Your Birth Space

Your Birth Space Your birth space begins within. Emily is a Birth Photographer based out of Fort Myers, FL and serves the SWFL area.

Please message this page for Photography/Videography inquiries and pricing information or visit www.kulsveenphotovideo.com for more information. Do you have questions about Birth Photography? Emily would be happy to meet with you and talk over any questions/concerns regarding your birth. Thank you for visiting and don't forget to hit the "like" button to follow this page!

I recently doulaed for a first-time family whose birth story led them to the OR.It wasn’t something they had wanted or p...
01/30/2026

I recently doulaed for a first-time family whose birth story led them to the OR.
It wasn’t something they had wanted or planned. After 12+ hours with a relatively unchanged cervix at the end of a 48-hour labor, and with their baby beginning to show signs of being uncomfortable, a decision was made.

As a mother, she began walking backward in her mind, wondering what she did wrong or what she could have done differently. At the same time, my doula brain was also retracing our steps. Had we exhausted all options? Were there places we could have taken a different path?
In the end, their baby (9 lb 15.3 oz) was born vigorous, went to mom for skin-to-skin, nursed right away, and made it clear that’s exactly where he intended to stay.

I will never say that a 10 lb baby cannot be born vaginally, I’ve witnessed it many times over the years. What I will say is that larger babies can require a bit more preparation, patience, and finesse to navigate through the pelvis, especially without the cushion of amniotic fluid to assist with movement and rotation. Even when we have the best plans, birth will continue to teach us.

So… what did this family experience?
✓ Gestating past 41 weeks
✓ Labor beginning slowly at home
✓ Membranes releasing on their own at home
✓ Laboring together at home
✓ Intermittent monitoring at the hospital vs continuous
✓ Minimal vaginal exams — a total of three in almost 24 hours
✓ Pumping for the first time
✓ Showering during labor
✓ No continuous IV fluids or medications
✓ Walking outside the L&D unit for fresh air
✓ Snacking and drinking during labor
✓ A fantastic birth team — incredible nightshift and dayshift nurses and supportive midwifery care

Hospital birth can look like this.
With the right team in place, families can have freedom of movement, autonomy, informed choice, and feel empowered in their decisions — even when birth takes an unexpected turn.
Birth isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, adaptability, and support.

If you experienced an unexpected cesarean, are you feeling at peace with your birth? Was your cesarean urgent or emergent? What do you feel may have contributed to the shift in your birth plan?

*My photo from an unrelated birth as I was solely focused on being a full time doula.

Double knee press during labor - let's talk about it! Double hip squeezes get most of the spotlight, but this one is a g...
01/29/2026

Double knee press during labor - let's talk about it!

Double hip squeezes get most of the spotlight, but this one is a great tool to use when trying to open the lower pelvis and create more space where baby’s head is descending and rotating.

Applying steady inward pressure at the knees guides the femurs back toward the hips.

Why does this work?
• Encourages the pelvic outlet to open
• Creates more space for baby’s head to descend and rotate
• Relieves pressure and intensity in the pelvis and low back

By pressing the femurs inward, the pelvis subtly widens and rebalances, which can ease compression and help baby find a more optimal path down.

Peep the comments for their smiles between contractions.

This amniotic sac was found floating in the birth tub, and when Midwife Kristin lifted it from the water everyone gather...
01/20/2026

This amniotic sac was found floating in the birth tub, and when Midwife Kristin lifted it from the water everyone gathered close.
In physiological birth, the sac often remains intact well into labor and may not open until pushing, or just before birth. During contractions it cushions the baby, allows room for repositioning, and offers a layer of protection as baby makes their way out of the womb.
My first two births involved artificial rupture due to inductions. With my third, I was left undisturbed, and the sac opened on its own just minutes before birth! Feeling it release was unmistakable. A beautiful reminder of how precisely the body knows what to do when given space.

Sharing today in honor of my youngest’s birthday. Each of my labors were half the length of the one before it, and his w...
01/17/2026

Sharing today in honor of my youngest’s birthday. Each of my labors were half the length of the one before it, and his was a sprint! Only 90 minutes passed from the first contraction waking me from a deep sleep to him being in my arms. One midwife arrived with minutes to spare; the other walked in to find a baby already resting on my chest.

Of everything I had planned, almost none of it was used. The labor playlist was forgotten, my mood lighting stayed untouched and labor outfit remained hanging on the wall. However, this photo was one thing I truly wanted.

The sun rises just outside our bedroom. It spills over the field I walk so often and pours in through our wall of windows. I had envisioned a quick, early labor, followed by this moment... my husband and me tucked into bed together, the day just beginning with our new baby between us.

