Boca Raton Welcomes Baby Lennox: A Joyful Birth Story and Family Reunion

It's always such a joy to witness a family grow, especially when I've had the honor of documenting their journey from the very beginning. My client, Brooklyn, recently welcomed her second child, a sweet baby boy named Lennox, at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

A Surprise Early Arrival:

Though Lennox wasn't due until February 15th, 2024, he decided to make his grand entrance a week early, surprising his parents with a speedy arrival. This wasn't Brooklyn's first experience with an eager baby; her daughter London also arrived a bit ahead of schedule back in September 2022.

Birthdate: February 8, 2024 at 5:29pm.

A Trusted Birth Photographer and Doula:

I'm incredibly grateful that Brooklyn chose me to be her birth photographer and doula for both of her children's births. Building a trusting relationship with my clients is incredibly important to me, and it's always an honor to be welcomed into their birth space as part of their team.

Big Sister London's Debut:

I vividly remember capturing London's birth at Boca Raton Regional Hospital under the care of the wonderful Dr. Daif Parker and Dr. Maria Fernanda Muñoz from Delray OBGYN Associates. It was a beautiful experience, and I was thrilled to document Brooklyn's maternity journey and London's newborn session as well.

Welcoming Baby Lennox: A New Chapter

Now, two years later, I was back in the same hospital, capturing the arrival of baby Lennox. While London was a petite 7 pounds, 12 ounces at birth, Lennox weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds, 8 ounces! It's always fascinating to see the differences between siblings, even when they're born at the same gestational age.

Newborn Photography in South Florida: Capturing the Magic

I can't wait to photograph Lennox's newborn session this week and capture the sweet interactions between him and his big sister London. As a Boca Raton and Delray Beach newborn photographer, I specialize in creating beautiful, timeless images that families will treasure forever.

Maternity & Newborn Photography: Documenting Your Journey

If you're expecting in South Florida, I'd be honored to be part of your journey. From maternity photoshoots to capturing your baby's first moments, I'll create a visual legacy that celebrates your growing family.

Boca Raton Twin Birth: Witnessing Double the Joy with Dr. Dana Schey

This heartwarming collection of 48 birth photographs (from a full gallery of 107) chronicles the incredible journey of a cherished repeat client as she welcomed twins at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. With the skilled hands of OBGYN Dr. Dana Schey, the operating room transformed into a space of joy and anticipation. I've had the privilege of documenting this family's growth since their first child's birth in 2016, and capturing the arrival of their twins was truly an honor. Dr. Schey's expertise and compassionate care are evident in every image, showcasing the beauty and wonder of a twin delivery.

This birth story celebrates the miracle of life, the artistry of twin births, and the exceptional collaboration between the family's birth team, including Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Dr. Dana Schey, and myself, Boca Raton's dedicated birth photographer.

For those seeking a trusted OBGYN in Boca Raton:

Dr. Dana Schey is a highly experienced and respected obstetrics & gynecology specialist with over 20 years in the medical field. She's affiliated with both Boca Raton Regional Hospital and West Boca Medical Center, and her practice is currently accepting new patients.

Curious about the difference between a Spinal and an Epidural?

While this beautiful twin birth was made possible with a spinal block, many women opt for an epidural during vaginal deliveries. To learn more about these pain management options, check out this informative article:

What is the Difference between an Epidural and a Spinal?

Remember: Your OBGYN or Midwife is your primary source of information and support throughout your pregnancy. Don't hesitate to ask them any questions you may have!

Need Help Preparing for Your Prenatal Visits?

I've compiled a list of helpful questions to ask your OBGYN or Midwife during pregnancy. Feel free to print it out or keep it handy on your phone:

List of Questions to Ask your OBGYN/Midwife during pregnancy

Empowering yourself with knowledge is key to a confident and positive birth experience!

Charlie & Collin’s Birth Story

The night before we texted around 6pm. I tried to get to bed early, but you know how easily that goes when you are over the moon ecstatic that one of your Birth Photography clients is so excited to meet her babies the next morning! I am sure I got at least a couple of hours of sleep.

