AGROwing Belly, LLC. - Serving Pregnant Mommies-To-Be in Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Frederick Counties in Maryland since 2003

News Archives

10/2/12 - Welcome little AM! You were in such a hurry to arrive, you must have BIG things to do in your lifetime! What an honor it has been to sit with your family in the last week. Love you and your family!
9/8/12 - Look at how fancy I am!! I figured out how to display my lending library online! Check it out! All my clients have access to each of these materials - for free!
9/3/12 - A Doula's Favorite Holiday! Happy Labor Day everyone!
9/1/12 - It's here!! I have a SQUARE! If you want to do on the spot credit card payments, I can do it now!
8/13/12 - My dear friend Jodi Selander was on Fox5 News This Morning in Las Vegas! A worthwhile 5 minute watch!
8/12/12 - Packing again - this time for a real vacation; off to visit my sister! Email me if you need me!
7/30/12 - So many SMART mommies! Avoiding the Baby Blues using Placenta Encapsulation!! LOVING it.
7/26/12 - I'm home! All you ladies who were "holding in those babies" until I got back... it's go time!

Also, I had a BLAST at the DONA International Conference - learned a TON! I am now officially certified to use Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in labor. This hand-held battery-operated device transmits mild electrical impulses through the skin to stimulate nerve fibers. It is a safe, non-drug method of pain relief during labor!
7/14/12 - Getting packed to leave for the DONA International Conference, where I will be supporting my friend and collegue Jodi Selander who will be presenting her work "Effects of Postnatal Human and Maternal Placentophagy: Mothers' Experiences with Placentophagy". If you need me from 7/17/12 - 7/26/12, send me an email.
7/6/12 - Welcome COR! Your Mommy had a gorgeous birth with a terrific Midwife at Sinai! So glad I could help greet you!
7/1/12 - Backup Doula to the rescue! So honored to help out my dear friend Tina Overton (an awesome childbirth educator by the way!) with a birth last night. Welcome to little OLD! Beautiful Birth! Thanks to the Derecho, Special Beginnings was without power; it was a lovely birth at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
6/22/12 - Welcome to MMM! There's nothing better than a repeat client. This birth was even better than her first! And if you haven't seen Mercy's New Family Childbirth and Children's Center then you are missing something special! WOW. Pretty amazing. The fantastic Midwife assisted her so that she could birth in the tub!
6/1/12 - WOW! I just spent the last 9 hours with Elaine Stillerman, LMT - author and massage therapist trainer. She has SO much information and knowledge. I am loving the "MotherMassage ®: Massage during Pregnancy" class at Baltimore School of Massage!!! I hope to complete the certification by November 2012.
5/30/12 - I just signed up for the DONA International Conference! I'm so thrilled to be able to attend, and to help represent Placenta Benefits.info. My friend and mentor, Jodi Selander, will be presenting "Effects of Postnatal Human and Maternal Placentophagy: Mothers' Experiences with Placentophagy". I can't wait to be surrounded by so many other "Birth-aholics"!
5/5/12 - This Full Moon is keeping me hopping! 2 Placenta Encapsulations, 2 Prenatals, and waiting on the arrival of 2 babies!! BUSY, BUSY! (Also, Happy, Happy!)
4/26/12 - Took the leap today!! I have just joined the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (birthphotographers.com)! I am now offering Birth Photography packages for a limited time at 50% off. The caveat - I need a portfolio! Let me know if you are interested in this limited time offer.
4/22/12 - Officially back on call again! So excited to meet my next baby. I'm now booked through Mid-September 2012 for Doula work, however I am always accepting Birth Photography and Placenta Encapsulation clients!
4/18 - 4/21/12 - I'll be unavailable for a few days, gum surgery : (
4/8/12 - So Many Smart Mommas! Placenta Encapsulations are really catching on! 6 in the last 4 weeks! Thanks January Jones!
2/29 - 3/8/12 - If you need me, I'll be on my belated honeymoon! Thankfully, I have no Mommas in labor and my PE clients are ready to freeze... I'll be on The Rock Boat if you need me!
2/24/12 - Happy 10th Birthday to my BIG Boy! To the light of my life, and my reason for being a doula, Happy Birthday ETS!
1/21/12 - Taking a look at the books... wondering where are all the February babies? I have no placenta clients in February at all!? Also, I am now booked for doula work for May, June, and August 2012. I'm still available for April and July!
