Lori Cooper, CD(DONA) is the mother of three children and decided to become a doula when she was pregnant with her second child in 2001. She is certified as a birth doula through Doulas of North America, and serves as the leader of the Northern Virginia Chapter of International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) whose support and information helps women avoid c-sections and/or plan for their VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). In the spring of 2005, Lori trained as a birth assistant with BirthCare, which has allowed her to expand her birth knowledge base and support midwives and their clients in out of hospital births.

In her 5+ years as a doula, she has had the honor of attending the births of over 100 babies in a variety of birth settings. Other trainings and seminars that she has been a part of are as follows:
  • 25 Years of Discovering ICAN Conference – April 20-22 2007, Syracuse, NY – speakers included Dr. Marsden Wagner (Author of Born in the USA), Dr. Mark Landon (VBAmC researcher and OB/GYN), Henci Goer, and discussions included “Herbal Healing for Mother and Child”, and “One Layer or Two”
  • Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Childbirth Education Class - January 2007
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Re-Certification – June 2006
  • Herbs and Homeopathics for the Childbearing Woman - November 2005
  • Reclaiming Childbirth Choices Conference - April 29-31 2005, San Diego, CA - discussions included "Ears Both Open", "Postpartum Mood Disorders", "Vaginal Birth After Cesarean", "The Safety of Vaginal Birth", "Choices in Childbirth", "Women as Directors of Their Own Birth".
  • Advanced VBAC Training Workshop - March 2005
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Certification - January 2005
  • Spinning Babies Workshop - June 2004
  • Birthing From Within Seminar - June 2003
  • DONA Birth Doula Training - April 2002
Lori believes that childbirth can be an experience to be cherished, rather than just a means to an end. Educating and empowering women and their partners is the key to a positive birth experience and being able to make a positive difference in the lives and birth experiences of many has proven to be more rewarding than she ever could have imagined. Becoming a doula for Lori has been a wonderful life change brought about by a calling and a passion for childbirth.

Lori gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in 1998 under the care of an obstetrical practice in a hospital. She experienced a very medically managed birth, including a pitocin induction at 38 weeks because of her OB's fear of a large baby (who was just 7 lbs. 13 oz.). For her second, she decided that she wanted to labor and birth without medical interventions, but stayed with the same care provider. In turn, she received similar care - a labor that was very medically managed with unnecessary interventions, which lead to having her son via an emergency cesarean section. For her third baby, she decided that birthing at home was safest for her. She had her baby on June 30, 2005, and it was a safe and healthy HBAC (homebirth after cesarean). Click here to read her birth story! All of these experiences lead Lori to where she is today, and she feels strongly that she is a better-rounded doula because of her experiences.

Lori received her B.S. in Management from York College of Pennsylvania and has done some M.B.A work as well. Before entering the childbirth field, Lori worked in Contracts and Finance for a government contractor. Due to her company's flexible schedule, she is able to continue her office job while serving her doula and birth assisting clients as well.

When not focusing on her office job or something related to childbirth, Lori loves to spend time with her children, read, swim, and spend time scrapbooking.