Leah O'Connell

Charlottesville Pregnancy and Newborn Resources

Pre and Postnatal Doulas in Charlottesville
Charlottesville Lactation and Feeding Specialists
Physical healing + postnatal exercise in Charlottesville
Maternity clothing in Charlottesville (+ favorite Sustainable and Small Business Online Boutiques)
Favorite activities to do with your baby in Charlottesville
Charlottesville prenatal massages + body care
Other Miscellaneous Charlottesville-Based Resources for New Parents
Photography Recommendations

As a Charlottesville maternity and newborn photographer, I meet A LOT of new parents…all with varying journeys through pregnancy and postpartum. I wanted to create this article that would gather the recommendations from all those amazing people and allow them to pass it on.

In this post, you’ll find a collection of helpful resources for your pregnancy, postpartum, and new parenthood season of life. There is a whole ecosystem waiting to support you.

If you’re local to Charlottesville, VA, you’ll see just how many local services, shops, and professionals are standing by to support you, right in our community. These recommendations come straight from my audience of awesome parents and the honest-to-goodness things that got them through the thick of it.

Think of this article as your curated parenting swipe file that cuts to the core of what you actually care about.

1. Charlottesville Pre/Postnatal Doulas

Doulas provide invaluable physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. If you’re feeling especially anxious about childbirth or are experiencing complications where you may need extra support, their guidance can help dramatically.

Parents who utilize doulas report feeling more confidence and support during long labors and sometimes spontaneous decisions that are required in the childbirth process, while keeping whole health of mother and baby in mind.

Lauren Durer – Doula + childbirth classes
Cox Pregnancy + Birth Support – Kelly Cox, doula + birth support, pre + postnatal yoga
Charlottesville Doulas – a small team dedicated to supported labor, delivery and postpartum care
Birth Sisters of Charlottesville – Doula collective focused on supporting women of color through their birth journey and providing culturally rooted, trauma-informed perinatal services and advocacy.
Beloved Birthing and Babies by Molly Duncan- doula, birth, and postpartum support, birth classes, prenatal yoga classes and more

2. Lactation and Feeding Support

All babies eat – but it’s not that simple (?!?!). Breastfeeding and bottle feeding can be more complicated that you may think, and every child and mother’s bodies are different, making solutions particularly difficult to figure out on your own. These local resources offer expert guidance to help you and your baby establish a successful feeding routine.

Flow Lactation – provides skilled support from an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to help you reach your breastfeeding goals
Foundations Pediatric Therapy – offers a holistic approach to support for infants struggling with feeding difficulties, including tongue/lip tie-related challenges and oral motor skills.
UVA Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic – breastfeeding support, including consultations and parenting classes
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Lactation Services -free breastfeeding classes
Milestones on the Go – for weaning and food aversions and slow transitions to solids with in-home and clinic-based sessions.
Milk & Cradle LLC by Tikara Cannon – infant feeding support and lactation consulting
Latched Love Lactation – lactation support with in-home consultations to address breastfeeding challenges and provide personalized guidance.

charlottesville newborn and pregnancy recommendations

3. Physical healing + postnatal exercise in Charlottesville

Recovering after childbirth is crucial for new moms. Engaging in postnatal exercises not only aids in physical healing but also boosts mental well-being. These local resources offer specialized programs to support postpartum recovery but wait just a minute before you go spiraling about “getting your body back.” This is about health and healing. Take your time.

When asked about the topic of exercise post-partum, these were just a few of the responses:

“Don’t stress about losing the weight. Eat well for you and your baby’s well being”

“Listen to your body and be kind to it.”

“Shove food in your mouth and relax bc you just popped out a baby!”

Soooo… just take good care, okay?!

Women in Motion – orthopedic + performance physical therapy, pre + postnatal physical therapy, pregnancy prep classes │ in person & virtual

One Fit Mother Cville – indoor and outdoor workouts, core and pelvice floor recovery classes, and a supportive community for moms at all stages. Babies are welcome to join in the stroller! (the first class is free)
Well-Fed Mama | Elizabeth Newton provides virtual coaching and 1:1 support to help pregnant moms feel vibrant and equipped through nutrition.

Be Squared Nutrition │ Bethany Blalock, nutrition assessments and plans especially for new moms, infants, + young kids
Balance Chiropractic & Wellness – provides an 8-session, 4-week class designed to guide and educate on pelvic recovery after birth and core strengthening
Kindred CVille – prenatal and postpartum yoga, strength, and movement classes designed to support pregnancy, birth preparation, and postpartum recovery.

Go for a walk outside!!!!!

maternity and newborn support in Charlottesville, va

4. Maternity clothing in Charlottesville (+ favorite Sustainable and Small Business Online Boutiques)

It can be hard to find maternity clothing that both feels good but doesn’t feel like a giant potato sack. It’s also frustrating to invest in pieces that you know you can only wear for a short season. I love shopping secondhand for maternity pieces and always love scouring for nursing friendly pieces that could still extend to my postpartum wardrobe and beyond.

