Baby Summer - Fresh Postpartum Session at Eastside Birth Center - Bellevue, Wa
Baby Summer joined her parents Serena and Eric after a quick labor on the bright and sunny morning of June 5, 2023. I joined them for a Fresh Postpartum session just after Summer’s birth at the Eastside Birth Center. There is truly nothing as special as those first moments with your baby.
Midwife: Christine Thain
Birth Location: Eastside Birth Center
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Birth of Baby Ronan - Puget Sound Birth Center - Northshore Midwives - Kirkland, Wa
The Birth of Baby Ronan
Lara so graciously wrote out her birth story to share. Together she and her husband Aaron welcomed baby Ronan at 1:09 am on March 24, 2023, his due date! He weighed 8lb 11oz. Here is her birth story in her own words:
I'm a planner; I wanted so badly to know what day I would get to meet the little hitchhiker my husband and I picked up in Norway last year. As the due date approached, I fully expected to go days over it, maybe even a week, maybe two. On the evening of May 22nd, just 30 hours from his due date, I started to feel some light cramps while I sat working on the 3000 piece puzzle I hoped to finish before the baby arrived. I ignored it and let Morgan know before going to bed that night but I wasn't so sure that it was actually labor. Through the night the cramps kept coming; they weren't painful, just bothersome enough to make it hard to sleep so I took a bath at 2am and then went back to bed to get as much sleep as I could. Around 5:30am I awoke and the cramps were still coming and going but more regularly now. I decided to time them for an hour or so and notified Morgan again since it seemed this might actually be the real thing and spoiler, it was!
I labored at home all day, my husband helping me however he could - overall, it was pretty manageable. It was so helpful to be able to text with Morgan and get reasssurance and advice throughout the day. Our midwife Sadie asked us to come in to the clinic to get checked around 6pm to see how things were progressing. I was shocked to learn I was dilated to 5cm already since to that point the contractions were pretty easy to manage. On her advice, we went home and waited for the contractions to get more intense. Morgan came to our house around 8:30pm and by that time I was needing a lot more focus and support to get through the contractions. My husband was holding my hand, applying couterpressure, and helping support my belly from behind through each one, which really helped take the edge off the intensity. Morgan timed the contractions and advised that we start heading to the birth center. I was nervous about the car ride but I was able to use the TENS unit which definitely helped.
Once at the birth center I was excited to get in the warm tub and, dang, did it feel good to be in the water! Morgan set up a fan to keep my face cool and handed me a spiky ball to squeeze, which made each contraction bearable. Soon after getting in the tub I felt my body bearing down and I felt like I needed to push. The only problem was that I was only 8cm dialated and my water hadn't broken yet. To keep things progressing, Sadie broke my water on the bed and then Morgan had me do sidelying releases through three contraction on each side. Despite feeling the need to push I had to blow through that urge so I didn't damage my cervix. This was the hardest part. I remember my husband's calm support as I tried to mentally stay above the waves. I don't remember thinking much, I was just doing and focusing on being relaxed, open, and in control of my mind when my body felt out of control. I felt a tinge if exhaustion and desperately wanted to get back into the tub so I asked Sadie to check me again. To our surprise, I was fully dilated and the babys head was decending!
It was now about 1am on May 24th, our baby's due date, and I got back in the tub and I was allowed to push with my body. The knowledge that my baby was almost here reinvigorated me, I was smiling, the water felt good, the pushing even felt good. I got to look into my husband's caring eyes and sqeeze his hand. Soon I felt the head crown and with the next push it was out! But, there was a problem: the shoulder was stuck. The midwives instructed me to get out of the tub and I did. Kneeling on the floor next to the tub I prayed a simple, quick prayer that the baby would come out ok. I felt the bones and my midwife's hand and with the next push the baby was out. The relief was euphoria - I didn't process that the baby was dark purple or that it hadn't cried yet. I look down and saw my son laying below me and then, a cry. He was perfect and healthy and I felt wobly but well cared for and accomplished.
Our little family laid back on the bed and I breastfed my son for the first time as Sadie delivered the placenta. We could breathe and bond and be proud of our healthy son and the work we and our team put in to getting us all to this moment safely. While the birth wasn't perfect, I feel all the ways I wanted to feel about it. I felt capable, heard, cared for, and free to be in-tune with my body. I am so grateful to Morgan for preparing us so well for the birth and for supporting us every step of the way through it; and for Sadie our midwife from Northshore Midwives, who showed us such a high standard of care and professional competency through preganacy, birth, and the postpattum recovery. I am also so grateful to have the experience captured so beautifully in Morgan's photos, they are treasures to me.