We agreed to meet in front of Labor and Delivery of Boca Regional Hospital at 4:45am the morning of July 19th.

We texted each other at 3:59AM on the morning of July 19th. Her sweet babies were going to be born on a Wednesday. We met up in front of the hospital at 4:36am knowing that the hospital instructed her with pre-op instructions to be at the hospital by 430am for her scheduled c-section delivery with her twins. 3 Hours Prior (which is excessive in my opinion as I have seen many of my c-section clients arrive 2 hours prior to their c-section and still have so much down time, while 3 hours ends up causing a lot of waiting, which builds a lot more anxiety).

I think it is typical upon arrival to feel a combination of things, a spectrum of emotions. We were all tired having started our days around 3AM in the morning and been up on our feet already two hours and the sun still hadn’t risen, but we were all really really excited.

Unfortunately, despite me arriving just before my Birth Photography client, I was not allowed to go upstairs at the same time as my client, as she was going to labor and delivery on the third floor. I understand initially they bring up patients to make sure they give them the opportunity to report any abuse (in relationships, I know this is shocking but its more common than you think and often this is a mom’s only opportunity) so I know I always have to wait for that. But shortly after she went upstairs to the third floor, her husband was able to come up, though I was kept waiting downstairs.

“They have me in the same little triage area” she texted me.

“There’s no available rooms, just FYI” she texted me.

A few weeks back, we had talked about what this c-section would mean to her. She experienced a previously traumatic delivery with her older daughter when she was in a car accident during her pregnancy and that kind of trauma tends to stay with you a long time. She didn’t feel great this pregnancy, as you can imagine how it goes with twins. She had some lower back period like cramping and tightening in the weeks leading up to her scheduled c-section, which is pretty typical.

Unfortunately despite her history, there weren’t any rooms available, so the pre-op area with the drawn curtains it is. Thankfully, it was not a busy morning, so her space was somewhat more on the private and quiet side.

After 30 minutes I started to get a bit worried. I knew how important it was to her to have my support and also how important it was to her that I capture every waking moment leading up to her babies being born.

Everyone thinks they know what Birth Photography is and they try to define it.

Some people think you start taking photos once the babies are delivered. Other people assume its a Newborn Shoot, you know, swaddled, posed babies. I myself have my own definition of what it is that I do as a Birth Photographer, and I know that at this point I should have already been with my client, but

the fact is, Birth Photography is what an expecting mom wants it to be.

It celebrates her love for her baby (or in this case babies) in the way a mother feels is true. If that starts before she sets foot into the hospital, that is when my job begins. In this case, it was causing me stress that I could not do my job because in this moment, no one had prioritized what the mom needed and planned for from the arrival at the hospital, which was to have me with her and her husband. She grasped her stress-ball tightly in her hand while she waited for me to finally be able to come upstairs.

I texted her “Does your nurse know your doula is here? Security told me they won’t let me up while you’re in triage, but I am not sure what’s going on. I also have your birth plan”

I sent that text to her at 552am.

Luckily, despite that scare, I was headed upstairs shortly after I was reunited with my client and she was relieved to see me.

Preparing to head into the Operating Room.

Mom was in a greenish traditional hospital gown that ties in the back, which she opted over a custom gown, (some of my families choose to not buy their own labor gown from amazon, though a majority enjoy the softer and more flattering fabric of the labor gowns on amazon), and dad was putting on the disposable scrub top, scrub pants and scrub booties prior to heading to the operating room at Boca Regional Hospital.

My Birth Photography client’s OBGYN Dr. Dana Schey arrived shortly after I did to chat and prep for her c-section surgery with her twins.

It was so comforting for my client to have her whole team there.

Walking to the Operating Room

Often, the scariest part of giving birth is the entire anticipation leading up to the actual delivery. This is often true for many moms, especially with regards to c-sections. Sure, there are exceptions and I have attended births where the scariest part isn’t always the anticipation. But for many moms, that is really the scariest part. Not knowing how things will go. Lots of medical stuff happening (noises, people, lots of blue everywhere), but thankfully, once they see and hear their baby, everything feels so much better!

