The Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre offers families a place to birth in Ottawa where they can enjoy many comforts of home, large showers, a beautiful birthing tub and lots of space to move around in their own private room.

Supported by her midwife, doula and partner - these birth photos from the OBWC offer a window into what it’s like to birth at the centre.

Water is a beautiful support to a birthing person, the warmth (or coolness) of the water running over your body in the shower or settling into a large (or your home) tub offers buoyancy and warmth that is very soothing. The many benefits of using water in labour are discussed here.

When I arrived at this birth the family and midwife were in an assessment room and it was very clear that labour was getting started. They moved into one of the birthing units, I chose a space in the corner to place all my camera gear as the birth tub was filling. Her doula was beautifully supportive and their connection as friends added to the beauty of these images.

The tubs at the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre are large enough that a partner can be in there too and the birthing person can move around as they wish to find comfort. Moving in the water can help them find some rest between contractions and also helps move baby down. The joy of these tubs is that you can add more warm or cold water if needed and you can be in there for a long time.

This is one of the many benefits of the OBWC tubs - ENDLESS HOT WATER!! That’s not always available at home!

Each of the birthing rooms at the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre have sinks and counters near the tubs so families can wash hands, offer drinking water and wet cloths without interfering with the water in the tub. There are mats hanging on the walls nearby if needed and a handwoven wrap hangs above the tub so you can be in the water AND supported by the wrap (grip and pull down on it, or allow it to support you etc).

The green handwoven wrap is seen in the photo below on the right side of the image. Behind the doula you can see the fireplace and couches which offer the comfort of home and coziness (especially in our Ottawa winters!).

There is a hand-held shower head in the tub also which offers soothing warm water on the birthing person’s back if needed too. There are so many options to support and offer comfort which makes the OBWC a beautiful place to give birth.

Another incredible thing about the OBWC is the large beds which are a few steps away from the bathroom and the tubs (they thought of everything!). This little baby was born on the bed where there is lots of space for the midwife, doula and partner to offer support.

The series of birth photos below are some of my favourites! (Ok, I don’t really have favourites…but…look at Dad’s face as his daughter is born!)

Once baby is born your family has time to cuddle, get to know each other and rest in the large bed. From this space the midwives can do the wellness check of baby and baby can have their first feed.

One of the common things I hear from families that they love about the birth centre is that they can go home to a clean house and not worry that their home and bed will be messed up by the joys of birth. (There are many ways to manage this when birthing at home of course - but I understand what they mean!)

As a birth photographer - one thing I love about OBWC birth is that there is lots of space for me to move around to capture important moments without getting in the way. Below is when Dad cut the umbilical cord coached by their midwife while mom held baby skin on skin on her chest.

This post is very “Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre” straight up - but as a birth photographer who has witnessed many births here I wanted to create a post that was very clear about what the OBWC offers.

The magic of birth photography at the OBWC is the same as it is at any birth - it’s about the story, the connections and the firsts that can be captured with the camera.

Below is the first time Dad got to hold his daughter skin on skin - and if you are a parent reading this and you’ve had this experience - you can likely FEEL this image. There is something so incredible about the velvety soft skin of a newborn baby wiggling and snuggling on your skin.

THIS is birth photography - at the birth centre, at home or at the hospital (and yes I’ve photographed births where it happened between these spaces!!) - these moments are what birth photography is all about.

Thank you to this family for sharing their images to give others a glimpse into what it’s like to have your baby at the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre!

If you are curious to learn more - speak with your Ottawa Midwife or contact the birth centre directly for a tour!

I am no longer offering birth photography however I am offering workshops for doulas and photographers who would like to learn the techniques to offer this service to their clients.

BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS