These are my six babies and my husband, Kit. This is the one week of the year that he has to work at the office due to a big work convention, so he's gone long hours and through the weekend. Our kids are so use to having daddy work from home (he goes into the office about 6 hours a day) so for them having him gone right after breakfast until after their bedtime is terribly traumatic. (Kit and I do find that amusing, as we know many parents have a work schedule like this all the time - we don't take for granted that his work situation is fantastic, and makes MY doula and birth assistant work possible.) So I'll be on full time Momma Duty this week and to survive Kit's long absence we'll be hitting the library, parks, playdates, swimming, PE, and staying as busy as possible. Well, until Mom needs a quiet day at home to recover. 🙂 I'll be quieter here as well as I stay off my laptop and enjoy my sweet kidlets. Have a wonderful week!
Full Time Mom-ing
Posted in Babies!
Comments Off on Full Time Mom-ing
New for Photo Clients – Custom Flash Drives!
That's a bad quality image but it's the preview just emailed to me. I've tried a few methods to get the digital files to clients, such as Dropbox. I still love it, but it left some clients confused as to where they had downloaded their images and some clients don't want any of their images online in any way (even though the Dropbox link is a zipped file that only they have the link to access, after which I delete it.) I've also done CDs, but that requires burning and labeling and they aren't very pretty and are one time use and require mailing or delivering in person.
So I'm trying these instead! They are personalized flash drives, which you can order in a variety of sizes. What I got (2GB) should be plenty for the births I photograph. I also ordered boxes for them, which I can wrap up cute with a ribbon. It feels much more like a cute than a boring CD. 🙂 Plus they can be re-used and with my logo it's extra advertising! Though clients can also return it to me for reuse, if they don't think they'll need a flash drive.
There are a huge variety of sites to buy the flash drives from, so many styles and a lot of different container options. I think it's going to be a fun investment to use for my future photo clients!
Posted in Photos
Comments Off on New for Photo Clients – Custom Flash Drives!
Gallery App – Installation Instructions
I shared before the new gallery app button that my husband created for my client galleries.
I send the family a link to their gallery, which they view from their mobile device (phone, iPad, etc.) This is what it looks like, and you can see at the bottom of the window is a small square with an arrow in it. That's the "Share" button.
When they click on that button it pulls up these options - and you can see in the middle is the customized image (it has the baby's first name usually) and the option "Save to homescreen."
The button shows up on the last screen of your phone and you can hold on it until it shakes, then move it to wherever you like - just like a normal app button.
It's slightly more complicated on an Android phone but here are step-by-step directions. If I'm reading that correctly:
1) Click the link from your mobile device to view the gallery.
2) Press the Menu button and select Bookmarks.
3) Select the top left button that says Add.
4) Customize the name if you desire then hit OK.
5) Press & hold the bookmark until options pop up that say Add Shortcut to Home.
6) Move to where you want it!
(If you are on an Android and have different directions please let me know!
Posted in Photos
Tagged Denton Texas birth photographer, Denton Texas labor support birth doula
Comments Off on Gallery App – Installation Instructions
Labor Love
Possibly one of my favorite labor photos of all time... this couple worked SO hard for so long to welcome their sweet baby into the world. She is absolutely heroic and he is the sweetest, kindest, most loving support. I'm glad I was able to quietly capture this moment for them...
Side note, this also confirmed for me that I really, really prefer to photograph births without flash! As a laboring mom I didn't really notice or care about the flash, but as a photographer I HATE feeling like I'm intruding into that quiet labor space with the flashing light. Whenever possible I am sticking with the ambient lighting, though that does mean more grain. 🙂
Posted in Birth, Partners, Photos
Tagged Denton Texas birth photographer, Denton Texas labor support birth doula
Comments Off on Labor Love
Five Days
I know babies change quickly, but it still stunned me to see the comparison in this little boy from moments after he was born to 5 days after when I returned to capture the herbal bath. THIS is why I think photos are such a priceless investment - they save these sweet and fleeting experiences.
What is the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative?
Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative is a PDF you can download to share with your care provider. Go to MotherFriendly.org to learn even more.
Hospitals must meet those criteria to advertise that they are Mother-Friendly hospitals, so encourage your care provider to check that out and see what they can do!
Posted in Birth, Hospitals
Tagged Denton Texas labor support birth doula
Comments Off on What is the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative?
Photo Option – Engineer Prints
A client told me they had found an idea on Pinterest using engineer prints from Staples that they attached to a canvas. I was only able to see a camera phone picture of the finished project but it got me really curious! I finally ordered a few and was pleasantly surprised! The lighter image definitely comes out better, as the dark background makes the print quality more apparent. These are rolled up and on a thin paper so you'll need to get them mounted to a canvas or other hard surface. But if you're viewing images from a distance and know you want to change them out, this is a fun option. They are not archival quality and don't replace photo prints, but they're a creative and inexpensive option to play around with and I'm excited to try more.
Posted in Photos
Tagged Denton Texas birth photographer, Denton Texas labor support birth doula
Comments Off on Photo Option – Engineer Prints
Blessingways Part II
My original post is here with ideas on Blessingways.
Yesterday I hosted a blessingway for a dear friend and fellow birth professional. We were able to surprise her with it by scheduling a "doula brunch" (which is something I do every few months since I began training, which is the subject of another post.) The guests all arrived about half an hour early so we could set up and the mother-of-honor came half an hour later. She says we did manage to surprise her!
Some of the activities included delicious food (there was some healthy stuff, I promise) -
And lots of visiting, but we also wrote out scriptures and affirmations on cards to be read to the mom during labor. I had candles for each mom to take home and light when they receive word she is in labor (though many of us will be actually AT the birth!) There was a larger candle for her to light to remember our prayers during her labor. And I did small candles - you know, with hopes for a short labor. 🙂
And guests brought (or sent, if they had to miss) a bead or a couple beads to make a birth wishes bracelet. Each bead comes with a special hope or well wish for the mom's birth, and she can wear this to remember our encircling support:
Then we used a red ribbon wrapped around each of our wrists then passed to the next woman in the circle until we were all connected. We cut the string and tied the ribbon for the woman next to us, and we wear the ribbon until she births. (You can see it tied around our wrists in this photo.) It was neat to see all of us literally connected in this circle of support around our friend.
I've attended blessingways or mother's blessing celebrations before and it's always been such a neat, moving experience. Even with a traditional baby shower there are neat activities you can incorporate that help the mother feel honored and supported through her amazing transition to welcoming a new baby. If you've participated in a blessing way, what activities did you most enjoy? Please share them in a comment below!
Studies PROVE Doulas Make a Difference!
I've shared before links to some of the information about how doulas can benefit moms, and studies done to verify this wonderful claim.
Twenty-one trials involving 15061 women met inclusion criteria and provided usable outcome data. Results are of random-effects analyses, unless otherwise noted. Women allocated to continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.12) and less likely to have intrapartum analgesia (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.97) or to report dissatisfaction (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.79). In addition their labours were shorter (mean difference -0.58 hours, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.30), they were less likely to have a caesarean (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.92) or instrumental vaginal birth (fixed-effect, RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96), regional analgesia (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99), or a baby with a low 5-minute Apgar score (fixed-effect, RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.96). There was no apparent impact on other intrapartum interventions, maternal or neonatal complications, or on breastfeeding. Subgroup analyses suggested that continuous support was most effective when provided by a woman who was neither part of the hospital staff nor the woman's social network, and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available. No conclusions could be drawn about the timing of onset of continuous support.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
Continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labour and birth.
Posted in Birth, Doulas
Tagged Better Birth Denton, Denton Texas labor support birth doula
Comments Off on Studies PROVE Doulas Make a Difference!
Placentas! (Warning, Images Included)
Have you heard about placental encapsulation? Just the phrase gets a range of reactions from parents, but over the last year I would estimate a third to half of my clients have encapsulated their placentas. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! I am often asked by clients - I did not have my placentas encapsulated, and had not heard much about it until this last year. Back when I had my youngest two years ago I didn't know anyone in my area who offered the service, but there are numerous options now and I'll post links below. Warning, there are also some placenta pictures! 🙂 Continue reading
Posted in Birth, Community Resources, Links, Postpartum
Tagged Denton Texas labor support birth doula, Inanna Birth Center
2 Comments