The Birth of Hana

What great day to share this story on the blog.

Over the last 6 months I have been dying to photograph a birth story. I knew it was not super practical for me since not only do I have a family to find a sitter for but I also have stayed pretty consistently busy, which is not helpful when it comes to availability to be on call for a birth that could take days or even weeks past due dates. All that to say I really wanted to give it a shot.

Arianne and I met up at Starbucks a couple weeks before her due date to go over a questionnaire and really just get to know each other a bit. I felt it was really important to connect with my mom just to ensure she felt comfortable with telling anything, especially in the moments she is in excruciating pain, such as realizing she does not want a photographer in the room. I got the vibe quickly that she could be open with me and also that she was really excited about it.

Arianne was amazing at communicating with me and it was so nice to have her continue to up date me after each sweep and midwife apt. I don’t think I could have asked for a better client for this situation!

Sure enough, a few days before her due date I got a call (after much anticipation that it would be happening that day) that she was 6 cm dilated and would most likely be moving along quite quickly. I rushed over to her home, so excited it was finally happening and that it worked out in such awesome timing!

I have to admit one thing, not only had I never photographed a birth, I actually had never seen a birth in my entire life. Yes, I have a son, but no, I never went into labour. This was brand new, all I had seen was births in the movies. And I will say, Arianne was a CHAMP compared to them! Yes I was told the whole experience might traumatized me but, to be honest it, was the most amazing experience ever to watch. Thankfully, having a sister-in-law who is a maternity nurse definitely helped me through it as well!

I arrived at 9:15pm, and at 11:22am little Hana was born into this world! She was a perfect as they come! She came out with out a peep and she laid on her mama eyes wide open. Welcome little Hana!

Thank you Arianne and Jeff for letting me be part of this amazing time of your life. I am so happy I could capture it for you!