A Doulas Perspective: Stephanie Recounts A Powerful Birth (and shares photos!)

My client was overdue. These things happen and we were doing everything possible to get labor moving before her induction date. Her goal was a birthing center birth. On a Saturday, the birthing center called to let her know that if she didn’t go into labor by midnight, she would have to go to the hospital. At this point she was having some contractions, but nothing consistent. She went into the birthing center at 8pm, was in active labor, and …

Want to Teach Lamaze? Take Jamie’s Teacher Educator Class This October!

Birthing Babies Virginia is the Seminar program and it is being taught by Jamie Mueller, a local Lamaze Educator and Doula who lives in Lovettsville, VA and is a contracted doula with Balanced Birth Support. The first step to becoming a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator is to take the 3 day educator seminar. This seminar also comes with a free year of membership to the Lamaze DC Chapter which will mentor you, provide you with CEUs, and advertise your classes …

Meet Drea! Birth & Postpartum Doula

Sometimes you can tell the genuine character of a person simply from a short conversation or even an email.  Drea is enthusiastic and throws her heart into whatever she is doing- whether volunteering, reading a book, singing at the top of her lungs in the car, or supporting families in birth; you know that she is all in.  I am a huge reader, so I LOVE that when I asked her about her favorite books she narrowed it down to …

Meet Stephanie! A Balanced Birth Support NC Doula & Birth Photographer

I am really loving getting to know the Balanced Birth Support doulas!  I continue to be in awe of their dedication not only to the birthing families that they work with, but also to their own families, community and the world around them. Stephanie Capps is one of our North Carolina team members, providing doula and photography services to the families of Raleigh and the surrounding areas.  As the mother of two young children, she left behind the corporate world …

Partner Birth Affirmations! (Free Printable!)

Affirmations are not just for mothers! Partners and support people are so important to the birthing family, so its important to take care of them too! Birth partners can also experience fear and anxiety at the uncertainly of birth and parenting, and can sometimes let those feelings get the better of them! Partner affirmations can help birth partners stay stay calm and present during labor and birth so the entire family as a beautiful and positive experience.  Free Printable Partner …

Meet Sara Krisfalusi! Birth Doula

I continue to be amazed at the passion, drive, and love of the members of our Balanced Birth Support community.  As the administrative manager I rarely have the opportunity to work with these amazing women, so I am thrilled to be able to sit down with them to get to know them better.  Next up, Sara Krisalusi, a birth doula who has been with Balanced Birth Support since 2017 Sara’s passion for birth is obvious in speaking with her or …

Meet Avele! Birth Doula

While I know for certain all of the birth doulas with Balanced Birth Support are amazing, I have to admit that I am a bit biased about Avele.  She was my doula for my second birth and she is incredibly thoughtful, caring, non-judgemental, and incredibly compassionate.  Also, she must be a fast and/or crazy driver because she was able to get from Northern Virginia to GW hospital in less than 30 minutes during rush hour making it in time to …

Typical Newborn Screenings and Procedures: What, How, When

Whether you give birth in a hospital, birth center, or at home, there are many different newborn screenings, shots, and other procedures that will be offered to you or at least discussed with your care providers sometime prior to giving birth. Some tests are used to determine how well your baby is adjusting to the world outside your womb or screen for potential health problems; others are preventative against immediate or future health problems.  Depending on where you live, some …