What are some things I should do before baby arrives?

My clients ask me this question all the time. I guess it’s because I have four kids of my own. Or maybe it’s because I am a newborn photographer here in Dallas. Either way, I’ve heard so many suggestions over the years and tried a few things out myself while waiting for baby. It is such a joyous time waiting for your little one to arrive. And everyone is full of advice for you, both positive and negative. Well since this question of what to do before baby comes up more often than not, I decided to make a little list to refer to.

1. Go on a date with your spouse / significant other

No matter what you think might happen, you are likely to not get a chance to go out alone together for quite a while. And you likely won’t want to! But it’s so important to spend time together. Don’t forget each other in the whirlwind of nesting and getting your house ready. I still remember that 12 years ago on the weekend before our son and first child was born my husband and I went to see a movie and had dinner together. Not that exciting, right? Wrong. We still remember the movie we saw and talk about it fondly from time to time. And we have always been grateful that we took the time to acknowledge our relationship before starting this exciting journey as parents together.

2. Get your hair done and a mani pedi

This is pretty self-explanatory and I don’t mean to go negative but… You won’t have as much time for self-care after the baby arrives. It will be some time before you have the opportunity to go out. That’s why taking care of yourself is one of the most important things to do before baby arrives. Getting a mani pedi hand in hand with getting your hair done. See what I did there? 😉 You will feel so good with your hands and feet taken care of. Special bonus? They say that foot massages can induce labor so if you’re really wanting that baby to arrive it could be a great 39 or 40 week treat.

3. Get an acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture can assist in digestion and easing discomfort during pregnancy. It also can reduce stress and anxiety. Sounds like a great thing to do when you’re expecting, right?

My friend Emily Guevara of The Acupuncture Juncture here in Dallas, is an amazing acupuncturist. She is well known around Dallas as providing excellent care. You can read more about her here: Fertility Acupuncture in Dallas.

4. Fill your freezer

I hated nothing more than cooking after my babies arrived. And life is a bit more hectic than you would suppose. Having access to good healthy food at all times is a big plus. Cooking in advance and stockpiling a freezer stash of foods was a big sanity saver for me.

5. Hang out with friends

Make sure you and your spouse both take time to spend with friends. This is important for both of you. It falls in the column of self-care to make sure you have time to connect with your friends without the worry of leaving baby at home.

6. Get Adjusted

You read that right. You might want to consider chiropractic care during your pregnancy. It can help address issues that cause discomfort and it could prove to assist you in having an easier labor. My friend Erin Calaway over at Apex Wellness is a Webster Certified chiropractor. She provides amazing care to all of her patients. Read more about her here – Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy.

7. Sleep

Pretty self-explanatory as well. It is difficult to sleep in the last trimester. I had horrible insomnia and reflux with all of my pregnancies. That made it really hard to sleep especially near the end. But I tried my best to get in extra sleep where I could because I knew how much I would miss it once the baby came. Like all seasons in life the sleep deprivation eventually passes. But it is one of the less fun things about having a sweet baby around. If you have troubles sleeping after baby arrives call my friend Mary Cantwell of Rest To Your Nest. She is featured on my blog here – her service is amazing and will help you get some z’s.

8. Babymoon

Having a babymoon goes right along with taking time for a date night. But it goes one step further. Why not take a short vacation with your spouse. Could be you won’t go away alone together for a long time. Even a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast would be a nice idea.

9. Read a good book

I don’t know about you but I love to read! However, this passion has taken a significant back seat to my kids. I definitely remember the last few books I read before my kiddos arrived. It’s hard to feed baby and read a book in the other. Although, you might try Audible as a great alternative to reading an actual book after baby arrives.

10. Go out to the movies

I love going out to the movies. So I definitely recommend doing this ahead of baby’s arrival. You won’t have as many opportunities to go to a movie theater afterward.

11. Have a phenomenal maternity photography session

What kind of maternity and newborn photographer would I be if I didn’t recommend scheduling a custom maternity photography session? When you schedule a portrait session with a photographer like me it is an incredible experience. You get hair and makeup, you get to select gowns from my studio wardrobe to wear, and you also get to help design your custom portrait session. Afterward, you get to keep your portraits in the form of beautiful keepsake artwork. You get to feel like a queen for the day and you will never forget the experience because you get to enjoy your artwork forever.