1/14/12 - Helped another Momma in Harford County today! So glad to be working with another specialist soon-to-be in training who will be assisting with the North East side of town! As soon as she's ready, I'll annouce who she is ; )
1/3/12 - Happy New Year! 3 Placenta encapsulations in the last 4 days! I hereby announce that 2012 is the year of the placenta!
12/23/11 - Spent the morning with a Chinese Family taking care of their placenta. I believe they taught me more about Traditional Chinese Medicine and Cures than I thought possible! WOW. So interesting!
12/21/11 - Been looking forward to this day for a long time! Graduation Day! Now that I am finished my Masters, I'm much more available for my birth work. This makes me very happy!
11/28/11 - Helping a mother today feel better after the birth of her 4th baby!
11/10/11 - I will be presenting "Exploring the Benefits of Placenta for Postpartum Recovery" at the ICAN of Baltimore's Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 11/10/11 at 7pm at the Butler Volunter Fire Department. Come learn more!
11/07/11 - Due to some life changes and my Graduate Degree completion schedule, I will be accepting new Doula clients starting in April 2012. Placenta Encapsulations, and Maternity and Newborn Photo Sessions as always, are welcome anytime.
11/05/11 - Spent the morning training a new PBi-Trained Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, Carmen Calvo! Carmen will be helping me with encapsulations in Baltimore City!! I'm SO thankful to have the help! I've been busy!
10/29/11 - Headed (through the snow?!) to Stewartstown, PA to help a smart momma of 5 (WOW!) Avoid the Baby Blues!
9/24/11 - I'll be hosting a Placenta Encapsulation both at Maryland Birth Network's Bellies, Birth, Babies Expo today if anyone needs me! Stop by and see me!
8/2/2011 - Off to do another Placenta Encapsulation! Bye bye Baby Blues!
8/1/2011 - Due to some life changes and my Graduate Degree completion schedule, I will be accepting new Doula clients starting Mid-Summer of 2012. Placenta Encapsulations, as always, are welcome anytime.
7/20/2011 - Offto Carlisle, PA to help another brand new mom avoid the baby blues!
7/7/2011 - Such a cute baby! And a very smart Momma. I hope I helped her have a wonderful postpartum babymoon!
6/14/2011 - LDS Doula Services/AGROwing Belly, LLC. is currently on hiatus and will be "closed" from June 14th through July 5th for my wedding and familymoon! If you are due during this time and have made previous arrangements for me to help you with placenta encapsulation, put it in the freezer and call me anyhow!
3/13/2011 - Welcome to the world little JGD! A beautiful 7lb, 9oz. little boy was born today! Momma had a completely unmedicated natural birth, just the way she and her husband had planned. Many thanks to my Student Doula, Arabella for assisting me.
2/24/2011 - Happy birthday to the light of my life... You've made me who I am. 9 Years ago today you made me a mother and inspired me to become a doula. I love you with all my heart. Love, Mommy.
2/14/2011 - Happy Valentine's Day! May your hearts be filled with love and joy. Mine certainly is!!
2/12/2011 & 2/13/2011 - What a weekend!!! I got to spend the weekend with my Doula-In-Training, Arabella at Katie Daily's DONA Doula Workshop in Washington, DC. It was great to spend the weekend with many young, excited, new doulas. I feel revitalized and learned a few things as well! Recertification through 2015 is nearly complete!
2/11/2011 - Another smart Momma requested my help with postpartum depression. Did you know that placenta encapsulation is something you can proactively do to help you during those first few weeks of new motherhood?
2/4/2011 - Off to help another brand new Momma Avoid the Baby Blues!!
1/24/2011 - Welcome to GCS! Having been friends with your parents for several years now, I was honored and blessed to get to see you enter this world. We are so happy you are here! Congrats to W&NS, and big sister LS! Your brother is adorable!
1/15/2011 - Welcome little LGG! I was honored to meet your brother and now I get to meet you! What a spectacular entry - 9lbs 3oz and 2 1/2 hours in labor?! Your Mother is AMAZING! Congrats to the whole family!
1/10/2011 - My own doula told me once that there was nothing better than having one of your own clients come back to you to ask how to become a doula, like I did with my doula after my son was born. I just found out that she's absolutely right. I will be taking on ANOTHER doula apprentice in 2012, this one is a past doula client! What an honor!
1/8/2011 - This year I will be helping a new Doula earn her wings! Welcome to my Doula-in-Training, Arabella Crawford. Arabella will be looking for training births to use for certifications, so if you are interested and due in March, April, May or June 2011, please let me know! DONA Doulas need to attend 3 births in order to be certified.
1/1/2011 - Happy New Year!! SO many exciting things happening this year! Stay tuned!
