Munoz and Tori Roufs were by my side encouraging me and meeting my needs both physically through massage and mentally, helping me to cope with pain. Our third child was born in September of 2012 and NOVA joined us for our first home birth. I recommend the birth pool-I was able to birth my child in the water! This greatly decreased the pain and even assisted my overall recovery!”
— Lyssa, Nashville, TN
“I felt incredibly encouraged and supported by Meg Mathews. I am so excited to have her at my next birth and I feel so blessed to have her as part of my life now. She became a friend I could trust and always felt immensely encouraged by her kindness.”
— Anonymous, Nashville, TN
“My birth was so quick, but Elise helped me in whatever realm I needed (holding my legs during pushing, providing counter pressure for my back, and heating up my rice bag). Something I expressed I needed with this birth (that I didn't have with my last baby), was words of encouragement. When remembering the birth, I can still hear her positive voice."
— Amanda, Nashville, TN
“Tori kept me calm in the moments up to the C-Section. She was at my home bright and early, all smiles, and kept the mood light and peaceful throughout the morning, utilizing massage lotions and aromatherapy.”
— Anonymous, Nashville, TN
“Megan Fleeman’s calming voice, presence and knowledge of birth made me comfortable and confident in myself and my ability to birth my baby naturally. She was available to discuss questions or concerns that I had. I enjoyed learning in our childbirth classes. I am thankful she educated my husband on how to help me. I felt calmer knowing I had an advocate/voice to speak on my behalf during birth. Her agreeable nature and support was like nothing I have ever been used to. Most people force their opinions but she wanted whatever I wanted!”
— Anonymous, Nashville, TN
“Tara helped put order and peace into my life at this time. She wanted me to have the birth that I desired. I decided to switch doctors 36 weeks into my pregnancy, and Tara helped me in choosing one that supported my birthing preferences. When the day finally came I felt confident. Five hours after my water broke I decided to get an epidural. Tara was by my side through out my entire labor with unbelievable compassion. Tara has a passion for women in this special time of their lives. Also, I have amazing pictures!”
— Amanda, Nashville, TN
“My husband and I were able to have the birth we wanted and we couldn’t have done it without our NOVA doula. As our childbirth educator and labor support, she provided the support and encouragement we both needed. She will always be a part of our memories of the birth of our first child.”
— Anonymous, Nashville, TN
“Megan Fleeman was a great fit for me. I loved having a doula to discuss any doctor or hospital concerns. She listened and responded exactly as I needed. My OB even commented about how great she was during labor and delivery.”
— Anonymous, Nashville, TN
“Heather was very supportive and listened to our needs. When the birth time came, Heather helped with productive positions to get the baby aligned properly. She stayed with us throughout the birth and recovery. We are very grateful Heather was with us for the birth of our son.”
— Leslie, Nashville, TN
“Postpartum is such a hard phase. My postpartum doulas, Anna and Kara, took the stress of everyday chores away. Helped me nourish my body, monitor my vitals and bleeding and helping clean up is soooo helpful. I didn’t realize having a personal “nurse” during those first 24 hours was so crucial. I loved having that help.”
— Kayla, Nashville, TN
From Dads
“I really learned A LOT!! I had my doubts about "birthing class" but I enjoyed my time here. Megan was great! I liked that she encouraged and appreciated discussion”
— Dennis, Nashville, TN
“Excellent service. I have utilized NOVA birth services for both of my children. I will definitely use them again.”
— John, Nashville, TN
“My wife and I just welcomed our third child. She always wanted to experience a home birth with a midwife, but our first two were born in a state that did not allow midwives to deliver at home. After moving back to Tennessee we had our chance. I was skeptical but wanted her to have the experience. We were close enough to a hospital in an emergency that I could deal with the unknown. But wow! What a difference. The relationship formed from the beginning was casual and advocacy-based rather than clinical. We were both always comfortable. And as the day neared, our midwife and our doula were both super available and supportive. Labor was fast, mildly chaotic, but altogether beautiful. Our son is perfect, and my wife has been allowed to recover and bond with him in the comfort of her own home without excessive intervention. The birth team assured mother and baby were well and then cleaned up things while we all bonded. A question has never gone unanswered and my skepticism has been reversed. I would definitely use Nova again and again.”
