Oh births…they’re just so unpredictable! And you know what else is unpredictable? Birth plans. They are great to have to remind an expectant mom of what she would like to happen in the best of circumstances, but 99% of the time, the birth plan is altered at some point during labor…if not thrown out altogether!
Allison was due with her first baby on July 15th (put the emphasis on FIRST baby). I had plans to be on vacation in RI until the 14th, but I was confident the baby would be late. But just to make sure I had my bases covered, I scheduled a backup photographer to be on-call during the days I was away. As luck would have it I got a call from Allison’s doula, Megan, as we were driving through Baltimore. She told me that Allison was in labor and she had already contacted my backup to let her know as well! In case you were wondering, Charlotte is 7 hours away from Baltimore. SEVEN. HOURS. Luckily Allison was delivering at Natural Beginnings in Statesville, so I was really only 6 hours away. ?
A couple of hours later, I got an update that they were heading to the birthing center. Not too long after that I got a call that she had been examined and was not as far along as she had hoped (the midwife suspected prodromal labor), so she was being sent home. But she had been contracting for DAYS and was exhausted, so instead of heading home she headed to the hospital, which was NOT part of her birth plan.
The good news (for me) was that Allison’s labor stalled a bit and I was able to make it home with plenty of time to spare. The bad news (for Allison) is that her labor had stalled and she was still exhausted, so the midwife gave her some pitocin to get things moving, which was also not part of her birth plan. Neither was the epidural that followed shortly thereafter. But you know what WAS part of her birth plan? Delivering a beautiful, healthy baby girl. And you know what else? When I asked Allison if, looking back, she would have done anything differently, she responded, “Not a thing.” So my advice to expectant moms is to absolutely write that birth plan and share it with your birth team…but try and be flexible so that when changes to the birth plan inevitably happen, you can still look back at your birth with joy and not disappointment.
Congratulations on delivering a beautiful baby girl, mama! Amelia is a doll!
Baby Amelia
Monday, July 15th @9:58pm
8lbs. 9oz., 21” long
January 29th, 2020 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know what to say! This is so so beautiful, what an amazing experience wow! Congrats.
January 31st, 2020 at 4:14 am
Thanks Chad!
January 30th, 2020 at 8:59 am
What an amazing journey and I could feel the hardship and finally the joy of the mother. This is the tears of joy.
January 31st, 2020 at 4:14 am
It makes me so happy that you could feel that through my images! Thank you so much!
January 30th, 2020 at 9:13 am
congrats!! A lovely sharing & love all the captured shared, it symbolises the important moments between the mum & the baby girl. This gonna be a lovely life memories for sure!
cheers, siennylovesdrawing
January 31st, 2020 at 4:15 am
Thank you so much!
January 30th, 2020 at 12:42 pm
That’s great that things worked out even though it wasn’t the exact scenario the mom had in mind. These are great photos!
January 31st, 2020 at 4:16 am
Exactly! I’m happy that she was happy in the end, as that — and a healthy baby — is all that matters!
January 30th, 2020 at 2:19 pm
Wow….amazing pictures for sure and what a beautiful thing thee brith of a child is. It is truly a miracle and so appreciate you sharing 🙂 Amazing pictures and what a beauty you have!
January 31st, 2020 at 4:16 am
Thank you so much!
January 30th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
awwww, the beauty of giving birth! Giving birth is sure is unpredictable. Thank you for sharing these memorable photos.
January 31st, 2020 at 4:16 am
Thanks for reading about it! 🙂
January 30th, 2020 at 6:03 pm
This is so beautiful. The pictures look amazing and they captured her birth so beautifully.
January 31st, 2020 at 4:17 am
Thank you so much Sue!
January 31st, 2020 at 1:32 am
Wow, what an experience!
January 31st, 2020 at 4:17 am
Right!? So great!
January 31st, 2020 at 4:20 am
It’s such a beautiful feeling to bring life into this world. Glad you were able to capture these moments.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:27 pm
It’s the most profound experience ever!
January 31st, 2020 at 12:32 pm
What a beautiful birthing story and love the pictures! It is such a miracle for sure ~ Thank you for sharing your special moment.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
It was an honor to be asked to be there! Thank you for reading!
January 31st, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Oh what an experience. Thanks for sharing this lovely story.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Thank you for reading!
January 31st, 2020 at 4:15 pm
Congratulations, birth plans never go to plan and my mummy changed hers at the last minute and opted for a water birth (which she hadn’t planned) it went swimmingly (excuse the pun) gorgeous photos x
February 11th, 2020 at 6:29 pm
I love that she did that! I wish I was brave enough for a water birth!
January 31st, 2020 at 4:25 pm
It’s truly an incredible moment and experience. These images are stunning and have really captured the beauty of life and love.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:29 pm
Thank you so much!
January 31st, 2020 at 5:13 pm
You have a talent that you are able to capture every single emotion. What a beautiful way to document such an important day.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words!
January 31st, 2020 at 10:17 pm
Wow! I have never seen images like this and they are incredible. What a miracle.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Thank you so much!!
January 31st, 2020 at 11:38 pm
Wow, this is so beautiful ? Baby Amelia is super cute ? Love these photos ❤
February 11th, 2020 at 6:30 pm
She really is! Thank you so much for reading!
February 1st, 2020 at 1:36 pm
Congrats girl! All your pushes and sacrifices are all worth it. Those photos are so lovely.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
Thank you so much!
February 2nd, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Beautiful birth pictures. Thanks for sharing the experience.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
Thanks for reading!
February 11th, 2020 at 1:42 am
Amazing! The experience is unlike anything in the world. You are lucky to capture things like this as part of your job!
February 11th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
Thank you! I am one lucky gal for sure. <3
February 11th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Giving birth is such a special moment. Absolutely beautiful. I wish we would have taken pictures but this was all so new to us. Great shots.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Same Myrah! I don’t have birth photos either. 🙁 It’s probably one of the reasons I fell in love with birth photography. I get to give my clients what I never had.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:09 pm
What a moving story! These are wonderful photos and tell their story well. Amelia is precious.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Thank you so much!