I am so excited to share this birth story with you! Christina was one of the first people I met when we moved to Spokane, and I was beyond honored when, almost 2 years later, she asked me to be her birth photographer. {You might recognize this family from their stunning Maternity Session — hop over there first if you haven’t already seen that piece of their story!} This beautiful birth took place with Spokane Midwives at their Birth Center in Spokane, WA. This is quite a unique project, but if you are looking for a more traditional family photographer Austin, there are plenty of photographers all over the country! You can hire photographers for all sorts of occasions over you life, its not only births but as well as birthdays and perhaps weddings! If you’re looking for an Oregon Elopement photographer then I recommend you see Dyland M Howell, his photographs are amazing!
Thank you so much, Christina for inviting me to capture your special day, and for graciously sharing your birth story:
Christina: “The morning of July 14th seemed like a good day to have a baby.
At 40+6 weeks I was getting anxious of when he would actually be ready to join us. I woke up that morning at 6am to go to the bathroom. I had a bit of water come out as soon as I sat down. Not much only lasted a few seconds. But hey it was something more than the contractions I had been getting every night for the past week! I went back to bed after telling my husband. My daughter got up and we went about our morning. I was having mild contractions I could notice but weren’t intense yet. I cleaned, did laundry, and danced around in the living room with Sofi all morning! It was wonderful!
After lunch it was time for nap so Sofi and I headed down stairs to read books before she went down it was almost 12:30pm. We are laying in her bed just getting started reading when I had this feeling my water was about to come gushing out. I jumped out of her bed just in time for my water to burst! Luckily I was wearing fleece pajama bottoms and I just ripped them to the floor and they caught everything. Sofi was so confused and concerned. I had to explain to her that brother was inside a water balloon and the balloon had to pop for him to come out! It was a good thing!! So she started running around saying, “my water broke!!” ripping her undies off and standing over a towel, it was hilarious! We both finally calmed down, and went back to reading books. To my surprise, after the excitement she actually napped. So I went to bed just to relax.
I could definitely notice the contractions more now! Coming about every 10 minutes and lasting 30-40 seconds. Dexter came home from work about an hour later. We just hung out in bed and watched Nexflix while Sofi napped. The contractions progressed in length but didn’t get much closer together. Sofi woke up about 3pm, and by this point my contractions were every 6 minutes and 45 seconds long. She joined us in bed and we continued to relax. She could tell I was in pain and kept asking what was going on. And I kept telling her “brother is coming!” About 3:30 my contractions hit 1 minute in length and immediately started coming every 3 minutes!
I called the midwife and told her, luckily she was almost to the birth center. We loaded up the car, sofi, and told Dexter’s mom it was go time! The drive to the birth center was luckily only 10 minutes away, but a very intense drive! We arrived at the birth center at 3:45, Dexter dropped me off at the door and I went in. The midwife was making sure everything was set up and asked me if I wanted to be checked. I told her yes as things seemed to have progressed so quickly. I was already an 8! Dexter’s mom met us at the birth center just minutes after we got there and took Sofi to play in the lobby. And I was off to the tub!
I labored in the tub for about 30 minutes before things started feeling pushy. The midwife asked if I wanted to be checked again, and she barely got down to check and said, “No need, his head’s right there, it’s go time!” The next few contractions I pushed with them as they came. His head emerged but his shoulder was stuck, the midwife told me to stand up. So I stood up and I pushed and out he came! Born at 4:32pm!
Everything went so quickly but so smoothly! I asked for Sofi to come in and she was able to meet Uriah just minutes after he was born which was magical! Something I desperately wanted was for her to be able to be there! First thing she said was “brother came out now!” I was in total awe! This birth experience was so much different than the hospital, and I couldn’t have asked for more! The whole team was amazing and so supportive! Dexter took Uriah for some skin to skin while I showered off. Then we just relaxed in the bed. Uriah nursed like a champ right away! Which was no surprise he weighed in at 8 pounds 12 ounces and 21.5 inches long! We stayed at the birth center for 2 hours after he was born, and then we headed home. Now a family of 4! ?”
All material Copyright © 2017, Esther Edith, Photographer & Doula, Spokane, WA and Coeur d’Alene, ID
Esther Edith is a professional Photographer and certified Birth Doula, serving Spokane, WA, Coeur d’Alene, ID and the surrounding areas.
I specialize in birth photography, and also offer maternity, newborn lifestyle, breastfeeding, and babywearing photography. If you are interested in inviting me to capture your story in timeless images, please connect with me to envision together and reserve your session.
Spokane WA and Coeur d’Alene ID Maternity, Birth, Newborn, Babywearing, Breastfeeding, and Couple’s Photography
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