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Pregnancy and Covid-19 (coronavirus)

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How to look after yourself during pregnancy with the COVID-19 outbreak

In a world of uncertainty, it is hard to not think the worse… and who can blame you?

You cannot go out and about or spend time with your loved ones, but what you can do is focus on your pregnancy. Eat healthy, enjoy fresh air even if it’s just in the garden and stay motivated, here are a few ideas to help you along the way 😊

  • Keep your blood sugar level up by eating whole, healthy foods and plenty of protein. …

We are all aware that there is a fresh food shortage, with everyone panic buying but please try and remain calm… Try local stores instead of the larger supermarket chains or even place an order online, it may take a few weeks to arrive but that does not matter… All that matters is that you eat healthy as often as you can.

  • Dealing with morning sickness

: Get plenty of rest (tiredness can make nausea worse)

: Avoid foods or smells that make you feel sick

: Eat something like dry toast or a plain biscuit before you get out of bed

Small, frequent meals of plain foods that are high in carbohydrate and low in fat (such as bread, rice, crackers and pasta)

: Eat cold foods rather than hot ones if the smell of hot meals makes you feel sick

drink plenty of fluids, such as water (sipping them little and often may help prevent vomiting)

: Eat foods or drinks containing ginger – there’s some evidence ginger may help reduce nausea and vomiting (check with your pharmacist before taking ginger supplements during pregnancy)

: Try acupressure – there’s some evidence that putting pressure on your wrist, using a special band or bracelet on your forearm, may help relieve the symptoms

  • Keep yourself hydrated. …

When you are expecting you should increase your daily intake by another two to four glasses especially if the weather is warm or you are exercising.

  • Stay active. …

It is harder to stay active when we are all in self isolation but low impact exercise such as walking is good for you, just be careful where you head out and remember to practice social distancing. (Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before and after any walks) There are many pregnancy yoga classes online, this exercise is great for your body and your mind. Yoga may enhance your sleep, your physical stamina and even help you to prepare for labour and birth.

  • Get plenty of rest. …

Being pregnant can be a tiring experience for a woman’s body. Both the physical discomforts of pregnancy as well as the emotional stress, expecting at this uncertain time you will have more anxiety than others. Pregnancy is a good time for women to take their sleep needs more seriously and try to get more of it.

  • Join mothers to be groups on social media. …

Speaking with other expecting mothers can help boost your confidence and give you some normality at this time, ask each other questions, share thoughts as what you are worrying about maybe perfectly normal.

Government guidelines will vary from country to country and are changing regularly.

The guidance below is based on the standards of the UK on 21st March 2020.

  • What effect does coronavirus have on pregnant women?

It is expected the large majority of pregnant women will experience only mild or moderate cold/flu like symptoms. More severe symptoms such as pneumonia appear to be more common in older people, those with weakened immune systems or long-term conditions. It is advisable if your body shows any signs of the virus, you are to contact the medical board.

  • What you need to do now?

As a precaution, you should follow government advice about social distancing; stay away from public places and avoid anyone who has symptoms suggestive of coronavirus.

If you are in your third trimester (more than 28 weeks pregnant) you should be particularly attentive to social distancing and minimising contact with others. The general advice here is to self-isolate for your final trimester.

  • Are you able to still go to work? What if you work in a public-facing role?

This must be an anxious time for you especially if you work with the public, following the government guidelines pregnant women should minimise social contact as a precautionary measure.

If you can work from home you should do so, if this is not possible then your role maybe able to be modified appropriately to minimise your exposure, this should be considered and discussed with your employer.

It is recommended that if you are in your first or second trimester and you have no underlying health conditions, you should practise social distancing but can continue to work provided the necessary precautions are taken into account.

If you are in your third trimester (more than 28 weeks pregnant), or have an underlying health condition – such as heart or lung disease – you should work from home where possible, avoid contact with anyone with symptoms of coronavirus, and significantly reduce unnecessary social contact.

  • What happens if you go into labour during self-isolation?

If you go into labour, you should contact your maternity unit for advice.

Your maternity team have been advised on ways to ensure that you and your baby receive safe, quality care, respecting your birth choices as closely as possible.

When you and your maternity team decide you need to attend the maternity unit, general recommendations about hospital attendance will apply. Your birth partner(s) will be able to stay with you throughout.

