A Midwife’s Hands

February 25, 2017February 25, 2017Leave a comment

I love working with midwives both from a patient and professional perspective. Watching them sit calmly observing a mother’s movements and tone; typically being able to tell how she’s progressing without questions or exams. Seeing their highly trained hands snap into action at a moments notice when complications arise. Listening to them give words of encouragement and being able to tell they fully believe in the laboring woman. It takes a special gift to be a midwife.

A midwife’s hands have held miracles and have felt new life come forth.

A midwife’s hands have held heartbreak and carry those internal scars forever more.

A midwife’s hands have worked countless hours and will continue to work on.

A midwife’s hands have supported, comforted, and cheered.

A midwife’s hands serve others before themselves.

A midwife’s hands are forever intertwined with each life they have touched.

Her hands were made to do this.

Poppy’s Homebirth

February 20, 20172 Comments

2/15/17 the date little Miss Poppy decided it was time to come Earth side!

This surprise girl kept mom and dad on their toes the whole pregnancy making them think perhaps they could be in store for a little boy. Her two big sisters however, were convinced from day 1 that she was indeed a she. “I knew it I told you so,” we could hear from down the hall as Dad went to share the news of Poppy’s arrival.

The timing of this home birth couldn’t have been more perfect, the girls had been tucked into bed the night before, mom and dad labored beautifully through the night, and right before the birth big sisters woke up and were able to meet the newest addition minutes later.

I was so blessed to be able to serve this family as their doula and photographer!

Kelsey’s Top 5: Reasons to become a midwife

November 13, 2013November 13, 20131 Comment

5. This country NEEDS more CNMs. The biggest difference between most midwives and most OBs is their philosophy on patient care. Where OBs are looking for a problem or focused on their own schedule midwives are focused on their client; what does this mom need, what are HER preferences, how can I make her more comfortable. “For normal births, midwives offer care at a lower cost, use lower intervention rates, have lower mortality and morbidity as a result of fewer interventions, and fewer recovery complications.” So why are less than 10% of babies in this country born with midwives? I plan to be an evidence based care provider, like all should be, and to give my clients every opportunity to have the birth of their dreams.

4. My motivation is to help others not myself. The transition from doula to midwife seemed like a no brainer to me. I’m actually surprised more doulas do not go to midwifery school. It filled my heart to help moms through tough labors, to support people as they became parents, and to encourage friends to keep going when they wanted to give up. To know I will soon (yes I’m calling 8 years soon!) be back to serving families is what gets me excited for and will get me through school.

3. Now that I’ve witnessed the miracle of life again and again I can’t stop. Attending births as a photographer and doula has been the greatest experience of my life so far (aside from my own birth 😉 ). It is truly indescribable. The day I am able to be the care provider and have midwifery be my full time job can not come soon enough. When I thought about giving up attending births all together to simplify my schedule, I was on the verge of tears. Deciding to become a midwife means I will get to have this amazing opportunity on a weekly basis.

The 2nd birth I attended 9/29/12

2. I don’t want to “work”. You know that old phrase “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”? That is what I want! That is what I will have! I know the 2 am calls and 24+hr labors are tough, but I don’t care. Working in a birth center has given me a first hand look at all the hard work that goes into being a successful midwife that clients never see. I am ready for the challenge!

1. This is my calling. Plain and simple, I prayed and prayed about this and one day it just clicked that I HAD to return to school. I was good at birth photography but not amazing, and I was a good doula but could not commit full time. Between my family and co-workers constantly telling me “sooner or later you’ll be a midwife”, I should have known it would only be a matter of time before I’d have to say, “you were right”. Everything in my life has led me to this decision. If I had gone to college right out of high school it would never have been for midwifery or even nursing for that matter. I had to go on this journey to find the right career for me. There are still moments when I think this will be impossible, but I know God has a plan and I wouldn’t have this drive if I wasn’t meant to complete this mission.

Fundraising OPEN!

November 6, 2013November 6, 2013Leave a comment

My “Support” Page has been updated and my fundraising campaign is ready to go! I am super nervous and excited to see how this goes. I truly hope my expectations are blown out of the water and I have plenty of funds left over to start a “Future Midwife Scholarship” (creative name ideas for the scholarship are welcome). This dream is not for me; it is for the families that deserve to have access to midwifery care.

A baby knows when to be born: Oden’s Sneak Peek

August 13, 20131 Comment

When I think back to my birth, the most supportive, consistent, and loving “component” was my husband. Without him I could not have endured labor let alone a 42 hour labor. To imagine facing the fact that he wouldn’t be there would have been heartbreaking.

Kelsey first contacted me about photographing the birth of her son because her husband would be away serving our country and would miss the first 2 months of his son’s life. I knew I had to be there. They lived further than I would typically drive for clients but I couldn’t turn this family away.

