At 38 weeks, this mama was still expecting she had some time to get a few things ready. She spent the day gardening and helping a friend (who was 39 weeks pregnant) check a few things off her list. But due dates aren't an exact science, and 40 weeks is just an average of most due dates. So after a hard day's work, this mama had a hard night. She checked into the hospital early evening but they gave her some pain meds and sent her home. She returned at 3:30am hoping they would at least give her another dose of medication, but instead there was no time for that and the nurses delivered her baby at 4:00am. I arrived shortly after to capture these (very early) morning memories.
So excited to be officially on call for another birth (2 births actually). This little mamma is one of my upcoming birth clients, and she is finally entering "full term" at 37 weeks. I met her in her home where we started taking photos in her bedroom... there were a few with a lot more skin showing, but alas, you don't need to see skin all the time (even though this is a birth photographers blog.)
The photos we took outside are my favourite. While we were in front of the old church, an old man (landscaper) thought he would come keep us company. The company was awkward at best... He didn't understand why we would want to take some pregnancy photos in front of a church. Then he asked if she was married (she's not wearing her ring because she's well... 37 weeks pregnant, and maybe a little puffier than usual) Needless to say, love the photos in front of the church! Her baby bump is so beautiful, I put my prediction in that the baby will be born in the first few days of June, and weigh 7lb 13oz.
It was so lovely meeting with this family in their home. We had met a month ago for a maternity shoot and I have been thinking about her since... knowing the time was near that their family of 3 would soon be 4. I don't often do newborn photos, but doing this shoot made me want to do a few more. It was nice and warm with the space heater going. The environment was very casual (I'm used to the opposite... since birth rooms are anything but 'casual') We weren't in any hurry, and there was no pressure that I might "miss a shot." Jonathan chilled out on his mom for most of the time I was there; he's definitely coziest next to her! And then after he had a good feed, we got some solo shots in a cute little crate they had in their house. P.S. I always appreciate when you show me some Facebook love!
After 48 hours of early contractions, this mamma finally went to the hospital. She was obviously already tired when she got there, but at that point was just excited things were finally progressing. She was super strong. Took the pains of labour like a champ! Since the baby was transverse, she moved around a lot to help the baby turn. She tried all the things the midwife suggested: walking, swaying, the ball, the shower... until finally late into the evening the midwife suggested an epidural to (1) help mamma get some rest, and (2) help baby turn. It did just the trick and at 3:30am I got the call that she was ready to start pushing. I wasn't far... fortunately just catching a few moments of shut-eye myself. I made it there in plenty of time to capture Halle's birth at 5:10 am. I even made it home in perfect time, just as my son woke up at 7:00 (yawn).
Abbotsford is such an amazing place to be a photographer. Since we are 'the city in the country' there are so many great deserted spots right in the middle of town to take advantage of. A couple weeks ago on a Saturday morning, we had this rustic park almost completely to ourselves. When I met Anca and her family in the parking lot, I loved that the family chose to dress in green. Green is my favourite colour! It reminds me of spring, growth, freshness, new life and it makes for a beautiful pop of colour against the dry landscape. 1 more month to go, and this family will have one more beautiful and fresh new life joining them. How exciting!
I've heard it said before that the only thing certain about birth, is uncertainty. This birth was another example of this principle. This mamma started out labouring in the comfort of her home. She had her own food to snack on, her own music to listen to, her children were peacefully napping upstairs, and she had the most serene view of nature out her window. No one wants to move locations in the middle of labouring, but when the baby is stuck transverse in the canal, the midwives had to transfer her to the hospital. Unfortunately, they had to pack their bags and prep to leave, but fortunately they didn't have to have a c-section when they arrived. The doctor gave her an epidural hoping this would avert a c-section and it did. Things moved quite quickly after that- so quickly in fact, the midwife just made it in time to deliver the baby, and I arrived moments after the baby was born. "It's a girl!" I love when it's a surprise. And my favourite part is that this little package was diapered in cloth right from the beginning... yep, in all the confusion, they didn't forget to grab the cloth. Here are a few photos from their journey. To see more photos click here.
Normally I don't get to capture the great moment of baby's first bath because it happens a few hours after the baby is born, and I'm usually home editing photos by this time. So not only was it a first for the baby, but it was my first time taking bath photos.
Funny how babies usually don't like their first bath. Considering they were just in a sac of waters... there reaction to warm water is baffling. Callie's reaction was just as expected- she didn't like it. But unexpected was her older sister Mackenzie's reaction- she didn't like her little baby sister getting bathed either. She was quite adamant that her sister, "not be bathed in a pot!" She said it many times, and thought it might be "too cold in that pot." Mackenzie was very attentive to the nurse bathing her sister... it's clear someone is going to be a great older sister!
This is the newest of newborn shoots taken at 3 hours of life. This was a very special photo session as it was only girls. The father of the baby had passed away in December, and the mother invited me to capture these early moments as a special memory that she could share with the father's family.
4 girls... Nana, Mama, big sister Mackenzie and baby Callie. The kisses were flowing! Nana wanted to kiss the baby, then Mackenzie wanted to kiss the baby. It was clear Callie will get lots of love with such an attentive big sister doting upon her.
I also took some great first bath photos... so stay tuned for those in a future post.
Mama, Sister, Baby
I really enjoyed attending this birth! I can't figure out exactly why this was one of my favourite births... but I think it's because it all happened in fast forward. (1) She birthed so quickly that I was only at the hospital for 1.5 hours rather than 5 or 6 hours. -however I still managed to grab the same amount of shots as usual. (Just finished burning 150 images to disc for her) (2) She birthed on her hands and knees (much to the doctor's disappointment- he kept asking her to turn over onto her back) but it was empowering to watch a woman take control of the way she felt most comfortable labouring and pushing. To add to this point, she also birthed like a pro (granted it was her 3rd baby) but everything was so calm, cool & collected (this is a rare sight in a birth room) (3) I couldn't stop chuckling! The doctor was calling for the nurse to get him a set of gloves as the baby was being born onto the table. 5 minutes after she birthed her son, she had her own phone in her hand texting all her friends. 7 minutes after the birth she had changed into a new gown. 10 minutes after the birth she was already asking to take a shower (which had to be postponed because 15 minutes after the birth, the room was flooded with visitors) Yep... that's a birth in fast forward! To see the whole story click here.  1 second old  brother meets brother  Peek-a-boo mommy See the whole story in slideshow
I normally don't post maternity photos, (since I normally don't take maternity photos) but since I was putting up some birth canvases in Precious Kargo Baby Boutique here in Abbotsford, Jen, the owner put in a special request for a maternity canvas. So here is the product of my recent photoshoot. It was a really cold cloudy day, and right when Lisa arrived to take photos the sun came out... It certainly made for some tricky lighting, but very beautiful images -especially when the sun glistened off her golden hair.
I think I already know which one I am leaning towards for the canvas, but if you have any feedback, I would love to hear it!
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