  • Will I be able to breastfeed my baby if I have suspected or confirmed coronavirus?

Yes. There is no evidence showing that the virus can be carried in breastmilk, the well-recognised benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of coronavirus through breastmilk.

If you choose to breastfeed your baby, the following precautions are recommended

: Wash your hands before touching your baby, breast pump or bottles

: Try to avoid coughing or sneezing on your baby while feeding.

: Consider wearing a face mask while breastfeeding, if available Follow recommendations for pump cleaning after each use.

: Consider asking someone who is well to feed your expressed breast milk to your baby.

: If you choose to feed your baby with formula or expressed milk, it is recommended that you follow strict adherence to sterilisation guidelines. If you are expressing breast milk in hospital, a dedicated breast pump should be used.

Once all said and done, you need to look after yourself and most important to keep telling yourself … You got this and we are all behind you and very soon you will have a beautiful little baby, that will fill your life with so much meaning, love and joy…

Disclaimer: Please note, this is a general information guide, we are not medically trained…

Following government guidelines is crucial.

Stay safe and keep well

Questions to ask when looking for a Newborn photographer

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If you are looking for a newborn photographer this blog post is for you.

I’m going to give you the questions you should be asking your photographer, any photographer worth their weight will be able to answer these questions with no hesitation. 

It is very important to ask these questions before you book to be sure your photographer is what you are looking for and are they qualified in newborn photography.

A lot of people tend to think if you are a photographer you will photograph everything as its all the same. Unfortunately this is not the case any why it is so important to choose wisely.

1. Research the market

Unfortunately the newborn photography industry in the UK is not regulated, Which means there are no specific tests or qualifications needed to be undertaken before offering this service; yes that’s right that means that in theory anyone with little or no experience with newborns can set up as a newborn photographer. As the trend gets more and more popular you will see more opportunistic people calling themselves newborn photographers, even photographers who specialize in other sectors will start to call themselves newborn photographers. This is worrying but this happens a lot, we’ve heard lots of horror stories of when things have gone wrong during a newborn photo shoot all because the babies have been put in the hands of an inexperienced and untrained photographer. 

If you don’t have any recommendations from and friend or family member about a ‘newborn photo session”  then do you own research.

  • Look at their website and Facebook pages, see what type of photography they take and if their style suits you. Remember if their website and Facebook page are predominantly of a different area of photography they are probable not that experienced in newborn photography
  • Look at their comments, reviews and feedback from recant clients
  • Do they seem positive and passionate about what they do 
  • Contact them and ask them questions

2. Beware of cut price photographers

We have all got our budgets and not every photographer is going to be within your budget. PLEASE don’t be tempted to book a photographer who is offering a deal which is cheap (a lot of images on a disk for £100) Remember that old say; “If it sound to good to be true it probably is”

Choose a professional photographer who specializes in Newborn photography, If someone is good at their job, they will be in demand and their prices will reflect that.

Cut price photographers are usually untrained, uninsured and often offer a second grade service. Do you really want to settle for that?

3. Ask if they are professionally trained, qualifications and experienced in newborn photography

Most photographers are proud of their Training, Qualifications and Experience and will most likely be displayed on their website and social media but if not, don’t be afraid to ask them? Top newborn photographers attend training courses a few of times a year costing thousands of pounds.

Even though there are no legal requirements, Newborn photographers are worth their weight in gold and would have undergone newborn safety training before even opening their doors. Any photographer who has had training will not get offended when you ask these questions, they understand that safety is the most important aspect during your session and will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Ask your photographer if they have a “Newborn Safety Certificate” certifying that they have met all the requirements that have be set out by “The Master Photographer Association”. Believe it or not there are only 21 photographers in the UK who meet these requirements and only 3 in Wales. But always check if they have at least had newborn safety training.

We all understand there are loads of tutorials on YouTube about everything, even newborn photography but would you trust an electrician to come and rewire your house if they only had YouTube training? Probably not… So why would you trust a YouTube trained newborn photographer?

Equally as important is experience, an experienced newborn photographer will feel very comfortable handling your baby (even twins or triplets). They would have worked with hundreds of newborn babies and will know how to pose your little one safely and comfortably and understand that every newborn reacts differently to posing . You may also be surprised on how easily they can soothe and comfort your newborn.

