Our Mission is simple:

Improve birth outcomes.
Ensure no one births alone.

GALS is dedicated to providing emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing people and healthcare providers who are under-supported in order to improve birth outcomes and strengthen families.

 
 
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Part of your team

Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) is an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving Central Texas for more than a decade. We provide FREE doula support to families to improve birth. Our community can always count on us to embody:

Dependability: On-call support is immediate and 24/7. If you call us during your birth, we are there.

Unconditional Support: We provide care and encouragement to any family who needs it, in any birth setting.

Consistency: Quality services are provided by trained birth workers/doulas.

Learn More

 
 

Our Programs

All programs are provided at no cost to families. We collaborate with health clinics, social service organizations, state benefit plans such as WIC and SNAP, and Dell Children’s Health Plan Medicaid- STAR and CHIP programs.

 

On Call Birth Support

Birthworkers provide support to anyone actively in labor and birthing alone or under-supported, through postpartum. This program is available 24/7, 365.

Prenatal Doula Program

Support for families and individuals beginning in pregnancy, including birth and postpartum support. This program models the traditional doula relationship for more the vulnerable families in our community.

Postpartum Doula Support

Support for individuals and families after the birth of their baby. GALS offers in home, individualized support that can include 20 or more hours of infant care, emotional support, light cleaning and cooking, as well as informational child-development support.

Jail support program

This partnership between GALS and the Travis County Correctional Complex provides weekly support groups (and fruits and vegetables) to those who are pregnant and incarcerated, as well as birth support if they go into labor while at TCCC, as otherwise they would be alone. Support includes lactation during incarceration- working to provide access to pumps, milk storage, and milk delivery options for the family caring for their little one. 

Childcare for Black Mamas Program

This is a partnership with the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative to offer perinatal childcare for Black families during doctor's visits, mental health care, birth, postpartum respite care, and more. This perinatal support is offered for families involved in GALS, Black Mamas ATX, Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, and Healing Hands Community Doula Project as a compliment to wrap around doula support.

 
 

Summer 2022

Really just the entire experience was helpful for me. (My Doula) helped me get a better understanding from the beginning and helped me feel sure of myself and my decisions.

-Birthing person / Learn More

 

 
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Why a Doula?

Birthworkers, or doulas, are an evidence-based way to improve birth outcomes- especially in the hospital setting. Studies show shortened labor times, lower use of epidurals or other pain medication, lower cesarean rates, and increased satisfaction with the birth experience. How do we do that? We listen to you. We answer questions. We help you get information you need to make informed choices in the moment. While most births don’t go according to “plan,” when people feel supported and in charge as labor progresses, they feel satisfied with their birth, and more confident in their ability to parent.

 

50+

Birthworkers trained every year

GALS hosts quarterly training and orientation for new and professional doulas. These Birthworkers join our mission to support families in ATX.

 

14+

Years Serving communities

GALS began as a grassroots organization in 2008, dedicated to providing on call support to moms birthing in the hospital.

 
 

800+

Parents & children Impacted

GALS Birthworkers have attended over 800 births in the organizations’s history through the On-call, and Prenatal doula programs.

 
 

Get Involved

GALS is here for the community, because of community! We would love to have you join us in making Austin the safest place to give birth and raise a family.

 

Sign Up For Support

Families who are pregnant, birthing, or postpartum can learn more about our programs and sign up, today!

Birthwork opportunities

Learn what it takes to become a birth worker or childcare specialist, and join our mission to improve birth outcomes.

Make a Donation

These programs are made possible by people like you! Give the gift of a doula and ensure no one births alone.