12/24/2010 - Tonight it almost happened... I always worried about getting "the call" on Christmas, and tonight it came! Baby was just testing Momma though. No labor today. Did you know being dehydrated can cause early contractions?
12/17/2010 - Off to set up a Maternity/Newborn Photography display at Simply Born's new offices in Hampstead, MD! Stop by to see my work!
11/21/2010 - Happy Birth Day to my Mom, Again! It's my Birthday this time! Thanks for laboring with me for 11 hours Mom! Love you!
10/15/2010 - Happy Birth Day to my Mom! While it's actually my Sister's Birthday, it was truely my Mom's Day of Birth. My sister was 11lbs, 1oz. Back labor and no medications. GO MOM! Happy 29th Jayme! ; )
9/6/2010 – Happy Labor Day!! It’s a doula’s favorite holiday. I currently have openings for doula clients in September and October. If you are due in any other months, please contact me anyway as I am starting to take on a few more clients. I am booked for December, January and early February already thanks to those wonderfully romantic snow storms we had last winter ; ) I love Blizzard Babies! Have a great holiday weekend!
9/2/2010 – Off to do another Placenta Encapsulation for a smart and happy Momma! Learn how you can Avoid the Baby Blues!
8/31/2010 – Thinking of someone special today and the impact he had on this world for the very short time he was here. Love to you LHO and to your family...
8/30/2010 – Happy last day of summer Carroll County Students! Enjoy every last wonderful minute!!
8/29/2010 – Welcome little PAP! My first birth at UMD Med Ctr. MP you did so well and I am so proud of you and PP! Back to back contractions and you handled them beautifully! You new little one is GORGEOUS! I'm so honored that I could be there for you all!
8/22/2010 - What a busy summer! My sister was here, my mom had double knee replacement surgery (I think I’m now a certified Knee-Doula!), and my fiancé had major eye surgery at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institue. I took some time for a short visit to the beach with my son, and saw some great concerts (John Butler Trio, Dave Matthews Band, Pat McGee Band, Toad the Wet Sprocket). The house move is almost complete and with that comes a name change for LDS Doula Services, soon to be operating as AGROwing Belly, LLC. Just getting ready for my wedding and my new name, Lauren Agro!
8/20/2010 – Happy 2nd Birthday to my amazing niece in Idaho!
8/14/2010 – Moving, Moving, Moving!
8/12/2010 – Packing, Packing, Packing!
8/9/2010 – Met a great new client today. She is due on 8/31!! It’s never too late to call or hire a doula.
6/30/2010 – My fiancé and I settled on a house today!! I will be moving from Westminster to Westminster sometime this August. If you are delivering at Carroll County General Hospital, I will be able to get there now in under 4 minutes!
5/29/2010 – Another Placenta Encapsulation for another client today! Herzlichen Glückwunsch mutta!
5/14/2010 – Off to do another Placenta Encapsulation for a local area yoga instructor!
5/2/2010 – Ah the power of old friends. Had a great reunion with some wonderful old friends in Morgantown, WV this past weekend. It’s been 15 years and it seems like I only left them yesterday…
4/13/2010 – Off to do another PBi Placenta Encapsulation!
4/12/10: Welcome SCMcG! Constantly Surprised and Amazed. I am in awe today of a new Mommy who is very dear to my heart, my Future-Cousin-to-Be. She delivered a BEAUTIFUL 8lb 11oz baby girl today at St. Agnes Hospital. Labor was a little longer than my last few, but she had an incredible tolerance for contractions. She was amazing as was her adorably sensitive hubby (yes, I did see the tears when his daughter was born!). Congrats and I love you all! Welcome SCMcG! I'm so honored that I could be there and I'm happy to get to know the child you will become.
3/24/10: So I knew the day would come. In 7 years, I missed my first birth. I have mixed emotions on this... I missed it because this was a repeat client (was to be my first 2nd timer!) who had such a fast labor that the baby came in under 4 hours. She called and I just couldn't get to her fast enough. She did say that she remembered everything I told her to do the first time and things just went twice as fast as the first birth!!

... That said, CONGRATULATIONS S&J!!! A HUGE welcome, Hi and Hello to little Miss AFS, weighing 6lbs, 15.8oz born at GBMC. Unmedicated, speedy deliveries are becoming my specialty here lately! LOVE IT!! Nice work Mommy and Daddy - she's adorable!
03/22/10: I really should get some rest!!! 3 Pending Due Dates all at once!! We are ready for you babies to be - Baby S, Baby McG and Baby K! Stay tuned, updates coming soon!
