The Best Maternity and Newborn Resources in Pensacola
Whether you're expecting your first baby or growing your crew, knowing where to turn for trusted care and support makes all the difference. As a birth photographer, certified doula, and life-long Pensacola local, I’ve seen first-hand the providers and services that go beyond just clinical care, they support the entire birth experience.
Here’s a no-fluff, practical guide to Pensacola’s best resources for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Prenatal Care and Birth Support
Baptist Healthcare Labor & Delivery
For most families, this is the best place to deliver in Pensacola. Baptist’s brand-new labor and delivery suites are spacious, calming, and designed to support a peaceful, family-centered birth experience. They boast a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio and a level of care that feels more personal and attentive than anywhere else in town.
Unless your baby is expected to need NICU support, Baptist is always my first choice for comfort, privacy, and thoughtful care.
Midwifery Care
Midwives prioritize low-intervention, relationship-based care. Wherever possible, I encourage expecting families to work with a midwife throughout pregnancy and birth. Unlike OB/GYNs who just swoop in to deliver your baby, midwives take a far more hands-on approach to labor.
Top midwifery teams in the area:
Ladies First OB/GYN (in-network with Baptist)
Meagan Kennedy at Wild Rose Midwifery for home birth support. Meagan is known for her grounded, intuitive approach and her ability to create a peaceful, supported home birth experience.
OB/GYNs (When Midwifery Isn’t an Option)
If you're choosing an OB/GYN, these are the most trusted, well-rounded providers with consistently excellent patient feedback. I’ve worked with all of them and while there are many skilled physicians in Pensacola, these are the few that I’ve found to also provide an excellent, patient-centered experience.
Baptist Ladies First: Dr. Erika Schneider
Ascension Sacred Heart: Dr. Shane Medlock or Dr. Samantha Johnson
Delivers at both hospitals: Dr. Ana Antonetti
Doula Care
Sydney Geci
Sydney is a calm, knowledgeable, and steady presence in the birth space. I’ve worked alongside many doulas, and her ability to care for the entire family while keeping the birth environment peaceful is truly special. (Reach out if you’d like her contact information.)
Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness
InHer Physique (Justine Roper, DPT, CPT)
The gold standard in Pensacola for prenatal and postpartum physical therapy and fitness. Justine and her team specialize in pelvic floor therapy and offer personal training tailored to each phase of pregnancy and recovery. They also accept insurance.
Whether you're preparing for birth or healing after it, this is where you want to be.
Pure Pilates Pensacola
Located downtown, this is the top pick for safe, strong movement throughout pregnancy. The instructors are knowledgeable about prenatal modifications and the atmosphere is clean, calm, and welcoming. Locals are invited to take their first class for free.
Lactation Support
Kendal Vaughn, IBCLC
Hands down the best lactation consultant in the Pensacola area. Kendal is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who makes house calls, takes insurance, and should be on your calendar before your baby arrives. She is thorough, reassuring, and solutions-focused—exactly what you need in those first few vulnerable days postpartum.
Get on her books during your third trimester to ensure availability right after delivery.
Newborn and Pediatric Care
Pediatricians
Dr. Jennifer Thompson and Dr. Mary Lou O’Grady at Ascension Pediatrics are known for their compassionate, efficient care and gentle presence with newborns and new parents.
Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Kaitlin Forshee at Advanced Dental Concepts in Pace, FL. While your newborn probably won’t need a dentist just yet, she is the go-to for tongue and lip tie revisions.
Baby Gear and Essentials
Finding the right baby gear in Pensacola can be tricky. We don’t have many dedicated baby boutiques, and most families end up piecing things together from a mix of big-box stores and seasonal sales.
Big Box Stores:
Target and Walmart carry the basics, but inventory can be hit or miss—especially for specialty items like breast pumps, newborn carriers, or postpartum recovery products. It’s best to shop online or order ahead for pickup when you can.
Storkland:
This locally owned store is one of the only specialty baby stores in Pensacola. Their focus is on high-end nursery furniture and custom gliders, and while their quality is excellent, selection is limited and hours can be inconsistent. Worth a visit if you're investing in a long-term nursery setup, but not ideal for everyday baby gear needs.
The Real Secret: Consignment Sales
Your best bet for clothes, gear, baby carriers, toys, and feeding essentials are Pensacola’s seasonal consignment events.These are well-organized, high-volume sales where local families resell gently used items at steep discounts—and they’re the perfect way to stock up (or clean out) as your baby grows.
Mom2Mom Sale – Held quarterly. Great for clothes, strollers, swings, baby carriers, and shoes.
Lullabies & Mudpies – Another excellent seasonal consignment sale with a slightly broader selection of maternity, nursery, and toddler gear.
Follow both events on social media to stay up-to-date on registration deadlines, sale weekends, and drop-off days if you’re looking to sell.
Community & Connection
Being a new parent can be isolating. These monthly groups are run by experienced, supportive facilitators who create space for connection, encouragement, and honest conversation.
Mom & Me Circle
Hosted by Wild Rose Midwifery, this monthly group is open to moms and babies in their first year postpartum. A beautiful space to talk, ask questions, and feel supported.
The Newborn Club & The Expectant Club
Hosted by Caitlen Murrell at Coral’s Closet Pensacola every Thursday. These groups bring together expecting and new mothers in a relaxed, nonjudgmental space. Topics include birth planning, recovery, feeding, sleep, and mental health. Check Caitlen’s instagram for upcoming dates.
Your Pregnancy, Your Story
Whether you're preparing for your first baby or your fourth, this season is worth documenting. Maternity and newborn photo sessions are relaxed, natural, and focused on real connection, not stiff poses. You don’t need to lose the baby weight or buy a new outfit. You just need to show up.
And birth photography is my ultimate specialty. I approach every birth like a photojournalist, quietly observing and preserving all of the little moments that tell the story of the day you world changed forever.
Let’s capture the beauty of your story, exactly as it’s unfolding.