Lorraine Pryce Doula and Photographer

BIRTH IS POLITICAL

We live in a patriarchal society.

One where others like to have a say and ultimately wish to have control over our choices for our own bodies, our births, our babies.

The desire to control a person’s right to choose what happens during their pregnancy and birth, is based in fear.
Fear of the consequences of what a lack of control will have. If women and birthing people truly step into their power and autonomy, then what next?!

By understanding your rights in pregnancy and birth, you empower yourself to have pregnancy and birthing experiences that are yours; not governed by anyone else.

You take back your power and agency over your own life and to a patriarchal society that is scary.

Your body, your birth, your baby.

Know your rights.

Slides read:

You have the right to make choices about your pregnancy and birth
You have the right to accept or decline recommended appointments, scans, tests or treatments
you have the right not to be discriminated against
You have the right to give birth at home with or without medical assistance
You have the right to choose how you give birth without judgement
You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect
You have the right to make informed decisions about your baby’s care
If you would like to be supported in understanding your rights during your pregnancy, supported to use your voice and have advocacy and autonomy over your birth and enter your postpartum feeling empowered by your experience…

Get in touch with me for doula support.

All images captured by me.

(em)power

Here I am standing in my power, forever transformed by the lessons of before. The heartbreak, the pain, the challenge, the growth. There was a time when I questioned if I would ever feel the good again.
And here I am, reflecting on who I have become. This newest version of me stronger and yet softer than I was before. The things I thought would break me, have made me who I am now.
Made me more aware of myself, more protective of a heart that has even more capacity to give. A heart that is able to receive all that it deserves. I am more considerate of my power and where my energy is treasured and where it belongs.
I am once again transformed.

We all go through these transformations in life, some big, some small, some that go unnoticed and some that change us to our core.

It is time to celebrate them all.
And everything that we become.
Mind, body and soul.
Let’s us cherish it all.

NOW BOOKING…

My diary is now open and ready to welcome you to book your photography session, no matter where you are on your journey. From pregnancy to birth to postpartum, I look forward to meeting you.

If you have a question or are curious about how you can book a session with me, feel free to send over a DM or visit my website and book in a free call to find out more:

www.mama2mama.co.uk

FOR HUMANITY

At a time when I have been questioning my power to make change, feeling powerless to bring peace, struggling to understand what difference I can make to the brokenness of the world…

I am reminded by this image and my reason for doing what I do…

Changing the world, one empowered birth at a time.

For humanity.

🕊️

Thank you

MY 2024 AVAILABILITY

This week I received my first enquiry for birth support in September.

Many of my clients contact me in the first month of their pregnancies, often already knowing they want doula support before they conceive.

If you are even considering doula support during your birth, start speaking to doulas no matter what stage you are at. Get a feel for who feels right to you and get them booked.

Birth doulas often have limited availability but even if you decide later on in your pregnancy, it is always worth reaching out to see if the doula that is right for you is available.

Here is my availability until Sept 2024:

•✨No availability until late April.

•✨Very limited availability in late April, early May and the end of June.

•✨Available in July and August.

And for those that know me, I always take late September off as my self(ish) month. And this year certainly won’t be any different especially as I will be celebrating my big birthday!

If you would like to book in a call to find out more about my support, click the ‘Find Out More’ link in my bio.

L
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WHAT NOW?

Have you just found out you are pregnant?
Are you sh*tting yourself about the prospect of birthing a small human?
Are you overwhelmed by all the things becoming a parent entails?

Take a breath… and read on…here are some things you can do now…

First things first:
Get connected with yourself! 🤰🏽

Ask yourself what are your fears about birth and becoming a parent?
What are your hopes for birthing your baby and the parent you want to become?
Talk kindly to yourself and treat yourself with compassion as you experience the changes that pregnancy brings, physical and mentally.
Focus on your needs as well as the needs of your baby.
Get comfortable in the practice of putting yourself first.

Next:
Empower yourself with knowledge! 🧠

Learn about the things that scare you.
Learn about physiological birth (even if you don’t plan to have a physiological birth) to understand the process your body needs to go through to birth your baby.
Understand your human rights in childbirth so you have the knowledge to advocate for them to be supported.
Explore ALL the birthing options what feels right for YOU.

Then:
Prepare for your postpartum!🧑🏽‍🍼

Think about what YOU will need, to recover and heal from pregnancy and birth.
Who is around to offer you support in caring for yourself and your baby?
Consider what the realities of having a brand new tiny human will be like.
Gain information on how babies sleep, how they need to be nourished and how they grow.

