Preparing for postpartum | Seattle baby photographer
During pregnancy, most people dedicate most of their energy towards preparing for childbirth. And that’s totally understandable, most likely you haven’t done it before. You’ve got your birth plan in place. But what most people graze over is postpartum planning. Adding a new human to your family is the biggest dynamic shift you’ll experience. Whether you’re in a partnership, marriage or a single parent, your world is about to take on a very different look.
Postpartum doula support
While the concept is rapidly gaining awareness, especially during COVID when family members couldn’t travel to provide support, the idea of a postpartum doula is still fairly new. Scope of work varies from doula to doula but in general the idea is to help with the transition into parenthood and provide support not only for the birthing parent but the entire family. This can look like newborn care education, baby care so parents can rest, washing dishes and bottles, meal prep and light laundry.
In-home newborn photography
Another piece to considering prior to your postpartum journey is newborn photography. The benefits of an in-home newborn photo shoot are many - you don’t have to travel to another appointment, you’re in the comfort of your own home, you’ve got all the baby gear easily at hand, you don’t have to worry about additional germs around your new baby and you know it’s safe, plus the session can truly reflect you and your family.
What to expect during a newborn shoot?
I want your newborn session to feel relaxed and comfortable. Those first few days and weeks with a new baby are hard! I want this experience to be as stress free as possible. We'll get photos of your baby, with each parent and your family as a whole. Dress your baby in a simple, fitted white onesie. I like to take some detail shots of the baby in just a diaper. I don't use any props but if you have a special blanket or something you'd like to include in some photos, just let me know. If your baby is having a rough day and just wants to be held, that's fine! I'll follow their lead. Please have the room warm enough for your baby to be comfortable in just their diaper or a simple onesie, and yes, often this means the rest of us are sweating a bit! Having a fan on hand can be helpful if you get too hot. I like to shoot in the primary bedroom, living room, and nursery, but ultimately it'll be where the best natural light is.
