Author Archives: Julie Paszczykowski

Ace 3 months {Toledo,Ohio newborn photographer}

Been a little MIA from the blog because, well, I figured .. does anyone ever read these?

Usually I just post on my instagram or facebook pages. Do you follow me on either of those platforms? Does anyone tweet anymore??

Would LOVE comments and feedback if you do, as it feeds my soul, helps with SEO, and the people in the photos love to hear your positive thoughts on the images! So, don’t be afraid, type a little something in the comments!

This little man was such a sweetie for his 3 month old session!

OMG mama… soak it all in!

I see you, Ace! Youngest of three boys, you will be something special, little one!

A {home birth story} Michigan. Birth. Home Birth.

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Positions in labor..

Many women find comfort in moving around in between waves to find a position that works with her contractions. It could be standing, kneeling, squatting, leaning on partner, swaying, in a bath, hot shower, etc.

I love encouraging mamas to not be afraid to stay out of bed as much as possible, whether at home or in a hospital or birthing center.

When I first arrived in the wee hours of the morning Erica was laboring quietly upstairs, sometimes alone, sometimes with her husband or doula by her side. She warned me she liked to labor with her first child in a dark closet. Being ready for any kind of light situation and not interrupting the natural birth process is imperative for a birth photographer.

Even the doula’s need a little TLC. I love how this team worked together.

Did you snack during labor ? healthy fats and protein are good for strength and energy.

as morning light started to pour in the downstairs living area, deep connections and more waves came to help bring baby.

letting gravity do some work for you offers a nice reprieve. and I love how furry friends always know there is something going on and don’t leave your side.

In the quiet of the morning, she allowed her body to do what it was made to do.

what an absolutely beautiful, peaceful, enchanting birth. It was magical watching Erica allow her body to just do it’s thing. She made it look effortless, though I know the strength it took to be in total control of her own reactions to the waves and the prompts of allowing baby to pass through.

Boy or girl? Let’s look!

It’s another girl!

The first feed

Don’t cut that cord just yet: A research review finds keeping the umbilical cord of a newborn intact a little longer may lead to better health benefits for the baby.

The umbilical cord delivers oxygen and food from a mother’s bloodstream, via the placenta, into the baby’s blood to provide nutrients. Specifically, one vein in the cord carries blood along with the oxygen and nutrients from mom to baby, while two other arteries return deoxygenated blood and waste from baby to mom, according to Britain’s National Health Service. Later in the pregnancy, the umbilical cord delivers disease-fighting antibodies that will boost the newborn’s immunity in the months after birth.

The new review comes from The Cochrane Library, a nonprofit collaboration of international researchers who review evidence that could guide policy decisions. They looked at 15 studies involving more than 3,900 women and their babies, looking at how clamping the cord less than one minute after birth compares to waiting one minute or longer after birth. The researchers wanted to see how each option affected both mom and baby’s health.

The study was published July 11 by the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group.

Clamping the cord immediately or later did not make a major difference for new moms, when it came to their risk of bleeding, blood loss or hemoglobin levels, a measure of healthy blood and iron levels.

For babies, however, the researchers did find some benefits to delaying cord clamping. Babies had higher hemoglobin levels in the days after birth — suggesting healthier blood — and were less likely to have an iron deficiency within six months after birth, the researchers found.

(CBSnews.com) source

One of my favorite things about home births is that both parents can be involved in the newborn exam. Your midwife will b right there with you conducting a thorough exam of baby, just inches away from the new mama.

dad doesn’t have to leave mama side, and they both can marvel at their new bundle together

using dad’s strong arms to weigh baby

I always love seeing those ‘widdle’ baby feet sticking out!

the life giving organ

There are many herbs that can be used to soothe tender perineal tissue, heal tears and episiotomies (yes, you CAN take herb baths if you’ve had stitches!), reduce inflammation, and even shrink hemorrhoids after a vaginal birth. (Sorry – immersion in a bath is not appropriate after a cesarean – but foot soaks with any relaxing herbs, for example, lavender blossoms and rose petals are an absolutely delicious way to relax and treat yourself to something special!)

(https://avivaromm.com/postpartum-herb-baths/) source

absolutely beautiful post part body. I’m in awe of how wonderfully made we are!

Tandem nursing her two girls

a grandmother’s love

any birth is beautiful. Home, Hospital, center, C section. Birth IS BEAUTIFUL.

Documenting your birth allows you to relive these precious moments that can be somewhat of a blur .