Midwife: Sadie Whitten of Northshore Midwives
Birth Location: Puget Sound Birth Center
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Birth of Baby Remy - UW Montlake - Seattle, Wa
A quick sneak peek from Baby Remy’s birth! His entrance was fast! He was born Friday, April 7th at 9:15pm and weighed 6lbs 12oz.
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Why you should hire a birth photographer
Hiring a birth photographer can be a wonderful way to capture the intimate and emotional moments of your labor and delivery. But maybe you’re just not sure yet… Here are some reasons why you may want to consider hiring a birth photographer:
Capture the memories: Labor and delivery can be an intense and emotional experience, and it can be difficult to remember all of the details. A birth photographer can capture these moments for you, allowing you to revisit them and cherish them for years to come.
Professional-quality photos: While you may be able to take some photos on your own or with your partner, a professional birth photographer has the skills and equipment to capture high-quality, artistic photos that truly capture the essence of the moment.
Inclusion of partner and family: A birth photographer can also capture the reactions and emotions of your partner and family members, creating a complete story of the birth experience and allowing your partner to just soak in the moment of your child’s birth with you. If you are counting on your partner to take photos of your birth and baby guess who won’t be in those photos? The person behind the camera (or phone). Hiring a birth photographer gives them the chance to really be there with you every step of the way.
Emotional support: Some birth photographers also provide emotional support during labor and delivery, offering encouragement and support to the laboring person and their partner. Even if I am just taking photos, I’m still there to support you emotionally when wanted or needed.
Unique perspective: A birth photographer can capture angles and moments that you may not have been able to see or remember, providing a unique perspective on the birth experience. I hear this one from parents who have been there before, they are probably on their second or third baby and they really want to see what’s happening during their birth. They know from experience, when you are in the thick of it, you just can’t see or remember everything. And trust me, you’ll want to.
Privacy: A birth photographer can respect your privacy by only sharing photos that you are comfortable with and ensuring that they are shared in a safe and respectful manner. I never ever share any photos without consent. In the end, these photos are for you and your family.
Overall, hiring a birth photographer can be a wonderful way to capture and remember the intimate and emotional moments of your labor and delivery. It is important to choose a photographer who is experienced in birth photography and who you feel comfortable with, as they will be present during a vulnerable and emotional time. Follow the link below to read 10 questions you should ask a birth photographer during a consultation.
Interested in having your own birth documented and live in the Seattle area? Reach out to check my availability.
Tips for writing your birth story
Writing your birth story can be a meaningful way to process and document your unique experience of bringing your child into the world. Here are some steps to help you get started:
Set aside dedicated time to write: Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can focus on your writing without interruption. It's helpful to choose a time when you feel relaxed and mentally alert.
Gather your memories: Think back to the moments leading up to your labor, the labor process itself, and the first moments after your baby was born. Consider writing down any memories, thoughts, and feelings that come to mind.
Decide on a structure: You might want to organize your birth story chronologically, or you may choose to focus on specific aspects of your experience, such as your physical sensations, your emotional state, or the reactions of those around you.
Use sensory detail: Help your reader visualize your experience by incorporating sensory details. For example, describe the smell of the hospital, the feeling of the IV in your arm, or the sound of your baby's first cry.
Reflect on your experience: Consider the impact that your birth experience had on you and your family. Reflect on what you learned about yourself, your strengths, and your limitations. Share any insights that you gained from the experience.
Edit and refine: After you've written your birth story, take some time to review and edit it. Consider sharing it with a trusted friend or family member for feedback, and revise as needed.
Remember, your birth story is a deeply personal narrative that only you can tell. Write from your heart, and don't worry too much about getting it "right." The most important thing is to capture your experience in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you.
But what if I can’t remember much from my birth?
It's common for some details of your birth to fade over time, especially if it has been a while since the experience. If you're struggling to remember details, don't worry - you can still write a meaningful birth story.
Here are some tips to help you write your birth story if you can't remember much:
Start with what you do remember: Even if you can't remember every detail of your birth, try to focus on the things that do stand out in your memory. This might include the feelings you had during labor, the support of your partner or other loved ones, or the moment you first held your baby.
Talk to others who were present: Consider talking to your partner, family members, or healthcare provider who were present during your birth. They may be able to fill in some details that you may have forgotten.
Look at photos or videos: If you have photos or videos of your birth, take some time to review them. This can help jog your memory and give you some concrete details to include in your story.
Focus on your emotions: Even if you can't remember specific details, you can still write about your emotions during your birth. Consider how you felt before, during, and after your birth, and try to describe those feelings as vividly as possible.
Write in your own voice: Remember that your birth story is unique to you, and there's no right or wrong way to write it. Write in a way that feels authentic to you, using your own voice and style.
In the end, the most important thing is to capture the essence of your birth experience in a way that feels true to you, even if you can't remember every detail.
If you’re currently preparing to give birth and would like help preserving your birth story through photography, reach out to check my calendar!