But delivering twins can be a bit scarier sometimes. You’re worried two fold about two little babies! Will they be super small? How small will the twins really be? I’m not 40 weeks, but I am told 37 weeks is full term with twins. But still its two babies in there and my belly is still not that huge, how tiny will they be? Will baby B have a harder time than baby A? The list goes on indefinitely! The worries never end!

The clock on the wall above the scrub in station showed that it was 7:29am.

We had gotten there at 4:37am, it felt like a long day already and we hadn’t even met the babies yet!

Dad putting on his mask by the scrub station outside of the operating room

Dad watching through a window to the operating room as mom gets her spinal tap administered, her nurse is with her in the OR along with the anesthesiologist.

Dr. Dana Schey speaking with dad outside of the operating room at Boca Regional Hospital, going over the twin delivery, what he can expect to happen, including the Neonatologist checking on the babies and the possible involvement of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), before heading in for the c-section.

What does a Neonatologist do?

“A neonatologist is a healthcare provider who specializes in premature babies or newborns with high-risk or complex health conditions. If your baby is born premature or with an illness or congenital disability, a neonatologist will be the provider managing your baby's care.” [source: Cleveland Clinic]

For families investigating the best NICU facility in South Florida for their baby’s birth, it is important to research and ask questions, specifically by contacting the Director of labor and delivery at your preferred South Florida Labor and Delivery units and ask what level NICU their L&D has and what is the difference between an Level I and Level II NICU. According to the Boca Regional Hospital website, “The care given to our patients is exactly the same in both units and is provided by staff who are trained to the same standard and using the same equipment. The level III nursery provides some specialized technology and cares for babies born at fewer than 28 weeks gestation.” [source: Boca Regional Hospital website]

What is also really important to know about Boca Regional Hospital’s Labor and Delivery, that often I hear moms saying they will choose West Boca Medical Center because they have a Level III NICU and Boca Regional doesn’t is that

Nurses and Respiratory Therapists in the NICU at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital NICU is trained to level III NICU.

[source: Boca Regional NICU link]

Additionally, other services provided in the Boca Regional Hospital NICU are:

SERVICES PROVIDED IN OUR NICU

• Care of critically ill babies at or around 28 weeks or greater

• Nurses and respiratory therapist trained to level III NICU

• Doubled board-certified neonatologist in house 24 hours a day

• Pharmacy, social work, physical and occupational therapy as well as nutritional services

• Support groups and classes for parents

• Breastfeeding support and equipment for sale or rental

• Local sub-specialty support as needed

• Participation in national research projects

  [source: Boca Regional NICU link]

I love the two bassinets waiting on the babies outside of the operating room! One for baby brother, one for baby sister.

Though I have always wanted to capture a photo of twins together in one bassinet, but many people don’t realize that a majority of time, one if not both babies may need to go into the NICU, even if for a short time, to receive extra medical support immediately following delivery, so it’s not often that I see both bassinets wheeled back into postpartum after the c-section delivery of twins.

The first thing dad did when he walked into the operating room was hold mom’s hand and that was just so heart warming to see & capture a photo of!

No matter how many babies you’ve given birth to, even if this isn’t your first or second c-section delivery, birth is intense! It’s not so easy to be calm & cheery in this moment as the surgery begins as one would think.

I captured the clock inside the operating room as well, but I am in disbelief that it was already 8:04am once dad and I joined mom in the operating room, before babies were even delivered! If you scroll up, you’ll see it was 7:29am when we were just waiting outside of the OR.

