Fairfax Birth Care

01/01/2021

〰️2020〰️⁣
⁣
2020 was a wild year for us all. I was blessed to have served a number of families in ways that felt best to them, or however I could given the restrictions on in-person gatherings and authorized support people in hospitals.⁣
⁣
📚I never envisioned teaching virtually, but now that I’ve done it, I don’t think I will ever stop. I have reached so many more families, nationally and now worldwide, and I want to keep giving expectant parents the most comprehensive childbirth education classes I am equipped to, and that means continuing to offer my classes and support virtually. ⁣
⁣
🤰🏻I watched mamas birth in masks, cried with mothers after anatomy scans that their partners were unable to attend, held the phone for dads on FaceTime who were at home with older siblings unable to attend the birth, and high-fived mothers as they held their new babies and cried, “I did it!!! I can’t believe I did it!!!!” Oh, but I can. I can absolutely believe YOU did it. ALL OF YOU. For the families who sought me out or stumbled across my page or were referred by a friend, I am so grateful for the trust you put in me. There are countless incredible women out there teaching childbirth education and offering first-class doula support, and you still chose me. ⁣
⁣
✨I journal after every birth – the details of the pregnancy and my memory/perspective of how the labor and birth unfolded. As I scroll through my e-journal tonight and reflect on all 18 of the births I supported, in person and virtually, I am moved to tears. Each mother was powerful beyond belief, flexible when needed, firm and assertive when needed, and loving as hell.⁣
⁣
✨2020 sucked for a lot of reasons. But I have so much to be grateful for in 2020 – we lost a baby, but now I’m carrying our Rainbow Baby, for one, but my business boomed. I expect to at least double these numbers in 2021 and keep reaching families all over the United States with childbirth education classes and in-person doula support here in the Northern Virginia/DC/MD area. ⁣
⁣
✨Thank you all for supporting my dreams and standing next to me as I watch them come true⁣
⁣
Xo,⁣
Lauren💓⁣

19/11/2020

Spring babies will be here before you know it! That means it’s time to get caught up on all things pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding! If you’re due March-June, this class is for you!

The class is LIVE and VIRTUAL and will be on Sundays in February 10-1PM EST via ZOOM and lasts four weeks with each session being three hours. Since it’s virtual, you can be anywhere!

✨Class 1: Birth culture, your birth goals, nutrition and health, how our babies grow, how our bodies open, the stages of labor, due date estimations

✨Class 2: Comfort measures and coping techniques for labor, helpful tips for laboring at home and in the hospital, suggestions for the birth partner

✨Class 3: Shared decision making, informed consent, common interventions/procedures in pregnancy and birth, labor with an epidural, cesarean sections, writing your birth preferences, and the use of doula

✨Class 4: Recovery in the hospital, settling in at home - "the fourth trimester", feeding your baby, the physical and mental recovery after birth, getting established with breastfeeding

This is a class you won’t want to miss in preparation for your birth! Classes are held live via Zoom weekly and educational materials are provided. Send me a message to get signed up 💕

*class registration includes a 140page student workbook, client portal access, community Facebook group with other student families, and a 20-30 minute planning call with me to be used at any time! please head to www.fairfaxbirthcare.com to view pricing or send me a message to learn more*

08/09/2020

Are you expecting a baby this winter?

Join me on Sundays in October for a 12-hour full series comprehensive childbirth education class! This is my last class series in 2020!

You will learn all about the stages of labor, when to head to the hospital, comfort measures for an unmedicated birth experience, helpful tips for laboring at home and in the hospital, suggestions for the birth partner, how to make decisions alongside your provider, common interventions and procedures in birth, laboring with an epidural, preparing for a cesarean section, recovery in the hospital and at home, life with your newborn, feeding your baby, getting established with breast-feeding, and SO MUCH MORE!

This is a class you won’t want to miss in preparation for your birth! Classes are held live via Zoom weekly and educational materials are provided. Send me a message to get signed up AND swipe to see the reviews from happy, well-informed parents! 💕

12/08/2020

Anyone tried putting breast milk on 2020 yet?

http://www.mothering.com/articles/researcher-sees-breast-milk-antibodies-as-treatment-for-covid/?fbclid=IwAR1d2LqBFfOQCDy4WNEWEo2MlftC9hAOGILIxeoYOw1wmIiksh1vLUqOIzg

A researcher and human milk immunologist in New York believes that breast milk antibodies as treatment for COVID may be real.

