Birth of Silas - Evergreen Hospital, Kirkland, Wa
When it comes to birth, babies are most often in charge. This one was no exception. When it was discovered that he was breech his mother did everything she possibly could to try to get him to turn, including a painful ECV (External Cephalic Version). Even after two providers attempted to turn him, he just would not budge an inch. Amy’s birth plan turned into a planned cesarean. However, even though a time and date were set, baby had his own plans. Amy woke up early Wednesday morning to some cramping which turned into steady and stronger contractions as time went by. What was suppose to be one last calm quiet morning turned into labor that was building quickly. When they pulled up to hospital around 8:30 am and I saw Amy get out of the car and then stop to focus through a contraction it was obvious we were going to be meeting baby pretty soon. Her cesarean was scheduled for 12:30 pm the same day but he wasn’t going to wait for that. She was already 4 cm in triage so after some labs were drawn and a quick ultrasound to just confirm baby hadn’t done an overnight backflip and was in fact still breech, we were off to the OR.
Baby Silas was born at 10:05 am. He was certainly wedged in his mother pretty well. When we asked how exactly he’d been in there (back in the recovery room) the OB did some fun bending positions to describe how he was fully in pike position and had his head turned in such a funky way it really didn’t want to move and was harder than usual to get it released. Immediately after birth Silas was working a little too hard to catch his breath so he went for a ride to the NICU for few hours for observation. Amy sent up colostrum for him and Jeff got to do skin to skin with him while they observed Silas. He was released from NICU in the early afternoon and they were all reunited. Amy finally got to hold him and breastfeed. Silas was so content. Oddly enough Silas’s first few hours were a pretty similar repeat to his older brother’s first few hours even though their births were vastly different.
Welcome to the party little ball of unpredictability!
Silas Cassian Paine
Born on Feb. 4th at 10:05 am
Weight: 6lb 6oz
Birth of Remi - Swedish First Hill, Seattle, Wa
Inductions can always surprise us. After a few rounds of misoprostol, some laughs, lots of positioning, bubble blowing, and a bit of pitocin Jehman still wasn’t feeling much. She decided to have her water broken by her midwife and ordered some dinner because she expected a lot more time. Instead… her labor took off. By the time dinner arrived she was in no mood to eat. Things had changed very quickly. She found her way through each contraction and less than 4 hours later baby Remi was here after lots of hard work by his mother. Welcome baby Remi!
Remi Benjamin Elias Harrington
Born at 9:18 pm on Nov. 12th
6 lbs 11 oz
19.75” long
Birth of Benjamin - Evergreen Hospital, Kirkland, Wa
A birth story where you give birth with all your co-workers/friends. You and your baby receive so much love and care the entire department is abuzz. It’s the very best birthday party you and your baby could ask for.
Baby Benjamin is here and has been loved on by so many since his very first seconds.
Benjamin Atlas Stuckey
Born July 7th at 5:48 am
Weight: 7lbs 6oz
Waiting Project 2024
The Waiting Project
A personal photo project exploring how we wait in the final weeks of pregnancy. We often romanticize pregnancy in images and maternity sessions are done earlier, when we're earlier in pregnancy and typically more comfortable. With this project we're instead focusing on those final weeks, the home stretch, when the waiting is forefront. Society doesn't talk about it as much, beyond acknowledging how uncomfortable it is. So I’ve invited my clients to reflect and share!
I began my project in 2023, but in 2024 started to include the thoughts and words of my beautiful photo subjects as well.
How do we wait at 38+ weeks?
What does it look and feel like?
Jenna
Waiting
I’ve never had to get so quiet
Too many anxious inquiries about his arrival.
So I sat in silence. Messages left on read.
—
Come rub my feet will you? Because they say we are weathering.
I wonder if they know that it’s extacy, joy, love, and patience that aids a baby earthside.
And not a nervous system demanding deadlines for those unborn.