When we met to discuss details at 36 weeks she had exciting news; Robert MAY be able to make it to the birth. He would be able to return home from August 1^st – 14^th…she was due on the 6^th. For those who do not know the average first time pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day, in Kelsey’s case the 14^th!

The labor call came on the 6^th. Dilated to 5 at lunch time we were all pretty sure this little boy was going to beat the odds and arrive on his actual due date , but he apparently had other plans for his momma. After a long overnight labor, which Kelsey handled beautifully, baby Oden arrived at 6:36am on the 7^th. Robert and Kelsey got to enjoy pregnancy for 1 week together and they got to experience family life together for 1 week together. Perfect timing for an imperfect situation.

This mom’s support team was incredible! Could she have done it with just her mom? Yes. Could she have done it with just Robert? Yes. But with the two of them together helping her relax, she was truly able to tackle each contraction with ease (she might say differently but to outside viewers she was the picture perfect Bradley® student).

I was so excited to capture these moments this sweet couple thought they would not get to experience.

A Hiatus…..of sorts

June 15, 2013June 15, 2013Leave a comment

It is with mixed emotions that I write this post….

Recently life for my family has flipped completely around, mostly in a good a way!

One of these big changes is my work schedule. I have gone from working 1 day per week at the birth center to 3. Due to the time I will be there now, I am no longer able to except doula clients and will only be able to photograph births at Allen Birthing Center. I will also continue teaching childbirth classes on the weekends. I am debating on continuing to blog and keep up my Facebook page (which I already a pretty poor job of haha). I think I am just going to have to go with the flow and figure things out one day at a time

Giving up a big chunk of my “on-call life” will be weird but I am very excited to see what the future holds 🙂 I am not sure if this change is permanent or temporary and that is the part that makes me nervous, but the possibilities I see are limitless and I know God will direct me to the path I am suppose to take.

change

Sean’s Surprise Birthday

June 9, 2013Leave a comment

I never know how parents, especially first time parents, keep from finding out the gender of their baby. Tears and anticipation filled the room as Sean made his entrance into this world. His parents were beyond joyful to meet him (and find out he is a him) after a short and intense labor. Not a dry eye in the room as his mom proclaimed, “I have waited my whole life for you”. This couples love for each other and their newborn son does not come through in these photos. I know parents love their children, but Sean will be cherished each moment of each day.

To be a part of this birth as a doula and photographer was very bitter sweet as I will be taking a break from both soon (more details will be posted later). I thank them from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to serve them.

Newborn Sneak Peek: Caden

May 14, 2013May 14, 20131 Comment

What better way to spend a mother’s day than with a new mother helping her capture her son in photos that will last a life time. I was excited to see Mr. Caden again and see how big he’d gotten in just a week and a half. Here is just a little sneak peek of his photo shoot.

Caden James

May 1, 2013May 1, 20131 Comment

A write up for this sweet birth is coming soon but I couldn’t wait to get the picture sneak peek up for the family! Enojy 🙂

Caden James

4/30/2013 3:56am 7lbs 2oz

Joyful Baby Momma

April 21, 2013April 21, 2013Leave a comment

You might be thinking the name of this post is a little out of the ordinary compared to my usual birth sneak peek posts, and it is! For several reasons:

I couldn’t use baby’s name in the title because this sweet girl is still being referred to as “new baby”.
Her parent like unordinary names…hence why they’re being a little indecisive about her name 😉
This was the birth of my friend and co-birth field worker/associate/referral/personal diaper supplier, Kristina who operates “JOYFUL BABY PLANNING“

Title make more sense now? 🙂

I was so excited when she asked me to capture the moments right after the birth of her next “surprise baby”. The only scary part was her last labor for her 2nd child was very fast and we were all prepared for this one be even quicker. “I know I’m going to have this baby in the car,” she told me several times, and that prediction wasn’t far from true.

We arrived at the birth center at the same time (just 2 hours after she text me “I think I might be in labor”) and she hurried inside to be checked. 10cm! She had showed up complete and ready to push. It wasn’t too long of a wait before a screaming, pink baby made her debut. Her parents were so relieved to have her in their arms they didn’t even check for gender until about 3 minutes after birth!

It’s a Girl

The great moments didn’t stop there! Since she arrived so quickly they had time to call their other two kiddos and tell them the good news….or bad news to big brother who was certain the new baby was going to be a boy.

Listening for a reaction from big brother…something…anything

He was not happy with the result, but his reaction sure was amusing for all in birth room! After crying, "nooo" he hung up on his parents. I'm sure he'll come around.

He was not happy, but his reaction sure was amusing for all of us in birth room! After crying, “nooo” he hung up on his parents. I’m sure he’ll come around.

I am so blessed to have been able to witness the birth of this family’s newest addition, and look forward to learning what name this precious girl has been given.