I am moving to a new blog site

I have done some rebranding and as a result, have moved to a new blog site. Please visit http://www.mystoryphotography.com.ph for more updated posts! 


For more information, you may contact me through the following channels:

Contact Number: +63 917 534 2881

E-Mail: info@mystoryphotography.com.ph 

Blog: www.mystoryphotography.com.ph

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyStoryPhotography.ph

A Baby Is a Blessing, No Matter How She Came Into The World.

We live in a very small world. Yesterday, was a day of many firsts. I witnessed my very first labor marathon and first cesarean delivery. It was an experience of many ups and downs definitely worthy of a blog in itself.

For now, I want to dedicate a simple post to a couple I pleasantly stumbled upon at the hospital. I have always been encouraged by their jolly disposition. They were and still are such a happy pair, regardless of the outcome of their birth.

I first met this couple (http://photographicmemories-ph.blogspot.com/2012/05/pcc-211-childbirth-photography.html) during my mom's childbirth class (http://chiquibrosas.blogspot.com/) a few months back. They were always full of smiles, a couple definitely psyched to have a natural birth - you can tell just by watching them excitedly engage in the classes.

Yesterday, I bumped into the same couple in the hospital as they were walking their now born baby. They both looked radiant and happy as usual. On my brief chat with them, I found out that they ended up having a cesarean birth. But judging from their smiles, it didnt seem to matter much at this point.

I want to encourage all moms... especially first time ones. We all want what is best for our baby. We do everything we can to give them the most perfect jump start to life possible. We try to eat right, exercise, read all the baby books we can find, dress up the nursery to be a cozy haven, fill drawers with all shapes and sizes of baby clothes... We spend time and energy preparing for our birth. Sometimes it goes exactly as planned, but most of the time, unexpected things turn up and our birth turns out to be a complete surprise from what we expected. Sometimes its because of our baby, sometimes its our body, sometimes its our family, our doctor, our nurses... sometimes it just is. When things dont go as planned, try to take things in stride and focus on the good -- a healthy, normal and beautiful baby is many to be grateful for. :)

PCC 211 Childbirth Class Photos (Part 3 of 3)

My last and final post for the first class of PCC 211... Its been awhile since I last attended my Mom's childbirth class. The last time I sat in a group class, I was still a single teenager. It was always interesting to me, but never relate-able. This time I attended with a different perspective. Just like the other students, I was married. Childbirth and breastfeeding was also very fresh in my memory. 

I still remember the apprehensions I had about giving birth, even more about giving birth naturally! I remember how my husband wanted to offer his support, but often times didnt know exactly how. I remember all the new things happening to my mind and body - the emotional and physical roller coaster of being pregnant for the first time. I remember knowing all this information about being pregnant and giving birth and wanting to impart the knowledge to my husband...

Its amazing how the class helps in all these areas. Its a very casual and comfortable atmosphere that does much more than classroom teaching. Its a very open and free-flowing session. What starts off as a seemingly formal class ends up to be a congregation of friends sharing common experiences and learning from each other.

 

Here are some snippets from the first class of PCC 211. I chose the photos I like best, but I have much more in file. Feel free to contact me at reginahahnsiy@yahoo.com or +63 917 5342881 if you are interested to take a look of if you want to purchase a copy of your photo/s. 

PCC 211 Childbirth Class Couple Shots (Part 2 of 3)

As promised, below are additional pictures of students during the Childbirth class. If you didnt find your picture in the first post, you should find it here.

I chose the photos I like best, but I have much more in file. Feel free to contact me at reginahahnsiy@yahoo.com or +63 917 5342881 if you are interested to take a look of if you want to purchase a copy of your photo/s. 

Couple 6: "Happy Happy, Joy Joy"

Couple 7: "Doctors Know Best"

Couple 8: "Happy Wife, Happy Life"

Couple 9: "My Sister and I"

PCC 211 Childbirth Class Couple Shots (Part 1 of 3)

I took my first attempt on photographing my Mom's childbirth classes a few weeks ago and found it pleasantly fun. The class in so interactive and casual allowing for many photo-worthy moments. I always enjoy witnessing the way a couple interact with each other and communicate their own special "language of love".

Below are some stolen moments. I have titled my photos based on my first impression of couple. Enjoy! If you dont find your photo here, stay tuned for my second post! Feel free to contact me at reginahahnsiy@yahoo.com or +63 917 5342881 if you want to puchase a copy of your photo/s. 

Couple 1: "All Smiles Through Good Times and Bad"

 

 

Couple 2: "The Sun Shines Bright"

 

Couple 3: "Hajimemaste!"

 

Couple 4: "A Baby Bump" 

 

Couple 5: "A Million Expressions"

Photographing your Childbirth

When I mention to people that I am offering childbirth photography, I am often confronted with perplexed looks.

"Photos of a woman laboring? Isn't that traumatic???"
"My child coming out?? I'm not I want to see that, let alone capture it!"
"Will it not be bloody and gross?"

We photograph special moments of our personal life - our graduation, our out of town trips, the time we get our first car. Childbirth is no less of a special moment. It may possibly be the most physically challenging and rewarding experiences a woman may experience. To see the strength of a woman at this point in her life is remarkable. To see her labor for the sake of her unborn child is a moment worth capturing.

