Luminary Birth and Wellness Center is an all natural birth center located in the heart of San Marcos, TX.  Erica Steele, the center director, is a Licensed Professional Midwife.  She works with other midwives and assistants to make sure every family is able to give birth in a safe, clean, and relaxing atmosphere.  We are located next door to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital.  We would love to set up free initial visit and tour to answer any of your questions.

Luminary Birth and Wellness Center opened in the Spring of 2021 at 2001 Medical Parkway, Suite B (San Marcos, TX).  We offer a full menu of services for prenatal care, birthing your babies naturally, and postpartum care.  We have two birthing suites complete with beds, chairs, showers, birthing tubs, fresh linens, and equipment needed for the entire process.  In addition to full birthing services, we offer chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture services for all women (not just during pregnancy).  Click here for a list of services.

We love meeting expectant parents and offer 2 “Meet the Midwife” sessions per month.  During these sessions you will hear all the details of our services, the natural birthing process.  You will be shown different options for your labor and be able to ask as many questions as you want!  There are usually 2-3 families in each of these sessions so you will be able to connect with other folks on the same journey.  We believe that communities are extremely important during the prenatal and postpartum seasons.  We also offer “Mama Meetups” several times a month for moms and babies to hang out and get to know each other.  These have proven to be crucial in building social interactions for babies and mamas during a very sensitive time.

We also have PAP Parties!  No one enjoys Pap examinations…until now!  We offer a 15minute (private) Pap Smear and Breast exams with with 12 minute chair massages, drinks, and adult conversations!  These have been wildly popular.  Check our social media feed for dates or call our office for a reservation.

Everyone at Luminary Birth and Wellness Center is here to help you walk this journey, no matter what your life situation or circumstances are.

SERVICES 

• Free consultation
• Complete prenatal care, including necessary labs – PN care (45 mins visits, labs, physical exam, pap) 24/7 access to midwives
• Complete labor and delivery care in a birth center. (hydrotherapy, intermittent monitoring, IV, antibiotics prn, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin) breech, VBAC, twins, Newborn Exam – We are located next door to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Marcos (not affiliated)
• Postpartum care – 2 Postpartum home visits, 2 in office visits, newborn screen, including breastfeeding support
• Newborn care up to 6 weeks
• Breastfeeding support
• Childbirth education
• Pre-conception education and Natural family planning
• “Sneak Peak” – Gender Reveal Blood Test – 99% accurate

• Postpartum support and meet up groups

• Sonography

• Childbirth Classes

• Sneak Peek

• Unity Screens

• Food inflammation testing

• KBMO Genetic testing

• Herbal Pharmacy

• Acupuncture

• Chiropractic Care

• Massage Therapy

ERICA STEELE – I am a native Austinite, born and raised in Austin, TX.  I am passionate about serving and supporting women as a midwife, and dispelling fear in childbirth.  My hope is to bring truth and love to the process of birth through gentle and complete care.
At the young age of 5, shortly after the birth of my brother, I drew a picture that said, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a doctor because I’ll take out the baby.“.  I am sure the younger me knew exactly what I wanted, long before I realized my passion for this work as an adult.

In 1999, I married my wonderful husband, and in the same year we moved to Taos, NM, in order for me to pursue an education in midwifery.  After a short 5 months of study at the National College of Midwifery, we ran out of money, and I had to leave the program.  However, the dream was in my heart, and I knew I would continue to pursue it.  Later that year, my love for this work led me down a different path, and I began training as a doula.

In 2001, we moved back to Austin, TX, and were overjoyed to be expecting our first child.   Due to a rare birth defect that was discovered during the pregnancy, we planned a scheduled cesarean section.  It was a beautiful and difficult day.  It was our birth day.  You can read more about my daughter’s birthday, and our life as a special needs family, on our blog.

In 2004, we welcomed into the world our first son.  We were blessed to have our first home birth and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).  In 2005, I decided to continue pressing forward with supporting women, and became a childbirth education teacher.  In the early summer of 2006, we welcomed our second son into the world at home, and in the water.

While my children were little ones, I continued to support mothers as a doula and by teaching childbirth classes.  Then, when my youngest child entered school in 2011, I pursued my deep desire to become a midwife.  I enrolled in the Midwifery Training Program with the Association of Texas Midwives.  Since 1998, I have attended hundreds of births.  I was overjoyed to graduate, and receive my license as a midwife in 2015. In 2021, I opened Hays County’s first all natural birthing center: Luminary Birth and Wellness Center!

Our home is located in San Marcos, TX where we enjoy a full life filled with joy, three children, and three dogs. 

Erica’s qualifications and experience as a Midwife:

• Licensed midwife in the state of Texas
• Graduate of the Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program
• Member of the Association of Texas Midwives
• Certified Professional Midwife through North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)
• CPR for the healthcare professional, AHA
• Neonatal Resuscitation, AHA/AAP