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 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 …

Birthing at Washington Hospital Center

SummaryWashington Medstar Hospital is a nationally recognized research hospital and according to their website the “Women’s and Infants’ Services is dedicated to advancing health care through ongoing participation in the latest research on female health issues.” They offer many pregnancy and parenting related classes. In addition to providing routine care for uncomplicated pregnancies, Washington Hospital Center has several departments focusing on high-risk pregnancies, care for pregnant moms and babies with congenital health problems, specialized testing, teen pregnancy, cancer screening and …

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 …

Free Printable Birth Affirmations

The mind is a powerful thing!  Sometimes when we are fearful and anxious, repeating a calming and relaxing mantra can help work through the feelings and keep your mind (and body!) present.  Affirmations also can give a sense of control as well as remind you that you are strong and capable!  Mantras and affirmations are also essential for helping a birthing family navigate unexpected challenges. Enjoy our free, printable affirmations here… Free Printable Affirmations for Childbirth! Click To Download!

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 …

Birthing at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital

SummaryFort Belvoir Community Hospital is a new, state-of-the art military hospital designed to provide “safe, quality, and compassionate care” to our nations active duty military, veterans, and their families. The hospital began serving patients in August of 2011 and was built with evidenced based design in mind- proving a facility designed to produce better physical and emotional outcomes for patients and their families. The hospital is also focused on research and education. In addition to OB/GYN providers, FBCH has a …

My Frank Breech Birth Story

When I first learned I was going to have a baby, I spent hours visualizing my perfect birth- calm, relaxed, and pain free (because how much could it hurt really?). I became a GW midwife patient and planned on having a completely pain medication free birth. I signed up for hynobirthing classes, practiced my meditations, and listened to relaxing music. But when I went into labor at 32 weeks and 6 days, my birth plan went entirely out the window …