View internationally awarded images from the 12th annual birth photography image competition from the IAPBP!

Despite a year full of challenges and refunds for the births I did not attend, there were many more I still was able to be part of. I am forever grateful to be a person families welcome into their sacred spaces.

But do you really know? There's a bit more to waiting until 10cm and pushing. This is a quick summary of the birth process that anyone can understand!

Watch Christina’s birth video where she delivers her own baby under the guidance of her midwife.

Four days of laboring in hospital with a premature baby-- See how Sarah conquers her goals and achieves the VBAC she waited 8 years for!

Despite a year full of challenges and refunds for the births I did not attend, there were many more I still was able to be part of. I am forever grateful to be a person families welcome into their sacred spaces.

Recently a hospital in Central IL has rescinded their policy to allow professional doula support in the birth space in addition to a birthing partner. Rising COVID-19 positivity rates were cited as the need for this change. And while I do strongly support the need to mitigate our circumstances, I firmly believe this is not the area we can afford to do it in.

Birth photography? Did I hear that right? Uh yeah you did. But how does it work? What do you actually take pictures of? Got questions? I’ve got answers. Check out this resource to help learn what to ask and start planning your birth photography experience!

See Caity's birth unfold from just after arrive to The Birth Center to delivering her baby Juniper into her arms. Her out-of-hospital water birth is sure to give you the positive feels you need this week.

The Baby Place holds a special part of my heart. Delivering a baby there in the midst of some of the hardest times in my life was a bigger blessing than I recognized at the time. What Pekin Hospital could offer there cannot be matched easily.

22 minutes out. Nicholle’s last message was only two words. Hardcore here. Things seemed to be picking up quickly. I arrived to The Birth Center with waves of adrenaline crashing into me. One deep, long breath before opening the door and walking back to her room.

In 2020 all pregnancies have edged on the feeling of a high stakes pregnancies. I have been reflecting on how my story would be different in a COVID birthing world and identifying the failures I would have faced from the medical system. I explore a bit the loss of my own autonomy as I stopped being viewed as a person and started being viewed as a malfunctioning incubator, yielding a product of society, not a part of myself.

She left her hand on his head as the nurse started to pull her away. It felt like in that moment she was able to break through the level of anesthesia and medications pumped into her… long enough to understand the full magnitude and gravity of the last hours of her life. A day before she was laboring with smiles and laughter and happiness and excitement and positivity. Her son was safe in her womb, at least much safer than in this moment. I cannot image what the full weight of the world could feel like. But I know in this minute of time, of all of the people in the entire universe, Natalie felt every ounce of it.