DUNCAN, OK BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER | BABY BEAR

I must have looked like a ninja - like a birth-photographer-ninja.

Rachelle sent me a message mid-November. She was due with her second baby on December 18th, and wanted to know if I was available to document the Birth Story of her newest babe. Through mutual friends, I knew of Rachelle, and that she was more than likely planning to experience the birth in her home. This would be the first home birth for me, so I was extremely intrigued to talk with her more.

The Boyers (Dad, Mom, and Big Sister) met me that following Sunday so we could talk in person. Rachelle and I clicked immediately. Yes, she was planning to birth at home, and no, she did not, in any fashion, feel herself superior to any other Moms who choose to birth a different way. Would you believe that her face lit up when I talked about the epidural births of both of my boys just as much as when she was describing the home birth of her little girl? She is pro-Mom, whatever that story may be. I knew this was a perfect match. We talked for an hour and a half without taking a breath and only departed because of an antsy big-sister-to-be and bedtime.

There was only one small hang up. While I was, in fact, free on the 18th of December, the days before and after that were booked with Christmas activities, out of town trips, and family events. For me to capture the birth, it would have to happen in the very small window of a few days smack dab in the middle of my crazy, busy schedule. Historically, she ran past her due date, which would put her going into labor while I was out of town. I was upfront about my avaiablity, and she decided to go ahead and hire me as her birth photographer. Then we both prayed that it would work out.

It’s not uncommon for me to have nightmares in which I miss a birth. I care deeply about the opportunity to tell my client’s stories, even more so the clients themselves, and I would be heartbroken to miss their moment. My anxiety of missing this birth was heightened because of my extremely tight schedule. 

So when my phone rang at 5:30am on December 18th, I was out of my bed with one foot towards my camera bag before I even answered and said ‘hello’. Hence the earlier birth-photographer-ninja reference. It was a swift, graceful, adrenaline infused moment when I realized my phone was ringing, and my ‘Baby Momma’ was on the other side of the line.

“Hi! How are you? I just wanted to let you know that my water broke about 4:20am. I sent just a text then, because I knew it would still be a while, but my contractions are picking up a little bit, so I went ahead and decided to call. I don’t think you should come right now, but if you want to come in about an hour I think that would be good. I’ve called Sunny, and the midwife, and they will be here about 6:30am, too.”

I squealed a little. I was gonna make it! I was going to be able to be there for Rachelle and Aaron! I did crawl back in bed to rest a little more, knowing that I could be working for hours capturing the birth, but it was useless. My adrenaline was already off the charts, so I just laid in my bed with my eyes wide-opened, grinning from ear to ear, until 6:15am. I was out the door and at their house by 6:34am.

The birth pool was being filled, Rachelle’s sister, Angie, was getting Big Sister out the door, and Sunny was massaging during contractions, when I arrived. About 4 minutes after being there, a big wave hit Rachelle. When she could breathe again she said, “Wow, that was a good one.” We were close - a lot closer than Rachelle thought she would be at just a few hours after her water broke. In fact, it would be just a little over an hour and she would be holding the baby her body was working to bring earthside.

The midwife’s assistant arrived and Rachelle got in the birth pool. The midwife’s assistant was so calm - calm voice and calm body language. Never panicked, never surprised by Rachelle’s pain, she just watched and encouraged. Aaron was on his game, too. He stayed close, watching Rachelle’s body language, and reacting accordingly. This was a familiar scene to him, and you could tell he was confident in the process and in his wife’s ability to birth their baby. I told Rachelle later that I couldn’t decide if I was shooting a Birth Story or a Love Story. They were completely in sync.

With the head midwife still 15 minutes away, Rachelle started pushing with each wave. There was no hesitation when the head midwife walked into the birth space. It took only a few more pushes and coaching from the midwife for baby to start crowning. Rachelle was encouraged to sit back to allow baby’s shoulders to come completely out. As we all waited for that last contraction to come, Rachelle laughed right out loud, looked at all of us and exclaimed, “This is awesome!”

Then with one last burst and a seemingly effortless push, Baby Boyer was out. Rachelle lifted baby’s leg, took a peek, and looked back up at Aaron, “It’s a BOY!” she said quickly before the tears came. It was a boy - a pink, birthday frosting covered, little Boyer boy.

7:53am on December 18th, the Boyer Family of 3, became the Boyer Family of 4 in the comfort of their own home. Aaron did some skin-to-skin while Rachelle moved to the bed. Once settled, with the little Bear eating his first meal, she looked at all of us and said, “Is everyone doing okay?” We were more than okay. There was no hustle after little Bear arrived. Everyone seemed content to just sit around and let Mom and Dad make googly eyes at their baby - a perk of birthing at home. “That was so fast!” Rachelle would say every 5 minutes. She was in shock at how quickly her labor progressed. Shocked, but over-the-moon in love with her bundle.

The baby’s first check up was done right there on their bed. Rachelle’s Mom made biscuits, eggs, and bacon for us all. Big Sister soon came back to meet Baby Bear. With a sleepy little voice, she pointed out his nose, ears, eyes, and mouth, and lovingly said, “baby,” while admiring her little brother.

I’m not sure my first experience with a home birth could have been any more positive. There was strength, beauty, peace, encouragement, and like all birth stories, there was a brand new baby.

Rachelle and Aaron, will this story ever stop making me emotional? What an opportunity you gave me that day! Thank you so much for letting me serve you and tell your story!