Essential Checklist for Your Hospital Bag | Northern VA Maternity Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Oct 16, 2017 | Helpful Hints

Essential Checklist for Your Hospital Bag | Northern VA Maternity Photographer

Working in the maternity photography field in the Waterford, VA area, it means we have the pleasure of meeting a lot of women in their final trimester. Recently, we had an interesting chat about what should go in a hospital bag. Today’s post stems from Mindy’s experience as a mom – as well as our need to be highly organized!

You might say that heading to the hospital to have a baby is like heading off on a life-changing trip! Careful planning and packing will make things so much easier. We know that when it comes to maternity pictures – or any portraits, for that matter – planning is critical! It’s no different when you’re planning for your delivery and hospital stay.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you begin to think about packing your hospital bag:

Toiletries:
You’ll want to bring toiletries. Plan for the toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, body wash or soap, and body lotion. We also suggest you bring along nipple cream, your favorite shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush and hair bands. You might even need a blow-dryer depending on the hospital. Don’t forget makeup if you like to wear it!

Shower Slippers:
Flip-flops or shower slippers of some kind are advisable because you will want to shower at some point during your stay.

Socks & Slippers:
Pack a couple of pairs of your favorite warm socks and slippers. Most hospitals tend to be chilly, and your feet could get cold even while in bed. And, slippers are an obvious one – you never want to walk around in a hospital barefoot!

Pajamas & Robe:
A little coverage is a good thing when you’re wearing a hospital gown, so bring a robe. A hospital stay is a perfect opportunity to indulge in a new, comfortable robe you’ll use even after you’ve left the hospital. Sometimes changing out of a hospital gown into regular pajamas goes a long way toward making you feel better. If that could be you, plan for comfortable, loose-fitting pajamas.

Bras:
Women know that a good quality, comfortable bra is invaluable. If you’re going to be nursing, pack a nursing bra; otherwise, bring a good bra. Don’t forget to bring quality nursing pads whether they are disposable or washable.

Underwear:
There will inevitably be some bleeding, so plan to bring underwear to accommodate the largest pads you’ll ever see! Buying one size up from your pre-pregnancy regular size is advisable.

Electronics:
A cellphone and phone charger are must-haves. Some women also pack electronic readers or a book.

Maternity Photography

As an experienced maternity photography specialist in the Waterford, VA area, we’d love to work with you! Contact our studio to schedule an appointment or with any questions.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Maternity Photography

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near the Waterford, VA area in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

The Ideal Third Trimester Checklist | Northern VA Maternity Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Oct 12, 2017 | Helpful Hints

The Ideal Third Trimester Checklist | Northern VA Maternity Photographer

We recently came across an interesting checklist, and it got us thinking as a Waterford, VA newborn photographer. Given that we work with so many women in their third trimester of pregnancy for their maternity portraits, we thought a Third Trimester Checklist could be quite handy!

Nursery:
• Wash and organize baby clothes.
• Stock up on frequently used items such as diapers and wipes.
• Organize nursery, keeping frequently used items like diapers and wipes close at hand.
• Make any purchases you’ll need when baby arrives if you haven’t received them from your registry.
• Make sure you know how to use a breast pump.

Around the house:
• Baby-proof the house – even if a walking toddler is still a long way off.
• Prepare and freeze meals for those early days home from the hospital.
• A good cleaning of your home is always a good idea to get ahead of what’s to come.
• Consider purchasing non-toxic cleaning products and gentle laundry detergent.

Pregnancy-Related:
• Do you know various routes to the hospital in case of traffic?
• Have you signed up for maternity and parenting classes?
• Have you spoken with your health insurance about the covering of your delivery and hospital stay?
• Have you tried on and purchased nursing bras?
• Pack a hospital bag and include any necessities such as toiletries and nursing bras and pads.
• Download helpful apps such as for breastfeeding, timing contractions. Don’t forget a GPS map!

Practical Matters:
• Select a pediatrician after asking around for recommendations.
• Write and send your thank-you notes for baby gifts.
• Pick out birth announcements. (Your maternity and newborn photographer can help you with this!)
• Practice installing a baby car seat. (This could take a few tries!)
• Practice opening and closing a stroller if you’re unfamiliar with it. (This, too, can take a few tries.)
• As a baby photographer, (of course) we suggest doing your maternity portraits in your last trimester, between 32 weeks and 36 weeks!
• Schedule your newborn portraits.
• Speak to your attorney about a will and selecting guardians.
• Consider child care options and begin visiting sites or interviewing caregivers.
• Do you know good baby sitters experienced with newborns for date nights in the first months?

As a Waterford, VA newborn photographer working with both maternity and newborn photography clients, we always encourage our clients to plan for tomorrow but enjoy today. Motherhood will be one of the most glorious times of your life!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Newborn Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near the Waterford, VA area in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

Expectant Moms, Exercises during pregnancy can help prepare for childbirth! | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Oct 5, 2017 | Helpful Hints

Expectant Moms, Exercises during pregnancy can help prepare for childbirth! | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

For mothers-to-be, here are a few exercise tips to help you prepare for childbirth! As a Waterford, VA area newborn photographer, we enjoy connecting with our clients on topics we know matter to them. Our tips are excerpts from an article on Parent.com with information from The Mayo Clinic. As always, check with your obstetrician before you begin any exercise program during pregnancy!

