Birth Plan, Doulas, Motherhood, Newborns, Postpartum
Lauren Foster, Co-Owner
The Magical Golden Hour

In the quiet hush of the labor & delivery room, where the air is charged with anticipation and the scent of earthiness and birthyness, a new chapter in your life unfolds. The rhythmic cadence of your breath is mirrored by the gentle whispers of your doula, a reassuring presence in this oh so sacred moment. The culmination of nine months… maybe more, leads to this: the first hour with your newborn.

The Magical Golden Hour
Decision Making, Pregnancy, Parenting, Newborns, Our Favorites
Lauren Foster, Co-Owner
A Doula's Eco Friendly Baby Registry

When I was selecting items for my baby registry, it was really important to me to not go overboard. As a doula of 14 years, I’ve seen families get overwhelmed with the amount of stuff in their homes and nurseries and I knew I wanted to keep things on the simpler side. I also wanted to be mindful of the impact on not only the environment, but also my baby’s microbiome - which meant finding a lot of eco-friendly products to keep waste down and keep our home as “low tox” as possible. Here you’ll find some of my favorite sustainable and most useful items that I registered for.

A Doula's Eco Friendly Baby Registry
Community, Doulas, Doulas of Orange County, Local OC Resources, Our Team
Lauren Foster, Co-Owner
Calling all amazing Doulas & Newborn Care ...
Calling all amazing Doulas & Newborn Care Specialists!
Birth Plan, Decision Making, Newborns, Parenting, Postpartum, Pregnancy
National Baby Co
Early Signs That You are Pregnant with Twins ...
Early Signs That You are Pregnant with Twins or Multiples
Newborns, Motherhood, Parenting, Postpartum, Postpartum Doula, Baby Sleep
National Baby Co
Are My Twins Too Old For Postpartum Doula Care?

The Doulas of Orange County office phone rings.


I pick up. “Hello! Doulas of Orange County. Lauren speaking.”

A strained voice sounds relieved to hear me, and it sounds like she has been crying. She’s an exhausted new mom of 12-week old twins and a 20-month-old toddler (who won’t let her out of his sight). She’s drained from her twin pregnancy, a difficult birth, and breastfeeding challenges. She struggles to keep up with laundry and wash enough dishes to have plates for the next meal. Her partner has been trying to feed the baby at night, but she’s still waking up to pump for multiples and can’t help but feel guilty about how tired her partner will be at work the next day. She really needs a postpartum doula in Irvine, CA.

“Can you help me, even though my babies are so old?” She asks.

Are My Twins Too Old For Postpartum Doula Care?

classes

2018: The Year of Change

2018: The Year of Change

If you had asked us one year ago what things would look like for Doulas of Orange County at the end of 2018, our vision would have been very different than our current reality. And while our vision came to fruition in many ways, something interesting happened towards the end of this year that changed the course of our business and in such an unexpected way!

At the end of 2017 we were deep in preparations for our Grand Re-Opening in Irvine. We were expanding our class calendar, adding new members to our team and were focused on big plans for the year. As always, we’ve have had big goals, lots of ideas, and great passion moving us forward.

2018 was a stellar year in so many ways!

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A Match Made in Heaven: Doulas & Montessori

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We are excited to be partnering with Bérénice Saint-Saëns of Monti Kids to offer a new class to help parents prepare their homes based on Montessori principles. Dr. Montessori described child development as the continuous gaining of independence and Montessori 101 will provide a comprehensive introduction as well as insight on raising your child to be self-confident, capable, and self-sufficient. A child who is raised with independence lives with dignity and has the confidence to take on challenges throughout life. 

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January Events at Doulas of Orange County

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Now that the holidays are over, you may be feeling ready to tackle your birth classes and postpartum planning. Well, don't fret, Doulas of OC has all the best classes that are sure to bring you out of your holiday hangover and get you excited for the arrival of your baby. 

In addition to the popular classics like our 4-week Confident Birth series, Baby Care Basics, and Milk Mama 101, we have added a few new unique offerings to our 2018 calendar. With these new classes we seek to include the whole family in preparing for birth and postpartum. 

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The Greatest Grandparents

Becoming a Grandparent is an exciting time! It's been a long time since you've had a child and we know you want to be the best grandparent you can be. This private workshop will give a refresher on all the baby care basics - from diapering to swaddling to bottle-feeding and nap time.  We'll share up-to-date information regarding health and safety standards, along with the latest gear and gadgets.  You will learn all about today's birth choices, modern parenting and ways to support your child in their choices and bond with your grandchild.

Launching January 10th and held at our office in Irvine or the comfort of your own home!

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Confident Birth Weekend Intensive   

Added to our 2018 calendar by popular demand! You requested a weekend option for our popular Confident Birth childbirth education series and we answered!

This monthly class covers the same information as our 4-week series in a fun, engaging environment. Preparation is crucial for a positive, confident birth experience and this uncensored, unbiased class will do just that! 

Held every month, 9am-5pm in Irvine. Launches February 11th!

REGISTER ONLINE FOR A GROUP CLASS OR A PRIVATE CLASS!

