It has been one year now and things haven’t really settled down that much. The birth world has been hit especially hard. Not only are birth photographers and doulas being denied access to hospitals to be with their clients, but even family members themselves have been denied entrance. Taking this down time, I reflected on the reality of the situation, studied to become a certified doula (almost there!!) and took some time to read some thought provoking books about what constitutes a good birth, maternal care in America and what women really want.

I honestly don’t see hospitals easing up on the number of people present at delivery time especially in the metropolis that is Los Angeles. This begs the question, will home birth be on the rise?

Planning your homebirth

So you have decided, after much thought about what a good birth means to you, that a home birth is the way to go. The first thing is to find a trained health care provider. This could mean a certified nurse-midwife, a certified midwife, a midwife whose education meets specific standards or a doctor practicing obstetrics within an integrated and regulated health system.

I have worked around Catherine at Home Birth Services of Los Angeles. She is very calm, knowledgeable and very kind. I have also heard wonderful things about Heart to Home Midwifery and GraceFull Birth. Depending on your insurance, often times the cost of having a midwife is covered, but of course check not only with your insurance, but with the midwife you would like to use. While having a homebirth can be empowering, financial hardship is not.

The second thing is do make a birth plan. You can do this yourself or if you choose to have a doula present, she can help. How will you control pain? Will you labor in a birth tub? What supplies for a home birth will you need? Talking to your chosen midwife can help with these questions.

Prepare for a hospital transfer. Discuss the signs and/or symptoms that might necessitate a hospital transfer. How does this coordinate with your birth plan?

Who will be in the birth space? Keeping in mind the need to have calm, security and connectivity, will there be a doula in addition to a midwife? Will there be a birth photographer? Your other children? Your mother or just you and your partner and the midwife?

This mother had her partner, sister in law, mother in law, midwife, student midwife and me, the birth photographer. That seems like a lot, right? It wasn’t. It was every bit as intimate, warm and connected as if it were just her and her partner.

Being a birth photographer is wonderful. However, becoming a doula has given me a whole new perspective that I can go on and on about (obviously!!). Please feel free to check out this homebirth during COVID.

The post Considering a Home Birth? appeared first on BIRTH AND BEAUTY.

So 2020 has been a bit of a whammy, hasn’t it? I have really neglected my beloved blog. Being the last day of 2020, it is fitting I make this year in review type of post. The last entry was in July and so much has happened since then! I have had several maternity sessions during COVID.

With hospitals not allowing birth photographers in and birth centers doing a reduction in support people allowed to attend, I have turned my focus to three things.

Doula Certification

The first is I am in the process of getting certified as a Doula. This is something I am really excited about! It not only allows me to grow as a birth worker, but will further my skills in holding space for the laboring person and partner. What does that mean though-holding space? It simply means being physically, mentally and emotionally present without judgement. “The person who is holding space helps set the tone for a kind, curious, and judgment-free interaction where the other person can be vulnerable, and like the term says “have space.” 

Maternity Sessions During COVID

The second thing I have focused on during 2020 is studio maternity photography. Maternity sessions during COVID are alive and well. Several online courses and webinars have led me to really excel in this genre. I have also been entering images into photography competitions which is something I have never done before. Winning a bronze in the RISE International Photography Competition motivated and pushed me to excel.

Website optimization

Finally, I have worked hard on this website. If you are visiting again, you will see it is much faster loading. There was a time for most of 2020 that the website was as slow as this year was long! My invaluable website builder, Tom, has put up with endless emails and phone calls from me and, well, I am incredibly indebted to him for what you are seeing now.

I look forward to a wonderful year ahead filled with growth, love and births!

The post Maternity Sessions During COVID and other News appeared first on BIRTH AND BEAUTY.

What is a Cesarean Birth?

Cesarean delivery (C-section) is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus.

A mother and doctor may plan ahead of time if complications develope or you’ve had a previous C-section and aren’t considering a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Often, however, the need for a first-time C-section doesn’t become obvious until labor is underway.

