Durham- Chapel Hill Birth Photographer

The Birth of Alec

and the Motherhood Journey of Lauren

An exciting family focused birth center birth

at Women’s Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Births come in all different shapes and sizes. I’m often overwhelmed over being a birth photographer after a long all nighter waiting for a little one to arrive. Those stories are powerful and beautiful in so many ways even in the waiting but there is nothing that gets me back on my feet and ready for the next birth journey than witnessing a birth that is whirlwind fast and exciting.

I got the “maybe its labor, maybe I can sleep on it” type text right around midnight. I quickly jumped in bed (i know all the mixed sleep patterns leave me a bit of a late nighter now a days :P) I was hoping to grab any bit of sleep I could because I knew from Lauren’s first birth that when things pick up, they could go fast. Her first birth had everyone surprised and her photographer made it just after her sweet first boy was born. So I didn’t want that to happen at all so I was definitely on edge trying to grab some sleep.

Not 2 hours later and I got the second text that they were all headed to the birth center, but weren’t sure if things were really that progressed. Me and their wonderful doula, Sarah Stanley, both felt the same way and waited only a bit before just jumping in our cars and heading her way. better to be safe than sorry with a mom with a fast labor history.

I arrived about 15 minutes later to see momma already in the tub breathing through her labor like a total goddess and her sweet sleepy boy curiously watching on as mom happily explained that baby was coming. Typically moms aren’t encouraged to get into the birthing tub until active labor is for sure so seeing her there was a good sign that I had made the right decision to just go and meet them there. Lauren was handling things so peacefully that you would have guessed we had hours to go. We all settled in and Sarah arrived to give their little boy some sweet sibling doula love. They were in and out with his curiosity until he pretty much fell asleep in the birth-center’s family waiting area, where i have spent many a night (way more comfy than a hospital waiting room, so thank you WBWC)

As we all sat in the room it was quiet with the occasional laugh filling the room as Lauren worked effortlessly in the tub. At one point she decided to get out, I can’t recall whether it was to try something different or use the restroom but she just stood up. Things got extra intense all in that moment. She moved to the bed to lean over some pillows and work through labor in a different position. I was there with her but still thinking this is simply just a change of pace. We all thought this was just a moment of contractions intensifying so much that her sweet partner went out to check on their little boy and see if he could switch with Sarah to come and help do some hip squeezes to help Lauren through these intense labor waves. Within moments baby Alec was born, right into the arms of their incredibly ready midwife, Emily. I was in the perfect place but pretty much in shock because it was not until the splash of her waters breaking that I even looked down to watch as little Alec came fast furiously into the world. Lauren was even in a little shock asking for a couple breaths and pause before lifting her sweet little boy up to her chest for the first time.

Daddy rushed in moments later to the perfect smile of pride on Lauren’s face that said everything with just a look of, “meet out little boy.” It was everything just to get to watch their joy fill the room as they loved on this precious new life. He was a little bruised from his fast entrance into the world but already so calm and sweet and ready for cuddling. After an hour or so of mom and dad bonding they woke Alec’s big brother to come and meet him. Not so sure about this new little bundle of joy, Bryce watched with sweetness as he saw his whole world change. We all watched as the wheels turned in his head with curiosity. I’m so glad I got to check in with them a few weeks later to capture their sweet family session! I promise to have that up soon :) but for now I just want to bask in this incredibly and fast and beautiful birth.

The adrenaline of fast births is really unlike anything else, it’s so hard to come down to the real world :P With every story I tell and life i get to witness enter the world, I’m blown away and honored by this job. Thank you to this beautiful family for openly sharing their journey for others to see and experience. All births are unique and beautiful and the more we see and know the better prepared the next generation of capable strong women will be to meet birth with their innate power!

If you are expecting in the next 3-9 months please reach out! I would love to talk with you, answer questions and truthfully be apart of telling your unique journey of birth.

Click here to reach out today!