Lisa-Marie's class is a wonderful introduction to childbirth, postpartum recovery, and newborn care. Her passion for teaching and expertise in childbirth are so clearly evident in watching her videos and joining for her Zoom live session. We appreciated the flexibility of the class set up and benefitted from the group discussion portion. I would highly recommend Lisa's class to anyone looking for an engaging and evidence-based childbirth education resource! read more

Lisa's class was so informative and helpful as we geared up for our first child. The ability to watch the training videos online was great for our busy schedule, but mixing it with the Zoom allowed us to have that personal touch and time to ask whatever questions we needed. And it's an extra bonus if you're delivering at GW Hospital, where you will likely see her! Couldn't recommend this more for new parents looking to demystify the birth process and get trusted advice. read more

Birthing Basics was such a valuable introduction to what we would experience during the birth of our daughter. Lisa covered many contingencies and helpful techniques for what ultimately turned out for us to be an induced, but unmedicated birth. Her counter pressure techniques were particularly valuable, but most importantly we felt prepared to work with the doctors and nurses to make the best decisions possible for our daughter. read more

I've taken two classes with Lisa and loved them both. I took the Childbirth and Newborn class in 2016 and then the comfort measures refresher just last week. There is only so much you learn in your prenatal visits with your doctors and can read up on. The childbirth class was great in that it really broke down the different stages of childbirth and what could be expected. Lisa was able to break down very scientific, jargon-y information for us in a way that we could understand. She also incorporated breathing techniques and comfort measures throughout while also keeping in mind who has a preference for medicated and unmedicated births. Lisa does not speak on different preference with any value statements/judgements which is very appreciated. My husband and I learned so much about the process, what we should expect and came away with serious pro-tips that you can only know from someone with so many years of experience for the childbirth class. Now for the refresher! It was a great short 2-hour crash course that focuses on unmedicated births. However, Lisa was still able to provide comfort measures and pro-tips for what you can do in terms of birth, etc even if you have a medicated birth. If you want an epidural, you may not get one right away, so I think these comfort measures are still useful to have in your toolbox if you end up laboring for a while without an epidural even for a little bit. We left having taken quite a few notes and could hone in a bit more on what we need to sharpen or focus on now that we've done this before. I felt good having the refresher, you really forget a lot after giving birth and this was definitely helpful and put me at ease. Ideally you should probably take the two classes together but I still found it useful even a year later to take the refresher. I would definitely recommend taking whatever course fits your situation! You'll leave with a wealth of knowledge and feel more confident about your birth experience. read more

My husband and I took Lisa-Marie's Childbirth course and her Comfort Measures course. We were very pleased that she was able to customize some of the information for just my husband and myself since we were having a home birth instead of a hospital birth. While some of the information ultimately did not apply to us or was presented in a way that kept us informed of all possibilities that may arise in birth. In Lisa-Marie's Comfort Measures course we learned lots of different positions and pressure points that help both stimulate labor as well as keep me as comfortable as possible during labor. Ultimately, my labor was only 4 hours long and we didn't have time to use some of the positions we learned but my husband put to use cold rice packs and massages along my back that Lisa-Marie had shown him to do. It is a great course, Lisa-Marie is an expert awesome and knowledgeable teacher and her home is warm and inviting! read more

Lisa is AMAZING. Her class left my husband and I feeling empowered and equipped with the proper tools for our baby's upcoming birth. Her comfort measures class educated us on the various stages of labor and what we can expect. After taking Lisa's class we were more confident and excited for the birthing experience. We were able to have an unmedicated birth (which we wanted) largely because of the tools Lisa taught us to use during the birthing process. My husband felt confident in supporting me, and utilized many of the techniques Lisa taught in the class. I will definitely recommend this class to any friends expecting in the future. Thank you Lisa! read more

Lisa's wisdom, knowledge, and experience was invaluable!!! we really didn't know what to expect as first-time, soon-to-be parents and our anxiety and fears were very much put at ease by Lisa throughout her course. Thanks so much, Lisa!!! read more

This is a great class! Very informative, Lisa-Marie knows so much about labor but also about each of the major hospitals in this area and what they offer. My husband and I went into class not knowing much and came out feeling fully prepared for birth! It's well worth the time and money to feel comfortable knowing what to expect when you deliver! Plus Lisa-Marie makes the class fun and interactive so it goes by very fast! read more

