I’m beyond excited to introduce you to my new business name, Salam Birth Services! This change reflects not just a new chapter for me, but a deeper connection to the values that guide everything I do.

I have been operating under the brand name Lana Photographs for a little under 10 YEARS, this shift in branding is HUGE for me. The Lana Photographs brand was incredible for my growth as a photographer; I spent many days and months working tirelessly on growing it. I was finally in a place where I was ready to bring my doula and childbirth education work under the same umbrella, because it didn’t make sense to me to work on building two separate brands anymore - who even has the time to do that?!

So! Say hello to Salam Birth Services :)

Why ‘Salam’?

In Arabic, Salam means “peace,” and this word beautifully captures the essence of what I strive to offer every family I serve. Birth is one of the most sacred moments in life, and I want to ensure that each experience is filled with peace, calm, and tranquility. My new business name represents the peaceful, nurturing, and empowering support I provide through my birth photography, doula services and childbirth education.

Though the name of my business has changed, my commitment to serving you with care, respect, and compassion remains as strong as ever.

What’s next?

My new website www.salambirthservices.com and social media handle @salambirthservices are now officially live! I invite you to explore my new online presence and stay updated on all the latest news and resources.

Thank you for being a part of my community. I look forward to continuing this journey of peace and care with you under my new name, Salam Birth Services.

With love and gratitude,
Lana at Salam Birth Services

Birth doesn’t have to be scary. Sure, Sally down the road had a TERRIBLE experience, and Martha couldn’t WAIT to get the epidural to end her “agony”, but guess what? Just because this was their experience, doesn’t mean it will be yours! There are things you can do to help. Things you can do to prepare your mindset and to prepare your body to be the best birther you can possibly be.

1. Empower yourself with the knowledge on what the birth process entails

   You are your best advocate, and the more you understand what goes on during labor, the more you are likely to give in to the whole process and not allow fear to wash over you. Taking a childbirth education class is a wonderful place to start. Comment below and I can send you a free labor guide and information on my upcoming sessions!

2. Hire a provider that has a low intervention rate

   What does that mean? It means that they (the provider) are willing to trust that birth is a natural phenomenon and not a medical procedure that needs to be meddled with; someone who will help you to trust that your body knows what to do and can help you trust the process. Who you choose to be on your birth team will make a massive difference on your labor and delivery experience.

3. Hire a doula.

   A doula is a wonderful source of emotional, information and physical support during your birth journey. Choosing the right doula to be on your team will be a wonderful thing that you, for sure, will not regret.

4. Work on your fears

   Sit down with yourself, take pen to paper, and jot down what you are most worried about. Find a trusted birth professional (perhaps your doula, or your childbirth educator) that can help you walk through fear by fear so you can understand the roots of those fear, how you can work around them/accept them, heal any traumas associated with them and eventually unlock a new level of freedom in birth. If you are most worried about interventions, for example, it would be SO beneficial to understand the pros and cons of each intervention and understand that, perhaps, they are not always a bad thing to have to go through, and that, when they are medically necessary, it may be a great blessing to have access to them.

5. Listeni to powerful, affirmative and positive birth stories

   This is your time to lean into the strength of millions of women before you who have navigated birth with strength and perseverance. While everybody’s birth story is valid, whether it was a good experience or a bad experience, now is the time to be selfish and to guard your heart, soul and ears and to not listen to any traumatizing birth stories. There are many places where you can find wonderful and affirmative birth stories, here are some of my favorites

   • Birthful podcast

   • The Birth Hour

   • Taking Back Birth

About Salam Birth Services

Hey there, I'm Lana, the human behind Salam Birth Services! I'm a Chicago-based birth photographer, doula and childbirth educator covering mainly the Western, Northwestern and Southwestern suburbs, but feel free to reach out if you live outside those borders to enquire about my availability.

You can find me on Instagram , or you can get in touch here by sending a message!