—
Words by @jennahanchard
Lauren
Waiting
There is this arbitrary number of forty weeks that everyone says you are due by, that you should be born at. But knowing that your conception date is merely an educated guess, we wait for you patiently, Baby. We wait until you are ready to embrace the outside world. We wait until my body, my womb, has every detail of your body grown to the right stage that it can release you into my arms. We are not rushed. We are not concerned. We cherish these final days of your Big Brother being an only child. We cherish these “overdue” days as gifts of days of peace and family bonding and transition. I cherish these days of holding you in my womb, where I’ve inherently kept you safe and secure; I will miss you being in my womb, although you being in my arms will be joyous and fulfilling. My body was intricately designed to create you, to grow you, to nourish you, and to birth you - I trust my body to deliver you when you’re ready, no sooner. We will be here, arms ready to embrace you, when it is your time. Until then, we wait patiently, rubbing you through my womb, showing you all of the love we have for you. We love you, Baby.
—
Words by @gracegrainandgrammar
Becca
Waiting
This period of waiting has felt very different from the last. Physically and mentally, this pregnancy has been a much greater challenge for me. As I’ve gotten bigger, I wonder how I will keep going - it sometimes doesn’t feel possible. As we get closer to their arrival, I wonder how we will do it all – raise a toddler and tend to two newborns.
I’ve been forced to slow down physically, pass off responsibility, and rely on others. All things that I do not excel at. I feel as though there are a ton of things to do and a dwindling amount of time to do them. I am both excited for the arrival of my babies and anxious about all the upcoming change.
I’ve been reminding myself that we were chosen for this journey, we are prepared, and we have everything we need.
—
Words by @b_evsss - Waiting for her twins to arrive - August 2024
Ali
Waiting
While I'm filled with anticipation to meet my son, guilt sometimes creeps in, making me feel like pure excitement should be my only feeling. On most days, I'm eager to know when he'll arrive, what he'll be like, and if I'll be a good parent, but that eagerness is tangled with worries about my ability to protect him in a world that can be so unkind. Fear lingers too – the fear of messing up and the unsettling feeling of not being as ready as I thought. Sometimes, a selfish desire for my pre-pregnancy body returns. But above all, I'm profoundly grateful for our journey through fertility treatments, for our good health, and for the support we've received. Despite these mixed emotions, the joy of meeting and holding my baby, seeing his first look, knowing that in my arms, he'll find safety is immense. I eagerly await those first sniffs, toe counts, and cuddles, taking each day as it comes until I can finally meet him (And yes, the thought of sleeping on my stomach again brings a little smile).
—
Words by Ali - May 2024
Birth of Eunice - Puget Sound Birth Center - Kirkland, Wa
Birth never ceases to amaze me. Eunice’s birth was by far the most surprising yet. Third babies are always a wildcard when trying to predict how labor and birth will go; this one was just that.
1:10 am - Serena (mom) calls me saying they are headed to the birth center. They decided to head in because her contractions were strong even though they were still about 10 mins apart. I grab my stuff and head out the door.
Enroute to the birth center, Serena tells their midwife on the phone that baby is coming.
1:21 am - Eric pulled over on the side of 405 Northbound, Eunice was born in their car. At that moment they had EMT on the phone and were then advised to finish the short drive to the birth center since baby sounded good (she let out a nice big cry) and their midwife would be waiting for them.
As I pulled up to the birth center I had no idea baby had already been born in the car. I saw their car parked with their hazard lights flashing. I walked up to their car and there was a very fresh baby and two very shocked parents. Not long after their midwife arrived and got them inside and cozy. Baby Eunice was great. Serena was amazing. Smiles and laughter soon replaced the fading adrenaline as they recounted what had just happened. Welcome baby Eunice! You are an amazing little girl with a birth story that will be shared for years to come.
Eunice Naeun Han
Born at 1:21 am
Weight: 8lbs 1oz
Length: 20"