I would also recommend getting the support of a doula (obvs). And I would highly recommend working with me (also obvs).

I will help you to explore your hopes and dreams, your fears and nightmares. I will help you gain the info you need to be fully informed and make decisions about YOUR body, YOUR birth and YOUR baby. I will support you no matter where your journey takes you.

Check out my support packages via the link in my bio 👆🏾

They include my usual Birth Doula Support but also my SUPER accessible PREPARING IN PREGNANCY packages making it easy and affordable to invest in doula support!

You got this!💪🏾

Lorraine

📸- photographs by me
🤰🏽-muse

VOTE FOR ME

Some of you may remember my passion project - ‘Can You See Me?’ which was exhibited in Bradford back in 2021 after entering a search for local artists to display their ideas of an alternative future.

Well, I did it again…

I have been shortlisted for the Artist In Resident 2023. 🙌🏾

My dream for this collection of images of Black and brown women and families, has always been that more and more people see images of parents of colour thriving, out in the world.

Being a part of this creative project is another amazing opportunity to gain more visibility for people of colour in their power whilst raising the next generation…and for my photography to potentially be on a billboard 😅!

For my work to be in with a chance to be seen far and wide, I need your vote!!! 🗳️

Click on the link the below to vote and full details of the project and other entries.

https://wearepocc.com/vote-artfund-2023/

You can only vote once so please share far and wide and make sure you vote by Wednesday 24th May.

Thank you

Lx

Text reads:
“In the future, we won’t be a statistic.
Black women and birthing people will thrive in our postpartum having been seen, heard and cared for in the way we have always deserved.

We will be alive and living, breaking generational cycles, becoming our ancestors dreams.

Growing and nurturing our future and the future of babes who can stand tall and be proud of their journeys, without trauma holding them back.”

HOLDING YOU

I have met and worked alongside a (unfortunate) few amazing midwives during my time as a doula. Ones who have truly honoured and held the birthing person and the birthing space, as they are meant to.

Midwives, whose presence was of reassurance and not unwanted or unnecessary involvement.

Whose hands have offered additional, consented, support to the capable hands of the woman giving birth, only when needed and requested.

Midwives who were passionate about making a positive impact on the journeys of the people they touch.

“The midwives listened to my wishes and knew my preferences. They carefully held the space for me alongside my dream team of my doula, hubby and my mum”- Kelly

These midwives are working hard in a system that is not just letting down the people they are trying to fully support but also them too.

Unfortunately, not every midwife works with autonomy and respect at the core of their practice. I have witnessed racism, coercion and a general lack of empathy when some midwives were meant to be offering safe support to people, birthing their babies.

Things need to change. We need to hold the great midwives and support them to do the beautiful work they do whilst addressing those whose practice has stepped far far away from ‘first do no harm’!

Thank you to the midwives who are compassionately listening to, respecting and honouring the choices of the families they care for, especially when it is increasingly hard but never impossible, to do what’s right for the person in the centre of the birthing room.

🙏🏾
🙏🏾
🙏🏾 .ology
🙏🏾
🙏🏾
🙏🏾
🙏🏾
🙏🏾
🙏🏾 .up.motherhood

Please tag any other wonderful midwives that deserve and need our support below 👇🏾

📸- me .pryce.photography

WHEN THINGS CHANGE

Birth is unpredictable.
The journey from pregnancy through to labour to birthing our babies, is not always linear and the path may take many twists and turns.

No matter what happens in your birth, whether you go from plan A to plan Z, I will be with you every step of the way.

I will help you prepare for any possible changes to you plans. I will hold space for all of the emotions if things do change. I will support your choices and help to ensure they are fully informed. I will be your continuous, compassionate care throughout.

“When Lorraine came to our home she took care of everything to do with the birth pool, and she gave us the confidence to advocate for our preferences (and she was a great hand to squeeze during an intense three hour pushing stage). Unfortunately, we ended up having to transfer.

Lorraine helped maintain our ‘safe space’ amongst the chaos of the paramedic team arriving, and reminded us of our options so that we felt we were making informed choices. When we got to the hospital, she was right there with us - a familiar, safe face amongst a sea of new people. Just her presence in the room felt anchoring.

In the end, I had a rather (avoidable) traumatic birth experience that ended in an unplanned C-Section. This is when Lorraine really helped us. I was in theatre for a while, but she stayed to greet us on our return to recovery. She was the one who was able to give my husband a hug when she saw his face on return to the room. She was the one who helped me get skin to skin (which I wasn’t able to get in theatre) and support me with my first feed when we felt no one else was listening.