If you know someone expecting, I’d love to share what I offer for documenting birth stories!

It’s Your Birth Midwifery Services

#thefrontporchproject {Webley Family} Toledo family photographer

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These times are unique. We’ve never encountered anything like this in our lifetime. Schools closed down (most likely for the rest for the school year), businesses have closed, hospitals are over run with patients and not enough equipment to support people, IE beds, staff, ventilators and respirators…

The reason: COVID-19, aka The Coronavirus, AKA Rona.

Some photographers started various sessions called #thefrontstepsproject and #thefrontporchproject to keep with the government directive of Social Distancing (not coming within 6 ft of someone else) , while still allowing us to do what we love, but also sustain our lives, being able to pay our bills and take care of our families. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, there is no one who is going to pay our partial salaries, or give us unemployment. Oh, it’s been offered as an option, but it’s as if I was a non dentist trying to pull out someone’s teeth. It’s not happening.

This SEEMED like the solution, until things got super bad we were ordered to “shelter in” our homes, not leave unless we had to.

Oh, we can take a walk, or go the the park, though on nice days it’s hard to practice social distancing because Errrrrrrrryyybodyyyy is out!

It was such a joy to see these guys smile and laugh in the midst of our country’s devastation. It’s IMPERATIVE to laugh, and find happiness in one another.

I took these images of my sweet neighbors at the beginning of this madness a few weeks ago but have been afraid to share because many photogs have gotten back lash for not following directive for shelter in place or social distancing. Even though I used my 70-200 mm lens, I still want to be responsible and abide by the governors rules So for now, these sessions are on hold. I’m sure once the order to shelter in is lifted, some, like myself, will still be a bit fearful and want to continue with this style of photography, at a distance.

But to be honest, I have been photographing people at their homes for YEARS, yes mainly inside, but this gives a whole new perspective. Kinda nice, dontcha think??

My hope is that small business like myself are able to sustain ourselves for a bit through all this, and that our amazing clients come back and support us once it is safe.

(watch for those you love to share specials, and you can support us through purchasing gift cards , sharing our work, writing positive reviews, liking and commenting on our posts on social media and right here on the blog!

Photographs are part of our legacy. One of my favorite things to do during this ‘shelter in’ time has been perusing old imagery of our family/ancestors. I think of the times they went through, and wish I could hear stories of, say, The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.

I am vowing to tell a story with imagery and having my teenagers write journals to go along with photos I take, for future generations to read and see.

Anyone else documenting these times, or is everyone just trying to survive the quarantine?

#stayhome #staysafe #shelterin #socialdistancing

Birth Documentaries~ Yes, we’re still open!

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Times are uncertain, that’s for sure. Our country got hit with a HUGE blow with this Covid-19/Coronavirus and there is a huge panic across the land.

One thing remains… babies are still being born every day and I am still here to document them. What does this look like now? I have many birth clients wondering if I am going to be allowed in the birth space. The answer is, I don’t know. Things change on the daily right now. I’m told a spouse and a support person (AKA doula) are still allowed in, but it depends on each hospital and staff. Since I am acting doula in many cases, the chances are better. Again, it’s up to the clients to advocate for me to be present, just as before the virus breakout.

There is always uncertainty in the birth community, and this definitely throws a little wrench in things, but doesn’t make it impossible.

Here are some options to consider if the answer is no to having your birth photographer in the room with you in a hospital:

1. I can document you laboring at home/away from hospital . Laboring images show how hard you worked to bring your sweet babe earthside. They are full of emotion and love and connectiveness (yeah, I made that word up) between you and your support person.

2. Allow me to come at end of labor/delivery and swap out with dad/support person just after birth to capture bonding with mom, weighing and measuring, The Golden Hour, as its known, is a treasure to document. That hour just after transition.

3. Fresh baby images hours after or even the next day

4. Fresh baby at home (where you control who visits)

I absolutely practice safety and social distancing, using longer/zoom lenses, cleaning my equipment often, washing my hands often.

Of course, if at any time you are choosing to not have me present at your birth, we may transfer your funds to any session you’d like later in the year, though I know this is not ideal.

My goal is to preserve your precious memories of this most amazing time.

It’s easy to get caught up with fear and uncertainty, so I urge you to still enjoy LIFE as best you can, smile and laugh with your children and family, “play” via FaceTime when you can (I am reading to my grandchildren when I cant see them!”), Go take a walk (you don’t have to walk in a pack) and breathe in some FRESH air.