12. Schedule newborn pictures

While scheduling maternity portraits it’s a great time to schedule newborn portraits as well. Newborn photography is best done when baby is 7-14 days old – for a variety of reasons. This is why it’s important to schedule it ahead of time. What’s more, if you’re working with me you get to choose from packages that take you from maternity through newborn and tell the whole story of baby’s arrival.

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for reading about what to do before baby arrives. I hope you’ll comment below and tell me what you did or suggest to do before baby arrives!

Learn more about booking a session

Dallas newborn photographer Mod L Photography specializes in maternity and newborn photography. She designs custom newborn photography sessions in her Dallas studio for new parents. Her gorgeous archival artwork is something you bring home to share with your children as they grow together.

1. sports themed newborn photography

Do you love sports? Are you super excited about sharing your love of sports with your newborn baby? Let’s start during your newborn photography session in my Dallas studio. When we sit down at your design consultation we will talk about your favorite sport and your favorite team. We will come up with a plan to showcase your love of that sport. I love to focus on your sport and your team colors. Sometimes families come in full fan gear. Sometimes we lean to a more subtle sports theme. As a fan of sports myself I just love designing a sports-themed newborn photography session.

2. Animal-themed newborn photography session

Animals play a big part in our lives. Many people have a favorite animal and love to include them in the theme of their newborn photography session. I love adding to my collection of tiny, perfect, newborn-sized felted lovies. They are made by hand by a talented local artisan and are perfectly shaped for babies to hold in their hands. I have several different options and am always adding more. I would love to hear about what favorite animal you would like to feature in your newborn session.

3. Hobbies and Interests Themed newborn photography session

Do you have a love of travel? What are the things you’re excited to share with your new baby? Don’t forget ideas from your favorites shows and movies. These are some of the things we can highlight in your newborn photography session.

4. Your own culture or heritage themed newborn session

Is your family heritage very important to you? Why not honor that in your newborn photography session. There are many ways to pay tribute to your heritage, the city where you grew up, or your cultural background. Sometimes we incorporate things from your hometown or textiles and colors from your heritage.

5. Finally you can always use your nursery for inspiration for your newborn photography session

You’ve spent months anticipating the arrival of your precious baby. Part of that journey is likely decorating the nursery. Your theme could be anything and we can always incorporate the colors and ideas from your nursery into your photography session. In fact, when planning any Dallas newborn photography session we like to incorporate colors from your home. This way your artwork will display perfectly and blend with your current decor.

Well there you have it. Five great themes for your newborn photography session. Get in contact to plan yours today!

What is a Milk Bath and where do I get one in Dallas?

I get this question all the time. When I go to buy flowers and all that milk ahead of my photography session, I get a lot of questions. What is all that milk for? Why do you have so many flowers? Flowers and milk – that’s a strange combination. (I know that last one was a statement, not a question). Imagine standing in line at the supermarket with 4 gallons of milk and 6 bunches of flowers. That raises some eyebrows, believe me. But milk baths are worth it. Not only do they produce gorgeous pictures, but they also are known to soften the skin. Typically milk baths are done for maternity pictures, but they can also be done for newborns and babies.

Where do you do a milk bath?

Until recently I set up milk baths in my studio. They will always be available there but I am happy to say I have started a new relationship with Origins Birth Dallas. We will now be offering milk baths regularly in their birthing suites. And can I just say, “wow!” These tubs and suites are gorgeous. Not only will we be able to do the milk bath, but we will also be able to use the amazingly well decorated suite for lifestyle maternity posing and family sessions.

FAQs

what do I need to bring?

Nothing. I handle all the milk and flowers and I also provide multiple dress choices for you.

How should I do my hair and makeup?

Full sessions through Mod L Photography include hair and makeup. All you have to do is show up.

What do I do to prepare?

The most important thing to do is to schedule your complimentary consultation. This is where we sit down and discuss all your dreams for a perfect photography session. We lay out the game plan to make sure everything turns out exactly as you had envisioned.

How do I schedule my milk bath?

Please fill out my contact form here. Or give me a call at 214-460-6992.