These were some of my favorite places to shop for maternity clothing, and also double as the top recommended from my audience.

Green Bean Baby Boutique – organic + eco-friendly items (based in Charlottesville)
Darling Boutique – quality second-hand items (based in Charlottesville)
Kid to Kid – mostly secondhand children’s clothing, but also with a section for gently loved maternity-ware
Roolee – Utah-based boutique with comfortable, stylish maternity & nursing-friendly pieces
Pact Organic – organic + eco-friendly maternity staples
One Loved Babe – stylish maternity, nursing-friendly, and baby pieces
Love Olive Co – Idaho-based boutique with boho maternity + nursing-friendly pieces

If you’re interested in recommendations for what to wear in the hospital that’s comfy and accessible for those immediately postpartum recovery days (again, without feeling like a blob) check out this post with more recommendations for the softest sweatpants, pajama sets, and robes you will ever find.

5. Favorite activities with your baby in Charlottesville

I never got into many baby & me classes, but I did find some of my best friends to this date through a local moms meetup group. Parents in my audience suggested these activities as favorites for ways to get out of the house with your little ones, meet other parents, and even let older kids burn off some energy.

Musicology – infant + toddler music group classes
Tinkergarten │ Outdoor activity-based classes in local greenspaces
Baby Buds at Virginia Discovery Museum – a drop-in program for ages 0-24 months focusing on sensory play and early learning experiences.
Blue Ridge Music Together – music and movement classes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with family participation.
Carver Recreation Center – provides various classes, including art, tumbling, and swimming for babies and toddlers.
Wildrock – nature play + discovery paradise! (Not much for infants here, but a fantastic place to wander with them in a carrier with older siblings in tow.)

dad with newborn baby, charlottesville parenting resources

6. Charlottesville prenatal massages + body care

Taking time to relax and care for your body during pregnancy can alleviate so much discomfort, especially in the third trimester, and reduce stress, too. Here are some local spas that my mom circles recommended offering prenatal massages and other feel-good body things:

Holladay Spa – hair, facials, brows, waxing, skincare
Atlas Chiropractic – specifically trained for alignments in pregnancy and postpartum
Latitude Massage – prenatal + postnatal massages
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa– prenatal massages and facials

newborn photos with dogs in Charlottesville, VA

7. Misc. Amazing Charlottesville-Based Resources for New Parents

Because new parenthood comes with a range of emotions, new circumstances, and unexpected challenges, there are so many talented people working to support you for whatever comes up. The fact that these businesses all exist should be proof enough that you are not alone.

Mothertree Wellness – a power duo providing maternal wellness coaching, mom groups, workshops, events, & education
Rivanna Therapy Services, with Alexis Tew, a pediatric speech therapist also offering baby & toddler playgroups
Allison Nickle Egidi, Sleep + Wellness Coach – newborn sleep coach program and 1-on-1 sleep consultations for parents
CVille Family Magazine | a regularly curated collection of articles, recommendations, and parenting conversations for all ages.
LifeSpring Pregnancy Centers – free parenting resources, including classes and support groups, to assist new and expecting parents.

Photography Recommendations

This is my specialty, (obviously) but the most important thing I want to emphasize is that there is no requirement – only what feels important and good to you.

Some families want to get newborn photos made right away. Others wait till the baby is 3 or 6 months.

If this is a season you objectively want captured in a way that’s not your shaking iphone while you have spitup running down your shirt, I recommend setting aside your fears and hiring someone you trust. All your concerns can be mitigated in the hands of a professional.

And the longer you wait, the more it slips to the background.

Then all of a sudden, that baby is 12.

Likewise, sometimes people shy away from maternity photos because they think they have to be fancy and flowy and dramatic – but that’s simply not true. Maternity photos can be a casual capturing of life, just like any photos you choose to have made of your family story.

Check out these articles for more information on my take for timing and preparation of maternity or newborn photos:

If you’d like all these recommendations in pretty pdf form PLUS the deeper-dive round-ups on things that I can’t link to but you just kindof need to know, like…

what I wish I knew
worst advice I got
things from my registry I didn’t really use
best books for maternity leave
and best food for late night snacks

… sign up below and I’ll send it to your inbox straight away!

These bonus recommendations will be sent right to your inbox + you’ll become part of this wise and witty community.

You’ll also get weekly stories on parenting, creativity, and simply joys a la The Firefly Letters to keep carrying you through with depth and honesty in the journey of parenthood.

Whether you’re preparing for birth, adjusting to life with a newborn, or just figuring things out one diaper at a time (aren’t we all?!), having the right local support can make a world of difference.