I thought to myself, if I find out the gender now and it happens to be a girl, I WILL feel disappointed. On some level. For some reason.
But it wasn’t the disappointment I was worried about. It was the guilt of feeling disappointed that I knew was sure to follow that really deterred me from finding out.
Read MoreTonight I googled “childbirth”… 3 listings down the page I found this little gem of an article, so aptly and elegantly titled “Childbirth is horrific. Why did no one warn me?”
Read MoreI thought I'd do something a little different for this week's blog. I've never shared any of my sessions in the one place at the one time before; what you see on my socials is just a snippet of what I shoot during a session.
Read More‘I can remember watching in horror as women's wrists were strapped to the side of the metal delivery frame, so that "the patient would not contaminate the sterile field", prior to an operative vaginal delivery, which we were summoned to observe. Forceps rotations and other manipulations were the hallmark of the skilful obstetrician, the highest compliment for whom was "he is great with his hands".
Read More“Just to really drive this home for you; VBACs and the risk of uterine rupture are almost a complete non-issue when compared to the statistics for maternal outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women who die at THREE TIMES the rate for other Australian women.”
Read More“The evidence proves that when pushing is delayed until the mother's urge to push, there are fewer fetal heart rate decelerations and less of a negative effect fetal oxygenation. Add in the lowered risk of needing interventions and it's really a no-brainer. “
Read MoreA nuchal cord (/ˈnʲu.kəl/ occurs when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the fetal neck 360 degrees. Nuchal cords are common, with prevalence rates of 6% to 37%. Up to half of nuchal cords resolve before delivery.
Read More“If you can find a way to lean into the sensation or pain, it ends up flowing through and out a lot easier. If you tense up then you end up working against the pain. It’s a tricky one to get your head around, because we are programmed to think pain equals something is wrong or broken so the natural response is to be scared or alarmed. I learnt the best thing for my baby was to be feeling good vibes, I did everything I could to make that my mantra! “
Read MoreThe conclusion of the study I referred to above really sums up this discussion nicely:
To be able to say that the birth has been missed, you must be able to define when the birth commenced….and in my mind, the birth of our babies commences at the time of conception. It is such a long and beautiful journey and our babies are working and growing towards being birthed from the moment they have been created.
Read MoreMYTH: Babies that are born purple in colour are having trouble breathing.
Read MoreWhilst I say I chose this path due to a lack of education, what else is a lack of education on your options if not a fear of the unknown?
So did I choose not to birth at home out of fear. Yes. Ultimately I did.
Read MoreHolding space is so important because pity is so damaging. In what situation can you think of that pity would actually do someone well? Pity only digs that person’s hole deeper and makes their load heavier. Not only now are they feeling terrible about their situation, but they have also been made aware that everyone else is feeling terrible for them.
Read MoreWe have lost the sense of our ability to give birth without medical intervention and in scenarios other than the ‘norm’ (hospital birth). We are uneducated when it comes to active birthing positions and the power of the mind during birth.
When birth is removed from day to day conversation it creates a feeling that it is bad, painful and something to be feared.
Read MoreCan we really say that our maternal health care system is “Safe” simply because our Government can guarantee that you and your baby have a good chance of NOT DYING during birth?
Read MoreA fundamental human right is at risk of being taken away from all Australian women. The choice to birth, their own children, with their own bodies, in their own homes.
Even if home birth is not something you have ever or would ever consider for yourself, I hope that you can see this for the violation of human rights that it plainly is.
Read MoreIt is a delicate operation. Birth is sacred and as birth photographer’s we know to honour this sacred intimate space and how to navigate the twists and turns that birth can throw at you.
A good birth photographer will make you feel safe, they will make you feel supported and at ease.
A good birth photographer isn’t just interested in getting good images for you, I mean that is what we are there for but ensuring you have the birth you want is paramount and comes first.
Read MoreWhat the actual?!?! A silver award! My first awards and my very first image!
Read MoreWhy is it okay for us females to demand choices and options but not okay for us to extend these same choices to our birthing partners? It doesn’t take away from your glorious feminine power by extending a little consideration towards your husband/partner…
Read More"I was alone at an ultrasound, with no one to hold my hand, when the sonographer put his hand on my arm and simply said “I’m sorry…”, I thought, sorry for what? He said it as though there was only one outcome.
It was the most definitive answer I had been given my entire pregnancy, it just wasn’t the answer I was searching for."
Read More