Learn more about Origins Birth Dallas

Visit Origins Birth Dallas at their website:

Origins Birth Dallas

Meet the midwives

2019 Could be a banner year for Wildflowers in Texas

Experts are saying that due to rainfall in October and the average temperature this year, we could be looking at an amazing year for wildflowers. What does that mean for me and for my photography clients? You guessed it. Amazingly beautiful pictures in the wildflowers! This is hands down my favorite time to get outside for sessions. The weather is beautiful and the scenery is unmatched. It’s definitely time to start thinking about booking your wildflower pictures and bluebonnet pictures.

In parts of North Texas, Dallas and Richardson in particular, we have wildflower planting programs. Of course, there is the ever-present bluebonnet. But we also have incredible waist-high wildflowers in certain areas of town.

When should you take wildflower pictures?

Wildflower pictures should be scheduled well in advance to take advantage of their short growing season. Clients have already contacted me to schedule their family, maternity, and individual portraits in the wildflowers this season. Weekend dates are very popular and fill up quickly. Because we aren’t sure exactly when the season will start or when it will end it’s always good to plan ahead. That way we have ample opportunity to reschedule due to bad weather or move the session up if we see that the flowers are starting to fade.

But we take family pictures in the Fall

Who says family portraits have to happen in the Fall? Or any pictures for that matter. Our wildflowers are unique to Dallas. We don’t get a lot of Fall foliage. Why not take advantage of something special to our area?

Another advantage? Get holiday cards out of the way well in advance. One less thing to worry about when you’re running around Christmas shopping.

When will the wildflowers bloom?

Typically bluebonnets and wildflowers reach their peak between March and the end of May. It all depends on rainfall, temperature, and whether they have been disturbed by livestock grazing or mowing. We should start to see their little blooms popping up anytime now.

Check out these great resources for more information on Texas Wildflower Season in 2019! Don’t forget to contact Laura to book your session now!

https://www.dallasnews.com/life/texana/2019/02/20/texas-could-best-wildflower-season-almost-decade-thanks-wet-october-report-says

http://www.txsmartscape.com/articles/post.php?post=48

Call Laura now at 214–460-6992 to book your wildflower session!

In this two part series I’d love to introduce my friend Dr. Erin Calaway. She is an amazing Webster Certified Chiropractor located in Far North Dallas, right near my studio. At the cross streets of Preston and Belt Line, Dr. Calaway’s practice – Apex Wellness – is near Addison, Carrollton, Richardson, and Plano. Apex Wellness also offers acupuncture and massage.

North Dallas Maternity Chiropractor

I recently met with Dr. Calaway to interview her for a blog post about chiropractic care in pregnancy. We arranged a time so that I could tour her amazing North Dallas chiropractic practice and get to know her better. As we spoke we discovered that we had actually met years before! That was before our kids were born and careers were started. No wonder we felt so instantly comfortable with each other!

Planning for beautiful wall art

It wasn’t long before we decided that it would be fun to decorate one of the beautiful walls at Apex Wellness with some of my wall art. A maternity chiropractor with beautiful maternity pictures and newborn photography on her walls? Why not?

After months of planning and collaboration, I sent the design to be printed through my archival printing process. Soon the artwork was delivered and then ready to hang at Apex Wellness. I have been honored to work with some of Dr. Calaway’s patients so we were able able to incorporate some of their portraits into the design.

How to hang a large wall art collage?

I take great pride in proper installation of wall art. Especially such a large design. The first step is to carefully plan the pieces so that they fit properly in the desired location. Secondly, I use rolls of paper to layout the design and mark places for where nails will be located. Thirdly, I hang the paper on the wall and use it as a guide. Lastly, I hang the portraits and remove the paper.

I hope the patients and staff of Apex Wellness enjoy their new artwork. I know I am grateful for the opportunity to display my work.

Next week please join me to learn more about Dr. Erin Calaway and her extraordinary practice at Apex Wellness. Pregnancy Chiropractor in Dallas, TX – Dr. Erin Calaway. 

