Missoula Birth Photographer | Doula Support

Coined by the late Jeannine Parvati Baker – the term “birthkeeper”refers to a woman who not only supports a mother during pregnancy, the birth and the time after but even more importantly, encourages women to know their rights, empower themselves with knowledge to ensure that we as women are claiming our responsibility …

I am really resonating with this label. Even though it is just that, a label. Doula, Birth Support person, Birth Keeper, Great Auntie, My Best Friend. I had a great conversation with a retired midwife about doula work. We discussed that women who hold space for women, with innate wisdom, groundedness trust and more ARE the support, are the doulas are the keepers. Our society can put whatever name to it. We can create programs, trainings and standards. But you know what you know deep within when you are a Birth Keeper. Your gifts cannot be taught or articulated through a course.

I am a mother of 4, I am a birth worker, birth photographer, women’s essence witness.- truly.

Should I have a Birth Keeper?

Do you want to increase your chances of having the birth you desire?

Do you want to tap in to your power as a woman?

Do you want continued physical, mental and emotional support focused completely on you?

Do you want to take pressure off dad or help him become more in tune with you?

Do you want to be an active participant in your birth?

Do you want to be cared for instead of managed?

Do you know that you are in charge of your birth, body and baby and you can say no or decline any medical procedure that doesn’t align with your families values?

If you answered yes to any of these then you should have a birth keeper.

“Jenna! I love seeing your work on these birth pages that were so much a part of helping me get to my dream of a homebirth. It’s so much more than just the social media though. It gives me chills. Your work is changing the world girlfriend! Thank you thank you thank you! I just have to express it to you because I think it all the time.”

— Nicole Foster, Butte Montana Birth Client

Missoula Woman- Family & Birth

Megan found me on Instagram- searching home birth hashtags for Missoula. When we consulted I was blown away by her fierce energy to have the birth experience she felt best for her self and her baby. She was this petite bubbly, messy bunned mama on the screen of my computer bursting with energy and chatter in the most positive light.
She was planning on a home birth. She talked with such conviction, such confidence, self love, reasonable expectations based on thorough birth research- I couldn’t help but be left with a tingling excitement for HER and myself- that I was being invited to witness her birth story.
I get to call Megan my friend. We have had countless birth aware and birth justice conversations over food and coffee dates. We have hiked together, laughed, cried, adventured, created art. I love her little family. I had the honor of photographing her first and now second birth stories. Megan is a lover, a lover of birth and women’s birth rights, lover of hard work, her husband and babies- you can see in her eyes and gorgeous dimpled smile she has a pure joy for life. She is a cup filler. Her children are lucky to have her. Our community is lucky to know her.

Births that take time to share.

Missoula, Montana. 

Family Maternity Center- St. Patrick’s Hospital.

Daylight to night, water then darkness, quiet, then bed, sunrise to cesarean. Strength in numbers, in family and presence. The energy, quite waiting energy. Mama doula, sister doula, doula-doula all working and guiding, loving and thinking. Thinking. Providing a way, a hand.

Amazingly peaceful and brave mama- strong and committed.

Healthy baby.