I was curious however, why there are always two clocks on the wall of the operating room in labor and delivery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, so I had to do some research and found:

“Synchronized clocks and Elapsed Timers are commonly used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. A synchronized clock system will assure accurate and uniform time throughout the facility. This allows all staff members to record time of events based on one accurate time source. These situations consist of (but are not limited to): Patient admission time, dispensing medicine, formal time of birth, length of an operation, a medical procedure and more. In addition to having a synchronized clock in places such as operating rooms, emergency rooms and medical procedure rooms, there is also a need for an elapsed timer. The elapsed timer can perform a count-up or countdown depending on the procedure. In order to provide a solution for monitoring or recording the accurate time as well as using an elapsed timer, Sapling recommends adopting the dual display solution. This solution includes one clock that will be dedicated to present the accurate time and a second clock that will be dedicated to act as the elapsed timer that would interface with the elapsed timer control panel. One way to implement this solution is to choose one analog clock dedicated to show the accurate time and the second display is a digital clock dedicated to act as the elapsed timer.” [source: sapling-inc.com]

A lot of nerves and anxiety leading up to the babies deliveries. As you can see, it’s not only affecting mom, but also dad. Which is why other hospitals must do better. Doula support is not only for the birthing parent — the other parent often needs just as much support through this process, yet there is rarely anyone who is able to fill this role.

The sooner every hospital recognizes that cesarean birth is the only awake major surgery that should allow for experienced support people to attend, the better the birthing community & their patients will be served.

Baby A - Feet First

As seen here, Baby A - often referred to as the first twin being delivered, is being delivered feet first. I’ve seen this referred to as “footling breech” at previous deliveries. Though to be frank, I am not sure if this was baby’s gestational position leading up to delivery - I hadn’t asked my client before. I’ll have to check in with her and update.

“Twins are labeled as A or B according to their location relative to the birth canal. Antenatal labeling is usually established by prenatal ultrasound. Most often, fetuses known in utero as twin A are also first born and thus retain their label. [source]”

Sometimes with twins, they are scooped off to be seen by the Neonatologist before mom and dad get to have a good look at them at the moment of delivery

Baby B - Feet First

If you look closely, you can see a pair of teeny tiny feet of Baby B also emerging first.

Scooped away by Neonatology to ensure babies are safe

Baby B is weighed - 5 pounds 4 ounces

Baby A is weighed

Baby A weighed 5 pounds and 1 oz — really good weights for both twins!

Dad being guided over to the baby warmer to meet the babies — first Baby A! (the closest baby warmer in the operating room to mama)

Dad went back to mom to express his excitement for being able to see Baby A up close!

You can also see OBGYN Dr. Dana Schey peeking over the blue drape in the above image, she was so excited for her patient and her patient’s husband!

At this moment, a lot of the nerves and anxiety of “will they be okay” have passed, and the parents are able to catch a breath knowing their babies are both safe & in good hands

We were caught off guard when the nurse suddenly brought Baby A over to meet mommy! I love that the nurse left the “A” on the baby’s swaddle so we would know exactly who mama is meeting in the photos later!

Though the babies both have their unique identifying features and it is easy to tell that this is Baby A - baby girl Charlie!

Baby’s First Kiss

Just the sweetest moment. C-section deliveries indeed are a medical procedure, but they also are the powerful process & journey of birth, and I am so thankful for the medical staff that understand how very important to the parents mental health and to mommy-baby bonding it is to have this brief meeting moment happen IN the operating room

Mama still had her stress ball, and this is such a good idea — I have not seen this done before and highly recommend it. It is so nice to feel that comfort through this whole process

In the background of this image, across the operating room, you can see the nurse doing Baby B’s footprints

Meeting Twin B

Showing Mommy all that hair!!

Smooches for Baby B!!!

“It's important to know that multiples have a much higher rate of prematurity than singletons. And with premature labor comes the risk that your babies won't be fully developed – which means they will need special care in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) before they can go home.” [source:thebump]

“How long they stay in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) will depend on a number of factors, including gestation at delivery, weight, any complications that have occurred, and the overall health of the babies. But try not to be too overwhelmed by the NICU – it’s just a place for your babies to receive extra special care. The best thing you can do is plan ahead to find the highest level NICU in your region, in the event that your babies do need to spend time there.” [source: thebump]

Immediately following delivery, the hospital medical staff guided dad to the NICU to see and be near his babies, while mom recovered (as obviously unable to walk or be in a wheelchair immediately following the surgery)

Baby A (girl) “Charlie” was given a pink blanket with froggies

Baby B (boy) “Collin” was given a blanket with puppies

I think it is so sweet & cute that the patches on the baby’s skin have little blue hearts on them.