To visit Apex Wellness or to schedule an appointment for maternity, newborn, child, individual, or family chiropractic care please contact:

Apex Wellness

6009 Belt Line Rd #110, Dallas, TX, 75254, US

972-392-9402

Dallas newborn photographer Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography gets a sneak peak at a Plano maternity workout session at The Barre Code Plano. Laura interviews Julie Godfrey the owner of The Barre Code Plano to learn more about the services they provide.

Scroll to the bottom to get your code for a FREE workout at The Barre Code Plano

Tell me a bit about how you got started with The Barre Code?

Julie: I’ve been involved in some form of dance or fitness basically my whole life. I have a degree in Dance and a Masters in Exercise Science and Wellness. I spent several years in Corporate Wellness, and taught group fitness and Pilates as my “fun job.” Finally I took the leap to open my own studio where I could inspire women to live healthier lives on a daily basis.

Scroll to the bottom to get your code for a FREE workout at The Barre Code Plano

What made you participate in The Barre Code? 

Julie: I actually discovered The Barre Code Dallas – Design District on a Groupon. After I took my first class, I was immediately hooked! It is like no barre studio I have ever been to. Once I learned more about The Barre Code’s mission to empower women in a community environment where they support one another, I knew I had to be part of the movement!

What can you help your clients with? 

Julie: So many of our clients tell me that they never liked working out. That they have never been able to stick with any type of regimen before they found The Barre Code Plano. We take pride in providing exceptional customer service. All of our clients are greeted by name and welcomed into our community. We strive to be the bright spot in their day and a place where they can work to be the best version of themselves. And we also offer specialty workouts for expectant moms as well so that they can maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their pregnancy and beyond.

Laura: I love how you modify the maternity workout so that it is safe for pregnant moms. I wish I had had this resource during my pregnancies.

Scroll to the bottom to get your code for a FREE workout at The Barre Code Plano

What would you say your biggest accomplishment has been?

My biggest accomplishment is definitely the community we have built at TBC Plano. I often have to take a step back and just take it all in. It’s a wonderful feeling to be the place that women can go to feel safe, beautiful, strong, empowered, supported, and part of something bigger. We are honored to be named The Best Gym for Women in Plano by Plano Magazine for the last 2 years.

If you could tell people one thing about The Barre Code?

We are not your average fitness studio. Our community is one that will not only lead to proven results as you work towards your goals but is truly a place where women support one another. If you come to The Barre Code, you will not want to leave!

Visit Julie and her team at:

The Barre Code Plano

4757 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75093

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE WORKOUT CODE

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The only birth center in Plano, Texas, serves the greater Dallas community. Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography sits down with Jeannine Tate to talk about the goals of Plano Birthplace. Newborn Photographer Laura blogs about other businesses in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex who serve the same clients that she does. Her goal is to provide a resource to her clients and connect with other businesses in an effort to build community and better understand the needs and interests of families with young children here in Dallas.

Is a Birth Center right for me?

Laura: If you have anything to tell people who might be interested in a birth center experience, as opposed to the hospital experience, what would it be?

Jeannine: That it’s OK to interview more than one provider. It’s OK to go to different birth centers and hospitals and tour the space and get a feel for what they think would be a good place to birth. What’s most important is that women find a provider they feel a connection to, they trust, and find a safe space.

Every woman’s safe space is about what’s right for them; for many women a birth center is where they feel safe – where they’ll be supported. There are some women who wouldn’t feel safe in a birth center.  All women should birth in the space that feels best for them.  

It’s OK if you have a provider and you’re halfway through the pregnancy and, all of a sudden, you feel like it’s not the right fit anymore. If there are things in your mind telling you that this isn’t the correct fit, it’s OK to change- to listen to that little voice in your head that is telling you that you need to find a better place to birth.  

Find a place that makes you comfortable, safe and vulnerable but not scared.  That’s really what I think it comes down to when finding the best place to give birth: where the mother feels safe. Birth is about letting go, being vulnerable enough to let go and let your body do what it needs to do.  The only way for a woman to birth empowered is to be in a space she feels safe and allows her to let go.

What is your most important goal at Plano Birthplace?

Jeannine: A safe place to birth is #1.  However, the midwifery model of care is vital to ensure that the mother feels confident and empowered to birth. We are going to provide supportive and respectful care where the mom is the leader in her own health and care.   The mother can birth the best way for her because we’re going to protect her space.  I’m an advanced practice nurse so I’m will make sure I keep her safe if any complications come up, but I will also protect her from unnecessary medical interventions.    