3/17/10: Happy St. Patrick's Day! Instead of Green Beer, I'm off to help a brand new mother Avoid the Baby Blues! Such a smart Momma!!
02/16/10: Avoid the Baby Blues and lend a helping placenta!! I have a strange offer/request. I am currently looking for someone willing to let me encapsulate their placenta between now and April 1st, in central Maryland between the PA line and Annapolis, MD. We can work a deal ; ) (hint: lower cost!) I have a new trainee who needs practice!
02/10/10: Oh My GOSH, will the snow ever end? I wondered why I didn't have any clients scheduled for February this year, and now I know it was all in the grand plan! If I'd had a client I couldn't get to her in 52 inches of SNOW! When is spring?
01/19/10: I am almost completely booked for the next 10 months! Between buying a house and clients, life is pretty busy. If you do need a doula though, please email me - I do have several other doulas to refer, and even a few certifying doulas who need certification births (hint: lower cost!) Let me know and I'll help!
01/06/10: If you need me for the next few days, I'll be on a boat! In the Gulf of Mexico! Enjoying lots of Music, Laughter and well earned Relaxation! See you on the 13th!
01/05/10: While it's always an honor to see a baby born into this world, getting to held a dear longtime friend welcome her son into the world is AMAZING! Congrats to KS and BG and big sister TG on the arrival of baby CJG! A 4, (yes I said FOUR!) hour labor is not an every day occurance at Howard County General Hospital! KS, you were absolutely fantastic in labor! I couldn't be prouder of you! Love and Hugs to my dear friend!
12/23/09: Happy Holidays to you and your family! I'm taking a small doula break - my one year old niece is in town, all the way from Idaho! Happy New Year!!
11/12/09: Welcome RGL! I so wished I could have been there for your Mommy and Daddy, but silly GBMC and their terrible H1N1 policies! AAghg! Only 2 people allowed in the hospital? I'm glad that Daddy and Grandma were there, but this policy is really terrible. I'm happy you are here and that your arrival went well anyhow.
10/18/09: SB, you and your hubby JR deserve a medal of honor. 43 Hours of labor?! WOW!! I am amazed by you both! Lots of stamina and SO determined. Welcome to the newest little JWR the Fifth! Now go get some rest! I'm still tired!
9/26/09: AWESOME Birth!! Congratulations to ML and RM on the birth of their gorgeous son, MTM! Amazing unmedicated, perfect birth at Mercy with the help of a wonderful friend JW (J - Let me know when you want to be a doula!) and a fantastic Midwife. Great Job Momma!
9/11/2009: Having lost 2 friends 8 years ago today, I spend today celebrating life and remembering. Thanks goes out to all the emergency service personnel today and everyday. Be thankful for your freedom and hug your children a little more tightly today. Tell those that you love, that you love them.
9/9/2009: I am now booked for the remainder of 2009. I am also booked for January through June of 2010!!! If you need referrals I'll be happy to help you locate a doula with availability.
9/2/2009: CONGRATULATIONS to K & J on becoming parents!! Little SJC is absolutely adorable and I am so proud of you for making it through so many difficult decisions. You did great and I am so happy that I could help you welcome your son into the world!
8/27/09: At this time I'm completely booked for all free maternity and newborn portrait sessions. I will be revealing my new Mother/Baby Photography program soon! Details coming soon!
7/7/09: I'm still looking for pregnant mommies who'd like to have free belly pictures done in exchange for use in my photography portfolio. If you are interested, contact me! Newborn Pictures too!
7/3/09: A terrific article and video on Placenta Encapsulation on Time.com! Go Sarah and PBi! Read it here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1908194,00.html
6/19/09: My certification has been renewed through July 31, 2012! To celebrate, I'll be helping 2 Mommies avoid post-pardum depression this week!! Horray HM and KP! 2 VERY Smart Mamas!!!! Ask me how you too can avoid post-pardum depression!
5/10/09: Happy Mother's Day to all my Mommies! Thank you for sharing the births of your children and thank you for allowing me to assist you on one of the most important days of your lives. It is an absolute honor to witness the birth of a mother. Thank you.
5/06/09: Congratulations D & R!!! What an amazing birth! I was so honored to get to witness the birth of your son AGG, it was a beautiful experience! Mommy worked so hard and did fantastically without medication. There was so much pride and excitement when he arrived! Congratulations!!
3/18/09: Just joined an awesome new website - Womb to Bloom! Go check it out!
