Kat Ward - Birth Services

05/26/2019

Look at what came in the mail! 🤩🤩

04/27/2019

the fiercest of storms bring the most beautiful of rainbows.

04/09/2019

Shout out to all my Cesarean mamas! You ladies are amazing!!

April is International Cesarean Month. And I felt like it was the perfect time to talk about what it means to give birth as a cesarean parent.

The images I’m sharing today are from Bree and Shane's birth. The arrival of sweet baby Hudson. They are real and sometimes graphic or raw.

Images that capture:
-Prayers
-The arching of your back as you receive a spinal
-The incisions through skin and muscle to finally reach the uterus
-A baby emerging feet first
-Dim lighting, tears, and that first life-changing embrace
-And love, so much love.

The images are grainer than many of my cesarean births because this mom opted for a gentle cesarean. The lights were low, her music was on, and the staff allowed both me, dad, and Bree’s mom to join them in the OR.

Many people wrongly assume that cesarean births are easier. They’re not. The bravery and the courage required is immense. I hope you can see that when you look through this collection. When you see her body cut open to welcome her son. Many of us have never actually seen what a cesarean birth looks like...and the work that must be done to get baby earthside.

Baby Hudson also had a particularly hard time getting out of Bree’s uterus (yes, this happens in cesarean births!) Her OB had to maneuver him in several different directions. When he came out, he was a bit stunned (as many cesarean babies are). The OR staff expertly and quickly helped stimulate, and then dad got to carry him back over to mom while the entire room erupted in singing Happy Birthday.

I hope that these images move you, like they’ve moved me. I hope that they remind us that no matter how we meet our babies…our stories are beautiful, valid, and worth celebrating.

04/07/2019

Real truths in real times.

Beautiful.

04/06/2019

Been there done that!

03/31/2019

❤️

Love this.

03/24/2019

3•19•19
The world was forever changed for this beautiful couple. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your journey. Oscar, you’re so loved!

Edit credits: Amy Campbell

03/23/2019

Happy World Doula Week!

Dear doula,

We see you...

on those late night drives back home when your heart is pounding and you are so filled to the brim with adrenaline due to proxy-oxytocin you feel like you’ll burst.

Dear doula,

We see you...

when your plans are changed last minute again because babies don’t have calendars, and you miss yet another family dinner because you love to selflessly serve pregnant mamas.

Dear doula,

We see you...

as you wake up in the morning completely sore from 18-hours straight of hip squeezes and counter pressure because you would do anything to make her laboring easier.

Dear doula,

We see you...

while you cry in the shower trying to process when trauma and heartbreak happen and you had a front row seat but couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Dear doula,

We see you...

and we applaud you. Your servant’s heart and selfless devotion do not go unnoticed, and as long as we are around we will be giving you the recognition you deserve!

So, thank you.

You are making a difference, and you are seen!

03/18/2019

Waiting on baby #2 to make his entrance today or tomorrow morning! It’s go time. 🤰🏼👶🏼🤱🏼

03/17/2019

🤣🤣🤣