How did you decide to open Plano Birthplace?

Laura: How did you get started in the birthing industry?

Jeannine: I grew up in Plano where my dad was a builder. He actually built the building where Plano Birthplace is now located. At Florida State I majored in psychology. I got married after I came back to Texas, and worked as a real estate agent. At some point between our marriage and having 5 kids, we moved back to Plano.

I was working on my masters in psychology and realized it just wasn’t the right fit for me. Counseling didn’t come easily for me. My mom is a psychologist, but when I was young she worked as an ICU nurse. When questioning my degree I thought, “I want to be a nurse” and so I called up my best friend at Florida State (she is a nurse) and I said” I want to be a nurse.” She said, “No, no, no. You don’t get to do that; you need to go somewhere, be around nurses and really figure out if this is the right fit for you.”

So I went and got a job as a secretary at Presby Plano, and went to nursing school. I loved being with nurses, I kept thinking, “I want to be a nurse, I want to be a staff nurse, I have got to do this.”

“Who would be crazy enough to get pregnant in nursing school?”

At the time we were struggling with getting pregnant, I had given up. I thought, “I’ll just go back to school.” In my final year in nursing school at TWU I got pregnant. I went directly to the midwife teaching the Women’s healthcare course and said, I am the girl that said, “Who would be crazy enough to get pregnant in nursing school?  That’s way too hard!”  Yet, here I was – pregnant!  

In my OB women services class I was taught by Certified Nurse-Midwives. Even though I grew up in an affluent neighborhood, and considered myself to be well educated, I had no real understanding of birth. I truly thought pregnancy and birth was dangerous and deserving of medical interventions. We already had our first son, but I remember sitting in that class learning about midwives and the evidence that good outcomes do happen where the mom was respected and empowered. I remember getting goosebumps and thinking to myself – this makes sense.

Even though I didn’t have a traumatic or bad birth experience. I was a person that didn’t do her research and as a result it was like birth happened to me instead of me being actively involved in the birth process. It was the old motto “healthy baby, healthy momma is what really matters.”  Well – over the past 13 years I have learned it is so much more!

The midwife talked about how women deserved to be treated with dignity and respect, that they can control their birth.

I thought “Wow, I want that if I ever get pregnant again.” And then I was pregnant.

So I went to that midwife and talked with her, starting my research into my birth process. In the meantime I went to my OB because I wasn’t quite convinced about the midwives. I was still a little nervous at ten or eleven weeks, and he said, “I’ll never let you go past 39 weeks because you have big babies.”

However, I was a nursing student and by finals I was going to be 40 weeks. My goal was to make it through finals. I told him that he wasn’t the doctor for me, and I left. There is a lot of psychology involved in pregnancy. My midwife helped me with a tactic I tell my clients. I thought “Stay in, stay in.” Then after I completed my finals I thought, “Get out, get out.” Because I could only get to 42 weeks.

So at 41 weeks I was panicking, but when I went to my midwife she was calm. She said, “You know what I envision? That you miss your pinning ceremony and they announce that you had your baby at home at that pinning ceremony,” and that’s what happened.  

Where did you go after nursing school?

When I graduated from nursing school I went over to Presby Plano. I was looking for an internship with Labor and delivery. I was convinced at this point that I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse. I worked at Presby Dallas for many years as a labor and delivery nurse; it was a great place for me to learn. I was there from 2008 through 2012. The volume was high and I learned a great deal about the medical aspects of birth. However, there were no midwives practicing at that time in the hospital at Presby Dallas.  

Then in 2012 the women’s health director went to open Baylor Mckinney, where CNMs were allowed to have privileges! They were allowing water births. They had equipment where women even if needing to be closely monitored- could labor outside the bed and even walk the halls. A place where even if the mother chose not to get the epidural she had other “tools” she cold utilize to help during labor and birth. 

