It was the day before Dani was due, and she had been having some contractions and false labor in the days leading up. We knew it was going to be soon, and i was sleeping with my phone right next to my body. my bags were packed, camera gear charged, and ready to go in a moments notice. i was so excited for this birth… the birth of collins, because, other than the fact that the birth of a baby is my favorite thing to photograph, i was especially excited because i knew i’d be photographing collins all year long- maternity, her infant photography, 6 month, and one year. with this family i was going to be a part of the entire process. what made me even happier, was that this birth was going to be incredible because it was a natural home birth- something i’m quite passionate about.
3:12 am Chris calls me. the moment my phone rang i knew who it was, i needn’t look at my caller id to know Dani was in labor. i gave Dustin a quick kiss goodbye, brushed my teeth, grabbed my bag and was in the car by 3:17 am. the night was beautiful- little houses silently lit up with christmas lights, the air still, the roads empty. there was something magical about the fact that everyone was sleeping and somewhere out there there was a mama by a warm fireplace quietly laboring away to bring a new life into this world.
as i drove through the night, i saw a brilliant shooting star. wish number 1- healthy baby and mama. and then i saw another- wish number 2- no complications. turns out there was a meteor shower that night… there is something so whimsical about that. ”you were born during a meteor shower” sounds so much more romantic than “you were born in the midst of tornados, floods tearing through the city- a storm like no one had ever seen before” like my first baby was born in. I arrived to a warm house with a fireplace crackling, a birthing tub filling with water, and wonderful family surrounding Dani and Chris.
Dani was still talking between contractions- she had said earlier that ‘i’m not a screamer” but throughout her labor i couldnt believe how incredibly strong and silent she was. almost effortlessly laboring. and of course midwife Bea was there, wonderful as she is with her beautiful british accent, quietly helping dani through the contractions and getting ready for the birth. i love this shot of her sitting by the fire going through the documents.
Dani didn’t so much as make a groan… just a few breaths. Only two hours after i had arrived, and two minutes of pushing, she delivered a beautiful baby girl in the tub of warm water. Dani was able to actually deliver her herself- pulling collins from her body and up onto her chest for skin to skin contact. Collins arrived beautifully, with a perfectly shaped head, and covered in Vernix, the wonderful cheesy substance that acts as the most amazing moisturizer in the world. i cant imagine being in fluid for your entire life, and then all the sudden being in dry air. the vernix helps protect and moisturize the baby’s skin for those first few hours of exposure, you wouldn’t want to ‘clean her off’.
a little cheek pinch from Dani’s dad… i love that 
They were able to stay like that- together, skin to skin- for as long as they wanted. skin to skin contact immediately after birth is the most beneficial thing you can do for your baby- it is a crucial component for successful breastfeeding initiation. Nature intended for a baby to be placed immediately on the mothers chest, and the mother’s internal temperature is actually immediately after a birth- it’s natures way of helping the infant to regain a normal temperture.
i love this photo of Dani. she just gave birth minutes before, and she's already ready and rarin' to go. chipper as ever at 5 am after laboring all night.
the sun began to rise over their lake house… and create the most amazing early morning light streaming in through the windows.
not a bad way to start the day.
and then little baron woke up and came down the stairs to see what santa had brought him early… a new baby sister. as he was coming in the room Dani asked “look baron! look at mommy’s tummy! where’d the baby go?” and he said with excitement “right there! the baby’s right there!” and went over to examine little feet, little hands, and little toes.
Bea weighing little Collins!
i think he’s going to be a great big brother…
If you want to know more about midwives, natural childbirth, or why you should consider your options of having your baby at a free standing birthing center or at home a good place to start is by watching this film (for free! right now on your computer, right here!): the business of being born and i promise in the first 10 minutes you’ll at least be asking your physicians some very important questions. you can also read Your Best Birth or you can call or email me, or (even better yet!) check out your local free standing birth center and talk to some midwives in person. in Tampa, it’s labor of love. there are some TERRIFYING statistics right now for Florida (i just googled c-section rate, florida, and it provided a sickening amount of scary information) i had my first baby in a hospital (and it was a wonderful experience, but i got lucky)- and didn’t really know that i even had any options. i’m so glad that i discovered that there was another way, a more natural way, before i had Pierson (note: the link takes you to my personal blog, and the photographs are fairly intimate. if you dont feel comfortable with viewing breast feeding, or birth, you may not want to click the link. i’ve shared these because i feel comfortable that birth is such a natural process, and hope to encourage others that they can birth and breast feed as well, and do not wish to offend anyone ). if you’re pregnant i hope you all can find the right birth place for your baby and yourself, whatever way that might be
