5 Key Financial Planning Steps for Families

Daniel Sherwin is a single dad to 2 kids.  Recognizing that there aren’t a lot of resources out there for single dads, he developed his website DadSolo to provide support and resources to single parents.   For new parents, every day seems to bring new challenges. This is especially true when it’s time to pay bills. Even though most parents anticipate that a baby means added expenses, adding up all of the additional costs can be overwhelming at first. From paying …

In Depth: Balanced Birth Support’s 3-Hour Comfort Measures For Birth

Are you looking for a childbirth class focused on easing the pain and uncomfortable sensations of labor and birth? Have you taken a childbirth class with a previous baby and are looking for a refresher? Balanced Birth Support’s 3-Hour Comfort Measures For Birth class might be exactly what you are looking for! Balanced Birth Support’s 3-Hour Comfort Measures for Birth class is taught by Sara P, a Balance Birth Support birth and postpartum doula, and childbirth educator. Even though this …

Get to Know Danie Crofoot, Balanced Birth Support’s Traveling Doula!

Its so obvious that Danie has an immense, strong calling to supporting birthing families. They are a full-spectrum doula, and supports families in all circumstances and outcomes. Having moved away from their childhood home on an adventure to New York City, Danie is no stranger to uncertainty and unpredictability, and as a Traveling Doula, they will be there to your support you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum wherever you are, near or far. Read on to learn more about Danie! …

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 …

Breastfeeding Resources & Where To Find Local Support

If you are planning to breastfeed, it’s important to have good, solid resources available to you both before and after the baby is born. Breastfeeding is natural, but it doesn’t always come naturally and support is essential if you want to achieve your goals, no matter what those goals are.  I’ve listed several go-to resources below; check them out before you go into labor so you know what to expect in breastfeeding from the moment your baby is born.  Books*Links …

My 5 Favorite Meals To Bring To A Family With A New Baby

When I had my babies, one of the absolute best and most wonderful things our friends and family did for us was provide us with food.  Their generosity was so appreciated and we didn’t have to worry about going grocery shopping, cooking or even cleaning up.  Because I know how helpful this was for us, I LOVE bringing food to my friends and family with new babies.  As an added bonus, I get to meet the new little one! I’ve …

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 …

Meet Alicia! Birth & Postpartum Doula

At Balanced Birth Support, we are honored to work with such a talented, caring, and supportive group of birth & postpartum doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, and placenta specialists. Every single one of the members of Balanced Birth Support bring a unique life experience to the amazing and wondrous work that they do to support expectant families. In the first installment of a series dedicated to profiling members of Balanced Birth Support, I have spoken with Alicia Bennett, a birth …

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 …