I can’t describe what impact her presence has had on us. She was there for us during one of the most exciting, and at times traumatic, periods of our life. She started as our doula, but we’d now firmly consider her a friend.”

Thank you for trusting me and allowing me to share your story!

THIS!

Posted • "I’m so happy with my choices
Yet question them daily

I’ve never felt so accomplished
Then suddenly, failing

I’m excited for the future
Yet always looking back

I’m bursting at the seams
With all the things that I lack

I’m vacant
But always so full of you

I’ve learned so much
But still don’t have a clue

I’m close to my limit
But can’t get enough

I’m put upon, I’m passive
But undeniably tough

I’m gentle
But can’t help shouting

I’m certainly
Doubting

I’m oblivious
But care, so much, what you think

I’m the steady, stable one
Always teetering on the brink

I’m unemployed
Yet have never worked so bloody hard

I’m that happy smiling soul
Who’s full of mard

I’m permanently skint
But have never felt richer

I’m mindfully looking
At the bigger picture

I need a break
But always want you close

I’m invisible
But have never felt so exposed

I give others advice
I can’t seem to follow

I find yours, especially
Hard to swallow

I complain that I’m lonely
But just want to be alone

I’m positively grateful
But love a good moan

I’m absent
Yet ever-present

I’m dull
But effervescent

I’m tired
Yet enlivened

I’m loving this
But can’t abide it

I’m strong in my beliefs
Yet lack conviction

I’m reality TV
And a work of fiction

I’m the Mother
of all contradiction"

✏ Words taken from 'Mother Truths: Poems on Early Motherhood' by
Art:

UPDATE AVAILABILITY

It has been a busy few months already and I am so grateful to the families I have already walked alongside and those whose journeys are just beginning.

My availability for birth support is finite so that I am able to give the families I work with the full time and energy they deserve, however…

My postpartum support is always available for those I have supported during their births AND for those who want to invest in their postpartum care.

I believe the first 3 months after your baby is born are a crucial time to be held, cared for and supported to become the parent you want to be. Which is why I always make 3 spaces for postpartum support available in my capacity to care for others.

Planning ahead and investing for the postpartum period can give you the reassurance that the help you want and deserve will be available as and when you need it. This gives you more time and energy to rest, heal and bond with your baby so you can THRIVE NOT JUST SURVIVE.

This is why my postpartum packages now also include a Pregnancy Support Session to help you make plans for supporting yourself once your baby is here.
In this session, we will talk through and consider:

💫How you want to feed and care for your baby
💫Your own healing and nourishment needs
💫How bringing a new human into your family may impact your relationships and family dynamics
💫How to create your village of support including sharing local holistic healthcare professionals

If you would like to make doula support part of your postpartum plan, please get in touch by booking a free call with me through my website, details in my bio or contact me in the DMs ⬇️

And…

If you are due late September onwards, I have availability to support you during your pregnancy and birth.

I look forward to working with you soon.

Lorraine
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THEN VS NOW

This week marks 3 years since I officially started working as a doula, at the height of the covid lockdown. I had no idea how I was going to do this work from a distance and then I remembered my reason for doing what I do…To help ensure people have the birth experience that is right for them.

So when I was contacted by and asked if I could support someone who was struggling to navigate the system as a Black, non binary, solo parent; I knew my work had begun. This was the first birth I supported and it shaped the future of my work forever.

Now 3 years on, I am even more passionate about the work I do to support people to be seen, heard and to feel able to make choices about their birthing and postpartum journey. I never imagined that I would have supported all of the families I have and to be doing the activism work I do that continues to fuel my passion:

Changing the narrative around birth one birth at a time.

I also never envisioned that this work would have such an impact on my own personal journey through life. With each day I find more power, connection and peace within myself, knowing my journey is for me to choose.

Thank you to who have been a consistent form of support since my training 4 years ago and the family, I would not have come this far without.

This work is heart work and my heart has never been so full.

Lorraine
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📸- by me
📝- ‘Untamed’ by

RISING

This image represents one of my favourite parts of being a doula. Catching the sunrise after a birth in the quiet hours of the night.

I took it shortly after witnessing a woman truly stepping into her power, her instincts and her unshakable trust in herself to birth her baby her way.