Squats:
Squatting during labor can open the pelvic outlet by as much as one-half-inch, so doing squats in the months leading to labor can help you strengthen the pelvic floor. There are several versions of squatting including standing with your back up against a wall with feet shoulder width apart and about six inches away from the wall. Slide slowly down the wall into a squatting position. Your goal is to have your thighs parallel to the floor then hold the position for up to 10 seconds before sliding back up to standing. Repeat five to ten times. Here’s an article specifically about squats during pregnancy.

Pelvic tilts:
Pelvic tilts (also known as Cat-Cow) can help strength abdominal muscles and help relieve lower back pain during pregnancy and labor. Overall, it helps improve lower back flexibility which can be helpful during labor. Drop onto your hands and knees (on all fours) keeping your head aligned with your back. Arch your back upward (like a camel toward the ceiling) while tilting your pelvis in toward the pubic bone and stomach. Hold for several seconds, then relax your back in a flat, aligned position before repeating. Then arch your back in the opposite direction – dropping/sagging your back/torso toward the floor like a U-shape while tilting pelvis up and out before returning to neutral. Repeat up to five times, adding reps as you get stronger. Check it out here.

Kegel exercises:
Pelvic floor muscles can weaken with time or stress, including pregnancy. These muscles are important because they tend to support our internal organs including bladder, uterus, and bowels. Toning them during (or even better, before) pregnancy can help you avoid leakage or hemorrhoids. The best way to describe Kegels is if you were to stop the flow of urine without engaging your abdominal, buttocks, or thigh muscles. When you do this, you’re doing a Kegel exercise! You can do your Kegels either by holding or quickly contracting those pelvic floor muscles (without engaging other muscles). You can also slowly contract those muscles and hold for up to 10 seconds and repeat up to 10 times. If you do them quickly, contract 25 to 50 times; relax for a few seconds and repeat sets up to four times.

With our extensive baby photography experience, we would be happy to serve as your newborn photographer in the Waterford, VA area. We work with clients throughout the Northern Virginia area. Contact our studios to schedule your baby’s portrait session!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Newborn Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near the Waterford, VA area in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

Healthy Snacks During Pregnancy | Northern VA Maternity Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Sep 28, 2017 | Helpful Hints

Healthy Snacks During Pregnancy | Northern VA Maternity Photographer

We enjoy chatting with our clients during their maternity photography sessions in the South Riding, VA and Round Hill, VA areas. One recent conversation inevitably touched upon healthy snacks for pregnancy. Pickles and ice cream are perennial favorites when joking about pregnancy cravings. Of course, the reality is not that simple – nor that funny!

Here are a few suggestions for healthy snacks based on this informative article.

Fiber and Fruit
It’s important to get adequate fiber during pregnancy as well as your fruit requirements. Apples are a two-for-one: fiber and fruit. Pair its 4g of fiber and just 95 calories with some high fiber crackers, and you’re doing great! Add some good cheese to help you get your dairy. Try some cheddar with your apples for a tasty combo.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D isn’t just good for you; it’s also good for your baby, helping to support his/her bones, teeth, and immune system once born.
Egg yolks are an easy source of Vitamin D.
Mushrooms, Salmon, Tuna, and Mackerel are other good sources for Vitamin D – in addition to sunlight, of course.
Try some homemade trail mix with a variety of nuts (especially almonds), seeds, dark chocolate, and dry fruit to beef up your Vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium.

Dairy
Dairy is an important part of a daily diet whether you’re an adult or child. We often hear from mothers during our baby pictures sessions that their kids don’t like dairy. Well, try some Greek yogurt mixed with fiber like seeds or nuts and add whatever fruit your child loves. Greek yogurt is the rock star of yogurts with 14g of protein per 5.3-ounce single-serving container. Also, try cottage cheese with fruit and granola for lunch or an afternoon snack. These also make excellent options while pregnant!

Avoid too much sodium
If you’re experiencing swelling in your hands and feet, cut back on your sodium intake and try increasing your fibers and veggies as well as water intake. Cucumber, watermelon, and celery contain a lot of water while being good for you. Avocado made into guacamole is also a healthy option. Just use low-sodium chips to dip!

If you haven’t considered doing a maternity photography session at our studios in the South Riding, VA and Round Hill, VA areas, contact our studios today! We would be happy to address any questions you might have about maternity portraits.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Maternity Photography

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near South Riding, VA and Round Hill, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

7 Ways Busy Moms Can Relax | Northern VA Baby Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Aug 21, 2017 | Helpful Hints

7 Ways Busy Moms Can Relax | Northern VA Baby Photographer

With our newborn photography work at our studios near Round Hill, VA, we know how busy life can be for moms, especially new moms. It is important to take a breather every once in a while, whether for a little pampering or just some quiet time! Here are some ideas for “Mommy Time” to restore your soul.

