When I talk with expecting parents, I often hear the same question asked in different ways:
What difference does it really make to have a doula and a birth photographer present at birth?

The simplest answer is this: birth is more than a medical event. It’s emotional, vulnerable, intense, and life-changing. And in those hours, having someone there who is focused entirely on you—and someone preserving the truth of your story—can shape not only how birth feels, but how it is remembered.

My Role as a Doula: Supporting You in the Moment

As a doula, my job is not to direct your birth or take over the room. It’s to listen, to notice, and to support you in a way that feels steady and grounding.

I’m there to help you trust what your body is doing. To remind you that the sensations you’re feeling are purposeful. To offer reassurance when things feel intense or unfamiliar. I support your partner, too—so they don’t feel like they have to hold everything on their own.

Hospitals and birth spaces are often busy, clinical places. Staff rotate. Policies change. In contrast, I stay. I hold continuity. I help create a sense of calm and safety so you can stay connected to yourself and your birth.

Why I Believe Birth Photography Matters

As a birth photographer, I witness things that are easy to miss in the moment.

You may not remember the way your partner looked at you when you were focused inward. You may not see the strength in your own body as it works so hard to bring your baby into the world. Hormones, exhaustion, and emotion can blur details quickly.

The photographs I take are not about perfection or performance. They are about truth. They document the connection, the power, the tenderness, and the transformation that happens in that room.

These images become part of your family’s story—not just for you, but for your child one day.

The Importance of Being Witnessed in Birth

One of the most meaningful parts of having a doula and birth photographer present is being seen.

Birth asks you to be vulnerable in ways most of us are not used to. When you are surrounded by people whose role is simply to witness without judgment, pressure, or expectation, it can be incredibly freeing.

I’ve seen how being witnessed helps people soften into their labor. How it allows them to feel safe enough to let go. How it changes the way they speak about their birth afterward—especially if it didn’t unfold exactly as planned.

Holding the Experience and the Memory

I often think of doula support as holding the experience of birth in real time, while birth photography holds the memory.

In the moment, I’m focused on your comfort, your emotional well-being, and the flow of the room. Later, the photographs allow you to revisit your birth with clarity and compassion. They help fill in the gaps, affirm your strength, and remind you of how deeply supported you were.

Together, these roles work hand in hand.

Birth Deserves Care, Presence, and Remembrance

Choosing to have a doula and birth photographer is not about adding more people to your birth. It’s about creating a container where you feel supported, respected, and deeply cared for during one of the most important days of your life.

Birth deserves to be remembered honestly.
And you deserve to be held—during it, and long after you look back.

If you’re feeling curious about what this kind of support might look like for your own birth, I’d love to connect. There’s no expectation and no rush—just a conversation to see if it feels like the right fit for you and your family. You deserve to feel supported, seen, and cared for as you prepare to welcome your baby, and I’m always happy to answer questions or talk things through when you’re ready.

The post The Benefits of Having a Doula and Birth Photographer appeared first on BIRTH AND BEAUTY.

I have had a baby already. I am an experienced mom. Why would I need a doula for my second baby?

Why You Still Need a Doula for Your Second Birth

As I sit here on call, waiting for a family I had the honor of supporting during their first birth, I find myself reflecting on something I hear so often:
“Do I really need a doula for my second baby?”

It’s an honest question. You’ve done this before. You know how contractions feel, what labor might look like, how to breathe through the waves. You’ve experienced the power of birth firsthand.

But here’s what I’ve learned from standing beside families through their first, second, third — even sixth births:

No two births are ever the same.

Just because you’ve given birth before doesn’t mean this birth won’t bring its own emotions, rhythms, or unexpected turns. Your body might remember some of the process — but this body has changed. This baby is different. The circumstances of your life — your heart, your support system, your fears, your hopes — are not the same.

Birth is unpredictable — and that’s exactly why having a doula matters.

