One woman's dream to accompany women through their journey of childbirth
Natalia Bianchimano wears many hats – she’s a mother, doula, and photographer, and she tells us how her passion for photography merged with a personal quest for doula support. In our latest story, she shares her journey of intertwining her passion for photography with her heartfelt mission to provide doula support.
Understanding the role of the doula
The functions of a midwife and a doula may be confused by those unfamiliar with the profession, but a midwife and a doula are not the same.
“It was after my own childbirth that I began photographing other families and births. I trained as a doula for personal reasons. This is my life’s purpose.”
A midwife assists with childbirth and attends to the mother, whereas a doula provides invaluable emotional and physical support, offering information throughout the entire process, before, during, and after childbirth. The most important aspect a doula offers is maternal support because without it, the process can become more challenging, and sometimes the postpartum period can be tough without useful information. This is where the doula’s support comes in for whatever the mother needs.
The importance of a doula during childbirth lies in knowing how to be present without disturbing or interfering. Additionally, through photography, Natalia shows the mother what she experienced at that moment.
Birth photography is unlike other types of photo shoots where you’re directed on how to pose or when to look at the camera; this type of photography is more like a documentary that captures everything that happens. The goal is to show the mother how she experienced that moment so she can relive it emotionally, and in the future, her child can also see how they were born because this is also a memory for the child. It’s a moment that will mark you for life, because we belive a womban is also born during childbirth.
The doula accompanies but respects the mother’s wishes. Natalia, from her experience, knows that during the pre-labor stage, in those moments before entering the delivery room, many mothers don’t want anyone around them, and these wishes are always respected.
Natalia tries to be with the mother before labor begins because you never know how long it will take; each birth is unique, and some can last hours or even days, unlike others that are very quick. Especially with second and third births, the times are considerably shorter; there’s a memory of childbirth in the body that speeds up the process.
Many have wondered if it’s possible to have this support during a cesarean birth. Although there has been significant progress in this regard, it used to be unthinkable to have someone accompany you to the operating room during a cesarean birth, but in recent years, this has changed, although it will depend a lot on the hospital and medical team attending to you. During a cesarean, it’s essential to have that trusted pillar by your side when entering the operating room because there are many fears and uncertainties, and having your trusted person there is crucial for a safer birth ensuring a smoother transition into motherhood.
Our bodies are prepared for childbirth
Natalia accompanies women to have a positive childbirth and postpartum experience, letting them know that their bodies are prepared for childbirth. She helps them avoid the pressure from their surroundings and the anguish caused by not knowing when their labor will start. She helps the mother believe in herself, trust her body so that things flow better.
It’s crucial for the mother to have control over her childbirth to approach it with confidence.
Supporting mothers toward a positive childbirth prepares them to understand that yes, contractions are painful in general, but they’re not always that way. Throughout the childbirth process, there are many tools to find the best position with your body to manage those contractions and not always resort to medicalization during childbirth. The baby needs the mother’s body to move to find the best position for delivery.
When the mother arrives in the delivery room, it’s important not to tell her to go to bed but to let her move freely, to be able to move her body on a birthing ball, take a shower, for example, as water helps alleviate pain. The body creates a baby that can be born, our bodies are prepared to bring our baby into the world.
“My goal is to leave the mother with a positive childbirth experience, to feel supported. This is my life’s purpose, to support women and make them feel empowered,” comments Natalia.
The desire to photograph childbirth
The desire to immortalize your childbirth is normal because it’s not just another day, it’s the day you become a mother. It’s our special day, where we recognize ourselves as mothers, entering a new stage of our lives. A stage that is often unknown because sometimes we lack practice, we haven’t experienced it yet, and we learn to be mothers through experience. In the future, you can see your childbirth again and say, “Wow! Look what I did, how well I did it.”
For Natalia, photography started as a hobby, and she began working on events and weddings, but the moment her daughter was born, she became interested in capturing the magic that happens when a baby is born. She focused on pregnancy, family, and baby photography, aiming to immortalize the bond of families and couples and convey that connection in the photograph. When the couple feels comfortable, it’s captured in the photo.
Natalia emphasizes that availability is crucial, and fulfilling the commitment you have with the mother to immortalize her childbirth means being aware that you can’t do many things, you can’t go to parties or go on vacation and be absent for days, for example, because you can be called at any moment to attend a birth, and it’s an unavoidable commitment. It’s not compatible with being a wedding photographer, for example, for these reasons.
Many people may view this type of photography as something they like but don’t want everyone to see, and not all birth photos are shown because they undoubtedly belong to the most intimate spectrum of each person, and this decision is respected, so if they have the desire to have this memory, don’t let the fear of the photos being shared hold them back.
“I have many clients with whom I’ve ended up being friends; it’s a whole passion,” adds Natalia.
It is important that you consult with your doctor if you want to include additional support during your pregnancy and childbirth.