Absolutely fabulous birth class. As a first-time mom who was feeling pretty inundated with advice and opinions from all corners of the internet and social media, I was so thankful for Lisa-Marie's practical, straightforward presentation of information. She doesn't make you feel as though any birth preferences are right or wrong; she simply provides the info in a very unbiased and objective manner (backing it up with her own extensive experience as well as data). I feel much more educated and empowered after the class, and far less nervous about my baby's impending arrival. Would definitely recommend her birth class to any parents-to-be. read more

Lisa-Marie was a fabulous teacher. Her comfort measure class was engaging, packed with resources, and tangible for anyone walking through birth with someone or those expecting for the first time. Highly recommend her classes. read more

My wife and I took this class recently, and it was extremely helpful. Lisa was awesome! For me, I was looking for a comprehensive crash course in 1 day and learned so much. Specifically, all of the information on what to monitor during pregnancy, when you know it's time to visit the hospital, labor process from start to finish, an honest explanation around the days / weeks following labor, and how to take care of an infant. After the class, I remember asking my wife - how do people who don't take this class know what to do? Lisa can answer any questions across the spectrum and supports her thoughts with data and references to studies in addition to her 20+ years of experience as a labor and delivery nurse. Overall, could not be more positive about the class! read more

As a new expectant father, I didn't know what I didn't know. Unknown unknowns, if you will. Lisa's class answered more questions I never thought I would have. She is extremely knowledgeable and confidence inspiring. I feel like I actually understand pregnancy and the delivery process. I have already recommended her class to friends and wholeheartedly do here as well. read more

My husband and I took Lisa's Childbirth & Newborn Care and Comfort Measures courses on April 22, 2018 and May 5, 2018 respectively. They were absolutely wonderful! We learned so much and had such a great time! Lisa's instructing is thorough and engaging. She approaches the material from an incredibly experienced view point and is able to incorporate so many real-life examples. We enjoyed all the hands-on demonstrations and trying out the different positions, stretches, massage and acupressure points. Time flew by! Because of Lisa's courses, my husband and I feel much better prepared for what lies ahead before, during, and after labor and delivery! We highly recommend the Childbirth & Newborn Care and Comfort Measures courses! read more

My husband and I took the virtual version (thanks, COVID-19!) of Lisa-Marie's Birthing Basics class and are so glad we did. She delivers her instruction with great warmth and passion, and we both found ourselves entertained by some of Lisa-Marie's anecdotes and ways of breaking down clinical concepts. She clearly also is open to any and all questions either during the class or afterwards, and I like knowing I have a resource to turn to, especially since we didn't end up hiring a doula because of COVID. We're feeling way better prepared for our first labor-and-delivery experience! Thank you, Birthing Basics! read more

My husband found this class and I couldn't have been more pleased. As a first time Mom, I've only been focused on "once he gets here" and didn' give much thought into the process leading up to it. It's mother nature, right? It'll just happen? Well, that may be true, but the knowledge to support me through labor and the decisions I will NOW make because of this class is incredibly valuable. I can not thank Lisa enough for making the class informative and fun! She has a great personality and will make the full-day course fly by. I would highly recommend you take this course. read more

Lisa gives great amount of knowledge which is really helpful for all The amount of information we get from the class which no one would even tell us :) Super happy with the class and Lisa She is a wonderful person and very helping and knowledgeable read more

I'm due to have my first baby in 7 weeks and my husband and I loved Lisa's class. We feel prepared and supported for the birth of our child. Due to COVID the class was virtual but was really impactful and helpful. Well-produced materials and a supportive Q&A Zoom session capped of the weekend. read more