You don’t know how your labor will unfold — none of us do. Babies tend to keep their birth plans a secret until the very last moment. Most of the time, things go smoothly… but sometimes they don’t. And when the unexpected happens — physically, emotionally, or both — you deserve someone who can remain calm in the chaos and steady in the storm.

Doulas are trained to handle change.

When things shift, we don’t panic — we adapt.
We help you understand your options, find your voice, and stay grounded through every twist and turn.

You might find yourself exhausted, overwhelmed, or pushed to your emotional edge. Your partner might be, too. That’s when having someone in the room who’s calm, present, and experienced becomes everything — someone who can think clearly, advocate gently, and guide you through the intensity with compassion and strength.

Sometimes, second-time parents feel pressure to “have it all together.” To be the strong one, the experienced one. But birth is not a performance. It’s not about doing it better than last time — or even the same. It’s about surrendering — again — to the unknown, and being fully supported in it.

A doula isn’t there because you’re inexperienced.
A doula is there because you’re human.

We’re there to hold space for your emotions, to protect your environment, and to gently guide your partner in offering meaningful support. We’re there to notice the moments you might miss, to advocate for your wishes, and to keep you anchored when things get intense.

Sometimes second births are faster. Sometimes they’re not.
Sometimes they’re more emotional, more healing, more overwhelming than the first.
And sometimes, the need for continuous, unwavering support is even greater — especially when there’s a toddler at home, past trauma to process, or new fears rising up.

Having a doula isn’t about whether or not you can do it.
Of course you can. You already have.

It’s about knowing you don’t have to do it alone.

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It is possible for a birth photographer and a doula to be successful in one combined role. However, it requires careful management of the two distinct roles and clear communication with clients.

When I first started working in birth, I began as a birth photographer. It truly (and I mean this from the bottom of my heart) was a “come to Jesus” moment. I discovered what I was meant to do with my life. But then COVID came knocking on the world’s door, and I was no longer allowed into hospitals. My heart hurt for those who had babies in hospitals with no support at all.

After taking doula training, I wondered why it had taken me so long. By making sure to bring my camera, my ‘doula hat’, and my clients are better served.

What are the Benefits of Having One Person Being Both Doula and Birth Photographer?

The first thing that comes to mind as a major benefit is fewer people in your birth space. By reducing the number of people in the room, the birth experience can feel more private and comfortable.

The extended time spent with the client during prenatal meetings and the birth itself can foster a deeper level of trust and comfort. Oftentimes, I do not meet (in person) a client if I am only doing birth photography. The birth space is the first time meeting, which sometimes can be awkward.

Finally, a combined service can be more affordable than hiring two separate professionals.

What are Some Potential Drawbacks of One Person Being a Doula and Birth Photographer?

Many people think true multitasking is impossible. They argue that one person can’t fully focus on both helping someone physically and taking every important photo at the same time. This is a completely valid concern. This is why communication is crucial during prenatal visits. During these visits, it is my job not only to educate the mom, but also their partner. It is my duty to have that partner as prepared as possible with comfort measures, possible scenarios, breathwork, among other skills. I don’t expect them to remember all of this at the time of birth, but I can step in and say, “Remember when we did this or applied pressure there”? I step back into the photographer role once that is taken care of.

During these prenatal meetings, we will also discuss priorities. If it comes to a point that a mom needs full hands-on help, beyond what her partner is providing, I will put down the camera and help until the partner can take over. That said, we will discuss what the family wants. “Would you like me to continue to photograph, or would you like me to step in”?

Because the role of doula+photographer (doulatog) is less common, a solo doulatog may lack the backup structure common for dedicated professionals. This is true. Fewer people are both, but here in the LA area, I find most birth photographers are both. If a suitable backup cannot be found in a particular area, the speaker will communicate this to the client and discuss other options.

How Do You Decide If You Want One Person for Both Roles or Separate People for the Roles?

If you prioritize hands-on support above all else, a dedicated doula may be the best choice.

