The desire to document labor and birth through photos varies for every woman and family. Whomever is elected to be the photographer should always respect the mother’s wishes regarding when and what is photographed.
Let’s talk about documenting your labor, birth, or first moments with your newborn. There are multiple wonderful ideas available, and I have included some of my favorites.
Labor photo opportunities
- Your partner driving you to your birth facility
- The outside of your hospital, birth center, or home
- The entrance to the birth facility
- Your labor room number/door (or your bedroom set up and supplies if delivering at home)
- The clock
- Document your labor timeline through including photos of the time on a clock during various labor events such as
- Arriving at hospital
- Water breaking
- Cervical changes
- Starting to push
- Birth
- Fetal monitoring (mom on the monitor or nurse or midwife listening with a doppler)
- Monitor tracing (if mom is on a continuous fetal monitor that prints out the heart rate)
- Mom in labor (again only during times she gives her permission – and while avoiding interrupting her during a contraction or her rest between contractions)
- Labor team (documenting the people present during labor)
- Birth partner support (support person holding, massaging, helping, etc.)
Birth photo opportunities
*Remember to check with your provider and birth facility prior to your delivery regarding their policy on when and what you may photograph or record
- Mom, dad, or provider first lifting baby to mom’s chest or abdomen after delivery
- Mom and partner’s first look at baby
- Umbilical cord cutting
- The placenta (if you want to see)
- Baby’s first cry or other expression
- Mom, partner or sibling holding baby skin to skin
- Baby’s first opening eyes/looking at mom (hint – dim the lights and do not use flash to get this one)
- Your delivery team with mom and partner and/or holding baby
- Some facilities may not allow photos of parts of the delivery or of staff without permission, however, many providers and staff are honored to be a part of your special day and happy to be included in your photo as part of your delivery team (just ask first)
- Your nurses are also usually very happy to help take a few photos for you
Early newborn photo opportunities
- First look at mom, partner or siblings
- Skin-to-skin with mom and partner
- Close ups of hands, feet, and any other feature
- Newborn hands holding mom’s, partner’s, sibling’s, etc. fingers
- First feeding
- Weight, measurements and footprints
- ID bands (mom, partner, and baby’s bands all together)
- Generations (photo of baby with parent and other generations in the parent’s family)
- Mom, partner, and baby hands or feet all together
- First bath
- Getting dressed to “go home”
- First time in car seat
Remember that it is most important to be “in the moment” and enjoy this time. If you do not remember to capture any of the photos you planned, the memories will live in your heart forever and that’s what matters most.
