Owen’s Birth Story Part 2 | Exeter Hospital C-Section Birth

Owen’s Birth Story Part 2 | Exeter Hospital C-Section Birth

Austin & Jimmy were so excited to welcome Baby Owen into the world in early March 2020 via a repeat scheduled c-section. Her 9am appointment got bumped to noon and then to 2pm and finally after what seemed like DAYS, Austin was wheeled into the OR at 3:30pm. Hungry, excited and a little nervous, she had the best staff who was joking about “getting dolled up” for the photographer (ME) and they were excited to see the images of them hard at work.
Everything went amazing until baby Owen took a gulp of fluid and needed a little oxygen. He was immediately brought over to be looked at by the on call pediatrician and taken moments later to the nursery for observation. Everything turned out great and Owen is just fine but my heart ached for this mama who was unable to even see her baby until the next morning.
The nurses and doctors at Exeter Hospital were AMAZING and gave access for me to capture so many “firsts” that she may otherwise have missed – big brother meeting his new best buddy, Owens first cries and everyone in the waiting room who was holding space. (This was all pre-pandemic of course).
After many tries to get out of bed to be wheeled in to meet her baby we knew it was not going to happen that night so with the help of a little technology (FaceTime), Austin was finally able to see baby Owen.
The next day, we captured their reunion and one of his very first feedings. It was magical! Birth is birth no matter what and we can’t always plan for the outcomes. In this case, mom & dad were so grateful for a happy and healthy baby and I was happy I could help to fill in some of the rest.
Want to learn more about birth photography & videography? Contact me today!!!
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Home Birth | Clyde’s Birth Story

Home Birth | Clyde’s Birth Story

When I met Emma & Kent back in December, I knew that their home was going to be a magical place to deliver their first child. When they purchased the house last year, Emma envisioned having a beautiful home birth here someday, just as her mother had done with her 30 years prior. Now that they were expecting, she had the most beautiful room set up for the arrival of their son.

On the evening of March 9th, I arrived along with her midwife, Jessica from Roots of Life – there was snow in the forecast and with both of us an hour away we decided it would be better to get there before the storm hit. After a quick vital check, we gave mama space with her birth team (papa & her mom).

Emma has written her birth story beautifully and I am honored to be able to share it with you below.

To my Dearest Clyde,

It all began at around 5AM on Saturday, March 9th, when I awoke to noticeable contractions. I then woke your Papa and we discussed how this was feeling in comparison to the nights before, which were more like menstrual aches.  Earlier in the week that Thursday, I had lost my mucus plug and then on Friday we met with the midwife for our prenatal visit. During that visit I remember speaking to her about how to get into the right mindset, considering you could come any day now or two weeks from then. As we discuss below, you came in due time. Papa and I thought this might be early labor based on the intensity and frequency of the contractions. Early labor lasted around 14 hours total which we spent documenting the contractions, drinking lots of water, eating nourishing snacks and listening to music.  It was helpful that we also passed the time by taking our dogs for a walk, watching the KU basketball game and listening Jim Gaffigan, a comedian that always makes me laugh.  It was a sign to me that it was still early labor because I could laugh through the contractions.

The surges of energy continued in my lower back and the bottom of my uterus. Throughout the day we documented how often you moved and when I felt the most intense contractions/surges thus far. As the surges began to elevate, your Papa was in contact with the midwife, sharing our progress. It was determined that she would arrive that evening as the tempo of surges increased. Your Papa and I labored through the night as the birth team helped to support and give us space. The team consisted of the midwife and eventually her assistant, your Oma (my mother), and the birth photographer. To help move labor along and manage my surges, we walked the stairs and utilized the heat of the shower. We also spent time in the birthing tub, it was comforting but we both were so tired from a long day of labor that we kept nodding off. We also tried other positions and activities like walking throughout the house, climbing the stairs, sitting on the toilet, as well as using the bed to lean on the birthing ball.