For the highest quality and most thorough photographic documentation, hiring a dedicated birth photographer is likely your best option.

If you prefer a smaller, more personal birth team and appreciate the savings of hiring one professional, choosing a doulatog could be ideal—as long as you communicate and agree on your priorities in advance. A doulatog truly can offer the best of both worlds.

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Ok, So I Might Need Doula Support

Think of a doula as a resource you and your partner can rely on throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and beyond. A doula can provide physical, emotional, and informational support in many ways.

1. More coping methods: Your doula can suggest ways to help ease the stress and pain of labor. For example, they can show you breathing techniques or help find a more comfortable position as you work through contractions.
2. Fewer interventions: Studies have shown that doulas can decrease the need for assisted vaginal birth and lower the likelihood of a cesarean birth. If you do end up needing a cesarean, a doula can still provide reassurance and support. Your birth doula may even be able to go with you to the operating room, if you wish, instead of a partner or other support person.
3. An unbiased resource: Doulas are trained to point you to evidence-based resources, so you can stay informed and empowered throughout your pregnancy and birth. They can also help you put together your birth plan by asking questions you may not have considered. Do you want the baby placed on your chest right after birth? Will you bank your baby’s umbilical cord blood?
4. An advocate: Once you’re in labor, the doula can be a voice for your birth plan, helping to make your preferences known to your health care team. Your doula can also help you make decisions in the moment. (Sometimes surprises happen, and new choices need to be made.)
5. Another set of hands: A doula can take a little pressure off your partner, family members, and friends.
6. Better communication: Doulas can help navigate confusing situations. They can remind doctors and nurses to explain medical terms and help make sure you always know what is going on.
7. Extra attention: Your doctor and nurses can’t be in the room for every minute of your labor, as they need to tend to other patients. Having a doula there at all times can help you feel relaxed, calm, and fully supported.
8. A more satisfying birth experience: People who use birth doulas often report having a more positive childbirth experience.

This All Sounds Good, But How Much is a Doula?

As with everything, prices will vary from person to person. Depending on where you live, hiring a birth doula can cost between $500 and $2,000 out-of-pocket. If cost is an issue, you can ask about a payment plan. Another option is to hire a doula-in-training, who may offer their services for free or at a reduced rate.

Insurance carriers (including Medicaid) are now starting to cover the cost of a doula. This is great news for everyone. We are getting our due recognition as a true part of the birth team and families are getting costs covered.

You’ve heard “it takes a village” to raise a child. In many ways, that’s true of labor and birth as well. You can have a team of people to support you on this journey, and a birth doula can absolutely be one of them. If you would like to know more about my doula offerings, please feel free to contact me here.

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Oh my goodness! The last quarter of 2024 has been a whirlwind—like trying to catch confetti in a windstorm! I must apologize for my blog silence; I’ve been busier than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

So much has happened that it feels like I’m trying to recall a plot twist in a soap opera! We’ve had awards, a few hospital births, a free-birth at home, and let’s not forget my annual Santa Sessions, where I transform into a jolly photographer for the holidays. It’s been quite the ride!

Awards

I guess I will start with the IAPBP annual contest for birth photographer of the year. Was I birth photographer of the year? Nope, but I did win a silver award as well as a commendation award.

This is the image that won silver-

The image below received an commendation-

A Los Angeles Free Birth

The two images above are from a wild and unforgettable free birth experience I documented. Imagine this: a last-minute booking because her original doula and birth photographer had to cancel. So, she brings me on board for pictures and enlists another doula for support. Honestly, I’m thankful for this setup; trying to juggle both would have turned me into a frazzled circus act!

It was a middle-of-the-night call during one of LA’s infamous heat waves. All the power had gone out, leaving us in complete darkness—no light, no hot water for the tub, and let’s not even talk about fans or air conditioning. Talk about sweating it out! And here’s the kicker: the baby decided to take its sweet time making an entrance, presenting sunny side up like it was trying to audition for a cooking show.

