Welcoming New Life, Birth Photography
On January 26th, 2025, my life changed. I was invited to document a very special family’s labor and delivery process for their second baby.
I have documented the Devroy family several times now (check out their Blueberry Farm Pregnancy Announcement and their in-home maternity session), and each time I feel so free to be myself and do my thing.
From the moment I walked into their hospital room on that Sunday morning during the 8am hour, I knew this was extremely special. I observed in awe at the beauty that was happening right in front of me. Mom, Gabbie, stayed calm and focused as contractions came and went. Dad, Anthony, always attentive and ready to help his wife by putting pressure on her lower back, grabbing her apple juice, and communicating updates with their family.
I learned quickly that Gabbie preferred for people to continue talking through her contractions, so I began chatting with the two of them on occasion when silences needed to be filled. I snapped photos whenever something changed; getting out of the bath and into a gown, going for a few laps around the hallways, sitting on the yoga ball, getting back in the bath, a big contraction, etc. I put the camera down often to observe and wait for the next opportunity to take photos. I stepped out of the room and went to the family lounge a few times to give the two some time alone together when photos weren’t needed. They knew that they could call me right away if something changed and I needed to get back to the room, just a few steps away.
Gabbie’s mom, Marcy, joined us after a few hours. She was also a great support for her daughter, helping Anthony apply pressure during contractions and ensuring Gabbie’s juice stayed filled.
At 7cm dilated, we stopped making progress. Gabbie wanted to try a bath one more time before taking any medication to speed the delivery process along, which would interfere on her natural birth plan. We knew she was close, so Marcy and I decided one of us would stay in the room and we could take turns taking a break in the lounge. Within (10) minutes of Gabbie’s bath she began progressing quickly.
This is where things become focused and adrenaline induced on my end. Within (2) minutes of my call to the nurse’s station, the room was filled with 8-10 medical personnel. Gabbie was unable to get out of the bathtub, so that’s where she would deliver baby. An already small bathroom became even smaller, stuffed with Dad, Mom, and several doctors and nurses. I knew my job was to stay out of the way, but that I also needed to document these moments. I quickly found a stool and set it next to the doorway to the bathroom. I stood on the stool and leaned my upped body forward, holding my camera up high to get a vantage point without impeding the flow of traffic in and out of the bathroom doorway. Baby was out within minutes. It’s a girl!
Once we knew mom and baby were okay, I snuck into the bathroom and stood on top of the toilet to get a better view of Mom, Dad, and Baby; their first moments together as a family. Once the umbilical cord was cut, I followed baby to grab pictures of her weight, footprints, and Dad watching protectively over her.
After getting pictures of the placenta, wide angles of the hustle and bustle of the room, I knew I could relax a bit and begin observing again. I looked up at Marcy with my new found ease and saw that her eyes were red and filled with tears. Something in me switched and my emotions were allowed to turn on. My eyes mimicked hers and we gave each other a big hug, laughing through our tears. There was a big sigh of relief between us. We had similar roles through the delivery, just there to watch. Unable to intervene or do much to help in those key moments that seem to be life or death. It’s hard to play that role, especially when things became so intense. I took a few more photos of Mom, Dad, and Baby all together as a family. Everyone safe, happy, and healthy.
When it was time to go I drove silently on my way home. I soaked up every bit of this experience and sat with my emotions. What a beautiful life. Women are so powerful, and so badass. This process felt truly life-changing to me. I can’t wait to explore this avenue further.
I would love to continue to explore birth photography. If you are interested in having your birth story captured, please reach out! I will be offering a limited number of heavily discounted births to develop my portfolio.