As labor increased and transitioned to active labor, we also listened to our hypnobabies tracks, attempted to rest between surges, utilized a heated rice sock on my back, used the rebozo cloth to sift my lower back and belly to relieve the energy, massaged my feet, and massaging my back by moving the energy down from my lower back to my feet. This lasted for about 16 hours, so I utilized breathing techniques to breath the energy out of my body and keep my mouth open and loose. Many times we found ourselves moving positions and leaning over to cope with the elevated energy from my surges. I cried once not from the intensity of the surges but out of frustration because of the vague timeline of labor. Throughout the process of labor the midwife was always nearby observing but never intruding. Her patience, trust, and wisdom were vital in allowing our labor to continue to progress at it’s necessary pace. I received two vaginal exams over the 16 hour active labor period and at each I was around 5 cm. This came as both frustrating and motivational, we discussed that my belly shape protruded quite a bit and that you (baby) may need more help getting down lower in my pelvis. To help reposition you, we utilized the rebozo cloth to hug you up and into my body. During this phase of my laboring I became vocal, trying to express the energy out of my body through my lungs and mouth. Our bigger dog Bo kept nearby and seemed to be interested, while our smaller dog Bella, didn’t seem interested whatsoever. We were very curious how they would react during the labor process and interestingly enough their roles seemed to shift later on.

By 11AM the next morning, we progressed through labor with the midwife often checking your heartbeat with her fetal monitor as well as checking in with me. As I sat in a rocking chair, attempting to rest between a surge, all of a sudden I felt and heard a large GA-GUSH! I exclaimed “My Water!” Everyone around thought I needed water and jumped to grab me a glass, but I clarified that my water had broke. The midwife informed me that things would possibly become more intense from here on out. She suggested we go and utilize the shower again to cope with the coming intensity. The dress I was wearing was now soaked with the amniotic fluid. While in the upstairs shower, I became very vocal and from then (11AM) until your birth (2PM) the energy was so intense, I didn’t know what to do with it. Earlier on, I could breathe through it and release that energy, but this lower uterus and back energy was big. As I progressed through the labor, my mind initially went to thinking that I was on an endless merry-go round, just continuing to cycle with no end in sight, but then I reminded myself that I was on a mountain headed to a summit. Your Oma (my mother) put on some very centering and instrumental music that helped me through the surges. I tried to harness it and focus on using it in my body as you moved through my pelvis.

I began to feel my pelvis expanding and wasn’t really sure if I should be “pushing” but it felt like things were progressing in that direction.  Your Papa was a huge support as I leveraged him when I breathed and “pushed”. The feelings were intense and I rode the waves of energy slowly moving from standing, to leaning, and eventually to kneeling.  I gripped your Papa’s forearms and squeezed as the energy passed.  This was so intense and so exhausting.  Eventually the midwife suggested I get on the bed, as I was on all fours on the hardwoods floor with a large amount of fluid around me. At this point, our bigger dog Bo had moved to snoring at the foot of the bed. Our smaller dog Bella, was now in the doorway listening intently but keeping her distance. I was primarily on all fours as I moved through the pushing surges for about 35 minutes. I felt very constipated through this transition and pushing phase, my body released a good amount of reddish fluid and eventually bowel movements. The midwife was supportive in reassuring me this was normal and provided support in cleaning all of the fluids up as we progressed. I let my body tell me how and when to push.  At first it felt foreign and unsure, but as I continued I let my body take over and lead the way.  As I pushed and breathed, eventually the midwife asked “ Do you want to feel your baby’s head?” I was so happy to hear that you were that close, I now had sight of the finish line. I reached down and felt the top of your head! What a motivation to meet you and a light at the end of this 33 hour tunnel. With these last pushes, I did feel the ring of fire as my body stretched to move your head through. I knew I just needed to get your head out and your body would follow!

Finally through breathing and pushing you came out! What a relief! The midwife passed you up underneath of me to your Papa and I. I exclaimed “ It’s a boy!” as you proceeded to pee. After a long labor of love you were born at 2:04 PM on Sunday March 10th, the day before your due date. It had been snowing big fluffy snowflakes throughout the day, but I was so focused on meeting you that I never had a chance to even look out the window. The midwife and her assistant checked you out and made sure to help you get the fluid from your mouth that you picked up on the way out. You cried to help get the rest out. I explored your beautiful body and rubbed the vernix that was all over your body into your skin. Your Papa and I got you into a blanket and hat as you rested on my belly and we held your hands. We gazed into your eyes with amazement. As time went on, the midwives refocused on me to make sure the placenta came out as it should. After just a few pushes and it came out intact, it was a gorgeous umbilical cord and placenta. Once all the blood from the placenta was transferred to you, it was time to cut the cord, your Papa did the honors. Then it was time to weigh and measure you. As the midwife assistant did that, the head midwife stitched up my third degree perineal tear. Your Papa comforted me as we gazed at you being weighed next to us. You had a long journey out, so you were ready to rest. The midwife team made sure that all was well and cleaned up before they headed out. We were so grateful to be able to settle into our comfortable home already.