Why C-sections Are done?

Your health care provider might recommend a C-section if:

• Your labor isn’t progressing. Stalled labor is one of the most common reasons for a C-section. Stalled labor might occur if your cervix isn’t opening enough despite strong contractions over several hours.
• Your baby is in distress. If your healthcare provider is concerned about changes in your baby’s heartbeat, a C-section might be the best option.
• Your baby or babies are in an abnormal position. When a baby enters the birth canal feet or buttocks first (breech) or the baby is positioned side or shoulder first (transverse), a c-section may be a safer option.
• You’re carrying multiples. If you’re carrying twins and the leading baby is in an abnormal position or if you have triplets or more babies, then a c-section would be recommended.
• There’s a problem with your placenta. A placenta covering the opening of your cervix (placenta previa), is a reason a C-section would be recommended.
• Prolapsed umbilical cord. If a loop of the umbilical cord slips through the cervix ahead of baby, then a C-sesion may be recommended.
• You have a health concern. If you have a severe health problem, such as a heart or brain condition or visible genital herpes, then a C-section might be advised.
• Mechanical obstruction. A large fibroid obstructing the birth canal can cause difficulty in vaginal birth.
• You’ve had a previous C-section. Depending on the type of uterine incision and other factors, it’s often possible to attempt a VBAC. In some cases, however, your health care provider might recommend a repeat C-section.

The post April is Cesarean Birth Awareness Month appeared first on BIRTH AND BEAUTY.

First off, let me say Happy 2019 everyone. I am so glad you found your way to my birth photography website; it is a pleasure to have you here. If you are pregnant and expecting to deliver in 2019, you are likely on your journey to put together your birth team, which hopefully includes a birth photographer.

There are so many great reasons to hire someone to document the birth of your baby. The first and best reason is that the day will go by so fast (even if you labor a long time!) and frankly you won’t be concentrating on trying to remember every little thing, your focus will be on you and your child. A birth photographer will be there to capture all those fleeting moments; ones you may not even realize happened. Birth photography gives you back a day you can relive as often as you would like, even when your sweet baby is going to college.

Birth photography can be healing too. Sometimes births can be traumatic. These births can come from the length of time one is labor, medical interventions, type of delivery or a plethora of other events. With birth photography, the mother can look back, when ready, to see what happened and can take comfort in the photography and all that day meant. It really can have a healing affect.

I don’t need to twist your arm about the value of birth photography. If you found your way here, you already see the value. This blog post is more about the top questions to ask your potential birth photographer.

My Top Questions to ask a Birth Photographer

• Will you be on call for me 24 hours a day around by due date? Babies come at every hour. More often  than not, babies come knocking at 2am, so it is vital that you have a contract between you and your photographer and that she is available 34 hours a day.

• Are they a legal business? Do they have their business license, are they insured and do you have a contract? This will tell you if you are dealing with a true professional. If something happens and they miss the birth (due to their negligence) and you have no contract and they aren’t a legal business, chances of you recouping anything are slim.

• How many births have they shot? This one is a toughie for me, but it is a question to ask. Why it is tough is that someone with a couple births under their belt can be an outstanding artist and those who have done many can be terrible. It is something good to know, but doesn’t always reflect what they are capable of. It does; however, tell you their experience in a medical setting whether it is a hospital birth, home birth or birthing center birth.

• What will you photograph? Some families are okay with all of it and some are very private and want nothing to do with photographing from “the doctors point of view”. I am very client centered which means if you ask me to stay by your head the entire time, that’s what I will do. If you want everything photographed, that is what I will do within the medical professional’s rules. The actual birth is but a very small portion of your birth story.

I am sure you will have a ton more questions to ask your birth photographer, but these I feel, are the biggies. Remember you must feel comfortable with everyone on your birth team so ask as many questions as it takes. Are you ready to start a conversation? Contact me and lets do it!

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