In an effort to support stay-at-home and work-at-home parents -- as well as to provide popular products and innovative services -- Coral Slavin opened the Bellies and Babies Boutique, N88 W16733 Main St. in Menomonee Falls, earlier this month.

The shop sells many items on consignment, including wares made by local moms like slings, baby clothing, cards, soaps, lotions, "greeting cakes," diaper bags, toys and more. Cloth diapering supplies, cloth sanitary napkins, diaper pails, training pants, pregnancy photography and gently used maternity clothing are also available.

Most interesting, however, is the boutique's formal maternity clothes rental. "For special occasions, we rent formal maternity dresses so Moms-to-Be don't have to buy an expensive dress that they'll only use once," says Slavin.

Slavin, who has a doctorate in health education, is certified as a Bradley Natural Childbirth Educator; both an ICEA and DONA Doula, an ACE Prenatal Fitness/Yoga Instructor, and a Stress Management Counselor and hypnotherapist. She has been a doula and childbirth educator for over seven years and has attended more than 160 births.

Last year Slavin opened Wisconsin's third free-standing birth center, The Center for Well-Rounded Maternity Care.

"The mission of Well-Rounded Maternity Services is to support natural parenting and family-centered birth at home, hospital and birth center," says Slavin.

All proceeds from Bellies & Babies go towards the center.

Bellies & Babies Boutique is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (262) 893-9945.