meet elizabeth
Elizabeth Varaso is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a DONA Certified Birth Doula and the mother of four very ornery children ages ten and under. She originally came to Philadelphia 19 years ago to complete her MSEd in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania and to serve at-risk children and families in the Kensington community.
Following a decade in community outreach work, Elizabeth discovered an unexpected calling as a birth professional after being profoundly impacted by the birth of her own children. In particular, the experience of adding a doula to her team of caregivers gave her a vision of how satisfying a well-supported birth could be.
As a doula, Elizabeth has served over 75 birthing families which has given her experience and insight of the inner-workings of most of the city's major hospitals. Her first three children were born at The Birth Center in Bryn Mawr and her fourth at Pennsylvania Hospital, so she has a special fondness for helping families prepare to welcome their babies there. In her 8 years as a childbirth educator, Elizabeth has taught hundreds of expectant couples through her classes offered at sites all around Philadelphia including the Prepared Childbirth Plus Class (Previously "Mindful Birth") at Pennsylvania Hospital, the Comprehensive Childbirth Class at Mama's Wellness Joint as well as offering her own online, and hybrid online-in person birth classes designed for especially busy expectant parents. She also works at By My Side Parenting in Fishtown to offer baby sign language playgroups and occasional workshops for expectant families and new parents on a variety of topics.
It's her desire to provide empowering, evidence-based childbirth education and strong, gentle & loving doula support to other birthing people and their partners with the hope that they will not just cope, but thrive through their childbirth experience. Elizabeth is pleased to serve people from a variety of backgrounds and seeks to honor the sacredness of each pregnancy journey and birth by respecting the needs, goals and values of each individual birthing person. She hopes that her calm and confident demeanor, her enthusiasm and optimistic outlook will help make the adventure of preparing for childbirth an enjoyable one!
Following a decade in community outreach work, Elizabeth discovered an unexpected calling as a birth professional after being profoundly impacted by the birth of her own children. In particular, the experience of adding a doula to her team of caregivers gave her a vision of how satisfying a well-supported birth could be.
As a doula, Elizabeth has served over 75 birthing families which has given her experience and insight of the inner-workings of most of the city's major hospitals. Her first three children were born at The Birth Center in Bryn Mawr and her fourth at Pennsylvania Hospital, so she has a special fondness for helping families prepare to welcome their babies there. In her 8 years as a childbirth educator, Elizabeth has taught hundreds of expectant couples through her classes offered at sites all around Philadelphia including the Prepared Childbirth Plus Class (Previously "Mindful Birth") at Pennsylvania Hospital, the Comprehensive Childbirth Class at Mama's Wellness Joint as well as offering her own online, and hybrid online-in person birth classes designed for especially busy expectant parents. She also works at By My Side Parenting in Fishtown to offer baby sign language playgroups and occasional workshops for expectant families and new parents on a variety of topics.
It's her desire to provide empowering, evidence-based childbirth education and strong, gentle & loving doula support to other birthing people and their partners with the hope that they will not just cope, but thrive through their childbirth experience. Elizabeth is pleased to serve people from a variety of backgrounds and seeks to honor the sacredness of each pregnancy journey and birth by respecting the needs, goals and values of each individual birthing person. She hopes that her calm and confident demeanor, her enthusiasm and optimistic outlook will help make the adventure of preparing for childbirth an enjoyable one!
elizabeth's own nest full of baby birds . . .
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elizabeth blogs (& vlogs) about "pregnancy, birth and parenting ... philly style" at www.babyjawn.com
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