— Robert, Nashville, TN
“My wife and I were hooked after the first day of classes. We enjoyed our instructor and her dedication to providing a healthy birth experience for us. She put to rest a lot of the myths surrounding birth and informed us of our options for birthing positions, breathing techniques, educational resources, and even birth planning. It was an interactive experience we wont forget! We were impressed, and even somewhat shocked to learn all that surrounds the birth process from pregnancy to postpartum. I highly recommend NOVA and their talented and loving support team.”
— Craig, Nashville, TN
“NOVA did an excellent job of educating us through the birth process. They handled each of our questions with sensitivity and patience and were wonderful with each step of our process. My wife and I couldn't have asked for more. I couldn't imagine what birth would have been without them. I'm glad we don't have to.”
— Andrew, Nashville, TN
“Our experience with NOVA was absolutely amazing. From beginning to end we felt such a genuine level of care and friendship from all the staff. Especially from our Midwife, Heather. She was always there when we needed her most and she made sure that our birth would go beautifully. She took care of my wife and kept her positive. She helped guide us and made the whole process go smoothly. Anna, our doula, was there also and we're so glad that she could be with us. She helped so much during labor and even afterwards. My wife loved having her during the birth. She played such a major role in comforting her and keeping her going.”
— Erick, Nashville, TN
First Time Parents
“Having an experienced, educated, enthusiastic woman by my side was key to my birth experience. Heather Munoz’s presence allowed my husband and I both to relax and experience the miracle of birth knowing that we were not alone.”
— Anna, Nashville, TN
“My labor and postpartum experience would not have been what it was without my childbirth education classes, doula and postpartum doula from NOVA. They were exceptional... anticipating needs I didn't even know I would have as a first time mom! They were so sensitive to my preferences while still offering educational support and advocacy for my situation.”
— Alison, Nashville, TN
“My husband and I began meeting with Tara at about 25 weeks along, both clueless to how this miraculous thing called giving birth happened. Tara would always affirm me with extreme excitement, “Your body was made to do this Grace! Your body was made for this!” And it is so true. My husband and I felt so empowered by knowing exactly what my body was going through when my labor had started. It was the best experience of my life!!!!! The preparation I had with Tara is so special to me. I tell everyone I couldn’t have done it without my doula, and I mean it!”
— Grace, Nashville, TN
On Birth Pools
NOVA made the process of acquiring a birth pool so easy which was a huge relief when checking off my pre-birth To-Do list. The staff of NOVA were also a great part of my experience. They were friendly and caring which is so refreshing in today's busy world. Thank you!
— Alicia, Nashville, TN
NOVA was AMAZING to work with - such a blessing. The receptionist always returned my calls right away and everyone was so warm and caring! Thank you for what you are doing NOVA!
— Rachel, Nashville, TN
Working with NOVA was such a pleasure! They made everything so easy and answered all of my questions quickly.
— Jessica, Nashville, TN
NOVA has made my two recent births a joy. I have been blessed with their kindness and professionalism which ensured me that I was in the best of care. Every mom should have the kind of confidence that NOVA Birth extends to their clients.
— Kimberly, Nashville, TN
On Adoption
“I’ll be honest – at first, I was skeptical that someone who had not given birth could give the kind of education and birth support I thought this young woman would need. I could not have been more wrong. Megan offered so much valuable knowledge through our classes, and we loved having all our information presented in a binder we could make our own and refer back to. In a situation that was extremely outside the norm (it’s pretty unique for an adoptive mom to be the birthmother’s labor coach), Megan was so helpful and flexible and understanding of our unique relationship. It was especially helpful to have our postpartum and newborn care classes conducted separately, since that is how we would be after the birth. Megan went above and beyond to care for this amazing, brave young woman both before and after the birth, offering a friendship I could not. She partnered with my husband and I to pray for and support her emotional and physical healing. “Megandoula”, as I call her, joined our adoption journey, provided crucial information and support at a vulnerable time, and did so with a confidence that was both impressive and calming. She will always be a member of our family!”