These patches are used to continuously record baby’s vitals (“through electrodes placed on the skin with wires attached to monitoring platforms. Researchers are working to replace the wires with a patch that would allow parents to hold their little one while [he or she is] being monitored.” [source: medicaldesignbriefs]

You can see just how small baby is next to daddy’s hand!

I love the fact that this hospital does a keepsake blue baby footprint book for every baby — I had my daughter over a decade ago at this same hospital and have my own blue book.

Updates on babies & mama after delivery:

Already later that afternoon, mama updated me that both of the twins went to oxygen level 2, then down to 1, and by evening were completely off oxygen all together.

Charlie (Baby A - girl) was already practicing with a bottle that same night of her birth.

By three days after birth, all IVs and feeding tubes were out for both babies and mom and dad were able to feed both babies without all the wires and tubes.

Big sisters were able to come to the hospital on day 3 to look at the twins through the nursery window (still no touching or holding but so nice for them to finally see their baby siblings).

Baby A (Charlie - girl) had increasing jaundice levels on day 3 so she had to go under special lights after her 11am feed, though the hospital said it was looking good for the babies to both go home on day 4, as the medical staff inspected mom and dad’s car to ensure their car seats were according to regulations.

Mama was discharged from the hospital 4 days after her delivery.

Another update 11 days after birth came in from mama that her pain and discomfort from the surgery continued about 9 days after birth, and came back on day 11.

Babies were still not sucking as well as they were hoping for and so mama was pumping as much as possible to keep up with them once they are able to suck, though both have a great latch and the family’s pediatrician said it can take them until past 37 weeks to really acquire that skill.

Overall sleepless nights, but they are giving mom and dad 3 hours of good sleep in between feedings and they were able to keep up with the NICU schedule.

It has now been 6 months since the babies were born, I hope to be able to see them and their big sisters hopefully sometime this year in 2024! I love my Birth Photography families!! I am so grateful for Dr. Dana Schey taking such good care of my clients and trusting me to be part of my clients birth teams in the delivery room and operating room. Thank you so much Dr. Dana Schey!

The Power of Cesarean Birth Photography: Preserving Your Unforgettable Story

April is Cesarean Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the strength and resilience of mothers who birth their babies through cesarean section. As a birth photographer in South Florida, I've had the privilege of documenting numerous cesarean births, each one unique and filled with its own powerful emotions. In this blog post, I'll share my perspective on why cesarean birth photography is so important, especially in capturing the raw beauty and transformative moments of a belly birth.

Embracing the Beauty of Cesarean Birth

Cesarean birth is often misunderstood or even stigmatized. But it's a valid and empowering way to bring a child into the world. Whether planned or unplanned, a cesarean birth is a major surgery and a life-changing experience. It deserves to be documented with the same care and artistry as any other birth.

Capturing Unscripted Moments of Love

One of the most powerful aspects of cesarean birth photography is capturing those unscripted moments of love and connection between parents and their newborn. The moment a mother sees her baby for the first time, the first touch, the first kiss – these are precious memories that deserve to be preserved forever.

The image above captures a moment that will forever be etched in my memory. It was taken during one of the first cesarean births I documented, and it beautifully illustrates the raw emotion and profound connection that unfolds in the operating room.

As parents C & E welcomed their first child, baby Easton, into the world, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation and love. The moment the doctor lifted Easton from the incision, the room erupted in cheers and tears of joy.

But it was the quiet moment afterward that truly captured my heart. C, still on the operating table, reached out to touch her newborn son for the first time. Her wife, E, gently guided C's hand to Easton's soft cheek, their fingers intermingling with his tiny features. The love and tenderness in their eyes was palpable, a testament to the incredible bond they had formed with their child.

This unscripted moment of connection epitomizes the power of cesarean birth photography. It's a reminder that birth, regardless of how it unfolds, is a transformative experience filled with love, vulnerability, and the miracle of new life.

