As Muslims, we don't celebrate Christmas, but we love our prophet Eissa (Jesus) peace be upon him. If you're celebrating Christmas today, then you're celebrating a home birth. There's really no second guessing it. There is a lot I want to say about celebrating Christmas during these turbulent times, but I will save that for another time. For now, I really want to highlight home birth.

Actually, if I want to get *really technical* Maryam AS (Mary) had a free birth - an unassisted birth; when a woman gives birth without the presence of medical professionals. Maryam AS gave birth to our prophet Eissa (Jesus Peace be Upon Him) in seclusion, near a tree. We know it's a palm tree; in the Quran Allah ordered her to shake the tree branches so the date fruit can come down and she can nourish herself during labor and immediately after birth.

Two things we can conclude from this story: 1. Homebirth is a safe option for low risk pregnancies (that's the majority of women) and

2. Eating and drinking during labor has been happening since thousands of years. I'm not saying go out and eat a five course meal or anything too heavy while you're laboring (I'm 90% sure you won't even feel like eating anything at all!) but you should definitely not be starving yourself. Labor can be long and exhausting. It will require energy. Fuel your body with simple things like honey sticks, dates, toast. Simple foods.

Have you considered a home birth? What questions do you have that I can help you answer? Comment below and let’s start chatting!

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!

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