Ashland Birth Center :: Celebrating Five Years Open
Light filters through the Victorian home’s stained glass window revealing curves and lines, a colorful play of light and shadow. The floors gleam in the light, creaking slightly underfoot, and the sound remembers stockinged feet from long ago. Ornate old-growth oak trim edges door openings and highlights the tall windows. As you step past the heavy oak door, and into the spacious foyer you could well be entering an opulent Victorian bed & breakfast.
Welcome, friend, to the Ashland Birth Center.
Ashland Birth Center recently hosted its 5th open house, celebrating five years of nurturing, loving, and honoring mamas, babies, and papas. On that December afternoon, mamas, babies, and papas returned to the space where one journey ended and another began. I’m a firm believer that what you give is what you get in return. If you love, you’re loved in return. And it was evident that Savita and Dana loved these families. It was also evident that these families loved Dana and Savita. Mamas and midwives exchanged hugs. Laughter punctuated conversations. Babies drooled and smiled baby smiles. Small, chubby fingers clutched skilled, gentle fingers.
As a mama and as a birth photographer, I understand and realize more and more that the physical space in which a woman labors and delivers her baby is nearly as important to the process as the process itself. The Victorian mansion provides a beautiful physical space—soaring ceilings, gleaming floors, and ornate woodwork–to do the work of labor. But a space is just a space.
The heart and soul of the Ashland Birth Center are the women who care for the mamas, babies, and papas: Savita, Dana, and their dedicated staff. It’s difficult if not impossible for a woman to labor effectively in a space where she feels unloved, unprotected, or misunderstood. As one who can speak from personal experience—Savita delivered my son—I felt loved, protected, and understood during the labor and delivery. In meeting other mamas and papas at the open house, families who had also trusted Savita and Dana to deliver their babies, the theme became more and more clear: Savita and Dana love, protect, and understand their mamas.
After photographing babies, toddlers, and children ushered gently into the world by Savita, Dana and other ABC staff members, my heart was full. Thank you— Savita and Dana—for sharing your families with me and for letting me document their beautiful, smiling faces. Your work is a blessing.