4. Are they members of any professional associations that specializes in Newborns

Two of the main associations that specialize in newborns are “BANPAS” Baby And Newborn Photography Association and the MPA “The Master Photographer Association”. These are the three most important logo’s to look for.

Photographers who are members of  BANPAS will proudly display they logo on their website, to become a member the photographer has agree to follow a code of conduct set out by BANPAS. A Pro member would have had to send in proof of insurance and images to be assessed. 

Banpas Pro-Member

Photographers who are members of The MPA can only display “The Master Photographers Associations” logo once they are qualified. The photographer will be qualified in a certain genre i,e Newborn photography, Portrait photography, landscape photography and so forth.

MPA Licentiate Darren Whiteley

The MPA also offer a “Newborn safety certificate” to achieve this certificate the photographer has to demonstrate how they carry out newborn posing safely, they would also need to provide proof of their insurance and display 20 images to be judged by highly qualified photographers. There are currently only 21 newborn photographers in the UK that have met these requirements and only 3 in Wales.

Rosette issued for Newborn Safety

5. How do they capture complex poses

Over the years we have heard some horror stories of baby being suspended in the air / babies being posed in uncomfortable poses and have been left unsupported. Professional and experienced newborn photographers should be able to show you how these complex images are taken. These are illusions called “COMPOSITES” and are taken over several images, these are then edited together during the editing process.

Sling pose taken safely by Treasured Moments Photgraphy

See other examples in blog “Would you put your baby at risk for the sake of a photo”

6. Do they have an assistant (Spotter)

Ask each photographer do they have an assistant during the photo shoot, even though this is not necessary… What is necessary is another pair of hands, supporting babies head and so forth. If they do not have an assistant then the extra pair of hands would be yours (the parents).

If this is the case you would need to make sure you are comfortable with doing this, remember you will be offering support to your little one in complex posing and also will have just given birth and being a spotter could lead to hours on your knees, which could be very uncomfortable especially if you have had an emergency a C-section. If you would rather not undertake this responsibility then choose a photographer who has a trained assistant.

You probably would enjoy the whole experience more, if you could just sit back, relax and watch the trained professionals pose and capture your little one. 

7. Where does the session take place

Do your travel to the photographer or do they come to you. This is a personal choice which would you prefer ?

If you choose a photographer that comes to your home, you need to find out how much room they need. I have heard of parents having to empty out their dinning room just to give the photographer the space they require, also a lot of mobile photographers take newborns on the dinning room table.

If you choose to attend a newborn photography studio, take into account how much easier it would be i.e No cleaning of the house / No clearing a room for photographers equipment and so on… Majority of studios will be relaxed, warm and welcoming and pre-set up for your newborn session. Many will have a comfy seating area for mam and dad to relax and watch.

A few things you will need to consider, with a photography studio :

  • Where is the studio is based and how long it would take you to get there?  There is a 2 hour car seat rule, we would recommend it is safe to choose a photographer within one hour and 30 minutes in each direction, this should allow for any traffic congestion 
  • As we live in the UK the weather is not usually in our favor so always handy to know if the photographer has a private car park or where is the best place to park as you don’t want to driving around looking for space then having  to walk there in the rain to the studio.
  • Access to the studio, is it a ground floor studio or do you have to climb stairs with a buggy or car seat
  • Is the studio clean, tidy and safe
  • Are siblings welcome (some photographers charge extra for this service)
  • Are there refreshments or do you bring your own, remember you could be there a few hours 
  • Does the studio offer baby changing area and bottle and breast feeding facilities.

8. Manage your expectations

You may have seen many examples of poses taken by photographers, discuss these with your photographer ask if they can meet your expectation safely. 

Most Newborn photographers would have an extensive range of props / backdrops and accessories but it is always good to make sure.

Are you able to bring family heirlooms or sentimental props, some photographers do not allow the use of any personal items.

9. Availability and fees

Most popular newborn photographers tend to get booked up months in advance and start taking bookings from your 12 week scan on wards… It is important not to fall into the trap of thinking you can wait to book your photographer,  if you wait you may end up disappointed as they may not be able to fit you in. 

Do consider when pricing up a photographer that they also have their own expenses, training costs, equipment cost, wages to pay etc. The most important cost to your photographer is your products and the price will reflect this, so think… if you are paying a cheap price for your session and products you will probably receive an inferior product.

