Birth photography appears in a variety of formats. Some families favor subtle photography, while others want each and every moment documented. Birth is a private and close event. It is completely up to you how you want to give birth and how you want that to be documented on camera. No matter how a woman goes into labor, she is still incredibly strong as heck. The birthing experience can differ from woman to woman going through contractions at home to mother having a scheduled cesarean delivery.

In labour – and in life – there is so much value in rest. Contrary to the messages constantly inundating us, making time for rest does not make us lazy or unproductive. We are not worth less when we prioritize rest.

The contractions came so that the mother could not stand. Although it hurts, it is the pain of happiness, the pain of a long-awaited meeting. I have waited until now, these sudden pains are nothing to me.

Forever thankful for allowing me to capture this moment for her family. Truly one of the best moments in my career… I can’t explain everything I felt during this session. I didn’t get to have a natural birth and watching and capturing this moment for her in such a peaceful environment, with so much love and support truly changed me

Did you know I give a handy support guide to all of my birth clients? This has everything from what it might look like when labor begins, to comfort measures to help you through labor, to information on feeding your new babe. There are also little tidbits scattered through for your support partner and how they can best help you during birth.

Birth is hard. Your doula cannot save you from that, your doctor or midwife cannot save you from that, your partner cannot even save you from it. It’s one of those things you have to do on your own, you’re the only one who can get yourself to the other side of it. We will all walk along side you as you do it, but at the end of the day, it’s just you.

It will be tough. It will bring you to a place you didn’t know you could walk through, but you’ve got this, mama.

For many, home is the best place to spend early labour. Labour typically starts when Mum is in a state of relaxation, when her body and baby feel safe and where oxytocin can flow. Familiar sights & smells support this state of relaxation & is one of the reasons why staying home for as long as is practical can be so protective

Where you feel safe, and most comfortable, and have your familiar creature comforts – like your true-blue vomit bowl. We all have that one bowl! It’s ok, we’re all friends here. At a homebirth it might even become your placenta bowl. We love to support you at the hospitals and birth centers, but there is nothing quite like witnessing the true autonomy of a birth at home.

In the past decade, many studies have been undertaken to look into the impact that a Doula’s presence has on pain, anxiety, stress, interventions and outcomes experienced by birthing people.

In this week’s episode I interview Bridget from about her third pregnancy and postpartum experience. Bridget had been so excited about having another baby and yet for the first half of her pregnancy she was absolutely floored by nausea, exhaustion and breathlessness. She came up with a myriad of excuses for herself and simply put it down to tiredness and the reality of growing a baby and looking after two busy boys. However, when she mentioned her breathing troubles to her OB, alarms bells rang and he sent her for a myriad of tests. She was diagnosed with blood clots on the lungs and had to endure twice-daily injections of blood thinning medication for the rest of her pregnancy and till three-months postpartum.

This mama worked so hard for her planned home birth, but after many hours of intense labor, she made the decision to head to the hospital. It was not long after they arrived that their sweet baby made her appearance in a beautiful, unmedicated birth. While all didn’t go as planned, this mama, who is also a doula, embraced her story as it was unfolding.

I always hear, in labor, “the best thing you can do right now is rest.” In early labor, between contractions, if you decide to get an epidural, those moments in between transition.