First of all, whoever you are, congratulations times a million ^ 1 millionth! Isn't it crazy this is how reproduction works?! Blows my mind every single day. I am writing this nearly a week postdue with my free time waiting.
That's me up there! ^^^ You can make your own super easily. Take two photos each week on a neutral background (ideally with about the same crop and height), and then follow this guy's instructions on how to make a time-lapse in iMovie.
An obvious disclosure: all these notes are written through my lens. I think any form of childbirth is natural childbirth, whether that's a planned C-section or a deliciously pain-free epidural birth or a completely medicine-free birth (although this is the path* I've chosen to pursue for the generally faster recovery and ability to move around). I hope nothing here comes off as judgmental or preachy—this is just where I've landed after the exposure we've had. I'm stoked for you and whatever journey brings you your BABY.
*As an amendment written a month after giving birth, my delivery did not go according to plan (i.e. 60-hour labor resulting in an emergency C-section and a few days in the NICU), and I needed most medical interventions to keep me and my baby safe. Despite having wanted my crunchy intervention-free birth, I have an outrageous amount of appreciation for modern medicine, now more than ever.
I wish I'd taken more care in selecting my provider early on, and not worried about switching even into the second trimester (and even then it's never too late until about 6 weeks until your due date!).
There are really two well-traveled routes you can take: obstetrical care and midwife care. I did tour a birthing center, which is overseen by midwives, and for an uncomplicated pregnancy that doesn't seek pain reduction, this is a really great option. There is more freedom and flexibility in these settings, and they generally have standing relationships with nearby hospitals should that become necessary. I had gotten advice that aqua therapy is some of the best pain management, so I was very interested in their birthing tubs. There is also the home birth route, where you invite a midwife into your home. This is a beautiful option too, but gave us heartburn, as the hospital is a little over 10 minutes away. This felt too far for our risk aversion in case of an emergency.
Everything I've learned over the last nine months leads me to believe that a midwife group in a hospital setting is the best possible option. This now exists in my hospital (and if you’re in Austin, Moontower Midwifery just opened birthing suites with laboring tubs!), but didn’t at the time.
If you are working with an obstetrician, I recommend you ask tough questions early on so that you can gauge where she is on the spectrum from evidence-based and flexible according to pregnancy, to rigid and hospital/process-centric. Your personal thoughts on all these questions will be illuminated by "Expecting Better" and "Guide to Childbirth," in the books section below.