"Time of Birth"
Hi all!
I hope you had a Wonderful Holidays!
It’s been a while since I shared a blog post, but i have so many incredible sessions and births to tell you about.
This one is a story about a quick hospital birth, pushing the way mama felt best, even with the epidural & the sweetest delivery.
Here is the Birth of Eloise.
June 16th, 2023
2:45 am- I received a text in which Francesca had told me she woke up at 1:30am to what she was assuming is her water breaking & that she and her husband, Matt, were in triage at the hospital to verify, but she was feeling good & having no contractions yet!
Another text at 3:21 am to let me know that her water was indeed broken & they were going to start induction with a cervical softener to try and get things going. This was the text that woke me up & I responded that it sounded great & to keep me updated. I was birth photographer only for this birth, so I usually go in during active labor & we had time. She told me she would keep me updated & I let her know I would be going back to sleep for a little but to CALL over & over if things suddenly pick up fast so that I can be on my way.
6:57 am- She texts to inform me that the nurse thinks they are still a ways off, but that contractions have gotten pretty intense & close together, so she was getting a dose of morphine. The cervical softener had done the job of kicking labor into gear. The doula in me proceeded to give her some suggestion to help with pain relief. I gave her the suggestion of getting in the tub to help with the intensity of her contractions. She had said she would be getting a cervical check after shifts change & that should would let me know what she was at when they checked.
7:19 am- Just about 12 minutes after my last text from her, the next text comes in from her phone, but from her husband. “Hey, It’s Matt. She’s having more frequent contractions. Shes about to get an epidural. Got checked and was 1.5cm but the OB thinks she’s going to dialate quick.” At this point, I had already showered for the day & had my bags packed, ready to leave when it was time. He let me know the cervical check had just happened right before he texted me. I let him know to continue to update me, knowing 1.5cm was still very far off.
10:01 am- They informed me that she was checked and is now 2cm, has the epidural and would be starting pitocin shortly. Okay, still very far off. First time mom, epidural at 1.5 cm, this could even take days. At this point I was trying to plan what I could get done with my day, thinking I would probably have a whole day ahead of me still. I needed to figure out what I could get done for the day, but still be ready to leave at any second.
11:48 am- I hadn’t heard from them so I sent a text checking in, asking how she is doing & if they have done another check since last time. She had said the DR just came in and said they probably won’t check again until around 2 pm, but said the epidural and pitocin were both working perfectly, so they were just taking this time to try and rest. Unfortunately, she was having an a reaction to the epidural in the form of intense itching… so intense it felt like she was covered in poison ivy. Benadryl didn’t even fix the itching. Sometimes this happens & it certainly is not a pleasant experience, but she was in great spirits despite this. This text exchange ended at 12:29 pm.
1:19 pm- I am sitting on the couch, eating lunch & had just turned on a Netflix series I was binging at the time. My significant other called on his lunch break & I gave him the run down of the latest with my client. I was explaining how typically first time labors tend to take a while, especially when an epidural is involved early on. I let him know my plans in the meantime & hung up the call telling him I will see him after he gets home from work. Within seconds of disconnecting the call, the phone rings. It’s Matt. “Hey, She’s fully Dilated.” It took me a second to process this, as I was SHOCKED. That was FAST. I let him know I am on my way immediately.
1:21 pm- I was already out the door and in the car, praying I would make it in time. THIS is what I emphasize to people, when I say “The cervix is not a crystal ball” and you could be at a 4 for a week & not even in labor or…. like this situation… go from a 2-10 FAST. I’ve attended many births, but before this, had never experienced something so FAST given all the factors in play.
1:35 pm- I let them know I was pulling into the parking garage. She was waiting to labor down at this point. Matt passed me in the hallway & asked me if I would like a coffee, as he was grabbing some for them too. I accepted & went up to the room. Francesca was just sitting up on the bed, with her legs “butterflied” a little bit. She was glowing, smiling and cheerful. I jokingly asked her if she is some sort of cervical magician.
Matt walks back in the room like a hero with coffee for all of us. Francesca continued to sit on the bed and sip on her coffee, like it was no big deal at all, while she labored down. We laughed & talked. The whole time I was just in complete awe. She labored down for a couple hours. This is the process in which you let baby naturally descend further down in the birth canal, before you start pushing.
GO TIME. Alright, she’s feeling some pressure, let’s do this. She still had amazing mobility even with her epidural and was able to try different birthing positions. She tried on her knees, facing the back of the bed with her hands gripping the back of the bed. Then she switched to squatting with the squat bar & using a sheet to do a “tug of war” while she beared down. Ultimately, full hands and knees is the position her body urged her to be in & she listened to that instinct.
Matt is a NP in the ICU at the same hospital they were delivering. The plan was for him to guide & catch his baby all on his own. They were met with a little hesitation by the OB, but ultimately dad was able to put on a gown, sterile gloves & be the one to assist in bringing his baby earthside while the OB standing close by watching.
4:03 pm- Eloise is born into her daddy’s hands & passed between her mama’s legs where Francesca stares at her daughter in shock and awe, just taking in all of her features. She did that. They did that. Nothing else mattered in that moment. They were now a family of three.
I continued photographing, capturing every emotion, detail & moment with tear filled eyes. It never gets old witnessing such a beautiful, intimate moment.
Something from that day that really stuck with me & probably always will, were words spoken by Matt. (Remember when I explain this, that he is a NP in the ICU.) He had so much love & pride in his eyes as he watched his wife and daughter. After things settled down a little bit & while Francesca was nursing Eloise, Matt and I sat on the big couch that is bedside in the delivery room. We hear the nurse ask “What was time of birth?” & another nurse responds ““Time of Birth 4:03 pm.” I look over at Matt & he was just staring at Francesca and Eloise, looking very choked up and somewhat in shock. I don’t remember my exact words in that moment, but I said something along the lines of “Taking in how wild it all is?” He chokes up a little more, looks down & then back up at his girls & says “It’s just…SO nice to hear the time of LIFE for once.”
Those words say so much in just one sentence & I still to this day, can’t seem to form the proper words to explain how heavy, eye opening & yet beautiful… I found those words to be. I’m very thankful for those who do what he does to help others & am so very humbled to have been apart of this sacred day.
Disclaimer: If you are reading this and know me, I’m sure you understand these are images of birth, but just in case, I’m warning you now that some of the shots to come include blood, bodily fluids & slight nudity. Not all clients want shots of baby coming out like this, but many do. I photograph what each client wants & approves of. Also, permission for each image posted is obtained prior to posting. Respect & Privacy for clients is very important to me & I only share what they are OK with & with their approval.
Eloise Noelle
6.16.2023
7lbs 13.2oz
21 inches long