I decided that I really wanted to be at a hospital where midwives had privileges! So I helped open that hospital.  To this date, a lot of great midwives practice there.  I went back to school to be a midwife, because I wanted that connection to my clients. My goals was to be able to support them while their body did what it knows what to do.  I wanted women to be able to birth in the hospital setting or out of the hospital setting with a midwife that believes 100% in birth being normal.  And I wanted women to chose where and with whom they felt most comfortable birthing.

Why is prenatal education so important?

Jeannine:  There are a lot of moms that feel that becoming a mother has been hard on them; moms that have done everything right but still have guilt about their birth process, like having an epidural. I say, “Guilt should be reserved for the things that you did wrong and should change!” You did the best you could with the information that you had at the time. Often times when women birth in the hospital setting the only tool they have to cope is the epidural. The epidural isn’t the issue. Sometimes an epidural is actually a great solution.

Where the system has failed women is in that they feel sadness, regret and shame if they chose an epidural. I find it sad that the medical community has set women up to need the epidural and yet they are lead to believe it makes them lesser, and weak. That somehow they are weak because they “gave in and got the epidural.” No! Women aren’t weak! It is the system that has set women up to feel they can’t tolerate birth.

If women were encouraged to eat in labor, to walk around, to birth upright (not on their back), to use hydrotherapy, music, doulas – then they would feel empowered and strong during birth. When we know more we do better.”

“When we know more we do better.”

However, I think it’s a very valid feeling that these mothers have. Even in my own experience, my first birth was nothing like my last two births, when I birthed at home with midwives. The first step in overcoming the guilt these mothers have is to have them process what they would do differently if they could. You have to process the situation, and then move forward.

Laura: Letting bad experiences, that you don’t feel you had enough control over, go.

Jeannine: Exactly. Epidurals are not the problem. What’s important is that you feel empowered during the birth, and that you feel that you are in control. There are many partners who feel like they’ve failed their spouses. Because they watched the mothers have an epidural, C-section, what have you, and didn’t know how to support.

Why are doulas so important?

That’s why doulas are so important. Whatever the safe space is, the mother needs support. Doulas are taking off now, because women are more educated and want to understand and control their birth process and the evidence shows when a woman is supported in labor and birth by a doula – she has good outcomes.   

The birth community has exploded. In the past couple of years it’s been expanding, whether it comes to birth photography or doulas, we’ve got so many people that have learned that women out there are willing, and want to, have a complete experience with different professionals coming in.

Laura: I honestly think that’s wonderful.

What can mothers do to influence their birth experience?

Jeannine: If you want to have a successful birth there are two things that are important to me. The first is to pick a provider that you trust and are comfortable with. Someone you can stop and say “I’m a little bit nervous about this,” and they will listen to you. They let you be a part of the decision making process so that you can make informed decisions.

The second is to have a safe space to go, wherever that safe space may be, and walk in in active labor; not being induced. A mother’s chances to have a C-section dramatically decrease when she is allowed to go into labor naturally. So I say “wait, do not get induced. Do not be convinced unless it’s a medical reason. Then you can go for plan B. As a mom you do what is best for your baby.”

When women go into active labor you know that’s the way its supposed to happen. I think that it’s very important the community knows that you don’t have to be induced at 39 weeks. There are many women, including myself, who were induced at 39 weeks because they didn’t realize that they had other options and didn’t know what induction and a C-section would do to their birth.

It can feel threatening when doctors say things like “99th percentile”, or “You’re not going to be able to do this.” When it comes to a mom protecting their baby, she will do whatever it takes. Even if it means going against her own body.

What can mothers do to enhance their birth experience?

Jeannine: I believe in birth photography, especially for a woman who has had a bad birth, or a dissatisfying birth. Because she can go back and look at her birth, and process it privately when she has pictures to look at of the birth. Having the pictures doesn’t mean she has to publish them. Though I find women are so proud of that “I did it” moment they often do chose to share those priceless pictures.  Those pictures tend to go viral.  No kidding, people love to see a women in that moment when she sees her baby for the first time after she birthed like a boss!  

With my son we didn’t take pictures of the birth, but now I’m seeing why women are doing it. They can look back on it and be proud of what they did. I also give all of my clients a journal. Research shows that journaling helps process the situation, and encourages self-esteem.

Thank you so much Jeannine for meeting with me and allowing me to learn more about Plano Birthplace and why you do what you do!