02/27/2026
This is so well written and resonates deep in my heart. This awareness, this presence, is why I do not take more than two births a month. This work places deep demands on my soul but the reward is so incredibly worth it.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BidDaLkXU/
When I say I’m on call, it isn’t cute branding.
It’s not a marketing phrase.
It’s not aesthetic.
It’s not flexible hours.
It means my ringer is on at 3am.
It means I sleep lightly.
It means my phone stays within reach at dinner, in the shower, at the grocery store, at my kids’ activities.
It means I don’t commit to trips.
I don’t schedule hair appointments.
I don’t book sessions outside a certain radius.
Because if your contractions pick up, I go.
It means leaving dinner half eaten.
It means whispering to my husband, “I'm headed to a birth.” at 4:08 in the morning and kissing him goodbye.
It means grabbing my bag and walking out the door without knowing when I’ll be home.
It means your due date lives in the back of my mind every single day that month.
I am watching the calendar.
I am checking in.
I am mentally prepared.
Because birth does not wait for convenience.
It doesn’t care if it’s Christmas morning.
Or my child’s birthday.
Or 2:17am after I just fell asleep.
And when you hire me, you are not just booking a time slot.
You are reserving my presence.
You are reserving my availability.
My energy.
My focus.
You are asking me to build my life around the possibility of your labor starting at any moment.
And I say yes to that intentionally.
Because this work matters.
But that level of commitment deserves to be understood.
When you invest in birth photography or doula support, you are not just paying for the hours I’m physically in the room.
You are paying for the weeks of availability.
The mental load of readiness.
The nights on standby.
The rearranged schedule.
You are paying for someone who is prepared to show up fully, no matter when your baby decides it’s time.
Your birth is not a side job to me or a cute trend I saw on pinterest.
It's not a "well if I can" kind of session.
It is something I structure my entire life around.
And that kind of presence requires real commitment.
It is costly.
But it is also
Intentional.
A sacrifice.
Soul work.
And it is deeply valued 🤎