For C & E, this photo represents the culmination of their journey to parenthood, a journey that included overcoming challenges and embracing the unexpected. It's a tangible reminder of their strength, resilience, and the unwavering love they have for their son.

By capturing this moment, I was able to provide C & E with a precious gift: a visual keepsake of one of the most significant moments of their lives. These photos will forever serve as a reminder of their birth story, a story of love, courage, and the unwavering power of the human spirit.

This experience solidified my belief that birth photography is not merely a luxury, but a necessity. It's a way to honor the birth experience, process emotions, and create lasting memories for families to cherish for generations to come.

Why Cesarean Birth Photography Matters

Some people argue that birth photography is a luxury, not a necessity. But I believe it's an essential part of the birth team, especially for cesarean births. Here's why:

• Emotional Impact: Cesarean birth photos evoke powerful emotions and help parents process their birth experience. They offer a tangible reminder of their strength, resilience, and the incredible love they felt in that moment.

• Combating Trauma: For some, a cesarean birth can be a traumatic experience. Birth photography can help process those emotions and find healing by providing a visual narrative of their journey.

• Preserving Memories: Birth, regardless of how it unfolds, is a blur of emotions and activity. Photos help families remember details they might have missed in the moment.

• Empowerment: Cesarean birth photos celebrate the strength and beauty of mothers who birth their babies through surgery. They challenge the stigma surrounding cesarean birth and offer a positive representation of this experience.

Birth Photography: An Investment in Your Mental Health

Investing in birth photography is an investment in your mental health and well-being. It's a way to honor your birth story, process your emotions, and create lasting memories for your family.

Why Cesarean Birth Photos are More Than Just Pictures

The Digital Photography School eloquently captures the profound impact of photography: "When in panic mode, it's interesting that we would probably grab photos rather than valuable jewelry. This impulse to save our recorded memories is a powerful force." This rings especially true for cesarean birth photography.  

These images are not merely snapshots; they are a testament to a mother's strength, resilience, and the incredible love that blossoms in the operating room. They freeze moments of vulnerability, joy, and awe that might otherwise be lost in the whirlwind of emotions and activity.

Cesarean birth photos allow families to revisit and relive those first moments: the anticipation, the first glimpse of their baby, the overwhelming love that washes over them. They offer a tangible connection to a life-changing experience, a story that deserves to be told and cherished.

More than just a visual record, cesarean birth photos serve as a powerful tool for:

• Reflection and Healing: They provide a visual narrative that can help process emotions, especially if the birth was unexpected or traumatic.

• Communication and Sharing: They offer a way to share the birth story with loved ones, fostering connection and understanding.

• Artistic Expression: They capture the beauty and emotion of birth in a unique and artistic way.

• Emotional Resonance: They evoke powerful emotions and create a lasting legacy for families to treasure.

In essence, cesarean birth photos transform a surgical procedure into a powerful story of love, resilience, and the miracle of new life. They are an investment in preserving memories, promoting healing, and celebrating the strength of mothers who birth their babies through cesarean section.

Finding the Right Cesarean Birth Photographer in South Florida

If you're considering cesarean birth photography, here are a few things to look for in a photographer:

• Experience with Cesarean Births: Choose a photographer who has experience documenting cesarean births and understands the unique dynamics of the operating room.

• Hospital Relationships: Ensure the photographer has the necessary permissions and relationships with local hospitals to photograph in the operating room.

• Style and Approach: Look for a photographer whose style aligns with your vision and who can capture the emotions and moments that matter most to you.

Resources for Cesarean Birth in South Florida

• Boca Raton Regional Labor and Delivery

• Barbara C. Gutin Pre and Postpartum Program

• Doula Services

Are you planning a cesarean birth in South Florida? I would be honored to document your journey and capture the unforgettable moments of your baby's arrival.

Boca Regional Mom’s Dream First Birth - How a Doula Dream Team Made Hypnobirth a Reality

On October 19th at 11:23pm, a sweet angel baby boy was born

This first time mom. Her devoted husband. Grandma. Their birth team. Two doulas. The nurses. Everyone supported this amazing warrior mama so much through her very first baby’s hypnobirth which started intensely in labor and delivery security check in, progressed through to her labor room shower and finally resulted in them meeting their sweet boy.

