Lauren Barlis’s Birth Story
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Lauren Barlis is a teacher. She got her start teaching 10th grade English in Baltimore County and now teaches other teachers and administrators how to build powerful effective partnerships with the parents of their students. She is married to a wonderful man who also works with her at Step Up For Students, an education non-profit in Florida that provides scholarships to low-income families who want to send their children to private school. She has a daughter, Josie, who is 16 months old. She is also expecting a son, Benjamin, in May 2016.
Resource Links
Daily Essentials: Activities for Pregnancy Comfort and Easier Birth
Lauren I really enjoyed listening to your birth story. I too live in Gainesville, Fl and used Teresa as a my lactation consultant. She was wonderful! I was curious to know what type of birth you are planning for your second baby?
Hey Jessica!
Hooray for Gainesville mamas and Teresa! I am planning the same for my second, except now I live in the Tampa Bay Area, so I’ll be in a new hospital with a new group of midwives and a new doula, most likely. But the trifecta of hospital/midwife/doula worked so well for me the first time that I figured I would stick with it. 😉 I considered a birthing center, but my husband was still a little uneasy with that idea, so we decided on a hospital that was about 5 min from our house, has water birth options available and is certified Baby Friendly.
Thank you for sharing! I am having a hospital birth with a midwife in several weeks. I really enjoyed listening to this story. I am doing my best to be open minded about what the birth will be like, but being confident in myself & my provider is reassuring. I am more nervous about breastfeeding than birth and will take your advice related to support with breastfeeding.
Thanks for commenting! Find a lactation consultant who does in-home visits if you can – such a big help. Good luck, mama! Your birth will be surprising no matter what, but trust your body and know that you are strong and wise.
Just finishing up listening to your episode while at work! Omg — this comic strip is amazing! I love it. Good luck with your upcoming delivery!
Thank you so much, Lindsay! The comic strip "birth plan" was perfect for me: it made me not take the whole thing so seriously before Josie came, and it makes me laugh now!
Hey Lauren, I would love to talk to you about implementing the parental leave policy at your company. I am in the same position and would like your advice. I work for a small company that never had a policy in place and they asked me for my comments or suggestions. Please email me at karolinapollak@gmail.com. Thanks so much!