Written by Shay Gabriel

Photos by Annica Quakenbush

Fertility, conception, pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum…it’s all a labor of love. This love month, we’ve curated a collection of photos featuring the many forms of love present throughout the prenatal to postpartum journey—complete with birthy conversation hearts!

U BOOST MY OXYTOCIN

Oxytocin is often referred to as “the love drug.” It’s a naturally occurring hormone that plays an essential role in labor. Yes, the same hormone affiliated with the warm fuzzies helps birth baby into the world! (Pitocin, commonly used in medicated labor, is a brand of synthetic oxytocin.)

Read Annica’s tips on boosting that oxytocin flow during early labor here.

Can’t you just feel the love in these photos?

RAD DAD

Those tender moments between a rad dad/mom/partner and their baby…it’s enough to keep us warm in the coldest of Februarys. (The last photo below with a banana plant, Annica’s husband Peter, and baby Rubin was taken by Brooke Collier.)

BE MY GALENTINE

When you love a birth team who loves you back—it's invaluable. Thank you to all the wonderful birth workers out there who are making a difference in the lives of new and growing families. ⁠(Last photo taken at Annica’s birth by Brooke Collier.)

AT YOUR CERVIX

The journey to parenthood is full of incredible acts of service, both big and small. From offering a homecooked meal to keeping your birth pool nice and warm, those fleeting moments make a lasting impact.

BE MY BIRTH POOL BOY

Oh to receive this conversation heart! What an honor it is to be that labor partner and watch the miracle of birth unfold. (Last photo of Annica and her husband taken by Brooke Collier.)

SAY I DOULA

Have you ever interviewed doulas for hire? It’s kind of like online dating, right!? Someone piques your interest, you message back and forth a few times, and then, that all-important first meetup. If you’re lucky, your first doula date might be a match made in heaven. The dynamic between a birthing person and their doula is so uniquely special. And of course, it’s among our favorite forms of love here at Sprout and Blossom.

Are you interested in hiring doula support? Learn more about Sprout and Blossom doula services here.

#1 MOM BUN

A rite of passage. A badge of honor. The secret to getting through those showerless days like a pro.

LEAKY + FREAKY

Oh the leaks we endure for our little ones...mucus, fluid, blood, sweat, & tears...and that sweet, sweet milk.

We’ve prepared a list of our favorite products to help make those leaky stages a little less…freaky ;)

BOSS BABE

Baby’s needs? The most powerful magnet for a mother’s heart. Reflex + instinct = that magic bond.

As a birth doula, Annica offers support around preparing to meet normal infant needs — the importance of which is all too often overlooked in mainstream care. This includes normal infant sleep. Read about the experience of one momma who unexpectedly fell in love with safe bedsharing.

SHAKE MY APPLES

“Shaking the apples” is a form of birth preparation that helps to relax the muscles and make room for baby to move. It’s a way to help carry the pregnant person’s load, literally.

GRUB HUBBY

Grub hubby (noun): A partner who delivers your food throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Food is love!

UTER-BEST

Sweet love all around! Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunties, uncles — there’s so much love in the air when a newborn baby makes their debut. (Last photo of Annica and her family by Aly Zuiderveen.)