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VBAC Preparation & Support

Planning a Vaginal Birth After a Cesarean requires lots of support, education, and preparation. Our team has put together two options to cheer you on in your VBAC birth choices with our private VBAC preparation consult. 

This workshop is designed to assist you in creating a strong vision for your birth as well as to educate you on your options, finding a supportive care provider, creating a strong birth support team, and more. The curriculum in this class will help you to build a plan to physically, mentally and emotionally prepare for your VBAC. We provide education and discussion on local and national resources, VBAC friendly care providers, and other wellness practitioners who can contribute to a positive pregnancy no matter how you choose to birth. Hosted by women with personal experience with VBACs as well as Doulas who are well-versed in supporting all births, we welcome you!

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DOC Open House

Join us on Saturday, January 20th as we celebrate the new year and our grand re-opening in Irvine! 

Refreshments, Raffles, Swag Bags, and Community. What more could you want?

Expecting parents, new parents, current clients, past clients, friends, and family are all welcome! We encourage you to pre-register online as well as pre-purchasing raffle tickets to save! Additional tickets are available for purchase at the event and 50% of the raffle proceeds benefit Postpartum Support International. 

We're still accepting sponsors, food vendors, & product giveaways to partner with us in making this an amazing event for OC families. If you're interested in collaborating with us, please visit our sponsorship page. 

A full list of all of our January & February events is listed on our website. Pre-registration for classes is always required. We look forward to seeing you at one of our classes or support groups soon!

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5 Reasons to Take Baby & Me Yoga

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Let's be real... as a new mom, you have a lot going on. Not only have you just birthed an entire human, but you're adjusting to sleepless nights, sore boobs, raging hormones, and learning the ins and outs of your baby's own unique cues. The first few months postpartum can be overwhelming and even frightening for some, often resulting in a lack of self-care and intense feelings of isolation.

Getting out of the house can be tough and finding time for yourself even tougher. What once took very little energy or thought, now requires a check-list just to get out the door in one piece!

  • 5 Million Diapers & Wipes - check!
  • Bottles - check!
  • Change of clothes for baby - check!
  • Is my bra on? - check!
  • Do I have spit-up anywhere on my shirt? - double check!

Leaving the house can be utterly exhausting, but getting out and about in the community might be just what the doctor ordered for your postpartum physical & mental well-being. And what could be better than mom groups where babies are welcome with open arms! Baby & Me Yoga is just one of the many events we host to help moms get reconnected to themselves and meet other parents in the community! 

So what's all the fuss about Baby & Me Yoga? Why is it so great? 

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DOC August 2017 Schedule

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You may have heard by now that Doulas of Orange County has moved to Irvine! Our bigger, more accessible class space provides the perfect setting for Parenting & Childbirth Education, Yoga, Play Groups and more!

We are proud to offer a full schedule for the month of August with additional classes being added to the calendar in September!

YOGA

Weekly yoga classes are the newest addition to our calendar! Taught by co-owner and yoga instructor, Lauren Jacobs, our weekly prenatal yoga class gives you regular opportunities to relax, stretch, and bond with your baby as your nurture your pregnant or postpartum body. Classes begin late August! Registration is now available! 

THE POTTY SCHOOL

Michelle Swaney of The Potty School is now teaching regular classes at our office in Irvine as well! Featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, and MSN, Michelle's expertise and techniques are a must have for all parents looking to gently and effectively teach their children how to potty train.  Classes are appropriate for ages from 0-18+ months and include Elimination Communication, Potty Training 101 and Parent+Me Potty Training. Classes begin August 28th!

NEW MAMA CAFE :: WEEKEND EDITION

We've had the joy and delight to meet many of you at our weekly New Mama Cafe gathering on Tuesdays! We always love seeing your smiling faces and watching your sweet babies grow week by week. As the weeks & months have gone by, we know that some of you have returned to work or varying nap times make it a challenge to come to the Tuesday mom & baby group, so we are excited to announce a monthly gathering for new moms in OC. We call it the Weekend Edition of New Mama Cafe! 

Held on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30am at Tewinkle Park in Costa Mesa, this group offers an opportunity to meet other new moms and share the ups and downs of mom life! Check out the Dad version held on the 3rd Saturday of the month at Mariners Park in Newport Beach!

PARENTING & CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION

Doulas of Orange County offers the largest variety of prenatal & parenting programming in all of Orange County. Our monthly classes include Babywearing 101, Breastfeeding 101, and Baby Care Basics. Other classes, such as our Confident Birth 4-week series and Comfort Measures workshop are offered every other month. 

With curriculums developed by DOC owners, Lauren and Chelsea, these informative and enjoyable classes provide you with all the knowledge and skill you need to walk into your birth & parenting journey with confidence! Group classes are great for those that are interested in creating community and meeting new parent friends, while Private classes are fully customizable for those that want to focus on the topics that matter most to you!

Check out our Classes & Workshops page for more information and to register!

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This is just a glimpse of what August holds here at Doulas of Orange County! Stay tuned for more offerings in September like Infant Massage, Infant & Family CPR, movie screenings and more!