I had the privilege of seeing this beautiful babe being born into the arms of his father who calmly and compassionately supported and held his partner as she brought their child into this world.

I got to feel the love of this family expand and grow, seemingly overnight with unfiltered emotion and a stillness that only their confidence could bring.

No matter how or where birth happens there is always a rising. The rising of a persons power to bring their baby into the world. The rising of a soul coming into this world. The rising of a sun on their first day together, newly formed.

To step out of the low light and warmth of a birth space into the crisp air and first light of the day, having witnessed life happen in its purest form, is nothing short of a privilege I will never take for granted.

Thank you for trusting me to sit alongside you.

I AM COMMITTED…

To being compassionate with myself.
To accepting myself for who I am right now.
To learning to let go.

Over the past few years I have been intentionally working on getting to know myself better. Becoming a mama sparked this journey and being a doula fuelled the fire. It has been a journey of therapy, coaching, mentoring, reading many self affirming books, blogs, quotes and LIFE. All of these things have been mirrors simply reflecting back to me the parts of me that needed the most love and attention, the parts that needed to be accepted and the parts of myself story that were no longer true. It has been an intense time.

I am now giving myself permission to slow right down.

I want to allow the lessons to land and the unlearnings to continue to unravel in their own time. I am looking forward to some of that internal peace that comes from just seeing what unfolds without needing to dissect, control or fully understand the whys and the hows.

I am allowing myself to just be.

“Give yourself permission to mend slowly, and sweetly, and in due time. There's no need to rush your healing. There's no need to "get over it" today-or even tomorrow. Let your process lead you. Make space for your grief to teach you something”. -

To anyone experiencing a similar journey, I feel you…it’s worth it, as are you.

Lorraine
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DOULA AVAILABILITY

Woah… and that’s it, my last doula babe of 2022 has been born and what a year 2022 has been for me.

I have walked alongside 20 new and growing families.
Been privileged to see 10 babies come into the world.
Supported 6 families in their postpartum.
Helped prepare 4 families for birth (excluding those whose births I attended).
Photographed 10 people at varying stages of their personal journeys.
Responded to 100’s of emails from people needing support and advice when navigating the maternity care system.
And held space for other doulas on their own journeys.

When I write it all down like this, it makes me realise just how much I love my job as none of it has felt like work.

It also makes me realise how much I do for others and this is the reason I am taking time off for from birth support until Feb 2023 so I can truly refill my cup. I will continue to support families in their precious postpartum period.

As well as supporting others, I have been through a huge emotional transition in my own life and to be honest, I know I need to show myself more love and compassion.

This is a reminder to me and to you to reflect on all that you have done. The rollercoaster of life we all ride everyday and that we can thrive with the love and care of others and fundamentally with compassion and belief in ourselves!

Thank you to all the families who have trusted me to walk alongside them and to hold their hands.

Thank you 2022 for all the lessons learned and unlearned.

Lorraine
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ALWAYS LEARNING

I have learnt a lot from the birth world since becoming a doula. From training and ongoing mentoring with , working and gleaning wisdom from and the collective.

But the majority of my lessons come from the individuals and families I support. I have yet to support a family and not learn something new or to be challenged in a previous thinking. And being the mama of a 5year old…everyday is a school day!

And there is always room for more learning and unlearning.

So I am currently diving into the books for some extended challenge to my wisdom and also as I build a new service offering focusing on preparing for the postpartum. These books were recommended by a client and fellow doula and will make up part of my research into creating this new offering.

What books have you read and would recommend for parents preparing for parenthood?

What do you wish you knew about the postnatal period before having your babies?

What do you wish you had prepared for before your baby’s arrival?

C O N N E C T I O N

There is often lots of debate about when is the best time to clamp and cut the cord and there is increasing evidence that the longer we leave the cord in tact, the better it is for baby (haven’t we always known this!?)

“Keeping the umbilical cord intact by delaying cord clamping for at least 3 minutes improves iron stores during infancy and supports health and development for the growing child. In preterm infants, delayed cord clamping reduces mortality by approximately 30%.”- Andersson & Mercer (2021)

But have you considered when might feel right for you?

Cutting of the cord can be a significant transition point for you and your baby.
Honouring this and allowing yourself to process this stage is a very powerful way of honouring everything that you have achieved to bring your baby earth side and a connection that you have grown from the very beginning. This moment should happen when you are ready and when it is right for the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual safety of you and your babe.

This is one of the first decisions you will be asked to make once baby is born, so it is worth considering and including in your birth plan.