3/14/09: In April I'll be taking a Maternity Portraits Workshop with an awesome photographer from California. I'm looking for pregnant mommies who'd like to have free belly pictures done in exchange for use in my photography portfolio. If you are interested, contact me!
2/25/09: Welcome to the world, ZMM! Her initials were indicative of her arrival!! Zoom, Zoom! Weighing 6lbs, 15oz she arrived after an amazingly quick 7 hours of labor! She's absolutely adorable! And yet another with NO Medication! Great work A & J!!! I'm so proud of you both.
2/24/09: Happy birthday to my baby boy! Thanks for making me a mommy!
1/20/09: Taking the semester off of Grad School - more time for mommies and babies!
1/7/09: I PASSED!!! I have passed the PBi Certification Exam to become Baltimore's FIRST Placenta Encapsulation Specialist!! It was tough!! I am so thrilled to be offering this service to my clients and others. Helping each woman have the best birth and post-partum experience is my goal.
10/16/08: Oh how time flies! I've been very busy this Fall with some new endeavors, specifically one that is fascinating to me, helping women avoid postpartum depression. I've been studying with Jodi Selander of Placenta Benefits, and hope to become a Certified Encapsulation Specialist within the next few months! I've been very busy with some family things and Grad school is keeping me very booked. I will however be accepting Birth Doula clients starting in March of 2009!
6/20/08: I'm taking a little time off in July and I'll be away in August to help with the arrival of Idaho's newest Cupcake. This next baby holds a special place in my heart, not only her Doula, she'll make me an Aunt!
6/10/08: Welcome little MAS! Weighing in at 6lbs 9oz, this gorgeous little peanut made a speedy entrance into this world on a perfect June afternoon. Her mommy had warned me about her fast deliveries, boy was she right! Congrats to one very strong beautiful mommy, DS! GREAT JOB!!! (BS, You did great too!)
5/5/08: Such a busy late Spring/early Summer! I've been concerting, hanging out with my sister and taking lots and lots of pictures! My little man is enjoying summer camp and after my June client I am taking a little time off of the doula business to relax a little and enjoy life!
3/14/08: From now until the end of September 2008, I am now pretty booked between the babies, vacations, continuing education and becoming a first time Aunt! However, if you are looking for a doula, please contact me and I'll be happy to see if I can either fit you in to my schedule or I'll be sure to help you out with referrals. The baby business is booming!!
3/8/08: February Recap: 4 babies in one month. What was I thinking?!? My rule here ladies is one baby per month. No fair ganging up on your doula and coming late and early with mentoring thrown in for good luck! It's March and I'm still trying to recuperate! I hope all 4 of my mommy's are doing well!!
2/25/08: I was lucky enough to attend the birth of S&I's baby boy as a mentor to my FANTASTIC Doula-in-Training. It went beautifully, all natural, with a long tub soak and a BIG entrance! EHR arrived weighing 8lbs, 15oz!!! Congrats!!!
2/14/08: Congratulations to my first Valentine's Baby! AKH arrived at 9:59am on 2/14/08! Mommy did GREAT, no medication, despite the pitocin! WOW!! D&C made the perfect team, what a great way to say 'I love you!'
2/1/08: WHAT A WEEK!!! 2 babies in 17 hours!!! With the help of my wonderful new Doula-in-Training, February 1st was a VERY BUSY DAY!! Welcome GR and SJS! 2 Boys! Their mommies waited a long time to meet them and both did a GREAT JOB! Congrats to J&G and R&D. The world needs parents like you!!! Good job!!
11/7/07: Welcome to the world, LRS! Born on November 7, 2007, weighing 7lbs, 4oz after a record breaking 12 hours of labor! She's just adorable! And another with NO Medication! Great work S & J!!! I'm so proud!
10/3/07: My 2 FREE Birth spots have now been filled. But please talk with me if having a doula seems out of your financial budget. Finances should not be an issue when labor support is concerned.
8/8/07: My certification has been renewed through July 31, 2009!
8/6/07: Doulas on CNN!! Read the article: "Doulas deliver help for birthing moms".
8/2/07: More Congratulations to another newcomer, ACK! Born on August 1, 2007, weighing 6lbs, 7.7oz after 15 hours of labor! Hooray S & K!!!
7/20/07: Congratulations goes to my newest baby, EEG! Born on July 19, 2007, weighing 7lbs, 13oz! 31 Hours and NO Medications! Great Job W & M ~ She's Gorgeous!!!

Westminster, Maryland

410.913.7085

Lauren at agrowingbelly.com