Props to the doula for keeping her cool—she was definitely the right choice! I can’t share the film just yet, but it’s absolutely gorgeous. In the meantime, here are a few images from that night. Trust me, with no light and a room full of excitement, it was not the time to whip out my flash like I was at a disco party!

If you are planning a homebirth or hospital birth or even a birth center birth, take a look at my portfolio and my service page!

Hospital Births

Somehow, it has taken me hours just to write this blog. I will come back with hospital births in the new year!

The post Birth Photography, Birth Films, and Doula Support appeared first on BIRTH AND BEAUTY.

Whether babe was born at home, at a birth center or in a hospital, heath care providers will want to exam your baby. After bonding with your baby, referred to as the golden hour, the midwife or nurse will then conduct the bulk of the newborn baby exam.

Newborn exams that are done immediately after birth

The Apgar test.

This assessment is like a gentle check-up for your newborn! It’s done at one and five minutes after birth and it measures important things like the baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color. Each area gets a score from zero to two, adding up to a total score of 10. A score of 7, 8, or 9 is like a gold star and shows that your baby is healthy. If the score is less than 7, it’s okay – the assessment will be repeated every 5 minutes for up to 20 minutes. You can even do this while cradling your precious newborn.

Newborn exams that are done after the “golden hour”

After you’ve had your valuable golden hour with your baby, the midwife or nurse will carry on with the newborn exams, which is when they’ll take measurements.

The midwife or nurse takes baby’s weight.

They examine muscle tone and conduct detailed checks of skin color.

The baby’s posture is assessed, including how they hold their arms and legs, how far their hands can flex, how much their arms recoil, how far their knees extend, and how far their elbows can move across their chest.

The nurse or midwife will examine your baby’s mouth to evaluate the strength and coordination of the sucking reflex. They will also palpate the hard and soft palate for any clefts and feel the gums for teeth or cysts.

Finally, the baby receives antibiotic eye ointment and a vitamin K shot, both of which are optional. I hope this was helpful in learning what a newborn baby exam entails. Check back again soon for more “ask your doula” topics.

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These lovelies messaged me about a week before her due date. They were looking for a doula but hadn’t found one. The ones they did find were already booked. This was started months ago. Well, they changed their search criteria and boom, I popped up on Google for them. I am so glad I did!

I let them know I had another birth scheduled, but the chances of two different families having a baby on the same day at the same time were unlikely, but just in case, I worked with a backup. They didn’t mind at all. They would risk it.

I kept them very up to date ion what the other family was doing. When I got the call to go to the other birth, I let them know. This other birth went about 24 hours. Around the 23rd hour mark, I got a call that these ladies were heading to their birth center as the surges were getting very intense.

I wrapped up the first birth, went home, jumped in the shower, slapped myself around a bit and headed off to the birth center. This was at Moxie Birth in Pasadena.

It was a gorgeous sun drenched room, perfect for a peaceful birth.

Active labor wasn’t too long especially for a first time mom! Maybe about 5 hours later, transition hit and it was go time♥

If you would like to see their birth film, I encourage you to listen as well. The audio really makes it all work perfectly.

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During early labor (she needed to be at the hospital from the beginning), things ere pretty calm with lots of banter between them.

As labor progressed she and her partner rode the wave together until an epidural was needed. Sometimes a momma can get so exhausted that she can’t keep going. An epidural allows so much needed sleep.

Eventually it was indicated that a cesarean was needed. While not something this couple hoped for, it is their story. Their sweet baby was delivered healthy.