Prices can very from photographer to photographer some of which are charging for a package up front to others charging a booking fee (usually with no product) products are then purchased separately at the viewing session or through an online gallery, also please note that some photographers have a minimum spend in place.

If you are thinking of hiring a top, qualified and award winning photographer including a Newborn safety certification who offer you a top quality service and high end product you should expect to pay in the regions of anywhere between £500 and £1000 for Wall art / Printed portraits and digital or you could take a chance with a photographer that is offering everything on a disc for as little as £100 . The more qualified and more in demand the newborn photographer is, the higher the price you would expect to pay.

Remember photography is not unlike any other luxury items you purchase, such as a new kitchen or even a new car… For example If you purchased a brand new top end Jaguar straight from the dealer you would expect to have top quality and a high end service than you would, if you bought a little Nissan Micra from the side of the road. 

Final thoughts

These are some of the very important things to consider before choosing the correct newborn photographer for you.

Only then can you can be sure that the photographer will meet your expectations and give you the quality of experience you desire for you and your newborn baby, plus everlasting portraits and memories you will cherish for a lifetime.

If you have any further questions or you would like to choose “Treasured Moments Photography” to capture your precious newborn, please get in touch

We look forward to hearing from you on 01639 8491520 or you can email us one info@treasuredmomentsphotography.co

Darren and Rhian Whiteley

Would you put your Newborn at risk for the sake of a photograph

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Of course every parents automatic reaction would be “NO”

When it comes to purchasing items for your Newborn such as ‘car seats’ ‘prams’ ‘cots’ etc. Quite often you will research them by reading reviews, attending stores and speak to the staff before making your purchase. Unfortunately parents don’t tend to look into their newborn photographer, most shop purely on price without doing any research assuming all photographers are equal in their industry.

Over the last couple of years Newborn Photography has grown extremely popular. However, with anything that is popular there are always people trying to jump on the band wagon. There has been a massive increase of professional and amateur photographers offering Newborn Baby Photography without the correct knowledge or training.

Newborn photography is one of the most “hands on” sectors within the photography industry. The photographer holds, soothes and poses your baby.

Newborns are very delicate and have very different needs to an adult, child and even an older baby; they have an immature circulatory system, weak muscles and an inability to control their own body temperature. This is why before choosing a newborn photographer you should do your research, as choosing a photographer without the correct knowledge, training and experience, the photographer could unintentionally be putting your baby as risk!!

Working in the industry for over 10 years and attended many safety courses, we have heard some truly horrifying stories involving newborns being; dropped, falling out of props, shoulders being pulled out of joint and other serious injuries; all because the photographer has had no training, experience and knowledge with working and posing newborns and they attempt poses incorrectly and unsafely.

Darren Whiteley is a very highly qualified photographer, he has been awarded a “Newborn Safety Certificate” which is held be only 3 photographers in Wales, Darren is currently the only “Pro-Member” of Banpas (Baby and Newborn Photography Association) in Wales and holds a “Licentiate” qualification with the Master photographers Association. Rhian Whiteley his wife, works alongside Darren throughout each and every newborn experience and even though she does not operate the camera, rhian has attended every course Darren has attended and is fully trained in the safety and posing of newborns. Rhian positions, poses and makes sure your baby is safe and comfy at all times throughout the session, even though all of their props are made for purpose, Rhian is always focused on your baby and never out of her reach. You babies safety is the most important priority of each session and your baby is 100% safe. As Darren and Rhian work as a team, no parent is needed to be a spotter enabling you to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience

Treasured Moments Photography have spent thousands of pounds over the years, investing in training and made for purpose props to ensure we are confident in handling your newborn safely and producing a quality experience for you to cherish.

All poses are done at a low level, some images are composite images (several image merged into one) and you baby is never left unattended. We have seen first-hand other photographers posing newborns incorrectly and dangerously, this is totally unacceptable. We are one of the leading newborn photographers who are fighting to get our industry regulated.

Composite image examples

Newborn Safety by Treasured Moments Photography  Sling pose taken safely by Treasured Moments Photgraphy  Simba pose taken safety by Treasured Moments Photography 

 

Newborn photography is usually taken within first 14day and Newborn photographers will have a very flexible diary and take bookings from your 12 week scan.

Please research your photographer before booking, you really do get what you pay for