This class was so helpful! Answered many questions, ones I knew I had and ones I didn't know I had! FIRST, THE LOCATION: it's in her home in Fairfax off one of those scenic, twisty roads. We were warned that there might be traffic, but we didn't hit any on our way to our Sunday session. Either way, leave yourself plenty of time to get there. The class is in her (very nicely finished) basement. There are several couches & recliners to fit everyone (classes are capped at 5 couples). There are also ottomans to put your feet up. She also provides water, though most of us brought our own out of habit. There's also a full bath right there to take breaks as needed. NEXT, PRESENTATION: she was great! She's very funny and expressive, sharing real stories - but no personal info! - to drive the lessons home. She answered everyone's questions, and even made adjustments to her lesson plan to accommodate for half of us having midwives or birth center births planned instead of hospital births with OBs. She also used plenty of props, large illustrated posters and a whiteboard to show, not just tell. She's a registered nurse at GW Hospital and teachers other nurses, and her knowledge, experience, competence and confidence in her skills was reassuring. It's always off-putting when you go to a session and the 'teacher' is like, "...well, I'm not sure...". That never happened with Lisa-Marie. She was as familiar with birth center practices & policies as she was with hospital births. ODDS & ENDS: My favorite part was learning some exercises, stretches and breathing techniques to cope with discomfort now and - soon - with labor. She also taught our husbands some massage techniques to help as well! Snack time was VERY appreciated, as I failed to eat beforehand. She provided fruit, cheese, chips and hummus. But they don't come out until you're a little over half way thru the session. So don't be like me, eat first and/or bring snacks! Finally, the last hour to 45 minutes was spent using baby dolls to learn how to dress and undress a newborn, and how to give your newborn a sponge bath while the umbilical stump is healing. She also demonstrated several breastfeeding positions and how to burp the baby. All-in-all, it was well worth the time and I recommend Lisa-Marie's course to any expectant mother! read more

I will definitely recommend (and have recimmended). In Lisa's home which was very comfortable. Fast-paced and really great info. - from massage techniques for nonlaboring partners to an up-close look at common intervention tools (epidural needle, forceps, etc) and lots of info. about stages of labor. Snacks and water provided! You can buy a massager or heat/ice pack for labor (I didn't buy at class but aheat pack was soooo good for labor). I was surprised that attendees didn't really know anything about labor/delivery before the class. The class was great but more like cliffnotes? Lisa will give you an awesome book that is a good reference. Recommend taking in your 3rd trimester so you and your partner can remember what you've learned. First time parents should take this class!! read more

There really aren't enough ways to describe how wonderful this class was. I really didn't know what to expect coming into the class, but had been recommended by a friend to take Lisa's class instead of the class offered by my hospital. I am endlessly thankful that I took her advice! I remember thinking that a multi-hour birthing class would be so boring or overwhelming but it was so far from that. I went into the class never having read a single book, or really done any research on the birthing process... but I left feeling totally informed and ready! Lisa is engaging, welcoming, and comfortable to be around. She is so knowledgable but in a way that leaves freedom for whatever type of labor and birth process you desire. She is very factual and lays out all the details for you in a way where you don't feel intimidated or discouraged but you leave feeling empowered like you have all the right tools you need for a successful labor and delivery! I especially loved that the class included some details in the beginning about how to manage symptoms through the end of your third trimester, the nitty gritty about knowing when it's "time to go!" and how to work through labor with your partner in a caring and supportive way, and also loved the final hour on infant/newborn basic care. Absolutely wonderful class. I would recommend 100% read more

My husband and I took Lisa's class and not only learned so much but also had fun. Lisa is very passionate, informative and makes the class interactive. Walking away from the class I mentally felt prepared for the rest of my pregnancy, l/d and bringing home our baby! Thank you Lisa and I'd recommend everyone to take this class! read more

This class was great and Lisa is an amazing teacher. Going in I was worried about a 7 hour class but Losa is such a good teacher. She is engaging for the entire day. I feel so much more confident after this class. read more

My husband and I took two of Lisa-Marie's birthing classes including childbirth and newborn care and comfort measures. Her classes were well organized, informative, research based and she was able to keep it interesting! The classes included everything I could've wanted to know before giving birth without being redundant or boring. She provides great handouts that you can always look back at for a refresher. Lisa-Marie is spunky, kind and supportive as you are beginning this journey in her class. In addition, if you are delivering at GW this is an amazing opportunity to get insider tips as she is a nurse there and it's also nice to see a familiar face when you arrive at L&D. Thanks to Lisa-Marie we were well informed and had a natural delivery knowing all the options and having a general idea of what was to come! Highly recommend! read more