This mama spent her pregnancy energy focusing on hypnobirthing, concentrating, focusing, calming, relaxing, embracing every wave of labor that was to come.

Her team knew how important an unmedicated as natural as possible birth was to her and her husband and they did everything to support and encourage her through every contraction closer to meeting her son.

She arrived in labor and delivery with her husband and her doula from Orchid’s Nest. She breathed and relaxed and let her muscles melt as each new wave of labor crashed over her body. She had prepared to do j-breathing during this earlier part of active labor, a breathing technique that is used during labor to help release (soften) your pelvic floor which gives your baby the space to move down the birth canal, effectively shortening labor.

The simple steps to J-breathing is

• inhaling through your nose

• hold your breath for a moment if you want to work with a natural surge (contraction)

• exhale through your mouth while focusing on your baby moving down and up into your arms

• and when you are ready to repeat, repeat at a slow pace

• try to visualize the breath traveling down your body and out your bottom

• remember: it is absolutely okay and expected for j-breathing to be very noisy

I loved witnessing her focus despite the bright lights of the hospital, the noises, people asking her questions. It was evident she had practiced this amazing focus her entire pregnancy.

She held onto her husband’s back as they traveled from the lobby onto the elevator and upstairs to their labor and delivery room, while her doula supported her back for those intense contractions.

It’s vital that you mentally prepare yourself for when you arrive at your labor and delivery room, you will need to spend about 20-30 minutes back ridden in the hospital bed while the nurses get a tracing on your baby’s heart rate and your contractions before you are able to move freely during labor. While I am not 100% sure if this rule can ever be deviated from depending on your obgyn or midwife, I have seen every client (except those already crowning when they get into their L&D room) have to go through this process. It is vital when your goal is hypnobirthing and unmedicated birth, to not let this medical intervention break your focus through your visualization of your baby descending so you can continue laboring your baby down once you move through this stage.

As soon as my client was able to get out of her hospital bed, her other doula from Orchid Nest, Samara, arrived and quickly stepped in to give my client even more support. The room’s vibes and energy shifted from ‘hospital admittance’ to sacred birthing space.

My favorite photo from my client’s labor is where she is leaning over her hospital bed, with her husband and her mother at her side, and both of her doulas at either side of her, doing the double hip squeeze and the photo is from above. I think this photo is the epitome of supporting the mother and the baby through their journey earthside.

To do a double hip squeeze to relieve the intensity of pressure during labor on the back, having the laboring mom position herself comfortably either sitting, standing, leaning over a bed or ball like my client or on all fours. Place your hands on her hip bones in a W shape and with your thumbs pointing toward her spine. Ise the heels of your hands to squeeze and rotate toward the center and up slightly toward the shoulders. Hold the pressure for the duration of the contraction, and slowly release.

They slowly moved over to the shower where my client used the natural resource of the warm water from the shower to work through what ended up being final stages of labor.

At one point during a surge, it became clear we could see the very top of baby’s head. But remember, with many (and often most) first time moms, there is still a pushing stage. Not all (and not most) first time baby’s quickly slide out so this isn’t always the case of a precipitous delivery, though its important to prepare as if it were so baby is caught (delivered) in a safe manner.

She emerged from the hot shower and baby boy was crowning

She made her way to the delivery bed

As soon as she was on the hospital bed, almost simultaneously in this moment my birth photography client’s OBGYN, Dr. Arcelin, from Women’s Health Partners in Boca walked into the delivery room…

…and with a few pushes, sweet boy was born onto mama’s chest.

You were such an inspiring warrior mama. You are such a strong woman. Your doulas and I were so incredibly proud of you! And your husband was your steadfast rock. If he was nervous at all, we were never able to tell. Your constant and relentless encouragement and being at her side was awe inspiring.

And her team... Her OB Dr. Arcelin of Women’s Health Partners, her amazing doulas Elle and Samara from Orchids Nest. She had the dream team. But then again, everyone at Boca Raton Regional Hospital comprises to make a dream team!