My birth photography was lovingly provided by Allison Union Photography

Next story coming up… did you know you can choose a hospital birth and still receive midwifery care from one of our loca...
01/15/2026

Next story coming up… did you know you can choose a hospital birth and still receive midwifery care from one of our local home birth midwives?
This can be an incredible option for families who aren’t quite sure about birthing at home or for those whose insurance covers a hospital birth but who still want personal, unrushed, relationship-based care throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Imagine:
• Hour-long prenatal and postnatal visits that actually start on time
• Relaxed appointments—possibly even in your own home, depending on your provider
• A parent involved newborn exam done in your bed after you’re discharged
• Having a midwife in your corner to text or call—rather than leaving a message and waiting for a nurse to call you back

All pros, in my book!!
I have a lot more to say about this, and I’ll be expanding on it while my laptop is getting serviced this week.
Tell me...
Is this something you’d be interested in?
Did you know this was offered here in SWFL?

Local midwives: If you offer this type of care, drop your website below. I’ll be including your contact information in the upcoming blog post.

❣️Post hospital birth home visit and newborn exam by Joyful Birth and Baby

My first home visit of 2026 is on the Blog! https://yourbirthspace.com/new-blog/2026/1/5/home-visit-lifesong-midwifery-c...
01/13/2026

My first home visit of 2026 is on the Blog!

https://yourbirthspace.com/new-blog/2026/1/5/home-visit-lifesong-midwifery-care

While this wasn’t my first client of the year, she has officially reached her 40-week mark, and I’m eagerly waiting to support her and her husband as they welcome their first baby.
I’m a huge believer in first-time families hiring a doula. Having education, reassurance, and support while navigating labor and birth for the very first time is invaluable. Although I didn’t photograph this particular home visit (I was focused solely on birth education), we had such a wonderful afternoon together.

At this time, I do not have availability for Spring and Summer doula services. However, I’m always happy to connect families with trusted local doulas who can provide wonderful support during these seasons!

Home Birth Midwifery care by LifeSong Midwifery Services based in North Port, FL. Birth photography and birth videography with doula support in SWFL.

The year began quietly and intentionally—with a home visit alongside LifeSong Midwifery 🤍 After a few restful weeks soak...
01/08/2026

The year began quietly and intentionally—with a home visit alongside LifeSong Midwifery 🤍
After a few restful weeks soaking up the holiday season, I’m officially back on call—waiting for new babies to choose their birthdays. This end-of-winter/early spring season is beautifully full with a mix of doula support, birth photography & videography, and assisting our local midwives. I'm feeling grateful to step into this upcoming season!

As August comes to a close, I’m pausing to reflect on such a beautiful, full month:🌿 I was honored to be called to 7 bir...
08/31/2025

As August comes to a close, I’m pausing to reflect on such a beautiful, full month:

🌿 I was honored to be called to 7 births — the most I’ve ever attended in a single month!!
📸 I photographed 11 mini sessions and 5 full sessions.
💻 I delivered every gallery and completed 2 birth films!

It fills me with so much joy to edit and deliver these memories while celebrating the arrival of your new baby. As I continue gaining experience in birth work and prepare for my (future) midwifery school journey, I have one big ask: HIRE ME!

Birth work is my passion. I advocate for undisturbed birth, holding space for families as they process and immerse themselves fully in this transformation.

🤍 Availability: With Joyful Birth and Baby heading into maternity leave and a natural break with my own clients, my fall + early winter calendar is mostly open — and I would love to fill it with more birth stories!

🤍 Payment Options: I offer flexible monthly payment plans, a creative option for families booking in their third trimester, and a discounted cash option (all helping me tuck away for midwifery school!).

🤍 Doula Support: Alongside photography and films, I’m also opening up my schedule for more doula clients this season. I’m focusing on serving families in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, N. Fort Myers, and Babcock Ranch. With 10 years of birth experience and prior hospital work, I’m comfortable helping families navigate the medical system and advocating for their preferences.

🤍 Fresh48 Sessions: I’m also booking Fresh48 sessions — a beautiful option for families who want those tender first hours captured without having an additional person in their birth space. Fresh48 is a wonderful alternative to full birth photography, perfect for both home and hospital births, offering all the fresh details of your baby’s earliest moments before the exhaustion and engorgement set in.

I live just minutes from Cape Coral Hospital and under 30 minutes from Health Park — so I’m well-placed to support families locally.

If your baby is due this fall or winter, let’s connect. I would love to be by your side, documenting and/or supporting you in your birth space.

💌 Message me today to chat details or book your spot!

08/25/2025
How’d I spend my Friday night? I hosted my FIRST Birth Education class at  Vibrant Health & Wellness!! I went home oozin...
08/09/2025

How’d I spend my Friday night?

I hosted my FIRST Birth Education class at Vibrant Health & Wellness!!

I went home oozing with excitement and spent the next couple hours prepping for future classes while listening to a birth related podcast.

10 years attending births and I’m always learning 🌱

…and now apparently teaching 👏🏼 come see me!!

All breastfeeding galleries have been sent out!Thank you so much for joining us this year—can’t wait to see you again ne...
08/07/2025

All breastfeeding galleries have been sent out!
Thank you so much for joining us this year—can’t wait to see you again next year!

Address

North Fort Myers, FL
33903

Opening Hours

Monday 3pm - 9pm
Tuesday 3pm - 9pm
Wednesday 3pm - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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