My husband and I took Lisa's birthing class about 2 months ahead of our November due date. We took the class just a couple of weeks after completing our hospital tour, which I found to be a little scary/overwhelming. After Lisa's class, all my fears were eased and I feel much more confident about what to expect when those contractions start! We found the class especially helpful as we'll be delivering at GW, where Lisa works, so she was able to give us lots of insight on procedures & policies specific to our hospital. The 6 hours really flew by and Lisa covers everything in a fun and engaging way. read more

The class from Birthing Basics was great for both me and my wife. As we're expecting our first child at the end of May 2015 we wanted to get more of an idea on the whole process, what goes on, newborn care, etc. and Lisa was able to answer all of our questions. We opted for the 6-hour class on a Saturday which is a bit long, but you definitely cover a lot of material and it needs to be that long. Lisa is a very easy going, well-spoken, funny, and dynamic person so it definitely helps since the class is long. We're very happy that we took this class and definitely learned a lot (i.e sedatives available to help manage pain if you're trying to go all natural, what is involved with each type of delivery method, when it makes sense to go to the hospital, helpful massage techniques and positions to alleviate pain, etc). I would certainly recommend this class to future parents who are expecting their first child. read more

I attended Lisa's private class at her home with my husband in early January 2015. This was the perfect class for us. My husband has one child from a previous marriage but never attended a birthing class and this was my first child. Lisa provided the perfect amount of information for both of us in a single afternoon. I am 39 years old so because of my age I'm considered high-risk. Lisa provided us information on all of the possible scenarios for a high-risk birth. In particular, my husband and I appreciated LIsa's explanation of the equipment that could be used in the labor and delivery room. We left feeling informed and prepared. We also knew that we had a great resource in Lisa as all of her information is current and supported by science since she's a practicing labor and delivery nurse at GW hospital. More importantly, Lisa is approachable, kind and listens to your concerns. She uses humor and her real-life experiences to help you understand the variables in childbirth and that many successful scenarios are possible. We really appreciated her mother/baby focused perspective. I gave birth to my daugther 5 weeks early due to high blood pressure. Becuase of our experience in Lisa's class we felt comfortable in the birthing process we encountered at Inova Loudoun Hospital's Birthing Inn. I was induced and we used all of the breathing and massage techniques we learned in class to help endure the pains of labor. Thank you, Lisa! read more

I would highly recommend Lisa's class, especially if you're a first time parent and have no idea what to expect during childbirth. Lisa is a labor & delivery nurse, so she knows what she's talking about, has a ton of anecdotal stories to tell, and will educate you on a lot of the medical things & interventions that you may need to know while you're in the midst of childbirth. The class was 6 hours long but the times were convenient on the weekend and the class actually went back pretty fast and didn't drag on. The class focused on the different stages of labor, and what to expect and what to do in each of the different parts. She covered a lot of the pain management drugs - what the difference between a spinal tap and an epidural was, and the pros and cons of each of them, along with the pros and cons of pain management drugs. She also talked about the different intervention drugs that may be used, or techniques, which made us feel a lot more confident and at ease in deciding what to use, since I ended up with my water breaking early, needing to have pitocin to move labor & contractions along, and also had an epidural. Knowing what the pros and cons were for all these things were really helpful, along with being aware of timing of the epidural. You will also watch some videos of live births which is not for the squeamish or faint of heart - but it definitely helps prepare you for what to expect since there's no turning back. The newborn basics at the end was 30 min or so, and she went over swaddling, dressing the baby, changing diapers, etc, but quite frankly, a lot of these things you learn at the hospital from the nurses, so I was glad the class skewed more heavily on the labor part than the newborn basics. Plus, swaddling a doll is way easier than swaddling a squirmy real-life baby! I liked that the classes are small, and limited to 5 couples (10 people), and I felt comfortable asking questions and the class never felt rushed. There's a break in the middle where Lisa provides snacks, and there's a water cooler so that you can stay hydrated during class if you bring a water bottle. Overall, I'm super glad we took this class prior to childbirth and would recommend it to anyone who is going through this for the first time. I'm confident this is better than a rushed-hospital session, and very in-depth, but concise (even though it's 6 hours) for the amount of information you take away. read more

