Birthing From the Heart Maternity Services
...because birth is a gift of love.
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CHILDBIRTH CLASSES
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Services We Offer
 

 

 

 

Birth Works

Childbirth Education Classes

 

Birth Works childbirth classes are for any woman with any birthing history, i.e., new parents and parents with prior vaginal and/or cesarean births. Our classes are innovative and experiential in design. They help women gain confidence in their ability to birth, releasing any fears they may have that could hinder the birth process. Our classes also help birth companions become aware of ways they can make labor safer and more comfortable for the laboring mom. The classes are interactive and provide both a physical and emotional preparation for birth. Our program is suitable for parents planning a hospital, birthing center or home birth.

 

Classes are facilitated by Lori Pendergast, a certified childbirth educator, and are held at her home in Leesburg, VA. Typically the class series is held once a week for 8 weeks. 

 

Private classes are also available and can be held in Lori's home or in your home. Private classes are shorter and the topics will be customized to meet your needs.

 

As part of the childbirth class, you will receive a book full of essential information about pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period and beyond for you to keep!

 

To find out more information about Birth Works go to www.birthworks.org.

 

For a sample 8-week class outline, go here. 

 

Contact Lori Pendergast for more information and to register. 

 Birth Doula Services

 

(At this time we only attend home births in Loudoun County and births at INOVA Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, VA)

 

Lori and Jodi are birth doula partners. Together we are rich in life experiences, skills, ideas and perspectives, offering you more than a single doula can alone. We have experience with natural births, as well as births requiring medical interventions and cesarean births. Like most doulas, we have each been in solo practice, frequently working with each other for backup and professional support. Having realized that we share similar philosophies about birth, we chose to enhance our services by providing the same personalized support but with the strength of a doula partnership. We will each attend your doula prenatal visits, sometimes together. This provides you with a unique opportunity to meet and develop a relationship with both of us. This ensures that in any event, you will be supported by a doula with whom you have formed a close, trusting relationship.

 

We also have a third doula, Katy Vega, who we use as a backup doula on the rare occasion that Lori and Jodi will not be able to attend your birth. She also shares the same philosophies about birth as we do and you will have the opportunity to meet with her if you choose to do so.

 

We have a passion for birth and truly care about each and every one of our clients. During your prenatal visits, we will take our time with you and discuss your desires, concerns and even fears about the upcoming birth of your baby. We will discuss your birth preferences and will provide you with information that will help you make more informed decisions during labor and birth. We may also do visualization exercises and relaxation exercises that can prepare you for labor and if needed, a "mini" childbirth class. We want you to go into labor feeling relaxed, confident, empowered and ready for your baby to be born.

 

Our responsibility as doulas is to meet your needs the best we can during your labor and birth. It does not matter what type of birth you desire--hospital, home, medicated, nonmedicated, interventions, no interventions--we will not judge your choices. We are there for you (and your partner) to help ensure a more satisfying birth experience!

 

We offer a free initial consultation. This provides an opportunity to meet, answer any questions you may have, and see if you feel we will be able to meet your birthing needs.

 

Birth doula services include:

  • Two prenatal visits at your home

  • Access to our lending library of books and DVDs
  • Support by phone and/or e-mail throughout your pregnancy and
        the immediate postpartum period
  • On call 24-hours a day two weeks before and until your baby is
        born
  • A guarantee of a backup doula in the event your doula is
        unable to attend your birth
  • Pictures and/or video of labor and birth (if desired)
  • Loving physical, emotional, and informational guidance during
        your labor and birth
  • If you choose to breastfeed your baby, we offer assistance
        immediately after the birth
  • "Birth story" of your labor and birth
  •  One postpartum visit at your home to make sure things are going
        smoothly after the     birth of your baby and offer referrals if needed.

 
Contact Lori Pendergast or Jodi Moore for more information.

 Postpartum Doula Services

 (Any location within 30 minutes from Leesburg, VA)

 

I offer a free initial consultation. This provides an opportunity to meet, answer any questions you may have, and help you make a decision about hiring a postpartum doula.

 

 Postpartum doula services include:

  • One visit at your home so we can discuss how I can best care
            for you
  • Help you care for your postpartum body so you can mother your
        baby more effectively and have a better bonding experience
  • Offer massage to you if desired, listen to your birth story and
        discuss any feelings or emotions you may be experiencing
  • Support dad/partner through transition to new role
  • Help and assist with breastfeeding or bottle feeding, help you care
        for your baby by assisting with bathing, diapering, circumcision
        care, etc.
  • Demonstrate soothing techniques for your baby
  • Help siblings/other family members adjust to the presence of the
        new baby
  • Care for your baby and/or siblings while you rest
  • Screen visitors/phone calls if desired
  • Household support includes: light Meal and snack preparation,
        light housekeeping, baby’s laundry, grocery shopping, errands

 

Contact Lori Pendergast for more information.

Parents Night Out

(Any location within 30 minutes from Leesburg, VA)

 

Whether you have added a baby to your family or have had your first baby, it's often difficult for parents to have some time alone and bond as a couple again. While this is extremely important, it is often not done due to not having any family nearby or because parents cannot find a reliable babysitter. 

 

We are now offering babysitting services in YOUR home so you can rest assured that your precious little one(s) are safe and sound while you go and spend some time together--just the two of you!

 

Contact Lori Pendergast for more information.