Aromatherapy:
Essential oils are popular and are something you can do without needing to invest a lot of money. (High-quality oils tend to yield better results, though.) You can go the high-end road and purchase diffusers or visit professional aromatherapists. You can also do it yourself for some inexpensive home pampering and relaxation. Sprinkle a few drops of essential oil onto a cotton ball and place under your pillow at night or in your purse to relax.
— Lavender is one of the best oils for relaxation.
— Use Peppermint or Spearmint to perk you up.
— Use Rose oil to cheer you up or relax you.

Reading:
Studies have shown that silent reading helps induce a sense of calm and is good for you – not to mention that it might make you smarter. Pick up a book, grab a cup of herbal tea and find yourself a quiet corner away from the world to unwind.

Go for a walk:
As a baby photographer, we know the value of getting outside into nature. Go for a walk whether it’s around the block or along a nature trail. A quiet walk can be as beneficial as meditation or other healthy practices such as yoga. If you can’t get outdoors, get near a quiet window and enjoy connecting with nature and all it has to offer from your home. You might be surprised how nurturing and restorative it can be to walk thoughtfully among trees or imagine yourself there!

Mindfulness Meditation:
A few minutes of mindfulness meditation can be good for your physical and mental health. If you don’t know anything about mindfulness practice, a quick Google search will offer loads of tips and information to help you get started.

Open an App:
In addition to apps for meditation, there are also relaxation apps from guided relaxation techniques to relaxation music and sounds. How about the sound of rain or a waterfall to relax you while you stare out the window at some trees?

Exercise:
Whether at the gym, outdoors, or at home for however long, you’ll find that in the midst of chaos sometimes all it takes is a little exercise to unwind. Some gyms even offer special classes for mamas and babies! Yoga is the mother of them all for relaxation and is something you can practice at home while baby naps if you don’t have a sitter. And, guess what? There’s an app for yoga, too!

Enjoy a hot, quiet bath:
You don’t have to go to a high-end spa to recreate spa-like benefits. Light some candles in your bathroom, arrange with the hubby to watch the baby or children for 30 minutes, grab a good book or magazine, and soak in some bubbles. The key here is to feel like you’re off in another world without children (or hubby) running in every five minutes needing something. Don’t forget the relaxing music!

With studios near Round Hill, VA, we get to enjoy our newborn photography clients as well as the many benefits of living in Northern Virginia. We hope you can find some “me” time as well!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Newborn Photography

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near Round Hill, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

5 Fun Activities to Encourage Baby’s Growth & Development | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Aug 14, 2017 | Helpful Hints

5 Fun Activities to Encourage Baby’s Growth & Development | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

One of our favorite aspects of being a newborn photographer in Purcellville, VA won’t surprise you. It’s the babies, of course! We love engaging with our tiniest, youngest clients! What a pleasure it is when they return and we can see their growth. We thought we’d share these five easy and fun tips to promote your baby’s development. They are fun and engaging and, let’s face it, you get to play with your child. Who can say no to that?!

1. Talk, Listen, and Watch: To assist with language development, sing, talk, and regularly listen to your baby using exaggerated voices and facial expressions. Watch to see how she reacts to the different pitches you use. Be sure to make good eye contact. Also, next time they start crying or having a meltdown, start singing! It encourages emotional regulation.

2. Dancing: Who doesn’t love to dance with a child? They don’t care if you have two left feet. All you need is music and to securely hold your baby while you move around the room together to the music. Dancing helps to promote an early appreciation of music and bonding which is important for emotional development. Turn your dancing into a baby photography moment by asking someone to take your picture while you’re dancing with baby. The snapshots will bring back cherished memories one day!

3. Reflection: Most adults could sit and watch a baby watch themselves in a mirror for hours. While you’re doing it, go ahead and point to the baby’s reflection in the mirror and ask them who it is. Repeat this with other reflections such as yours. This activity helps to promote visual, social, and emotional development. Besides, it’s cute!

4. Baby and Child Massage: This is a great activity after a bath or when you’re changing your baby. Just be certain the room is warm enough, so they don’t get cold. Be sure to gently but firmly stroke your child’s arms, legs, and belly to promote bonding and stimulate the senses.

5. Imitation: Play “Follow The Leader” with your child by encouraging imitation of each other’s actions to help develop memory and learning. You can start by imitating something they are already doing such as clapping, waving, or tapping. Then encourage them to imitate your simple actions as well. As they get the hang of it as their development grows, you can make the activities increasingly more challenging. Make sure to always keep it fun for them.

If you would like to work with a caring, careful, and experienced newborn photographer in the Purcellville, VA area, contact our studios to schedule your baby’s portrait session! We enjoy meeting new babies and their parents!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Newborn Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near Purcellville, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits