Documentary-style Birth Photography in Detroit Lakes, MN

  

“There’s plenty of miracle for me to rest in now.”
– Anne Lamott

Last Sunday I had the privilege of documenting in photographs my first birth for my lovely sister Hannah and her wonderful husband Joel. And I can't tell you how much I loved the experience, and how much I look forward to shooting a birth again! It was, quite simply, breathing in air heavy with an unfolding miracle...

Mommy Hannah's water began to leak at 7:35pm on Sunday the 24th of February, and Daddy Joel raced us the 45 minutes to DL while her contractions came every 2 to 4 minutes. The doctors had scheduled an induction for the following morning, 2 weeks after the original due-date they calculated for her. Arriving at the hospital at 8:50pm, Baby Gracelyn was here at 10:18pm, after an all-natural birth, the only pain relief coming from the Young Living essential oil regimen that Hannah wrote out for her best friend and birth coach Kari to follow. Her midwife wasn't even fully gloved and Hannah hadn't even been instructed to push when little Gracie slipped into the world from a posterior position, slid down the bed, and clung to her Mommy's leg! All 10lbs and 1oz of sweet, little, breath-taking her :)

Being present at this birth was an AMAZING experience!

 
Here are a few photos to give you a glimpse of their story:
(Please click any photo to enlarge)

 

  

Tender moments clinging to her hubby to breathe through contractions.

This labour was such a beautiful and humbling thing to witness!

 My amazing sister Hannah has horrible back labour and Joel and friend Kari took turns supporting her and pushing into her back during contractions. This is basically how the whole labour went.

 A beautiful mama in the zone during Transition.
The only jewelry she wore that night was our Grandma's ring-- her baby girl was given the middle name Mae, for our Grandma whom we lost in July...

She had 2 contractions on the bed on her side...

... And then sweet baby Gracelyn was born (!!) -- before the midwife even had her gloves on to catch her....

She and her Mommy basically had an unassisted birth-- with a lot of helpful support from Daddy and Kari!

A BEAUTIFUL, healthy baby girl

Mommy's first snuggle, overwhelmed and relieved and still in shock that it all happened so quickly after waiting nearly 2 weeks after the doctors said she was due! 

 

 Daddy's first time holding his new little girl. Such precious moments!

Being weighed and measured and prodded and disturbed, and then soothed by Daddy afterwards :)

The next day her anxious big sisters and big brother FINALLY got to come and meet their baby Gracie!

 3-year-old Kenan's first look

 5-year-old Emmy's first look

 7-year-old Abby's first look

Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie were also eager to snuggle new baby Grace

Then her sweet little footprints were taken, and she was given her first bath, then wrapped up and given back to Mommy and Daddy to take home...

Gracelyn Mae
10lbs, 1oz of miracle