Archive for July, 2014
Welcome to the next installment in BIRTH WEEK! Today’s focus is on baby Teo. Originally baby Teo was going to be born at Health Foundations Birth Center. However after several days of laboring without significant progression, the decision was made to transfer to the hospital. This is where I joined this soon-to-be family of three.
When I arrived the room was cozy and dark except for the flicker of some electric candles. Dad and the doula were doing a great good of keeping mom comfortable and in good spirits. Despite her lengthy time in labor, this mom was strong and positive.
Hours later the decision was made for mom to have surgery. I was not allowed into the OR, so I gave my camera to the doula to use. I donned scrubs and waited to be allowed into the recovery room.
After about 45 minutes dad and baby appeared. I was able to capture lots of sweet pictures of baby and dad, the newborn exam and first moments with mom breastfeeding. However it was obvious that days of labor and the surgery had taken their toll on the mom. I knew that pictures were not priority at that moment. So I suggested coming back the next day to capture photos of them as a family. When I arrived back at the hospital the next day, I could tell how much of a difference time and rest had made. Mom was glowing and dad looked to happy and proud. What a sight!
The Birth Without Fear meet-up is coming to Minneapolis! I’ll be capturing it along with two other talented birth photographers (Peace Love Babies and Jennifer Liv Photography), so we’re celebrating with a giveaway!
All three of us are giving away two Basic tickets (1 each to 2 winners) to the Birth Without Fear meet-up, and you can enter by following Birth Week. You can gain multiple entries to the contest by heading to my blog every day this week and following the instructions at the bottom of the post to enter!
Want more entries? You can see their posts, and enter their contest here and here.
This post is part of Birth Week being held on my blog and on FB. See information at the end of the post about how to enter the giveaway for a ticket to Birth Without Fear’s Minneapolis Meet-up on August 16th, 2014.
It is am amazing feeling when a past client tells you they are pregnant again and invites you back for the birth of their next child. This mama hired me again so early on in her pregnancy she hadn’t yet found out that she was having twins. When she did find out, my role in the birth was up in the air. Would she be having a c-section? Would I be allowed into the OR if that was the case? The one thing that was for sure is that this mom was committed to trying to have her girls with as little medical intervention as possible and communicated this to everyone along her journey.
We waited and waited and waited. Amazingly these two girls stayed put for over 39 weeks and were head down. Things were looking good for mom to be able to avoid surgery. The only thing that stood in her way was getting through the induction process the midwives and doctors determined was needed.
Mom went into the hospital on a Thursday, just two days shy of 40 weeks, to start the induction. Fast forward to Saturday morning when I started to get updates that mom was at 6cm and having productive contractions. I was tempted at the 4am-ish update to head on in, however it had taken 2 days to get to 6cm, so no one was thinking it was time for me to come. Then came the urgent message at 5:40am; mom was at 9cm and feeling “pushy.” My heart sank as I drove as quick as possible to the hospital. I knew I was going to miss at least part of this birth. . .
Sure enough, the first little girl was born about 10 minutes before I arrived in the OR (typical for twin births in case baby B needs to be born by c-section). The first two pictures in this essay were taken by the doula, Jess Helle-Morrissey.
When I arrived, baby A (Mary), was on mom’s chest working on nursing. Everyone assumed baby B would be arriving shortly and were preparing her for arrival. Two hours pass with mom laboring and no baby B. It was decided that since it was now a “singleton” birth, that mom could go back to a normal hospital room to have baby B with the midwives present instead being in the OR with the doctors and midwives.
Just over five hours after her sister was born, baby B (Emma), was finally here! Mom had succeeded in having her girls without need of an operation. Both were well over 7 pounds each and healthy. It was a beautiful thing to witness this birth playing out the way mom planned and hoped and prayed. Much love and congratulations to this family!!
The Birth Without Fear meet-up is coming to Minneapolis! I’ll be capturing it along with two other talented birth photographers (Peace Love Babies and Jennifer Liv Photography), so we’re celebrating with a giveaway!
All three of us are giving away two Basic tickets (1 each to 2 winners) to the Birth Without Fear meet-up, and you can enter by following Birth Week. You can gain multiple entries to the contest by heading to my blog every day this week and following the instructions at the bottom of the post to enter!
Want more entries? You can see their posts, and enter their contest here and here.
It’s BIRTH WEEK on my blog and as promised, I have another beautiful birth to showcase as well as another chance to win a ticket to the Birth Without Fear Meet-up in Minneapolis on August 16th (see how to enter at the end of the post).
These are pictures from the birth of Mathias. I have known his mom for many years and was thrilled when she asked if I could capture the birth of her second child. This birth happened in the wee hours of the morning at Health Foundations Birth Center in St. Paul. It was attended by midwives Monica and Deb. Also attending was their doula Brook Holmberg.
The Birth Without Fear meet-up is coming to Minneapolis! I’ll be capturing it along with two other talented birth photographers (Peace Love Babies and Jennifer Liv Photography), so we’re celebrating with a giveaway!
All three of us are giving away two Basic tickets (1 each to 2 winners) to the Birth Without Fear meet-up, and you can enter by following Birth Week. You can gain multiple entries to the contest by heading to my blog every day this week and following the instructions at the bottom of the post to enter!
Want more entries? You can see their posts, and enter their contest here and here.
It occurred to me last week that although I have attended more than forty births since 2011, only about a quarter of them actually appear on my blog. As a result, I decided to have Birth Week here on my blog and on my Facebook page. Birth Week will feature all things birthy including a new blog post each day featuring photographs from a recent birth.
Also, in celebration of nearing the 1000 fan mark on my Facebook page, I will be giving away (along with two other fabulous birth photographers) tickets to the Birth Without Fear Minneapolis Meet-up scheduled for August 16th, 2014. See how to win your ticket at the bottom of this post!
Without further delay, I give you the water birth of baby Oscar. This birth happened at home, attended by the fabulous midwives of North Star Midwifery – Aly and Rebecca. There was a guest appearance by midwife Emme who covered briefly for Rebecca who was returning from vacation. Also attending was their doula Zoe Mccrery.
The Birth Without Fear meet-up is coming to Minneapolis! I’ll be capturing it along with two other talented birth photographers (Peace Love Babies and Jennifer Liv Photography), so we’re celebrating with a giveaway!
All three of us are giving away two Basic tickets (1 each to 2 winners) to the Birth Without Fear meet-up, and you can enter by following Birth Week. You can gain multiple entries to the contest by heading to my blog every day this week and following the instructions at the bottom of the post to enter!
Want more entries? You can see their posts, and enter their contests here and here.
This is the third session I got to do with this lovely family. After photographing the birth of their daughter and taking her newborn pictures, I got to return to their home for a mini 6-month session. It was so fun to see her sitting up and interacting with all of us! Time just flies. . .
After witnessing the beautiful home birth of their daughter the week before, I had the privilege of seeing this family again to take newborn pictures. The session was at their home. Big brother was so excited about his new sister – it was sweet to see!