06/08/2020

Are you expecting a baby this fall or winter?⁣ 🤰🏻🤱🏻
⁣
Join me on Saturdays in September for a 12-hour full series comprehensive VIRTUAL LIVE childbirth education class!⁣
⁣
You and your partner will learn all about the stages of labor, when to head to the hospital, comfort measures for an unmedicated birth experience, helpful tips for laboring at home and in the hospital, suggestions for the birth partner, how to make decisions alongside your provider, common interventions and procedures in birth, laboring with an epidural, preparing for a cesarean section, recovery in the hospital and at home, life with your newborn, feeding your baby, getting established with breast-feeding, and SO MUCH MORE! ⁣
⁣
This is a class you won’t want to miss in preparation for your birth! Classes are held live via Zoom weekly and educational materials are provided. Send me a message to get signed up! ⁣
⁣

02/08/2020

✨Dropped off this postpartum package to one of my mommas this week. When babies arrive, loved ones often send clothes and goodies for the baby, but many forget about the mother’s needs. It can be so challenging to remember to simply EAT and DRINK. Your caloric intake has a direct relationship to your milk output and it’s important to drink at least 100oz of fluid daily as well as nutrient-dense meals and snacks throughout the day. ⁣
⁣
What did you receive or what would you like to receive during postpartum? What helped or would help you most as a new momma? ⁣
⁣

31/07/2020

⁣
Hi friends! It looks like we have some new followers here so I think now is a good time to introduce myself! I am so glad you’ve stopped by and I hope you’ll stick around for a while! ⁣
⁣
I’m Lauren and I am the face of Fairfax Birth Care. I provide comprehensive virtual and live childbirth education classes to expectant parents and also offer birth doula support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum to families in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland. My passion for all birthy things began when I had my own son almost 7 years ago. My experience was “just okay” and I learned it could have been improved with a little more education, information, and support, so I set out to give that to parents. You don’t have to love, or even like, birth to have a good experience in birth. You deserve to understand to the process and how to feel supported throughout it. The more you know, the more empowered you will feel, and the better your overall experience will be. I use this platform to give you information and encouragement, and some birth humor mixed in too! ⁣My favorite birthy topics are Estimated Due Dates (or “due MONTHS”), preparing for an unmedicated birth, breastfeeding, and how normal it is to p**p during birth! 😅
⁣
I am married to Dan and with him, I gained 3 bonus children. We live in Falls Church, Virginia with our 4 children, two dogs, and kitty. We just bought an RV travel trailer so you’ll probably see some of our adventures as we familiarize ourselves with glamping in Virginia!⁣
⁣
I hope you find this page useful and supportive and feel free to DM me any birthy questions or birth stories! I love it all and nothing is off the table or TMI! 💞 ⁣
⁣
Warmly,⁣
Lauren 🥰⁣
⁣

31/07/2020

New life joined us earth-side this morning. Mama rocked a vaginal, unmedicated birth just like she prepared for. Read that again - she didn't just wish for it, hope for it, or plan for it -- she PREPARED for it. She took the classes, she included her partner in her desires, she practiced coping skills, and she called me in early labor when she needed support. She is a birthing QUEEN!

I will never get tired of seeing new life be born. It's a selfish thing, really... it makes me feel too good to call it "work".

24/07/2020

Received my very first piece of fan mail! ✨ I say it all the time, how it’s an honor to be asked to join a family’s birth support team, but there is nothing like when it becomes a family affair! These kids were the sweetest, waiting for the arrival of their baby brother! Baby actually came on dad’s birthday and they were quite upset they couldn’t wake up and make Daddy a pancake breakfast, but I think when baby came home, it was all worth the wait! I can’t wait to see them again next week! 💞🌟⁣
⁣

