Tag: birth photographer

Birth of Landen

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Each wave brings your baby closer earth side

I want to start this birth story a little differently, and I want to say that this birth was unlike any other I have attended. She handled the waves of contractions like they were nothing. She was so determined, and focused. I always try to pick the ‘I did it’ picture as my stories thumbnail, but this mom made me rethink it. I needed to showcase this moms strength, so I chose a mid-contraction image. Would you believe this was less than an hour before her baby was earth side!

5:30am I get the call that Sam’s water had broken and she was contracting. We meet at the hospital a little after 6, just as the sun was peaking through the sky. As she was being checked in I just had to appreciate the beautiful orange and pink hues sneaking through the rooms window. They did a test to check for amniotic fluid, and checked her dilation. Sam was still at a two at admissions, and the amnio test came back negative. They were going to watch her for progress, and monitor the baby. An hour later the doctor came in and agreed to admit her. It was baby day!

At 7:45am The doctor decided to check her, she was 4cm dilated. He also decided to break her waters. He realized that Sam had indeed already broken her waters, so he ruptured the bag completely. She then got her IV, and settled in. Sam’s mother attended her labor, as well as her husband Josh. Labor started picking us, as it usually does after a membrane rupture. At 10am Sam was at 5cm. Five centimeters is a peculiar time for most laboring women, because it is usually the threshold between stages of labor. I knew we could be looking at active labor very soon.

11:30 am Sam could no longer talk through her contractions and was laboring hard. The nurse checked her and said she was at a 6, but fully effaced. Sometimes moms can get stuck on the numbers, but I try to focus on the intensity of the labor. I suggested the peanut ball to open her pelvis and allow the baby more room to move down and help her dilate. Almost instantly after we get the peanut ball situated the mood in the room shifted. Sam needed all her focus to get through this time. I love this stage of labor, when moms tune into themselves to bring their baby out. There always comes a time in labor when contractions get very intense and it requires a great amount of focus and attention. This is why they say you’re not in active labor until you can not talk through contractions. I knew we would have a baby very soon.

12:07pm Doctor came in to check Sam, because she was starting to feel pressure. He said she was at 8cm, and I started getting my gear ready! In about 20 minutes Sam let us know it was time. The doctor came in, but said she still had a little edge of cervix left, but when she contracted it resolved. Sam started pushing with Josh by her side at 12:25pm, and in no time at all baby Landen was here.

At 12:44pm tiny 6lb 15oz, 20 inch, baby Landen James was born. He was very calm and only cried when the nurse lifted him from his mother. With a hint of red hair, long skinny fingers, and a little scrunched nose baby Landen was welcomed into this family. His brother and sister came to visit him later that evening and they were smitten!

Welcome to the world little guy!

Birth Stories

Published on by milestones2motherhoodLeave a comment

Birth of Tatum

On the 23rd of May Kennedy went in to be induced at 12pm. After slow progress with cytotec they decided to start pitocin at 10:30pm. I arrived to her room at 10pm, where they started taking some laps around the unit. The nurses hung her pit right at 10:30pm and in a very short time she started contracting very intensely. Within the first half hour of starting pit they had to stop, because Kennedy’s body took over, and she was having contractions back to back. To relieve some pain she started bouncing on the birthing ball, and then she took a long walk down the halls. She came into her room to use the restroom, and soon we were hearing the famous, “umm guys.” Her water had broken in the bathroom! Soon her contractions were becoming much more intense, and it was evident she was needing some relief. Kennedy bravely decided to have this baby without any pain relief, so to help her relax I suggested getting in the shower. The warm water seemed to help her immensely. Contractions always become more intense after the waters are gone, but she handled it like the warrior she is. It was evident to everyone in her birthing space that she was in active labor. She was getting very little breaks in between contractions, and with the start of each one her team leaped in to offer a hand, counter pressure, and words of encouragement. Just in time for a much needed moral boost, Kennedy’s parents, and son came in. Jayce brought laughs and perked everyone up. It was very late for a little boy to be awake, but he was content with his Llama Llama and graham crackers. Shortly after family came in She started to complain of nausea and pressure this couple with being 7cm told me she was in transition. This stage by far is the hardest phase of labor. The cervix is finishing opening and the baby is moving down to be born. Another trip to the shower was what she needed. She was roaring through her contractions, and breathing her baby down. She was getting close to pushing, and we could tell it was time to get back into bed. The doctor came in and said she was fully dilated when contracting, and it was baby time. In one contraction 4 pushes this Momma warrior roared her tiny baby earth side, and SURPRISE!! It’s a tiny 6lb 15oz baby GIRL! Tatum Estelle was born May 24th, at 3:48 am.

I always take away something from each birth, and on my drive home my takeaway was women are warriors. With the right support from her birth team a woman can conquer anything. As a birth team member it is our job to advocate for our clients. Sometimes unwittingly labor wards can push women to birth their way, but this is not always the best option for all women.