This collaborative story of birth in 2019 is one of strength, power and love. As I prepare to embark on my 4th (and last) birth journey, watching these women labour inspired me to feel stronger and braver. Birth is hard and honestly I'm scared... but there is a force in this film that carries over to those who watch it. 
So thank you to my clients who have allowed me to share their intimate journeys so that others can also be inspired. This year, I happened to be one of those that was impacted...

A home-birth during the day, in her kitchen, supported by her husband, daughter and mom... it doesn't get much more peaceful and natural than that. This birth is a beautiful story of a strong mama and loving family that welcomed a surprise baby boy into their home.  

Then I returned to their happy home 2 days later to take some family photos and herbal bath magic. 

Jaydene is a birth photographer located in Abbotsford, BC. She has photographed over 100 birth stories. To see more birth stories, click here for Best Birth Moments of 2016. 

I had the pleasure of photographing this mama's 2nd birth last Christmas. It can be seen here. This time around, for her 3rd birth story, mama thought she might like something different and we decided to capture this baby's birth through video. This was the first time I captured a birth story solely through film and I loved it. It tells the story so well and I feel like I'm right there back in her bedroom with her when I watch it. 

Home births are intimate, calm, and magical events. If you want to see why women want to birth at home, just watch this video to understand why... 

My sister. I only have one sister… and we've always been close. She's been at both my births, and I've been to hers. This was a special birth because it's the last time she will travel this journey and experience these emotions. (I'm crying just typing those words.) Birth is hard. It's not "fun" but there is something about it that's magical. Despite the pain, women want to give birth. My sister is an amazing birther. She is in control in her labours, she's focused, she knows she needs back pressure, silence and water. It's been the same every time, so it was nice to know what to expect this time, except we didn't expect things to happen as fast as they did. 

Rewind back to the holidays. All through Christmas we were waiting for this little babe to arrive. My sister was overdue and we were waiting… in anticipation at every family event. Finally on Boxing Day, after all the family events were wrapped up, she called me at 8:45pm to let me know things might be starting but were "early." I hurried to her house which was quiet and peaceful. It was a beautiful night for life to enter this world. The kids were all sleeping, and she and her husband were working together. The 3 of us offered up a prayer for safe delivery. Things moved quickly… the midwives soon arrived to set up and when they checked her, she was already 10cm.  The tub was finally full and she crawled in and melted into the water… (oh, I remember how good that water feels.) 5 minutes later and another boy entered her family at 9:59pm, still in the bag of waters (you can see it slipping off him as the midwife pulls him up out of the water.) PS: Thanks to the midwives from Abbotsford Midwifery Group and West Coast Health Collective for being so awesome.

To my sister: Thank you for inviting me in to capture this birth and all your births. I've seen you at your strongest. You are such an amazing mama from birthing to potty training to home schooling. I'm so happy we live close together and raise our kids side by side. 

When I arrived at this birth, this mom was still walking around, getting her kids ready for bed while listening to her hypnobirthing affirmations. When compared with most labouring women, you wouldn't think she was in labour at all. She was 5cm at this point and soon decided to hop into the tub. She continued to listen to her beautiful affirmations that were playing aloud and when she felt the baby coming, she reached down and pulled him up herself. The next 20 minutes were spent just chillin in the tub, admiring the little man that was inside her for the last 10 months. When she felt her placenta coming, she reached down and delivered it as well. This birth was an absolute gift.  She was strong and in control of all the sensations her body was feeling. It was an honour to witness this family welcome this new baby into our world… and yes, now I believe hypnobirthing can truly make a difference in labour and birth. 

This was a beautiful and very quick home birth. I arrived at the house on a calm, rainy evening and didn't expect things to progress so quickly. Events were slow and serene until all in one sudden this mama felt like she had to push… so right there on the bathroom floor, this baby was born surrounded by love, support and warm fuzzy towels. 

Watch this beautiful Abbotsford home birth story below: