Topics to Research in Pregnancy

I was so inspired by Benevolent Birth Doula Services to share this post with you.

Birth is different from everything else in life.

You need to educate yourself and learn as much as you can about birth.

In the words of https://fengshuimommyblog.com:

Benevolent Birth Doula Services put together a great list to get you started as you begin the journey into pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood research. These are also amazing topics to ask your pregnancy care provider and childbirth preparation educator about. It is so much easier to feel prepared for birth and motherhood and empowered when you’re equipped with knowledge.

I am personally going to take it a step further and say, if you don’t appreciate how a question is answered, do some soul searching to find out why their answer made you unhappy. It is OK to realize not every pregnancy care provider is not for every woman. And not every hospital is for every pregnant woman.

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby includes Mental Health.

A copy and paste version that I hyperlink each word below to a website I feel may be helpful:

Delayed cord clamping

Heathy gut

Newborn Stomach size

Sphincter Law

Birth affirmations

Placenta consumption

Postpartum depression

Informed consent

Importance of mama tribe

Birth ball during pregnancy and labor

Peanut Ball during labor

Cub birth stool

Stripping membranes

Artificial rupture of membranes

Staying hydrated during labor

Chiropractic Care during pregnancy

Breastfeeding rights

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Positive and negative approaches to birth

Oxytocin during labor

Colostrum

Eye ointment

Newborn lip / tongue tie

Estimated due date

Doula

skin to skin

Spinning babies

Folic Acid vs Folate

Breastfeeding positions

VBAC

Delayed Bath

Hydrotherapy

Aromatherapy

Birth location options

Mastitis

Midwife

Birth of a first granddaughter | First time parents & first time grandmas

One of the parts of my job as a birth photographer that really brings me a lot of happiness and fulfillment is working with parents who I feel connected to, who I feel are like old time friends or family, from the first time I meet them. Vianey and Stefen are the epitome of this! I think I mentioned to them several times during our first meeting, their pregnancy and after the birth of their incredible little girl Penny, that I wish we were neighbors or lived 5 minutes away. 

We have so much in common and chatting feels effortless.

I had no idea how much love I'd have in my heart the day I joined them in their delivery room. Already there was a lot of love and a lot of family present during Vianey's labor, supporting her utterly and flawlessly.

There were a few things that kind of swept me off my feet. 

One... their birth plan changed, a few times. And each time, these first time parents met these changes with positivity, bravery and resilience.

Vianey's husband stood by her during her entire labor as the most vigilant and empathetic partner I have yet seen. 

Her family had this unspoken reverence for the young couple. An unspoken truth everyone knew about, that they went into this labor knowledgable, wise, prepared and they don't need guidance, advice, critique, rather they deserve the utmost kindness and support. Watching so many family members and also friends provide this incredible labor, birth and baby encouragement and support, even with Vianey breastfeeding the baby immediately following birth, well it was refreshing and inspiring and most of all, incredibly calming to me.

Some of these images happen to be some of my all time favorite pieces of work I have ever documented. I am thrilled that this 2017 family is now part of my birth families, that their journey has been one I have had the honor of capturing...

I love that this family fell deeply into the strong bond of trusting me to document the day their first born daughter came into this world... this is an honor that is not bestowed onto everyone and I will value their trust in me forever. 

PS. I absolutely love the twist ending with the fun proposal you'll see in the last few shots. I hope you enjoy these photographic pictures as much as I did!

Expecting Baby Boy - Boca Raton Birth Photographer

Back in the first week of July, I was 9 months pregnant in the crazy heat of our Florida summers when I met up with the absolutely gorgeous, like minded mama Ashley and her hubby David and their lovely little Alexandra for a family - breastfeeding - maternity shoot on Delray Beach! What an epic trio in one! Despite the tropical climate, this family pulled of my absolutely favorite sessions to date, the colors, the love and connection are just jaw dropping! 

Ashley and I shared part of our pregnancies together and she is due in about three weeks with her baby boy, and I just birthed my little girl Emma, my second daughter a few weeks ago, so we were just 3 months and 2 days apart in our pregnancies! It was fun being apart of a facebook pregnancy mama group together, sharing our pregnancy experiences and tough days, and our bump selfies! What a totally different experience from my first pregnancy where I was definitely lacking that mother tribe support system. 

I cannot tell you how ecstatic I was to photograph her gorgeous family. When the stars align and you have the perfect sunset, a gorgeous family, and that lucky week where the seaweed that washed ashore is still perfectly golden, it is just heaven. 

Three and a half months later, my little girl is 2 months old and Ashley is one month away from her due date. I invited Ashley to join me for a day of celebrating motherhood with other special mamas for mini sessions in East Boca Raton. 

This mama rocked her shoot just 4 weeks shy of her due date, look at how radiant she is! And my goodness how incredibly big has Alexandra gotten in just the matter of 3 1/2 months! I feel like every single shot speaks to the incredible love and gentleness they have as parents. 

Paulina Splechta, Birth & Breastfeeding Motherhood Photographer in Boca Raton, FL