Cesareans, when needed, are absolutely life saving interventions. I am not a chest pounding yeller of “no more cesareans!!!” Quite the contrary. We are blessed to live in a time that saving the life of a mother and/or baby is easily accessible. I do have issues with the amount of C-sections our country’s maternal care has not due to emergency situations. Those that I take issues with are ones that are colored over as “necessary”. Like the woman who had one before. She shouldn’t automatically be forced to have another with subsequent children. Or ones where a baby is “measuring too big”, “advanced maternal age”, “labor not progressing” (sometimes, extra time is needed) and if its around a holiday, an OB may need to go out of town and some other reason can be used.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent! I can do that from time to time. Anyhow, a C-section in this case was medically necessary.

As I mentioned earlier, a beautiful healthy baby came into the world. For privacy concerns, the baby is not shown here. To say they were and are over the moon is an understatement. I wish them a lifetime of love. They truly rocked the birth♥

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If you are planning a holistic natural waterbirth with a medicine woman using anointing oil and chanting children who are smudging your space with sacred white sage, plans can and will change. Without thought and some preparation (like a list of preferences), something that derails in your plan can set your mind on fire and fill you with fear. Even if the hospital cannot grant some of your preferences, the mere fact that you know what may happen in each scenario will put you at ease, lessen fear and allow you to accept a birth story that is different from your envisioned one.

Does a doula help with birth plan preferences?

Yes. A hundred percent yes. I would be leery of a doula who doesn’t go over all scenarios. If your doula is simply writing down all your wants and then putting it on a nice sheet of paper for your doctor or midwife and neglecting to go over alternative scenarios, then they may be doing you a disservice. You should know what may happen in X scenario or Y scenario or even Z scenario.

Won’t I be sad if my birth doesn’t go to plan?

Firstly, remember there is no plan. There are preferences.

Secondly, if you have your heart set on a specific plan and it goes sideways and no thought has been put in to alternate scenarios, you may be sad. That’s not really for me to say. What I will say, is the better prepared you are, the less likely fear and anxiety will take hold should things go differently than what you envision.

Let me explain what I mean by preferences for different scenarios. Below is a quick example of a birth plan that I tend to use. What is in each category is entirely up to you. This is one I used for a recent hospital birth.

After the preliminaries such as who the birth person is, their support people, the EDD, allergies, etc., it looks something like this-

Labor Preferences

We wish to have a calm hospital birth. We will be using hypnobirthing techniques therefore
environment and language is very important to us. We would appreciate not using the words pain and
contraction and use surge , strength, power and intensity.

Monitoring

Intermittent monitoring is requested and preferably with a wireless unit so I can maintain mobility.

Environment

Sight- It is very important that the lights be dimmed throughout labor with use of electric tealights
and/or Fairy lights. Our doula and photographer will be taking photographs. She does have a flash unit
and if it causes distruption in my labor, she will turn it off.
Sound- We have our own music soundtrack.
Smell- We will have essential oils.
Touch- I may use a Tens machine during early labor. I will be wearing a hospital gown.
Taste- I plan to eat and drink normally. I will be bringing snacks and drinks to the hospital.

Pain Relief

Please remind me of the tools I do have which include my breathing techniques, visualizations,
massage, heat pack and cold pack, positive affirmations and shower. Please do not offer pain relief
as I will ask when it is needed.
Additionally I do not want any opioid pain medications, but will consider an epidural only if I am unable
to rest or unable to progress due to discomfort. I would like a “walking epidural” if possible to retain
some movement and awareness.

During Birth

Ideally I do not wish to be lying on my back. I would like to be in a position that promotes
UFO–upright, forward and open which facilitates a quicker and easier birth.
I do not wish to be coached to push, but rather follow the lead of my body and breathe baby down
so baby is born gently and calmly.

After Birth

I would like baby brought to my chest immediately after. If that is not a possibility, I would like my
partner to do skin to skin.
It is important for the environment to remain calm after baby has been born.
I would like delayed cord clamping until all the blood has gone to baby.

Assisted Delivery

Unless there is a medical Emergency

I would rather wait longer, than rush the process.
Unless the baby is in distress, I prefer to obstain from the use of any aggressive measures
including vacuum or forceps. There would need to be a significant medical need for
an episiotomy.

