07/21/2025
This
Walk into a room while I am supporting a birth and you might think that I am just sitting there doing nothing. I won’t be talking. I won’t be touching the client. I won’t be using anything in my bag. And as a birth photographer, I think people think I hold the camera the whole birth. Honestly, I barely have it in my hands unless mom is pushing.
So what am I doing exactly?
🪑 Watching how mom behaves during contractions to see what labor positions her body may need to progress.
🪑 Watching mom’s breathing and sometimes breathing loudly alongside her to remind her to slow down her breath
🪑 Scanning mom’s body during the contraction to make sure that she isn’t holding any tension
🪑 Monitoring the temperature and lighting to create the peaceful environment that she desires
🪑 Calculating how long it has been since she emptied her bladder
🪑 Thinking about how long she has been in her current position and thinking about the next position that she might try
🪑 Timing contractions to see if they are longer, stronger and closer together
🪑 Thinking about when mom and her partner last had a snack
🪑 Reviewing her preferences to make sure that everything is going according to her plan
🪑 Thinking about what birth tools or comfort measures we could try next
🪑 Giving the couple space to connect on an intimate level (allowing for oxytocin) and/or guiding the partner to be the lead support
🪑 Updating notes and capturing labor flow
Sometimes just being fully present is enough. Sometimes just knowing I am there in close proximity is all mom needs to be able to relax and focus on what she needs to do. Sometimes just holding space for them in an unbiased manner allows for a noticeable shift in the energy of the room.
And the list goes on….
If you have been a client of mine, what would you add?
BTS Photo provided by a client.
Caption: YourDoulaBag with additional comments from me :)
