I first met Taylor and Joe when she was pregnant for her third baby. I had just finished my doula training and posted in a West Michigan pregnancy Facebook group that I was looking for families to support in their births. Taylor responded that she would love a doula at her home birth in 2021! We pored over the prenatal information together, both decided birth nerds!

When she went into labor with her third baby, things moved FAST! I got the call that things had picked up and jumped into the car for the 45 minute drive to her house. The midwives were just 15 minutes ahead of me. Her daughter was born as I drove, and when I walked into their house with my doula bag and camera ready to go, she was in bed holding her fresh babe waiting for the placenta to be born. I was simultaneously so so happy that her birth had been so free of complications and straightforward, and so sad for having just missed it. Those multips keep you on your toes!!

So when Taylor reached out this year asking for doula support and birth photography I was elated and a little nervous. Getting to support them as their family grows is such a gift, but what if her labor was even faster this time? We set out to make a plan.

They chose to deliver their baby at Corewell (Spectrum) with the midwifery team there for this pregnancy, so we planned to head to the hospital at the first signs of labor just to play it safe.

Taylor was having intermittent mild contractions all afternoon and they decided to head to triage after saying goodnight to their kiddos at home hoping that some time away might help things progress. I met them in triage around 9pm and when they checked her she was about 3cm dilated. Typically they don’t admit someone to labor and delivery until they are around a 4. But since she had a history of precipitous labor and didn’t live close to the hospital, she chose to stay close by and just get some steps in at the hospital.

So we took a stroll, found somewhere to do a few laps on the stairs, got a few snacks, and as we were heading back to triage I could tell Taylor was working a little harder through her contractions. We decided it was time to get checked in and settled into her labor room upstairs around 11pm.

She hooked up to the breast pump to try nipple stimulation and ended up getting almost 8ml of colostrum! Taylor’s main requests in her birth plan were to 1. Make it to the hospital (check!) 2. Have as close to a home birth as possible and 3. Labor in the shower just like she had with her last birth.

So we got her all comfy in the shower and I ran down to get a snack from the cafeteria. Thinking that we were likely going to be here for a bit I picked up an Earl Grey tea for the caffeine and headed back up to the labor room.

I set my tea down and checked in on Taylor to see if she needed any water or anything while in the shower around 12:30am. I heard her say “My water just broke!” So I rushed out to let the nurse and midwife know and we all went into high gear prepping for baby to arrive.

We were in the Natural Birth Suite at the hospital which has a nice king size bed. Taylor instinctually climbed up leaning over an exercise ball and quickly labored her baby down on her hands and knees while I squeezed her hips. Joe offered comforting reassurances, knowing that she was doing an amazing job working through every surge. It was incredible to behold!

At 1:05am sweet baby Georgia entered the world!

Her mom was so in tune with her body and so strong, her dad was steadfast and supportive, her birth team was gentle and wise. What an exciting way to arrive!

This golden hour time to snuggle skin to skin and bond is simply the best thing for mom and baby as long as everyone is safe. They absolutely were so they had lots of time to soak each other in and welcome Georgia to the world slowly and sweetly.

Skin to skin not only helps to regulate the baby’s body temperature but it also helps mom have the hormones she needs to help her uterus to contract back down and breastfeeding to be established. It’s so incredible!

I love getting to capture every tiny newborn detail. Their swoopy hair, wrinkled hands, fuzzy shoulders all make me swoon.

And of course dad getting to have his first time holding her is a favorite too. Watching as she gripped his thumb… it really doesn’t get much better than that for me.

Being a part of Georgia’s journey here was an incredible honor, as well as getting to support her parents along the way. Taylor and Joe, you are an incredible team and I can’t wait to see what’s next for your sweet family!

If you’re interested in having doula support or birth photography as a part of your labor and delivery experience send me a message or fill out my contact sheet, I would love to chat!