20/07/2020

New life came earth-side this morning ✨ it is always an honor to be asked to join a mother’s birth team. The bond I share with my clients is formed and nurtured throughout pregnancy and is carried over to the labor and birth space - a true connection as the waves come and go. It is with immense gratitude and overwhelming hormonal shifts that I leave the hospital or birth space to allow parents to get to know their littlest love. I can’t wait to see them again next week for our postpartum visit ❤️ ⁣
⁣
Also, shout out to this particular mama for rocking her third vaginal birth after cesarean (3VBAC). Just because you had a c-section with one baby does not mean you cannot achieve a vaginal birth with your next! 90% of cesarean moms are candidates for VBAC! Are you thinking of a VBAC? Or simply of adding a doula to your birth team? Let’s chat! ✨ ⁣
⁣

24/06/2020

Fantastic news!!!! Doulas will be back in INOVA hospitals starting 6/29! This is necessary for families! I have missed you all!! ❤️❤️❤️

24/06/2020

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹? Join me on Sundays in July for a 12 hour comprehensive childbirth education series. Virtually “meet” families with due dates close to yours as we explore the stages of labor, coping techniques, natural and medicinal pain management options, creating a birth plan, informed consent, recovery in and out of the hospital, breastfeeding, safe sleep for your infant, and so much more!⁣
⁣
DM me or send an email to 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻@𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗮𝘅𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲.𝗰𝗼𝗺 for more info and to register! ⁣
⁣
⁣

03/06/2020

Excellent work by a fellow doula

https://patch.com/maryland/columbia/coronavirus-doesnt-derail-doula-helping-expecting-moms?utm_source=&utm_medium=rss&utm_term=business&utm_campaign=recirc&utm_content=

The Columbia mom of three started her business offering labor and postpartum doula services, along with childbirth education, in 2018.

25/05/2020

Why is this so common? Investing in the most memorable and transformative moment of your life is not a luxury, it is a NECESSITY. Also I think the national average for weddings is like $35k 😳 ⁣
⁣

20/05/2020

June Class schedule is set! join me and other expectant families to learn all about labor, childbirth, postpartum, and breastfeeding in a full series course or the three hour birth basics class!

Classes are all virtual, via Zoom, and educational materials are included!

Full series course is $225
Birth Basics is $75

Reach out at lauren@fairfaxbirthcare.com for class outline and to sign up!

14/05/2020

"Having access to doulas becomes even more important as changing and shifting hospital policies limit a person’s ability to advocate for the kind of birth they want."

I'm still here for all my clients who desire support! It looks a little different, but I'm finding myself even MORE helpful to the partners than ever before, as well as the birthing person.

https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2020/05/04/coronavirus-pregnancy-birth-doulas/?fbclid=IwAR2Zre9tN9scJBsXUSAdziRUzFbuwGPg_hdaIuGehdGf7mxTGu-m6DPc9VI

Doulas provide emotional and physical support before, during, and after birth. With concerns over the spread of COVID-19, this service has become even more crucial.

06/05/2020

Be kind and be brave ❤️

I believe all of these things are true. I believe grace and rest are key. Feeling and owning our own s**t instead of working it out on others is key. When we slip up, apologizing to the people we offload on is key.

And, when we hit that wall, sometimes courage looks like scaling it or breaking through it. AND, sometimes courage is building a fort against the wall and taking a nap.

For those of us with kids, I don't think we pretend that the wall doesn't exist.

Rather than sucking it up and pushing through, we name it. We help them understand that invisible wall that they will run into hundreds and hundreds of times in their lives. We model what it takes to recognize it and how tough it can be to choose the right strategy: scaling, reaching out for a lift, and/or resting. Naming, modeling, and not having answers is how we help them feel less alone or scared when they face their own wall.

Hard days are real because this is hard.

Stay awkward, kind and brave enough to rest and feel,
BB

27/04/2020

Missing your self-care routine during quarantine? 💄💅🏼 Self-care also takes the form of education, especially when it pertains to preparing to meet your new baby. 🤰🏻🤱🏽⁣
⁣
The biggest event of your life is ahead of you. 𝘽𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙, 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙. Join me this summer for numerous childbirth education opportunities online. Summer schedule is now available on my website 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗮𝘅𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲.𝗰𝗼𝗺 ⁣
⁣
✨All childbirth and breastfeeding education classes will be held virtually, via Zoom calls. Educational materials and resources are provided. ⁣
⁣
PM me or reach me via email at lauren@fairfaxbirthcare.com 💕 ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