Things to consider:

👥 Who will do it?- you, baby’s other parent, birth partner

🪢 How you will do it? Tie, clamp and cut or allow to detach naturally

⏳When you will do it? Straight away, wait for white, not at all

Visit to consider you options for cord clamping and cutting.

Beautiful image by
clamping

WHOLE HEARTED

“The best part of the support we received was YOU. You as a whole thinking, feeling, interesting and interested human being was the best thing. It was so much more than "support" you were a mama to a mama and everything that you do/go through/think/feel and process brought the fullest whole person into our lives - it didn't feel like a "service" it felt wholehearted”.

When I give you my support, I give you my compassion, my care and my belief in you, wholeheartedly.

I love what I do and I love the clients I am chosen to support.

Thank you!

HOME BIRTHS

If you are considering or planning a home birth right now, you may have been told that the availability of midwives to come to your birth may be restricted.

This is a consequence of low staffing in many NHS trust, maternity services.

“There is also a lot of frustration being felt by women and birthing people when they are being told that their choice to give birth at home is not being supported and that their rights to choose their place of birth are being restricted.
We are also becoming increasingly aware that their options are not being fully discussed with them so they are unable to make an informed decision ahead of time with the possibility of the support they deserve not being available.”

This is why when asked me to write a blog about the realities of having a home birth at the moment, I was keen to share my voice and the reality I am seeing from supporting clients and people coming to birthrights to get advice on how to have their right to choose a home birth, supported. *

As a doula I support YOU to plan for the birth that is RIGHT FOR YOU, no matter where that is. And I believe it is important that you know all of your options and have the information and time to consider how to make your choice a possibility. So I hope you find the information in the blog useful if you have been told you may not have the support you and deserve and want to find out about your options.

To read the full blog, head over to the link below:

https://www.birthrights.org.uk/2022/11/03/home-birth-series-the-realities-of-planning-a-home-birth-in-autumn-2022/

*I would also like to add that having the option of an Independent Midwife at your birth was limited but now more indies are able to offer birth support again. Which means people like a local, Yorkshire indie midwife and my wonderful colleague .ology are now able to support people during their births at home. This is another great option to consider if you are planning a home birth but worried about the availability of NHS midwifery services.

📸- By me and shared with explicit consent.

Lorraine

F R I E N D L Y R E M I N D E R

Not all of the information you may be given is all of the information you may need to make a fully informed decision.

When making decisions about you, your pregnancy, your birth and/ or your baby…

…Always remember…

B.R.A.I.N.S

And ask…

Benefits- what are the benefits of what the midwife/consultant is suggesting?

Risks- what are the risks of what they are suggesting or the potential impact of what this information may have?

Alternatives- what other options are there or possibilities that this could be and what else do I need to know to make a fully informed decision?

Intuition- ask yourself, “can I tap into my intuition right now” if not how can I find a space and time to connect with what feels right for me? What do I need to feel safe and able to think clearly?

Nothing- what about if I do nothing or if I take some time and do nothing right now? Are me and my baby safe?

Science- what does the science actually say? Is the risk 1 in 10 or 1 in 1000? How relevant is this information to me as an individual based on my pregnancy, my body and my baby?

Informed decision making comes from a place of knowing all of the information to make and informed choice.

Making decisions that are right for you also happen at a time when you feel safe, informed and supported.

Ask all the questions!

B O S S Y O U R B I R TH

The aim of the workshop is to help you feel informed and empowered during your pregnancy and when planning the birth of your baby. It is ideal no matter where you are in your pregnancy journey and especially impactful in your first and second trimester.

By the end of the workshop you will:
* Have an informed idea about your options for the birth of your baby including where you want to give birth, how you give birth and who you would like to support you
* Be empowered and aware of your human rights in pregnancy and birth and have knowledge on how to navigate the maternity care system and where to find support
* Know how you can achieve your ideal birth no matter what this looks like for you and understand birth better so that you know what to expect from your birth experience

Birth can be beautiful and I want to give you the information that will help you feel empowered to make the decisions that are right for YOU and your baby.

This is an introductory workshop and the first one of its kind.

It will take place online on Tuesday 20th September at 7pm

If you would like to find out more about what else the workshop has to offer and to reserve your spot on this limited, first-time workshop, you can book your spot now using the link below:

https://www.mama2mama.co.uk/bookings-checkout/boss-your-birth?referral=service_list_widget

Please like, comment, save and share if you think this could also be valuable to someone you know.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Lorraine

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