A PHOTOGRAPHER has set up a business where she takes pictures of every step of childbirth.

Sarah Debnam, from Caerleon, set up her business about six months ago after being a photographer for about two years.

She said: “I have had some traumatic experiences during childbirth myself so I decided to work in birth photography.

“I want to promote the positive side of child birth – there is so much negativity around it. “There can be positive births and they can be relaxing.”

Jodie Westmacott-James, 25, was the first mum Mrs Debnam photographed.

The mum-of-two, from Larkfield Close, in Caerleon, said taking the decision of being photographed was “hard”.

“However, I studied photography myself so I was quite up for it,” she said. “I am really glad we took the pictures, I absolutely love them.

“It was quite a comfort to have Sarah there actually, she was like a birthing partner.”

Mrs Westmacott-James said she would probably not have had the pictures taken for the birth of her first son - but that she knew better what to expect the second time round.

“It was quite a long birth for a second birth, but it was quite a smooth process,” she said.

Mrs Westmacott-James’ son, Oscar, was born at 8.05pm on Thursday, March 16 at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.

Mrs Debnam said: “Jodie phoned me the day before as there was a false start. When she went into established labour, she called me.

“We live a couple of streets away from each other so they came to pick me up at around 11.30am.

“It all went very well, the midwives were fantastic.

“It was an absolute honour to be at Oscar’s birth and be trusted with such a special job, there’s no words to describe seeing a new baby enter the world.”

The photographer said she is going to be offering the services across the Newport area and, as she is currently building her portfolio, she is going to be offering them at a reduced rate.

“It is quite a commitment for me as you are on call for four weeks,” she said. “You do not when it is going to happen.”

To find out more visit facebook.com/sarahdebphoto or sarahdebnam.co.uk