*MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR THE WEAK AT HEART*

a few weeks ago I got to experience an awesome birth story. It was actually a HVBAC- Home Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, which is not very common, at least in my world!

Beth had an amazing birth team of her Doula, midwife apprentice and business partner at Integrated Massage, Jennifer; her midwife Barbara, and another apprentice midwife.

Watching these women work together, along with Beth’s husband, to bring sweet baby into the world at home was just breathtaking. Here is a look from my view of the whole experience

When I arrived at 4:40 am Beth’s water had broken a few hours prior. We learned she was about 4 cm dilated. I captured a few images of that early labor, then headed home to nap for a bit as she continued to rest in between contractions.

When I came back that afternoon, she had walked, showered and changed. Still working on bringing her baby into the world as naturally as possible.

these moments of intense connection..

40.6 weeks. This is what full term pregnancy looks like. What a BEAUTIFUL thing!

The couple opted for full surprise of the baby’s gender, which I’m sure helped get her through moments of intensity in labor.

So, a little story about the bracelets Alex and Beth are wearing: During her pregnancy her friend Jen (also her midwife and doula as mentioned above) threw Beth a Blessing Way. It’s a Native American tradition that honors the divine feminine as a nurturer. The bracelets were part of what’s called “the web of life”. It started as a ball of yarn, the first piece wrapped around Beth’s wrist and as she wrapped it around she said “My name is Beth, daughter of Maureen, granddaughter of Rose and Dorothy”, and then it was passed to another person in the circle, and they wrapped it around their wrist stating the same of their family heritage, and so on, until everyone was connected. Once connected the strings were cut and symbolized life to come. Once the baby was born, they were able to be cut off.

as moments of baby’s arrival got closer the water was heated and preparation to bring baby earthside was getting more intense.

Every possible position was used to help baby come down into teh birth canal. They knew she would be quite a bit bigger than her 19 month old sister as sister was born via emergency C at just 34 weeks. This whole labor and pain thing was new to Beth and she handled it like a champ.

Midwife Barbara decided to get the birthing chair out and THAT was just the angle Beth needed to bring her baby into the world!

I have photographed dozens of births over the last 12 years and though this was my first home birth, EVERY birth is a miracle! I am always in so much awe watching LIFE. and … IT”S A GIRL!!!!!

Penny Rose was born at 4:24 am

that moment when you hold your baby for the first time. When you realize every ounce of everything you just went for was for THIS. THIS moment.

I mean, come on!! Most adorable “scale” ever!

and.. at 11.5 pounds…

So, I was able to go back a couple days later for some more images. I mean, a 27 hour labor left everyone pretty tired so, a couple days to rest was in order!

I just love FRESH BABY sessions, at the hospital or at home within 48 hours or so of birth. They change so much in the first wee or two, these first hours are most precious to preserve.

sweet baby toes.. OH MY… I just can’t!!

Alex and Beth, thank you both so much for allowing me to be there to witness your miracle, and to share it here.

xoxo

This week I got to photograph not one birth but TWO, and neither of them knew what they were having until baby was born! I LOVE that!

Defiance Regional is only one local hospital that I know of that still uses real ink to do foot prints. I think I’m going to start carrying an ink pad because these images steal my heart so!

I wasn’t allowed in OR this time, which I am totally bummed about but.. smaller hospital.. so I sent my camera in with Chad and asked him to get certain shots. He did really good! And a nurse even grabbed this image above of Chad and Gretchen seeing baby boy for the first time.

 

This next image of Chad in the hallway though… they did allow me back in recovery and I was able to capture this sweet moment, Chad still with tears in his eyes as he swooned over his son.

Big sister Millie, whose birth I was also present for to capture  a year and a half ago, was the first to come in and meet Zeke David.

Then the grandparents were brought in. Remember, know one knew what the gender was. Their reaction was pure excitement and surprise!

I’ll be posting a slideshow as time allows, so keep following the blog and JP BIRTH Photography Facebook pages!

I ALMOST didn’t make this birth. ALMOST. When I’m hired for a birth (usually in the first trimester) I talk extensively about communication, when to call/text me and how often once admitted. Julie and Joe were amazing at this, but baby girl decided she was in a hurry. THIS is the reason I tell people to text me EVERY LITTLE UPDATE, which they did, thankfully. 8:30 am. all checked into hospital. Still dilated to 3. 12:37 p.m. dilated to 4-5, midwife was about to break the bag of waters. I was having a ‘working’ lunch 10 minutes away and told my friends I was going to stop into hospital and check in with Julie, thinking it might be a few more hours. Julie was feeling well and not in much pain. 1:13p.m as I’m about to leave for hospital located “around the corner’ I get a text “We’re at 7-8″. “okay, I’m on my way” I text back. Driving, pulling into parking lot. 1:26 p.m.  “She’s 10′. I’m parking run into hospital, stop to get visitor pass, walk as quickly as my short legs will take me, Julie is saying “I have to push!” (There was no time for epidural going from a 5 to 10 in one hour!) Midwife gets all set up as I’m grabbing my camera out, get into place, three quick pushes and one amazing birthing yell later, baby was out! It’s a GIRL!! This is the story of Edynn Rae, born to Julie & Joe on Tuesday October 13th. The first moments baby is placed on mom is the most precious ever. Expressions are priceless, as Julie’s exhaustion from going ALL NATURAL are evident in the first image of three above. Then pure wonder and excitement quickly follow. Dad says ” I already have two daddy’s girls, now I have one more!” with the biggest grin on his face. LOVE. Oh, that first hand hold.. Big sisters come in to meet baby Edynn, and are full of wonder. I adore these moments. This image though… I hope when they are older and maybe when one is standing up as maid of honor at the others’ wedding, they show this image and say ‘I remember meeting you for the first time, and we’ve been best friends ever since.” Congrats, you beautiful family you.