We photograph special moments in our relationship - a proposal, a marriage, a first anniversary. Experiencing childbirth with a loved one, like a husband for example, is a moment worth a million pictures. There is something very touching in the way a husband looks at his wife as she birth's their child - the pride mixed with concern, the love and support and the excitement to meet his newborn baby.

We photograph special moments of our children - the first smile, the first step, the first birthday. The birth of your child is the special time of of all! It is the first time your child takes a breath of air, the first time his skin touches his mother's, the first time he sees his parents, the first time he is introduced to the world.

Childbirth photography is opportunity to capture these special moments. I want to give families the opportunity to relive everything beautiful about the birth of their child, through pictures.

My Natural Birth

PRAISE AND THANKS BE TO GOD FOR A FAST, NATURAL AND SAFE DELIVERY. We labored for under 5 hours, with no epidural, and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

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I woke up to my husband getting ready to go to our friend's engagement party. Time check, approx 8am. I had been experiencing slight abdominal and back pains that night but that was nothing unusual. I attributed it to being exhausted from the baby shower the day before. Hubby went to take a shower and I lay back in bed to catch more Zzzs. Not long after, I heard a pop, similar to the sound of a bone being dislocated but coming from inside my belly. I got a bit worried thinking something had happened to Lima Bean. She let out a gentle kick as if to comfort me that she was ok. Then I felt the trickle... It was light at first, but as I stood from the bed it started to flow. I screamed to Vince... ITS TIME! MY BAG JUST BROKE! We started scrambling around in a calm panic, calling everyone that needed to be informed and getting our labor bag together. The contractions started to kick in but it felt very manageable. I was determined to feel fresh so I took a quick shower, put on light makeup (for the pictures! haha), then headed to the hospital.

By that time the contractions started to get stronger but still manageable. I had to stop what I was doing everytime a contraction would kick in just to keep my bearings. We got to the hospital and went through the whole standard hospital ops until I eventually found myself in the OB Gyn complex getting an IE. Time check, a bit passed 9am. True enough, my bag had broken. A quick IE showed that I was already 5-6cm dilated, 80% effaced. Baby was on +1 station though, still a bit high. I was in active labor. The pain was very tolerable at this point.  I was still able to talk cheerfully between each contraction. I stuck to my breathing and forgot about each contraction by the time it had passed. Then I was wheeled to the birthing room just as my mom arrived. There they strapped me to a monitor and put an IV of saline to keep me hydrated. Time check, probably around 10am. It was now all up to my body to do what God intended it to do. Eyebrows, Mom and I just waited for nature to take its course.

The contractions started to quickly get stronger to a point where I could no longer talk during a contraction but still smile and speak when the contraction was done. I remember thinking... this is EASY! The pain was there for sure, but nothing excruciating. Another IE showed I was a good 6cm dilated, but still +1 station.

Then things got a bit blurry from here. Time flew very fast.   I estimate it was around 11am when the OB and the pedia arrived. A quick IE showed I was 8cm but still +1 station. Baby had to start coming down now! The pain was worse, it was harder for me to smile for pictures (although I still did, hehe). In my mind I thought, this is not as bad as I imagined! I remembered everyone telling me the pain was going to be like none Ive ever felt... I thought, yeah its painful but its not THAT crazy! 

Then like a train it hit me. Really quickly it went from manageable to crazy painful, then to I think Im losing it, to I think Im gonna die kind of pain!!!! YUP! It was like NO PAIN IVE EVER FELT. But I had gone so far! No way I was going to quit now! Plus I kept thinking, if I get an epidural the doc will ask me to hold still while he sticks a needle through my back? How am I supposed to hold still like this? So instead, I kept at it.  I visualized the pain with a purpose. I needed these crazy contractions to get our baby out. I kept a steady breathing pattern (or tried to at least) and whined like a cat with each breath. I listened to my mom's coaching telling me to get above the contraction, telling me that the contractions were good contractions, reminding me to relax and breathe.

I found comfort in the hand of my husband (that I gripped so tightly he thought it would break) and his voice telling me how many seconds I had left before the contraction would pass. 

Next thing I remember was my OB coming in to do another IE. I was 10cm, zero station (still high but better). I remember feeling my baby's head grinding down below and knowing that it was time! Doc went to change to a sterile gown while the nurses set up the room to deliver that baby. I remember at that point the contractions started to get less crazy.

When everything was ready, Doc said to try to push on the next contraction. With one push the baby's head started to become visible! A few pushes later though, our baby's heartbeat started to drop. That's when I sensed that the OB wanted to get that baby out. A resident doctor stood beside me, put 2 fists on my top belly, and with her whole weight started to push down on me! I felt like I was being massacred!!! Looking back, it was kind of crazy but during that time all I could think of was that we had to get that baby out fast!!!

With each mash, I helped best I could by pushing as hard as I could - with or without a contraction. A few seconds later I felt the pressure let loose below and her head pop out. With that, our little Sophie greeted the world with a healthy cry. 

Time check, 12:48pm. Later on I found out that the drop in her heartbeat was caused by her cord wrapped around her neck... but just as expected, our Lima Bean was strong and healthy as can be. She was given a 9/10 apgar score! Welcome to the world Lima Bean!