blog

graeme’s birth | baltimore birth photography

 

After days… and nights… of prodromal labor, fully dilated, this amazingly strong mama made the transfer from home to hospital to safely give birth to her baby.  She had the most dedicated, expert care of midwives that led them to make the team decision to change their birth plan because mom and baby needed it.  They continued to advocate for mom when medical intervention was necessary and joined a hospital staff with the common goal of a healthy, safe delivery.  Transfer is never a failure, it is the life guards waiting outside the pool ready to jump in and do their job when there is evidence that a birth needs intervention.  I wish everyone could see the kind of care given by midwives that safely brings babies into the world at home and makes the call at just the right time to go to the hospital – before it is a true emergency but not before it’s necessary.

I have never watched a mother giving birth and thought she was anything less than amazing, but this was a very special example of how extraordinary a mother can be.  The strength, courage and calm she showed during moments that could have been chaotic was something I will never forget.

Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 1 (1)
Doula Care by Baltimore Birth Services

 

Baltimore MD Birth Photographer (3)
Child Birth Education by The Nurturing Root

Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 2 (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 3 (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 4 (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 5 (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 6 (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 7 (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 8 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 9 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 10 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 11 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 12 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 13 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 14 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 15 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 16 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 17 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 18 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 19 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 20 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 21 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 22 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 23 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 24 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 25 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 26 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 27 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 28 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 29 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 30 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 31 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 32 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 33 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 34 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 35 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 36 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 37 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 38 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 39 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 40 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 41 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 42 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 43 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 44 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 45 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 46 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer (1) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 47 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 48 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 49 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 50 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 51 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 52 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 53 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 54 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 55 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer (2) Baltimore MD Birth Photographer Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 6 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 1 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 4 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 2 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 5 Baltimore MD Birth Photographer 3

GraemeBaltimore MD Birth Photographer 7

how to do a belly cast | baltimore maternity photography

Belly casting is a fun, tactile way to remember the shape and size of your pregnant body.  It’s also a beautiful prop to pose your newborn baby.  Here’s a quick “how to” along with a few images of one with did in the studio.  You need at least 1 other person to help – this mama choose her 2 good friends.

Belly Cast Newborn Photography
Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 18
1.  Gather the materials: drop cloth/tarp or trash bag, scissors, water, large mixing bowl, latex gloves, 4 “ pre-plastered gauze and saran wrap.

 

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 6

2. Tell mama-to-be to use the bathroom first!  Lay down your drop cloth/trash bags/tarp.  Fill bowl with water.  Have mom dress in comfortable bottoms that can get messy.  Cover belly with saran wrap, keeping it as smooth and wrinkle-free as possible – you can also use petroleum jelly as a barrier instead of the saran wrap.  Put on your gloves!

 

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 7 (1)

 

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 10 (1)

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 1 (1)

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 2

3. Cut gauze into strips of varying lengths, you’ll need some long enough to cover the widest part of the belly and a few shorter for smaller stretches.  Dip them in water then layer them evenly with overlapping edges.  I’d recommend  2-3 layers deep so the cast holds together well. Add extra to the edges. Work quickly, smoothing the strips as you go along.

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 2 Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 3 Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 4 (1) Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 4

 

4.  The gauze will begin to dry in about eight minutes, but as you are applying additional layers, the cast will need to stay in place until it starts to get warm, feel heavier, and eventually separate  after 20-30 minutes.

 

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 2 (1) Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 3 (1) Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 8 Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 9 (1) Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 9 Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 11 Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 10 Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 12

 

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 17

 

Optional 5.  Sand and paint your cast then use a gesso medium to seal it.  I love the look of the raw plaster, buy you can “finish” your cast by decorating or painting it!

Belly Cast Baltimore Maternity Photographer 11 (1)

Belly Cast Newborn Photography

the great cloth diaper change 2015 | greenberries baltimore

Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2508 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2511Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2513

 

 

All images copyright Heartlove Photography, LLC.  Please share this post! If your child is pictured, you may save and use the watermarked image on social media with a link to this website.  Please do not crop or alter.  If your business is pictured and you’d like to use the image, please contact Jill at heartlovephotography@live.com.  Thank you!

 

Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2514 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2526 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2555 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2556 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2558 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2560 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2562 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2552 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2636 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2564 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2565 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2593 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2606 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2637 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2694 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2706 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2724 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2732 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2757 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2761 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2779 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2793 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2794 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2798 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2830 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2898 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2904 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2974 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2979 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_2994 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3026 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3041 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3142 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3158 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3173 Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3175 The mamas of Greenberries!Baltimore-Photographer-Heartlove_3183