Birthing Babies VA is growing to help provide greater access to childbirth educator trainings!

Blake Hite Slusser, LCCE, FACCE, has been a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator since 2012, became a Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Educators in 2016, and became a DONA-trained Birth Doula in 2018.

Blake believes that quality childbirth education should be available to all mothers and believes that Lamaze’s evidence based childbirth education approach is just right for all families.  She launched Birthing Babies VA in 2016 to help meet this mission and loves working with childbirth educators to help them build successful birth businesses.

Adding to her experiences as an educator, Blake has six years of experience running a multi-hospital prenatal education program and understands the unique environment presented when teaching in this environment.  She now enjoys the many benefits of business ownership, including the extra time she gets to spend with her husband and two wild and rambuncous kiddos, Jack and Henry.

Jamie Mueller, LCCE, MSW, is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and has training in postpartum doula work, infant sleep education, breastfeeding support, and belly binding. During the day Jamie works in digital marketing software sales but her true love is walking with expecting and new parents on their journey into parenthood.

Jamie has a masters in social work and has been professionally trained in crisis intervention, information and referral support, and suicide prevention. She took a Bradley Method class when expecting her twins and was able to have the natural, non-medicated twin birth she desired. She is am an active member of Lamaze International and the board president of the Lamaze DC Chapter.

When Jamie isn’t selling software or working with parents, Jamie is hanging out with her girls, husband, and dog Barklie, cycling, or knitting lopsided scarves.

Kathy Stewart, LCCE, IBCLC, PNP, BDT(DONA), PDT (DONA) and I’m sure there are a few additional credentials I am forgetting will also be joining us in 2018!  Additional details coming.

Are you interested in becoming a trainer?

Great news!  Birthing Babies VA is currently seeking Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators to serve as trainers.

To be eligible to become a trainer you must be able to demonstrate that you have:

• Been an LCCE for at least three years and been through at least one recertification,
• Designed and taught Lamaze Childbirth Classes, and
• Set yourself apart as a leader in the field.  This can be demonstrated by FACCE status or a letter of recommendations from someone in the field.

After setting up an initial interview to determine whether or not you will be a good fit with our team a training schedule will be determined.  Trainers must observe one full Lamaze Accredited Childbirth Educator Seminar with Birthing Babies VA taught by Blake Slusser.  Then you will be scheduled to co-teach 1-2 additional Educator Seminars, either with Blake or another program trainer.  At this time it will be up to the discretion of the Program Director to determine whether or not you are ready to teach independently.

To learn more about becoming a trainer, please fill out the below form.