The following weeks, we made sure to take it easy as we transitioned into our new little family. The midwife came to the house to check in with all three of us both physically and mentally. Making sure I was healing and you were growing! In order for you to grow we tackled the new task of breastfeeding, which was a group effort. You learning to latch, me learning to help you latch, Papa, Oma, the midwife, and postpartum doula providing unwavering insights and emotional support. In order for me to heal, I ate nourishing foods, drank lots of water, moved with postpartum grace and took in all the Clyde snuggles I could. Your Papa and I felt very supported by Oma, the midwife, the postpartum doula, and close friends. This was vital, because then we could make sure to focus the majority of our energy on you! We took the next 6 weeks to learning your cues and attempting to address your needs. We transitioned every week into more confident roles as you continued to grow. You have given us one of the most beautiful roles of our lives, parenthood. What a journey we have been on to get here and what beautiful horizons we have ahead of us,                                         Love, Mama

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Midwife: Jessica, Roots of Life

Midwife Assistand: Jennifer, Lionheart Midwifery

Photography: White Wave Photography

Are you thinking about documenting your birth story? I would love to chat with you. Get in touch with me today to learn more about Birth Stories by White Wave Photography.

Seacoast NH Birth Photographer | Logan’s Belly Birth – Part 1

Seacoast NH Birth Photographer | Logan’s Belly Birth – Part 1

Today little Logan turns ONE and I can’t believe it. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was meeting his mom and dad as they patiently waited for his arrival. Most birth clients book me around 30 weeks but this mama well into their third trimester when we met. Dad had seen one of my birth’s on Facebook and said “WE NEED TO HIRE A BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER”. I was so happy when they called.

These newlyweds were so excited to meet this little man and I was secretly hoping he would make his appearance on my birthday, January 11th (which was also his due date) but mom had been having pre-term labor so we all believed he would come closer to Christmas.

On January 7th, I got the call I had been waiting for…”I think I might be in labor, but I am going to go walk the mall so I can get these contractions regular”. BABY TIME! Around 9pm they got to the hospital and things were progressing nicely.

I arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital at around midnight and Alicia was riding the wave of contractions pretty hard. With the help of her mom, husband and an amazing nurse she was breathing through these very powerful contractions.

Laboring through the night and into the morning hours with no progress, on January 8th, the decision was made that Logan would be born via Cesarean Section. Unfortunately, this meant I would not be permitted into the OR but dad was up for the challenge. Justin gowned up, got a quick camera tutorial and was ready to take on photographing his wife deliver their son in the OR. I have to say, he and the head nurse did a great job!

Many people ask me about photographing a c-section and I always say that I would LOVE to be in there but it is ultimately up to the doctors on call. With this being said, I think it is EXTREMELY important as a Birth Photographer to be there for all of it even if not at the main event.

For my c-section mamas, it is so amazing for them to see how strong they were and also, they get to see ALL the things that they may have missed due to being in recovery. Daddy meeting baby, those first cries, and any measurements that may have been taken. It is always my goal that mom can relive EVERYTHING from that day and if I can help do that, I have done my job.

With all c-section moms, I offer to come back the next day or two days later to do a Fresh 48 session since most of the time after the long time in recovery, they just want to sleep. I was so excited to head back a couple days later to capture Logan’s Fresh 48 Hospital Session.

Stay tuned for part 2 of Logan’s Birth Story later this week…

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As a Seacoast NH Birth Photographer, I am honored to be a part of your birth story no matter where it takes place. Hospital, Birth Center, Home and even the OR. If you have questions or would like to learn more about Birth Stories by White Wave Photography, CONTACT ME today. I would love to chat more about your vision.

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Join my Moms Only Community on Facebook

I made this PRIVATE (moms and expecting moms only) group not only to share my birth and newborn work, but also to moms to connect with other moms and be empowered by each other. As a mom myself, I am always leaning on other moms for support. The expressions, “IT TAKES A VILLAGE” is so freaking true and I wanted to create a place where mamas (new and veterans) could come and support each other.