“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advise, solutions or cures, have rather chosen to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.”

~ Henri Nouwen

I am so very excited to announce that I have joined the team of Nurturing Hearts Birth Services as their recommended East Valley photographer!    Founder and midwife Stephanie Soderblom is one amazing woman, and I am so honored that she asked me to be a part of her incredible family.

I first met Stephanie when I attended a Birth Circle meeting (truly awesome!) at NHBS when I was eight months pregnant with my second child.  I was extremely emotional as I had a rather traumatic birth experience with my first child.  I came along with a dear friend who was also pregnant with her second child and was a “client” of Stephanie’s (I hesitate using the word client because those that have Stephanie as a midwife are so much more to her.  They immediately become family.)  I was welcomed into this group of women with open arms and hearts.  I sobbed out of fear, heartbreak, nervousness and sadness.  Some teared up with me, others nodded their heads in understanding and some offered me kind words of advice and wisdom.   It was one of the first times that I met other women that viewed birth the same way as I did.   Until then, I rarely found a woman that understood why I didn’t want an epidural, or why I wanted to avoid another cesarean.  Why I wanted to be emotionally and spiritually present at the birth of my daughter, why I was actually looking forward to the surges and waves of “pain”.  Why I wanted to experience all that because I had been robbed of it before, and because I am a woman and it is nature’s gift to us.  I felt so very relieved and relaxed when I left there that night.  Before leaving, each woman in the room presented me with a small, beautiful bead and a single, powerful word as a wish for me during my birth.  I had them made into a bracelet that I wore during my entire labor and in the weeks leading up to it.  It was a great source of strength and tranquility, and I treasure it always.  My twenty-nine hours of unmedicated labor were just what I was hoping for, and it truly healed me from the sadness associated with the birth of my son.

I would encourage anyone interested in exploring their birthing options to be in touch with Stephanie.  She is such a sweetie and would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.  I have seen her in action when I had the blessing of photographing the birth of a sweet baby boy last year.  Stephanie was the midwife and oh- so -wonderful.

I just adore photographing expectant women as they are just full of beauty and truly do have that inner glow.  It is such a beautiful and amazing time in one’s life, one that you can never get back.  I am so happy to be able to reach more pregnant women that wish to have their beautiful shapes captured forever.  I also look forward to helping them forever remember how small their little newborns were.  Such a miracle.  Such a blessing.

Thank you, Stephanie, and the NHBS family.  I look forward to photographing more beautiful women and babies on their journey.

Here is a sneakie peekie of a baby bump from a maternity session this weekend…more of this gorgeous mama on the blog later this week! 

You can view more of my recent newborn + maternity sessions here and here, or visit my website.

xoxo,

laura