Photographing My First Birth
I want to start off this post by saying that getting along with your neighbors is actually the best thing. Need to borrow some sugar? I got you. Can you come help me move something? Duh, I will be right over. Can you photograph my home birth? YES!
I met my neighbor Jess and her husband Chris and their two kids back in 2022 when I moved in next door to her. Her and I clicked instantly and exchanged numbers during our first encounter and haven't stopped texting since. She and her kids modeled for me a couple years ago and I remember telling her I have always wanted to photograph a birth and she said if she ever has another baby she would ask me to photograph her birth!
Jess & her two eldest kids modeling a new location for me back in 2022
Fast forward to Spring 2024 Jess texted me asking if I was still interested in photographing a birth. I, of course, said yes.
This would be Jess’s third birth, second at home. This would be my first time photographing a birth, first time witnessing a birth. I have read and researched a lot about birth, a lot of my good friends have had babies and have told me their birth stories so I know a little bit about births. I still did a lot more research about photographing births and asking around to mentally prepare and make sure I was not in anyone’s way during the process. I won't go into too much detail as I really value personal and intimate experiences I capture for clients and these stories are not mine, they are theirs. I am only a bystander lucky enough to capture something so special. If Jess blogs about her birth story I will link it at the end of this post. I will kind of scratch the surface of my experience as a photographer and friend witnessing my very first birth and also show photos Jess happily offered for me to post.
Jess’s due date was at the end of November which fell on Thanksgiving week that year. I made sure to make our holiday plans or book any shoots not too far from Jess in case she went into labor. I have heard countless times that each baby comes quicker with each birth. Monday morning at about 2:30 in the morning, Jess texted me telling me her water had broken but not to rush over cause she was going to try to sleep until her contractions started. I texted her at about 6:00am seeing how she was doing and she said to come on over. I grabbed my camera and walked about 50 feet from my front door to hers and was greeted by her lovely mom who is also a trained doula. We talked very quietly as Jess’s other two kids were still in their beds sleeping. I followed her mom upstairs and into Jess and her husband’s bedroom where Jess was in her bathtub. Chris was sitting on the edge of the tub, rubbing her shoulders as she was having a contraction. They had lit candles all over their bedroom and were playing soft music, creating a calming environment. When Jess’s contraction had passed she greeted me with her warm and friendly smile, we talked for only a moment and wouldn’t talk again until before I left hours later.
As her contractions started happening closer together, Chris called the midwives to start making their way to their home. Jess’s mom was in full mother mode, making sure her daughter was taking bites of food and staying hydrated in between contractions, offering words of encouragement during the contractions, tying Jess’s hair back and preparing the room for the birth of her grandchild. It really is wonderful seeing how a mother never stops putting their children first no matter the age.
The team of midwives arrive and the sunlight from the morning sun starts to stream into the windows, and the team begins prepping their supplies for the baby’s arrival. Jess’s sister and mother in law arrive and Jess’s two kids wake up for the day. Her kids come in and say hi to their mom who smiles and greets her children between her contractions, her kids go downstairs with their aunt and have breakfast.
As the contractions came closer together the midwives slowly started inching their way to Jess, taking cues from her body that the baby was coming. I quickly got into the glass shower beside the tub to capture Jess catching her third baby with what looked like ease from my perspective but I am sure every muscle in her body and soul pushed her baby out. Within 30 seconds of Jess catching her baby and her holding the baby close to her chest, the baby let out the first beautiful cry, and Jess smiled and said she was a girl!
I got teary eyed as I was shooting away, teary eyed at the incredible morning I just experienced, the joy that the baby brought as she came into the world, and knowing that I was 22 weeks pregnant with my first baby and a girl too. The love and happiness was palpable throughout the house as the parents that gained another daughter, grandmothers gained another granddaughter, an aunt gained another niece, and a brother and sister gained another sibling.
After a while, Jess handed the baby to Chris for skin to skin while Jess showered and got into her comfy robe and made her way to her bed where Chris snuggled with their baby. Jess’s mom brought Jess a plate of food and something to drink, Jess’s face was elated despite the fatigue I am sure she was experiencing. Her older kids came in to greet their parents and new sister once again. The midwives did their first examine of the baby, weighing, measuring, checking reflexes, taking her foot prints, all at the foot of Jess and Chris’s bed where the both rested and watched in awe of their new daughter. I left shortly after to go to work and to give the family their time to bond.
It was so fitting that Jess’s baby was born days before a holiday that celebrates thankfulness and gratitude. I am grateful to have been invited into a intimate moment, seeing a beautiful and peaceful birth in a world where people are so quick to spread fear over encouragement. TikToks have flooded my timeline since becoming pregnant displaying only scary birth stories and experiences. Some people in life only share negative things about pregnancy and birth, the “just waits”, and it can be difficult to receive positive stories. Jess has been a constant advocate that not all births have to be this scary thing we mothers inevitably go through, that knowledge and understanding your body is power, and whatever route you take in bringing your baby into the world is your choice and no one else's. I personally feel more at peace and confident going into my third trimester and trusting my body, husband and team with my birth plan than I did before talking to Jess and photographing her birth.
IG: @bybelenphoto