— Anonymous
On VBAC
“We rocked a VBAC with the outstanding help of our NOVA doula! I truly could not have had the incredible, redeeming and empowering birth I had without her!”
— Ellen, Nashville, TN
“The VBAC course gave me the strength and courage to deal with my past birth and prepare for my next one.”
— Leslie, Nashville, TN
“Celesta was very well-educated on the subject, and offered several therapeutic ideas. She was so calm and caring that our sessions felt like an intimate counseling session. She really helped us process the first birth of our son.”
— Anonymous
From Grandmothers
“I only have the highest praise for the doulas at NOVA Birth Services. My daughter has had a NOVA doula at her last 4 births. They have become more like one of the family. Their total devotion, regardless of schedules, has greatly surpassed the expectations anyone could ask for. They are such a wonderful resource during the postpartum weeks and their positive attitude and wealth of information really make a difference. They worked with my daughter, never dictating, but always supporting her wants and style of birthing. During delivery, they have a calm confidence and immediately address her needs which allows her to focus on delivering my precious grandchildren. I highly recommend them.”
— Cindy, Nashville, TN
Childbirth Classes
“We LOVED this class. I really liked Katie's teaching style and approachability. We felt like we knew a lot going into it, but we came out with an even more well-rounded understanding of labor and what to expect for the next few months of our lives. I am highly recommending NOVA to my friends and encouraging people to be a part of a birth class prior to baby's arrival.”
— Chelsea, Nashville, TN
“I loved the class and it helped my husband a lot. It connected us and prepared us well for birth!”
— Ellie, Nashville, TN
“Awesome class! I learned so much. I was happiest to learn about anatomy and physiology along with practical birth positions, tips etc. Amazing stuff!”
— Anonymous
“Our instructor was enthusiastic, compassionate and seemed very experienced. The Childbirth Essentials Course helped open my eyes to the benefits of a doula.”
— Anonymous
“We loved NOVA! My husband and I attend the child birth classes with Elise and she was fantastic! Even with this being our 2nd child (first natural birth) we learned so much from her. I hated I didn't take the class before our first child was born. I highly recommend NOVA.”
— Destuny, Nashville, TN
“As first time parents, childbirth education classes with Celesta Bargatze were essential to helping my husband and I feel prepared for the “unknown” of birth. Learning about the physical and emotional phases of birth helped us both understand where I was at when the big moment finally arrived. I went from having so many questions looming before me to feeling confident that I would be able to do what millions of women before me have done. Becoming educated about my body empowered us to become active participants in my birth experience and make informed decisions about my care and also the care of our newborn daughter.”
— Anna, Nashville, TN
“I had a great time in our NOVA birthing classes, and our monitrice Heather Munoz was great. Thank you for everything!!!”
— Alexa, Nashville, TN
“My husband and I just had our first baby in February 2014. We have a lot of friends who've had great experiences with NOVA, so we knew exactly who we'd be calling when it was our turn. We took the Childbirth Essentials Course and hired a Labor Doula. Our expectations were exceeded in every way. The classes were informative, relevant, and enjoyable, and I can't imagine birth without my doula! When it comes to mommas and babies, I wouldn't go with anyone else!”
— Brynn, Nashville, TN
“I have utilized the services that NOVA offers for all three of my pregnancies. We received so much education on the birth process that removed fears that I had. This education contributed to three successful natural birth experiences!”
— Lyssa, Nashville, TN
“We were happy to have Elise come to our home for classes. It was a nice way to get to know each other and receive WONDERFUL and empowering information. The education made all the difference for us. About 75% of the info that Elise shared with us was completely new to us! She was also our doula and did wonderful. We don't want to have a baby without her!”
— Heidi, Nashville, TN
“We had to start having class at our home because I was put on bedrest, so I missed the interaction with peers. However, I loved the one-on-one attention and time with our instructor, Megan. She was an awesome educator, very flexible and understanding of our situation!”
—Kristen, Nashville, TN
“Megan always took time to let us ask questions. She was very patient and always gave thoughtful responses. She is very knowledgable and able to convey it to those who are not.”
— Wes, Nashville, TN