My husband and I took a childbirth class a week ago and we highly recommend it. We learned about everything we needed to know and feel totally prepared for labor and delivery. Lisa is very knowledgeable, passionate, and is able to answer pretty much any question you may have. She goes over every method of delivery from natural to C-section and at the end of the class you learn about how to bath and swaddle your newborn. We are so glad we took this class. Thank you Lisa! read more

This was exactly the course I was hoping for. The six hours was very well used - giving us an overview of what to expect in the third trimester, in labor and delivery, and postpartum, as well as a bit of basic baby care. Lisa's presentation was engaging, evidence-based, and nonjudgmental. Great mix of hands-on massage and breathing techniques, been-there-done-that expert lecture, and takeaway reference materials that left us feeling much more comfortable with what to expect and with some great tools to use. I didn't realize before booking that Lisa works at GW, which is where we will be delivering, so her specific knowledge was a big bonus there for us - if you are delivering at GW and want an overview course I truly can't imagine a better one. But she had up to date info on on the other local hospitals as well. Buy the $25 comfort kit - you will want your partner to start practicing these techniques right away on your already sore pregnant body and that way you go right home with it. read more

Though we were unable to attend a class in person, the Team of Lisa and Dan provided my wife and I all the information we needed. The course was great as it allowed us to work at our own pace and the Q&A session was superb! Thank you Birthing Basics for putting us on the right path! read more

This was a helpful class with a lot of good information! Highly recommended.

Highly recommend this class! My husband and I learned so much and feel better prepared to give birth and take care of a newborn. I also liked the comfortable setting of the class. read more

My husband and I took the Comfort/Refresher class at the end of last year to prepare for our second child. Lisa was very knowledgeable and her class made me feel more mentally prepared for "the day" This class had a lot of tips for how daddy can make mommy feel more relax, massages that can help ease back pain, things to do to help with contraction pains, signs to look for and so more. If its been a few years since your first baby, I would recommend this class :) read more

I took the Comfort Measures Class that Lisa offered a few weeks prior to my delivery. Lisa's class helped prepare me as much as possible for labor and helped put my mind at ease regarding the unknown that's associated with labor and delivery. Lisa is a labor and delivery nurse so she definitely uses this class to educate soon to be mothers on the labor and delivery experience. I highly recommend this class to any new moms or moms that need a refresher! read more

This class was great! I preferred virtual given the length of the class. Learned a lot about pain management, breastfeeding, possible interventions, how your partner can support you, newborn care, and other topics. I also really liked the concrete exercises taught to assist with massage, turning a breech baby, laboring, newborn care, and other things. They also offer a comfort kit you can purchase separately with useful things. The only things I'd say that can add to the experience would be a class or module on baby/child CPR/AED, options and pros/cons for hospital birth, birthing center, and home birth, and some other minor things. However, this would've made the class longer and I took some other classes that filled in the gaps. Overall, this is a really great foundation class for birthing in a hospital and newborn care, and some other classes filled the small gaps I was missing. read more

Lisa's childbirth class was great! Highly recommend to all soon-to- be parents. My husband and I both learned a lot about all types of labor and deliveries, and my husband especially feels better prepared for what may come and how he can be a better support person for me during the process. Lisa kept things interesting and fun. Couldn't have asked for a better experience as we prepare for this journey. read more

My wife and I took Lisa's Birthing Basics course and found it very informative. Lisa is a wealth of knowledge and is very passionate on the subject of childbirth. She packs in a lot of information so come ready to listen and take notes. I'm not sure that we'll ever be fully ready, but we're feeling a lot more so as a result of taking Lisa's class. read more

My wife and I were referred to Lisa by our OB, and we loved it! Informative and interactive -- and enough to keep us awake and engaged the whole time (six hours). Lisa's diagrams, visual aids, helpful exercises, and, of course, her great stories, together with her years of experience and being up-to-date on the latest research is a fantastic combination. Truly grateful. read more

This birthing class was amazing and Lisa is a brilliant nurse practitioner who knows her stuff! I highly recommend any new up and coming parent attend this class. read more

Lisa was a wonderfully knowledgeable and positive instructor. We learned a lot in a short amount of time. It was definitely worthwhile and I would highly recommend this to any information hungry, soon-to-be parents. read more