Unplanned Cesarean

I would like to request a gentle cesarean.
I would like to receive my baby to my chest immediately before cleaning or weighing.
Please ensure any electrodes are placed on back to not inhibit this important skin to skin time.
I would like to request delayed cord clamping.
I would like to see my baby being born, so please lower the curtain or have clear draping.
I would like the lights dimmed at the head end, so when baby is brought to my chest,
baby is not subjected to a bright light.

I would like my choice of music played in theater.
If baby needs to go to the NICU, then I want to be able to care for him/her as much as possible and
use my breast milk. I would like help to make sure this happens.

Anything Else

This is where you can put your desire to have the Vitamin K injection, eye ointment, or the HepB vaccine.

Thank you

Thank you for taking the time to read our birth preferences. I am looking forward to the birth of my
baby and planning for a positive and empowering birth experience. I believe this is possible however
my birth plays out. Thank you for supporting us in this very special time in our lives.

Will a hospital pay attention to my birth plan preferences?

It has been my experience that the nurses will read your birth preference and most midwives and OBs. Most are very happy to have it, but some are outliers and feel it is a waste. Will they be able to accommodate everything you have written? Not likely, but it is important that your support person has a vested interest in what it says so they can advocate for you when your energy is elsewhere. The way the above is written is non threatening, lets them know you have done your research and that you are prepared for different scenarios. I like to add the thank you at the end, reminding them they are appreciated, but it is your birth.

I hope this was helpful for you. If you have any questions or are think about a doula (and birth photographer!), feel free to contact me and learn more.

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What does U.F.O. stand for? Simply put, it means upright, forward and open. When having your body in this UFO position there is an astounding 28% more space in your pelvis that when you are lying on your back. Holy Cow Batman!

Why does it seem everyone lies on their back to give birth?

You see it in the movies–woman lying on her back in extreme pain, grunting, groaning, sweating, holding their breath, pushing. We are inundated with images of birth this way in books, television, movies and many birth photos you see online. Unless there is a medical reason or your body simply wants to, birthing on your back is just plain difficult.

Why is it difficult? For one thing, you are pushing uphill. For another you are closing off space.

Our coccyx bone usually tucks right into the pelvis, as your baby’s head descends it pushes the coccyx out of the way. If there is something blocking this move (like a bed if you’re lying on your back) it slows baby’s descent and makes life much harder for you both! —birth-ed

What are some upright positions for labor?

Glad you asked! Upright can include most anything that is not lying flat. It can be on a birth ball, swaying or holding onto your birth partner, in a shower chair, on the toilet, squatting, using a birth bar and even in a sideline position on the bed.

Ok, I get upright, but what is forward in the UFO acronym?

Leaning forward into your bump, either by leaning onto your partner, using a wall to lean on or using a birth ball helps open up the pelvis and encourages baby to move into positions easier for birth. No need to complicate it, your body instinctively knows the best position to be in, trust your own body.

The open part is easy.

If you are upright and leaning forward, you will be open. These positions (squatting, leaning over something, on all fours, kneeling) all help by reducing the length of the birth canal. A shorter birth canal means the baby has a shorter distance to go to get to the outside world.

I will be getting an epidural, do I have a choice of labor and birth positions?

You will be happy to know that giving birth on your back does not need to be your destiny when receiving an epidural. There is something know as a walking epidural. These are not “all-numbing” like the standard epidural, but it still provides effective pain relief. Contrary to it’s name, you are not going to go walk around, but you will have more range of motion than the standard epidural. This will allow you to move into different positions (with assistance) in the bed.

If you opt or need the standard epidural, blotting out all sensation, you are still not destined to a flat back delivery. The sideline delivery can work very well to keep you open. Including a peanut ball between your legs while on your side can be very useful.

I will go into the different epidural options and your range of motion in a subsequent blog post. In the meantime, keep on with UFO!!

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